There was no point in trying to get him to Elvin right now. Relieved of her worries, Laila smiled back at Kidon.
“I see.”
However, Kidon, who was staring at Laila, shrank his shoulders, and then his cheeks turned red.
Because his skin was fair and clear, the reddish hue on his cheek was very vivid.
“…….”
Laila swallowed nervously.
N-no way, right?
He’s just in a crazy state. He just momentarily lost his mind.
In a year—no, even a month—he’ll regret this impulsive confession.
He had to. That’s how it should be.
Feeling inexplicably anxious, Laila clenched and unclenched her fist repeatedly.
Her throat felt dry, and she longed for the tea that wasn’t there.
As Laila debated whether to call a maid to request tea, Kidon suddenly spoke up.
“About your hair.”
Hair?
Wait, is he talking about the butterfly dance again?
As Laila blankly pondered, Kidon continued.
“It’s really beautiful. It suits you well.”
“…….”
“…Even upon second glance.”
With those words, Kidon lowered his gaze.
The long, dense black eyelashes covered the red gem.
Observing Kidon’s shy demeanor, Laila’s expression stiffened.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Immediately after ending the conversation with Laila, Kidon left the Marquis’s residence.
And as Laila saw him off, she realized why he had appeared in the Marquis estate’s library.
Kidon Reisic was traveling.
Before leaving the kingdom, was he touring all the territories in commemoration?
‘Talk about bad luck.’.
Laila lamented.
The expression ‘bad luck’ truly fits the situation astonishingly well.
If only it had been yesterday or tomorrow that she went out.
Or if she had visited the library just an hour earlier or later!!
Then she wouldn’t have run into Kidon Reisic by accident!
Then she wouldn’t have gotten this sudden proposal today…….
‘A proposal.’
Laila frowned, lying on her bed.
That’s right. In other words, what Kidon threw at her in the reception room was essentially a proposal.
Since he mentioned wanting to promise a future.
Well, she couldn’t get married at this age, and besides, he had to leave for his studies abroad anyway, so it must have meant an engagement…
“Ugh.”
Laila groaned softly, staring at the bedroom ceiling.
She recalled the conversation with Kidon in the reception room. And then it dawned on her that Kidon had personally opened the reception room door.
If he had waited patiently, the butler would have opened the door. But Kidon, unlike a noble, reached for the door handle himself.
Moreover, the door opened almost immediately after the butler announced Laila’s arrival.
Laila remembered that there was quite a distance between the reception room door and the sofa.
Kidon must have been waiting near the door.
So, to sum it up, Kidon must have quickly jumped up from the sofa and rushed to the door upon hearing the butler’s voice.
It’s clear that he’s been waiting impatiently for Laila to arrive.
Actions speak louder than words. Laila’s face turned white as she saw the sincerity in Kidon’s actions.
“No… it’s okay. Even if he truly fell in love… five years is a long time.”
Laila muttered weakly.
“For once, if by any chance Kidon still can’t forget me after five years, then I’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
Laila planned for the future as she turned to lie on her side.
Kidon’s name came out like a sigh.
“Kidon Reisic…….”
A perfect husband material. He is not only attractive, but also has a captivating background.
But Laila hated him.
There was one reason.
It was the massacre of slaves he committed at the age of nineteen.
Her heart started pounding.
Before the regression, when she first heard the rumors about Kidon Reisic,
Laila felt not surprise but familiarity.
What Kidon had done was as astonishing as it was fitting for “Hildegarde.”
Yes, he was not Hildegarde, but someone who bore an uncanny resemblance to them.
Laila closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again.
When Kidon was someone unrelated to her, whether he was similar to Hildegarde or not, he didn’t bother her.
But now, the situation is different.
If things took a turn for the worst, Laila might end up being his wife in the future.
‘No.’
Her stomach twisted. She felt repulsed.
To marry someone who resembled Hildegarde? She would rather die.
…No, that’s not it. Even so, living is better. No, but…
‘Stop! It’s not like the marriage is confirmed; don’t think unnecessary thoughts. Think of something else. Something else…’
As Laila desperately tried to change her thoughts, she unconsciously thought of Sion in the next room.
…She felt her mood improve, then she was startled.
‘Huh?’
Why, why does she feel better?
Thinking of Sion made her feel better after feeling bad because of Kidon. What does that mean?
‘Does it mean I hate Kidon more than Sion?’
Wait, isn’t that a bit strange?
No matter how much she hates Kidon, does it make sense to hate him more than Sion?
As much as she hated Kidon, he hadn’t done anything directly to her except propose. Sion, on the other hand, was her enemy.
Laila ran a hand through her hair. She knew it was an unproductive thought, but she couldn’t seem to stop.
Ultimately, the dilemma continued to occupy Laila’s mind until she fell asleep that night.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
The large and magnificent white carriage departed from the Hildegarde Marquisate.
Pulled by six horses, the carriage glided along the deserted road.
How far had they traveled?
“Young master.”
The knight, who had been sitting upright inside the carriage, spoke for the first time since his departure.
“How did it go?”
At the knight’s question, Kidon, who had been sitting by the window looking outside, turned his gaze towards the knight.
“Um…….”
Kidon blinked. Perhaps due to his appearance, he seemed somewhat delicate.
“Am I… not attractive enough?”
Though it sounded like an odd question, it was actually his response to the knight’s inquiry, if interpreted correctly.
Kidon’s words caused the knight to immediately jump to his feet, his hips bouncing.
“No! That’s not true! How absurd…! Who in this kingdom could possibly be more handsome than you, young master?”
In other words, you’re the most handsome. Kidon only smiled quietly at the knight’s sincere exclamation.
Meanwhile, he thought to himself.
‘Indeed.’
Kidon Reisic was born with a beautiful appearance. He was well aware of that fact.
Perhaps too aware. Whenever he saw young lords of his age at gatherings, he would inwardly scoff. My goodness. How can they live with such faces?
Nevertheless, many people acknowledged Kidon’s undeniable handsomeness.
‘But why…’
Kidon mused.
His mind flashed back to his conversation with Laila in the Marquis of Hildegarde’s reception room.
‘Why did Laila Hildegarde react like that?’
Laila rejected Kidon.
Or rather, she intended to reject him. Kidon was perceptive. The moment he sensed Laila’s intention to reject him, he added.
‘I’m not looking for an answer right now.’
In hindsight, that wasn’t part of the plan.
Originally, Kidon intended to hear Laila’s response right then and there. Naturally, he expected a positive answer.
His plan was to confirm Laila’s approval and proceed with the engagement ceremony before leaving for his studies…
‘I can’t believe my plan went so awry.’
Kidon was stunned.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand it.
Why did Laila Hildegarde try to reject me?
Did she not like me?
Why on earth?
‘Could it be that she’s too young to realize what a perfect match I am?’
yep, he’s psychotic