She felt as though someone had removed a veil from her vision.
Only now. Only now, after all this time.
Only after Sion met his end in despair…
Laila raised her head. She turned around with a blank expression.
Marquis Hildegarde did not stop Laila as she left his bedroom without saying goodbye. He clicked his tongue in disapproval, but that was all.
Laila walked without looking ahead. Then she collided with a body as solid as a wall.
A rough, calloused hand gripped Laila’s shoulder tightly. Only then did Laila lift her gaze.
She stared at the pale, terrified face of the man.
“It’s a lie, right?”
“Sir Taylor.”
“They say Sion is dead… murdered.”
“…”
“Everyone is talking about it. While I was away, did something… conspire…?”
As Laila listened to the frantic words spilling from Taylor’s mouth, she understood the situation.
He was away. I see. I was put to sleep, and Taylor was sent away for a while.
“Ahaha.”
She burst out laughing. As she laughed, her shoulder gripped by Taylor trembled.
“…Miss Laila?”
“It’s not a lie. What you heard is true.”
“…”
“Sion is dead. He was murdered.”
“Who…?”
As if someone were choking him, Taylor spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Who… who killed Sion…?”
“Kidon Reisic.”
“…”
“And Marquis Hildegarde.”
Taylor released Laila’s shoulder. Then he started to walk past her as if to leave.
This time, Laila grabbed Taylor, grabbing the hem of his clothes, making him stop.
“Where are you going?”
“To get revenge.”
“On whom? Kidon Reisic and Marquis Hildegarde?”
“Yes.”
“How do you plan to get revenge?”
“I will make them pay for what they did to Sion.”
So please let go. Instead of forcibly pulling away from Laila’s grip, Taylor spoke politely.
Laila responded immediately.
“No.”
“Miss Laila.”
“I can’t stand by and watch my only close knight die in vain.”
“Die in vain?”
“Do you really think you can confront my father and Kidon alone right now? You know it’s reckless.”
It’s not just reckless; it’s like running into a fire with a bundle of firewood.
A maid approached. Laila lowered her voice.
“Value your life, Sir Taylor.”
The maid carrying laundry passed Laila and Taylor. Taylor then responded.
“I refuse.”
“Sion will come back.”
“What did you say?”
“He will return alive.”
Taylor silently looked down at Laila. Then his mouth opened.
“Understood. Please let go.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“Let go.”
“You said you heard that Sion was murdered. But didn’t you hear? Sion’s body has disappeared.”
Taylor hesitated. His eyes, with faint wrinkles barely visible on his eyelids, widened noticeably.
“What…?”
“Believe me, Sir Taylor. Sion is definitely dead, but he will come back. He must.”
“…”
“So until Sion returns, take care of yourself and wait.”
“……When will he return? Can you tell me that?”
“In five years.”
“…”
“No, to be precise, you’ll start hearing news of Sion being alive in three years.”
“How do you know something like that, miss?”
“Because I’ve experienced it.”
“Pardon?”
“I know the future. I’ve turned back time. Several times. Whether you believe this story or not doesn’t matter to me.”
Laila looked directly into Taylor’s eyes.
“But believe this: Sion will come back.”
“…”
“Aren’t you curious about what Sion will look like as an adult? You should see him yourself. You are his only teacher.”
“…I don’t have the confidence.”
“Confidence about what?”
“The confidence to stand beside those who killed Sion and do nothing.”
I will go insane before three years pass. Taylor confessed in a cracked voice. Laila kept her gaze steady and opened her mouth.
“Go to the palace.”
“… Are you telling me to leave the Marquisate? To go where there are no enemies?”
“I’ll create an opportunity for revenge.”
“What?”
“I can’t just sit still either.”
If I stay still, I feel like I’ll go insane within three years too.
“Are you saying you will create an opportunity to kill the two of them?”
“If possible.”
“…”
“I’ll at least make sure you can take care of one of them, Sir Taylor.”
“How?”
Laila sensed the tremor in Taylor’s voice. Was it tension? Or anticipation?
Maybe it’s both. Laila responded calmly.
“The method is…”
Taylor leaned in to catch her barely audible words.
After a moment, Taylor covered his face. He wiped his face with his dry hands a few times, then lowered them and spoke.
“I’ll take the entrance exam for the royal palace knights. Immediately.”
Laila released the hem of Taylor’s clothing and replied.
“You’ve made a wise decision.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
As Kidon had predicted in the bedroom the day before, Laila joined him for lunch right at noon.
Laila and Kidon occupied the long table alone. A maid hurriedly approached the table and filled the wine glasses placed in front of Laila and Kidon.
“What kind of meat do you prefer? I’ve arranged for some young lamb to be served first.”
“Please marry me.”
“Oh my.”
Kidon responded without even pretending to be surprised.
“You haven’t even had a sip of wine, so I doubt you’re drunk.”
“I hope to have the wedding within a year.”
“That’s impossible, Lady Laila.”
“Why?”
“Because there are certain procedures that must be followed.”
“You can follow the procedures and still have the wedding within a year. We can get engaged in three months and then marry three months after that.”
“You said within a year, but now it’s been reduced to six months. In any case, it won’t work.”
“Please explain the reason.”
“I promised my father that I would marry after I inherit the title of count. Until then, we can only proceed with the engagement.”
“Can’t you inherit the title immediately? It’s just a matter of expediting the timing.”
“Lady Laila.”
Kidon rested both elbows on the table. With his palms stacked and facing upward, he brought them under his chin.
“What happened overnight?”
“I regretted it.”
“Regretted?”
“I almost…”
Laila, who had been looking at Kidon’s face, averted her gaze slightly and stared at the smooth surface of her wine glass.
“I almost turned down a perfect match.”
“…”
“I’ve been regretting my past actions.”
Laila moved her lips slightly, staring at her reflection in the glass.
“You were right, milord. My father is a greedy man. Before my value decreases, he will definitely sell me off somewhere.”
“…”
“I suddenly got scared. Thinking that I might end up as the wife of an old rich man…”
Laila shifted her gaze away from the glass and glanced back at Kidon.
“I didn’t want to lose you, Milord.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll ask again. Please marry me.”
“Your proactive attitude is quite admirable, Lady Laila. However, it is impossible to advance the succession date.”
Kidon lowered the hand that had been supporting his chin and picked up his wine glass. After taking a sip while observing Laila, he set the glass down and spoke.
“For at least the next three years, my father will not relinquish his title. I cannot force him to do so…”
Unfortunately. Kidon added this with a slight narrowing of his eyes.
At that moment, a servant and a maid appeared, carrying a tray piled with dishes. Silence fell between Laila and Kidon as the food was set on the table.
After the servants and maids left, Kidon broke the silence.
“There will be an engagement ceremony in two months.”
“Yes.”
“Is there anything specific you’d like as an engagement gift?”
“I don’t have anything like that. Instead…”
Laila shook her head and continued.
“Please make the engagement ceremony as grand as possible.”
“As grand as possible?”
“I hope that by the end of the engagement ceremony, everyone will know that I am engaged to you.”
