The Escape of Layla

When someone approached the room, Mr. Leanhardt said he would notice with signs, so we sat in line on the couch and calmed down. I was not sure what to tell you from, but in the end, from that day when His Royal Highness captured me, I revealed to Mr. Leenhardt everything that happened in this room about His Highness, that I was held up in a deal to save Rose.

Honestly, it wasn't sneaky to put your thoughts in front of you and even talk about being mouthed by Your Highness on your forehead, but I'd rather keep it hidden from you.

I'll ask him how Mr. Leanhardt would have felt about the past two weeks I've had, and how he looks on the side. But I shook my shoulders unexpectedly with more hatred than I could have imagined reflected in those purple blue eyes. I'm kind of confused by the emotions that don't suit Mr. Leenhardt, who is calm and kind to me.

"... truly, the royal family of this country cannot be saved"

That hatred, which is too deep, may include not only this time about me, but also about Princess Amelia. It was also because the theory of royalty should have been mentioned that took the life of Mr. Leanhardt's precious Princess Amelia.

"Most of all, I feel sorry for myself. I can't believe I've kept Leila waiting for two weeks in such a cruel place... If this were the case, I should have picked you up sooner without hesitation"

"... did you know I was here?

That was really surprising. I knew Mr. Lenhardt was a great magician, but I didn't think he could figure this place out because he wouldn't show up before me.

"Yeah, I knew about the day after Leila was gone. I ran all over the kingdom relying on the slightest magic of pendants."

I stare softly at the pendant on my chest. This time, I've been saved by this little starry stone.

I can't believe you knew where I was two days after I was gone. The boulder is Mr. Leanhardt. But at the same time, I also remember a slight emotion.

"... after you figured out where you were, you didn't show up before me because, after all, you were angry about that day... I'm really sorry I cried myself out."

I stayed seated, but accidentally bowed my head and apologized. I don't think this will allow it, but at least I want to show my sincerity.

"Am I angry? To Leila?"

Mr. Leanhardt's hand is attached to my shoulder and he is directed to raise his face gently. Even one of those gentle tricks, as opposed to His Highness, seemed unexpectedly reassuring and tearful.

"Like I said, that was my fault. I was definitely a little shocked... but it was my fault that Leila made me say that. And the..."

Mr. Leanhardt, with a serious eye, let his gaze swim slightly before shooting straight through my eyes again.

"... I can't talk to you, I'm sorry. I think I sucked."

Mr. Leenhardt said he was serious about apologizing, but, uh, he had a fever on his cheek remembering when he mouthed Mr. Leenhardt. I'm embarrassed to look at you.

"It's not about Mr. Leanhardt being apologized for. Besides... it was somewhat forceful, but I was glad to think about it later. Mr. Leannhardt, hey, give me a mouthful..."

No. Words make my face extra hot. Not if it's lit that way now, but the heat I once had doesn't quite cool me down.

"... As I said before, unintentional strikes are against the rule... Leila"

You can just compliment me for not getting your hands on such an adorable Layla, that prince, whining like a solitaire, Mr. Leanhardt made sure to hold his forehead so he could cover his face with his hands. Seeing the edge of my ear lighted by the moonlight stained slightly red, I'm kind of going to double my embarrassment to this one.

Unexpectedly, I try to soothe my mind by drinking up the rest of the cold tea I was drinking with His Highness earlier. Even though he said he was bleeding and dizzy, he was going to get drunk on his sweet emotions for the first time in two weeks.

"So... is there any reason why Mr. Leenhardt didn't show up?

I'll try to get the story back to normal and bump into some questions from earlier. Mr. Leenhardt returned to a slightly more serious look after a gentle cough.

"Right...... The truth is, I was just about to pick up Layla, too. Having gathered information from the servants working at this tower and given me a peek into my memory, I was exploring when I could see Layla as peacefully as possible."

I realize that Mr. Leanhardt is still a magician around words like peeking into his memories. I feel sorry for the servants who peeked into their memories, but I'm sure they haven't even noticed they peeked.

"I thought Leila had been caught, so I was going to pick her up as soon as I could... I hesitated when I ran into some information"

"Is there any information?"

At the same time I'm glad that Mr. Leanhardt was trying to pick me up, I'm worried about that information and what I did. Interestingly listening to Mr. Leanhardt, he accidentally turned away from me.

"... about two weeks later... on the day it hits tomorrow, Prince Wang finally gets someone he loves. That's what it was about."

"... Huh?

I was so stunned by the unexpected words. I have no words to give it back, and I stare at Mr. Lenhardt, who remains out of sight.

"Prince Wang didn't seem to know Leila's name because he was bound to a woman he truly loved, but the servants said so. When I heard that, I really hesitated to pick up Layla. Leila was bonded to her first love and wondered if this would finally make her happy..."

Mr. Leanhardt frowned like he was cutting somewhere and breathed small.

"If I pick them up, they could tear them apart. Even when the magic of the pendant was activated, I thought Leila was hurt, and I couldn't stay or stand, and I transferred to this room, but at first I watched her from a distance. But after all this time, no one came, so I rushed over to Leila."

"Hey, wait a minute"

Understood, but not chased. Does His Highness love me? Isn't that some kind of mistake?

"That can't be... Because Your Highness was just hurting me... And even take a deal that makes you scorn me..."

Can you tell me that's what you really do to the woman you love? You can't believe it. I passed through clumsy or something, and I had a fear.

"Well, I can't talk about people either... he seems pretty distorted"

Was that obsession in His Highness's eyes coming from love?

No matter how much Mr. Leanhardt told me to do that, I could hardly believe it. Unexpectedly, I touch my tightened neck muscles many times.

It was so painful. Even though it hurt. How could His Highness, who was strangled and laughing at me in tears and fighting, ever love me? Or was that the result of a mixed hatred for the Duke of Ashbury house?

No, you can't. I really don't understand it better, Your Highness. All the pain and fear comes back, and it doesn't get to the point of caring for His Highness's feelings.

"... you scared me. If I had known Prince Wang was such a warped guy, I wouldn't have left you under him for two weeks..."

Mr. Leanhardt looks at me with sad eyes and gently strokes my cheek.

"I was sweet. If Prince Wang loves Leila, he won't be impersonating you for the past two weeks. As long as I was here, I assumed you'd be safe.... Sorry, sorry, Layla"

Along with the words of apology, Mr. Leanhardt hugged me all the time as he drew me in. That alone quiets my mind, which was confused by the mess. The pain and fear that dominated my heart, I could see it disappearing all the time.

"I didn't show up to you until today for another reason."

Mr. Leenhardt told me to whisper as he combed my hair with his fingers.

"If you say you're going to take the hand of your first love, that's fine. For me, Leila's happiness is best, so if Leila wants to live with Prince Wang, she wasn't trying to force Leila away."

The understated depth of love makes me laugh unexpectedly, feeling like Mr. Leanhardt, then. Mr. Leanhardt continued as he stroked my head.

"But before you became Prince Wang's, I decided to go see you just once. Just one more time, I wanted a chance. I wanted to tell Leila that I didn't like you because I was watching Amelia, but that I loved Leila myself."

Secondly, when Mr. Leanhardt took his hands off me, he removed a small box made of silverware from his blue coat. Silver reflects the moonlight and it's so beautiful. In love with that brilliant craftsmanship, he slowly opens the box.

Inside that box were silver rings embedded with stones, like pendants, as if they had cut off the starry sky.

"Now I want to give Leila exactly what this stone means. If you're going to live with Prince Wang, that's all I wanted you to take."

Unexpectedly, I put my hand on my mouth and drink my breath. Nature and my eyes began to moisturize.

- For a long time, it was a stone that the Lewayne clan often gave to their wedding partner.

The words came back to me when Mr. Leanhardt gave me his pendant, and I didn't know what to give it back.

"This stone is quite a crook, and it won't shine like this if you don't shine in the light of the moon for 10 days. This is my 10th night, so I was going to go give it to Leila before the date changes when it's done, but you've gone a little crazy with your plans."

Mr. Leanhardt smiled softly, and the next moment a bouquet of flowers was held in his hand as he gently rang his fingers. It is a colorful anemone flower, beautifully wrapped in a ribbon of lace with a hint of colour.

"The truth is... when I met you, I wanted to kill you"

"Huh...?

I accidentally frown upon the sudden noisy words. I can't imagine anything like how a kind heart, Mr. Leanhardt, is driven by so much urge to kill people.

"Because you were so vivid. I had a feeling I would like you... Now I feel sorry for Amelia."

When Princess Amelia's name came out, I still felt a little pain in the back of my chest. More than I love Mr. Leanhardt, even if he was watching Princess Amelia on me, he was trying to think that was okay, but what hurts seems to hurt.

"I was distracted by Leila because Amelia was reborn, and I could only keep my mind calm by assuming so.... I did something very terrible to you. I just pushed Amelia's face and really..."

Seeing that sad look tells me that he was suffering where he didn't know. While I was in love with Mr. Leanhardt for swallowing, I'm sure there was quite a grip. I still strongly regretted that day two weeks ago, when I hurt Mr. Leanhardt without knowing that either.

"Layla, whatever I say may only sound like an excuse. But that's all I need you to believe."

Mr. Leanhardt shot me through with a serious look as he let me grip a bouquet of anemones.

"I've never seen you as Amelia's rebirth. There was certainly a time when I wanted to assume that, but even those days in the end, I hadn't fooled myself. That's how much I'm attracted to Leila. I'm sure I was distracted by you the moment we met.... as scary as I think you are, you burned it and didn't leave."

Mr. Leanhardt's hand wraps my hand around the bouquet of anemones. His warmth seemed to spread in his hands, in his heart, in his body.

"You're my only one, Layla. The curse didn't choose. My heart won't be attracted to you."

Mr. Leanhardt smiled sweetly and mellow as he stared at me with his gentle purple blue eyes.

"... I love you, Layla. I like everything about Leila's smile, her poor voice, her core strength, her kindness. I'm so crazy about you because Leila is Leila.... please, I want you to believe me"

The words echoed very honestly and above all sweetly. If you look at Mr. Leenhardt's fingertips, who trembles a little nervously, or at his serious eyes, you can tell. He said it was from his heart.

I could see that his emotions would all melt away beautifully in his words. Unexpectedly, I get a sunny grin.

... Oh, Mr. Leanhardt has been watching me myself.

I was incredibly comfortable accepting it in front of Mr. Lenhardt, who was honest enough to reveal his feelings. Misunderstood, although there may be a narrative, he has been watching me myself the whole time.

"... glad, very glad, Mr. Leanhardt"

I got up on my knees with a bouquet of anemones and tried to wrap his hands around me with both hands with a silver little box, and I turned my full grin. My vision is only slightly distorted because of the tears in my eyes.

"Me too, I like you. I want to live with you."

"... Leila"

Mr. Leanhardt smiles sweetly. When I see that look, I get the feeling that I want to be flushed like this, but the thought of earlier, secretly determined, made me stomp. I still have something to do.

"But...... that's why I'm not going to let you hear the rest of Mr. Leanhardt's words now. I have something to do."

Dreams like that running lantern made me realize. The last thing I can do when I run away, is to say what an honest act is.

I must settle for all causes. If I do not confront His Royal Highness's obsession, Rose's sins, and my heart imprisoned in the Duke's house, all of it, I am sure I will not be happy in the true sense of the word.

It is very easy for me to keep things round by dedicating myself to His Highness. If you respond to your deal with His Highness, you will have the peace of mind to just make it look good, leaving all your differences and obsessions unattended. Maybe that's not bad either, but now that I know His Highness's thoughts, I didn't think it would satisfy his heart very much.

Besides, I thought in the running light. He wanted to act honestly at the end of the day, not as a courtesan for the Duke of Ashbury's family, but as a noble courtesan of this kingdom. The last 18 years have been fake, but only one last time, he wanted to do the right thing against this kingdom,.

Yes, the last act of honesty I can do is perhaps reveal Rose's sins and confront His Highness. That could lead to abandoning the Duke of Ashbury family. To be honest with you, I was scared and I couldn't help but decide to separate myself from my obsession with the Duke's house.

I tried to hold my trembling hand and put my fingers together to pray.

Face Your Highness, bid Rose farewell, and sever the cause with the Duke's house. Though it seems interminably difficult, I have to get this done.

However, there are only a few things you can do on your own on the body being held captive here. I stared straight at Mr. Leanhardt and opened my mouth.

"So... would you like a hand?"

I'm not used to relying on people. The anxiety that it annoys me still persists.

But if the result of holding myself in and hiding my emotions is that I'm who I am now, it has to change.

Let's not spare the words anymore. Just because you're afraid of hurting yourself by mouthing your emotions doesn't make you weigh in on words that whisper love.

"... he looks like he's blown out of something"

"Huh?"

"No, you're as vibrant as ever."

Mr. Leanhardt gently took my hand and mouthed it on the back of his hand as he wrapped the silver box around his coat. Purple blue eyes shine like some prank.

"If it's for Leila, I'd be happy to give you a hand. Anything you want, I want to make it happen."

Is it because I am in love with him that the words are sweet? I smiled back at him, feeling slightly fever on his cheeks.

"Thank you, Mr. Leanhardt"

The moonlight reflects the shadows of me and Mr. Leanhardt. On this strangely fantastic night, just fleeing all emotions, I must have died. You defeat everything, your identity, your regrets, and you move now to get freedom in the real sense.