Chapter 684: A Call from a Gale

All the way in the region of Northwick...

Inside Selena’s mansion in the Galehart Estate...

"So, My Lady."

Selena’s personal maid sat on a chair facing her lady, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Her serious expression suggested that she had been waiting for the right moment to bring up this matter.

"You finally managed to get Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke’s contact, and several days have already passed. The Royal Academy will be resuming soon, yet you haven’t made any effort to call him."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

Selena looked at her maid without saying anything.

She sat upright on her bed, a pillow resting against her lap, and maintained her usual elegant expression.

"I know you have been busy with training and improving your Alchemy Path,"

The maid continued, rising from her chair.

"But you must understand that if you never show him that you care, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke will simply think of you as a girl he happens to know."

Selena’s gaze shifted slightly.

A girl he happens to know...

She considered the words for a moment.

It was not an unreasonable conclusion.

Although she and Ezra had met several times, they had never made a habit of contacting each other.

If things continued this way, their relationship might remain exactly where it was.

That was hardly what she wanted.

Still, knowing what she should do and actually doing it were two different matters.

"Look at Lady Diane Bergwyn and, especially, Lady Vera Ashenlocke."

The maid gestured to her right.

"Both Flowers have spent a considerable amount of time with him. They speak with him, get to know him, and have grown comfortable in his presence. Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke has likely become accustomed to having them around by now."

"Especially Vera Ashenlocke."

An older lady added her opinion without looking up from the book in her hands.

She was lying on the bed beside Selena, calmly reading a romance novel.

One of her hands held the book open while the other rested against the mattress.

She appeared more interested in the story than the conversation, but she had clearly been listening.

"What Lady Susannah said is correct."

Selena’s personal maid nodded firmly.

Susannah Galehart, the second daughter of the Duke of Gale and Selena’s older sister, turned another page of her book.

"Basically, if you keep stalling and never involve yourself in his life, you will never figure out who he truly is, my dear little sister."

She spoke in an indifferent tone, as though she were discussing something that had little to do with her.

Susannah was a Third-Year student at the Royal Academy.

She had come to visit her younger sister, bringing her romance novel along for the evening.

However, the book had now become little more than something to hold while she joined the conversation.

From the way she spoke, it was clear that she cared about Selena’s situation far more than she wanted to admit.

"I know that, Sister..."

Selena adjusted the pillow on her lap.

"I have already realized that."

"Then why haven’t you done anything?"

Susannah asked flatly.

Selena paused briefly before answering.

"It is easier to think about doing something than to actually do it."

Her voice remained composed.

She smoothed a small crease in the pillowcase with her fingers, keeping her eyes lowered for a moment.

She could think of several reasons to call Ezra.

The difficulty came when she imagined what she would say once he answered.

Her maid folded her arms.

"My Lady, you cannot expect things to progress simply because you have thought about them."

"I am aware of that."

"Then you should call him."

"I am aware of that as well."

"Then—"

"It is simply a little difficult to put into practice."

Selena looked up at her maid.

Her words were polite, and her expression remained pleasant.

Nevertheless, the slight pause before her answer made it clear that she had no intention of repeating herself a third time.

Her maid fell silent.

Unfortunately, another person in the room had no such intention.

"You are really frustrating, Big-Sis Selena."

A younger girl climbed onto the bed and placed her hands on Selena’s arms.

The mattress shifted beneath her weight, but Selena merely glanced at the girl beside her before returning her attention to the maid.

"Just call him already! His personal training should be over by now."

Bell Galehart gave her older sister an impatient look.

"You have been thinking about this for days. How much longer are you planning to wait?"

"Bell."

Selena turned her head towards her.

"Please behave yourself. An elegant young lady should remain calm, even when she is annoyed. Climbing onto someone’s bed and grabbing their arms is hardly proper behaviour."

She raised her index finger to emphasize the point.

Bell stared at it.

Then she looked at Selena.

"Ugh!"

She withdrew her hands and folded her arms.

"Says the big sister who is making such a fuss over one boy!"

Selena lowered her hand.

"Am I making a fuss?"

"You are! I mean, I understand why people like Ezra Ashenlocke. He is strong, and he looked pretty cool during the Combat Festival. A lot of my friends are already fangirls of his. They are all excited about meeting the Silent Architect of Ash next year when we finally enroll in the Royal Academy."

Bell rolled her eyes.

"Some of them can hardly talk about anything else. You should hear them whenever his name comes up."

She paused, looking directly at Selena.

"And yet, here you are, acting as if calling him is some impossible task."

"Bell, I believe I have already explained the matter to you."

Selena replied with her usual calm, elegant, light tone.

"And I believe you are avoiding it!"

Bell spread her hands.

"You are Selena Galehart! The most elegant of all, and a Flower of Britannia. You can speak to other people without any trouble, so why are you being shy over a plain, cool-looking Ashenlocke?"

Susannah lowered her romance novel.

"Bell, you are only saying all this because you are still a child who knows nothing about love."

"I am not a child!"

Bell turned towards her immediately.

Susannah looked at her over the edge of her book, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly.

"And you are throwing a tantrum already?"

"I am not throwing a tantrum!"

"You are raising your voice."

"Because you called me a child!"

"Would you prefer that I call you a well-behaved young lady? That would be rather difficult at the moment."

Bell opened her mouth.

No words came out.

She had never won a battle of words against Susannah.

No matter how confidently she began an argument, her older sister always found a way to turn it against her.

Her lower lip trembled.

A moment later, tears began to gather in her eyes.

"Big-Sis Selena! Big-Sis Susannah is bullying me!"

She turned and hugged Selena.

Selena received her younger sister with a gentle smile and rubbed her hair.

"Now, now, Bell. There is no need to cry."

"She is bullying me!"

"Big-sis Susannah didn’t mean to be mean."

Selena continued stroking her hair, allowing Bell to settle against her shoulder.

Across the bed, Susannah watched them without the slightest hint of guilt.

"Sorry to interrupt your sisterly moment, but are you going to call him or not?"

Selena’s hand paused briefly on Bell’s head.

Susannah turned another page of her book.

"I came here because I wanted to watch you make those cute little reactions."

Selena looked at her.

"Just as Aunt Liliana said, watching you struggle with something as simple as a phone call would be entertaining."

So that is why you came here.

Selena’s smile remained in place.

"Besides, the night is the best time to speak with your lover."

Susannah said calmly.

"Lover?"

Selena repeated the word in an even tone.

Susannah did not look up.

"What? You have his contact, you want to speak with him, and you have spent days worrying about when to call. What else should I call it?"

"We are not lovers, Sister."

"Not yet."

"Susannah, you seem rather interested in my personal affairs tonight."

"Of course. They are much more entertaining than my book at the moment."

Selena regarded her older sister for a few seconds before turning her attention elsewhere.

"Is that why you are all here?"

Three more ladies of Galehart sat in chairs around the room.

They were Mainline members of the House of Galehart and close friends of Susannah.

Each had come to visit, but from the way they were watching Selena, it was clear that the visit had taken an unexpected turn.

One of the ladies straightened in her chair.

"Lady Selena, we are your emotional support."

The other two nodded.

"Exactly."

"We are here to help you through this difficult moment."

Selena looked at them.

A difficult moment?

She was about to make a phone call, not face a Colossal Ground Ape.

Nevertheless, the ladies wore such sincere expressions that she saw no reason to challenge their explanation.

She already knew why they had gathered in her room.

They were fans of romance novels, and anything related to romance was something they hated missing.

With Susannah involved, they had been given the perfect opportunity to witness a real situation unfold in front of them.

There was little chance they would leave before the call was made.

Selena glanced at her older sister.

Susannah had returned to her book, seemingly satisfied with the situation she had created.

Thank the Scholars, they are about to graduate from the Royal Academy.

The thought offered Selena a little comfort.

Though that means my second semester could become truly troublesome.

She looked at the other ladies again.

They smiled warmly at her.

One even gave her a small wave.

Selena maintained her elegant smile.

"Ahhh... Fu..."

She stopped before completing the word.

For an instant, she considered the sort of language she would use if she were alone.

However, the thought passed as quickly as it had come.

She was in front of guests.

There was no reason to let a little teasing affect her manners.

"I will call him."

She spoke lightly, her smile never leaving her face.

One of the ladies leaned towards the woman beside her.

"She was about to curse just now."

"Yeah, she was."

The other lady nodded.

Selena heard them.

But she chose not to respond.

Instead, she reached for her Zphone.

The device rested beside her pillow.

She unlocked the screen and opened her contacts, only to find a long list of names.

Her finger moved down the screen.

Then further down.

After a while, she stopped.

Why do I have so many contacts?

Selena examined the list.

The answer was obvious enough.

As a member of the House of Galehart and one of the Flowers of the Kingdom, she had met numerous people at social gatherings, academy events, and other occasions where nobles and Non-nobles were expected to maintain their connections.

There were also the Noble gentlemen who had asked for her contact information.

She could hardly refuse every request outright without risking unnecessary awkwardness.

Some had approached her politely, others had been introduced through their families, and a few had asked through mutual acquaintances.

So, she had saved their numbers.

Her friends and the ladies who admired her had added to the list, especially after the Combat Festival.

Over time, her contacts had grown into a collection she rarely had reason to examine.

Now, however, she was beginning to regret how easily she had agreed to save so many numbers.

I should have organized these properly.

She continued scrolling.

Then she remembered that she could simply search for Ezra’s name.

Unfortunately, she had already spent time looking through the list before the thought occurred to her.

At last, she found the contact.

Ezra Ashenlocke.

Her finger stopped above the screen.

"You know you could have just searched for his name, right?"

Bell rested her chin on Selena’s shoulder.

Selena turned her head slightly.

"Bell, you are rather close."

"So?"

"Your face is practically beside mine."

"Then move yours."

Selena looked at her younger sister for a moment.

Bell met her gaze without the slightest sign of remorse.

Selena returned her attention to the Zphone.

There was little point in continuing the exchange.

Her younger sister seemed determined to test the limits of her patience, and responding to every remark would only prolong the matter.

Her personal maid had moved closer as well.

In her hands was a hand fan bearing Selena’s image, merchandise she had kept even after the Combat Festival ended.

The fan remained in good condition, suggesting that the maid had taken care of it.

"My Lady, please don’t be nervous."

Selena’s finger paused above the screen.

"I am not nervous."

"Of course, My Lady."

The maid nodded politely.

Behind her, the other maids serving the Galehart ladies had gathered too.

Some held their own hand fans, while others watched Selena with expectant smiles.

"Lady Selena!"

"You can do it!"

"We are supporting you!"

Selena glanced at the hand fans in their hands.

Why are they treating this like an event?

She quietly returned her attention to the Zphone.

I must maintain my composure.

She was Selena Galehart.

She had spent years learning how to conduct herself before other nobles, how to maintain a pleasant expression, and how to respond to people without allowing her emotions to interfere.

A phone call should not be beyond her.

Besides, she and Sir Ezra already had something to discuss.

She had a proper reason to contact him, so there was no need to make the matter more complicated than it was.

Her thumb moved towards the call button.

Then stopped.

What if he is sleeping?

It was getting late.

Ezra could have been training all day, and she did not know how he spent his time after finishing.

He might have already returned to his room and gone to sleep.

Calling him now could disturb him.

And if that happened, would he consider her inconsiderate?

Selena looked at the screen.

Perhaps I should call him in the morning.

It seemed like a reasonable choice.

She could avoid disturbing him, and they would have more time to talk the next day.

There was no harm in waiting a few more hours.

She began to close the contact.

"Don’t you dare, Selena."

Susannah’s voice interrupted her.

Selena stopped and turned towards her older sister.

Susannah had lowered her book.

Her emerald eyes were fixed on Selena, and the look on her face suggested that she had already guessed what her younger sister was thinking.

"How did you—"

"You were thinking about postponing it again, weren’t you?"

Selena remained silent.

Susannah closed her book.

"After making all of us wait this long, you are not going to escape by claiming that you might disturb him."

"I was considering the time."

"You were about to close the contact."

"That does not mean I was going to escape."

"Of course not."

Susannah’s expression remained perfectly serious.

"Then make the call."

Selena looked at her for a moment.

"You seem rather certain about what I am thinking, Sister."

"Then stop making it so easy."

Bell raised her hand from beside Selena’s shoulder.

"I support Big-Sis Susannah!"

Selena glanced at her.

"Bell, you were crying in my arms a few minutes ago."

"That was a separate matter."

"Indeed."

Selena’s reply was calm enough that Bell could not tell whether she was being teased.

Susannah, meanwhile, seemed content to let the conversation continue until Selena finally pressed the button.

The other ladies were watching too.

One had clasped her hands together, another leaned forward in her chair, and the third held her fan near her face to conceal her smile.

Selena’s maid stood beside them, waiting patiently.

Selena took a breath.

"Very well."

She returned her attention to the Zphone.

Her thumb hovered over the call button for a moment before she finally pressed it.

The device gave a soft tone as the call began.

Selena placed it neatly on the bed in front of her.

"Now, would all of you please get off my bed?"

She looked at Bell and Susannah.

Bell seemed to have forgotten that she was still sitting there, too focused on the phone to move.

Susannah rose without complaint.

"Fine, fine."

She adjusted her nightgown, took Bell by the hand, and led her towards the chairs in front of the bed.

"Come along. Let your sister speak to her lover in peace."

"We already discussed this, Sister."

"Did we?"

"Susannah."

Susannah gave her a faint smile.

The two of them sat down, and Bell leaned forward almost immediately, trying to get a better view of the Zphone.

The other ladies moved their chairs closer as well, forming a loose semicircle in front of Selena’s bed.

Selena glanced at them.

Not one of them seemed willing to miss what happened next.

She said nothing and returned her attention to the device.

A moment later, it began to ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

The sound was soft, but the room had grown quiet enough for everyone to hear it clearly.

A holographic icon appeared above the Zphone, indicating that the call was connecting.

Selena sat upright, her hands resting neatly on her lap.

Bell leaned forward.

Susannah held her romance novel against her chest.

The three ladies exchanged excited glances, while even the maids stopped cheering.

The call continued.

Ring.

Ring.

Selena kept her gaze on the holographic icon.

Please pick up.

The thought appeared in her mind before she could stop it.

She adjusted her posture slightly.

Of course, if he is busy, he doesn’t have to answer.

Her fingers rested together in her lap.

And if he doesn’t answer, I can leave him a message.

Can I even do that?

Ahhh... this so nerve-racking

She glanced towards her maid, who offered an encouraging smile.

Selena returned her gaze to the Zphone.

The ringing stopped.

The holographic icon expanded into a screen.

For a brief moment, Selena saw the image on the other end of the call.

Then a familiar voice came through the device.

"Lady Selena."

Selena’s eyes widened almost immediately.

Ezra had picked up.