The Maid and The Usurper - Chapter 44
Leopold’s voice came from behind her. Layla shook her head. Even if she wanted to learn, now was not the right time, and it wasn’t wise for her in many ways.
“I’ve told you many times, it’s dangerous to catch the Queen’s eye, and I want to live out my days in peace.”
Leopold’s reply was grave, though he said it in a tone of annoyance.
“Would you go to learn if you could stay out of the queen’s sight?”
“Then I would. But there’s no way, is there?”
Layla’s shoulders sagged. There was nothing more miserable than dreaming of the impossible. She felt a bit resentful at Leopold for bringing up things she didn’t even want to think about anymore.
“I found a way.”
His voice was too different to be dismissed as a joke or a jibe. There was a hint of mischief in his voice, but he was far from someone who only joked around. Layla spun around.
“What are you suddenly talking about, Count?”
“Never mind. Just forget it. I’m still sorting it all out myself.”’
Leopold ruffled his hair. His eyes looked deeply troubled. Further probing seemed unlikely to yield an answer. Instead of asking, Layla spread a thin layer of ointment on his bruises.
“You always end up getting hurt, and you never call for a physician.”
“This isn’t a wound that requires a physician.”
He grimaced as a sharp pain shot through him at her touch. Layla always grumbled, but her expression was one of concern. Her long lashes fluttered, casting shadows.
“Even so, you have Lady Wegener and other servants besides me, so why call me?”
“Because I like it when you worry about me.”
Leopold was beginning to think he was losing his mind. The feelings he had carefully hidden were now slipping out more and more frequently. He knew he should keep them concealed like before, but it was getting harder to do so. Words just seemed to spill out unexpectedly.
“When you worry about me, I feel like everything is okay.”
“…I’m glad I could help.”
It seemed to her that either Leopold was crazy or she was crazy. To be honest, it seemed more plausible that she was the one losing her mind, attaching meaning to every word that was said in jest.
“If it keeps snowing like this today, it should pile up quite a bit by tomorrow, right?”
Layla glanced over at the window beyond Leopold’s shoulder. He turned to look back. The weather in Rhineland was somewhat unpredictable, but snowfall was something he could usually estimate.
“It’ll probably be ankle-deep by tomorrow. Rhineland tends to get a lot of snow.”
“There was a lot of snow last year too. I had never seen so much snow in my life.”
“Then do you want to go see the snow with me this year?”
“With you, Count?”
Layla’s eyes widened. Her expression was stern, but when her eyes widened in surprise, it made her cute as a bunny. Leopold had a pretty serious case of the wide-eyed syndrome.
“Of course with me. Who else would I go with?”
“If we keep spending time together like this… I imagine the future Countess might not be too pleased.”
The time for marriage was fast approaching. It was not a blemish on an aristocratic man to have a woman who had played with him in his youth, but it was enough to offend his wife-to-be
Above all, she wanted to consolidate her mind. She rather wanted to be someone she couldn’t even wish for. She wanted to abandon the stupidity of dreaming of his heart and the future as stupidly as she did now.
“…Do you want me to get married?”
His mood plummeted. She couldn’t easily give an answer. Her lips just moved. Leopold waited for Layla’s response for a moment, then spoke first.
“If it’s too hard to answer, then tomorrow, you’re going with me to see the snow. Once spring arrives, the snow will melt, so we have to see it as soon as possible, Layla.”
When spring came, the snow would melt. It lived for less than a season before disappearing without a trace. Her feelings should be the same. When spring arrived, they would melt away and vanish. The only reason they hadn’t yet was because spring hadn’t come. Winter was just lasting a little longer.
“Put on some warm clothes. It’s cold outside. Layla.”
Leopold laughed. Layla nodded weakly.
She wished the winter would last just a little longer. She wanted to see the snow just a little more, just a little more.
