Calista was now standing in front of an unfamiliar door with a visible blank expression on her face. She was staring at the door with a hint of hopelessness in her eyes.
She heaves a sigh at the reason why she was now standing in front of this unfamiliar door. She can still remember what happened vividly, as if it just happened a few minutes ago.
"What do you think about joining classes with Elias?"
Calista turned rigid at the unexpected words coming out of the duchess's mouth. She slowly lifted her wide eyes and looked at her with a shocked expression.
"Pardon?" She asked with a hint of disbelief.
"I'm thinking about merging your class session with Elias's. What do you think about it?" Beatrice said while watching Calista intently.
Calista felt conflicted about whether to respond honestly or comply with what she thought the duchess would like to hear, especially since she was under the duchess's intense gaze.
Calista bit her lower lip, her mind racing. She couldn't afford to offend the duchess; otherwise, it would sabotage her plan to live a peaceful life, but the idea of sharing classes with Elias filled her with unease.
After what happened in the garden, she'd rather not face the individuals involved in that event. And his feisty behavior made her hesitate even more.
However, on second thought, she can't really avoid them forever. She has to face it at some point. Maybe this is the right opportunity to settle this awkwardness between them.
Finally, she forced a polite smile, masking her hesitation. "If you believe it would be beneficial, Your Grace, then I have no objections."
Beatrice's lips curved into a small smile, though her gaze remained sharp. "Good. Elias could use some... influence from someone with your discipline and focus. And perhaps you could learn a thing or two from him as well."
Calista bowed her head slightly, unsure how to respond. The duchess clearly had her reasons, and Calista doubted her opinion would have swayed the decision.
That conversation had brought her to this moment, standing before the door of the private study Elias used for his lessons. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand to knock but hesitated.
Was she truly ready to face him?
Before she could decide, the door swung open on its own, revealing a tall young man with an unreadable expression. His dark auburn, tousled hair caught the sunlight streaming through the window behind him, and his bright amber, almost golden eyes settled on her with mild curiosity.
"You're late," Elias remarked, his tone neutral but carrying a faint edge of impatience.
Calista stiffened.
She wanted to retort to his statement, as she knew that she was rather right in time, but suppressed her true emotions.
"I apologize."
Elias raised an eyebrow at her apology but said nothing. Instead, he turned his back at her and walked further inside, leaving the door open for her to walk in.
Calista watched his back before reluctantly stepping inside the study.
"I'm going in," she mutters.
The study was immaculate, with walls lined with bookshelves and a large desk at the center. A second, smaller desk had been prepared for her, positioned a few feet away from his. Despite the room's grandeur, it felt cold, lacking warmth or personal touches.
Calista took her seat, feeling the weight of Elias's gaze on her. He didn't sit immediately, instead leaning against the edge of his desk, arms crossed, without saying a single word.
"Uhm—is there something wrong with my appearance?" She asked while awkwardly scratching her cheeks with her index finger.
Elias's eyes squinted at her question but didn't respond. Instead, he retracted his gaze away from her and took a seat at his own desk.
Calista gave a weird look at Elias's unreadable actions.
Sometimes she thought that Elias was the type of person that had those walls separating himself from others, making it difficult to make bonds with others.
Calista heaved a sigh inwardly as she remembered the duchess's statement.
"Use this time to get close with your brother as well, Calista."
Calista felt pressured by the expectation of the duchess.
She has to do well.
It was also one of her plans to get close to Elias, but it was brought forward in advance. She might as well do that now. She was supposed to get close to Lilian first, but Lilian doesn't seem to like her.
Elias, on the other hand, did not particularly dislike her nor like her, but more like he viewed her as an unfamiliar figure in their lives.
Calista took a deep breath, reminding herself to remain composed. If Elias truly viewed her as nothing more than an unfamiliar presence, then it was up to her to bridge that gap, even if it meant stepping into uncomfortable territory.
She cleared her throat softly, attempting to ease the silence that had settled between them. "Shall we begin, then?" She asked, her tone polite yet firm, hoping to project confidence.
Elias glanced and then stared at her for a few seconds.
"I-Is there something wrong?" she asked awkwardly, her confidence faltering.
"The teacher is not here yet," he responded with a matter-of-fact tone.
"A-ah, right."
22
Sucks! That was embarrassing!
Calista felt her cheeks warm in embarrassment but quickly tried to compose herself. She shifted in her seat, smoothing out the creases in her dress to keep her hands occupied.
The silence surrounding the room was stifling, and Elias's calm demeanor did little to ease her nerves. Despite the awkward start, she reminded herself that she needed to make some progress. She needed to grab every opportunity that would appear in front of her, and this moment was an opportunity.
"So..." she began, her voice faltering slightly. "What lessons do you usually have here?"
Elias's eyes flicked toward her, his gaze as sharp as ever. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer and would ignore her, as usual.
"History, strategy, and philosophy," he said simply, his tone void of interest. "Occasionally mathematics."
Calista nodded, searching for a way to keep the conversation going. "That sounds...comprehensive."
He let out a faint hum, leaning back in his chair. "It's necessary."
His curt response left her at a loss for words. She laced her fingers together, deciding to try a different approach. "Do you enjoy any of those subjects?"
Elias tilted his head slightly, as if the question was unusual. "I don't see the point in enjoyment when it comes to learning," he replied coolly.
Calista resisted the urge to sigh. "I see. Well, I suppose everyone has their own approach."
Elias glanced at her briefly before opening his mouth as he spoke, "Noble children don't really have a say when it comes to their education. They just have to accept what's given to them and are expected to excel."
Calista blinked at his response, caught off guard by the candid remark. She hadn't expected Elias to share something so personal, even if his tone remained indifferent.
"I suppose that's true," she said softly, choosing her words carefully. "But doesn't that make it even more important to find something you can enjoy, even in small ways? It might make the burden easier to bear."
Elias's amber eyes fixed on her, his expression unreadable. For a moment, she worried she had overstepped. But instead of responding immediately, he tilted his head slightly, as if assessing her.
"You speak as if you know what it's like," he said finally, his tone carrying a subtle edge of curiosity.
Calista hesitated. She wasn't sure how much to reveal. "I've had my share of expectations placed on me," she admitted, her voice measured. "Maybe not the same as yours, but I understand the weight they can carry."
Elias regarded her in silence, and for a brief moment, Calista thought she saw a flicker of something—interest, perhaps, or understanding—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Before either of them could say more, the door opened, and the teacher entered, carrying a stack of books and a faintly apologetic smile.
"Ah, good, you're both here," he said cheerfully. "Let's not waste any time. Today, we'll begin with strategic theory."