EVDR Chapter 118

 

Olivia, who kept mentioning “a tour,” seemed to have some hidden agenda.

Laila guessed on the spot that Olivia was probably targeting Sion.

Aside from that, there was nothing else that she could figure out.

Laila then pondered what to do about Olivia.

Receiving and entertaining guests was the duty of the Duchess, who was the mistress of the Duke’s residence.

In other words, Laila also had the right to refuse or receive a guest.

After some thought, Laila decided to let Olivia into the castle.

If Olivia was indeed targeting Sion…

How would Sion respond?

Laila didn’t have any intention of testing Sion. She couldn’t imagine Sion being swayed by another woman’s temptation.

She was simply curious.

How would Sion refuse Olivia?

Since Olivia was a guest Laila had accepted, she couldn’t just throw her out without reason.

And what Sion did afterward was…

“I never thought he’d avoid Olivia like that.”

Sion spent two days with Olivia, and after that, he never met with her again.

Seeing that Olivia couldn’t meet Sion even after bribing the servants, Laila realized something.

It seemed that during the initial two days when Sion was showing Olivia around the estate, he must have observed and learned Olivia’s habits and presence.

Then, whenever he sensed Olivia from a distance, he would swiftly avoid her and move to another location.

It was astonishing.

It was something only Sion could have done.

And Laila’s honest reaction to that was…

“I’m jealous.”

Laila pressed her forehead against the windowpane.

The fact that her husband can recognize another woman’s presence from a distance…

…It was a bit frustrating, but she couldn’t blame anyone else. It was her own doing, after all.

A short while later, Laila got up from the window and went to find the person she wanted to see.

Laila and Sion settled in the library.

Sion sat leaning against the bookshelf while Laila lay with her head resting on his lap.

“About Olivia Roel.”

“Yes?”

“She thought I was a substitute.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…”

Sion, after listening to Laila’s explanation, widened his eyes slightly and spoke.

“That’s absurd.”

“But, thinking about it, it makes sense. It’s understandable she’d misunderstand.”

Laila fell silent, staring intently at Sion. Sion finally spoke up.

“…Why?”

“Oh, just…”

I’m amazed.

That someone would be willing to go as far as to impersonate a deceased person just to become someone’s wife.

‘Well, I shouldn’t be the one to talk to.’

After all, I’m also doing quite extraordinary things to win Sion’s affection…

“How’s your memory?”

At that moment, Sion brought up something related to the “extraordinary things” Laila was doing.

Laila replied with an answer that was likely to remain unchanged for her entire life.

“Still the same.”

“…Frustrating, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. Not even a little.”

It’s only frustrating because of you. Because of you.

As Laila swallowed her true feelings, Sion’s hand gently touched the area around her forehead.

Feeling the careful touch as Sion adjusted her hair, Laila closed her eyes.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

After the “soul transfer ritual” was completed.

Laila woke up on a mountain.

“……!”

The first thing she felt upon opening her eyes was pain. Her throat was excruciatingly sore.

Additionally, she had a fit of coughing. Laila clutched her throat and tumbled down the mountain.

Then, after the pain had subsided a bit, she looked around and realized something.

That she, or rather, “this body,”  had hanged itself on the mountain.

“Ugh……”

What an unfortunate body…

But that wasn’t important. At least not right now.

Laila descended the mountain. Fortunately, there was no pain except for her throat.

The mountain was adjacent to significantly changed territory. After descending, Laila grabbed a passerby and asked where she was.

“This place? This is the Viscounty of Liam.”

Liam? Liam, that sounds familiar…

‘Ah!’

Former Countess Donovan.

Elise Liam.

“Thank you!”

Laila went to the Viscount’s mansion.

Elise readily helped Laila, despite not knowing who she was.

Laila, who had been considering revealing her identity as ‘Laila’ if necessary to get help, was a bit surprised.

So, she asked:

“Why are you helping me?”

“You resemble someone I know. Your eyes are exactly the same.”

“……”

“……Just make yourself comfortable.”

Thanks to Elise’s kindness, Laila was able to settle comfortably and soon wrote a letter to Cecile.

“Could you send this letter to the County of Kaiter?”

A few days after sending the letter, Cecile arrived at the Viscount of Liam’s estate.

“Thank you for taking care of my friend, Elise.”

“……Friend?”

“Actually……”

After finishing the conversation with Elise, Cecile took Laila and boarded the carriage. The carriage was headed to the County of Kaiter.

“Laila, I told Elise about your plan. Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“Don’t worry, I told her it was a secret, so there’s no way Sion will find out.”

“I’m not worried.”

Inside the moving carriage, Cecile examined Laila closely and stroked her chin.

“Though you really look like a different person…”

“That’s because I am a different person.”

“True, but…”

Cecile then smiled broadly.

“You’re still pretty. Originally, you were brightly beautiful, but now you’re calmly beautiful.”

“Really?”

Could the calm appearance be due to the hair color?

Laila recalled the color of her hair she had seen in the mirror. A dark brown, like old wood.

“Anyway……”

“……”

“You’re pretending to have lost your memory as a side effect of changing bodies?”

“Yes.”

“So that Sion no longer feels guilty towards you?”

Cecile recited the contents of the letter that Laila had written.

Laila nodded silently.

“What did Sion do wrong to you?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. Actually, Sion had said he couldn’t talk about it with me either.”

“……”

“Alright, let’s say I found you by chance in trouble and rescued you, just as you planned.”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll stay at the County as my guest, and then coincidentally run into Sion…”

As Cecile reviewed the plan, she suddenly asked:

“But do you think Sion will recognize you immediately if you’ve lost your memory?”

Laila gave a slight smile.

“He will recognize me.”

When Sion saw Laila at the Count, he froze.

Laila thought that perhaps Sion might embrace her.

In fact, Sion seemed to be struggling with the urge to do just that. He took a step closer to Laila and hesitated.

However, in the end, Sion didn’t do what Laila had expected—he didn’t wrap his arms around her in a tight hug.

Laila clicked her tongue inwardly.

So stubborn…

Swallowing her frustration, she spoke.

“Hello.”

She continued speaking, observing Sion’s expression stiffen.

“Do you know who I am?”

Laila returned to the Duke’s residence in the same carriage as Sion.

Marie and Esther, who were in the residence, recognized Laila as someone who had returned with Sion and noted her green eyes, confirming that it was indeed Laila with a changed body.

Taylor, who had not accompanied them on the journey to the Moon Clan, only understood the situation after being explained.

Marie, learning that Laila remembered nothing, sighed heavily.

“Do you really not remember anything?”

“No.”

“Please speak comfortably. I am the madam’s maid.”

“……”

“I’ll tell you everything. Just trust me.”

Thanks to Marie, Laila learned her name, status, situation, and relationships with those around her without missing any details.

At least, that’s what it seemed like on the surface.

The next day after returning to the Duke’s residence, Laila encountered Sion in the garden.

Laila was pacing around, and Sion appeared later.

It was certainly not an accidental meeting. However, Laila pretended not to notice.

In reality, ‘the current Laila’ was supposed to be unaware.

“Duke.”

“……”

“What a coincidence. Are you out for a walk as well, Duke?”

“Did Marie……”

“Yes?”

“……Did she not mention me? Like how you usually address me, or anything?”

Laila blinked slowly and then spoke.

“Sion.”

“……”

“I heard that’s what I call you, but it feels a bit awkward. Do you feel uncomfortable with me calling you Duke?”