Chapter 12
Terran had a faint, self-mocking expression on his face.
He still couldn’t shake off the confusion he felt toward the way Grace had changed so suddenly.
So, he had asked Aiden, just to be sure, whether Grace’s foreign language skills and medical knowledge, which she claimed to have learned as a child, were really true.
Aiden said none of it sounded familiar, then added calmly,
“People change. Grace is simply growing from a reckless girl into a mature woman.”
It was all in my head.
Terran quickly let go of the complicated suspicions he had built up inside himself.
There are so many things in the world that can’t be explained by logic or science.
For a while, he had seriously wondered if Grace’s soul had been replaced somehow. That was the only way he could explain her transformation.
But in doing so, he had forgotten something important.
Even if people look at the same picture, they interpret it differently. Each person sees the world from their own perspective, with their own likes and dislikes.
Aiden was right. People grow and change. Grace had changed too.
The real problem was that Terran had refused to accept that.
How pathetic of you, Terran Courtois.
He began to reflect on whether he had simply been holding onto a prejudice about who Grace was supposed to be.
He also regretted bothering Aiden with questions that probably only added to his worries.
It’s natural for people to change.
After sending Aiden ahead to the villa, Terran stayed back alone, letting himself sit with his thoughts. Aiden’s voice still echoed clearly in his ears.
“Terran, can’t you just care for Grace as she is?”
“I just…”
“I know she seems like someone who doesn’t measure up to you. I know you proposed because you felt guilty toward me.”
The moment Terran saw the uneasiness in Aiden’s eyes, he felt a jolt of regret.
“If I die, then do whatever you want, Terran.”
That meant Terran didn’t have to stay with Grace out of duty. And hearing those words, Terran suddenly realized how badly he had misunderstood.
“What kind of nonsense is that? Why would you die? You’re not going to die just because you lost a leg. And besides…”
It was hard for him to say things openly. He had always kept his feelings locked inside. But this time, for Aiden’s sake, he pushed through.
“I don’t dislike Grace.”
Aiden looked surprised.
“I mean it.”
At last, a small smile appeared on Terran’s face.
“That’s good to hear. Maybe Grace matured because of that.”
Aiden ended the conversation with a lighthearted tone.
Terran had made up his mind. He would not doubt her anymore.
Even if his thoughts were still tangled, even if emotions didn’t fall into neat categories, he would accept Grace for who she was, just as Aiden had said.
Aiden, Grace is not lacking in any way.
He wished he had said that out loud. Just like the ever-changing world around them, people grow, and they live through it together. A quiet thought lingered on his tongue.
I don’t dislike Grace. In fact…
Terran rubbed his face with both hands, trying to push the thoughts away.
How did he end up becoming someone who doubted everything, analyzed everything, and searched endlessly for conclusions?
What does it matter anymore.
The dinner that evening was warm and pleasant. Lea had helped Aiden’s wife, Reina, with the meal.
Her sister-in-law Reina was gentle, confident, and kind. Most of all, she truly loved Aiden.
“I hope the countryside food suits your taste,” Reina said shyly, glancing at Terran.
“It’s wonderful. Thank you, Reina.”
Compared to the meals served at the Duke’s estate, it was simple. But since it was made with vegetables, they had grown themselves, it held special meaning.
Grace reached first for the steamed cabbage and peas, seasoned with lemon and anchovy sauce. Aiden looked surprised and spoke up.
“Grace, your taste has changed. You used to hate cabbage.”
“What? It’s delicious, brother.”
Cabbage had always been one of Lea’s favorites. It was easy to digest and had a nice texture. But it seemed the original Grace had disliked it.
Lea briefly wondered if she had slipped up, but in the end, it wasn’t realistic to behave exactly like Grace in every way.
“People say your tastes can change even up until the day you die. I couldn’t eat meat at all until I was fifteen. Now I have to eat it at least twice a week.”
Everyone nodded at Reina’s comment.
Terran agreed as well. Before the war, he had eaten beans without any problem. Now he couldn’t stand them.
In the army, all they had was thin soup with beans and hard bread. That memory was impossible to forget.
“By the way, would it be alright for the two of you to share the guest room on the second floor? You’re engaged, after all.”
Share a bed with the Duke?
Reina explained that the villa was small, and there were only a few available rooms, so she suggested that Terran and Grace stay in the same one.
Lea immediately understood what this meant.
Terran and Grace had never stayed overnight before, even when they visited together in the past.
Now the question was, how should she respond?
I tend to move around a lot in my sleep.
Lea was genuinely worried. She knew she had a habit of tossing and turning at night. It would be easier if Terran offered to sleep on the sofa in the sitting room.
“This is much better than a stable. Don’t worry about us, Reina.”
Terran accepted without hesitation. Aiden looked surprised at first, then responded with a loud laugh.
“Terran, you’ve really softened up.”
“What are you talking about?”
Terran looked confused, and Aiden pointed at him with a nod.
“You used to be so picky about everything.”
“I was not. You’re exaggerating, Aiden.”
Aiden had been surprised when he saw Terran earlier. Since the war, he had never seen Terran look so relaxed.
There had always been a shadow of loneliness and sorrow in Terran’s face, the deep marks left by war.
Grace had once carried the same heaviness in her expression.
His younger sister had suffered from a lack of love and attention for so long that she had acted out just to fill that emptiness.
But the Grace he saw now seemed like a different person.
Whatever the reason, it’s a good thing if they’re both changing for the better.
Aiden felt relieved. For the first time in a long time, he believed he didn’t have to worry about them anymore.
After clearing the table and finishing her bath with Reina, Lea went up to the guest room on the second floor.
The bed was a bit small for two people, but it would be enough for one night.
She opened the slanted window and looked up at the sky. The stars sparkled like tiny gems scattered across black velvet.
It’s beautiful.
Maybe this was what peace felt like. For a moment, Lea let herself believe that nothing was wrong and stared at the night sky in silence.
In truth, she felt guilty even being near Aiden and Reina. If they ever found out that a stranger had taken over their precious Grace’s body, how shocked would they be?
Every beginning has an end.
One day, everything would return to how it should be. That thought was the only way she could accept her situation.
Then she heard footsteps on the stairs.
As expected, the door opened, and Terran stepped inside.
With his tall frame and broad shoulders, he filled the small room completely.
It felt strange being alone with him in such a small space.
He was not wearing his usual formal uniform. Just a simple shirt and trousers, with his hair slightly messy. That alone made him look like a different person.
Without thinking, Lea spoke her thoughts out loud.
“You look nice.”
“What?”
Terran blinked in surprise at the sudden compliment. Lea immediately felt awkward and didn’t know how to explain.
“I mean… you look relaxed. That’s what I meant.”
“Were you talking about me?”
“Yes.”
“You look well too, Grace. It suits you.”
“Really?”
The awkward tension between them slowly began to ease.
Both of them looked at the bed at the same time. There was no other real option. The only other piece of furniture was a small wooden chair, and neither of them could sleep there comfortably.
“Are you worried?”
Terran’s eyes looked slightly different now. He took a step closer to her, wearing a playful expression.
“No. You’re a gentleman. Why would I be worried?”
I’m not worried. What bothers me is the comfort I feel, knowing you won’t try anything.
“A gentleman is still a man.”
“That’s true. But I trust you, Lord Courtois.”
It only makes me sad that someone like you can’t hold the woman you want.
Lea smiled brightly on purpose, then lay down on the bed first.
“I can sleep on the chair if you’d like.”
She looked at the poorly made wooden chair Terran had pointed to.
Was he really planning to sit there all night? That didn’t seem right.
“I used to sleep standing up during the war.”
“This isn’t a battlefield.”
Lea patted the empty space next to her as if inviting him to lie down. Terran’s eyes grew complicated.
At last, he moved. He walked slowly to the bed, sat down next to her, took off his shoes, and lay down by her side.
And just like that, they were lying in the same bed, staring up at the low ceiling together.
“Just so you know, I move a lot in my sleep.”
Lea suddenly realized she had made a big mistake.
It didn’t matter whether Terran could physically act on his desires or not. Sharing a bed with him was enough to make her entire body tense. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
She began to speak without thinking. She mentioned she might grind her teeth, or fall out of bed, or move around wildly in her sleep. Anything to distract herself from how nervous she felt.
Why isn’t he saying anything?
Lea moved her eyes slightly and glanced over at him.
What? He’s already asleep?
All her effort to calm herself down suddenly felt pointless. Terran had already fallen asleep, and Lea couldn’t take her eyes off him.
She eventually turned toward him, lying on her side to get a better look.
He really does look like a prince from a fairy tale.
His thick eyebrows, long lashes, straight nose, and clean jawline were like something carved by an artist. Even his slightly messy hair looked perfect.
And he slept so peacefully, without a single hint of danger.
That was what made it harder. How could a man so perfect have something so painful missing?
Lea kept watching him until, without realizing it, she drifted off to sleep.
Terran stirred at the sound of her soft breathing. He slowly opened his eyes.
He was startled to see Grace’s face resting on the pillow right next to his. If he turned his head just a little, their lips might touch.
Grace, do you have any idea how tempting it is to breathe like that right next to a man’s ear?
Of course she didn’t. If she knew, she wouldn’t be sleeping so peacefully, breathing like a quiet spring breeze.
She had no idea that she was the kind of woman who could tempt someone without even trying.
