I Only Want Your Child - Chapter 88

Layla remembered meeting Lloyd.

She didn’t believe everything he had told her with that expressionless face.

The only person she trusted was Kallion, the man who would become the master of Baldomer.

But…

After glaring into the mirror for a long while, Layla took on a determined expression and began removing her clothes one by one.

Looking down at her pale naked body, Layla rolled up her clothes into a gag and bit down on them.

Blue veins rose along her jaw as she clenched it with all her strength.

The blood vessels stood out in her venomous eyes.

And so, Layla spent a long while alone in the bathroom without making a sound.

* * *

Layla cautiously approached me while I was organizing the account books.

“Um… Madam.”

Seeing Layla looking unusually subdued, I lowered my gaze suspiciously.

According to the head butler, hadn’t she been reprimanded recently because of the rumors circulating about me in the estate?

I found it difficult to believe that Kallion had said something like that to Layla, whom he cherished so much.

But judging by how dejected she had seemed lately, perhaps the head butler hadn’t been making it up.

Not that I felt even the slightest bit grateful to Kallion for it.

“Speak.”

At my cold answer, Layla hesitantly continued.

“I’m sorry about what happened before. I shouldn’t have suspected you based only on a half-burned letter… I was thoughtless.”

Layla’s apology didn’t stir any particular emotion in me.

I only wondered what she was plotting this time.

Even beneath my suspicious gaze, she looked genuinely apologetic.

Well, whether those words were sincere or not didn’t matter to me.

Receiving an apology wouldn’t erase what had happened, nor would it change anything going forward.

At my indifferent expression, Layla gave an awkward smile.

“I sincerely regret that until now, I haven’t accepted you as the lady of Baldomer or properly assisted you.”

I lowered my gaze back to the account book as though I had heard nothing worth discussing.

“Is that so?”

“That’s why I’d like to properly apologize to you, Madam.”

When I looked at her with an expression that showed I wasn’t particularly surprised, Layla hurriedly waved her hands.

“I truly mean it. Some of the finest tea leaves from the Marcelino region have just arrived. If you’re willing, I’d like to serve you that tea.”

“Is that necessary?”

Layla smiled awkwardly at my unyielding response, then continued with a rather serious expression.

“I admit that until now, I didn’t recognize you as the lady of Baldomer. That’s why I want to serve you properly as the lady of the house from now on.”

“……”

“For example, I could tell you secrets of Baldomer that only the lady of the house is allowed to know.”

My hand, which had been turning a page, stiffened.

Information about Baldomer that the lady of the house would normally be allowed to know.

Relationships among the vassal houses, or confidential secrets hidden within Baldomer.

Among those things, there might even be information connected to Denion’s death.

Discovering that was part of the reason I had tried so hard to establish myself as the lady of the house in this hellish place.

Perhaps noticing my hesitation, Layla smiled gently and spoke.

“So why don’t we have a private tea time, just us women, in my room? I promise that you won’t be disappointed.”

There were certainly things about the offer that made me uneasy, but it was extremely tempting.

After all, other than Kallion, Layla probably knew Baldomer’s secrets better than anyone.

“If there’s anything you are curious about, I’ll sincerely share whatever I know.”

At those words, I decided there was little to lose by accepting.

Even Layla couldn’t physically harm me.

No matter how much Kallion despised and hated me, he wasn’t the kind of man who would stand by while the lady of Baldomer was harmed.

Perhaps it was because of the prestige and dignity of the house, but it had been the same during the orphanage incident and when I was insulted by the wives of the vassal houses.

After thinking it over, I looked calmly at Layla.

“Alright. I’m looking forward to the tea leaves from Marcelino.”