The Maid and The Usurper - Chapter 28
“It’s beautiful.”
The skirt flared out gracefully as she twirled, exuding an air of elegance. She felt like a character straight out of a fairy tale. After a moment’s hesitation, she turned her hair back to its original color. Her silver locks glistened in the moonlight, half tied back, and though it didn’t compare to the peacock-like locks of the noblewomen she had seen at the banquet, she thought she looked… pretty good.
“But why would he want me to come at this late hour?”
Lyla cautiously peeked out the door to ensure no one was nearby. Most of the maids had long since collapsed from exhaustion, and the hallways were silent. She quietly closed the door behind her and made her way toward the ballroom, following the paths servants usually took.
The grand windows of the ballroom let in the soft glow of the moonlight, flooding the empty room with a silvery sheen. The full moon illuminated everything within, casting an almost magical light. Leopold stood with his back to her, bathed in the moonlight, unchanged from when she last saw him. His face was obscured in the shadows, hidden by the glow behind him.
“Count.”
“Layla, you came?”
Leopold’s face, bathed in moonlight, bore the mischievous expression of a playful boy. He smiled as he extended his hand to Layla. It looked like he was asking for an escort, and Layla stiffened.
“What are you waiting for? Take it. It’s an escort.”
“Huh? Yes.”
Though she had touched his hand countless times before, this moment felt different. As she hesitantly placed her hand in his, Leopold led Layla to the moonlight-filled window.
“It’s pretty. I thought it would look good on you.”
“Pretty?”
“Well, to paraphrase you, I have eyes. I call pretty things pretty.”
Normally, she would have shot back a witty retort, but she didn’t particularly want to do that now. Layla had no idea where to direct her gaze.
“But why did you call me at this late hour?”
She didn’t want to sound grumpy, but the words came out bluntly. Layla glanced at Leopold. She desperately hoped he couldn’t hear the pounding of her heart.
“Today is my birthday.”
It was the moment when the full moon was at its zenith, marking the transition from yesterday to today. Layla’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wasn’t your birthday yesterday?”
“That’s a secret known only to my mother and me. Today is my real birthday. Officially, it’s yesterday, but…”
The tangled complexities of politics had necessitated the secrecy. Both Baden and Edehardt had always been obsessed with the prophecies that came from the Temple of Fate.
‘On the day of the first full moon of summer, one who will rebirth Argen shall be born.’
If it was ominous, it was ominous; if it was auspicious, it was auspicious. The prophecy was ambiguous. Victoria did not want her son to be bound by the prophecy.
“Thanks to my mother’s long labor, it was easy to deceive people’s eyes. I was born on the day before the one mentioned in the prophecy. And that became my official birthday.”
“Why would you tell me that?”
She asked even though she didn’t want to. She’d shared too many secrets with the bastard prince that she shouldn’t know. So many things had become entangled with him, like ivy covering a wall, making it impossible to separate.
“Well.”
Leopold gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Layla couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. She felt that if she did, there would be no turning back.
“Today’s my birthday, so will you grant me one small wish?”
“I’m not sure how small this wish is, but if it’s something I can do…”
“It’s not hard. Just waltz with me.”
Lyla hesitated at the unexpected request.
“Count, I don’t know how to waltz.”
“That’s okay. I’ll teach you.”
In an instant, Leopold’s arm circled her waist, bringing them close. He took her right hand in his. He whispered softly into her ear.
“Place your left hand on my shoulder. That’s the basic stance.”
“Yes!”
Lyla nervously placed her hand on his shoulder. Leopold’s feet began to move slowly.
“Just follow my lead. It’s easy.”
They moved together as smoothly as flowing water. Layla didn’t have the discernment to tell if this was truly a dance or not. But it didn’t matter whether it was right or not. Layla’s stiff expression gradually relaxed. Leopold carefully stole glances at her face. Her lips softened into a gentle smile, and Leopold smiled back in response.
