The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 38

Despite Setz insisting that she was fine, Mathias remained firm in his concern.

He supported Setz as she staggered and quickly guided her out of the crowded ballroom. The noise and the number of people inside made it impossible for her to find any comfort there. So, he led her to a quiet garden in front of the hall, where they could have some space.

Mathias carefully helped Setz sit down on a large stone.

“Princess, are you in a lot of pain?” he asked, his face full of genuine worry. Setz tried to say that she was fine, that he shouldn’t worry about her, but the pain caused her to wince involuntarily.

It seemed she had twisted her ankle quite badly. The pain was throbbing, and her ankle was swelling quickly. She was in real trouble.

“I’ll call for a physician immediately,” Mathias said as he stood up.

“No, no! It’s alright. I can get treated once I return to my chambers. The pain is still bearable…” Setz lied. The truth was, the pain was unbearable, and she could barely keep herself from crying out. But she didn’t want to trouble Mathias any further. She had seen the stares from others when Mathias had helped her out of the ballroom, their eyes like arrows fixed on her. The last thing Setz wanted was to draw any more attention to herself.

“Then how about I accompany you back to the palace?” Mathias suggested.

Setz quickly shook her head. If they encountered anyone from the palace on the way back, word would surely reach Lilien, and Setz didn’t want to create another problem for herself. Besides, she was still waiting for Raytan. He had already done so much by coming to this event despite his reluctance; she couldn’t leave him alone.

“No, really. I’m fine. You should go back inside. Didn’t you say you came with your cousin? I’m sure they’re waiting for you,” Setz insisted.

However, Mathias seemed to have no intention of leaving her. He glanced at her swollen ankle, then crouched down in front of her.

“Would you mind if I take a closer look at your ankle?” he asked.

“What?” Setz stammered in surprise.

“I may not be as skilled as a physician, but I do know a bit about first aid. It might help,” he said gently.

“I-I couldn’t possibly trouble you any further…” Setz began, feeling embarrassed.

“It’s no trouble at all. Please, let me take a look,” Mathias insisted, his tone kind but firm.

With utmost care, Mathias reached out and gently held her ankle.

“Ow…” Setz gasped softly, even though he wasn’t pressing hard. The pain was sharp and immediate.

Mathias’s expression grew more serious as he examined her ankle, carefully pressing and feeling around the swollen area. Setz, watching his intense focus, felt her face flush with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she was in such a state in front of someone she had just met today.

But Mathias didn’t seem to mind her discomfort at all. He was entirely focused on assessing the injury, his touch gentle but methodical. Setz clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, trying her best to endure the pain.

After what felt like a long moment, Mathias finally let out a sigh of relief and said, “It seems like you’ve sprained a ligament, but thankfully, the bone doesn’t appear to be damaged.”

“R-Really?” Setz said, feeling a mix of relief and lingering discomfort.

“Yes, but you’ll need to take care of it for a while. You should go back to the palace and ice it as soon as—”

Mathias’s words were abruptly cut off when someone suddenly grabbed him by the collar and yanked him up with incredible force.

“…You.”

Raytan’s crimson eyes gleamed fiercely in the moonlight, his face twisted with rage.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he growled through clenched teeth, his voice dangerously low.

“R-Raytan, Brother!” Setz cried out in shock, calling his name urgently. But Raytan didn’t even flinch. He kept his hold on Mathias’s collar, glaring at him as if he were ready to kill.

“I asked you, what do you think you’re doing?” Raytan repeated, his voice dripping with menace.

When no answer came, Raytan’s voice grew even colder as he demanded once more.

Mathias seemed startled by the situation. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he replied cautiously, “Princess Setz twisted her ankle, so I was examining it with her permission. I apologize if I caused any offense.”

Raytan’s eyebrows twitched in irritation.

“It’s true, Brother!” Setz hurriedly defended Mathias. “He helped me when I almost fell while leaving the ballroom earlier…”

Setz could see that Raytan was on the verge of violence, his expression twisted with fury. She knew that if he let his anger out on Mathias, things could quickly spiral into chaos. She had to defuse the situation, no matter what.

Raytan remained silent for a moment, his eyes still fixed on Mathias with an icy glare. Then, finally, he shifted his gaze to Setz. His sharp, red eyes caught sight of her swollen ankle, and without a word, he released Mathias, practically tossing him aside as he moved to Setz’s side.

“A-ah, ow…” Setz whimpered as Raytan abruptly grabbed her ankle, causing her to wince in pain.

Raytan’s expression tightened, and his voice dropped to a menacing whisper, “Who did this?”

“What?” Setz asked, confused.

“I asked who did this to you. Who made you like this?” Raytan’s tone was laced with a dangerous edge as if he were certain that someone had hurt her on purpose.

Raytan assumed that Setz had been bullied again. But the truth was far more complicated—if anyone was to blame for Setz’s injury, it was Raytan himself. If she hadn’t gone searching for him, she wouldn’t have twisted her ankle in the first place. But Setz couldn’t exactly say that to his face, so she quickly waved her hands dismissively.

“I just lost my footing. These shoes are too high, that’s all,” she said, trying to play down the situation.

“……”

“It’s not as serious as it looks. They said I’ll be fine with some rest and ice once I get back to my chambers,” she added with a hopeful smile.

Mathias, who had been standing nearby, spoke up in a calm tone, “Yes, it appears that the ligaments are strained, but fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any damage to the bone.”

Setz couldn’t help but think that Mathias was far more composed and level-headed than she had initially realized. Given the circumstances—being grabbed by the collar and nearly attacked by a prince—anyone else would have been justified in showing anger or at least irritation. But Mathias remained unruffled, his demeanor as calm and polite as ever.

“I apologize. If I had been more attentive, the princess might not have been injured in the first place,” Mathias said sincerely.

“Attentive?” Raytan’s brow furrowed as he turned to look at Mathias, his expression dark and questioning.

“Forgive me for the late introduction,” Mathias said, meeting Raytan’s intense gaze with a respectful nod. “I am Mathias Karim. It is an honor to finally meet you, Prince Raytan.”

“……”

“I was simply keeping the princess company since she was alone,” Mathias explained.

Raytan’s red eyes seemed to scrutinize Mathias from head to toe. Karim, Mathias Karim, he thought. Raytan was well aware of the Karim family and had heard of Mathias before—he was known as the only son of Duke Karim, reputed for his sharp intellect and exemplary character.

But despite Mathias’s reputation, something about the situation irked Raytan.

“I believe I may have been out of line,” Raytan said curtly. It was the closest thing to an apology he offered, though his tone and expression conveyed no genuine remorse, leaving the air thick with tension. The awkwardness of the moment settled heavily on Setz, making her feel more embarrassed than ever.

Surprisingly, Mathias didn’t seem bothered at all by Raytan’s dismissive attitude. He continued to wear his characteristic gentle smile, as if completely unfazed by the prince’s hostility.

“Prince—”

At the sound of an unexpected voice, all three turned their attention in unison. Emerging from the ballroom and stepping onto the balcony was Caroline, her eyes fixed on the scene before her.

Just as Setz was surprised by Caroline’s sudden appearance, Caroline was taken aback by the situation as well. Raytan had abruptly dashed out in the middle of their toast without a word, and she had assumed it was because of some urgent matter. Yet, to her surprise, it was all because of Princess Setz.

Caroline composed herself and offered a polite bow. “Hello, Princess Setz. I’m Caroline Regent.”

“Oh, yes… Nice to meet you,” Setz replied, still flustered.

Setz’s head was spinning. First, Mathias had approached her out of nowhere, then Raytan had grabbed him by the collar, and now Caroline Regent had appeared. She knew who Caroline was, having seen her at Lilien’s tea parties several times. That only made her more uncomfortable; it was all too clear to Setz how Caroline, being friendly with Lilien, would likely view her.

Raytan’s gaze lingered on Caroline for a moment before he turned back to Setz.

“Can you walk?” he asked.

“Yes. It still hurts a bit, but… I can manage,” Setz answered.

Raytan carefully helped Setz to her feet, then turned toward Mathias.

“Then we’ll be on our way. The princess needs to receive treatment,” he said flatly.

Mathias responded with a courteous nod. “Of course. It was a pleasure meeting you, Princess Setz. I hope we’ll have the opportunity to meet again.”

Meet again? Setz thought skeptically. She couldn’t imagine crossing paths with Mathias after tonight. This encounter was solely because of the debutante, and it wasn’t likely to happen again. She forced a smile in return and turned her attention to Caroline, intending to offer a polite farewell. But before she could speak, Caroline beat her to it.

“The prince truly does care for you, Princess,” Caroline remarked, her tone unreadable.

“…What?” Setz replied, caught off guard.

“It’s nothing. I also enjoyed our brief meeting. I hope you have a safe journey back,” Caroline said smoothly.

Before Setz could respond, Raytan gently supported her and began to lead her away, not looking back even once.

Left standing alone, Caroline Regent and Mathias watched as Raytan and Setz slowly walked off into the distance. Caroline’s green eyes were filled with curiosity and a touch of confusion as she gazed after them, clearly puzzled by the scene that had just unfolded.

***

Setz regretted not asking for a carriage after all. As she hobbled along, she kept sneaking glances at Raytan. He was supporting her, but his mood seemed off—he was unusually quiet and tense. Did something happen while he was away?

“Why?” Raytan asked abruptly, noticing her staring at him.

“If it hurts too much, we can take a break,” he added.

“It’s not that…” Setz started to explain.

“Just listen,” he interrupted, more forcefully, as he guided her to a nearby bench. Fortunately, the path they were taking was lined with a garden full of benches, offering a place to rest. Raytan took off his jacket, laid it on the bench, and helped Setz sit down.

“Where did you go earlier? I was worried because you didn’t come back,” Setz asked hesitantly, looking up at him.

“…I had something to take care of,” he replied, his tone dismissive.

Something to take care of? Setz tilted her head in confusion. It seemed strange that someone who didn’t even want to be at the event in the first place would have something else to do. But then again, maybe it wasn’t impossible. Just like how Mathias Karim approached her, maybe someone had pulled Raytan aside for some reason. After all, Caroline Regent had also been talking to him earlier… Setz thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, “Did it go well?”

“…” Raytan remained silent, his expression unreadable.

“Brother?” Setz prompted.

Raytan hadn’t been able to finish what he’d started with Caroline Regent because he had rushed back to Setz’s side. So he chose to change the subject instead.

“How’s your ankle?” he asked, steering the conversation in a different direction.

“It’s okay. The young lord said it wasn’t too serious. When we get back, I’ll ask Luna to help me with some ice,” Setz replied, trying to sound positive.

“Were you with him the whole time?” Raytan’s voice took on a sharper edge.

“Oh, he approached me first to check if I was alright. He was really kind to me! He even went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable,” Setz said with a smile, clearly appreciating Mathias’s kindness.

Raytan’s expression darkened slightly. He thought back to Mathias’s earlier words: I hope we can meet again. He remembered the way Mathias had held Setz’s ankle, and the blush that had spread across Setz’s cheeks.

“And so,” Raytan began, his voice steady but tense.

“Yes?” Setz responded, looking up at him.

“So, do you like him?” he asked bluntly.

Setz blinked in surprise, taken aback by the question. When she thought about it, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. She was at the age where it wouldn’t be strange for her to start meeting people and forming attachments. Compared to others of her status, she was actually a bit late in experiencing the social scene. Lilien, for example, had been active in society from a young age, building connections with noble heirs.

“Oh, come on, what are you saying? The young lord was just being nice to me, that’s all. There’s nothing more to it, and it’d be silly for me to think of him that way,” Setz said with a laugh.

Raytan’s tense expression finally relaxed a bit.

“Of course, he’s handsome and all, but…” Setz continued, grinning at Raytan, “To me, you’re still the most impressive one here, Brother.”

Her comment came out as a bit of flattery, almost reflexively, but she meant it. If she had to choose the most striking person at the event tonight, it would undoubtedly be Raytan.

“Besides,” Setz added, “I think Lady Regent seemed quite interested in you too, Brother…”

Raytan didn’t respond, and Setz glanced at him cautiously. Ah, maybe he was talking to Caroline Regent earlier when he said he had something to do, she thought, regretting her words. Feeling awkward, Setz started rambling to fill the silence.

“Well, she really was as beautiful as the rumors say! I think she’s around my age, but there’s no comparison between her and someone like m—”

“What’s wrong with you?” Raytan interrupted.

“Huh?” Setz blinked, caught off guard.

“I mean, you’re just as…” Raytan’s voice trailed off, and he furrowed his brow in frustration. It was a familiar expression—the same look he had when he’d tried to apologize for calling her stupid and had struggled to find the right words. Setz realized he was trying to compliment her but was having trouble.

“Don’t smile,” he said gruffly.

“I’m not smiling,” Setz replied, though her lips were undeniably twitching.

“Yes, you are. You’re smiling, and it’s really annoying,” Raytan grumbled.

“Really, I’m not,” she insisted.

“Your hair’s a mess,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he observed her.

Setz suddenly remembered he had mentioned her messy hair before, but in all the chaos, she hadn’t had the chance to check her appearance.

“Is it that bad?” she asked, touching her hair self-consciously.

Raytan watched her for a moment, then reached up to the tree behind the bench and carefully broke off a small branch with delicate lavender-colored flowers. He gently placed one of the blossoms behind her ear.

“Now, no one will notice if your hair is messy. They’ll only see the flower,” he said.

Setz blinked in surprise and turned to look at the tree. The sight was familiar—a tree full of light purple blossoms, just like the ones she had seen in her dream.

She turned back to Raytan, her eyes wide. “It looks…”

It looks good on you, she recalled hearing in her dream, the same crimson eyes gazing at her now as they had then.

Was it possible that the dream she had was a premonition, a vision of this exact moment?

“It’s time to go,” Raytan said abruptly, turning his back to her and bending down slightly.

“Climb on,” he said.

“What? But I’m heavy…” Setz hesitated.

“Just get on,” he insisted firmly.

After a moment of hesitation, Setz climbed onto Raytan’s back. He stood up effortlessly, and despite her worries, he didn’t seem to be burdened at all. As he walked, his steps steady and sure, he recalled Lize’s words.

“Compared to Caroline, Princess Setz is worthless. Just toss her aside. It’s actually for the best. Sooner or later, the princess will have to be dealt with anyway. Escorting her to the debutante was just a final gesture of kindness.”

Lize’s biting words echoed sharply in his mind, and a shadow fell over Raytan’s face. He tightened his grip slightly as he carried Setz.

Feeling his shoulders tense, Setz gently placed her hands on them, leaning close to his ear. In a soft whisper, she said, “Thank you, Brother.”

Raytan’s grip on her tightened a bit more, his face unreadable, but he didn’t say a word.