“It might be a little difficult, but… …, Since it is Your Majesty’s command, I will do it somehow.”
“As expected, it’s reassuring. I’m so glad I have you.”
Anyone who heard it would think it was a conversation between the emperor and his subjects.
This was truly absurd. Both Byron, who seemed to be calm as if he had already ascended to the throne, and the man who honored him by calling him a fugitive, his Majesty was disgraceful.
Ayla quietly turned the doorknob and opened the door. It was to better hear their conversation.
“I ended up in trouble when my child was born.”
The man sighed. Speaking of children, could it be that he is talking about Noah? Her younger brother? Ayla pricked up her ears.
“So, I guess I’ll be careful about bringing in a new person. There was an incident where a nanny I trusted completely disappeared with my daughter.”
Byron chuckled and took a sip of the alcohol in his glass.
As she expected, it seemed right to talk about the Duke of Weishafen.
They seemed to be talking about how they had to infiltrate Laura into the Duke’s house, but the task had become difficult due to the birth of Noah.
“Anyway, what did you do back then, Your Majesty? How on earth did you bribe the nanny?”
Usually, noble families would never hire someone who was not truly trustworthy to be the nanny who would take care of their children.
It was the same with Roderick and Ophelia.
However, Byron made such a loyal person betray him.
“It wasn’t bribery, it was threatening. I kidnapped that nanny’s family.”
And when the nanny brought Ayla in, he blocked her mouth in a way that killed both her family and her kids.
Byron burst out laughing and saying, “ What a foolish girl she was!”
And Ayla, who was listening to this story while holding the doorknob, unknowingly tightened her hands.
How can he be so vicious?
She had already heard from Winfred that a nanny had taken her out, but she was completely unaware of the circumstances behind it.
When she thought about the nanny and her family whose faces she couldn’t even remember, her heart broke. Even though she was the one who separated Ayla from her parents.
She was also a victim.
That moment……
As the hand holding the doorknob tightened, a small squeaking sound came from the door.
“Can’t you hear anything?”
“Sound? I didn’t hear it.”
“ Did I hear it wrong? No. There was a sound coming from the door.”
And, of course, Marquis heard that sound. It was a desperate moment.
Ayla looked around in panic but she couldn’t find a place to hide.
If what she overheard was discovered like this, she really could have died. As she imagined the curse placed on her body taking her breath away, she felt like all the strength was drained from her body.
‘You shouldn’t panic. You need to get out of here quickly.’
Even as she thought that, the feeling of fear took over her body and she could not move.
It was just waiting for discovery.
The door to the next room burst open and rough hands pulled her inside the room.
It was Cloud.
“Cl… … .”
“Shh.”
Cloud put his index finger to his lips with a complex expression that seemed to be filled with mixed emotions.
She didn’t know what the situation was, but since it was right that Cloud saved her from danger, she nodded and kept her mouth shut.
Outside the room, footsteps were heard as if Marquis was looking around.
Soon, a knock was heard on the door where she and Cloud were hiding.
Cloud, who hid Ayla in the dark, carefully opened the door and stuck his head out.
“What’s going on, Your Excellency Marquis?”
“Did you not see anyone? Well, my door was open. If someone had overheard my conversation with Your Majesty… … !”
Marquis lowered his voice but opened his mouth without being able to hide his excitement.
“No, I didn’t hear anything. It looks like I didn’t close the door properly on my way out.”
“But there was a squeak… … .”
“It must have been the sound of a door opening in the wind.”
Cloud lied in a carefree voice. There was no hint of lying on his blunt face.
“If a warrior developed five senses like you couldn’t sense anything… Yes, you may be right. I guess I was sensitive. Then, sleep well.”
Marquis soon calmed down his excitement and nodded. It seemed like Cloud’s excuse worked.
And Ayla was lost in thought while listening to that conversation. How did she get caught?
Maybe she was so anxious that she let her guard down. Maybe that’s why she got caught by Cloud and made the mistake of ringing the door. Whatever the reason, it was a huge mistake that couldn’t be undone.
Marquis turned around to shut the door. Cloud then turned slowly around to confront Ayla.
She, who was calming her shocked heart, glared at Cloud. She still couldn’t quite figure out what happened.
“Why do you do such a reckless thing if you get caught, young lady?”
And Cloud opened his mouth as if reciting in a low voice.
“Miss…..??”
“Miss. Ayla let out a mocking laugh without even realizing it.”
“Am I your ‘Lady’? “I am your enemy’s daughter.”
“… … .”
Even though she said she knew a secret she shouldn’t know, Cloud’s blunt expression didn’t change.
It seemed like he already knew. She had noticed.
“Aren’t you surprised? Did you know that I knew?”
“Yes, I had my doubts.”
Ayla felt as if her heart was falling to the floor.
Everything was revealed to Cloud.
“Since when?”
“When she was sick, she was making strange noises.”
That was already a long time ago.
Strangely, tears welled up in her eyes. She burst out laughing, not paying attention to the tears falling.
“Then why did you keep your mouth shut? Why didn’t you run to my ‘father’ right away, no, to your ‘Emperor’?”
“ I do not know.”
Cloud wrinkled his brow in discomfort as he reacted to her sharp question.
“You don’t know….??”
Cloud himself had no idea. Why is this happening?
He needed to let the owner know that the card that was supposed to be used and discarded was no longer useful. He had to do that… ….
“You don’t know? Are you going to betray Byron? How do you resolve your family’s injustice?”
Ayla wasn’t even aware of what she was saying.
The fact that Cloud kept his mouth shut, even after knowing her secret, was so shocking that it felt like the words he had been holding back without even realizing it was coming out.
“You know more than I thought.”
“Does it matter? I’m going to die anyway. My body… … The curse… … .”
Ayla was unable to speak due to the sudden fear that came over her.
Cloud was holding onto her lifeline. If he ran to Byron right now and told him the secret, then… … . She wouldn’t be able to survive.
“I’m sorry, young Lady.”
Cloud closed his eyes tightly. It was so painful that he couldn’t bear to look at Ayla.
It was like this little child knew such cruel facts. The feeling of guilt seemed to be constricting his neck.
“Don’t pity me!”
And Cloud’s unfamiliar feelings made Ayla angry because he seemed to sympathize with her.
She didn’t want to receive sympathy from someone who had lied to her his entire life.
“How dare I pity you, young Lady?”
Cloud carefully knelt in front of her. He was much taller than her, but now he was at a height where she had to look down.
“You will not die. Nothing happened tonight and I have nothing to tell you.”
When Cloud opened his closed eyes, a stream of hot tears was flowing from his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I tricked you… Do not forgive me.”
They were tears of sincere repentance.
And his apology left Ayla speechless.
She can say without a doubt that she has never thought of receiving an apology from one of the people who completely ruined her life.
She burst out laughing. Was it possible to get an apology this easily?
She grew up alone, away from her parents, and eventually ended up killing her biological father and being murdered. That memory remains so clear.
Of course, one apology did not make all the resentment go away.
But…
For Ayla to return safely to her parents, Cloud’s cooperation was essential. And if he helps her… Even then, will she be able to continue to blame Cloud?
“Are you going to keep your mouth shut?”
“Yes.”
“When I return, I will destroy everything you have built with my biological parents. What about your family? Laura and Capella? What are you going to do about your brother’s enemy?”
Ayla continued to question furiously as if she couldn’t believe it.
She wasn’t sure if Cloud understood what it meant to keep her mouth shut like this.
“Please save Laura. Just that child .”
It didn’t matter what happened to her, and seeing Cloud begging to save her niece only made her feel like something was stirring inside her.
The scene was both pathetic and awful. He appeared to be yelling out in resentment.
“I have to go back to my room. If I don’t go quickly, Capella might notice.”
Ayla controlled her discomfort and spoke in the calmest tone she could have.
