Chapter 67
“Who let you in?”
“Layla, please! I was wrong!”
Layla frowned instinctively. The sight of him clutching at her ankles, smearing tears and snot all over her dress, was just revolting.
“Isn’t anyone out there?!”
But there were no guards outside her door. Sieber might have had someone posted, but no one ever stood watch outside Layla’s room. Maybe when she went out, for the sake of the Count family’s reputation, they’d assign someone—but that was it.
Perhaps it was just bad luck, but Sieber was out as well, and the knights who normally stood in front of his door were nowhere to be seen.
“Layla! Please, just hear me out!”
“I don’t want to hear it! Get out!”
—Rip!
In that moment, Hugo yanked at her skirt with too much force.
“You—!”
“It was an accident! You kept moving around!”
Her skirt tore wide open. Now there was a large gap at her waist, enough for the white negligee and corset beneath to peek out from her side.
“Get out right now!”
“Please, just lend me some money! If I don’t, they’ll confiscate my estate!”
“Oh, perfect. Then you’ll be stripped of your viscount title and dropped to a commoner, right?”
Layla tried to shake him off, but Hugo was as strong as a bear—she couldn’t budge him. She thought she’d have to call Rainier instead, and bit the inside of her cheek, ready to shout.
“I—I’ll give you incredible information!”
“Don’t need it. Leave.”
When biting her cheek didn’t seem enough, she was about to bite her own hand to draw blood when—
“It’s about Sonnet Bruce’s mistress! I’ll tell you everything! Everything!”
That made Layla pause.
“Not interested. I trust Sonnet.”
The words came out even though she didn’t mean them.
Still, she’d rather trust Sonnet than Hugo. Sonnet might have disappointed her in various ways, but Hugo had openly cheated on her, humiliated her, and even “traded up” to someone else.
“I’m telling you, it’s real! She even came to your engagement party!”
“Mm-hm. Nope. Get lost.”
“Sieber saw her!”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
As she raised her hand to bite it, she saw him crying.
Back when she had liked Hugo, she thought he was truly handsome. Layla always saw only the good in someone she liked.
But now… he looked so ugly she wondered if he was even the same person. The unfamiliarity was almost bizarre.
“I can tell you exactly where she lives!”
“Don’t need it.”
“If I’m telling the truth, you’ll regret it!”
“Sure, I’ll regret it. Now go.”
Hugo hung his head, crying harder.
“I was a fool… cheating on a beautiful woman like you with some ugly hag.”
Layla thought he was exaggerating. Sieber was a composed, elegant beauty, not an “ugly hag.”
“I thought we could always go back to the way things were.”
“Mm-hm. Well, I don’t.”
“I don’t even care if I kiss Sieber anymore. I can’t stand anyone but you!”
“You think telling me you kissed Sister Sieber is normal?”
“It’s true! I can hold her hand, kiss her, whatever, and I feel nothing! You’re all I think about!”
Layla felt so disgusted she tried to pull her leg away. But if she pulled too hard, her dress might rip even more, so she hesitated. She glanced around, but the maids and servants passing by pretended not to notice, keeping their distance.
She let out a sigh, realizing again there was no one in this mansion truly on her side.
“Well, I’m not like that. I only think about Sonnet.”
“That bastard really does have a mistress! You’re just a stand-in!”
“Could you please just go? Even talking to you is a waste of time.”
She sighed and looked down at him, still holding her hand ready to bite if needed.
“Just save my estate from being seized, and I’ll tell you where she is.”
“I can find out myself. Leave.”
“A-and I’ll do whatever you want! Once we’re married, I’ll… I’ll practice in bed until you’re satisfied! I’ll be a good husband!”
“I just got engaged, you know. Stop insulting me with your filthy offers.”
Hugo rubbed at his eyes at her firm tone.
“Just save my estate. I’ll be on your side!”
“Why would I trust someone who betrays so easily?”
“That was only when I had money! Now I’m completely broke!”
His sniveling made Layla think of something. If she wanted Hugo gone for good, she’d have to drive him out of the capital entirely.
“Give me the address of this so-called mistress of Sonnet’s. I’ll check, and then maybe I’ll consider it.”
“You think I’m stupid? What if you just take the info and run?”
“And you think I’d pay you for information I can’t even confirm?”
Hugo sniffled and nodded, acknowledging her point.
“Give me a pen and paper.”
With his tear-streaked, snot-smeared, ugly face, he scrawled down an address.
Layla needed to send someone to check the address Hugo had given her.
“So, you’re saying if I keep this secret from Lord Rain and watch the place, you’ll pay me?”
“Yes.”
But she couldn’t trust any of the knights in the mansion—they all belonged to her stepmother’s faction, or to her indifferent father’s.
After thinking it over, she picked the one person she could somewhat trust.
“You know I’m Lord Rain’s stand-in, right?”
“Yes, I do, Sir William.”
Layla looked William straight in the eye. They were in Mont’s warehouse during business hours.
“And you know I’m quite busy, don’t you?”
When she noticed him stuttering, she wondered if he disliked this task and stared him down. He dropped his gaze with a sigh.
“Can I involve my men in this?”
“Sure. Just keep it from Rain.”
“Why… are you doing this?”
“Because Rain mustn’t know.”
She had thought of hiring mercenaries, but going to the mercenary guild would spread rumors immediately. And once you hired them, word would get back to the family anyway. Knights were out of the question too.
Besides, if a young noblewoman personally hired mercenaries, gossip would spread like wildfire. There were plenty of mercenaries and low-ranked knights who dreamed of marrying a noble lady to secure their fortunes.
Even her “small” dowry would be a fortune to them.
“What if I tell him?”
“If you do, I won’t just sit back and be nice.”
“…What would you do?”
Layla had her suspicions about Rainier’s motives toward her. He said he didn’t like her, but didn’t cry when they got engaged. Maybe he liked her but wouldn’t admit it.
Still, she couldn’t be sure of his feelings—but she knew for certain he disliked the men around her.
“I might tell Rain I’ve fallen for you, Sir William.”
“…You’re insane. I’d be dead.”
“Why?”
William thought she was downright wicked. He didn’t know exactly how Rainier felt about her, but it seemed he liked her at least a little.
Why else would he hang around Count Abierre’s estate, pretending to be a doctor when there was no real need?
If Rainier thought he and Layla were having an affair…?
Given his cold nature, Rainier would smile while killing him.
“I… I don’t know. Just… don’t get too close.”
He shivered in fear, but Layla’s beauty and presence still made him straighten up despite himself.
Which is when she seemed to decide to tease him, stepping closer whenever he stepped back.
“Why are you so afraid? Do you really dislike women?”
Amused by his reaction, she drew even nearer.
William felt as though her sweet perfume was tickling his chest.
“S-stay… back…”
Then his blood ran cold. His eyes had gone past her shoulder.
“Rain?”
“Young Lady, why are you here? Guests are waiting upstairs.”
Layla instantly recognized Rainier’s voice. So she pressed her advantage, leaning closer to William.
“Rain, you really have no sense. I’m having a private conversation with Sir William.”
William was truly starting to panic now.
Rainier walked closer, removing his mask to reveal a smiling face. But William knew all too well—when his master smiled like that, it meant he was restraining his anger.
“D-don’t come closer!”
Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to shove Layla away—if he pushed too hard, she might get hurt.
“Oh my. So you’ll do as I ask, then?”
“Yes!”
He practically shouted it, shoulders hunching, and Layla finally stepped back with a smile.
“What are you two talking about?”
Layla turned and took the mask from Rainier’s hand, setting it back on his face.
“Sir William agreed to scold Hugo on my behalf.”
She lied smoothly, meeting Rainier’s gaze.
Rainier gave a short laugh.
“And if I scold him instead, will you give me a reward?”
