The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 37

“Of course, that sounds lovely,” Caroline replied with a bright smile.

As they walked away together, Raytan forced himself to keep his gaze fixed on Caroline, resisting the urge to glance back toward Setz. His focus remained on the noblewoman at his side, even though his thoughts seemed to drift elsewhere.

***

No matter how long she waited, Raytan didn’t come back.

Setz stood alone by the window, craning her neck as she anxiously scanned the room. But there was no sign of Raytan, not even a glimpse of his shadow.

In the meantime, the ballroom had grown even more crowded. The young people who had finished their dances were now gathering in small groups, while their parents exchanged greetings and made connections. Setz remembered something Luna had once told her—that people often met their future spouses at these debutante balls, which is why noble families participated so eagerly every year.

Amid the bustling crowd, Setz was an isolated figure. Occasionally, a few people would greet her, but that was all. Everyone knew that building a connection with Setz, the princess scorned in the palace, wouldn’t be particularly advantageous.

She wasn’t angry at Raytan for disappearing; instead, she was worried. What if someone had picked a fight with him? Perhaps Bern and his group were also present at the ball. She had been relieved when she didn’t see them at the start of the event, but there was always a chance they had arrived later. The thought made her anxious. Raytan had swallowed his disdain to come here because of her, and she didn’t want him getting tangled up in any pointless conflict on her account. Just as Setz was about to step away, stumbling slightly in her haste, someone suddenly addressed her.

“Are you alone? I thought I saw you with the prince earlier,” a voice said.

Setz turned to see a man she didn’t recognize. From his unfamiliar face, it was clear he wasn’t from the palace.

“Pardon my late introduction, Princess Setz. My name is Mathias Karim.”

Karim? Setz’s eyes widened at the unexpected name.

“If you don’t mind, could I stay with you until the prince returns? I’m here because of my cousin, but since I recently returned from studying abroad, I don’t know many people here,” Mathias said with a polite smile.

The Karim family was one of the most influential families in the Denhelder Empire. And Mathias was the eldest son of that powerful family. Which meant what he just said was a lie. Even if Mathias Karim had been away for fifty years, people would recognize him and would be eager to befriend him.

Setz felt the heat of stares on her back, likely from the young ladies sneaking glances from a distance. They were probably hoping for a chance to speak with Mathias. He was, without a doubt, one of the most eligible bachelors. His family background was impeccable, he was intelligent, tall, and handsome. His neatly arranged red hair, warm brown eyes, and well-proportioned features were enough to make him stand out in any crowd.

Setz assumed that Mathias had approached her out of pity.

“Ah, I’m sorry, but I was just about to go look for my brother,” Setz said, her voice hesitant.

“Do you know where he went?” Mathias asked.

“I’m not sure. He stepped away for a moment…”

“Why not wait here with me until he comes back? You can keep me company while we wait,” Mathias suggested, still smiling.

Setz hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement. She was worried that if she went looking for Raytan, they might miss each other in the crowd. Plus, it was difficult to outright refuse someone who was being so kind.

…But what should she talk about? Unfortunately, Setz wasn’t naturally outgoing. She had never had friends her own age, and her only regular conversation partners were Raytan and Luna. There was also Eaton, but they had known each other only briefly, and that was four years ago, so it didn’t really count.

“You’re sixteen this year, right, Princess?” Mathias said, breaking the silence in a warm tone.

“Yes,” Setz replied, feeling slightly relieved that he had started the conversation.

“It’s a bit unusual for a member of the royal family to have their debutante ball a little late, isn’t it?”

Setz didn’t know how to respond, so she just made a small sound, “Ah…” If Mathias knew that she almost didn’t get a debutante ball at all, she wondered what kind of face he would make.

“But now that I see you in person, it makes sense,” he continued.

“Pardon?” Setz asked, surprised.

“Lady Yerna must have been worried about your beauty, Princess, and chose to keep you hidden away,” Mathias said with a smile.

My mother, hiding me out of concern for my beauty? Setz couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Mathias really must not know the true situation at the palace if he believed that. It seemed he genuinely didn’t realize that not only the royals but also the nobles knew that Lady Yerna treated her daughter, Princess Setz, with disdain.

Suddenly, Setz felt uncomfortable around Mathias. She was also uneasy about the glances they were receiving from others. It was as if she could hear them whispering, wondering why Mathias was wasting his time on the insignificant Princess Setz.

“I’m sorry, but… I really should go find my brother,” Setz said hesitantly.

“Are you sure that you won’t just miss each other if you wander off? Perhaps I could join you in looking for him,” Mathias offered.

“He should be somewhere nearby… I’ll be fine finding him on my own,” Setz insisted.

“Would you like me to send one of my attendants to search for the prince?” Mathias suggested.

Mathias looked at Setz with a worried expression, and Setz thought to herself that he was truly a kind person. For someone to approach her, who everyone else ignored, and speak to her so warmly, even expressing concern, was almost too much to believe.

But she couldn’t shake the thought that Mathias, too, might change his attitude if he found out how poorly she was treated—worse than even the maids—within the palace. Or worse, he might look at her with even more pity. She didn’t want either of those reactions. All she wanted was to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.

“Thank you, but really, I’m fine,” Setz said firmly.

“But…” Mathias started to say, still looking concerned.

“It was an honor to meet you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening,” Setz said quickly, bowing her head before hastily turning to leave. She scanned the ballroom and realized Raytan wasn’t anywhere inside. He must have gone outside… Maybe I should head outside too, she thought, as she began to make her way toward the exit in small, quick steps.

And then, it happened. Those cursed shoes finally betrayed her.

“Aah!” Setz let out a yelp as her foot twisted beneath her, causing her to stumble awkwardly. She knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. The fact that she hadn’t tripped up until now was a miracle in itself. Still, why did it have to happen here, in front of everyone? She squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment.

But she didn’t fall. Instead, she felt a hand firmly but gently catch her by the shoulder, steadying her.

“I think it might be best if I accompany you after all, don’t you?” said Mathias, who had been watching from behind.

“Th-Thank you… Ow,” Setz winced as pain throbbed in her ankle, her face contorting slightly in discomfort. It was clear now that she had twisted her ankle.

“I’m terribly sorry,” Mathias said, his face filled with genuine concern.

One of the people bustling past them accidentally bumped into Setz, causing her to sway slightly again. The ballroom had become even more crowded and chaotic since she’d last noticed. Mathias frowned at the situation, then, with a resolute expression, gently supported Setz.

“Let’s get you out of here for now, Princess,” he said, guiding her towards the exit with a steadying arm.

***

Unlike the bustling ballroom, the balcony was quiet and peaceful. Occasionally, someone would step out, but they seemed to quickly retreat upon noticing Caroline’s presence.

Caroline, despite her age, had a maturity about her, and unlike most people, she didn’t seem intimidated by Raytan. If anything, she seemed to be the opposite. She met Raytan’s gaze directly, her eyes filled with curiosity. However, she wasn’t rude or ill-mannered like Lilien. She carried herself with a sense of composed confidence that set her apart from the typical noble ladies.

Perhaps it was because she was the daughter of the influential Duke Regent. Raytan pondered this in silence.

“I must say, I’m truly delighted to finally meet you,” Caroline said with a subtle smile. In the moonlight, she looked quite beautiful, but that was all. She didn’t catch his interest because he kept thinking about Setz, who he had left standing alone.

“The maids have been saying that you’re quite close to Princess Setz,” Caroline said, abruptly bringing up Setz’s name, which made Raytan fix his gaze on her.

“Seeing as you personally escorted her to the ball, it seems there’s some truth to those rumors,” she continued.

“Setz has no fiancé as of yet, so there’s no harm in her brother acting as her escort,” Raytan replied coolly.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply there was anything wrong with it. I just meant that you seem to care for the princess quite dearly. Isn’t that right?” Caroline said, her tone probing.

“Is that so,” Raytan answered, his voice devoid of emotion.

“People are quite surprised, you know. Even I was taken aback. I didn’t expect you to attend the debutante at all, let alone appear with Princess Setz,” Caroline remarked.

“…Nor did I expect,” Raytan said, his lips curling into a smirk.

“That the esteemed daughter of the Regent family would be so curious about not just me, but also the inner workings of the royal palace,” he added pointedly.

Caroline merely laughed at his jab.

“True, but thanks to my curiosity, I’ve learned quite a bit,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Interesting,” Raytan muttered, stepping closer to her. His crimson eyes, glowing in the moonlight, took on a sinister gleam as he looked down at her. His voice was low and menacing as he spoke slowly.

“For someone who claims to know so much…”

“……”

“Why, of all people, are you interested in me?” he asked.

Caroline undoubtedly knew the legends that surrounded the royal family, including the one that cast a shadow over Raytan’s life. She had to be aware of the hardships he had endured, the disdain with which he had been treated. The Regent family was one of the most powerful in the Denhelder Empire; logically, there was no reason for Caroline Regent to show any interest in Raytan.

In fact, it should have been Raytan seeking her out, trying to gain her favor. His attendance at the debutante was meant to attract her attention, to make himself visible, to achieve his goals.

But Caroline’s response was bold and unexpected.

“Because I find you intriguing,” she said.

“…Intriguing?” Raytan repeated, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

“Lilien Princess said that no matter how much you’re tormented, you never cry or lose your composure,” Caroline said, her gaze unwavering. “She finds that quite displeasing.”

“So, did that pique your curiosity? All because of such petty gossip?” Raytan asked, a hint of disdain in his voice.

“At first, it was just curiosity, yes. But now it’s something more. The more I heard about you, the more intrigued I became, and after meeting you in person, my interest has only grown,” Caroline replied calmly.

“You have a rather unusual taste for a noble lady. I’m sure you’re aware of the legends about the palace,” Raytan said, his voice laced with skepticism.

“I don’t care about those legends at all,” Caroline said dismissively.

“Legends, at all?” Raytan’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“They’re just nonsense made up by fools,” she continued. “I only care about one thing…”

Caroline paused for a moment and then reached out her hand, gently brushing her fingers down Raytan’s cheek.

“I prefer strong men over weaklings. Men like my father,” she said.

Raytan recalled something he had heard about the Regent family. Caroline’s father was born the illegitimate son of a concubine and lived his early life in obscurity, dismissed by the family. But when the Regent family’s legitimate heir was found dead under mysterious circumstances, and with the father’s own military achievements to his name, he ended up inheriting the family’s title and wealth.

He took control of the enormous private army that the Regent family had maintained for generations, and through his relentless efforts, he transformed the already influential house into the most powerful noble family in the empire.

There were whispers among the nobility that the previous heir’s death was not an accident, but rather a calculated move orchestrated by Caroline’s father himself. Yet no one dared to bring those rumors into the open. The Duke’s fearsome reputation kept everyone silent.

Strong men? Raytan thought to himself, his lips curling into a faint, mocking smile. Perhaps what Caroline was truly attracted to wasn’t strength but rather…

“You seem to favor men with a touch of madness,” Raytan said coldly, “like Duke Regent.”

“Perhaps,” Caroline answered, her face calm and serene. “But isn’t that even more captivating?”

She smiled slightly, her expression serene yet somehow unsettling.

The truth was, it didn’t matter to Raytan why Caroline was interested in him. What mattered to him was not Caroline herself, but the power and influence of her family. Just as Lize had said, Caroline was the most valuable person he could use to his advantage. If she was willing to come to him on her own, then it only made things easier for him.

Raytan looked at Caroline, who was watching him intently, and gave her a cold smile.

“Since this is a memorable meeting, would you care to share a toast?” Caroline suggested, reaching for a wine glass set on the balcony. Raytan nodded, and she began to pour the crimson wine, the deep red color reminiscent of his own eyes.

“I hope we have many more occasions to meet like this,” Caroline said with a subtle smile.

“……”

“Can I count on that?” she asked, her tone both hopeful and challenging.

“…Perhaps,” Raytan replied.

Caroline’s eyes narrowed elegantly as she handed Raytan a glass. He looked down at her, then lightly clinked his glass against hers.

Just as he was about to take a sip of the wine, something unexpected caught his eye from the balcony below.

It was Mathias and Setz.

***