Chapter 46:
Layla didn’t think kissing was all that important.
There were far more important things in the world.
First was her life.
Second was her own future.
That said, she couldn’t deny she often reminded herself that Rainier was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Even something as simple as him sitting beside her and drying her hair imprinted that fact into her mind as if it could never be erased.
Even now, with her eyes closed, waiting for him to lean in, she could still see it—
the vivid red that lingered beneath her eyelids, like an afterimage of his gaze.
Eyes like sparkling garnets.
“Rain?”
When his lips didn’t touch hers for a long time, Layla opened her eyes.
Rainier was frozen in place, so close that they might have touched any second. He was staring at her with a strange expression.
Their noses were almost brushing, but their lips weren’t.
Every time he exhaled, she could feel the fine hairs on her cheek tremble.
And yet, he didn’t come any closer.
“I…”
He was clearly about to pull away again.
Layla looped her arms around his neck, pressed her lips to his, then pulled back.
“There. I kissed you this time, right?”
“…What kind of kiss do you call that? You’ve been trying to swindle me since last time.”
When Rainier frowned, Layla wrapped her arms around his neck again.
“Then do it properly.”
“…”
“Why call it cheating if you won’t do it when I tell you to?”
At her words, he turned his head away.
Seeing his lashes wet, as if embarrassed, made her falter too.
“I realized I don’t like doing it that way.”
“You’re… awfully particular, aren’t you?”
“I’m a little particular, yes.”
“Then what way do you like?”
Layla figured if they were going to do it, it might as well be before they officially got engaged.
After all, they weren’t formally engaged yet—the ceremony hadn’t taken place.
And although Sonnet had been in Seaver’s arms, the possibility of her becoming engaged to him still nagged at Layla’s mind.
“Give me some time.”
“How much?”
“A little.”
“A little, as in… how much?”
“A reasonable little.”
When she realized he was stalling out of fluster, she thought about pressing him harder—but decided against it.
“All right, then.”
When she let her arms drop, his eyes drooped at the corners.
“Before we have the official engagement ceremony, then.”
“That’s less than a week away.”
“Exactly. Do it before then.”
She spoke as if telling him to just get his homework done, which made Rainier look even gloomier.
“Fine, then.”
Then, stepping back from her, he added,
“If—before then—”
Layla just looked at him quietly as he spoke in a serious tone.
“If you ever feel like doing it… we’ll do it whenever you want.”
“And you call yourself a modest man?”
“I’m modestly offering, right now.”
Layla gave a small laugh, and he curved his lips into a faint smile.
Strangely, she didn’t dislike the way he was acting toward her.
It almost made her feel as though what he wanted from her wasn’t just a kiss—
maybe… it was her heart.
“I’ll modestly wait, then.”
At his words, she forgot to keep up her act and simply smiled.
She almost felt as though maybe—just maybe—she could trust him.
That after he took revenge on Hugo and Sonnet, he might still treat her as an equal.
A few days later.
“This place… is the one you want to use?”
Layla couldn’t close her mouth as she looked at the shop Rainier had brought her to.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I thought you said you were working as a doctor just to make ends meet.”
The building stood out in the plaza, its exterior covered in pristine white and its interior even more sophisticated and beautiful, naturally drawing the eye.
And right in front of it was the Éclair café—perfect location.
“…Is this by Arres?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And that one’s Bellona?”
“Yes.”
Layla blinked rapidly when she realized the paintings hanging on the first floor were works by painters famous enough to be considered national treasures.
She checked the engravings of their initials beneath the paintings and asked,
“They’re replicas, right?”
“Why would I buy replicas?”
“…Good heavens.”
Once again, she was reminded of what the original story had already told her—Rainier was ridiculously wealthy.
“And you still call yourself a doctor to make ends meet?”
“To make ends meet, I need to be with you.”
“Have you been drinking again?”
“Yes. Well. Maybe.”
His offhand reply made Layla step closer.
He widened his eyes in surprise and took a step back.
She noticed his gaze flicker to her lips and said,
“Do you actually like me or not?”
“…Out of nowhere?”
“Why not? I mean, a place this nice—it’s a bit overwhelming.”
His behavior was suspicious.
He spoke harshly to her at times, yet treated her with kindness.
He went out of his way to side with her, even if it meant earning her father’s or stepmother’s hatred.
And no matter how rich he was, to invest this much money in something involving her—and to trust her with it—was baffling.
Business wasn’t for just anyone.
Dealing with money was never easy.
And she, who had spent her life studying in her room and only visited high society until the age of fifteen, had never once done any investing or run a business.
Yet he trusted her enough to hand this over.
“You must really be burning for revenge.”
“Against Hugo and Sonnet?”
“Yes.”
In the original story, his vendetta had been against the current empress and the Anasis crown prince.
Neither the Marquis of Bruce nor the Count of Ronald had done him any wrong.
“What did those two do to you?”
“Hugo Ronald humiliated me.”
“And Sonnet?”
“Sonnet Bruce made me miserable.”
“You made that up, didn’t you?”
“Yes—no.”
He immediately agreed, then frowned and denied it.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“You just said yes and then no.”
“That’s because I answered without thinking. You kept glaring at me.”
Since they were going to be business partners anyway, Layla decided it was better to keep things civil.
Still, she couldn’t help wondering—if he didn’t actually like her, then what did he want from her?
“If you do like me, then stop it.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I’m never going to like anyone again.”
“I see. That’s great. Perfect opportunity to break up with Sonnet Bruce, then.”
“I meant I’m never going to like anyone other than Sonnet.”
Realizing she’d slipped, Layla quickly added the last part.
Rainier’s lips stretched into another smile—though oddly stiff.
“Love changes, you know.”
“Oh my, I guess you think so. I don’t.”
“To my knowledge, no one changes as much as you do.”
“Thanks for the compliment. Now, let’s see the rest.”
Not wanting to get sucked further into his words, Layla turned away and examined the interior again.
Everything was flawless—perfect and luxurious.
If Éclair was the kind of place that maximized cost-effectiveness to give the impression of luxury, this place radiated a grandeur that suggested only royalty could enter.
“The goods will be arranged as soon as you approve the interior.”
“It’s wonderful. Shall we check the second floor?”
After sweeping her gaze over the first floor, Layla headed up to the second—and it was even better.
“This is insane. Is Andrean’s atelier moving in here?”
“Yes.”
Andrean’s atelier was the highest-end tailor shop, serving only the imperial palace.
Seeing the tools of such an atelier already set up inside made Layla realize he wasn’t joking.
“How…?”
“Skill.”
Layla couldn’t help but look at Rainier with admiration.
“Let’s check the third floor.”
Following his lead, she went up to the third floor.
“Wow…”
It was a salon, furnished with mahogany furniture and sofas straight from the imperial palace.
“How many points would you give it?”
When he asked confidently, Layla answered without hesitation,
“One million points out of a hundred.”
“Pfft…”
He gave a genuine chuckle at that, and Layla found herself staring—
because she thought, for once, he was truly smiling.
She shook herself and said,
“Prepare one more thing.”
“What do you need?”
“A man with black hair and red eyes.”
“…Have you decided you want me for yourself?”
“No.”
When his face fell, she quickly added,
“I need a stand-in for you. That way we can also send a warning to the Anasis crown prince.”
“Ah, right.”
When he reacted so indifferently to such a crucial point, Layla turned his body toward her.
“Make sure you bring someone similar. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Staring at her, Rainier said with a curious expression,
“Earlier, you asked me what I think of you.”
“…Out of the blue?”
“Yes.”
He gazed at her seriously.
“So tell me—what kind of person am I to you?”
