The Maid and The Usurper - Chapter 60
“Okay. I’ll give you one last chance. Speak clearly.”
“Alright. Just a moment.”
Layla closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. Bern raised one eyebrow, perplexed by her strange behavior.
“What!”
Suddenly, the ground beneath him became as slippery as ice. His body collapsed miserably. Layla opened her eyes and ran past Bern.
“B*tch!”
Bern reached out and grabbed Layla by the ankle. Her body tumbled forward. His grip on her ankle was tight and unyielding. Layla kicked out, striking Bern in the face. Her knees were completely scraped, blood streaming down. Bern clutched his broken nose and got to his feet. He grabbed Layla by the shoulder. With all her strength, Layla pushed Bern away.
“Ugh.”
It was a short exclamation. On the magically slick stone floor, Bern lost his footing. His staggering body fell straight off the cliff. The scene before Layla moved in slow motion. Bern’s body hit the rocky ground below. The grisly sound of bones breaking and his neck snapping echoed up from the depths.
“What… what have I done?”
Her hands trembled uncontrollably. She felt weak all over. Layla crawled on all fours to the edge of the cliff. Below, she saw Bern with his head smashed in. Blood stained the rocks a deep red. Layla’s whole body shuddered. Bern’s wide-open eyes remained unblinking. She cautiously began to climb down the cliff, her body still trembling violently.
“Ah!”
Her precariously positioned foot slipped, and she tumbled down. Layla clutched her dizzying head and crawled to Bern’s side. His body was growing colder, completely devoid of life. Layla squeezed her eyes shut. Just once, just once would be enough.
“He tried to kill me first.”
Layla repeated to herself several times. She found a large rock nearby and lifted it with both hands. Her hands trembled wildly, and sweat poured down the back of her neck like rain. The rock smashed down onto Bern’s face. The brutal sound of bone and flesh tearing filled the quiet forest. Like a madwoman, Layla brought the rock down again and again.
“Ahhh…”
She hurled the bloodied stone into the distance. Bern’s face was utterly unrecognizable, completely crushed. He had a similar physique to Leopold, and wearing his clothes would be enough to cause confusion. As the sky darkened, raindrops began to fall.
“Did you hear that strange noise over there?”
Voices, indistinguishable as either Max or Andre, echoed from a distance. Layla, in a daze, fled deeper into the forest. The few raindrops that had fallen gradually became heavier. Rhineland was known for its frequent downpours, and this was just another summer storm. She ran frantically through the rain, the blood on her hands and body washed away by the downpour.
Her entire body trembled like a seizure, and her vision began to blur. Clutching her pounding heart, Layla leaned against a tree and stopped. She held her burning throat, trying to catch her breath. The events of the short night felt utterly unbelievable.
“I… I…”
What should she do… It felt like she was wandering aimlessly through the forest. At that moment, her legs buckled and she collapsed into the mud. Heavy rain poured down on her.
* * *
The cabin, drenched in heavy rain, was filled with a chill. Leopold sat motionless in the cold cabin. A shiver ran through his body, his face as rigid as a statue. The tendons in his hand, gripping the scabbard, stood out. If he waited, Layla would come. He repeated this to himself over and over. Layla would definitely come.
Promises were empty things. They existed only in words. As his wet body dried, it sapped his body heat. A chill crept through him. The knights from Baden could arrive at any moment. He needed to leave as soon as possible, yet he found himself unable to move.
“Ha.”
A short laugh escaped him. That laugh triggered a fit of manic laughter. No matter how he thought about it, Layla had truly made a rational choice. Above all, wasn’t her life precious? Therefore, the secret they shared could easily be revealed. It was only natural. So obvious that it didn’t even warrant consideration.
