Olivia was standing in the hallway, staring at the wall. It was completely different from the look she had on her face before, and when she ran away. She made a gesture to put an expensive candlestick placed on a shelf on the wall into her sleeve. But, startled by Laritte’s call, she put the candlestick back in place before turning to Laritte.
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“Oh my! Did you follow your mother out of concern?”
Laritte let out a small sigh. It was foolish to think that this person would have given her a peach. Perhaps Laritte was so tormented, she dreamt that up.
“Don’t steal candlesticks, Olivia.”
“What! Stealing?! I was just looking around,” Olivia laughed exaggeratedly. She tried to change the topic. “Come to think of it, shall we sleep together today? Can’t a daughter spend time with her mother after such a long time?”
Alice and Irene, who followed Laritte, exchanged glances of astonishment. They expected their Madam to refuse, but Laritte nodded her head obediently.
Olivia smiled broadly, “really? I feel sorry for the Duke. But he will forgive me for spending just a day with my daughter, won’t he?”
“Don’t worry about it. We use separate rooms.” Olivia expected Laritte to share the same room with Ian, which was why she looked surprised.
“……Why so? You seem to be on good terms with each other, don’t you?”
Laritte was offended by her choice of words, but she chose to let it go, “There were some circumstances.” Like Olivia, Laritte had misunderstood Ian because of separate rooms. For now, she was only focused on the stage of touching with each date that the annexation had been postponed.
“Anyway, I have to go back to the dining room now. I told Ian I’d be back.”
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“Then I’ll go to your room first.”
As soon as Olivia left, Alice stamped her feet. Covering her cheeks, she screamed to Laritte. “You can’t, Madam! You’ll be in the same room with her?”
“Hmm, I think so?” Laritte wasn’t too concerned about it. On the contrary, it was a good opportunity. She could find out why Olivia was here, and if she was after money.
Alice, aware that she could never talk her Madam out of it, tried, “You would feel the same way I do, Madam. You must think this through for your sake!” Alice convinced her to ask for Ian’s opinion. Laritte nodded only because Alice looked very worried.
As soon as they reached the dining room, Alice informed Ian. “My Lord, Olivia says she will share the same room with Madam today! Of course, she doesn’t seem to have been stricken with the plague, and Madam has been well for a while. But who knows what happens all night long? Even the germs on her body might be transmitted to Madam!”
Ian, who stood around the room waiting for Laritte, did not respond much. It wasn’t because he wasn’t worried like Alice. He was so shocked that he froze in his spot.
Numerous thoughts ran through his mind. Olivia could suddenly lose her mind at dawn and strangle Laritte. What if she covered Laritte’s face with a pillow? What if she pushed Laritte out of the bed? His hands trembled. “Absolutely not.”
“It will be fine.”
Ian was also adamant. “You don’t know what Olivia will do while you’re asleep. Haven’t you seen her before? She took every bite of your food before you even got a chance to put it in your mouth!” Olivia never hesitated to act brazenly.
He was sick and tired of Olivia asking questions about what he thought of Laritte. “You might think I’m being rude, but if you’re alone…”
“I just want to watch her closely. You know, it was three days that we agreed on letting her inside.”
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Ian couldn’t admit it. When Laritte and Olivia were together, Ian had to be there. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. “Then I’ll hide in your closet.”
“What?” Laritte’s eyes widened at Ian’s firm determination. Anyway, he had spent hours of nights reading all the books about dragons. He even read “100 Easy Recipes starting with Dragons”—the book that Laritte read once and very old books stored in the library. In the end, there was no useful information, which made Ian impatient.
Alice found Olivia in Laritte’s room and offered her a new set of clothes. “Go wash and change into this,” she said.
“Oh my, such adorable puffy sleeves,” rolling her eyes, Olivia accepted the dress. Ian sneaked into the room while Olivia went to the bathroom. He stood inside the closet. With a worried look, Laritte gauged the size of her closet. It was wide enough for Ian to stand still.
“Standing like this till the morning must be torture.”
“What do you know of a Swordmaster? It’s no problem.” As if to prove that statement, Ian closed the door to the closet by himself. There was a long small hole at eye level. so it wasn’t too stuffy.
After some time, Olivia returned to the room. She looked very refreshed. “Laritte! Thanks to you, I get to enjoy all these good things! The water was very clean and warm, too.”
Laritte was sitting on the bed. Her eyes shifted to Olivia’s limping leg. “When did you get hurt?”
“It has been like this for a long time. You’re often hurt when you live on the streets. This is nothing.” Olivia, lying on the left side of the bed, said as if it was nothing.
She changed the subject, “By the way, I read that book. The book of dating advice. Were you and the Duke so estranged that you had to borrow something like that?”
“It’s not like that. I just don’t want any trouble in our relationship. There are many things I don’t know.”
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All the lights in the room were turned off except for the candle on the shelf. The night beyond the window was dark and silent. Laritte was also on guard.
Olivia turned to Laritte, continuing her interrogation. “Then you have a good relationship with the Duke, yes?”
“I think so, yes.” They were engulfed within the sheets of a very soft and expensive bed. Olivia kept asking questions.
“How did you first meet? From the rumors, I have a rough idea, but I want to hear it in person.”
Laritte recalled meeting Ian while she lived in the villa. The man had arrived at the doorstep with an icy body on a day colder than now. He had suffered countless times due to the wounds made by the sword of the traitor, and after recovering, he hid for a while before he reached the villa.
It must have been a painful journey. Laritte told Olivia the story while Ian smiled softly from inside the closet. They both walked through their old memories throughout the story. Unlike sentimental Ian and Laritte, Olivia focused only on the facts.
“You mean you saved the Duke? So the Duke took you? Life is the most valuable thing for a person. That is why the Duke loves you so much, Laritte.”
Ian controlled his laugh. The story of falling in love because she saved his life at best could not explain what he felt. Two days would not be enough to explain why he loved Laritte. Outside the window, an unknown bird—perhaps an owl—cried for a while and then disappeared.
“Are you sure the Duke is head over heels for you?”
“What I can be sure of is that I love Ian very much.” Ian almost coughed inside the closet. Laritte was amazing, saying such things even though she knew he was hiding in her closet.
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Laritte glanced at the ceiling. The latest trending design was finished with an artistic flair. She never expected to sleep under a ceiling like this. It was all because of Ian. But the truth was, Laritte would be fine even if all these luxuries disappeared in an instant. Because she would be with Ian. She even asked to sleep with him at the cost of death, so it was only natural.
“As long as Ian stays with me, I can even sleep in the fire of hell.”
Embarrassed, Ian buried his face in his hands.
Olivia fell quiet after she asked if the maids were nice to Laritte, and so on. Laritte stared at Olivia in the dark before closing her eyes. Everything went quiet. Gradually, time passed and it was dawn. Suddenly, Olivia woke up.
Olivia, who had not slept a bit, stumbled in the fading light of the candle as she grabbed a hold of the flowered candlestick on the table. Holding the candle, she carefully descended from the bed and went to stand next to the sleeping form of Laritte.
Casting the light, she glared at Laritte’s face, neck, shoulders, and arms. Her eyes were cold, not as pretentious and friendly as Ian and Laritte saw. Those eyes belonged to a dancer who had seen all the dirty things and went through all the antenatal care.
Behind the closet door, Ian’s sight and hearing were sharpened. What was Olivia doing? He was exhausted trying to be patient.
Olivia stood for a while before she murmured, “You b*tch.” Even Ian, who had good senses, could not understand. Next, her eyes shifted to Laritte’s scarred body. There were many wounds and scars due to the accidents she went through a few months ago.
Girl with no luck.
This bad mother could leave after making sure she was okay, but….
Olivia quietly walked out of the room. Ian heard her footsteps retreat before he rushed out of the confined space.
“Laritte!” He whisper-shouted.
Olivia was standing in the hallway, staring at the wall. It was completely different from the look she had on her face before, and when she ran away. She made a gesture to put an expensive candlestick placed on a shelf on the wall into her sleeve. But, startled by Laritte’s call, she put the candlestick back in place before turning to Laritte.
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“Oh my! Did you follow your mother out of concern?”
Laritte let out a small sigh. It was foolish to think that this person would have given her a peach. Perhaps Laritte was so tormented, she dreamt that up.
“Don’t steal candlesticks, Olivia.”
“What! Stealing?! I was just looking around,” Olivia laughed exaggeratedly. She tried to change the topic. “Come to think of it, shall we sleep together today? Can’t a daughter spend time with her mother after such a long time?”
Alice and Irene, who followed Laritte, exchanged glances of astonishment. They expected their Madam to refuse, but Laritte nodded her head obediently.
Olivia smiled broadly, “really? I feel sorry for the Duke. But he will forgive me for spending just a day with my daughter, won’t he?”
“Don’t worry about it. We use separate rooms.” Olivia expected Laritte to share the same room with Ian, which was why she looked surprised.
“……Why so? You seem to be on good terms with each other, don’t you?”
Laritte was offended by her choice of words, but she chose to let it go, “There were some circumstances.” Like Olivia, Laritte had misunderstood Ian because of separate rooms. For now, she was only focused on the stage of touching with each date that the annexation had been postponed.
“Anyway, I have to go back to the dining room now. I told Ian I’d be back.”
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“Then I’ll go to your room first.”
As soon as Olivia left, Alice stamped her feet. Covering her cheeks, she screamed to Laritte. “You can’t, Madam! You’ll be in the same room with her?”
“Hmm, I think so?” Laritte wasn’t too concerned about it. On the contrary, it was a good opportunity. She could find out why Olivia was here, and if she was after money.
Alice, aware that she could never talk her Madam out of it, tried, “You would feel the same way I do, Madam. You must think this through for your sake!” Alice convinced her to ask for Ian’s opinion. Laritte nodded only because Alice looked very worried.
As soon as they reached the dining room, Alice informed Ian. “My Lord, Olivia says she will share the same room with Madam today! Of course, she doesn’t seem to have been stricken with the plague, and Madam has been well for a while. But who knows what happens all night long? Even the germs on her body might be transmitted to Madam!”
Ian, who stood around the room waiting for Laritte, did not respond much. It wasn’t because he wasn’t worried like Alice. He was so shocked that he froze in his spot.
Numerous thoughts ran through his mind. Olivia could suddenly lose her mind at dawn and strangle Laritte. What if she covered Laritte’s face with a pillow? What if she pushed Laritte out of the bed? His hands trembled. “Absolutely not.”
“It will be fine.”
Ian was also adamant. “You don’t know what Olivia will do while you’re asleep. Haven’t you seen her before? She took every bite of your food before you even got a chance to put it in your mouth!” Olivia never hesitated to act brazenly.
He was sick and tired of Olivia asking questions about what he thought of Laritte. “You might think I’m being rude, but if you’re alone…”
“I just want to watch her closely. You know, it was three days that we agreed on letting her inside.”
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Ian couldn’t admit it. When Laritte and Olivia were together, Ian had to be there. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. “Then I’ll hide in your closet.”
“What?” Laritte’s eyes widened at Ian’s firm determination. Anyway, he had spent hours of nights reading all the books about dragons. He even read “100 Easy Recipes starting with Dragons”—the book that Laritte read once and very old books stored in the library. In the end, there was no useful information, which made Ian impatient.
Alice found Olivia in Laritte’s room and offered her a new set of clothes. “Go wash and change into this,” she said.
“Oh my, such adorable puffy sleeves,” rolling her eyes, Olivia accepted the dress. Ian sneaked into the room while Olivia went to the bathroom. He stood inside the closet. With a worried look, Laritte gauged the size of her closet. It was wide enough for Ian to stand still.
“Standing like this till the morning must be torture.”
“What do you know of a Swordmaster? It’s no problem.” As if to prove that statement, Ian closed the door to the closet by himself. There was a long small hole at eye level. so it wasn’t too stuffy.
After some time, Olivia returned to the room. She looked very refreshed. “Laritte! Thanks to you, I get to enjoy all these good things! The water was very clean and warm, too.”
Laritte was sitting on the bed. Her eyes shifted to Olivia’s limping leg. “When did you get hurt?”
“It has been like this for a long time. You’re often hurt when you live on the streets. This is nothing.” Olivia, lying on the left side of the bed, said as if it was nothing.
She changed the subject, “By the way, I read that book. The book of dating advice. Were you and the Duke so estranged that you had to borrow something like that?”
“It’s not like that. I just don’t want any trouble in our relationship. There are many things I don’t know.”
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All the lights in the room were turned off except for the candle on the shelf. The night beyond the window was dark and silent. Laritte was also on guard.
Olivia turned to Laritte, continuing her interrogation. “Then you have a good relationship with the Duke, yes?”
“I think so, yes.” They were engulfed within the sheets of a very soft and expensive bed. Olivia kept asking questions.
“How did you first meet? From the rumors, I have a rough idea, but I want to hear it in person.”
Laritte recalled meeting Ian while she lived in the villa. The man had arrived at the doorstep with an icy body on a day colder than now. He had suffered countless times due to the wounds made by the sword of the traitor, and after recovering, he hid for a while before he reached the villa.
It must have been a painful journey. Laritte told Olivia the story while Ian smiled softly from inside the closet. They both walked through their old memories throughout the story. Unlike sentimental Ian and Laritte, Olivia focused only on the facts.
“You mean you saved the Duke? So the Duke took you? Life is the most valuable thing for a person. That is why the Duke loves you so much, Laritte.”
Ian controlled his laugh. The story of falling in love because she saved his life at best could not explain what he felt. Two days would not be enough to explain why he loved Laritte. Outside the window, an unknown bird—perhaps an owl—cried for a while and then disappeared.
“Are you sure the Duke is head over heels for you?”
“What I can be sure of is that I love Ian very much.” Ian almost coughed inside the closet. Laritte was amazing, saying such things even though she knew he was hiding in her closet.
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Laritte glanced at the ceiling. The latest trending design was finished with an artistic flair. She never expected to sleep under a ceiling like this. It was all because of Ian. But the truth was, Laritte would be fine even if all these luxuries disappeared in an instant. Because she would be with Ian. She even asked to sleep with him at the cost of death, so it was only natural.
“As long as Ian stays with me, I can even sleep in the fire of hell.”
Embarrassed, Ian buried his face in his hands.
Olivia fell quiet after she asked if the maids were nice to Laritte, and so on. Laritte stared at Olivia in the dark before closing her eyes. Everything went quiet. Gradually, time passed and it was dawn. Suddenly, Olivia woke up.
Olivia, who had not slept a bit, stumbled in the fading light of the candle as she grabbed a hold of the flowered candlestick on the table. Holding the candle, she carefully descended from the bed and went to stand next to the sleeping form of Laritte.
Casting the light, she glared at Laritte’s face, neck, shoulders, and arms. Her eyes were cold, not as pretentious and friendly as Ian and Laritte saw. Those eyes belonged to a dancer who had seen all the dirty things and went through all the antenatal care.
Behind the closet door, Ian’s sight and hearing were sharpened. What was Olivia doing? He was exhausted trying to be patient.
Olivia stood for a while before she murmured, “You b*tch.” Even Ian, who had good senses, could not understand. Next, her eyes shifted to Laritte’s scarred body. There were many wounds and scars due to the accidents she went through a few months ago.
Girl with no luck.
This bad mother could leave after making sure she was okay, but….
Olivia quietly walked out of the room. Ian heard her footsteps retreat before he rushed out of the confined space.
“Laritte!” He whisper-shouted.
