TEOGDA Chapter 12

At those words, Raina’s expression dimmed slightly.
If he truly knew how she was treated in her household, he wouldn’t be saying that.
But instead of explaining the details, Raina just smiled brightly.

“Terrier, we can start small. We can build things together after marriage.”

“Lady Raina! Are you serious?”

Terrier’s face trembled with emotion.

“As you know, I have the ability to make healing potions. Even without much help from our families, I’m sure we can make things work. So please, don’t feel burdened.”

“Still, that’s…”

“Terrier, in fact, I’d rather not get help from my parents. Just marrying you would be more than enough for me.”

With help comes interference — Raina had learned early on that there’s no such thing as kindness without a price.

“…Lady Raina. I never imagined you cherished me so deeply.”

Terrier completely misinterpreted her words and looked at her with a face full of awe.
His gentle brown eyes now shimmered with tears.

Terrier’s emotion was natural in this era.
Marriage was important to men, too, but for women, it was even more so.

For women, marriage was often their only chance in life — to raise their status, gain wealth, and change their future forever.

Even at her most generous estimate, Terrier knew he wasn’t Raina’s best option.
He could tell just from the way other men had looked at her during the ball.
Because Kaithan had asked her for a dance first, no one else dared approach, but in a few days’ time, suitors would be lining up for her.

Having completed her Debutante Ball, Raina had just officially entered high society.
Opportunities would now open for her in abundance.
She could take her time and choose from the most powerful, wealthy, and handsome noble sons of prestigious houses.

And yet… she was passing over all those possibilities to choose him.
That could only be explained as love.

Despite their few interactions, Terrier had never imagined Raina would feel this way about him.
His heart now pounded so fiercely, it felt ready to leap from his chest.
Terrier sprang from his chair and knelt on one knee before Raina.

“Lady Raina, thank you.”

Holding her small, pale hand, Terrier looked up at her with the devoted gaze of a loyal puppy.

“Just wait a little. I promise I’ll get my family’s permission.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I swear it.”

“Thank you, Terrier!”

Raina’s clear, joyful voice rang through the air.

In that brief moment, Kaithan’s gaze, though seemingly engaged in conversation elsewhere, swept over Raina once, then Terrier.
For an instant, it felt like the ballroom held only the three of them.

Or rather, just the two of them.

It was only a fleeting glance.
Kaithan quickly turned his head away.

One more waltz was played, and then the ball came to a close.
Grand Duke Kaithan never danced again, and neither did Raina.

She spent the remainder of the evening in quiet conversation with Terrier.
Laughter occasionally burst forth, and Kaithan’s eyes would linger briefly — though it wasn’t clear if he was truly watching them.

As the final waltz ended, the guests began to leave the ballroom one by one.

“Lady Raina, I’ll contact you tomorrow.”

Terrier gave her a polite bow and exited the ballroom.

The problem was Raina.

All the other ladies had left with their escorts.
Normally, Raina would have left with Charlotte.

The once lively ballroom quickly grew silent, with only the busy servants cleaning up.

Before long, only Raina and Grand Duke Kaithan remained.

As Raina glanced around in confusion, Kaithan slowly approached her.

“Lady Raina.”

At the low, gentle voice, Raina tensed.

“Let’s go.”

“Pardon?”

“We came together, so of course I’ll escort you home. Come.”

Kaithan walked past her, certain that she would follow.

Raina hesitated for a moment, but as Kaithan took two steps ahead, she hurried after him.

‘It’ll only be embarrassing for a little while.’

Besides, she had no other way to get home.
Once she made it into the city, she could find a way back from there.

And more than anything, she still needed to get a promise regarding what happened before the ball.
As her mind raced to come up with reasons to follow Grand Duke Kaithan, Raina scurried after his long strides.

Come to think of it, she had probably overreacted earlier.
Kaithan had no reason to eavesdrop on her conversation, yet she’d been unnecessarily sensitive.

‘Seriously, what’s wrong with me?’

Normally, Raina was known for being kind and rarely lost her temper — always gentle, no matter the situation.
Yet, for some reason, she always seemed flustered in front of Grand Duke Kaithan.

From their very first meeting until now — always.

‘I need to stop making mistakes around him.’

She hurried after him, and outside the ballroom, the ornate carriage they had arrived in was already waiting.

As they approached the carriage, Kaithan extended his hand.

“Your Grace, thank you for your kindness until the very end.”

“Think nothing of it. Helping you is my pleasure.”

As Kaithan took her hand, it didn’t seem like he used any force, yet Raina’s body seemed to lift effortlessly.
Thanks to that, she entered the carriage with ease.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

Raina arranged her dress and sat upright.
Despite the plush and spacious seat, she couldn’t relax — probably because of a certain someone sitting nearby.

‘It’s so uncomfortable.’

It was night and day compared to being with Terrier.
With Terrier, she felt at ease.
Now, even without a word exchanged, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.

As the carriage rolled on, silence filled the space.
Raina, feeling suffocated, stared fixedly out the window.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kaithan also looking out the opposite window.

His profile, turned toward the outside, looked like a cold sculpture.
Not just his face — his demeanor, too.
His posture was graceful and upright, not a hint of disorder.

So this is what a noble born to high status looks like.
As Raina found herself admiring him without realizing it, a deep voice rang out.

“Lady Raina.”

Kaithan slowly turned to face her.
Raina quickly lowered her eyes, flustered.

“Seems things didn’t go well with that man, seeing as he left you behind.”

“That’s not it!”

“Is that so?”

Kaithan’s lips curled slightly.

“Terrier doesn’t know I came to the Debutante Ball alone. He probably assumed I came with my mother.”

“That’s possible — though he wasn’t very attentive.”

Annoyed by Kaithan’s condescending tone toward Terrier, Raina spoke with extra emphasis.

“Terrier is a kind person. Even today, he said he couldn’t decide on marriage alone and would talk with his parents soon to give me an answer.”

“A mama’s boy, then.”

“Your Grace, I’d rather not discuss Terrier with you.”

“I feel the same.”

Kaithan turned back to the window.

“More importantly, I have something else to say.”

Kaithan shrugged, as if to say go ahead.

“Your Grace.”

When Raina called again, Kaithan’s gaze returned from the window to her.

“Before we came here, you said keeping your secret would require a price. Could you tell me what that price is now?”

“I want to invite you to my home.”

“…What?”

Raina’s mouth fell open.

“Dinner with me — that’s the price.”

“I don’t understand.”

“What part?”

“That’s not really… a price.”

Raina tilted her head in confusion.
She’d expected him to ask her to sing, or at least give him a healing potion.
That would’ve been reasonable — something she could easily provide.

If he’d asked, she had plenty of potions at home and planned to hand one over and end things cleanly.
But this dinner proposal was completely unexpected.

“I thought you’d ask for something else. Like a healing potion, for example.”

“Healing potion?”

“Yes, I’m actually quite good at making them.”

“You’re more talented than I expected.”

“There are some really effective ones at home. I can bring you some if you’d like.”

“I thought I was the one who decided the price.”

At Kaithan’s words, Raina’s face darkened.

“The North is quite far from here, isn’t it?”

Raina subtly expressed her intention to decline.

“Well, my territory is far, but I have townhouses in the capital as well. There’s one in Ezbur, not far from the Rosebird estate. Let’s have it there. Then, may I take that as your acceptance?”

Her escape route had been cut off.

“…Alright.”

“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Lady Raina.”

Though she felt uneasy, Raina nodded reluctantly.
She felt like a rabbit voluntarily walking into a tiger’s den.
A sense of foreboding made her add one more thing.