"Guests?"
Cael muttered as he reluctantly walked down the bed.
’Who might have co at this late hour?’
Questioning himself, he walked out of his room.
Cael absentmindedly ca down the stairs and entered the hall.
He saw his mother talking to four people.
Among them was soone familiar: Elowyn Strix.
’Why is she here?’
Sensing sothing amiss, Cael quickly checked the others.
Sitting beside Elowyn was a lady with red hair and blue eyes, who was Elowyn’s mother, Elena Strix.
Sitting on the other side of the sofa was a man with black hair and green eyes, who was Elowyn’s father, David Strix.
And the final one was a young man in late teens, with black hair and green eyes, Lohan Strix, Elowyn’s elder brother.
’Wait, what? Why is the Elowyn family here?’
’Are they dissatisfied with ? And want to cancel my engagent with Elowyn?’
’It is possible. But why is everyone so smiley?’
Taking a deep breath, Cael entered the room, drawing the attention of everyone.
Sensing everyone was watching, he awkwardly greeted them,
"Um, Hello."
Cael doesn’t know what to say.
Elowyn’s parents nodded and greeted him back.
Cael’s mother, Martha, smiled and said,
"Now that everyone is here, tell what brings you here at this late hour, that too without informing beforehand."
Elena gave a bitter smile and replied to Martha’s query,
"It’s about the children’s engagent."
Seeing that helpless smile and topic of his engagent, Cael thought to himself,
’It’s just as I expected, they are here to cancel the engagent.’
But Elena’s next words killed Cael’s imaginary scenario.
"We want to publicize Cael and Elowyn’s engagent."
Elowyn’s father, David, who had been silent till also nodded and said,
"Now that Elowyn’s actions at Skyspire were spread, influential people might try to get Elowyn into their families."
Elena looked into Martha’s eyes and said,
"So... what do you think, Mars?"
Cael raised an eyebrow and thought,
’Mars? Is it the mother’s nickna? I didn’t know they were this close.’
Martha smiled and answered,
"Yes, let’s do that."
Cael’s eyes twitched, and he thought,
’Hey... hey... hey... it was my engagent damn it. Why is no one asking about our opinions?’
David then looked at his daughter and asked,
"Is it okay with you, Elowyn?"
Elowyn just nodded, her eyes closed; nobody knew what she was thinking at the mont.
"Then what about you, Caelir?"
Hearing the sudden question, Cael was startled and awkwardly answered,
"No... I an, yes. It’s fine by ."
Just a minute ago, he was complaining that nobody was asking about his opinions, but when soone did ask him, he still chose to agree.
Cael had a choice to say no.
But...
He wants to try...
Yes, Cael decided to try a relationship with Elowyn.
"That’s great. Since the academy starts in a month, let’s arrange their engagent ceremony before then."
Elena said those words with a small smile.
Everyone nodded in agreent.
Since it was already late at night, the Strix family decided to stay at Cael’s ho.
...
Because of the sudden visit and the discussion about his engagent ceremony, Cael lost all traces of drowsiness.
Wearing a thick sweater, he stepped outside.
Through gaps in the snowy clouds, the moon shone faintly.
Even though it was cold, his body was used to it.
As Cael wandered through the garden absentmindedly, his eyes paused on a familiar figure.
Elowyn.
She was strolling alone.
Unlike him, she wasn’t wearing a sweater.
Cael sighed and walked toward her.
He wanted to talk.
To understand her better.
"Elowyn..."
But the mont he called her na, his thoughts stalled. He didn’t know how to continue.
Elowyn turned her head and saw him standing there, hesitating.
"We et again, Cael. I..." She paused briefly before continuing. "Do you want to talk?"
She had intended to say sothing else, but she stopped herself.
Cael nodded.
"Let’s find a place."
He led her to a frozen pond nearby.
Cael sat down on a bench, and Elowyn sat beside him. Both of them stared ahead at the still surface of the ice.
Sensing the hesitation in his eyes, Elowyn decided to take the lead.
"So... what do you want to talk about?"
Cael exhaled slowly.
"I... I want us to understand each other."
Elowyn nodded slightly.
"...And?"
He didn’t imdiately answer. Instead, Cael, locking his eyes with hers, asked,
"Are you okay with soone like ? I an, you have great potential, while I was... just good."
Elowyn’s blue eyes softened.
For a mont, she didn’t answer.
Instead, she linked her arm with Cael’s and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Her voice, when she spoke, was quiet.
"Why are you such a handso dummy?"
She tightened her hold slightly.
"I never chose you because you were strong. I chose you because you were you."
Her fingers curled faintly into his sleeve.
"And don’t ever compare yourself like that again."
...
Unknown to the two teenagers, their parents, now soon-to-be in-laws, were watching them through the window.
"Tsk, tsk... young people these days."
"Aww, it’s good to be young."
David and Elena comnted, respectively.
Martha only smiled, saying nothing.
Her gaze lingered on the couple a mont longer.
Then her expression subtly changed.
The warmth faded.
Martha turned to Elena and David, her voice lowering just slightly. She said calmly,
"Now, tell the real reason you ca."
The air shifted.
The night suddenly felt colder than ever.
___
[A/N: Unedited Chapter]
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