Chapter 114
Kallian narrowed his eyes and looked at Layla.
âYou and⌠meâŚ?â
He had known her since they were very young.
Because Layla had always followed his words obediently, she had been someone who filled the place of a sibling for him, who had none.
But that feeling had always been one of closeness â a familiarity born from growing up together under the same roof â not romantic affection.
Of course, back then, Layla had still been a little girl. But even if she had grown up, he didnât think that would have changed much.
As proof, even after meeting the adult Layla again â with all his lost memories â his heart hadnât stirred in the slightest.
And now she was saying that the two of them had been lovers?
It was hard to believe.
Sensing his doubt, Layla hesitated before speaking again.
âI know it must sound sudden, since youâve lost ten years of memories⌠but itâs true.â
ââŚâŚâ
As a child, Layla had never once lied to him.
But since he didnât know how she had changed during those ten lost years, he couldnât trust her words completely.
Kallian stared at her silently, as if trying to gauge how much of her story was true.
Even under his sharp, blade-like gaze, Layla didnât back down.
âI thought about it for a long time. You must already be confused because of your missing memories, and I wondered if I should even tell you thisâŚâ
Her eyes trembled as she looked at him earnestly.
âBut I decided not to lie to youâor to myselfâanymore.â
That look⌠it really was the gaze of a woman looking at the man she loved. For a moment, Kallianâs shoulders stiffened.
Could it really be true that he and Layla had loved each other?
At least, her eyes didnât seem to be lying.
ButâŚ
Was the man he remembered himself to be really so foolish â to choose love over politics, to ignore the tangled affairs of their noble house just for Layla?
Kallian slowly shook his head.
No.
He didnât believe he had ever been that kind of man.
He quickly erased any trace of hesitation and looked at her coldly.
âWhat you just said â can you still say it with confidence after all my memories return?â
ââŚâŚâ
Layla hesitated, then answered firmly,
âOf course. Because itâs the truth.â
He still couldnât trust her completely.
But one thing had become clear â during those ten years he couldnât remember, Layla had definitely looked at him with feelings beyond loyalty.
âMaybe thatâs why I placed someone to watch over that woman without Layla knowing.â
ââŚI want to be alone for a while.â
Lost in thought, Kallianâs gaze dropped to the floor. Layla bowed her head quietly.
âYes, my lordâŚâ
She gave him a tender, lingering look before leaving the room.
As the door closed, Kallian sat down heavily on the sofa, pressing a hand to his forehead.
Even if ten years of memory were gone, his nature as a person hadnât changed.
And that meant one thing â he had never seen Layla as a woman.
âEven now, the one who comes to mind is that woman â the one like a blazing sunset.â
The truth was, Layla wasnât the kind of person to expose her emotions so easily either.
For her to speak so desperately now⌠she must be under some kind of pressure.
And that pressure â that sense of urgency â could very well be connected to that woman.
The woman who hadnât even told him her name.
The woman whose eyes always avoided his questions, as if hiding something.
Even if he met her again, she would probably still try to run from him.
Still, perhaps the one who knew that woman best⌠might be Layla.
She might know how heâd met her, what their relationship had been, and why sheâd ended up living in such a place.
After being brought back to Vent Castle by the soldiers, I was practically imprisoned with Denian.
Three days passed before I was finally allowed to see Lloyd.
By now, I could guess his reasoning.
He probably didnât want me to see him angry.
Honestly, it wouldâve been better if he had yelled or raged â at least that would have felt human.
But instead, he locked me away, waited until heâd calmed down, and then called me to meet.
When Iâd first known him, I thought he was a kind and gentle man because he never showed anger.
But now I realized â that gentleness had always been deliberate.
Heâd shown me only the soft mask to hide the selfish, cold side underneath.
A man living his life hiding behind an act.
In a way, that made him pitiable.
But pity was all I had left to give.
Our time in this twisted play was almost over.
Jared would be preparing to get Denian and me out soon.
I composed my expression carefully and entered the room where Lloyd was waiting.
He stood by the window, sunlight behind him, smiling brightly.
âIâve been waiting for you, Yuliana.â
ââŚâŚâ
I said nothing and took a seat at the table where tea and cakes had been prepared.
Lloyd followed and sat across from me with that same gentle smile.
âIâve been a bit busy â work piled up these past few days.â
ââŚâŚâ
âI ordered your favorite tea and cake. You havenât had breakfast yet, have you?â
As I remained silent, his smile slowly faded.
âAre you angry with me?â
ââŚâŚâ
âReally⌠why did you run away? You knew what it would do to me if you leftâŚâ
I simply looked at him.
He looked so pitiful, so fragile.
âI understand that you wanted to move because you were afraid Valdormer might remember you. Just wait a little longer. Weâll move to the Silverstel mansion soon.â
He spoke as if nothing had happened â as if my refusal before had never existed.
Pretending that we would live together again.
I kept my lips pressed shut.
Still, provoking him now would only ruin Jaredâs plan.
So I forced my tone to stay calm.
âI think I just felt⌠trapped.â
Lloydâs eyes widened in surprise at my first words.
I continued quietly, âBeing cut off from the outside world â not even allowed to go to the cottage â it felt suffocating. Anyone would feel the same.â
At that, the tension in his face eased.
âYouâre right. I was too protective. Iâm sorry. I just couldnât stand the thought of that man staying by your side, pretending to have lost his memory.â
I pretended to listen carefully and then said,
âHeâs already left, Lloyd.â
Lloydâs expression softened again, and he smiled gently.
âI know. Iâm sorry. I didnât realize how confined you must have felt.â
Then, smiling warmly, he added,
âYou can visit the cottage again, like before.â
âPerfect.â
If I was going to exchange messages with Jared, I needed to visit the cottage regularly.
If I went secretly, Lloyd would get suspicious â so I had to make him think it was his own idea.
âThank you, Lloyd.â
I smiled brightly, and his smile deepened â until he added quietly,
âBut youâll go with guards.â
I couldnât refuse without drawing suspicion, so I simply nodded obediently.
When I arrived at the cottage, I let Denian play in the living room while I headed to the kitchen.
If Jared had left a message, it would be hidden in the cupboard.
I glanced outside the window.
As expected, Lloyd had assigned several guards to watch me â at least six men stationed near the entrance, keeping strict watch.
After checking their positions, I pretended to prepare food and reached carefully into the cupboard.
There it was.
Under one of the plates, my fingers brushed a small piece of paper.
A message from Jared.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
It was too risky to read it here. I had to hide it naturally â without anyone noticing.
I glanced out the window again.
One of the guards, the one watching closest, was staring straight at me through the glass.
My throat tightened as I swallowed hard.
Pretending to search for dishes, I moved my hand around inside the cupboard, waiting for him to look away.
But the guard didnât. He kept his sharp eyes fixed on me â clearly under Lloydâs orders.
My palms grew damp, and my fingers began to tremble.
Then suddenlyâ
âSoldier mister, what are you doing?â
Denian had wandered outside and was poking the guardâs leg, looking up at him with innocent curiosity.
The guard turned his attention toward the boy for just a moment.
And in that instant, I swiftly slipped the note into my clothes.
