The Escape of Layla

Blush, and red blood begins to flow. He accidentally crooked his face and knelt on the floor in a feverish sharp pain. This much blood would be enough. I threw out the vase shards and managed to hold the wound down with my palm.

"Huh..."

Ouch, it hurts, really. Every time I pulse, I get twitched and attacked by pain.

I had intended to be able to tolerate the pain in the past two weeks, but this was different again.

... maybe a little too deeply hurt.

Unexpectedly, I get into the floor. Even though he said he often learned to stand dazzled because he hadn't eaten enough meals these days, he couldn't keep his posture very well if he bled.

Oh, this might not work. Me, you overestimated your life force.

I smiled unexpectedly in my consciousness, which gradually began to obscure. If you stay like this, you could lose your life. Still, how better would it be than a claustrophobic life that would continue tomorrow? Maybe this was a good idea.

I truly love you, Mr. Leanhardt.

When I shrugged in my heart, I felt my body fall and go. Not resisting gravity as it is, I fall from my cheek into the cold floor where the moonlight illuminates. Staring at a world that gradually faded away, I wasn't sure if I was sad or happy, an ugly smile and a glimmer of tears zeroed.

I miss it, I can hear the babysitter. In a dream that seemed to take a long time, I was staring at how young Rose was being held up by her mother. There is also a father beside his mother, who rarely smiles and watches her mother and Rose.

In the yard of the sunny Duke's house, those three were as beautiful as a single picture. Mother and Rose's platinum hair shine in the sunlight, and every time the wind blows, they accidentally blind me. Your father was stroking Rose's head with his big hand and leaning against her mother.

A sight full of happiness would say something like this.

"... beautiful"

Really, it's beautiful. Much more than any illustration of a magpie, much more than any religious painting I've seen in church. I watch that sight softly from the shadows, so much so that I smile unexpectedly.

Me too, I want to go. I want to try to get close to those three.

I thought so, I tried to take a step forward, and I stopped. I'm sure if you saw me, your mother wouldn't laugh at me with such a sweet face. As far as your father goes, he could go somewhere.

So let's be patient. The truth is that just looking at the three of them from behind can be scolded, so just looking at them like this is enough.

- Enough? Really?

I hear such a surprise from somewhere. With so much sadness I can't hear. But I couldn't take that voice decently.

"Oh, Mother, come on!

"Yeah, it's true. It's beautiful."

Rose descends from her mother's lap and runs around the blue lawn. The oligarchy father still didn't say anything, but he was following his adorable Rose with a gentle eye.

I lurk in the shadows so the three of us don't find me. Only Rose's shaky voice resonated and he finally endured the emptiness that no longer spread to his heart.

I accidentally put my hand on my chest and tried not to break the "elegant grin" I had just learned from my teacher. The teacher said that the Duke's maid must always have this smile, so she can't break it at any time.

I wanted to be perfect. Being praised for excellence had come to life.

Because if you were a "perfect" and "brilliant" kid, then one day,

"... your mother and father will love me."

I like to study. Reading a book is not painful, and I feel like the world expands with more new knowledge. I knew I needed lessons in manners, and dancing would be a lot of fun if I could do it beautifully.

But there's a limit to everything. It can't be possible to suddenly be pushed through the challenges that should be tackled after accumulating knowledge one by one. There's no way I can do this when a girl who's still immature with both strength and energy suddenly tells me to imitate just the same thing as an adult. Nearly impossible, such as performing a dance without a thread of disturbance, without adequate physical strength.

What was required of me was that everything was so difficult that it did not correspond to the year. I was desperate to work on it by pretending not to realize its irrational, but the truth is, I was just forced to laugh by pushing my heart to death crying out that it was the limit.

Maybe, the limit, if I could cry that I couldn't, things would have changed. But I couldn't do that. I couldn't give up because I was imprisoned for such a shallow wish that one day your father and mother would smile at me if I could be a fine courtier.

Though gradually I forgot to even wish in an education where the more challenges I was given, the more intensified I became. Anyway, if you're not fine, if you're not good, you have to be a "perfect" warrant lady. All I had left was that thought.

I know it's a dream, but my pompous tears go down zero. My figure in a dream like a running horse lamp remains young and even my hands to wipe my tears are small.

... Yes, I've always wanted to be loved by your father and mother.

What an ironic story to finally remember that wish in a dream like this. It's too funny. But at the same time, I was sure there was something really falling on my mind.

The neighborhood switched to a white space and I collapsed to the icy ground. I look up at the fluffy snowy white light and look at my emotions like a running horse lamp.

At the end of the day, my desire to respond to a deal with His Highness may also be due to that shallow wish. If you save Rose's life and save the Duke's family from the crisis, then maybe your father and mother would recognize me, I'm sure you'd be lying if you said you didn't have that wish.

I have always remained imprisoned by the love I could not give. I had not abandoned in the depths of my heart the feeling that one day your father and mother might smile at me.

That's why I didn't remember straying to hide the truth about my accident from His Highness in order to protect the Duke's house. I swear allegiance to the royal family. As an aristocrat, it's supposed to be a serious thing, but I did it easily.

I wonder what makes this a "perfect" warrant.

I'm a "perfect" warrant lady, and while the people around me complimented me, I'm sure that was a mistake. I may have been "perfect," but that probably just meant "perfect for the Duke of Ashbury family". I just couldn't figure it out when the interests of the royal family and the Duke's were in agreement, and if the Duke's family thus became the house of sinners, regrettably, it emerged.

I really didn't want to admit it, like this. I can't believe what I've been telling you for over a decade wasn't real.

I regret, I can't help but regret that I didn't realize it until this happened. I was good at faking emotions, but I can't save you from seeming to be deceiving even thoughts that sank deep into my heart.

I wonder if I could have done the right thing if I had noticed a little earlier. I wonder if I could be truly proud of the ladies and maids who admired me.

"Huh..."

He cries out to scatter regrets without a place to go as he collapses in his dreams. A blurry red fell from the neck muscle, spreading to the white floor.

- Because the reason you bled out is not really, deep down, is it?

A voice that I won't wrap around earlier speaks to me staring down at the flushing red. Yeah, from earlier on, it's just a voice following me where it hurts. Accidentally blocking my ears had no effect in this dream.

- You don't really think about that, do you, just to apologize to Leannhardt?

"... that's not true..."

- Are you still going to delude your emotions at Setouchi?

"Huh..."

Too many pictures, no words to give back. Still, the kind of voice that resonated to the depths of the brain didn't stop pursuing it.

- You wanted to live with Leannhardt, and you asked for help because you wouldn't stop wishing that, would you?

"... Still, I can't say I want your help"

If I ask for help, Rose and the Duke are finished.

- Are you still saying that? You would have noticed earlier. Responding to a deal with that prince is, in the end, nothing more than self-satisfaction.

Snowy white light dissolves in my skin. When I noticed it smelled fluffy and sweet. Oh, what is this scent? What was that?

- Neither the Duke's nor the prince's escaped from anything, but there's not a single thing you can do to escape your emotions.

"... Sure, I've been running away forever"

Have you ever been honest with your emotions? If I hadn't always looked for a big name, I wouldn't have been able to take any action.

"But it's too late"

Isn't it too late to live honestly to get back on the right path? So much, I can't help it anymore.

"I really... can't save you"

Tears mix with the flowing red.

I was dishonest until the end. To this country, to the royal family, and to my own heart.

- You're an idiot, you're still gonna make it. Because he's alive.

With that word, the sweet aroma becomes stronger. Oh, this scent, maybe...

Out of the way, I felt like my heart jumped.

Sweet and spicy, this scent is a white lily. I associate nature with a princess smiling in a rusty golden rocket.

"Are you..."

Before I uttered his name, Rin's voice told him.

- Think, Leila. What is the honest act you can do? I'm sure the peace you get from sacrificing isn't a busy thing.

Silver and pale mingle only for a moment in the snowy white light that falls. I don't know why, but there was a grain of tear in the sight.

- Be honest with your emotions, Leila. You were born to be happy.

The smell of white lilies, rather sweet, wrapped me around. It's like they're holding me. To that reassurance, the puffiness and tears fade away. I smiled unexpectedly at the strange and warm feeling.

"... have you always been with me?

- No, I'm not anywhere anymore.

Unexpectedly, the white world is glowing. Rin's voice told him to smile.

- It's time to wake up. It's okay, Leila will be able to do it.

"Huh... can't I see you anymore?

Rin laughed at my words, and his voice dull.

- Right... In the meantime, I'll see you again.

Moments, the white world falls apart. If I closed my eyes softly to spare the sweet white lily scent that kept me away, I was struck by a dizziness as if the world were spinning.

"Huh..."

Waking up all the time, my breath was rising painfully. Light moonlight illuminates a dim room. Apparently he's lying on the couch, but I couldn't grasp the situation for a while as it was.

I wonder if that was a running light. You inspired me in that white world, that guy, I'm sure.

I remembered the sweet white lily scent and smiled unexpectedly. Maybe it's just a dream, but strangely light hearted. The feeling that I thought I wouldn't mind dying had disappeared like a lie.

... you braved me.

She encouraged me to just run away. Look forward, live honestly with your emotions. I close my eyes gently and smile in my heart at the bearer of Rin's voice. I haven't felt so sunny in a long time.

If you're alive, you have to face it. She's right.

I only took one deep breath and opened my eyes, cementing the determination that was in my heart.

Sweat flows down my thin, sweaty neck. I thought it should hurt because of the scratches cut with the vase shards, but it never stains. When I accidentally put my hand on my neck, I touched the smooth skin, which was no different than before I hurt it.

Sure, I should have hung up. It's also deep enough to lose consciousness.

"Eh, Layla!

On my face lying on the couch, there is a shadow. Trying to peek into my face, who hadn't grasped out the situation, and the person looked at me worryingly. My breath stays up, but the moment I see those purple blue eyes, I get zero natural grin.

"... Mr. Leenhardt"

"Leila... oh good... Leila woke me up..."

Mr. Leenhardt looked down at me with such an indelible look that he was about to cry out. My heart filled with regret for making him look like this.

Mr. Leanhardt woke up my upper body as it was and hugged me all the time, feeling safe and warm for the first time in two weeks, if I'm alarmed, I'm going to cry.

"What have you done, Leila... How can you hurt yourself..."

"Hehe... I'm sorry, I've done something stupid. If I hurt you, I wondered if I could see Mr. Leanhardt."

"What... to call me...?

"... Yep"

There must be some reason why Mr. Leanhardt wasn't here until he activated the magic of the pendant. My heart is sweet. I don't like that he cares, and I manage to smile and show him.

"Sorry...... Layla. I'm so sorry...... I couldn't come to see Leila until I made her do this..."

"I'm the one who has to apologize.... I, Mr. Leenhardt, have said terrible things..."

If I could see you again, I would have had a lot to say, but the words don't come together well. Because of the apology returned to him, Mr. Leanhardt had a slightly surprised look, but immediately gave him a merciful look, as usual. A flax color tangled in Mr. Leanhardt's finger stroking my head.

"That was worse for me. It's not about Leila apologizing."

With that said, Mr. Leanhardt gently turned his head to me. I close my eyes forever to that feeling and bite off my happiness.

Mr. Leanhardt gave me a tight hug as it was. That's all, I feel like the last two weeks of nightmares are melting away. I felt my dying heart come back to life as I saw it.

As it were, how much time would have elapsed. I couldn't help but notice the noise of the windows shaken by the clatter and the wind.

Not good. I can't stay too long. Something I don't know when His Highness will be here.

"... what I call you, Mr. Leenhardt, but it may be dangerous to stay here too long"

"Dangerous?"

Mr. Leanhardt gave a strange look slightly away from me. How can I explain His Highness? My mind, which Mr. Leenhardt should have touched and calmed down, starts to get a little confused.

"Your Highness may come here. What will both Mr. Leanhardt and I be doing if we are found out that we are meeting here..."

I shuddered unexpectedly, just remembering the pale eyes where His Highness's obsession dwelt. I was the one who wanted to see Mr. Leanhardt, but what if I bowled in with His Highness? I didn't feel comfortable thinking so.

But when Mr. Leanhardt accidentally grabs my shoulder, he stares at me with eyes as if to see something incredible.

"... will Prince Wang do something to you? Prince Wang loves you, doesn't he? You can't do terrible things."

"... Your Highness took me? I don't think so. I know you hate me so much that you want to kill me..."

"... what do you mean?

Mr. Leanhardt's purple blue eyes were clearly complaining of confusion. It upsets me to the way it is.

In this situation, I don't even think Mr. Leanhardt would make a joke. Mr. Leanhardt seems to think the same thing, staring at each other for a few seconds to explore each other.

Is there any difference between us? All this, I felt like there was nothing I could do if I didn't put it into words.

That's what I thought, and I was determined to confess what had happened in the past two weeks, looking up at Mr. Leanhardt's anxious expression.