Leila remembered the past.
It wasn’t clear if she simply remembered it or if she had lost consciousness in the cold water and was dreaming.
What’s certain is that, as if opening a book, they came to her mind one after another from very old memory.
Leila’s mother was a famous lady of a venerable and honorable noble family which had been around for several centuries, but it had become somewhat impoverished in the present generation.
The original plan was to let Daryl marry into their family as a son-in-law in order to maintain the family lineage.
However, after the death of her mother, the situation changed as her father, who had been raising her alone, became seriously ill.
The only family member who was supposed to maintain the family fell ill. As the family started to decline, even the cost of medicine became difficult.
She eventually put herself on the market. Abandoning her fiancée, the man who should’ve become the son-in-law of her family, whom she loved.
She was considered the most beautiful woman in the capital, so there were countless men who wanted to buy her.
The man who spent the most and eventually bought her was Leila’s father.
Although he was a commoner, he refused to accumulate wealth through illegal activities. His family had been taught that way from generation to generation. Thus, he bought Leila’s mother, along with her title of nobility.
Leila was born as a result of a good deal that benefited both parties.
“A woman’s life is determined by the kind of man she meets.”
As a patriarchal man, he used to say things like that to Leila since she was very young.
“Don’t you worry. This father will find the best man. He will be the one who takes over my business, so he has to be the best.”
The good thing was that he loved Leila, who was pretty since she was a child because she looked just like her mother.
That’s why he didn’t care too much when Leila’s mother could no longer have children.
He cared for and loved his only daughter that much.
“Women should be wise. That way she can take good care of her man.”
He provided Leila with many educational opportunities, both verbal and practical lessons.
He taught her all the education that a lady deserved, as well as philosophy and humanities.
As a result, Leila grew into a cultured lady that matches her beautiful appearance.
In addition, she was equipped with the wisdom to say things that her father, who was the absolute authority in the house, would like.
When Leila was a little older, her father began to accompany Leila along with his wife to official events.
“Look at this. Aren’t these flowers on my sides? These beautiful flowers are the joys of my life.”
With his wife and child on either side of him, he smiled confidently.
Seeing that, the girl realized another thing.
That her beautiful appearance that resembled her mother can bring great joy to a man.
Most of her memories of the past were about her father.
She thought that the memories related to her mother were faint or rare, as her mother had always been a quiet person.
Leila’s mother obeyed the man who bought her, and, as he hoped, was a wonderful accessory.
Although the father she was trying to save died a few months after Leila was born, she did not abandon the role she had been given.
Although she had always been a quiet mother, Leila had one strong memory of her.
One night, her mother suddenly came to visit her.
“Beauty is like a poisoned chalice.”
Her mother said while stroking Leila’s hair, whom she thought had fallen asleep.
She didn’t understand what that meant, and she was too sleepy to ask again.
Leila even forgot about it the next morning.
She only recalled her mother’s words again after her parents died in a sudden accident.
For the reason that women could not inherit the title of nobility, Leila did not inherit the venerable ‘Elantre’ family.
Because women could not become heirs, the vast wealth of her parents was inherited by a male relative whose face she had never even seen.
All that was given to Leila was her mother’s belongings. Even this was the ‘great consideration’ of her male relative.
Things might have been different if she had a fiance, but Leila didn’t even have a fiance.
It was because of her father’s promise to find the best man for his beautiful and wise daughter.
Leila, who was considered the most beautiful woman in the capital after her mother, became broke and was left alone.
***
“Heug!”
Leila took a deep breath and opened her eyes. A full day had passed.
She was ill as badly as she had hoped. She had a cold and a high fever that left her unconscious for a day. She moaned.
“You’re awake?”
The maid who was watching over the bed and taking care of Leila asked with an indifferent voice.
“I had… a dream.”
The maid didn’t answer. She shut her mouth and changed her wet towel.
Leira did not reproach the maid even though she was being discourteous. With her hazy eyes, she only looked up at the pure white ceiling.
She had never expected her to treat her well in the first place.
‘What did I dream about?’
She thought I had a dream when her parents were still alive, but none of it was clear.
Even if I can’t remember the details, I should have been happy to see my parents who I can’t see anymore, even if only in my dreams, but strangely, I wasn’t happy.
It’s only been a few years, but I can’t remember my parents’ faces.
The faces of her parents she saw in the dream were cloudy, like a smeared painting.
She was so sad that she quietly closed her eyes and wept.
***
It was noon the next day after Leila had had an extra full day in bed when a call came from her beloved lover.
She was still ill, but not as sick as she had been in the past two days, and was able to receive his letter safely.
—
My schedule for this evening has been canceled and I’m going to see you.
I’d be more than happy if you could have dinner with me.
—
Leila, who was sitting on the bed reading the letter, smiled brightly.
She was happy to see her lover, and she was glad that he was willing to spend his free time with her.
But soon after, Leila lowered the corners of her lips sullenly.
She was not in a good state right now to fully enjoy this joyous event. All she needed was enough rest and a bowl of red soup.
Furthermore, what if he catches her cold?
Leila read the letter in her hand over and over again. And after a while she opened her mouth to call her maid.
“Get the bath ready.”
She didn’t want to look exhausted, and she didn’t have the energy to move. She also didn’t want him to catch her cold.
Nevertheless, she made this decision because she had been taught that it would be foolish to refuse a man’s will.
Her lover would decide what to do with her sickness, it was enough for her to follow his will.
***
“Ah…”
Leila let out a low moan as soon as she opened her eyes.
“You sleep deeply.”
The man who sat on the bed and touched Leira’s cheek said in a soft voice.
After washing up, Leila, who had been sitting on the sofa watching the two maids change the bed sheets, had fallen asleep without realizing it.
It is not known who carried her to bed, but in any case, she fell asleep and greeted her lover while lying on the bed.
“I’m sorry.”
The man gently pressed on Leila’s, who was trying to get up, shoulder.
“Your complexion is not good. Lie down.”
“But…”
“I don’t want you to be sick.”
At the words of her lover, Leila stopped trying to stand up.
“Did you eat dinner?”
It was only after she uttered those words that she realized that the room was dark. It was clear that it was already evening.
“That’s not what’s important.”
Seeing the sweet smile of her lover, Leila blinked.
What could be more important than whether he had dinner at this moment? He had said he wanted to have dinner with her.
“I heard you caught a cold and had been sick for three days.”
“I just need rest.”
“You’re so skinny.”
Somehow, tears came out at his words that implied that he was worried about her.
The hand that touched the cheek was warm, the voice was kind, and the eyes looking at her were supremely gentle.
Sadness came rushing in. She wanted to tell him.
What kind of insults and denigration she had been subjected to, and how much she had suffered.
She wanted to vomit it all up and be comforted in his comfortable arms.
‘No. That won’t do any good.’
Leila realized that she had done something foolish. She shouldn’t have caught a cold.
He felt bad for nothing because she was sick, and she still wanted to vent her grievances in front of her sad lover.
“So…”
Leila chose her words carefully and swallowed all the griefs that had reached the end of her throat.
“I took a short walk, and I caught a cold because I was unlucky. You don’t have to worry.”
The man who was listening to Leila with a serious expression burst out a smile that was more like a sigh.
“Alright then. Then, what should I do?”
He looked at Leila with a loving, helpless look.
“You look like a child who needs to be taken care of.”
Leila was well aware that she was a perfect adult both in mind and body. But she thought it was okay to be a child for now.
She liked his soft black hair. She liked his cold red eyes that warmed up in front of her.
His long, slender fingers that were stroking her cheeks, the veins protruding from his arms, his white skin, and his broad shoulders were all good.
She liked everything about this man who said that he loved her with his whole being.
Right, he must’ve loved her. If he didn’t love her, he wouldn’t be able to make that face.
It’s been this way for years.
‘See.’
Without even knowing our relationship, and not knowing how much he loves me, they still say such a thing.
She was not like a mistress. He needed some time, and she was merely waiting.
“You’re lovely as always, but I have to scold you.”
He put on a stern look.
At the same time, Leila’s heart, which had been drenched in happy thoughts, plummeted.