The Escape of Layla

"Yes, this is how you write it."

It's been a few days since I came to this room early. In a room full of sunlight plugged in, I was sitting on the couch teaching my maid's girl to read and write.

This was the result of wondering if there was anything I could do for this girl who would diligently support her claustrophobic life. Besides, the productive time of teaching a girl letters had certainly lightened my mind in this depressing claustrophobic life.

Seeing the girl look up at this one, I turn my little smile. There is a spelling of the written word, or he seems to be asking with a gaze.

"Yes, it is. You're good."

Answering that, the girl turned to parchment again as she was relieved. Though I still don't know her name, this red-haired girl has been very good to me. I miss not being able to chat, but it was a definite consolation to this claustrophobic life because it smiles and reacts to these words.

I breathe small as I narrow my eyes gently to the sunlight through the window.

I think it would be over if I began to wait for His Highness to visit, but in this life I felt it was only a matter of time, too. Anyway, the only thing I can see is your Highness and this girl. Being in this room, where only time flowed slowly, honestly, I was going to freak out if I was caught off guard.

The condiments that suit my taste, and the dresses that I know all about my taste, make me feel like I'm really serious and strangled, though I appreciate it. There's so much sunshine in this room, it doesn't make me breathless.

Besides, I still didn't know exactly where this room was. Probably on the Royal Castle property, but I've never heard of such a large room. If you do poorly, it could be bigger than Princess Wang's room. I also feel that the environment is too well equipped for a prison that accommodates the sinners of noble households.

Is it, for example, a room where people like me have been secretly locked up? A room to surround a concubine or lover that no one can say publicly.

Then I also felt convinced by this breathlessness. There's just no iron plaid on here, not much different from jail time.

Unexpectedly, touch the chest. Before I got here, it was where Mr. Leanhardt gave me the stone part of the pendant. I felt a little less lonely if I wrapped that part with both hands that should be nothing.

I wonder if Mr. Leanhardt would be here by now.

Would it be clean without me, who selfishly hurt Mr. Leanhardt? Would such a troublesome woman have given up and decided to wait until then when this soul would be reborn?

Just imagine, my chest hurt. I know Mr. Leanhardt is not such a thin person, but all the unpleasant imaginations go by.

Secondly, if I felt the girl's gaze and turned towards her, the girl looked indescribably sad.

I've already asked this girl where the pendant is. If it was confiscated when I was brought here and still stored somewhere, I asked him if he would manage to give it back, but the girl just shook her neck to the side with regret.

I can't help it. She is hired. I guess even if I knew where I was going, I couldn't bring it or anything. Besides, if you do something bad and undermine His Highness's mood, you may not just have to lose your job.

"... it's okay, I can't help it"

Gently stroking the head of a girl with a sad look like about herself, I drop my gaze on the parchment the girl was writing. I'm still not dressed, but I seem to have good memory and have already been able to write a lot of letters in the last few days. All you have to do is practice spelling words, and you'll soon be able to write simple sentences as well.

When I was looking at the results of a girl's practice with that in mind, I find a clump that sounds like a name in a word written without meaning.

"... Monica?

When I managed to decipher the awkward words, the girl looked up at me and nodded with her eyes glowing.

"Are you named Monica?

The girl nods and shows again. I also learned a small emotion when I came here and finally figured out the girl's name.

"Yes, Monica. That's a nice name."

The girl again, Monica, nodded and showed again and again. I think he's just four or five years younger than me, but I'm so happy with the glow of those innocent eyes. In this room that starved, Monica's purity was truly salvation.

"Hehe, it's good to finally know your name. What shall we write next -"

For a moment, Monica's eyes, which were shining, turn to a frightening color when she looks behind me. Looking back to follow that gaze, there was the appearance of His Highness dressed in a formal manner to go on official business. Sure, I thought you said you had a meeting with a neighboring envoy today or something.

"... Lewis, what happened to your official business?

Even though it's only been a few days since I was forced to call my name, my resistance has diminished a lot. Getting used to it is horrible. Even this breathlessness didn't scare me to think that I wouldn't care sooner or later.

"I've got a little time, so I'm here to see how you're doing."

"... even though I can't go anywhere without being bothered"

Unexpectedly and sarcastically, His Highness smiled mocking me all the time and lowered his back to my left neighbor. Men and women who are not lovers sit at close distances. Your Highness never touches me more darklessly than I have not given an answer, but I am still afraid of anything that scares me.

Monica, sitting next to me to my right, was pathetically frightened and pulled into the corner of the room to escape when she stood up in a hurry. After all, even from a third party, His Royal Highness is scared now. Neither the obsession that dwells in the pale eye, nor its tenacious mental state that undermines the mood with a trivial word.

His Highness silently picked up the parchment on which Monica had been practicing her letters, staring at it for a little while.

I failed, I thought. If I had known His Highness was here, I wouldn't have done this. I've never done anything in this room that made His Highness feel better.

"You were teaching that maid letters"

"... sorry for the unsolicited imitation"

"Leila is sweet. You felt sorry for the people who couldn't even read or write? Or..."

Unexpectedly, His Highness shoved me down on the couch without any foretaste. Painfully powerful in His Highness's hands accompanied by shoulders.

"- Were you going to teach a maid who couldn't speak up a letter and ask someone for help? Who's Leila talking to in this situation? Duke's house? Is that your friend's maid? The noble sons who were in love with you? Oh, or... is that your lover?

Lover. It was Mr. Leanhardt who came to mind in those words, even though I thought it was a shame. If I could send out even one of my letters to Mr. Leanhardt, how could I be able to deliver the letter to the capital of the Illusional King, who may certainly come to help me but doesn't know where it is?

"Oh well, you have someone I can't tell you..."

You didn't like the fact that there was an interval between the replies, thinking about Mr. Leanhardt, your highness's hand inadvertently reaches out to my neck. Soon after I thought about what the manipulation meant, strength was put into His Highness's hands.

"Huh..."

My neck compression and tinnitus make me tear eyes immediately. I grabbed His Royal Highness's hand and desperately slammed my leg and resisted, but there was no way I could win in a power battle. I look up to stare at His Highness's pale eyes.

"Oh, this way, Leila finally..."

Although I knew that you were whining about something in His Highness's mouth movement, I couldn't hear it until the end when it was scratched off by the tinnitus. More than that, it is best served by enduring a sense of compression that is likely to cause you to lose consciousness.

Painful, painful, painful.

Tears accumulated in his eyeballs slip down his side. Even if I suffer so much, His Highness is smiling with a delightful, endless smile, which makes His Highness more and more afraid.

This one, you hate me so much.

That would also be natural. Considering what we Duke of Ashbury have done to His Highness, I guess this kind of suffering is still sweet enough.

We have caused such strong hatred to His Highness, who was calm and settled. It just didn't make me sad.

I'm sorry, Your Highness, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I even apologized in my heart as one of the Dukes of Ashbury, who could not speak in his voice but deceived His Highness. How much I apologize, and it's all too late for that.

Gradually, his hands, which also stood against him, became powerless, and when he finally began to feel the danger of his life, a small shadow, which had inadvertently rushed towards him, appeared on his arms, causing him to wave his hand away from my neck. Finally I can breathe and I manage to get my upper body up while coughing.

"... Monica"

Monica, who was pathetically frightened of His Highness, meditated on his eyes and still found them in His Highness's arms. You must have helped me. My breasts get hot for the health of a girl who is years younger than me.

"Ha... you seem admired by your maid. Above all, Layla"

Her Highness looked down at her with a self-derisive grin as she shook Monica away depressingly.

"You're not gonna kill me, don't be so desperate"

Monica was moisturizing her eyes while still staring at Her Highness. It's a very challenging attitude to hit and change from your usual weakness. It's not surprising that I was convicted of disrespect on this alone, but apparently His Highness had no intention of doing so.

"... though it was enough to prepare for death"

Thorns appeared in the words unintentionally. Most importantly, His Royal Highness didn't even show a bare gesture of concern for such a thing, and grinned and stroked my neck muscles when I crippled what was funny. The feeling of its plundering fingertips makes me chill.

"Oh, right. He looked very painful."

Did you know that and have such a mixed laugh of joy? A little more fear of His Highness. Thinking of the sinfulness of the Duke of Ashbury's house, I know I'm in a position where I can't complain or anything like being treated badly by His Highness, but I'm afraid of what I'm afraid of. I had no words to give back, I just leaned over to escape His Highness's gaze.

"- That's not bad, that face too. I never saw Leila's frightened face when she was my fiancée."

His Highness wipes the tears accumulated in my eyes with his thumb, as he mocks me trembling with fear.

"... I'll be back. Don't do too much extra copying."

When His Highness told me to tell him, he scratched up my forehead and dropped his mouth on my forehead. It is something that people are willing to strangle and often mouth. If I look up to His Highness with incredible eyes, he would walk away with a grin that would even make my reaction interesting like that.

Confirming that I was completely alone with Monica, I squeezed my trembling fingers with fear and tension. If I touched the neck strangled by His Highness, I was sweating loudly, and my hair was good again for the fact that my body was complaining more about danger than I thought.

Monica rubbed against me with her knees on the floor, trying to clasp on my dress and start crying without a voice. You must have been scared, you did something pathetic.

"Sorry, Monica...... But it helped. Thanks to Monica for stopping His Highness."

Perhaps things would have gone so far as to lose consciousness if His Highness hadn't been willing to take my life, but still kept it that way.

If I caressed Monica's redhead gently, she wept even more. It's only been a few days since we met, but the time we spent together has been long. Only that Monica cares so much about me was truly salvation in these unrealistic days.

That night, after finishing dinner with His Highness, I was feeding the golden lark in a delicately decorated cage. Monica seemed to think it would annoy my hand and she was trying to stop me from feeding, but without this much fun, I'd be stuck breathing.

"You sound beautiful."

The moonlight slipping through the window strangely made me feel lonely. I feel sentimental enough to replace the golden lark with myself. If I stroked his slightly dull yellow wings, the golden yarn sparrow gave me a beautiful squeal.

"Leila's voice is prettier"

His Highness, who was observing me feeding the golden yarn sparrows next door, laughed unexpectedly because it was something he said that had too little clapping.

"Hehe, more than a golden lark, is it? You're insane to complain."

"... until I state the facts"

If you steal the side of His Highness illuminated by the moonlight, the face will be even more serious and His Highness will be less and less able to understand. Your Highness, I'm supposed to hate you.

"Did you think if you strangled me, it would ring with a prettier voice?

I'm surprised at my words, which make me more disgusting than I thought. His Highness replied pale, however, without any particular movement.

"I think so."

For Your Highness, I'm sure I'm just like a golden lark in this cage. Restrict your freedom only, only when you want to, and if you try to escape, it hurts. Is the emotion there still hate?

There was so much I wanted to ask, but I was afraid that the trivial words might damage His Highness's mood that I couldn't step out. I know I feel sorry for you, but when my pain came back when I was strangled, I melted my words.

"Deadline's in a week or so."

To His Highness's words, I accidentally stopped feeding hands. Only the beautiful voice of a golden yarn sparrow echoes out of place.

"... Yes, I understand."

Will Rose be given a decent meal and clothing, as promised? Are you still frightened by your fate, which may kill you in the dungeon?

Worried, it was an overly complicated emotion, but I was certain Rose was a feeling.

... I wonder if it would have ended a little differently if I had faced Rose without running away.

Now I know it's too late for everything, but I really think about it. We couldn't even tell the truth until there was so little we could do.

I couldn't spot Rose's hatred on me at all. That's probably the same for your father and mother, and Rose probably felt like she was alone, even with people around her all the time.

"I expect a good reply"

His Royal Highness heard the hair on my cheek as I mouthed my forehead, which was becoming a complete habit. Only at this moment do I fall into the illusion as if His Highness cares for me.

"Good night, Leila"

"... good night, Lewis"

Dropping off His Highness's hindsight, I fed the golden lark with the rest of the bait I had prepared. Even the voice of a golden yarn sparrow that sounds pimpy and repeated makes me feel like I'm talking about a distant world somewhere.

I've been thinking about the deal with His Highness. It erases Rose's sins with one of my own, so generous a response that if you try from the royal family, you can say it's too sweet. As the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ashbury family in crisis, it was a deal with no reason to say no. Instead, I think we should thank you for your generosity, give ourselves joyfully, and redeem ourselves.

Yes, my answer is mostly settled. I'm just saying I'm not ready to respond to His Highness.

- Accept this deal, because it means you'll never see Mr. Leanhardt again.

No, even if I didn't respond to the deal, would it be the same thing because Your Highness doesn't seem willing to let me out of this room? Maybe I'll never see Mr. Leanhardt again for the rest of my life.

Gently, I try to put my fingertips on my lips. I was a little forceful that day when I hurt Mr. Leanhardt on my own, but I was nevertheless glad to have him mouth to mouth. If I said this, would Mr. Leanhardt dye the edges of his ears red again and laugh as if they were illuminated?

"Huh..."

Oh, I want to see you. I want to see Mr. Leanhardt.

With my hands on the windows plugging in the moonlight, I thought of Mr. Leanhardt so that he could drip. As it is, it drifts into the floor.

I want to jump into Mr. Leanhardt's arms with walkable leather shoes, wearing a colored piece, not a difficult dress to move through like this. I miss Mr. Leanhardt's brewed tea. I want you to comb your hair as you hug me.

I miss you, I can't wait to miss you.

I just wanted to go home to that gentle, warm king of illusions capital.

"Huh... Mr. Leenhardt."

I wonder if this would not have happened if I hadn't selflessly hurt Mr. Leanhardt that day and let go of his hand.

I can't repent whether I repent or not. Even though I knew I deserved it, I was going to drown in deep sorrow.

I tear eyes and leak a whimper. These days, I'm just tasting the painful parts of love, and my heart's going to be paralyzed.

I was trying to wipe my tears by rubbing my moist eyes as they were, but inadvertently, someone's shoe sounds behind me. Out of the way, I felt my heart jump. Hold your breath and unwittingly put your hand on your mouth.

I could see the blood pulling away. If they were His Royal Highness, they could be severely blamed. Even crying on your own will surely damage Your Highness's mood.

I raised my fearful face and shook my shoulders and stared at those who showed signs.

"Ah... Monica"

Good. If His Highness had asked for Mr. Leanhardt's name, His Highness would not know what he would do. Although I don't think there's anything like Mr. Lienhardt being cornered by a man in a kingdom who can't use magic, I really just wanted to avoid what might be a nuisance to Mr. Lienhardt.

"What is it? Isn't it time for you to finish your work?

Monica's day's work will be over if I get my bedtime schedule in place. I don't know where the room is, but it was common for me to disappear from this room when I finished my job.

Monica glanced around for a moment, then packed her distance from me at once. And when you put your hand in the pocket of your maid's clothes, you take something out and make me grip it. I felt cold and stiff.

"This is..."

A gentle peek at what was given to me revealed a blue stone like the one that cut through the starry sky. I won't forget, this.

"... Huh!

Undisputed, that was the pendant Mr. Leanhardt gave me. The skin strap is rubbed off, and the stone is missing by the way, but the original shape is fastened. No way, I didn't expect you back.

"Eh... thank you, thank you, Monica"

When I accidentally thanked Monica with her moist eyes, she took my right hand. As it is, I think I've shown a bare gesture that I'll be thinking about for a while, and I begin to glimpse my palms with my fingertips. I was confused by that feeling, which tickled a little, but I was able to gradually find a meaningful cohesion in that pattern that was repeated.

"I don't know."

It's a remarkable growth, even though it's only a few days away from telling me the letters. I was unintentionally moved.

"Okay. Your Highness will not find you."

Monica was happy that the meaning had been conveyed, and let her snort with a full grin. And he gently pulls my hand to make me stand up sitting on the floor.

Monica looked up at me and put her hand on her neck. Perhaps you care about my neck strangled by Your Highness.

"It's okay, it won't hurt. Thanks for your concern."

The mole remains because it was quite powerful, but there is no particular pain. Monica gave him a cautious thank you, which is a sign of exit, when he smiled again as if relieved.

"... thanks, Monica, really"

Thanks again, Monica smiled small as she shook her neck to the side and quickly left my room. Maybe he came to give me this by sneaking eyes. He remembered I cared about the pendant's whereabouts.

I wrap my pendant with both hands and put it on my forehead as I pray.

"... Mr. Leenhardt"

Strange. I just feel like I can be a little stronger with this. Is it because of Mr. Leanhardt's magic?

This doesn't change anything, but I feel quite different just because there is something about Mr. Leanhardt. When I grabbed the pendant again, I looked up at the blue and white sun moon and dreamed that Mr. Leanhardt would see me again.