CHAPTER 343: ELINA’S DEPARTURE PLAN

"So, when are you leaving, brother?" Elina asked curiously.

Nolan lay on his back lazily with a yawn, while Eliza sat beside him, gently massaging his temples.

"I’m not sure. Father hasn’t given me a departure schedule yet. After all, this matter is quite serious and needs careful preparation," he replied casually. "But apparently, it will be in about three to five days."

The journey to the northern continent was a long one. The weather there was harsh, and the trip could take twice as long.

With winter approaching, it was definitely not the best time to travel—but he and his sister, Sharon, had to go nonetheless.

"I see..." Elina murmured, lowering her head as if deep in thought.

"I brought you some drinks," came Rafine’s voice from beside them. She carried a tray with four glasses—two cups of tea, a black coffee, and a glass of cold chocolate.

She set them carefully on the table, placed the tray aside, and sat down next to Elina.

"Thank you, Sister Rafine!" Eliza said with a bright smile.

"You’re welcome, Eliza," Rafine replied softly.

For some reason, seeing Eliza reminded her of her younger sister, Masha.

It had been a long time since she last visited her family, and it would be a lie to say she didn’t miss them.

Nolan opened his eyes, noticed the look on her face, and asked, "Do you miss your family?"

The sudden question caught Rafine off guard. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise as she replied, "Yes, I do miss them. How did you know?"

Nolan smiled faintly and waved his left hand. "Your face is easy to read. If you miss them, you can go back. I won’t stop you."

Honestly, he felt bad for both Rafine and Alvaron. A beautiful and talented woman like her shouldn’t be serving as a maid.

If her admirers knew, Nolan—more than anyone—understood how furious they would be.

Of course, he wasn’t that heartless. He had offered Rafine the chance to return to the eastern region several times, but she was stubborn.

"Thank you for your offer, but I won’t return. I made a promise to serve you, didn’t I? If I leave, wouldn’t that mean breaking my word?" Rafine refused gently, shaking her head.

Seeing her determination, Nolan could only sigh in defeat. It wasn’t him holding her back—she was the one who chose to stay. Forcing her to return would be meaningless.

"How about you go back first, Rafine? You can come back later. Think of it as a short vacation," Elina suggested, turning to her. "I’m sure you miss your family a lot. You should take a few days to rest. Coincidentally, after my brother leaves, I’ll be moving to the territory Father gave me—it’s in the eastern region, near your family mansion."

She truly couldn’t stand seeing Rafine overwork herself. Like her brother, she wanted Rafine to return home, not spend her days serving them in the imperial palace.

In any case, Rafine was the heir of Duke Austin’s family—her status was highly honorable.

"What? You chose the eastern region as your residence?" Rafine asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Elina replied with a small nod, taking a sip of her tea. "At first, I thought the west might be better, but then I remembered—it’s not the territory of the noble families who supported me during the battle for the throne."

"The northern region is nice, but the weather is unbearable. It’s extremely cold, especially with winter approaching. The snow can last for half a year, and I can’t stand that."

She let out a long sigh before continuing, "As for the south... well, you know it’s the Malvain family’s territory. Moving there would be the same as asking for trouble. They’d probably make policies just to suppress me—and I’d rather not deal with that."

"So, I decided to stay in the eastern region instead. There’s the Austin family, Valmire, and several others. It’s better to live in peace than to constantly be on edge."

Her father had given her two months to prepare, and nearly a month had already passed—she had to decide soon.

After discussing it with her mother and brother some time ago, she finally made up her mind.

Nolan nodded approvingly. "That’s a good decision. So, Rafine, you can go back and relax at your family mansion. Come back whenever you like."

This time, Rafine didn’t immediately refuse. She thought about the offer for a moment, then took a deep breath before nodding in agreement.

"Alright, Nolan. I’ll be back later. Thanks for the advice, both of you."

Nolan and Elina smiled in response. But suddenly, Eliza—who had been quiet the whole time—threw her arms around Nolan’s head, hugging him so tightly that he could barely breathe.

"Brother Nolan! If you, Sister Rafine, and Sister Elina all leave, what about me? Will I be alone?" she asked, her voice trembling as soft sobs escaped her.

She had been listening to their conversation and realized she would be left behind. When Nolan wasn’t around, she usually played with Elina, and when Elina was busy, she spent time with Nolan or Rafine.

But if all three of them were gone, what would she do? Who would play with her? Who would keep her company?

"Ahem!" Nolan choked as he gently patted her shoulder. "Let go for a bit, my dear sister—you’re going to suffocate me!"

Eliza gasped and quickly released him, bowing her head in embarrassment.

Nolan sat up, rubbing his neck. His face had turned as red as a tomato, making Rafine and Elina burst into laughter.

After catching his breath, Nolan looked at Eliza, lifted her gently, and placed her on his lap.

"So, you were worried that we’d leave you?" He asked softly, brushing his fingers through her silver hair with affection.

"Um..." Eliza wiped the tears from her chubby cheeks. "I don’t have any friends besides you three. If you leave, I’ll be all alone."

Her lips trembled with sadness. She didn’t want to return to the lonely, boring days she used to have.

Elina and Rafine exchanged uncertain glances, their hearts aching for her. But there was nothing they could do.

The battle for the throne was still ongoing, and Elina would be extremely busy in the coming months, visiting various noble families to secure their support.

Rafine, on the other hand, had to return to her family soon—it was impossible for her to take Eliza along.

Besides, Elina was certain their father would never allow Eliza to accompany either of them.

Almost at the same time, both of them turned to Nolan, silently hoping he could find a solution.

Nolan fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, as he recalled his father’s birthday party from before, a faint smile curved his lips. "I have an idea..."