Chapter 26
Layla knew that Siber had quite a few enemies—though they rarely showed themselves openly.
It was probably because of the Bruce family’s wealth, Siber’s confident attitude, and the fact that many men admired her.
“Is it my fault that Lady Elias’s fiancé likes me? Did I even talk to that young lord, let alone dance with him?”
“Lady Siber!”
“It’s flattering to be admired, but that’s not something I can control. Lady Elias, perhaps you should stop with the petty jealousy and reflect on yourself.”
“…!”
“Maybe if you didn’t wear such tacky dresses, your fiancé wouldn’t have fallen for me instead?”
Recalling Siber’s past remarks, Layla shook her head without realizing it.
Siber was shameless to the core.
When Layla had first possessed this body, she’d believed Siber’s words. She thought Siber had done nothing wrong and was merely troubled by the attention of men.
But now, she knew better.
Siber boldly seduced other women’s fiancés, fully aware of her allure.
She had no hesitation in stealing Layla’s lovers, precisely because Layla was an easy target.
She was a classic villainess who always got what she wanted.
“Layla, what’s with that dress? Why is it the same as Lady Bardell’s?”
Bardell Rockfell. With her brown hair, she was Siber’s closest friend and right-hand woman. She always did whatever Siber asked—almost like her enforcer.
Siber, arms linked with Sonet’s, approached looking utterly shocked. Layla glanced at Sonet.
Sonet tried to pull away, but Siber gripped his sleeve tightly, preventing it.
As they walked, he attempted to shake her hand off with the one not being held.
“Layla?”
Instead, Siber clung even tighter to his arm and turned her astonished face back to Layla.
“What is going on, Lady Layla Abier? Why are you wearing the same dress as me?”
Then Bardell Rockfell’s sharp voice cut through.
“Don’t tell me you were trying to copy Lady Siber again?”
“Bardell…”
Siber called out to her with a worried look.
“Explain yourself, Lady Layla. I wore this dress as a gift from Lady Siber. And yet you show up in the exact same dress? You knew she’d wear it, and copied her, didn’t you?”
At Bardell’s accusatory tone, the music suddenly stopped—because the nobles nearby were starting to gather around and watch the scene.
“Oh my, what’s going on?”
“See her pink hair? That must be Lady Layla.”
“Right, it’s her. But why is she wearing the same dress as Countess Bardell…”
“Pfft…”
With fans hiding their mouths, they muttered all sorts of things.
Once, Layla might’ve run out in tears. But now, her heart simply went cold.
Raynier had chosen this dress for her. Perhaps she should’ve questioned it then.
Still, it seemed his choice was a misstep.
Layla quickly compared her dress to Bardell Rockfell’s.
The lace dress was elegant yet provocative, emphasizing the bust.
Bardell, being a classic beauty, lacked Layla’s sensual curves.
In other words, the dress suited Layla far better, while it looked somewhat forced on Bardell.
Perhaps Bardell wouldn’t have worn it if it hadn’t been a gift from Siber.
“Look at Lady Layla’s outfit—trying to seduce another man again.”
“You’re speaking nonsense.”
It was Sonet who snapped in response to someone’s whisper.
He tried again to shake off Siber’s arm. But even as he forcefully did so, she clung tightly—any more force and she might have collapsed to the floor.
“Lady Mercas never learns to watch her mouth. Have you forgotten what happened last time she gossiped like this? And yet again…”
He was about to continue when—
“Layla, what’s going on? Did you see me choosing that dress last time? Did you copy it on purpose?”
“Oh dear, trying to steal from Lady Siber again?”
Bardell fumed at Siber’s words, becoming more and more agitated.
Sonet’s expression twisted, lips parting as though unsure what to say. He turned to Layla.
Layla thought he was quite the actor—his face showed sympathy, a hint of anger, and confusion.
Meanwhile, Layla remained expressionless. She glanced around at the nobles who were already mocking her and whispering.
They looked gleeful, like an audience enjoying a spectacle.
“Layla, this isn’t your first time.”
“Sister.”
“Why do you keep coveting what’s mine? How do you think it looks, when I gifted that dress to Lady Bardell and you show up in the same one?”
Layla was stunned, but not speechless.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That dress you’re wearing—why is it exactly like the one I gifted? Even the color is the same… Did you really copy me?”
Siber gasped like she was truly shocked, covering her mouth.
“Looks like Lady Layla tried to take from her sister again.”
“Not just the men, it seems.”
“Poor Lady Bardell.”
“And poor Lady Siber. She probably gave it from the kindness of her heart.”
Siber had been spreading rumors about Layla at every social gathering—that Layla threw herself at any man Siber showed interest in.
And when Layla grew close to those men first, and the men eventually got tired of her and returned to Siber, Layla would supposedly cling to them pathetically.
Not everyone believed those rumors.
But since Layla was the weaker party, she was the easier one to mock.
So when Layla stayed holed up in her mansion, the nobles would use that as proof of her guilt.
And the one who fed those rumors further was none other than Hugo.
“Also, look at that jewelry.”
“Oh my! The Heart of the Earth!”
“How ominous.”
“She wore that without knowing?”
“She must not have. How ignorant…”
The sound of clicking tongues reached Layla’s ears.
“Everyone seems to talk so carelessly.”
Sonet said coldly, trying again to free himself from Siber’s grip.
“You saw it too, Sonet.”
“What are you referring to?”
“That Layla and I were in the same boutique.”
Sonet’s eyes widened, and then he fell silent, as if he didn’t know how to respond.
“Tell me, Layla. Did you copy my dress on purpose?”
Siber’s voice, feigning concern but laced with mockery, prompted Layla to finally respond.
“Why would I? You’re the one who’s always copied me.”
Layla had returned to her former pitiful expression.
“Why would I copy you? You’ve always followed my lead.”
“Why would I? This dress… looks way better on me.”
“What?”
Layla looked Bardell up and down with a sad, innocent expression.
“If anything, why would you give such an ill-fitting dress to Lady Bardell?”
“What did you say?”
Bardell gasped. But Siber, as expected, didn’t stay quiet.
“Layla.”
“Yes?”
“Then why did you copy my jewelry? I wore ruby embellishments today, and so did you.”
Coincidentally, that was true.
Siber, with her black hair and blue eyes, looked mismatched in red gems.
Everyone stood silent, simply watching the drama unfold.
To them, the dress suited Layla better—but the ruby accessories and the infamous Heart of the Earth necklace made it look like she had tried to mimic Siber.
Otherwise, why would she wear such an ominous item on a day like today?
They thought Layla looked more beautiful—but her statements seemed contradictory.
“Rubies don’t suit you. Sapphires are better. You, of all people, wearing something that doesn’t match?”
“Layla.”
At her words, the watching nobles exchanged glances.
“Maybe you wore that cursed gem because you wanted to copy me. You don’t even own rubies, do you?”
“Sister, these gems are precious to me. Especially because of who gave them to me.”
Layla’s voice trembled slightly.
Siber smirked, clearly believing she had won. Bardell jumped in.
“She probably got them from a cheap trinket store. No wonder the Count wouldn’t give her real jewelry—she has no taste.”
“Lady Bardell.”
“Do you know why that gem is called the Heart of the Earth? The queen who wore it every day caused the fall of her kingdom, and it’s said the gem absorbed her blood. It’s as cursed as the queen’s buried heart.”
“You believe that superstition, Lady Bardell?”
“It’s not superstition.”
Siber tilted her chin, looking down at Layla with smug satisfaction.
Her mouth moved silently.
‘You can’t beat me.’
“And how would Lady Bardell know this?”
“Lady Layla, you’ve spent so long shut away that you must be ignorant. Just admit it—you tried to copy Lady Siber and now look where it got you.”
Siber’s clique snickered behind her.
“Jealous of your sister, aren’t you? Wearing cursed jewelry without even knowing.”
“I used to envy my sister too. But at least I had the decency not to copy her.”
“Seems Lady Layla doesn’t know where to draw the line.”
Layla wanted them to insult her just a little more.
“As I said, these jewels are precious to me. And so is the person who gave them to me.”
“Pfft… Who do you think gave them to her? Probably bought them herself at a junk store.”
The brown-haired noblewoman exchanged looks with Siber. At Siber’s approving smile, she beamed with pride.
“Are you saying my jewelry is cheap?”
“I never said that. Just that I wouldn’t trade even cheap jewelry for it.”
Bardell raised her chin arrogantly.
“Pfft…”
“Ahem.”
“Oh my, Lady Bardell! Even if you’re speaking the truth, maybe be a bit nicer? Lady Layla might cry again.”
“She deserves it. If I were Bardell, I’d slap her. What a shameless liar…”
The nobles giggled among themselves.
“That’s nonsense. I’m the one who gave her that jewelry.”
Finally, the person Layla had been waiting for appeared.
“And you say it’s not worth even junk?”
Crown Prince Anasis stepped in, expression sour.
And he was clearly, very displeased.
