Chapter 78
Leila trembled continuously as if from the cold, but strangely enough, her heart grew lighter and more at ease. Despite telling him not to concern himself with her, she couldn’t stop talking.
There was no greater contradiction. Yet, once her mouth was open, it refused to close.
“I am blind and flawed, I truly have nothing to offer you, Your Grace. I even gave all my remaining assets to Anna. I used her as a shield until now to repay my debt. And now, I’m telling you all this for my own comfort.”
While speaking, Leila, who had her back turned to him, slowly turned around to face him. No, her gaze merely happened to meet his. Unaware of this, Leila forced a smile and added,
“I just want to be at peace now. So please, don’t do this because of me. Please.”
Her precarious smile looked as if it would shatter and blow away with the wind if touched. But Lucas couldn’t resist reaching out. He couldn’t afford to lose everything.
If Leila were to crumble, he would find a sturdy, beautiful vase and gather her pieces within it. As long as she remained by his side in some form, he was confident he could restore her to her original state, no matter how long it took.
The only thing he couldn’t do in the Camorr Empire was commit treason.
“Leila.”
Lucas, who had been quietly listening, spoke softly. At his call, Leila nodded with a resigned look on her face. Her expression, showing she thought it was all over, made Lucas sigh.
“You follow along with intimate acts so well— I thought you were an adult, but inside, you’re still a tender young girl.”
“…What?”
She had not expected his words, and unknowingly, she asked again. Lucas approached her silently, continuing his words.
“Do you really think you were disregarded because you’re blind?”
“What are you trying to say?”
Seeing her quickly regain composure, Lucas smiled with satisfaction. Yes, to be the Duchess, one must have that level of composure.
Standing right in front of her with an emotionless face, Lucas grabbed her wrist with a careless hand. Grasping it tightly, as if never to let go, he leaned down and whispered into her ear.
“Let me tell you something. It wasn’t because you were blind that you were disregarded. Aren’t you curious?”
At his low voice, Leila involuntarily shivered. Watching her closely, Lucas tucked her loose hair behind her ear.
Straightening up slowly, he abandoned all the caution he had shown before. Grabbing her waist roughly and pulling her close, he twisted his lips and added,
“You can look forward to it. I’ll turn the girl inside you into a lady, no, not just that—a noblewoman.”
***
From that day, Lucas’s attitude completely changed. Leila found it unsettling that he no longer sought her permission.
“My lady, may I come in?”
Sitting on the sofa, Leila told Emma to enter. Emma hurried in with a joyful voice.
“The tailors called by the master have arrived. I’ll bring them in, so don’t be startled.”
“…Why so suddenly?”
“Oh my, you haven’t heard yet? But if I tell you now, it will spoil the master’s surprise, so I’ll keep it a secret for a little longer!”
“But Emma, still…”
Before she could ask for an explanation, Emma clapped her hands, and the door opened, letting in a crowd. Leila, experiencing such a situation for the first time, couldn’t hide her surprised expression.
The tailors, while keeping each other in check, greeted today’s honored guest energetically.
“Nice to meet you, Angel’s Beloved!”
“We’ll take your measurements quickly and accurately!”
“Then, excuse us!”
Held by multiple hands at once, she couldn’t even think of refusing. She never expected to be undressed by anyone other than Lucas.
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