“Tonight, I’ll let it slide.”
At Eleanor’s words, Daryl lifted his head.
“…What?”
“I’m talking about the clause we added to the contract recently. ‘Do not engage in harsh behavior towards your wife that you wouldn’t normally do in front of others.’ Your comment just now clearly violated that clause, but I’ll overlook it this time because I think you made a mistake due to being quite drunk. But this is the only time.”
“…….”
Daryl looked at Eleanor with a dumbfounded expression. However, she got up from her seat without any hesitation.
“I’ll go to my room. You should rest.”
Daryl blankly watched her retreating figure, then came to his senses belatedly.
“You’re going to spend our first night apart? Have you forgotten what I said earlier?”
Eleanor paused in the doorway and looked back at Daryl.
“I’m sick today. That should be a good enough excuse. I’ll tell the servants the same.”
“No one will believe such a blatant excuse. Rumors will start spreading tomorrow.”
“I don’t care.”
“…You don’t care?”
“Yes. Regardless of how I behave, rumors will always circulate. You should know that well.”
Her voice and expression seemed devoid of any emotion.
“The reason I was willing to stay in this room despite that was out of consideration for your reputation. It doesn’t make much difference to me if a few more rumors are added, but it might be different for you. But now, I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“…….”
“I’m leaving.”
Eleanor left the room after saying that.
Daryl, left alone, spat out a low curse. His mouth was bitter. It was definitely not because of the alcohol.
****
Layla was walking alone, having slipped out of the banquet.
She had been in a bad mood all day, but now it was really the worst. The weather had been cloudy since morning, and she hadn’t seen the sun even once until dusk. It seemed to foreshadow her future.
From the name of Princess Griffith to the beautiful appearance inherited from her parents, everything was perfect on the surface, but in reality, it was all an illusion. It was like a fruit that looked fine on the outside but was rotten on the inside.
She knew very well that the people who said nice things to her face were all gossiping about her father behind her back.
‘…Now that my big brother and that woman got married in front of everyone, how many horrible things will be said?’
Her father and mother are gone now. Her big brother had changed and was no longer interested in her. She didn’t even want to mention her second brother. Thinking about how to live in this mansion, where that woman had now proudly taken her place as the mistress, made her feel lost.
Should she get married as soon as possible and leave the house, as her big brother suggested? But how? Who would want the daughter of a family that’s all show and full of scandal? It seemed like any sane man would refuse.
‘What if I end up marrying a widower who’s over twenty years older than me? What if I never experience true love and end up living a lonely life…’
There were more than a few times when she had lain in bed at night, imagining such things, and had burst into tears out of fear.
But for a while after entering the banquet, she didn’t feel quite so bad. It felt surprisingly good to hear flattering words about her appearance after a long time.
Maybe it was because she had been depressed all day. Seeing that woman fidgeting like a four-year-old child abandoned on the side of the road was quite satisfying. It was certainly not a dignified thing to do as a lady, but that lowly pleasure was like rain to her barren heart.
Then she saw Benjamin Galahad supporting that woman, and a smile unconsciously spread across her lips.
Benjamin was a man who stood out among his peers for his exceptional good looks. Unlike Layla’s two brothers, he had a delicate and feminine beauty, which made him popular with relatively young women.
Benjamin was not a man who often smiled, but he was a courteous and polite gentleman to everyone. The older ladies said, “He’s just like Duke Griffith when he was young.” It didn’t take long for the curiosity she had when she heard that to turn into affection.
Of course, she never showed such feelings. She had heard over and over again that if a woman shows favor first, she loses the game.
Whenever she happened to have a conversation with Benjamin, or when he asked her to dance, Layla always maintained a dignified smile. That was the attitude a lady should have, and she thought Benjamin would prefer such a woman.
At first, she thought he was just being a gentleman who couldn’t leave a woman in poor health alone. But soon her big brother appeared, and she saw the two of them having a nerve-wracking standoff with that woman in between. She saw the way Benjamin looked at her.
She had seen him at countless parties and occasions, but she had never seen that look in his eyes before.
She couldn’t understand it at all.
‘Why does it have to be that woman? My father, my big brother, and now even Viscount Brooke. Why are they all courting that woman?’
What’s so great about that woman? She has no money, no family name, she’s never been in society before, and she even has the scandal of being an illegitimate child. Why on earth would they be interested in her?
At this point, it seemed like that woman was a devil who appeared to steal her life. Why did all the people she liked have to be taken away by that woman? Why on earth?
After her big brother took that woman’s hand and left the banquet, she couldn’t hear anything anyone said. She didn’t know how long she stayed there, or when she got out. When she came to her senses, she was outside.
“…My point is, the only time I’m interested in my wife is when other guys are eyeing her, right? The new Duke must be marking his territory in the bedroom by now.”
She heard such vulgar talk and laughter from men beyond the alley. She felt nauseous and goosebumps rose on her skin. Layla shuddered and hurried away from the place.
Wandering aimlessly, Layla eventually reached the central garden. Leaning against a tree, she took deep breaths, and she could feel her heart calming down little by little.
From a young age, Layla loved walking in the garden. After her mother passed away, it was entirely up to her what flowers and plants to plant. But what about when the year changes and spring comes again? Would she still be able to plant the flowers she likes?
Layla closed her eyes tightly. She had not realized that being robbed of her territory, her place, would be such a great pain.
Then she heard a rustling sound from beyond the evergreen bushes. Layla was startled and looked in that direction. It was hard to see, but it was clear that someone was there.
‘Come to think of it, why did I come here alone without any plan? And it’s so dark…’
She was suddenly scared. She thought she should go back to a brighter place, but her feet were frozen and wouldn’t move. The sound and footsteps were getting closer, and Layla stood rooted to the spot, unable to make a sound.
Before long, a couple appeared. They were both laughing drunkenly, and their clothes were disheveled to the point of being hard to look at with open eyes. The man was fondling the woman’s chest and burying his face in her neck. The woman was giggling and screaming, whether in delight or terror.
“Huh?”
The man suddenly noticed Layla and frowned.
“Who’s this? Isn’t this our youngest princess?”
He staggered towards her, still holding the woman. The face faintly illuminated by the garden lamp was unmistakably her second brother, Anthony. Layla felt the blood drain from her face.
“What are you doing here alone? Waiting for a man? Wow, my sister has grown up. You’ve become a fine lady.”
Even as he spoke, Anthony’s hand was still inside the woman’s clothes, groping her chest. She felt a physiological revulsion, and nausea welled up within her. It was too much. Layla covered her mouth and turned to run.
“Wait, where are you going? Layla? Layla.”
The laughter of the two seemed like mockery directed at her. Layla forgot about her appearance and ran as fast as she could. She tripped and fell, then got up and ran again. It was a miracle that she made it back to the mansion safely.
Even so, she didn’t want others to see her like this, so she found the side door used by the servants. A passing maid called out, “Miss?” but she ignored it and kept running.
On her way up to her room, she finally threw up in the hallway. Layla sat down and started to vomit. While retching, the bitter liquid rose up into her nostrils. Tears streamed down her face from the pain and humiliation. It was miserable. It was unbearable.
As Layla sat there, her head bowed and sobbing, someone’s hand touched her back.
“Are you okay?”
