Lyla frowned after hearing Aslan’s affirmation.
She went silent for a moment.
Was her mood soured because of the direct contradiction, or was it because he wasn’t the husband she knew?
Aslan’s gaze once again fixated on Lyla. An inexplicable restlessness enveloped him. He couldn’t look away from Lyla’s tightly closed, moist, and red lips.
Lyla’s lips parted. He could see her soft red tongue between her white teeth.
“That’s not it. You’re mistaken.”
Aslan’s ears focused sharply at the words piercing his ears.
“You, you’re not the person you think you are.”
“Well, I believe I know myself better than anyone.”
“No, you don’t.”
Lyla shook her head.
“I can sometimes misunderstand myself. In fact, being myself might make me unaware of certain things.”
There was confidence behind her words.
“I’ve observed you for a long time. You are undoubtedly the person I know.”
Lyla had been by Aslan’s side for three years, not merely circling around him. She had poured all her attention into him, thinking about him all day. No one in the world could know Aslan as well as Lyla did. She was proud of that.
But Aslan, the person concerned, clicked his tongue.
“In that case, you were deceived. I must have probably crafted that image for you to perceive me that way.”
“Even so, that’s still a part of you.”
Lyla said to the man who had once been her entire world.
Now she was trying not to love him, and she was gradually succeeding.
The past him had no feelings for her and loved another woman.
So, she tried to hate him and held some resentment.
‘But I can’t deny that Aslan is a good person.’
Even if something happened later that made her detest Aslan, she couldn’t deny that he was a fundamentally good person.
Lyla thought so.
Aslan couldn’t understand why Lyla would hold him in such high regard.
But in front of Lyla, who looked up at him with sparkling eyes, Aslan couldn’t assert that he was indeed a bad guy.
Instead, a thought crossed his mind.
He wanted to become the man she truly thought of and desired.
‘Ah, damnit.’
Aslan swallowed the curse internally.
A past self he didn’t understand, a love-crazed fool before he lost his memory, felt closer.
Vaguely, he felt like he might understand why his past self behaved like such an idiot and did those unforgivable things.
After breakfast, the family went out to the orchard to work, leaving only their precious Lyla and their guest, Aslan, at home.
After their morning conversation, the two felt a little awkward.
Checking the time, Lyla rose up from her seat. Today was the day she regularly went down to the village.
Apart from going to church for Sunday service, the only time she could go down to the village was when she visited the pastor’s office.
Since the small village had no bookstores, the pastor’s office was the only place where she could get books.
With her family out working in the orchards, Lyla had nothing to do.
She wanted to help out around the house by sweeping and scrubbing or preparing meals for the family, but they wouldn’t let her.
She could do some sewing as a diversion, mending clothes, fixing curtains, and she could also do some embroidery to pass the time. However, doing just that was not enjoyable.
Watering the flowers in the front garden and admiring them provided only a brief joy.
Bored, Lyla repeatedly read a book she found while cleaning the house.
She diligently read the newspaper subscribed by Luke and enthusiastically solved the crossword puzzles inside.
But time always passed by slowly.
The pastor’s library contained a few of Lyla’s favorite literary texts. The same was true for science books.
A few philosophy books, mostly theology, filled the shelves.
Although Lyla was not particularly religious, she didn’t mind reading theological books. She gladly borrowed books and read them.
However, as the number of borrowed books increased, her sense of gratitude and guilt grew.
When she expressed a desire to reciprocate for the pastor’s kindness, he initially refused. However, after a few instances, he made a new proposal.
[Among the books you borrowed, there were some in Polish. Do you happen to speak Polish?]
When she humbly replied that she had not yet forgotten what she had learned as a child, the pastor was pleased and suggested.
[In that case, could you teach some of the kids who can’t go to school? Simple arithmetic, writing, and if possible, Polish.]
Lyla, who had never taught anyone before, hesitated with a half-hearted refusal when the pastor persuaded her again.
[They are still young children, so there’s no need to teach anything too difficult. They are all gentle and kind, and you might find joy in being around them.]
The pastor added that his son was among them.
[I’ve been teaching them up until now, but if Miss Lyla could take over, it would free up my time and allow me to focus on preparing for the worship service. I’d appreciate it.]
Only then did Lyla nod her head.
This was just a month ago. She started out of a sense of obligation, but somewhere along the way, being with the children became genuinely enjoyable.
Her feelings began to show on her face.
Having finished preparing to go out, Lyla spoke with an excited expression.
“I have some work, so I’ll be out for a bit. I’ll be back before dinner.”
Aslan, who had been silently observing Lyla’s actions, asked.
“I would like to accompany you; is that okay?”
“No.”
Lyla, who reflexively refused, paused. Upon reflection, she realized that Aslan had been cooped up at home since he arrived here.
Considering that Aslan had recently recovered from illness, the family advised against going out for his recuperation. Lyla, wanting to avoid unnecessary gossip in the small town, supported their decision too.
Aslan obediently followed the instructions of the Violet House.
[In Central, one must follow Central’s laws].
Since he was living in the Violet House, it meant he would abide by the instructions of the Violet family.
In fact, Aslan had been quietly staying at home, causing no trouble, and not going out. Lyla had not paid much attention to it until now.
However, now that Lyla was planning to go out, it meant Aslan would be left alone.
‘…I endured for a long time.’
Having been in a similar situation before, she understood. Although she endured it due to her family’s worries stemming from love, it didn’t mean that there was no discomfort or unease.
‘I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here, but I can’t just stay cooped up at home forever.’
Aslan would leave soon, but Lyla might stay here for a long time, perhaps even for a lifetime. To avoid unnecessary gossip, she didn’t want to wander around with Aslan, and the idea of leaving him alone at home wasn’t appealing either.
Having experienced trouble due to rumors, she wanted to keep things peaceful and calm here.
After a moment of contemplation, Lyla spoke.
“It’s not like I’m going to an exciting place. Once a week, I teach Polish to the children at the pastor’s hall, and today happens to be that day.”
“Do you know Polish?”
“I learned it a long time ago. It’s not at a high level.”
“Not at a high level while teaching it to children. My wife is humble.”
“…”
“I may not know Polish well, but I might be able to help.”
‘I know that you are exceptionally good at Polish.’
Lyla, with a bitter taste in her mouth, swallowed her words and then cleared her throat before speaking.
“…You need to be careful not to reveal your identity.”
“Understood.”
Aslan replied briskly, smiling in satisfaction.
At that sight, Lyla felt a subtle sense of regret.
‘This is making me feel uneasy.’
Aslan Tordell was a noble among nobles, and no matter how shabby his clothes were or how quietly he sat, the inherent dignity in his posture couldn’t be erased…
Will he make it through the outing without any incidents?
