Elena’s POV:-

I am Elena Mizo, second daughter of the Marquis household of Murlin.

After I turned fifteen in the last winter, my parents started bringing the topic of my engagement.

It went something like this.

"Elena we were thinking that it is time to find your marriage partner"

My mother suddenly brought the topic. It was so sudden that I replied without much thought.

"Mother, I am not ready yet. Can we wait until my graduation"

I told my mother that I need some time but that’s just half the truth, actually....there is someone I like.

"It is fine if you want to take some time but don’t you even want to know who the prospect is?"

"Who?"

I asked subconsciously, I didn’t even though they already had someone in mind.

I don’t know why but Mother paused before answering.

"Nevermind forget it. Since you don’t want to get in any engagement yet, I will tell Kira to find some other girl for her son"

Mother said as she took a paper and pen from the table, and started writing.

"W-wait!"

I grabbed the paper in panic.

"What are you doing?"

"O-on second thought, It doesn’t matter whether it is after graduation or now"

"What kind of attitude is this? Make your choice clear"

Mother said in a really strict voice.

Unexpectedly the one my parents want me to marry is the same person I like.

I don’t know what to say, I should have listened to everything first before rejecting it.

"Th-that... Is Marquis Shen finding a marriage partner for Lord Kai?"

I asked while covering half of my face with the paper. I really wanted to run away at that moment.

"Yes, so?"

Mother asked with annoyed expressions.

"I am...I am fine if it is him"

I said while closing my eyes. I said it, but now I feel really embarrassed!

But I did not receive any reply.

I opened my eyes and saw my mother’s teasing smile.

"You are so cute"

Mother said while taking the paper I was hiding my face with.

She did it intentionally!

"Mother, you are mean!"

"That is no way of talking to your mother. I just wanted to see this cute appearance of my daughter, look your face is all red."

Mother suddenly took out a pocket mirror.

"Please! You shouldn’t joke about such things"

"But I was not joking. Tell me clearly because your father has already talked with Marquis Shen about it"

"I said I am fine with it"

And that’s how it went.

*It was so embarrassing!*

*They already know about this. Was I really this obvious?*

Actually when I met Lord Kai seven years ago, my only thought was that he is strong.

He was the first person among my peers who could defeat me, so I just thought of him as a competitor.

But he was not only strong but also very kind. He not only saved me from that weird monster but also listened to my stupid request.

I thought of him as a friend and someone I had to catch up to, until four years ago.

[Author: just a small flashback, please bear with it]

Maybe it was on my eleventh birthday, when I again dragged him into my stupid games, I was really childish at that time.

Trying to show him the effect of my training, I wandered off while trying to fly using wind dance and fell down a cliff.

Luckily I was not severely hurt but my ankle was sprained and I also lost direction.

Even trying to fly up I was not able to reach the cliff, I knew if I just waited there then someone from the house would definitely come to find me but I was still really scared.

I was getting impatient and tried to fly up again but lost control and fell down not even being able to cast another spell, I closed my eyes in fear.

"Elena!"

That’s when I heard a voice calling my name and a figure reached me in an instant, it caught me before I would hit the ground.

Opening my eyes I saw a worried face, it was the first time I saw such intense emotions on his face.

His always calm eyes had some genuine emotions for the first time since I met him, and it was for me.

"Are you alright?"

He asked me softly as we landed on the ground. He gently put me down but my hands were still holding onto his clothes.

"Y-yes"

I replied hastily while still looking at him, maybe I didn’t want to take my eyes off him or let him go.

I still feel embarrassed whenever I think about that incident. He even had to carry me up the cliff and had to piggyback me all the way.

I really acted so spoiled.

But after that incident, I don’t know when it happened, when I started feeling like this, but I realized that I like him.

[Author: end of the quick flashback]

I thought once we are in the academy then I will somehow convey my feelings to him and then tell our families but this is not bad either.

Today Lord Kai and his parents are visiting, so I just need to find the right chance and tell him, how I feel.

........

Elena’s POV:-

I am standing at the entrance of our Villa along with my parents and sister as we welcomed the Shen family.

My heart flustered as I saw Lord Kai getting off the carriage with a bouquet of white flowers in his hands.

His handsome face with a gentle smile and his turquoise blue eyes feels so different than the first time we met.

"This is for you, Lady Elena"

Lord Kai’s voice brought me out of my almost trance state, he gave me the bouquet.

"Thank you Lord Kai"

I realized that I have been staring at him this whole time but Lord Kai seems to be thinking about something.

My mother said that he wanted to talk to me before making any decisions regarding the engagement.

Normally among nobility the prospects don’t even meet each other and their parents decide everything, but our parents are really good and care about our wishes.

[Author: Kai doesn’t think so though, dude trying to be self righteous, isn’t he?]

My heart gets uneasy when I think about it, but could it be...he likes someone else?

No! Think positive Elena!

We have known each other for so long, if there was really another girl in his life then at least I have known about it.

Then what does he want to talk about?

We entered the Villa as I was worrying about this, and my father led them to the great hall where everything was already prepared by the servants.

They started with some ideal chat but I was really not keen on their talk as all my mind was fixed on Lord Kai and what he wants to talk about with me.

"I want to apologize beforehand for this, it’s just that my son wanted to talk to Elena before deciding anything"

Aunt Kira decided to cut to chase as she brought up the topic.

She is my mother’s best friend, I have known her since I was little.

"You don’t have to apologize for anything lady Kira, it is normal for kids to be nervous about all this"

"You are right, remember how you get so nervous when I told you to send the marriage proposal to Lady Adelia"

"Yude, at least refrain from saying such things in front of children"

"Are you really getting embarrassed Gael? You are already the father of an engaged girl"

My father and Marquis Shen again started their friendly quarrel, maybe they just like to tease each other.

"My Lord, please stop it already, let’s focus on the topic here first"

Aunt Kira reprimands Marquis Shen.

She used honorifics to remind him and my father that there are still servants around so they should not act so freely.

"Hm right, so what do you want to talk about with Elena"

Father what are you doing?

Don’t ask so directly!

Although I also want to know what it is so I looked at Lord Kai, but my mother interjected before he could answer.

"I think we should let them talk privately, so they can ask each other whatever is in their minds"

Mother told us that we can talk privately in the tea garden so I led Lord Kai there.

A maid served us tea and retreated to distance so not to hear our discussion.

Honestly I am getting more nervous now as we sit there without saying anything for a few minutes, I don’t know how to ask him.

"Lady Elena"

Lord Kai finally spoke. I took a breath and replied.

"Yes"

"Actually, I wanted to ask you...are you really ready for this engagement? I mean are you fine with this?"

And just as I feared.

He doesn’t have any inclination towards this engagement.

But I can’t give up, I will have to try at least.

"No I am perfectly fine with this. But....do you....like someone else Lord Kai?"

I said it. Although it was really difficult for me, I had to ask this question, I have to know this.

"There is nothing like that, you already know all my friends, I don’t have anyone like that"

Not even me?

That’s what I wanted to ask but I held back.

"Then....do you dislike me? Have I been annoying to you?"

I asked the most important question, as long as he doesn’t dislike or hate me, I will not back down.

"Of course not. I don’t dislike you or anything, I just don’t want you to get into this engagement if you don’t like it"

"Why would I not like it?"

I replied instantly out of emotion. I couldn’t help it.

why do you think like this?

"I mean, wasn’t your dream to become a Sage? I don’t want to hinder it, you should just do what you like"

Huh?

Maybe it was something I told him long ago, and it is true that it was my dream.

But more importantly I want to realize it with you!

"Lord Kai, you are thinking too much!"

Really, you worried me to death for such a reason!?