Chapter 15: 8-Year Time Skip – Give Up on Your Dreams and Accept Her

【Eksu PoV】

Eight years have passed since Elizabeth arrived.

Eight long, exhausting, nerve-wracking years.

My strategy with Siegfried failed miserably. Completely.

We tried everything.

Everything.

I wore that stupid orchid perfume every day, thinking she’d run from me. But no.

Not only did my mother sabotage me, but Elizabeth never reacted the way we expected.

She didn’t even twitch.

No complaints. No disgust. Nothing.

Instead, my mother openly complimented the scent.

She’d smile and say, “Eksu, you smell like a handsome prince today!”

Elizabeth would nod and agree. Every. Single. Time.

Betrayal. Pure betrayal.

Even when I tried to kick Elizabeth out, she just shrugged and said,

“I’m free to do whatever I want.”

What kind of answer is that?

And what kind of parents did she have?

A girl her age, wandering around without supervision? No rules? No discipline?

Irresponsible. Completely irresponsible.

Once, I even asked her—carefully, delicately—if her parents were, well, dead.

She shook her head casually.

“No. They’re alive. They’ve always let me be independent. They don’t care as long as I have power.”

Power. That’s all that matters to her family.

Strange. This world is strange.

But I’ve learned something important.

There’s no point in asking too many questions. Just accept it and move on.

And so, I survived. Somehow.

Now that we’re eighteen, the situation got even weirder.

I ended up with a girlfriend.

Almost.

Elizabeth decided we were a couple.

I didn’t agree. But apparently, my opinion wasn’t needed.

And how does she show affection?

By fighting me. Every. Single. Day.

Morning? Fight.

Afternoon? Fight.

Evening? Fight again.

It never stopped.

I thought it was bad when we were kids. But now?

Now it’s like being the final boss in a game she refuses to quit.

My 【Absolute Defense】 saved me every time.

But emotionally?

I was dying. Slowly.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, we reached the age when we had to enter the academy.

Finally, her family remembered she existed.

They sent a carriage to pick her up.

She was going home.

Finally. She was leaving.

I was so close to freedom…

But of course, she refused.

Because why wouldn’t she?

She told me she wouldn’t leave unless I went with her.

And now, here we are.

I just want space. Lots of it. Maybe an entire continent. Or two.

◆

“Eksu… you’re going to come with me or I’m not going…”

Elizabeth stood in front of me, arms crossed defiantly.

She was dressed in the simple clothes my mother made for her.

Her hair had grown, reaching her shoulders. It was blonde and soft.

She looked… well, beautiful. But I’d never say that out loud.

Still, even at eighteen, she hadn’t outgrown her habit of throwing tantrums.

“Elizabeth…”

I sighed deeply.

“I don’t belong to your family. I’d just ruin this moment.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“But your mother told me clearly—one day we’ll be one family… so you’re already practically family.”

I cursed internally.

My mother. Again.

Always my mother.

Sabotaging me even when she’s not here.

“Eksu…”

A calm voice joined in.

“You better just go with her. Trust me, she won’t budge.”

It was Siegfried.

He leaned against the wooden fence, arms crossed.

Over these eight years, he’d grown taller. Stronger. His blonde hair gave him a heroic aura.

He actually looked like a real hero now.

But even he had given up on helping me.

He used to be my partner in this madness. Always trying to find ways to shake off Elizabeth.

Until one day, he just sighed and said,

“Just give up and marry her.”

That was the last time I asked for his help.

Now? He stayed out of it. Completely.

“Eksu… My Son… My Only Son…”

My father’s voice. Heavy. Solemn.

“Give up your dreams and die—I mean… go with her.”

His large hands rested on my shoulders, like an old soldier giving final advice to a doomed recruit.

Even my father betrayed me.

He used to fight for me. But the moment my mother decided Elizabeth was my future wife…

He folded.

No resistance. No argument. Just silence.

He sold me out. His own son.

To the lion.

“Eksu… if you’re worried, I’ll come too.”

Siegfried stepped forward, trying to sound encouraging.

“I’ll… make sure you two… I mean, I’ll help you.”

Help me? Sure. Like last time.

But I didn’t say anything. There was no point.

“Bravo!! Sungfried!”

Elizabeth clapped her hands once in excitement.

“It’s Siegfried,” he corrected softly.

Not that it mattered.

Sometimes she got his name right. Sometimes wrong.

I didn’t know if she was doing it on purpose.

Maybe it was revenge. Maybe it was just her being Elizabeth.

She always looked down on Siegfried for being weak.

Though oddly enough, he seemed fine with that.

He was happy being weak.

Happy staying out of the spotlight.

Something I desperately wanted.

I looked at the three of them.

Elizabeth. Siegfried. My father.

All watching me. Waiting. Expecting.

And in the end, what choice did I have?

“…Okay.”

I barely recognized my own voice.

And just like that, I gave up. Again.

I let the pressure win.

The pressure of my mother, my father, my so-called friends, and this crazy world.

I’d go with Elizabeth.

Straight to her house. Straight into the lion’s den.

I don’t know what the future holds.

But if Elizabeth’s this crazy…

Then her parents probably are too.

Maybe even worse.

God help me.