Chapter 11
Lea decided to wait for Terran in front of the bookstore. If she moved now, they might just miss each other on the way.
But even standing outside the store in the evening, she felt the sharp stares of passersby. A woman standing alone with nothing in her hands was bound to attract attention.
Just then, a man who had been lingering near the building next door approached her.
“Miss, maybe I could help you.”
“Sorry… I’m fine, thank you.”
He thinks I’m a prostitute.
Lea began to move away carefully, but the man followed and continued pestering her.
“A woman standing around at this hour. It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”
“I’m not that kind of person.”
Her voice trembled. She was on the verge of tears. If only Pauline were here, this man wouldn’t dare act this way.
Lea tried to move farther away, but the man grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Let go of me!”
She struggled and shouted as loud as she could. In that moment, a fist came flying out of nowhere and hit the man square in the face.
“Lord Courtois!”
His hair was a mess, his tie was loosened, and his fist was clenched tightly. But more than anything, his face was filled with anger.
Terran looked like he still hadn’t calmed down. He started to approach the man who had collapsed on the ground, but Lea ran forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Please stop!”
Lea held onto him and burst into tears. As Lea Hamilton, she had always been strong and proud. Crying was never something she allowed herself to do. But ever since she became Grace, she had found herself crying far too often.
It wasn’t Grace’s fault. It was her own. She had been pushed around by the storms of misfortune and ended up here.
“Let’s go.”
Terran must have already called for the carriage, because it was waiting by the road.
When Lea stumbled toward it, Terran lifted her gently like a bouquet of flowers and set her down inside.
Lea quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand. She didn’t want to look like a woman who cried over everything.
“I’m sorry I was late.”
As soon as he got in, Terran apologized to her.
“It’s not your fault.”
“This world is still not kind to women.”
Terran handed her the handbag and the book. At that moment, Lea noticed his hand was red and swollen.
“Your hand…”
Without thinking, she grabbed it. He immediately pulled it away.
“It’s nothing.”
“Were you angry because I didn’t wait at the café?”
That was the only thing that made sense. That must be why he seemed so upset.
“It wasn’t that.”
Terran answered while turning away to look out the window.
Where did things start going wrong?
How had he changed this much so quickly? Everything he had never been able to change, all shifted because of one woman.
Even on sunny days, the world had looked dull and gray. Food had no taste, like chewing sand.
Grace’s affection had once felt like a tiresome complaint. Even peace had seemed like cowardice after war.
But now, even the wounds left by war no longer felt painful.
Is it because of you?
Terran turned his eyes back to Grace.
Walking back to the café with the new book had made him oddly happy. Just imagining her waiting for him like a white dove made his steps quicken.
But when he returned, the dove was gone. Only the wolves who had hunted her remained. He had nearly beaten them to death before he could stop himself.
He had searched for her in a panic. Thankfully, his guess that she had gone to the bookstore turned out to be right.
The moment he saw her in the distance, his heart had pounded like never before. But just as quickly, more trouble appeared and tested his patience all over again.
Am I changing because of you?
His life, once tiresome and dull, had taken an unexpected turn. It felt good, but it also scared him. The peace and comfort he felt now could be taken away at any moment.
Why had he hated Grace so much before? She was a woman just like any other. Was it because she clung to him like a child, always needing reassurance, begging him to look only at her?
And now?
She was still a woman, but a completely different one.
The Grace in front of him now had a stubborn will to survive.
Sometimes she looked out at the world with sorrow, but she seemed to have a clear purpose in life.
He couldn’t say exactly what that purpose was, but it was clear that this Grace was not the same person.
Do I like her?
He still wasn’t sure. Was it just curiosity about someone who had changed, or was it something deeper?
Even I don’t know how I feel right now.
Terran shook his head, frustrated. He couldn’t draw any conclusions yet. All he could do was go along with it and see where it led.
But one thing was certain.
I hate seeing other men touch you.
Some emotions couldn’t be denied. Sometimes they hit you like instinct.
Lea had ruined several drafts before finally writing a letter she was truly satisfied with.
“I’ve finished the letter.”
Lea handed it to Terran. Luke and James leaned in with curiosity to get a look.
“Your handwriting is beautiful,” James said, sincerely impressed.
“I can’t read the language, but it looks very elegant,” Luke added, watching Grace with fascination.
But Lea only looked at Terran, waiting to see his reaction. She was worried he might not like it. Then, a calm smile appeared on his face.
“James, place my seal on it and have it sent to Turki.”
“Right away, Your Grace.”
He seemed genuinely pleased, and Lea felt a surge of pride in her chest.
“Grace, you did a great job.”
“I’m just happy I could help.”
When Grace smiled brightly in response to his praise, even Luke and James couldn’t take their eyes off her.
It wasn’t just her smile. It was the dedication she showed in her work and how she always gave her best. That was what made her shine.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Lea politely said goodbye and stepped out of the office.
“Miss Grace is stunning, isn’t she? Well, she always was, but now there’s just something different.”
Luke mumbled, searching for the right words. James replied with more certainty.
“Maybe it’s because we’re starting to see the beauty of who she is inside.”
The beauty within.
Terran agreed with James. Sometimes, as he walked past the study, he would catch a glimpse of Grace writing her letters. The way she poured her heart into every word, as if the outcome of her life depended on it, left a deep impression on him.
Just then, James handed him another envelope.
“This letter came for Miss Grace. Should I deliver it to her?”
“A letter for Grace?”
Terran took one look at the name on the envelope and his expression turned cold.
Allen McDowell. Why him?
It was obvious. Either Allen had fallen for Grace or he was trying to recover the Hamilton family’s necklace.
“I’ll give it to her myself.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
“I’ll be going to Bern with Grace tomorrow. Make sure everything is prepared.”
“Should I arrange for a security escort this time?”
James seemed ready to launch into a list of suggestions, but Terran quickly nodded to stop him.
After everyone left, Terran tossed Allen’s letter into a drawer.
I’ll give it to her when I feel like it.
Lea traveled with Terran to Bern to meet Aiden. This time the weather was good, and they followed the usual road without any delays, arriving exactly on time.
I’m nervous. Aiden Vizak is Grace’s older brother, and he lost his leg in the war.
Lea repeated this quietly to herself. She was anxious about making a mistake.
She had heard Aiden was a baron, but the house they arrived at was very small. She wondered if his family had fallen on hard times, but didn’t want to ask directly. Terran must have sensed her concern.
“Aiden doesn’t like large houses. He prefers staying at the villa.”
His timely explanation put her at ease.
Finally, Lea met Aiden. Grace’s older brother appeared with crutches. Despite his injury, he was strikingly handsome.
There were visible scars on his face and body, and he had lost a leg, but even so, he had a strong and dignified presence.
“Grace.”
Aiden stepped forward and embraced her warmly.
“B… brother.”
The word felt unfamiliar. It came out awkwardly, and she wasn’t sure what to say next.
“You seem more mature now.”
Aiden looked at her with curiosity. He could clearly sense something had changed.
The impulsive and restless girl he remembered was gone. In her place stood someone who spoke and carried herself like a grown woman.
The three of them sat together and exchanged warm greetings, asking after each other’s health and news.
“So, when are you planning to have the marriage?”
Aiden finally asked the question he had been holding in. He thought Terran would probably delay it again, saying he needed more time.
“Marriage? I haven’t thought about that at all.”
This time, it was not Terran but Grace who answered, completely startled.
Aiden looked confused by how different things had become. Wasn’t this the same woman who used to come to him first, asking him to talk to Terran and push him toward the wedding?
“Lord Courtois, you think the same way, don’t you?”
Lea looked at Terran, trying to lead him toward a similar answer. She had always sensed that Terran was hesitant about marriage.
“When the time is right, we will marry. Maybe next year, maybe the year after. Or maybe even this year if it feels right.”
Lea was caught off guard, and Aiden looked just as surprised.
“Grace, when you get to the villa, Reina will be preparing dinner. Could you help her?”
It seemed clear that Aiden wanted to speak with Terran privately.
“Yes, I will.”
Aiden watched her walk away with a surprised expression. Grace used to insist on staying by Terran’s side and never cared much for small chores. Seeing her agree so easily felt strange.
For Lea, though, it was a chance to step away from the tension. She headed toward the villa without hesitation.
“She has changed a lot, hasn’t she?”
Terran asked, and Aiden gave a small nod.
There were a few things Terran had been meaning to confirm with Aiden. It sounded unreasonable, but he couldn’t completely dismiss the idea that something unnatural might have happened to Grace.
Her sudden change was difficult to fully accept.
“Aiden, did Grace enjoy reading when she was younger? Especially anything related to foreign languages or things like that?”
Aiden paused for a long time, wearing a thoughtful expression. Then, finally, he began to speak.
