TEOGDA Chapter 5

Raina chose to sing Serenade.

As her gentle humming filled the space, Emilia’s expression began to change.

A strange sensation tingled at her heart.

The song was clear, yet enchanting—soft, yet powerful.
The notes, laced with raw emotion, felt like they summoned her into old memories.

At the pure, high notes that rang out so clearly, Emilia’s heart surged uncontrollably.

By the time Raina’s song ended, Emilia felt like she had just encountered her first love.

“Haa…”

Even as Raina caught her breath after finishing, Emilia couldn’t bring herself to move.
She wanted to savor this feeling, this sensation, a little longer.

“Is something wrong? Was the song not good enough?”

Emilia’s eyes sparkled, like someone waking from a dream.

“You! You’re the real deal!”

She hugged Raina tightly, paying no attention to Raina’s stiff posture, and clapped her hands with delight.

“I knew I had a good eye!”

Emilia laughed loudly, her voice full of excitement.

“You can come here often, right?”

“No. Just tonight.”

“Why?”

Emilia narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Trying to drive up your value? That’s fine too. Let’s see how the crowd reacts tonight first. Just wait here.”

“It’s… it’s not that…”

Before Raina could even finish her sentence, Emilia had already stepped outside.

Grand Duke Kaithan had been drinking wine nonstop, trying to endure an increasingly unbearable headache.
But now, the headache wasn’t the real issue. A burning pain had taken over his entire body, starting from his core.
And on the night of the full moon, it was worse than ever.

He endured the pain and continued to meet the remaining young ladies one by one, but the one he was searching for was not among them.

“Your Grace, I believe it would be best to retire for the evening.”

“Are these all the young ladies debuting tonight?”

“There’s one who hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Then I’ll wait a little longer.”

Kaithan emptied his wine glass in a single motion.

“Your Grace, if you cannot find a mate by this year, why not consider marrying Chakra? She has said she’s willing to try again. She admits she was inexperienced last time and is now preparing with more care. If you continue without a mate, it will only bring you more hardship.”

“Enough about that.”

Chakra was a woman born and raised in Kaithan’s territory. She carried direwolf blood and had manifested as an alpha, once marked to be his mate.

“Do you know why I came all the way here to find a mate?”

“I apologize.”

Even now, the echo of that song lingered in his ears. Whether it had been a dream or reality, he couldn’t tell—but that voice had clearly eased his pain.

But it had been a trap.
The Arrow of Thanatos, the source of his suffering—only a direwolf’s mate could remove it, and she had taken it.

Since then, the pain, once manageable, had grown nearly unbearable.
Where willpower and herbs had once held back the risk of losing control, now the danger felt imminent.

If he couldn’t find his mate soon, he didn’t know how much longer he could endure.

She had to be somewhere.

Before coming to the capital, he had listened to the voices of all the young women in his territory.
But that voice wasn’t among them.

* * *

The pain of the direwolf clan could only be soothed by their mate.
Without a mate, they were fated to suffer through periodic bouts of pain.
That was why men born with direwolf blood took a mate as soon as they reached adulthood.

Kaithan was no different.
As the ruler and noble leader of the direwolf line, a mate was of utmost importance.
Moreover, after his coming-of-age ceremony, he had manifested as a pure alpha, which made a mate essential.

So immediately after his adulthood rite, he consummated his union with Chakra.
However, their complete lack of compatibility had been unexpected.

“When is the next Debutante Ball?”

“Next year.”

After tonight, another year would pass.
He knew he would have to endure again, but he was tired of the endless chatter of women, the overwhelming perfume, all of it.
Some even shamelessly released pheromones without permission — he was sick of them.
Tonight, the burning fire inside his chest surged even more fiercely, tormenting him.
In short, he was at his limit.

“When is the last young lady expected to arrive?”

“We’re not sure. She’s from the Rosebird family and seems to be running late.”

“I’ll retire for now.”

He had confirmed her identity, so he could check later if necessary.
As Kaithan set down his wine glass, Emperor Adrian approached.

“Leaving already, Grand Duke?”

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but I believe I must take my leave tonight.”

“My, with so many beautiful ladies here, not one could capture your heart?”

“Perhaps one day I will meet my match.”

“Grand Duke, next year my daughter Ariel will be debuting.”

Adrian spoke in a low, suggestive tone.
Ariel was his youngest daughter, cherished and raised with great care.

Sending her far away to the North was not ideal, but if it was to Grand Duke Kaithan, it would be worth considering.
Seeing how Kaithan had rejected every noble lady loyal to the emperor, Adrian wondered if he had been waiting for such an offer all along.

“I’ll consider that next year.”

The arrogant reply caused Adrian’s face to flush red.

“How extraordinary must this girl be that you’re searching for…”

Kaithan furrowed his brow as another sharp headache hit.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

As Kaithan turned, Rahman quickly followed behind.

“Your Grace, the last debuting young lady is approaching to greet you now.”

“Is that so?”

“She is the second daughter of Baron Rosebird.”

At that, Kaithan stopped in his tracks, and Charlotte hurriedly approached.

“Greetings, Your Grace. Allow me to introduce my daughter.”

Kaithan turned his gaze to the young lady beside Charlotte.
His piercing stare made Bella feel like she might freeze on the spot.

For a moment, Bella stood dazed until Charlotte jabbed her sharply in the waist. Only then did Bella hurriedly bow her head.

“…Your Grace, it is an honor. I am Bella Rosebird.”

With her head lowered, Bella barely managed to whisper the words.

Kaithan’s gaze lingered.

“Speak louder.”

“Child, His Grace wishes to hear your voice.”

Charlotte’s loud words drew everyone’s attention.

“Is the Grand Duke really showing interest in that country girl?”

“The Rosebird family? They’re from a lowly house, aren’t they?”

“She looks incredibly plain.”

Even as the surrounding whispers grew, Charlotte held her head high.

“Come now, child, Grand Duke Kaithan wants to know your name! Don’t be shy, speak up clearly.”

“…Bella.”

Kaithan frowned.
The murmurs and his pounding headache blurred the sound of her voice.

“Come closer.”

When Kaithan gestured, Bella took a step forward.
Kaithan leaned his large frame down and motioned toward his ear, indicating she should speak directly into it.

Tension filled the air as all eyes were on them, and Bella’s heart pounded in her chest.
In person, Kaithan was far more impressive than she had imagined.
His towering build, sculpted features, and cold eyes all felt like destiny.
Her heart fluttered so much that she could barely speak.

“…Bella.”

With excitement, Bella clasped her hands and whispered into Kaithan’s ear.
But as soon as the words left her lips, Kaithan straightened up.

His expression had turned disinterested, even bored.

“Well then, enjoy the Debutante Ball.”

It was a clear rejection.
As Kaithan’s massive figure turned away, Bella was overcome with anger.

‘He’s just leaving like that? This can’t be happening.’

In a panic, Bella released her pheromones.
Proper etiquette—that one should never release pheromones in public—was the last thing on her mind.

‘I’m an alpha of the Rosebird family!’

As her pheromones filled the air, Kaithan’s face shifted in a strange way.
Then, he casually suppressed her scent.

“Ha… ah…”

Bella’s breathing grew rough.

“How rude.”

Under the overwhelming pressure of his scent, Bella’s knees gave out, and she collapsed.
She had never experienced anything like this.
Her own pheromones were completely suppressed, and trembling, she sat helplessly on the floor.

“Please… help me…”

As Bella trembled, Kaithan spoke coldly.

“Looks like her tiana has started.”

Tiana referred to a female’s heat cycle.