Episode 18
“Mae…brin?”
The air around them suddenly changed.
Even though Layla was shaking, she quickly apologized.
“I-I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean for this to happen…”
“Your mother… cursed you, you know.”
“What…?”
Layla’s eyes widened at the sudden mention of her mother.
“She said you would make everyone around you unhappy. That your luck steals luck from others. Just like Duke La Rose…”
“What are you talking about, Maeve? Do you know my mother…?”
“Of course I do! Hah…”
“Maeve, please don’t say any more—!”
“I’m dying because of you. Because of you! Do you even know that? Not once… not even once…”
Even while coughing up blood, Maeve kept talking.
“I never loved someone like you.”
And with that last sentence, Maeve stopped moving.
Time felt like it stopped too.
Her last words echoed like a curse in Layla’s ears.
It felt like all the misery had finally ended.
But less than six months later, news of Prinelle’s death arrived.
“What…!”
Duke La Rose raged when he heard the news. According to him, Prinelle poisoned the princess and then took her own life.
Layla didn’t need to hear the name of the poison. She already knew.
It must’ve been the poison she had collected.
And at that moment, a thought passed through her mind.
If only she had died first. Then she wouldn’t have to feel this pain.
But unlike Prinelle, who gave up her life out of guilt, Layla didn’t have that kind of courage.
Even after handing over the poisonous plant that poisoned the princess, she still wanted to live.
She wanted to survive. Shamefully, she wanted to be happy.
So even while crying, Layla cleaned her house and baked a cake. She picked berries and handed them out to the villagers like nothing had happened.
That was the only way she could keep breathing.
Time passed, and she tried to push her sadness deep down inside.
Then one day…
“I should’ve brought an umbrella.”
Under the dim light, she saw golden hair that shone like the sun.
Her world, which had been in black and white, started to fill with color again.
“I need a herb called ‘Aiola’.”
When Layla heard that, her face turned pale.
“Miss Layla?”
“Ah… That herb is really popular lately…”
She avoided his eyes and just touched her teacup.
Of course, Easton found this strange.
“Does Aiola have uses besides being the antidote for Deploreo?”
“…It helps with skin care. It makes skin bright and firm.”
Yes, maybe he was just trying to help his mother look young. He was dressed nicely, so maybe he wanted to find Aiola for her.
But that small hope quickly vanished.
“My younger sister… was poisoned with Deploreo.”
“She was… poisoned?”
“Yes. She’s only ten years old…”
No way. That couldn’t be.
There were so many people in the empire. It couldn’t be the princess. There was no way.
Besides, Deploreo was rare, but once dried, it could be stored for a long time.
She only picked one flower.
What were the chances that her flower was the one used on Easton’s sister?
‘It can’t be. No… no…’
Layla tried to calm her heart.
Even so, if the princess really was poisoned by the flower she found, she wanted to do something—anything—to help.
If helping someone could lessen her guilt, she would do it.
But maybe it was because she dared to feel love in her heart…
Maybe because she forgot her sins and smiled beside him…
In the end, it all collapsed again.
Layla slowly opened her eyes.
Seventeen—such a perfect age for first love.
But for her, feeling that happiness was a luxury.
Her eyes opened slowly, wet with tears.
She was in a place that felt familiar yet strange.
This wasn’t her cottage.
“Ah…!”
She quickly sat up.
Even in her faded childhood memories, she could recognize this place.
It was the Duke La Rose’s mansion.
“Why am I here…?!”
She jumped out of bed.
Then her memories returned.
Easton’s carriage had exploded. Flames like hellfire burned it down.
“Easton…!”
There was no way he survived.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed.
Tears poured down as someone’s shadow fell over her.
“You must be hurting a lot.”
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
With red, teary eyes, she slowly looked up.
“You behaved so disgracefully… For the daughter of Duke La Rose.”
“Is he… is Easton dead…?”
Layla whispered through her tears.
“Do you want to see the body?”
“Why?! What did he ever do wrong?!”
“You’re right. He did nothing wrong. You did, Layla. How dare you bring a man into my house.”
She let out a weak laugh at his shameless words.
But she no longer had the strength to argue.
“There’s good news, though.”
He walked toward her and lifted her chin.
“You’ll be living here now.”
Her unfocused eyes looked up at him.
“You’ll be a good girl and help me with my work from now on. Understand?”
“…Yes.”
In front of him, she still felt like a helpless five-year-old.
She already knew there was no point in resisting, so she quietly nodded.
“If you disobey or try to run…”
He gently stroked her silver hair.
“I can’t promise your dear Elton will be safe.”
So that’s why he sent her away. He needed leverage to threaten her.
Layla had things she wanted to say, but she kept silent.
Satisfied, the Duke walked out.
As soon as she was alone, Layla began to cry loudly.
“I’m sorry, Easton…”
Now, Easton’s little sister, the one he tried so hard to protect, might not survive.
“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry…”
She wanted to give her the Aiola herb, even if she couldn’t save the princess.
But she didn’t know her name, her city, or anything.
All she could do was cry in helplessness.
Her time stopped the moment the summer rains ended and autumn began.
Since then, she simply lived… not because she wanted to, but because she couldn’t die.
