“Laila is facing something, a very big and serious issue. Pulcheria thought she should not let this go easily this time.
Even though her nephew Karl is fully focused on a major national matter, Laila is still a dear and significant presence for her.
She felt compelled to ask her niece what was bothering her so much that she couldn’t sit still. It seemed necessary.
Pulcheria was filled with an unsettling feeling that if she let this moment slip away, it would disappear somewhere.
“Laila, come, sit here.”
After sending Monica away, Pulcheria went to take a seat where she usually enjoyed tea and snacks. She called Laila, who was turning to prepare tea, and made her sit beside her.
Laila, seeming hesitant, finally sat down beside Pulcheria with reluctant steps, as if unable to defy her.
Was it reluctance, or more like a feeling of fear about something?
Pulcheria’s eyes narrowed sharply as she observed every one of Laila’s actions.
This child’s strange behavior stemmed from guilt. A kind child like her couldn’t just ignore the guilt swelling inside.
The guilt that couldn’t be ignored leads to actions that differ from the usual, often causing bigger problems. If she tries to handle it alone and makes foolish choices, it would only complicate things further.
Pulcheria had seen many such children. Those who realize that their actions produce unexpected results and must take the next step.
Even if one runs around trying to manage things alone, it often only worsens the situation.
Depending on what they have done, sometimes the best approach is to honestly confess everything to someone capable of solving the problem and ask for help.
At least at this moment, Pulcheria felt her support would be of great help to Laila.
“I won’t let this go today.”
“Excuse me?”
“I need to know why you are acting so strangely.”
“Oh, no, ma’am.”
“I will not get up from here until you honestly reveal everything. Of course, you won’t be able to get up either.”
“…”
Laila’s expression was filled with distress. Seeing this, Pulcheria made a decision.
Watching the child, who used to chatter without secrets, now tightly shut her mouth in discomfort, made her realize she truly needed to find out what was wrong.
“Laila.”
“…… Yes, ma’am.”
“If you’ve done something wrong, it would be better for you to be honest before it gets out of hand.”
“……”
“I had a feeling that you were meeting someone. Is there a problem with this person?”
At Pulcheria’s unexpectedly gentle voice, Laila’s head sank lower. She couldn’t bring herself to speak.
How could she confess to the woman who trusted and cared for her so much that she had whispered unspeakable things while lying with the enemy?
Watching Laila unable to raise her head, Pulcheria’s anxiety grew. She wished Laila would say something.
“Staying silent won’t solve anything, will it?”
With a tender tone, like a parent soothing a child, Laila felt a sting at the bridge of her nose. Should she really speak up?
But could it be that Pulcheria, asking about the reason for her guilt, couldn’t even imagine Laila would do something so terrible?
Though she wanted to speak, Laila remained silent.
“…… Perhaps I…”
After what felt like an eternity, Laila’s voice reached Pulcheria, who felt a surge of relief.
“Yes, anything will do, just speak.”
Just like how fruit hangs from a branch, once she started talking, more words would follow.
Pulcheria raised her hand and began to stroke Laila’s golden hair, which fell in beautiful strands under her fingers.
“If you’ve committed a mistake that you believe I could never forgive…”
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
“Then, how should I pay the price for my sins…?”
Moisture lingered at the end of her words. Pulcheria lowered her head and studied Laila’s face.
“Are you crying?”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong, ma’am…”
Tears that began to drip quickly formed a stream. Pulcheria silently took out a handkerchief and wiped Laila’s face. At that gentle touch, Laila burst into tears uncontrollably.
She realized she must have made the biggest mistake she could possibly commit. Pulcheria felt vague anxiety as she combined Laila’s tears with the thought of “a mistake that you can never forgive.”
Could it be that this isn’t just a simple love affair? Is there something worse at play? If it was a sin she could never forgive, it was far too evident who the target was.
Despite thinking it was impossible for Laila to be involved with them, an intangible anxiety slowly consumed Pulcheria’s heart.
“I’m so, so sorry. I never thought it would turn out like this.”
“Speak plainly. What happened? How did it happen?”
“For the first time in my life…”
“For the first time?”
“It was my first time. Feeling that way, and seeing someone who made me feel that way.”
“…Who is that someone?”
Oh no. Pulcheria felt as though she had been struck on the head for a moment. She should have pressed Laila to clarify whom she was seeing when she first noticed her staring blankly into space with a flushed face.
Should she have really inquired about who Laila was meeting? Surely not, surely not. As she awaited Laila’s next words, Pulcheria muttered “surely not” about ten times in her mind.
“It all started from a simple coincidence. We kept running into each other, and as those coincidences repeated, it felt like fate…”
“Who, who are you talking about?”
“Now, even Pulcheria’s breathing grew heavy.
‘And then, without my realizing it… I became enveloped by him.’
Him. Pulcheria began to tremble at just the thought of that name.
‘He was incredibly kind. In a way completely different from what I’ve known, he… cherished me.’
‘Laila.’
‘It was truly the first time. For the first time in my life, it felt like my existence was fully recognized and loved. The feeling that someone cherishes me so deeply is, truly…’
‘Don’t I cherish you? In this world, there’s no one who cherishes you more than I do, Laila!’
How many years had it been since she took in her great-niece, who had lost her parents, and, to be precise, this child with whom she shared not a drop of blood, treating her like family?
Laila’s words about feeling cherished for the first time in her life shocked Pulcheria in another way.
‘Yes. The lady… cherished me so much, but I…’
‘You’re not going to mention that name I’m worried about, are you?’
‘…’
‘I refuse to believe it. Laila!’
‘I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, milady.’
‘You must say it’s not true!’
Pulcheria staggered and stood up. Neither of them directly mentioned that name, but they both knew who Laila was trying to speak about.
‘Is it Toskur, that bastard?’
In the end, the name Franz slipped from Pulcheria’s lips first, and Laila was now sobbing uncontrollably.
‘Are you asking if it’s him!'”
” I made a mistake, I made a mistake, my lady.”
“Ugh…”
“My lady, my lady!”
My mind was in a haze. Pulcheria, stumbling with her hand on her head, was supported by Laila, who hurriedly got up. Her face was a mess, stained with tears.
“Let go of this.”
I never once thought up close that Laila would betray me and get involved with that guy.
Pulcheria had vaguely believed that Laila hated Franz and his gang just as much as she did. No, she was absolutely certain of it. But how could Laila, of all people, be entangled with that man?
Pulcheria would rather believe this was a dream. A terrible, unpleasant nightmare she wanted to wake from but couldn’t.
“That guy must have seduced you.”
“My lady, please sit down. You don’t look well.”
“You, being so kind, must have fallen into his wicked schemes because you don’t know how to refuse.”
“My lady…”
He wanted to say he wasn’t that kind of person. When Pulcheria saw that Laila showed no sign of agreeing with her, she realized Laila hadn’t severed the emotional ties with that man.
“Are you still… holding on to him?”
“……”
“Get a grip, Laila!”
Pulcheria’s sharp shout landed like thunder. Laila bit her lip. Considering the loyalty and affection my lady had shown her, she should have immediately replied “yes” and cut ties with Franz.
However, perhaps not realizing the immense sin she was committing through her words, Laila couldn’t bring herself to say she would easily let him go.
*Zack*
Stars sparkled in her eyes, and a warm sensation surged on her right cheek. Slowly turning her head, Laila placed her hand on her cheek.
“Get a hold of yourself. Do you know what kind of person he is?”
“Lady…”
Her flushed cheeks and sorrowful eyes, with tears flowing down beneath them, made Laila appear even more pitiable.
