Chapter 20
“Leila.”
Leila was being led by Sonnet toward the first-floor dining room when someone called out to her from the third-floor hallway.
“Stepmother.”
“Countess.”
“I’d like a word with Leila, if you don’t mind.”
Leila considered just going downstairs with Sonnet but quickly realized there was no avoiding it now. Forcing a smile, she nodded.
“Yes, Stepmother.”
“Come along. You may go on ahead, Marquis Bruce.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sonnet reluctantly let go of her hand. He had been holding it tightly, and Leila could still feel the pressure in her palm as he stepped away.
Leila felt uneasy, unable to understand why her stepmother was acting like this again.
Instead of heading to the Countess’s office, they entered another room. Following her stepmother’s gesture, Leila slowly sat down.
The Countess sat in the seat of honor on the sofa with a displeased look and tilted her chin.
“You’ve gotten awfully arrogant lately.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“Bold, even.”
In her previous life, these words would have terrified Leila. But now, she wasn’t afraid. Maybe it was because she had already died once. She was only pretending to be scared.
That wasn’t to say she wasn’t afraid of death at all. But after dying so pathetically and miserably, she realized there were things far worse than death.
No matter how hard she tried, she would never be loved by anyone in the Avier family.
And no one would mourn her death.
With that in mind, she no longer feared dying. If she was going to be trampled again, she’d rather die fighting back.
Especially since she knew exactly who most wanted her dead.
“Hugo said he wanted to see you again.”
“Oh. Yes. But I have no intention of meeting him.”
“Why not?”
“Well…”
Because Siever stole him from me.
Leila no longer had any fond feelings for Hugo. At the beginning of their relationship, she liked how kind and unconditionally supportive he seemed.
But behind her back, he was sneaking around with Siever. He didn’t even bother hiding it.
Worse, he made her a laughingstock just to entertain Siever.
He didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty. In fact, when Leila had begged him to come back, he mocked her.
Even after breaking up with Siever and returning to her—
“Siever wasn’t sickly like you.”
“Siever wasn’t so timid. Why be so scared over a little kiss?”
“Siever looked better in this dress than you do.”
He wouldn’t stop talking about Siever.
“I don’t have any feelings left for Hugo.”
Leila said it calmly, but her fists were clenched. Her jaw was so tight it ached, and she forced herself to relax.
“Why not? What’s wrong with Hugo?”
Leila looked at her stepmother, unsure whether she was being tested or if something else was going on. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
“I really like Siever. That’s why I let Hugo go. I just want her to be happy.”
The Countess gave a faint smile at her pitiful answer, then crossed her legs.
“How about you take Hugo instead?”
“…What?”
“From where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you’re over him.”
“But…”
“That’s probably why Hugo keeps coming back. You’re still giving him hope.”
“Stepmother.”
“Get engaged to Hugo.”
Leila was stunned. The Countess had previously acted like she wanted her to marry Sonnet—so why the sudden change?
“But what about Sonnet?”
“Sonnet is too good for you.”
“…What?”
The Countess stood up and took a document from the bedside table. She reviewed it and handed it to Leila before sitting again.
Leila wasn’t sure what she was being shown, so she started reading from the top.
It was a marriage proposal.
“Look at the bottom.”
There, it listed what Sonnet had promised to give her upon marriage.
One detail stood out above the rest.
“A diamond mine in Beryl?”
“Exactly.”
“He said he’d give it to you in your name once you’re married.”
Then she noticed—there was no recipient’s name on the proposal.
But it was clearly written by Sonnet. The Bruce family crest was stamped on it.
“The Bruce family didn’t specify who the bride would be.”
“But Siever doesn’t love Sonnet.”
“She’s still young. She probably doesn’t understand how valuable the Bruce family is.”
“Oh…”
Leila pretended to look troubled. Her engagement to Sonnet was just a means to avoid death. She knew that showing interest in him would make Siever want him more, so she had played along.
“But Sonnet said he wants to marry me.”
“That’s only because he’s still naïve. Do you have anything going for you over Siever?”
Leila wanted to cover her ears. Her stepmother was comparing her to Siever again. It was always just words meant to wound her.
“You’re not healthier, you’re not prettier, and you have no social standing. Someone like Sonnet, who will be a marquis, deserves someone like Siever. The Bruce family needs a bride with status in society.”
Leila didn’t want to respond—but she forced herself.
“…I understand.”
“Good. I trust you do. Let’s go to the dining room now.”
With a sweet smile, the Countess gestured for her to leave.
Leila headed toward the dining room.
When she arrived, everyone was already seated except the Count and Countess.
“Leila.”
It was Sonnet who greeted her and guided her to her seat. Hugo was glaring at him, while Siever watched Sonnet with a strange expression.
“Thank you, Sonnet.”
Soon after she sat down, the Count and Countess entered and took their seats with a graceful nod.
“It’s good to see you so often, Marquis Bruce. And you as well, Viscount Ronald.”
“Thank you. I’m grateful for the chance to see Leila more often.”
“Yes, me too.”
Hugo had always been close with Count Avier, so no one found his casual attitude inappropriate.
Leila hated this dinner.
She actually preferred the time Rainier had sat next to her. His height made her feel protected.
But she still didn’t know if Rainier could be trusted. She had no intention of relying on anyone.
This life was a second chance.
A chance to get revenge on those who had tormented her in the last one.
They all made small talk until the appetizers arrived. Then the Countess spoke.
“By the way, Leila. I heard you went to Eclair to meet Hugo while you were supposedly ill?”
“Yes.”
Leila wasn’t surprised that Sonnet didn’t react. She had expected that—after all, he had come to this house following Hugo.
“I heard Eclair’s facing some trouble lately.”
“That’s right. That’s why Leila, who was comforting me, agreed to see me again.”
“…Excuse me?”
This time, it was Sonnet who looked shocked.
“Leila agreed to marry me. In fact, she’s even lending me her dowry in advance.”
Leila laughed out loud at Hugo’s brazen lie.
Now she understood why the Countess had spoken to her privately. She must’ve thought Leila wouldn’t speak up in front of the Count.
“Hugo, don’t make things up. Why would I ever marry you again?”
“Leila, don’t be difficult. You said you’d stop being angry.”
His sweet tone made her want to vomit.
“I’d rather throw myself into a lake than marry you.”
“Hey, don’t say things like that.”
“Enough, Hugo.”
Finally, Siever tried to calm him, placing a hand on his.
But Hugo angrily slapped it away.
“Oh dear, Leila. Then who’s going to help poor Hugo?”
The Countess looked at him as though he were pitiful.
“His trading company is struggling. Can’t you help him? You two dated for two years.”
“Hugo doesn’t need my help.”
“Leila, how can you be so heartless?”
“My sister should help him. They were dating until recently, and they’re still friends. Right, Sister?”
“…Huh?”
“And Hugo and I aren’t even friends. Oh, and Hugo—my dowry is less than half of my sister’s. Not even a quarter, really.”
Hugo looked at Siever’s hand, the one he had just slapped away.
“Hugo.”
When Leila called his name, he looked at her. Confused, but not avoiding her gaze.
“I know you still love my sister. The only reason you came to me was for the dowry.”
He had planned to use her money for now, then repay it later—thinking she’d come back to him if he did.
He didn’t regret dating Siever, but Leila’s sudden change bothered him. She was supposed to always be waiting for him.
But if he could get a dowry four times bigger than hers…
He could start a new business.
“That’s why it should be my sister who helps you. My dowry wouldn’t even make a dent.”
“I—I…”
“What do you think, Hugo?”
Leila cut off Siever before she could speak.
And without hesitation, Hugo answered.
