By the time they left the shop, neither of them had noticed that the sky had darkened.
Lyla was too focused on the gift she held carefully against her chest, and Aslan was too engrossed in watching her.`
“Oh…”
Lyla, who had stepped just beyond the shop’s awning, flinched as raindrops tapped against her face, hair, and shoulders. Instinctively, she took a step back to avoid the rain.
Aslan reached out a hand, letting the droplets fall against his palm, before turning to her.
“I’ll fetch an umbrella. Please wait here for a moment.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“There’s no need.”
Aslan lightly tapped her shoulder—just for a second—before heading back inside.
His plan was simple: first, ask the antique shop owner if they had an umbrella. If not, he would walk to the carriage parked by the street and retrieve one from there.
Meanwhile, Lyla’s only task was to stay under the awning and keep dry.
Whooosh—
What had started as a light drizzle moments ago turned into a torrential downpour. Lyla tilted her head up, watching the dark clouds roll in.
“A sudden shower? I wonder how long it’ll last.”
The wind whipped the rain sideways, sending droplets splattering under the awning. Lyla took a step back to keep her shoes from getting soaked, but soon, her back met the cold stone wall, forcing her to stop.
As she listened to the rain, she reached into her coat and pulled out the music box Aslan had gifted her. Just looking at it made her smile. And with that smile came a surge of courage.
‘Originally, I planned for us to stop by a café first, but with this rain… we should head straight to the hotel.’
Today’s outing had one purpose—to have a deep conversation with Aslan.
Since Violet House was always bustling with family members, it wasn’t exactly the best place for a private talk.
She wasn’t fond of open spaces either. She didn’t want to worry about someone eavesdropping or the possibility of their conversation being interrupted.
Lyla wanted a quiet place where they could talk alone, and the first thing that came to mind was the hotel room where she had been treated for her injured foot on the night of the festival.
It was currently being used by Aslan’s adjutant, Gus Chester, but if she asked, he would surely vacate it for a while.
A spacious room that occupied an entire floor—there, they wouldn’t be disturbed, nor would they have to worry about prying ears.
How should I start?
Lyla gazed at the music box in her hands, lost in thought about how to begin her conversation with Aslan.
It was a difficult question, yet her expression remained calm. There was even a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
She had a feeling that this conversation would mark a turning point in their relationship.
Excitement welled up in her as she eagerly waited for Aslan to return.
However, before he could come back, an uninvited guest arrived.
“Well, fancy seeing you here again, Miss Lyla.”
At the sound of her name, Lyla closed the music box and lifted her head.
For a moment, she wondered who in this unfamiliar city would recognize her. But when she saw the woman glaring at her with a sharp, displeased expression, she was surprised.
“Miss Caroline.”
There was no way she could forget her, having met her just a few days ago. The encounter had been memorable—though not in a pleasant way.
“Are you here alone?”
“No, I have company.”
“Is that so? Well, I’m alone.”
Lyla gave an awkward smile.
To be honest, she didn’t care whether Caroline was alone or not.
Lyla’s indifference was evident, and Caroline picked up on it immediately. Her already sharp eyes narrowed into slits.
“Aren’t you even curious why I’m alone? It’s all because of you!”
“…Because of me?”
“Yes, you! This is all your fault!”
Caroline was practically growling like a furious beast, leaving Lyla bewildered.
‘What is wrong with her?’
Lyla knew Caroline held some resentment toward her, but she never imagined she would go so far as to pick a fight and lash out like this.
What Lyla didn’t know was just how much Caroline’s circumstances had changed.
—That very evening, after Lyla and Aslan had visited the Ransfield estate—
Caroline had received a cold and final notice from Viscount Ransfield: she was to leave immediately.
Lady Ransfield and Diana had tried to intervene, but the Viscount was too enraged to be swayed.
[“Do you need more time to recover? You certainly seemed full of energy when you were cornering Miss Lyla earlier. And above all, I will not allow you to continue influencing Diana. No— you already have! But it ends now.”]
The Viscount had already heard the full account of what had happened in the drawing room from the servants. Even Lady Ransfield, despite her initial reluctance, had been unable to argue against her son’s decision.
Diana, too, had nothing to say in Caroline’s defense. In fact, she had been a willing participant in tormenting Lyla—making her even more at fault.
Like a scolded child, Diana had shrunk back, trying to avoid her brother’s stern gaze.
And with no one left to shield her from the Viscount’s fury, Caroline had been left with no choice but to pack her things that very night.
The only mercy she had been granted was a few days’ grace—time to say farewell to the people she had grown attached to. That was the last kindness the Viscount had shown her.
Caroline had been hoping to stretch out that time, hoping that if she stalled long enough, the whole incident would blow over and she would be allowed to stay.
But that morning, the Viscount had come to her room himself and personally thrown her out.
Caroline had been stalling, hoping to drag things out long enough for the whole incident to blow over so she could stay at the Ransfield estate.
But that morning, Viscount Ransfield had come to her room himself and personally thrown her out.
[“I’ve already booked your train ticket. Gather your belongings and head to the station now. If you miss this train, you’ll have to find your own way home.”]
With such a firm warning, even the most shameless person would have had no choice but to leave.
Stuffed into a carriage filled with her belongings and sent off to Eres, Caroline had been consumed by humiliation and rage.
Her anger was directed at many people.
At Viscount Ransfield, who had cast her out despite knowing her feelings.
At Lady Ransfield and Diana, who had failed to stop him.
And most of all—
Lyla Violet!
Caroline felt fully justified in her hatred. After all, because of Lyla, she had lost everything!
So when she spotted Lyla standing in the shopping district by pure chance, on her way to the train station—
She had immediately ordered the carriage to stop and stepped out to pick a fight.
Caroline still didn’t know exactly what she intended to do.
But one thing was certain—she was going to wipe that smile off Lyla’s face.
‘You should experience the same despair as me. That would make things even.’
As Lyla narrowed her eyes warily, Caroline smirked and strode closer.
Lyla instinctively took a defensive stance, unconsciously pulling the music box she was holding closer to her chest, as if to protect it.
Caroline noticed the movement immediately.
‘What’s that?’
Caroline instantly realized that the object was something very precious to Lyla.
“What’s that?”
She jerked her chin toward the music box.
“…A music box.”
“I have eyes. I can see that.”
Lyla didn’t want to engage, but Caroline wasn’t about to let her off the hook.
“I want a closer look. Show it to me.”
It wasn’t a request—it was a demand.
Lyla ignored her again.
Caroline’s temper flared.
“What, is it some kind of priceless treasure? I just want to take a look!”
Without warning, Caroline lunged at her, hands grasping for the music box.
“Hey! Let go!”
“Ugh—!”
Caught off guard by Caroline’s forceful grip, Lyla lost her hold on the music box.
“Hah! What’s the big deal? It’s nothing special.”
“Give it back.”
“What?”
Caroline scowled.
“What did you just say to me?”
“I said, give it back.”
Lyla held out her hand, her gaze ice-cold.
Caroline was momentarily stunned—not by fear, but by sheer disbelief at Lyla’s sudden shift in demeanor.
Then she sneered.
“Oh? Now I’m in a bad mood. I don’t feel like returning it nicely anymore.”
She began tossing the music box lightly into the air, catching it over and over.
Lyla’s brows knitted together in irritation. Seeing Caroline carelessly toy with the gift Aslan had given her made her blood boil.
“Don’t look at me like that. It ruins my mood,” Caroline mocked. “If it’s that precious to you—”
And then, with a smirk, she flung the music box away.
“—go fetch it!”
“—!”
Lyla instinctively lunged forward, arms outstretched.
She barely managed to catch the music box before it hit the ground—but in doing so, she lost her balance.
She staggered—
—and suddenly, she was falling.
Before she knew it, she was tumbling off the sidewalk, straight onto the road.
Then—
Hiiiiiiiinnng!
A frantic horse’s cry rang in her ears.
Lyla’s head snapped up—just in time to see a speeding carriage barreling straight toward her.
The horses weren’t slowing down.
Her breath caught.
There was no time to move.
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact—
But instead of pain—
She felt warmth.
“Ah—!”
Strong arms had wrapped around her, shielding her from harm.
Someone had caught her.
