The Villainess Wants to Change Her Destiny

Hours have passed in the blink of an eye ever since her lessons with Elias started, and they went from different lessons to another.

As if her brain was suddenly burdened by new, unfamiliar information shoved into her, Calista felt extra exhausted at the end of the day.

"That's the end of the lesson. Thank you for your attention, Lord Elias and Lady Calista. See you tomorrow."

As soon as the last teacher went out of the study, Calista buried her face in the pile of papers on her desk and groaned at the hectic schedule.

As expected, her lesson cannot be compared to Elias's study lessons. It's like ground and heaven.

Calista let out a muffled sigh into the papers, her thoughts swirling with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief.

The intensity of Elias's lessons was far beyond anything she had experienced before. Every subject demanded not only attention but also a sharp mind and relentless focus.

She peeked out from behind her makeshift paper shield and glanced at Elias, who appeared utterly unbothered by the rigorous schedule.

He sat calmly at his desk, neatly organizing his notes as if the day hadn't been mentally draining.

"Do you ever get tired?" Calista asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of awe and frustration.

Elias didn't look up from his paper. "No point in letting it show, even if I do," he replied coolly.

Calista sat up, rubbing her temples. "That's not exactly reassuring."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're not accustomed to this pace, are you?"

"Not even close," she admitted, her tone laced with self-deprecation. "My previous lessons were... much simpler. This feels like preparing for war."

At that, Elias's lips quirked into what might have been a ghost of a smirk. "In some ways, it is."

Calista tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

"Every noble child is trained to navigate the battlefield, whether it's with swords or words," Elias explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "What you're learning here isn't just knowledge—it's preparation for survival."

His words sent a shiver down her spine. She had always known the world of nobility was a treacherous one, but hearing it phrased so bluntly by someone her age made it feel all the more daunting.

"I see," she murmured, her gaze drifting to her notes. "I suppose I have a lot to catch up on."

"Where are you going?" She asked when Elias stood from his seat and then went out of the study.

Calista reluctantly followed Elias as he didn't answer her again.

Elias strode down the corridor with an unhurried but purposeful pace, his posture straight and unyielding. Calista struggled to keep up, her legs still heavy from sitting all day.

"Are you ignoring me on purpose, or is this just how you usually are?" she huffed, trying to match his strides.

Elias glanced over his shoulder briefly, his expression impassive. "Don't follow me."

Calista's ears perked up as if she sensed something.

The corner of her lips curled up as she overtook him and then stopped in front of him with a grin on her lips.

"Why? Are you hiding something? "

Elias halted abruptly, his amber eyes narrowing as they met Calista's playful gaze.

There was a flicker of something in his expression—annoyance, amusement, maybe both—but it quickly vanished behind the usual mask of indifference.

"I'm not hiding anything," he said flatly, his tone betraying nothing. "I simply prefer being alone."

Calista tilted her head slightly, her grin widening. "Is that so? I thought maybe you just didn't want to share whatever it is you're up to. It's not like you to act so secretive."

Elias's eyes flickered to the side for a moment before returning to her. "You really like to talk, don't you? "

"Maybe," she replied casually, "but maybe I'm just curious. You always seem so... distant. I want to know what makes you tick."

Elias's gaze lingered on her for a moment, the silence stretching between them. For a brief second, Calista thought he might actually engage with her, but instead, he stepped around her and continued walking.

"Curiosity doesn't always end well," he said over his shoulder, his voice colder now. "Trust me."

Calista didn't move immediately. She stared at his retreating back, a mix of frustration and intrigue swirling inside her. Was he just trying to push her away, or was there something more to his behavior?

She followed him again, this time keeping a little more distance but still unable to resist the pull of her curiosity. "So, you like to be alone, huh? Then why are you walking down this hall instead of locking yourself in your room? "

Elias didn't answer for a long while, as if weighing whether to even respond. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter this time.

"Sometimes... It's easier to think when there's space."

She narrowed her eyes at his back. "Space? Or is it because the people around you just get too much? "

Elias halted and turned to face her. His eyes locked onto hers, a sharp edge to his expression. "Stop trying to analyze me. It's none of your business."

Calista met his gaze evenly, not backing down. "I never said it was my business. But I'm starting to think you might need someone to talk to."

For a split second, something flickered in Elias's eyes—something almost like hesitation—but it was gone before Calista could register it fully. He turned back around, walking briskly again.

"Stay out of it," he muttered, his voice tight.

Calista's steps slowed as she watched him walk away. There was something raw beneath the surface of his guarded exterior, something he wasn't willing to share—at least, not yet. It was both frustrating and oddly compelling.

"Well, fine," she muttered to herself as she followed at a distance. "But one day, Elias, I'll get through to you."

And though he didn't hear her words, something in the way he carried himself suggested that he might already know it was true.

In the coming days, their joined classes continued, and the more she spent some time with Elias, the more she was certain that there was something he was trying to hide.

She wanted to get close to him, but the walls he built around him were so sturdy that she found herself in low spirits.