Chapter 17
“What do you mean by that?”
Kallion frowned as he asked, and Layla quickly replied.
“I just went ahead to get help. I thought that would be more useful than staying behind.”
“Did you actually get any help?”
Yuliana’s cold words made Layla freeze.
No, she hadn’t. She had panicked just from surviving that terrible fire. Even now, just thinking about the flames made her hands and feet tremble.
While she was visibly shaking and pale, Kallion stepped between the two women.
“Enough. Rest first. We’ll talk again later.”
He said it because he thought there was no point in arguing with people who had just survived a fire. But Yuliana seemed to take it differently and replied coldly.
“Why? Can’t stand watching your secretary get questioned?”
“This happened because you acted on your own.”
“If I hadn’t stayed, the orphanage would’ve faced far worse.”
“You think you’re that important?”
She couldn’t tell him that she had used her special power to protect the children.
She had no choice but to use it in that situation, but she couldn’t let him find out.
Yuliana pressed her lips tightly together and stayed silent. Kallion took that silence as an admission of guilt and ran his hand through his hair, ending the conversation.
“You both need to rest. We’ll talk more later.”
Yuliana, not wanting to speak with him anymore, answered curtly.
“That would be best.”
✧ ✧ ✧
Kallion’s expression remained dark as he listened to Layla’s report.
Now that his anger had settled, he began to think logically—and many things didn’t make sense.
“Luckily, most of our people were staying at the inn, so we didn’t suffer major losses. The carriage was a bit damaged, but we can repair it in a day and be on our way.”
“No losses, huh…”
His calm voice dropped coldly.
Misunderstanding his tone, Layla awkwardly smiled and touched the burn on her hand.
“This is nothing. The wound isn’t serious…”
But Kallion said something unexpected.
“You’re saying there’s no problem even though the lady of Valdormer almost died?”
Layla’s face immediately stiffened.
“What? Oh…”
She quickly gathered her expression.
Even if Yuliana was only a figurehead wife, any harm to her could damage the Valdormer name.
And Layla knew Kallion was extremely strict when it came to family matters.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Even though she corrected herself quickly, Kallion’s expression didn’t soften.
“Anything else to report?”
Trying to stay calm, Layla glanced at his mood and continued.
“Just as you ordered, I kept an eye on the lady. I noticed some strange behavior.”
“Strange?”
“She was looking through the orphanage records. She might be searching for someone.”
“And?”
“You’ve heard she was trapped in the burning orphanage with one of the girls, right?”
Even though Layla was being professional, Kallion frowned as if he didn’t want to picture the situation.
“Thanks to the snowstorm, the fire was put out quickly. But when we checked inside… she was lying there, completely unharmed.”
“…”
“No ordinary person could survive that. Unless she’s an ability user like you…”
Bang!
Kallion suddenly slammed the table.
Layla jumped in shock and looked at him with wide eyes.
He had never shown this side of himself to her before. Now, he was glaring at her with clear anger.
“Are you saying it would’ve made more sense if the lady of Valdormer had died in that fire?”
She panicked.
“No! That’s not what I meant…”
But Kallion pressed his fingers to his forehead as if he had heard enough.
“I’ve never been disappointed in you before.”
Those words hit Layla like a punch to the chest.
“Kallion…”
“I’ll hear the rest of the report later. I want full details on how this happened and what the people I assigned to protect her were doing.”
His face showed nothing but disappointment, and Layla’s face turned pale.
He had never looked at her like that before.
She had done everything to become someone important to him. To prove her worth.
“I’m tired. You may leave.”
At his cold words, Layla bit her lip and turned away.
Yes, this was her mistake.
Even if their marriage was only in name, Yuliana was the lady of Valdormer.
Kallion always put the family first. Of course he’d be angry.
Even if she was just a figurehead, she was still his wife.
That had to be the only reason he was so angry.
Biting her lip nervously, Layla walked out.
✧ ✧ ✧
“Thankfully, her lungs were only slightly affected by the smoke. There should be no problem with her traveling back to Valdormer tomorrow.”
The doctor looked at Yuliana in awe.
“You’re very lucky. To come out of that fire like this… Even a divine messenger wouldn’t have survived unharmed in those flames.”
Kallion stood with his arms crossed by the door, listening. His face darkened.
Layla had said something similar.
No normal person could’ve survived that fire and come out perfectly fine.
Was it really just luck?
While he was lost in thought, Yuliana answered the doctor casually.
“Thank you for the treatment.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m sorry I could only give you such basic care, Lady Valdormer.”
The doctor glanced at her bandaged arm.
“I did what I could, but I recommend getting it properly treated at the estate. We wouldn’t want such a fine lady to be left with scars.”
“I will.”
Yuliana didn’t seem concerned, but Kallion frowned at the sight of her bandaged arm.
Did she even realize she was the lady of Valdormer?
And yet she wanted to be treated like one?
Yuliana noticed Kallion’s fierce gaze and let out a sigh.
“Looks like my husband has something to say. Can we have the room?”
Only then did the doctor realize Kallion was standing there and jumped up.
“Oh my! I didn’t even notice. I’ll take my leave!”
Once the doctor left, Yuliana turned to Kallion coldly.
Her expression was much colder than the one she’d shown the doctor or the others.
“You have something to say?”
“Do I need a reason to be here? Everyone else comes and goes as they like.”
“If you have nothing to say, please leave. I want to rest before we depart.”
Kallion’s brows furrowed at her chilly response, but then he slowly spoke.
“I’ll sleep here too.”
“There are other rooms.”
“Why bother? Should we really tell people that the Lord and Lady of Valdormer sleep separately?”
“…”
If people started talking, it wouldn’t be good—especially for her, now that she needed to secure her position in Valdormer.
Seeing her hesitate, Kallion’s expression turned sour. Then he leaned in close to her, hovering right over the bed.
“Weren’t you the one begging to share a bed with me before?”
He was so close, she could feel his breath.
Yuliana frowned.
“What? Is it the room that’s killing the mood?”
