IDNT 15

Chapter 15

At Reynier’s firm reply, only the sound of a finger bowl being placed on the table filled the silence.

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying our Layla is very ill?”

Count Aviere stared at Reynier in shock. It was only natural—he truly believed Layla had been feigning illness.

All the circumstances had pointed to that. The Countess, Siever, all the maids and servants, even the family doctor had said the same: Layla was suffering from a mental ailment, but her body was perfectly healthy.

“Yes. It wouldn’t be strange if she died at any moment.”

The Count unconsciously stiffened as his eyes met Reynier’s.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

While everyone else froze in place, Reynier calmly washed his hands in the finger bowl and dried them with a towel a maid handed him.

“Oh my! Reyn, really! You must have grown very close to Layla already.”

Siever stammered awkwardly, while the Countess shot Reynier a frosty glare.

“Dear, you should ask Layla directly.”

“But the doctor said—”

“Are you saying I’ve been lying all this time? Is that it, dear?”

The Countess looked at him with a sorrowful expression, clutching his hand. Flustered, the Count turned to Layla.

“Was the doctor joking, Layla?”

“Yes. I’ve been acting a little spoiled with Reyn. I suppose he worried too much.”

Layla knew very well that the interest the Count showed her wasn’t out of love. It was only because she was his child—nothing more. He didn’t truly see her as a daughter.

If the Count had truly cared for her, he could not have been ignorant of her real illness. No matter what others said, he would have at least visited her room once.

Even though they lived on the same third floor, he hadn’t the slightest idea. That kind of indifference could never be called affection.

So Layla spoke as if resigned.

“Still, I’m glad Reyn came. I must be a bother, always asking him to visit when I feel stifled.”

“Are you certain Layla is healthy?”

The Count’s question went unanswered by Reynier, who instead looked at Layla.

She didn’t want to ask him to agree with her—it would only make her feel even more pathetic.

“…She does require focused treatment.”

“So that’s what you meant earlier. Oh, Reyn, you’re so dramatic.”

Siever tried to sound friendly, but her eyes glinted coldly as they fell on Reynier.

Hugo, too, glared at Reynier with obvious resentment.

It wasn’t surprising. Hugo had once been found tied up and stripped in the cleaning supply room because of Reynier. Just as Reynier had expected, it was a maid who discovered him.

Even so, when Reynier’s sharp eyes swept over the two of them, they both averted their gaze like herbivores facing a predator.

“I’m truly grateful that Stepmother sent Reyn to help me.”

“Oh ho. I’m glad you like him, Layla. Reyn is an exceptionally skilled doctor. He even saved me from an accident in a carriage the other day—strong as well as smart.”

Layla deliberately looked straight ahead, bothered by those crimson eyes fixed intently on her. At that, Sonet averted his gaze and washed his hands in the finger bowl.

Layla did the same.

Seeing Sonet’s behavior, a bitter smile tugged at her lips. Perhaps Hugo was right—maybe Sonet was hoping she would die after marrying him. The thought stung.

“Come to think of it, Hugo. Weren’t you in the cleaning supply room yesterday?”

Layla turned to Hugo. She sensed he might attack her again, so she struck first this time.

“What? How did you—!”

“The maids were talking. Is it true? Why were you there?”

“I was playing hide-and-seek.”

Siever jumped in to defend Hugo.

“Oh, I see.”

Since Siever had stepped in, Layla said no more.

“I heard you were found stark naked.”

“You…! How dare you say that!”

Hugo flushed with humiliation and anger at Reynier’s blunt remark. But when Reynier’s mocking gaze locked on him, Hugo instinctively dropped his eyes.

Count Aviere cleared his throat loudly, silencing everyone.

“Is that true, Siever?”

“I don’t know about that. We were playing hide-and-seek, and then I forgot because I was with Layla and Sonet.”

Siever shot the Countess a pleading look, and the woman sighed before grasping the Count’s hand firmly.

“Actually, Ronald’s clothes got soiled. He went to change, and on his way, he was attacked by a ruffian.”

“What? A ruffian?”

The Count stared at her in disbelief.

But when she pursed her lips and looked hurt that he had interrupted her, he said no more.

“We caught the culprit and handed him to the city guard. That’s why we didn’t mention it earlier.”

“I see…”

“Even though Hugo and Siever broke up, they were together for a long time. If rumors spread, it could harm Siever too. So I kept it quiet.”

Tears welled in the Countess’s eyes as she looked at her husband. His stern expression softened, and he squeezed her hand tighter.

“You understand, don’t you, dear?”

“Of course, my lady.”

Layla didn’t even feel like laughing at the scene. She was used to it.

Before she realized it, the main course was served.

“I hear you’ve been seeing Layla often lately, Viscount Bruce?”

At the Count’s question, Sonet replied softly, “Yes.” He hadn’t been able to meet Layla’s eyes since earlier.

Hugo shot Layla a strange look, disbelief etched on his face. To him, Layla had always been a place to which he could return whenever he pleased.

“Dear, Viscount Bruce brought a marriage proposal.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes indeed.”

The Count chuckled warmly at the Countess’s singsong voice.

“Layla, come to think of it, you’re of age to marry now.”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. Sonet, is that true?”

When she looked at him, Sonet finally met her eyes and answered.

“Yes.”

“You promised to give me time.”

“Sorry. I… I was in a hurry.”

Layla had suspected Sonet might share the Countess’s goals. But she hadn’t expected him to be her puppet.

Now, watching him sit silently, gauging the mood, that possibility seemed all the more likely.

There was a big difference between the two motives.

If the plan was simply to marry her off and send her away, using Sonet as a shield might suffice. But if he was to remain a puppet who could harm her even after marriage, that was a problem.

“May I be excused?”

“Layla.”

The Count’s low voice stopped her.

“If you leave now, what does that make the Viscount? Stay until the meal is done.”

“…Yes.”

She sighed softly and sat back down. Picking at her steak, she didn’t spare Sonet—who was staring at her intently—a single glance.

“The Viscount says he fell in love with our Layla at first sight.”

“Is that true?”

“Ah, yes. I saw her at her debutante ball.”

The Count chuckled at the Countess’s words and turned to Sonet. Sonet gave an awkward reply, gripping his fork and knife tightly.

“I heard she recently ended a relationship, so I took the liberty of visiting her.”

“And you two met at Siever’s birthday party, I hear.”

“Well done, Siever. Sacrificing your party for Layla’s sake like that.”

“Oh, no, Father. I only gave up a little for her.”

The day after Siever’s birthday was Layla’s. The Count had forgotten. In this house, the only person who remembered Layla’s birthday was Layla herself.

Her former lovers probably knew, but Hugo had never asked nor celebrated it.

“So Layla received an early birthday gift, then.”

Reynier’s sudden remark startled the Count.

“According to Layla’s profile, her birthday falls the day after Miss Siever’s.”

“Ah, th-that’s right! That’s why I gave Layla her gift early! No one else in the house seemed to know.”

Siever hurried to cover up, but the Count’s expression turned guilty.

“Is that so?”

He glanced at Layla, then quickly looked away.

Layla made him uncomfortable. She resembled her late mother too much, and every time he saw her, guilt gnawed at him.

The Count had never wanted Layla to be born.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you were busy.”

“…You’re just like your mother in that way.”

At his words, Layla lowered her gaze, then lifted it again to look him squarely in the eye.

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“No, it’s my fault for neglecting you. From now on, I’ll send your gift along with Siever’s.”

“Thank you.”

After that, Layla didn’t eat another bite. She merely sat there, feigning a smile, until the meal was over.

When Layla returned to her room, Sonet followed. But the door shut just before he could enter, leaving them facing each other with the door between them.

“I want to rest today. I don’t want to talk.”

When she said that, Sonet gripped the doorknob and spoke.

I’m sorry, Layla. I don’t know much about the Aviere household, so I couldn’t blindly take your side.

“I know, I understand. I’m not angry at you. I’m just… a little tired.”

Layla said, though a sigh escaped her—perhaps out of frustration.

All right. I’ll come back tomorrow.

His footsteps receded—then stopped abruptly.

Layla opened her eyes to see Reynier standing there, looking somewhat startled.

Her lips parted in shock.

“How did you—?”

“Has something dangerous happened again?”

He was holding a teacup filled with black tea. Still full, as if he had just been drinking it moments ago.