The Maid and The Usurper - Chapter 29
“You did well.”
“I’m glad. I’m a quick study.”
Layla added, a little cheekily, now that the tension had eased. The full moon cast a beautifully radiant light. It felt like the magic of fairies from a fairy tale. Leopold gently guided Layla.
“But why did you fall in front of the Viscountess Bertel?”
“What? You noticed? I thought you wouldn’t.”
Layla responded innocently. Of course, he had noticed. Even amidst relentless insults, his eyes were always on her. He had noticed right away, though it wasn’t something he could explain to her.
“There was no need for that. I could have just endured it.”
“I really dislike people like that. It’s infuriating.”
There were limits to how oblivious or how insulting someone could be. In La Ellosa, simply enduring everything wasn’t a virtue. When the point of no return was reached, she wouldn’t just remain quiet.
“Those kinds of people don’t even know what an insult is. If they understood what it meant, they wouldn’t behave that way. If they don’t listen to polite words, they need to be treated the same way to understand.”
“So, you jumped into danger for that reason?”
“It wasn’t dangerous or anything…”
Layla’s gaze drifted to Leopold’s cheek. The redness had long since faded. Her lips moved as if to say something more, but she hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
“You didn’t have to step forward like that. Taking a hit or two isn’t that hard.”
“How can you say that? It happened because of me, so I have to take responsibility.”
Her body spun around. Layla’s feet got tangled, and for a moment, she wobbled.
“Careful.”
Leopold tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him. Their faces were suddenly inches apart. Startled, Layla quickly pulled her head back. Leopold frowned.
“There’s no need to act like you can’t bear to look, Layla.”
With a hint of awkwardness, Leopold cautiously stepped back, releasing her hand.
“I was just surprised, that’s all. Surprised.”
Layla instinctively reached for an apron that wasn’t there, trying to hide her unease. Leopold, standing in front of her, looked strikingly handsome. His chiseled jawline was more defined, and the crisp uniform he wore gave him the appearance of a noble knight.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Thank you for blocking the slap earlier. It must have hurt.”
“It didn’t really hurt, and to be honest, it felt refreshing.”
He had never been able to speak up so freely to the viscountess, who grated on his nerves. The memories of his time at court, where he constantly dealt with the queen’s people, still lingered vividly, and he often found his hands trembling in their presence. He had never been able to stand up for himself, like some mute fish gasping for air.
“Thank you… for protecting my mother’s honor. You did what her cowardly son couldn’t.”
“You don’t need to thank me. After all, you saved my life before and have given me so much… Consider it my repayment.”
She still wasn’t used to receiving such kindness. It still felt awkward, like chewing on sand, but at the same time, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. In the moonlight, Leopold truly looked like a prince.
Not just a bastard prince, but a real prince.
He looked like a brave and handsome prince from a fairy tale book.
* * *
“Thank you. It was because of you that the work was completed quickly, Layla.”
Lady Wegener expressed her customary gratitude while organizing the ink. Layla’s sensitive nature picked up on a subtly different undercurrent.
“In fact, I chose you because I was worried about the Count feeling lonely.”
Baden was wary of peers who matched Leopold’s status. If he were a boy, it would have sparked a rivalry regardless of their standing. As a last resort, they sought a girl. Among countless names, Layla was chosen solely for her bright personality.
“I wanted someone who could be a decent companion. He’s a very lonely person, after all.”
Layla clenched the hem of her dress. At times like this, she despised her perceptive nature. It was exhausting.
