Chapter 9
One of my people, he says…
It didn’t make me angry all over again. Juliana was so used to seeing Kallion protect Layla since her previous life.
Back then, she had been so afraid of falling out of Kallion’s favor that she couldn’t even voice her suspicions about the two of them carelessly.
But now, she had no reason to worry about what he thought of me.
“So it’s fine for a mere lackey from a vassal house to block the lady of the house?”
At Juliana’s cold rebuke, Layla, who had been watching Kallion’s reaction, quickly got ahead of him and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry. I upset you, Madam…”
Unlike moments ago, when she had stood so stiffly, Layla had suddenly become obedient the moment Kallion appeared. Juliana clicked her tongue inwardly at the sight.
Apparently displeased by Layla’s apology, Kallion furrowed his brow deeply and spoke in a low voice.
“Stay out of this, Layla.”
Anyone watching would think I’d been about to devour Layla alive.
As I watched them dryly, the whole scene looked ridiculous.
Just then, Kallion glared at Juliana and warned her.
“Don’t make trouble over nothing.”
“None of this would have happened if you’d kept your promise on time.”
She stared at Kallion without backing down.
“I told you. As long as you keep your promise, I don’t care who you’re with or what you do. You are the one who accepted that arrangement.”
Unable to refute a single thing she had said, Kallion’s expression hardened before he let out a faint sigh.
“Haa…”
Then his usual contemptuous gaze fell on her.
“You really do have a talent for making people sick of you.”
He looked down at her as though she were a woman beside herself with desperation because she hadn’t gotten him into bed.
“If you’re that desperate for a man, take a lover. I won’t say anything about it.”
The one startled by those words wasn’t Juliana, but Layla.
Standing behind Kallion, Layla covered her mouth as if shocked and looked at Juliana with pity.
Kallion, who stood in front of her as though shielding her, regarded Juliana coldly, seemingly certain that even words like these wouldn’t hurt her.
At that gaze, Juliana’s heart, which she had thought could grow no colder, chilled completely.
It didn’t matter if he misunderstood her however he pleased.
But no matter how little affection he had for her, there were things one should and shouldn’t say in front of a subordinate.
Anger surged at his barbed words, which made it seem as though he didn’t regard her as the lady of the house, as his wife, or even as an equal human being.
To hide her trembling fingertips, she deliberately clenched her fists even tighter.
For Denion’s sake, she had to endure it.
No matter how cruel this man was.
Once she had Denion, yes, then she would leave this hellish estate without a single regret.
So…
“Uphold the words you had uttered with your own mouth.”
So keep your promise, Baldomer.
At her quiet words, one corner of Kallion’s mouth tilted upward.
“Juliana, what do you think will change if you sleep with me?”
Even at those cruel, barbed words, clearly intended to wound her, she suppressed her emotions as much as possible and faced him dryly.
Just then, Layla, who stood behind Kallion, spoke as though she could no longer bear to listen to his explicit words.
“Lord Kallion, I… think I’ll take my leave now.”
On the surface, it looked as though she were withdrawing so as not to interfere in a conversation between husband and wife.
But if that had really been her intention, she would have quietly left without saying a word.
Whether or not he understood the intention behind the words she had deliberately spoken for him to hear, Kallion turned his attention to her.
“Don’t go. There’s still plenty of work to do, so go inside the office and wait.”
At Kallion’s words, Layla looked at Juliana as though troubled.
“But…”
Yes, she remembered that look.
The gaze she always gave me while standing confidently beside Kallion, as though she pitied me.
As emotions from the past that she had thought long since numbed suddenly resurfaced, she clenched her fist until her nails dug into her palm.
“It’s an order, Layla. Do not leave. Go inside and wait.”
Layla nodded as though she had no choice but to obey his order.
“Yes, understood.”
She thought she must look truly pathetic standing there watching them.
Her face would be pale and bloodless, her fists clenched with all her strength.
She could pretend her expression was as cold and detached as possible, but it wasn’t easy to hide the fingertips trembling with rage.
I thought I had no feelings left for you. I thought even the hatred and resentment that remained had faded after countless regressions.
I suppose this, too, is a talent.
Considering you’ve managed to awaken feelings in me that I thought were dead.
Juliana watched Layla quietly enter his office, then turned a sharp glare on him.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.