Chapter 2: Mirellia's Pursuit
From that moment, Mirellia’s interest in me grew. She sought me out during meals, asking pointed questions about my studies, my thoughts on magic, and even my dreams. I deflected each time, but she was relentless. My parents, oblivious to her true intent, encouraged her attention. They thought she was merely curious about the household. They didn’t realize she was unraveling the truth I’d worked so hard to hide.
After discovering my hidden magic, she seemed determined to unravel the mystery of Ellio Barthory. She wasn’t subtle about it, either. She sought me out in the library, asked for my company during her morning walks, and even roped me into assisting her with small errands around the manor.
At first, I kept my distance. I wasn’t used to attention, much less from someone like Mirellia—a woman whose intelligence and presence were leagues beyond anything I had encountered. But her persistence was both frustrating and oddly endearing.
One afternoon, while she observed me working on the manor's dilapidated irrigation system, she crossed her arms and tilted her head. “Why do you hide your talents, Ellio?”
I glanced up from the magical seals I was engraving into the canal’s walls. “Because I prefer a quiet life.”
“Do you truly think hiding will grant you peace?” she countered. “The world has a way of finding those it needs, whether they like it or not.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Her words haunted me long after she left.
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The Turning Point
Mirellia’s attempts to draw me out weren’t limited to conversation. She orchestrated increasingly clever ways to force me into the spotlight. One day, she insisted I join a hunting party despite my protests.
“Surely you can hold a bow,” she said with a sly smile.
The hunt was a disaster. While my brothers showed off their skills, I stayed on the periphery, hoping to avoid notice. Then, a massive boar charged into the clearing, scattering the group.
Without thinking, I cast a spell to immobilize the beast, surrounding it in a ring of light. The boar froze, its rage dissipating as the magic calmed its instincts.
When I turned, I saw Mirellia watching me, her expression unreadable.
Later, as we walked back to the manor, she said quietly, “You could be extraordinary, Ellio. Why do you refuse to try?”
I didn’t answer.
A Proposal Rejected
By the time Mirellia’s visit ended, she had made up her mind. To my utter shock, she announced her intention to take me as her fiancé.
The dining hall erupted into chaos.
My father and brothers were stunned, their disbelief evident in their expressions. My mother’s face paled, and she sputtered something about my unworthiness. Mirellia, however, remained calm, her gaze fixed on me.
“What do you say, Ellio?”
The weight of her words settled on my shoulders. I knew what this meant. Accepting her proposal would bind me to a life of politics, duty, and endless scrutiny. It would destroy my dream of freedom.
So I said, “No.”
Her expression didn’t falter, but I saw the flicker of hurt in her eyes.
“You’re a fool,” she said, standing abruptly. “But I’m not giving up on you.”