Chapter 2

“Let go of me…! No…!”

“Wow, you’re really playing hard to get. Not satisfied with this? What, only His Grace the Grand Duke is good enough for you? With your looks, you must have big ambitions.”

She struggled with all her might, but couldn’t overcome his strength. Looking around for help, she saw Daisy was nowhere in sight, and everyone else was too absorbed in their own pleasure to care.

With faint moans, laughter, and music mixing in the noisy space, she realized that even if she screamed, it would be useless.

They said all physical contact at the masquerade was consensual, but that was a complete lie. Embarrassed, Elina’s face flushed red, and tears welled up in her eyes. Rather than being dragged away, maybe she should just use magic…

“This lady has a prior engagement with me.”

At that moment, Jorua’s hand fell away, accompanied by a low, cool voice. 

Rubbing her reddened wrist, Elina looked up at the figure before her, so shocked that she froze.

The voice was slightly disguised, but Elina recognized it instantly.

‘Terence…!’

Terence Callium. The Emperor’s nephew, the Grand Duke of the Renoua Empire.

From a young age, he was recognized for his outstanding martial skills, earning merit in many wars, and had inherited his title from the previous Grand Duke, ruling the Grand Duchy for five years now.

Many had doubted whether the young Grand Duke could lead his realm well, but recently, his various ventures had begun to show results, and the Grand Duchy was entering a period of stability.

Unlike most guests who decorated their masks as part of their look, he wore a plain, featureless mask, seemingly trying not to stand out.

But with his jet-black hair, a head taller than the others, broad shoulders, and a strong, graceful physique, there weren’t many people in the Empire who matched his description.

He was practically announcing to the world that he was Grand Duke Callium. And for Elina, who loved him, it was harder not to recognize him.

‘Why is Terence here…?’

Elina’s gaze turned somber and gloomy. The thought that he, too, had come here for the same purpose made her even more confused.

There was no rule that said she could do this, but he could not; yet until the rumors of marriage began to circulate, he had shown no interest in women at all. Elina, who knew that the retainers had been worried sick about whether he would ever get married, was deeply shocked to see him here.

Terence, whom she had known for a long time, was someone she could never have imagined coming to a place like this…

While Elina was still in shock, Terence, unable to hide his fierce energy, approached Jorua.

The man, who seemed twice as big as Terence, had just been intimidating others, but now, as Terence threatened him, Jorua faltered and stepped back, his earlier bravado vanishing.

“Do you even know who I am?”

“And do you know who I am?”

Jorua tried to threaten the man standing before him one last time. But the answer he received was not what he expected. Lifting his head anxiously, Jorua met eyes with deep violet pupils—a symbol of the Imperial Family.

“Ca, Ca…”

Just before he could utter “Grand Duke Callium!” Jorua remembered this was a masquerade ball and barely swallowed his words, trembling.

‘Why was the Grand Duke here…!’

“If you understand, then get lost.”

Only Jorua could hear the low voice in his frozen ears. Terrified by the Grand Duke’s warning, he hurriedly fled down the corridor.

“Are you all right?”

Terence turned back to Elina as if nothing had happened. As she heard his familiar tone, Elina snapped out of her daze. He won’t recognize her now. She had changed her hair color, eye color, and even her voice.

And Terence would never have guessed she’d come here. The Elina he knew was a boring person who either holed up in the Grand Ducal castle for magic research, went for walks, or occasionally shopped for village necessities.

It was fortunate that this was a masquerade ball, where one attended in disguise. Sometimes, he would act as if he were her real older brother and overprotect her. Whenever he showed even a hint of affection toward her, she’d feel a flutter, but also a despair that he only saw her as a little sister.

Just imagining his reaction if he discovered she was here made her anxious—she didn’t want him to find out. But thinking he couldn’t recognize her gave her a bit of courage.

Elina steadied her voice, lifted her head, and forced a smile.

“Thanks to you. Thank you so much.”

“I stepped in because you seemed troubled. If it was a bother, I apologize.”

He truly did not seem to recognize her. Since they’d known each other since childhood, Terence usually relaxed and spoke comfortably in her presence.

But now, he was using formal language and his tone was oddly stiff—not how he normally spoke to her. Feeling even more reassured, Elina smiled more comfortably and shook her head.

“No, you helped me out of a difficult situation. Thank you, truly.”

“…Did you come alone?”

“Ah, I came with a friend, but…”

“You should find your friend and stay together. Let me escort you.”

He let out a small sigh at the mention of her friend and offered his arm, as if to escort her. Elina looked down at his arm, lost in brief thought.

‘He’ll probably take me to my friend and then go about his own business. But what is that business?’

She didn’t need to wonder; the answer was obvious. Everyone here had the same purpose.

Just imagining him entering one of the many bedrooms with another woman made her heart ache. Looking around, she saw several women already casting shining glances his way.

With his outstanding looks, he stood out even with a mask on. Thinking that one of those women might spend the night with Terence made her blood run cold.

‘If he’s fine with just any woman, then why not me? Maybe…’

Her thoughts spun wildly and veered toward extremes. The alcohol she thought had worn off seemed to surge back. Elina bit her lip, eyes darting in conflict, and finally spoke, not taking his arm.

“What about me? Would I be okay?”

“What… do you mean?”

Terence, still holding out his arm, frowned and muttered. His expression suggested disbelief, but Elina, emboldened by the alcohol, pressed on.

“Didn’t you come here to find someone to spend the night with? Then be with me.”

Her tone sounded almost desperate. The man’s face immediately hardened at her words. The cold air he hadn’t quite masked seemed to radiate from him.

“Ha… Are you serious?”

Was asking to spend the night together really such a shocking thing? Elina almost shrank back at his intimidating demeanor.

But as her rebellious thoughts grew, so did her stubbornness. He came here pretending not to care about women, yet he was at a masquerade ball looking for someone to spend the night with.

Now he was acting like he was putting up walls again? Or did he just not want her? Was Elina Harris not his type, even in disguise?

“I… I can do well. Be with me.”

She started speaking without thinking, not even sure what she meant by “do well,” her mouth moving on its own.

After blurting it out, she realized how pathetic it sounded. Terence’s reaction was not very welcoming.

“You say you can do well.”

Was that the sound of someone grinding their teeth, or was it just her imagination? Elina felt tears of frustration welling up.

Whether she was herself or not, he never saw her as a woman. Thankfully, her mask hid half her face, or he would have seen her twisted expression.

Before she could be rejected any further, she tried to preserve what little pride she had left and spoke harshly.

“If you don’t want to, then fine. I’ll just find another man…!”

“No. Let’s do it.”

“What…?”

Terence blocked Elina, who was about to flee, and his answer made her doubt her ears.

What did he mean, “let’s do it”? Was that acceptance or rejection? As she parted her lips to ask, he suddenly picked her up, startling her into struggling.

“What, what are you doing?!”

Her suddenly elevated view and dangling feet made her cling to him for security. Despite her protest, Terence strode down the corridor, ignoring her.