The Escape of Layla

When I opened my eyes, I was in a nostalgic room. It's a private room in the Duke of Ashbury's house. But I can't afford to immerse myself in nostalgia with my best efforts to hide my pompous and zero fallen tears.

"Leila's a crybaby."

Mr. Leanhardt gave me a gentle hug to hide my tears. I don't say anything, I just feel a little less comfortable with that comfort that combs my hair.

Right, now, it's not time to immerse yourself in sentiment. I still have something to do.

"Eh... I'm sorry, Mr. Leanhardt. It's okay now."

When he managed to wipe his tears and look up at Mr. Leanhardt, he turned a merciful grin on me. Mr. Leenhardt mouths my eyeballs about what he thought as it was.

"You don't have to apologize, Leila"

Even though this is the case, there is only a little heat on my cheeks. I feel a little confused because of it, but I feel like I've got a glimpse of the future to be swept away by Mr. Leanhardt for the rest of my life, and I can't say anything.

"Well, for now, I tried to come to Leila's parents' house, but what do we do? According to your sister's advice, I have to make sure I don't see my mother."

"... you're right"

Looking over the private room again, it looked no different than when I left. There's no dust on it either, so I'm sure the maids Jessica keeps it clean. I don't even know if he's coming home. My chest hurts so bad knowing that he's still protecting this room.

The antique clock placed in the room referred to midnight. At this hour, your mother should already be in the bedroom, so if you don't make too much noise, there won't be any bowling.

"First, I think I'll write to your father. I have to tell you the truth about a series of incidents."

I headed to my desk for reading illuminated by the moonlight and took a set of notes and feather pens out of my drawer. Mr. Leanhardt is trying to stand behind me and watch how it goes.

"Shall we turn on the lights?

"No, the moonlight is enough. Plus, if you turn on the lights, someone might notice."

"So is that."

"It could be a little longer, so Mr. Leanhardt is not on the couch for the rest of the day. Unless I'm sorry I can't serve you tea..."

"It's going to be hard to write when people are watching you. Still, I'm kind of nervous when I think it's Leila's room..."

As the saying goes, I laugh when I accidentally tickle when I see Mr. Leanhardt, who seems somewhere restless looking around for a moment. I usually thought Mr. Leanhardt was kind of cute, even though he was so bolder.

"If you don't mind, you can look around as you please. I don't think there's anything interesting..."

"Are you sure? Well, let me do that."

Dropping that word off Mr. Leenhardt's back away from my side at the end, I once again turned to blank parchment.

This is the first and last letter to your father. Emotions should not be exchanged and clear facts should be properly documented. The back of my chest hurt a lot when I read this and how my father felt, but I pushed and sank that pain and I started writing the backdrop to everything from start to finish.

Over the course of about 30 minutes as it was, I wrote up a letter to your father. My hands still trembled when writing about Rose's sins, but I managed to write down all the truths without covering them up.

Read this, will your father believe it? It is also possible that you are outraged and don't take it properly because you are the father who drowned Rose more than I am. I'm so anxious.

But I decided to believe it. I'm sure your father will do what he deserves as head of the Duke's house.

I put a letter in an envelope bearing the Duke's family's imprint, and I rose out of my chair. Looking back, Mr. Leanhardt was looking for a bookshelf. What a strange feeling to have someone in your room you like.

"Thank you for waiting. Did you have any interesting books?

"No... I was just surprised that there would be more poems and novels, because it's just a specialty book. Leila is sensible."

"When I was at the Duke's house, I didn't even have time to read the book I wanted to read..."

Because of this, I am oblivious to the novels and poems that are popular in the kingdom. Though the work of a writer called Literary Art was indispensable for upbringing because he had read it, there were occasional difficulties during conversations with the ladies who blossom in popular novels.

"Right...... Really, Leila's parents are tough people."

"Yep... to me, though"

When it really comes to the subject of this hand, it becomes a slightly darker voice even if it is unconscious. I'm going to make up my mind, but my mind doesn't quite switch as much as I think.

"Leila is so adorable and smart, what shouldn't she be?

"Hehe, that's what Mr. Leanhardt thinks because he likes me. In fact, Rose is more gorgeous and beautiful, and she must have been cute to her parents."

"I guess... if I just looked at her face, I'd say she looked alike enough to think she was the boulder sisters"

"Is it me and Rose?

That's the first time I've been told to live in 18 years. I've never thought about how Rose and I look alike. As much as that, Rose boasted the gorgeous beauty of a large rose.

"... the color of your hair and eyes will change your impression quite a bit."

I wondered about Mr. Leanhardt who seemed awkward somewhere first, but I laughed when I realized he was probably referring to me and Princess Amelia.

"Hehe, is that right? I'm pretty sure Mr. Leanhardt said that."

Most of all, it's no wonder they say they look alike because they're sisters with blood connections. However, I felt that beauty was not determined solely by my face. Rose's glamorous standing behavior would certainly have made her look even more beautiful. Such a bright personality might also have been preferred by the parents. After all, it's important to be cute.

"Quickly, are you going to your father?

When Mr. Leanhardt turned to me, he overheard the hair on my cheek. I solidify my resolve by laying my eyes down gently with a letter to your father in my chest.

"... Yep"

I turned my back on the bookshelf once and looked over at the private room. Perhaps this is the last time you'll see this room. I say goodbye in my heart to a private room I spent 18 years in, although I have few good memories.

"... My father's study is in the same mansion, so I can go alone. If you'll excuse me, Mr. Leanhardt, please rest here."

The quote you asked me to come and help you, you've already had the metastatic magic performed twice. I'm sorry if I'm tired. I said with the intention of caring for him as I looked back at Mr. Leanhardt, he smiled and shook his neck sideways to reassure me.

"Thanks, but I'm fine. If anything happens to Leila, I'm in trouble."

"Hehe, this is my home. I don't know what it is... but if you follow me, I'm comfortable."

Mr. Leanhardt is really worried, I almost stopped saying. I'm the one who worries about him all the time. From Mr. Leanhardt's point of view, it would seem which mouth is saying it. In particular, although I am here to see Mr Lienhardt, I cannot say more after I have suffered a self-inflicted injury.

Now, there are heartbreakers for me to hurt. Let's not imitate that again. That's right. I stood next to Mr. Leanhardt, deciding on my mind.

"I have to sneak eyes, so I can hardly introduce you to the mansion, but if you don't mind, would you come with me?

"Of course. Oh, Leila was a duke's warrant here, wasn't she?... Shall we come, Lady Leila?

Mr. Leanhardt laughed prankily as he offered me his hand. I lay my own hand over Mr. Leanhardt's hand, laughing as I dull to be able to follow it.

"Hehe, with an attractive butler like Mr. Leanhardt by your side, you're going to be out of touch with nothing."

"That's not good. You're disqualified as a servant."

Even a joke without a hold is loving. It's strange that when we're going to settle for the cause of the next 18 years, we can also laugh at each other like this. With that in mind, I leaned softly against the warmth of Mr. Leanhardt's hand.