This kind of courtship is complicated - chapter 10
#010 Coincidence or Destiny
"I actually took a carriage here. It's my little secret. On days when my outings are discovered, I end up cooped up in the library, reading boring old tomes all day."
As Bellia cut a generous slice of raspberry sand cake and nibbled on it, she chatted away, her face portraying the impending apprehension.
The elderly lady, sipping her tea, chuckled again. The lively conversation had been ongoing ever since they sat down at the café.
Her question was why she had come alone to this place, where she had been the only customer. In the silence of the house, it was a scene hard to imagine.
"Why do grown-ups dislike books like this? They're far more helpful for imagination than catechisms or scriptures."
"When I was young, I didn't understand it either. That's why I used to sneak into the maids' quarters and read secretly."
Encouraged by Bellia's earnest request, the elderly lady relaxed her speech and agreed, glancing briefly at the book with a sweet title. Her lips curved at the familiar title.
"I've stayed up all night reading this book before."
"Really? You've read this book before?"
"Indeed. Masterpieces transcend time. The first edition of this novel is still in my library."
Bellia had forgotten about the cake in front of her, engrossed in the stories flowing from the lady's lips. The lady looked into the distance for a moment, gazing at the sky beyond the brim of her hat.
"When I read the books from my youth, it brings back memories. Back then, the most important thing was choosing a dress for tomorrow and looking forward to future love. Looking back, those were such exciting and carefree days. I may have grown old, but I hope my youth remains preserved in the corners of these books for a long time."
The lady gazed at her own reflection in the clear eyes that twinkled like morning stars.
Family secrets and cherished thoughts she had long forgotten flowed effortlessly in front of this unfamiliar child. It seemed that the child possessed the ability to open hearts easily.
"Of course! I'd love to."
The lady's final words left Bellia particularly moved.
"Thank you! You know, there's nothing eternal in this world, but I often wish that things like the cherry blossom-lined path, the sunlight of spring, and love could be eternal. But today, one more thing has been added to that list. I hope your beautiful heart will be eternal too!"
The romanticism she had long forgotten suddenly overflowed from the child's eyes.
"That's very kind of you to say."
'For some reason, it feels like my grandmother and I get along well. I can tell at a glance.'"
"It's fortunate that it's not just my idea."
The elderly lady took a sip of her black tea. The subtle fragrance spread in her mouth. Strangely, on this day, the slight sweetness of the tea felt even more pleasant.
"It seems your grandson didn't come with you. Why did you wait alone instead of bringing him along?"
"After sleeping in late for the first time in a while, you have to be able to wake him up. Though he can be quite stubborn when he forgets about our plans, it's only natural after being so busy since the year-end ball."
The lady set down her teacup without a sound and adjusted her black shawl.
"The year-end ball? Do you mean the Christmas ball held at Viscount Asrua's mansion?"
Nodding lightly, Bellia leaned closer, her cheeks now rosy compared to moments before.
"By the way, does your grandson also know Viscount Arzen?'"
"Who?"
The elderly lady, pretending not to have heard clearly, raised her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose and leaned in, looking somewhat puzzled.
"Viscount Arzen, you say? In fact, I fell in love with Viscount Arzen at first sight and proposed to him at the Christmas ball."
"...To whom?"
"To Viscount Arzen!"
"Viscount Arzen, you say?"
The lady repeated the name as if contemplating it, and a faint smile began to form on her lips.
Goodness. The lady considered herself extremely fortunate that she hadn't spilled her tea all over the place. It was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck that she hadn't choked on her tea.
A proposal, you say? Moreover...
"So what happened?"
However, there was no trace of bewilderment in the lady's face as she calmly asked the question. Bellia revealed the whole story.
"He rejected me right there. Since then, I've been sending him letters, but I haven't received a reply. I want to know how he's doing, but there's no one around me who has any connection to the Viscount, so I thought I'd ask just in case."
"Arzen Marquis, you say."
The lady, who had been staring at Bellia's now blushing cheeks, seemed to be deep in thought for a moment before she finally spoke.
"But isn't that Duke rumored to have a bad reputation? Aren't you scared?'"
"Not at all. There's no one as beautiful and kind as Duke Arzen."
"Beautiful and kind?"
"Yes!"
As Bellia confidently replied, the elderly lady closed her eyes and nibbled her lips. However, a satisfied smile couldn't be concealed from the corner of her mouth.
Bellia was somewhat perplexed and looked at her with a puzzled expression. Finally, the lady, who had taken a deep breath, opened her eyes and left a lingering hint of laughter in them.
"Come to think of it, we haven't even exchanged names until now."
"Oh! I'm Bellia. Bellia Devi."
"Can I call you by your first name?"
"Of course! We've already shared our feelings like friends."
"Friendship sounds quite sophisticated after all these years."
Unbeknownst to her, the east sky had gently turned a shade of pink. The lady seated against the backdrop of that sky had a voice as soft as that late afternoon sunshine.
The sunbeams passed through the branches of the beautiful tree, casting patterns onto the lady's black eyes that peeked beneath her hat. For a moment, Bellia thought that the lady's smile resembled someone she faintly remembered. But that thought was soon clouded by the lady's next words.
"Bellia, my grandson knows Duke Arzen very well. You could say there's no one in this world who knows Duke Arzen better than he does."
---
Checking his pocket watch, Helios Arzen gracefully stepped out of the car with his long legs. The crowd gathered near the N.D.'s department store immediately shifted their gaze to him.
From head to toe, there was not a single flaw in his perfect appearance. Flawless individuals like him, who looked so impeccably good, were rare. His aura, subtly combined with a hint of arrogance and kindness, made him even more intriguing.
His attendants, who were waiting nearby, quickly approached him when they confirmed his arrival.
"Where is Grandma?"
While Helios was still examining the gas lamps that hadn't been lit yet, one of the attendants politely gestured in a direction.
"She is over there."
Surprisingly, it was an unexpected location. Helios had never liked such places, which were both noisy and dull.
Had her mood changed today?
Helios walked without further questioning. With every step, his polished shoes sparkled elegantly under the fading sunlight.
Before long, he approached the terrace cafe, where Clonette Arzen was sitting.
Clonette Arzen, with her bright smile, noticed his arrival while observing her surroundings.
"Here. Helios."
Clonette Arzen gazed at Helios, raised her hand slightly, and smiled gently. Although her expression was mild, there was an unfamiliar, playful touch to her smile.
Helios. Hearing that name, the woman turned around momentarily, and it was her.
Bellia Devier. He had wondered if it was her all along. Her light brown hair, spread over her red muffler, was a shade of pale brown.
As he raised his right eyebrow while looking at the unfamiliar smile on her face, a small gust of wind passed by, brushing past her cheek.
The wind, which had caressed Bellia's cheek softly, swept across the tablecloth and the branches of the beautiful tree and reached him.
Did she take matters into her own hands instead of relying on the busy post office? Yet, it didn't seem like a disguised coincidence to him.
Helios stopped for a moment as they approached. Bellia was getting closer, gazing silently at him.
"Duke...?"
With disbelieving eyes, Bellia stared at him, and her widened brown eyes became even larger.
"Helios Arzen...?"
She said it in a whisper, almost to herself.
Helios just smiled lightly, maintaining his grace. Bellia still looked at him, her gaze unwavering.