This Type Of Courtship Is Complicated - Chapter 1

Winter, Christmas, A Ball

——♦ ⋄· 🜲· ⋄ ♦——

For true love, three coincidences are needed. It was the absolute truth and belief of Velia Devere.

 

Even if there was someone who laughs pathetically, wouldn’t that level of fate be necessary for perfect love?

 

The pale winter sunlight filtered through the curtains more gently into the room.

 

On Christmas morning, which only comes once a year, Velia smiled as if she had a good dream, then rubbed her eyes and got up slowly.

 

The novel that had kept her enthralled all night lay open on the bedside table.

 

“What time is it… Oh, my God!”

 

Velia, who had been looking around her with her eyes still not fully open, suddenly jumped to her feet.

 

The whole world was brightly lit. Realising this, Velia’s actions were much quicker than just a moment ago.

 

It took less than a minute for her to close the book, put it on her bedside table, and stand in front of the window with her heart trembling.

 

Velia carefully opened the curtains.

 

“Please. Oh, please.”

 

In Velia’s hopeful yet desperate mumbles, the outside scenery slowly filled her field of view.

 

A pergola decorated with faded brown meadows, green spruce trees throughout the winter, and wisteria that would have been beautiful in the spring. It was the same scenery as yesterday.

 

Velia lost her words for a while and blinked. Soon, her shoulders drooped limply.

 

“It can’t be…”

 

There was no sign of snow anywhere.

 

A week of earnest prayers had gone to waste.

 

“A green Christmas! It’s all Evan’s fault for jinxing it with his praying with open eyes!”

 

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. And expectations, when spoken out loud, tend to grow even more significant than when kept within oneself.

 

Velia rested her elbows on the windowsill and rested her rosy cheeks on her palms, staring at the clear sky — a sigh as melancholic as her furrowed brow escaped her lips.

 

“The heavens are indifferent, too. How can they make a Christmas without a loved one so dreary?”

 

If only it had snowed, enduring this lonely Christmas would have been easier. The snow-covered streets would have aided in indulging in romantic fantasies.

 

Or perhaps, it could provide an opportunity to meet a destined connection.

 

Last year, on Christmas, a childhood friend Velia discovered through a family tutor, Lizzelle, said that she almost fell on the snowy street but was caught by a man who then kissed her under the mistletoe hanging from the tree. A passionate and intense kiss like the red fruit of the mistletoe!

 

Since then, from the moment she heard this news from Lizelle, Velia had been fervently wishing for snow on Christmas.

 

Unfortunately, it had become a wish that could not come true.

 

“Ugh, when will I ever meet the mate of my destiny? I’m so curious about how it would feel to fall in love. Lizelle said love makes your heart flutter and tickle, but is that true? At this rate, I might live my whole life without ever experiencing that emotion and die unhappily!”

 

“Why don’t you lower your expectations a bit?”

 

Laughter sounded from behind. Velia stood up straight and turned around. The lush lace at the end of her nightgown gently brushed the floor.

 

“Evan! How long have you been there?”

 

“Since you blamed me for the lack of snow?”

 

Evan Arcus approached her. On this Christmas day, he was like a white cloud adorning the clear sky, a young man with a finite impression.

 

“Knock next time!”

 

“I think I knocked about ten times. You were so passionately wishing for snow, you probably didn’t hear.”

 

Velia’s gaze narrowed. Evan, being considerably taller, easily ignored the cold glare that came from below.

 

That allowed him to notice a pink-bound book precariously placed on the table.

 

“Did you secretly borrow another novel from Holt’s bookstore?”

 

“No, I didn’t.”

 

Seeing Velia’s momentary hesitation, Evan smirked and gestured towards the table.

 

“Not this time either?”

 

Velia tried to smile and blinked a few times.

 

As sunlight streamed into the room, her eyes and wavy hair seemed to shine with a brighter chestnut hue.

 

“You know, Evan?”

 

“What?”

 

“Don’t tell Mother and Father. They’ll forbid me from going near the bookstore if they find out. Also, this time, it’s not a book I borrowed; Mr Holt just lent it to me!”

 

“He probably lent it to you since you paid the membership fee.”

 

“Anyway! Don’t tell, okay?”

 

“I’ll see.”

 

Evan shrugged, teasingly chuckled, but a moment later, Velia forced a smile.

 

Knowing that her visit to Holt’s bookstore had been exposed, enduring the boring collection of ancient encyclopedias and bibles in the mansion’s library would be much easier with a bit of patience.

 

“By the way, what’s the story this time? Did a Prince fall in love with a maid or something?”

 

Evan sat on the edge of the bed and opened the book.

 

With memories that couldn’t reach far back in time, Evan had been wandering around Derviana, the estate of the Arcus family, following the Devere family ever since he was very young. Thus, his actions here felt entirely natural.

 

It wouldn’t matter if he saw Velia’s messy face after falling into a swamp after running through the thicket to find a fairy on a rainy day. There were too many surprises while staying with Velia to be frightened just because she was only wearing pyjamas.

 

Their childhood was spent together with wild romance and rich imagination had been somewhat peculiar and particularly special.

 

And that was no exception even now.

 

Quickly flipping through the pages, Evan closed the book and playfully looked at Velia sitting beside him.

 

“Oh, a story about a judge and a legal attorney. Very romantic and brutal. Love, regardless of social status, will bring unhappiness. So, it can’t be called the love of the century. Right? It’s not like the last time when it was a night getaway.”

 

“Don’t mock me, Evan. You might not understand, but this is what true love is all about.”

 

“Miss, I’ve told you many times. Fiction and reality are different.”

 

“As you said, not all love will be passionate. However, a life filled with dreams can come true as much as we imagine. Well, time will tell whose words are right.”

 

Velia countered the overly rational words with overly idealistic ones.

 

“Is that so?”

 

Despite her efforts, the response was nonchalant. Velia stood up and placed her hands on her hips.

 

“If it turns out what you just said is wrong, Evan, you’ll have to dance the quadrille with an olive branch in your left hand and no accompaniment. How about that? Can you promise?”

 

The dimples on Velia’s cheeks deepened, and she displayed a confident and self-assured attitude.

 

Startled by the dreadful imagination, Evan nervously handed her the book.

 

Rather than making a fool of himself, it seemed better to offer some absurd romance. He knew it was an unreasonable self-confidence, but with Velia, anything could happen. Because it was Velia.

 

Moreover, dancing a quadrille alone with an olive branch, that’s just absurd.

 

“Well then, I’ll pray for you to meet your destined love someday, Velia. I’ve changed my mind about that. Just now.”

 

“Could you say ‘someday’ instead of ‘someday if possible’? And this time, pray without opening your eyes.”

 

Finishing the quick prayer-like gesture, Evan slowly opened his tightly closed eyes.

 

“May my prayer today be effective once again.”

 

“Once is enough for prayers. But, by the way, what’s happening on Christmas morning?”

 

“No way. Are you asking because you don’t know?”

 

Velia widened her lovely eyes at Evan’s puzzled question.

 

“Why?”

 

“Really, don’t you know? Today is the day of the Christmas charity ball!”

 

With her eyes now twice as big as before, Velia stood frozen in the spot.

 

“Oh my goodness! I completely forgot!”

 

“Well, hurry down. Count Devere is eagerly waiting for his daughter. He’s about to pour brandy into the Christmas pudding.”

 

Nodding vigorously, Velia quickly regained her composure and sent Evan away to change clothes, ringing the bell for a servant.

 

Even if it didn’t snow, an opportunity had come. A chance to fall in a fateful love!

 

Winter, Christmas, a Ball.

 

There couldn’t be a more romantic combination of words.

 

With a determination for true love, Velia pondered once again the three coincidences needed for true love.

 

Once again, the winter sunlight shone gently through the window, like a burst of lazy spring sunshine.

 

***

 

The silver paper knife on the table sparkled with a silvery sheen. Helios placed the letter he was holding next to it.

 

Deon, gazing indifferently at the chessboard with stagnant chess pieces, perked up as Helios placed the letter down, his eyes shining as if he had been waiting for it.

 

But there was no particular expression on Helios’ face that could give any indication.

 

He simply sat on the sofa, stretching out his long legs like enjoying the warm spring sun in the middle of winter.

 

“Why the urgent letter?”

 

Unable to contain his curiosity, Deon asked first. When Helios brushed aside his flowing black hair, the same-coloured eyes underneath subtly glimmered.

 

“Just because.”

 

“Just because?”

 

“Roseanne said she’ll come to Derviana.”

 

Taking a sip of cinnamon-scented mulled wine, Helios Argen opened his redder lips. Despite the hurried questions, the tone was always relaxed. His indifferent gaze made it seem like he was talking about someone else’s affairs.

 

“What did you say? Roseanne is coming, like, really coming? When exactly?”

 

In contrast, Deon abruptly stood up from his relaxed position.

 

“Sometime next summer.”

 

What Helios read was ominous. Deon could be certain that it was undoubtedly an ominous message within the Arzen family. Especially to the two Madams of the Arzen ducal family.

 

“So, are you really getting engaged to Roseanne?”

——♦ ⋄· 🜲· ⋄ ♦——