Chapter 61
Layla thought she should have been suspicious from the moment she heard that Siever and Sonet were preparing for the wedding together.
Still, she had to admit that she couldn’t help it—she’d been far too busy with Mont’s matters. At least she’d gotten something out of it. If nothing else, she had thoroughly crushed Hugo.
Maybe that was why the boiling anger in her chest paused at her core and then slowly ebbed downward. She forced a smile as she spoke.
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh? Layla? Really?”
“Then what am I supposed to say?”
“You’re really dense, you know. In situations like this, you’re supposed to just agree.”
Siever’s friends looked at Layla and said this brazenly. Layla let out a short laugh.
“It’s not me who’s lacking tact—it’s all of you.”
“Layla, you were fine with it before, so why are you like this now?”
Siever protested, sounding wronged. Just then, the daughter of Viscount Merus stepped forward to stand beside her.
If the young lady of Baron Bardell Rockfell had been Siever’s right arm, the daughter of Viscount Merus was her left.
“Layla, what’s wrong with you again? Last time we were together, you specifically asked us to stand here wearing matching outfits like this…”
“Me?”
“Yes. …Ah, I see what this is.”
“What is it?”
The viscount’s daughter twisted her lips into a smirk.
“You tricked all of us into this because you thought it would get you more attention.”
“…”
“Lady Siever, it must be hard for you—having such a vulgar woman as your sister, someone who would do anything for attention.”
“Merus, enough. Today is Layla’s engagement ceremony. The event hasn’t even started yet—don’t ruin the mood.”
“Ah, right.”
At Siever’s words, the viscount’s daughter widened her eyes as if realizing her mistake.
“I’m sorry! Everyone, I’m sorry! It’s just… I’ve been wronged by Lady Layla so many times over things like this!”
She apologized in a way that was clearly meant to make Layla look bad. But Layla only found it pathetic.
“It’s not even a wedding—there’s no need for bridesmaids.”
“Layla?”
“Would all the bridesmaids please leave?”
At Layla’s words, Sonet quickly gestured for them to go.
Crown Prince Anasis, who had been watching, covered his mouth and laughed as if entertained. Beside him sat William, disguised as Rainier, wearing a lace eye patch.
“Then I’ll be your bridesmaid instead.”
With that, the daughter of Duke Weimar rose and took the place where the bridesmaids had been standing. Her attendants split into three groups, forming two lines—one on Layla’s side, one on Sonet’s.
“Lady Weimar?”
“Lady Layla, congratulations on your engagement.”
Layla mouthed, “Thank you,” and continued walking with Sonet. Music began to play again.
Count Abier looked as though he wanted to say something but held his tongue, while Layla’s stepmother glared at her coldly.
And so, the engagement ceremony began.
“Though there was some unpleasantness, there’s an old saying that if you get engaged on a rainy day, your bond will be unbreakable.”
The ceremony was conducted by the high priest, whose golden eyes resembled Sonet’s—it seemed he was a relative of the Bruce marquisate.
“It’s only because Lady Layla Abier is so beautiful that such a thing happened. Let’s start again in good spirits.”
Layla smiled at his words and stood properly.
At a wedding, one stood facing the officiant. But at an engagement ceremony, you stood facing the guests, holding the hand of your betrothed as you made your vows.
Looking out, the grandeur of the venue struck her even more.
The chandeliers sparkled as if hung with diamonds, scattering light in dazzling reflections. The hall was bright, almost like sunlight, likely thanks to the sheer number of chandeliers.
The place was filled with flowers—mostly hydrangeas. Except for the mountain variety, hydrangeas had no fragrance.
“Beautiful, but without a scent—just like you, Layla.”
Layla remembered Siever saying that in her previous life. If Siever had helped decorate the venue, perhaps she had done so with that meaning in mind.
Still, Layla decided not to tarnish the beauty before her. Whatever Siever’s intent, she was here to get engaged to Sonet.
It wasn’t her first engagement, but it was the most lavish by far.
“Now, we will have the vows. First, Sonet Bruce, heir to the viscountcy.”
Sonet raised his hand like taking an oath and smiled at her.
“I, Sonet Bruce, swear…”
Layla had no idea what he would say. She had written her own vow, but had been too tired at the time and planned to improvise.
“…that I will love only Layla Abier forever.”
Then he read the next part:
“And that I will strive always to be worthy of her love.”
Next was Layla’s turn. What came out of her mouth was an entirely impromptu vow—nothing like what she’d written before.
“I, Layla Abier, will be as faithful to Sonet Bruce as he is to me.”
Sonet looked at her with a shy smile, his eyes full of affection—so much so that it felt fake.
“And I will not try alone, but work together with him.”
She said it because she remembered relationships where she had been the only one trying. She regretted it slightly when she saw how brightly he smiled—only to remind herself that it was an act.
Layla thought it was fortunate she’d met him in this life. Had it been in her previous one, she might have fallen for a man who said only the things she longed to hear, given him everything, and ended her life in misery.
Whether it was being used by her stepmother and Siever until they poisoned her, or being discarded by Sonet after he’d used her—it would have been the same in the end.
Flowers attracted not just bees, but flies and mosquitoes too.
She no longer thought of herself as a withered flower attracting pests. Not every flower was visited only by bees, and someone else’s wrongdoing was not her fault.
She had decided she would stand on her own, supported by her own love rather than anyone else’s.
“I love you, Layla.”
Sonet said this as he took her hand. Layla couldn’t bring herself to reply, so she only smiled. And in that moment, she felt the truth deep in her bones: they’d only truly known each other for two months—no one could sincerely vow love after so short a time.
“Now, a congratulatory address.”
They turned toward the archbishop. Just as Layla began to turn, she caught sight of someone leaving through the door.
It was only for a brief moment, but she was sure she saw Rainier.
“Huh…?”
“What is it?”
“…It’s nothing.”
But she could have sworn Rainier had been crying.
“Must have been my imagination.”
She forced her smile back into place.
There was also a reception after the engagement. As they walked, Layla fiddled with the ring Sonet had given her.
“I think this ring is a little big.”
“Ah… that must be because Siever had it fitted instead of me.”
“I see.”
“I’ll have it resized right away. Just bear with it for today?”
“Alright.”
Sonet hugged her, and she returned the embrace. She thought it was almost a relief how often he hugged her now—it meant she didn’t have to control her facial expressions, and it was easier not to look at him.
“By the way, have you thought about it?”
They were heading toward the banquet hall where the reception was being held, and they were alone for the moment.
“About what?”
“You said you wouldn’t mind having a child before the wedding.”
“Weren’t you planning to have it this year anyway? Then wouldn’t I have to be pregnant for the ceremony?”
Layla’s tone was dismissive, but Sonet seemed to take it as encouragement.
“I was thinking—what if we had the wedding while you were already showing?”
“Were you serious about that?”
“Yeah. And come to think of it, we still haven’t kissed.”
He spoke shyly. Layla suddenly remembered how he’d tricked her before, and said:
“You told me there’d be a part in the engagement where we kissed.”
“There was supposed to be—really.”
This wasn’t her first engagement. Customs varied, but she’d doubted it was true. And of course, it hadn’t been—there had been no such moment in the ceremony.
“My parents said kissing at an engagement would bring bad luck, so we couldn’t.”
Then he confessed outright.
“I see.”
She replied with relief.
“We could do it now instead. Honestly, I can’t wait any longer. I didn’t even want the engagement—I wish we’d just gone straight to the wedding.”
Sonet caught her chin in his hand, breathing quickly.
“What about you, Layla? Haven’t you been looking forward to kissing me?”
“Huh?”
“That’s why I’m asking again—because I was disappointed.”
The pure look in his golden eyes made her wonder if he might actually be a master actor.
“Let’s do it now then. So you won’t be disappointed.”
He tightened his hold on her chin.
