Chapter 1.10

“Hm.”

As expected, Karl Lavresion, freshly washed, looked at the empty bed and ran a hand through his damp hair. The only traces left were the crumpled sheets and a pile of tissues.

He had expected this.

He sat on the edge of the bed, finishing drying his hair with the towel. Then, finding it bothersome, he tossed the towel onto the floor. His gaze returned to the remnants she had left behind before he began dressing.

Leticia Evris was exactly as he had anticipated.

His prediction that she would spread her legs was correct, as was his assumption that, being the daughter of a mistress, she lacked social experience and was socially inept.

However, she was more naive and foolish than he had expected.

During their first meeting, she had looked at him with expectant eyes, asking why he was being so kind to her, just because he had treated her a little better. She was a naive woman, unaccustomed to men’s kindness and tenderness. Her flustered reactions amused him, so he smiled every time their eyes met and treated her gently. Leticia Evris blushed and avoided his gaze just because he stroked her cheek. Yet, before long, she would look at him again, as if entranced. She was utterly transparent.

He thought it might not end cleanly. Maybe it was time to pull out of this. He stood and pondered briefly. But his deliberation was short-lived. He’d deal with it when the time came. For now, he’d do as he pleased.

With that simple conclusion, he left the hotel. His steps were light.

* * *

When she returned home, she was startled to find her mother awake. She ran to her at once. It was the first time she had seen her mother in the living room instead of her bedroom.

“Mother, are you okay?”

“Yes.”

For two years, she had only seen her mother drunk or drugged, lying down. Seeing her mother looking fine felt strangely unfamiliar. Leticia scrutinized her mother’s face. 

Had she taken a sedative?

“What made you come out suddenly? You always stayed in your room…”

“Because it felt suffocating. Lichten doesn’t let me go outside…”

Her mother muttered in a subdued voice, gazing out the window. Though it was late evening, the streets outside were teeming with people. Her mother’s eyes lingered on a happy family. Leticia also turned to look at the cheerful family. A smiling husband and wife, their children chattering away while holding their parents’ hands… Anyone could see that they were a happy family.

“Leticia, do you resent me?” 

Her mother asked.

Her mind froze. There was so much she wanted to say, but all she could muster were fragmented words that refused to form into coherent sentences.

“I know I didn’t give you a normal family… or the love of normal parents. I know… but…”

Her mother’s eyes turned to her. In those eyes, there was sorrow, resentment, and regret. Leticia didn’t resist as her mother grabbed her shoulders and pressed down hard. She knelt before her mother without protest.

“Even so, I’ll stay by your side until the very end.”

“……”

“So, you’ll stay by my side too, won’t you?”

Her mother knelt down to meet her gaze. Leticia stared back at her mother with wide eyes. Her mother’s eyes were glistening with tears. In a trembling voice, Leticia answered.

“Yes…”

Her throat felt tight.

“I will, Mother…”

After all, her mother was the only one who stayed by her side. She murmured the words as if to herself, and her mother pulled her into an embrace. Raising a trembling hand, Leticia returned the hug. But she didn’t cry.

***

“Leti, hello.”

Karl Lavresion came to find her just as work ended. It had been two days since that day. 

Already? It had only been two days, and yet he wanted to see me again? 

Staring at him in disbelief, she blinked as he waved his hand in front of her.

“Why…?”

“Because I was bored.”

He said with a playful smile. She couldn’t bring herself to smile back. She had just finished work, and dealing with Karl Lavresion felt exhausting. When she turned her gaze, she noticed Anne watching them with sparkling eyes, even pausing her closing duties to stare. Anne had always been suspicious that there was more than friendship between Leticia and Karl, and what she saw today would only confirm her suspicions. The thought made Leticia feel even more tired.

“I’m tired today…”

“Today’s the night market, though. Isn’t it?” 

He grabbed her arm and gave it a little shake. His tone was almost childlike, even playful, but she didn’t have the energy to match it.

“Not today…”

“The more tired you are, the more you need to eat something delicious, Leti. Walking around will energize you.”

What kind of logic was that? 

She wanted to retort but swallowed her words when she saw his cheerful face. His expectant smile reminded her of herself as a child, tugging on her mother’s arm, begging for something. Of course, Karl Lavresion wasn’t like her…

“Have you been to the night market?” 

He asked.

“No.”

“Then you can go with me. It’ll be more fun since it’s new for both of us.”

He spoke as though he were certain she would go. Leticia sighed softly and eventually nodded.

Taking Karl Lavresion’s carriage, they left downtown and headed to Areinta, a residential district. 

The Areinta Market was open late into the night only once a month. It was one of the few attractions in the Chevrem Empire, where large festivals were rare. As her mother had told her in her childhood, the night market was always bustling with people.

Just as her mother had described, the night market was crowded with people, so much so that it was difficult to move.

“There are so many…” 

She muttered, her mouth slightly agape in awe. Karl Lavresion seemed amused by the overwhelming crowd, smiling broadly.

“This is going to be fun. A lot of people means it’s that much more enjoyable. Let’s go, Leti.”

“Ah…”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Her body was tugged forward, her feet matching his steps. Leticia glanced at Karl Lavresion’s excited face, his broad shoulders, and his back before her gaze shifted to the people beyond him. Each face was different, but they all seemed happy and were smiling. She was the only one not smiling.

Would it be okay for me to smile too…?

She forced her lips into a smile. She could feel her muscles twitching, trembling slightly. Still, she tried to hold the smile in place. Karl Lavresion, walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned to face her

“What’s that?”

He frowned at her expression, then laughed out loud.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Without a mirror, she couldn’t see how she looked. Judging by his reaction, it must have been a strange face. But she didn’t know how to smile properly. She wanted to smile like she was truly happy…

“This is how you do it, Leti.”

He stopped in the middle of the bustling crowd, turned to face her, and cupped her cheeks with his hands.

“Look into my eyes.”

As if entranced, she stared into his golden eyes. In them, she saw herself, blankly gazing back at him. His eyes softened into a gentle curve.

“Like this, squint your eyes a little.”

“……”

“And lift your lips naturally.”

He smiled brightly, as if to show her how. It was the same smile she always saw on him. Yet… for some reason, her heart raced, and she couldn’t meet his gaze.

I can’t look at him.

I don’t know how to smile…

She averted her eyes and shook her head, lowering his hands from her cheeks.

“Don’t block the way by standing here. Let’s just go.”

She pushed his back, making an excuse.

“I’m hungry…”

“Hmm? Already? That’s unusual.”

The last time they met, she hadn’t been hungry and had eaten late. He looked at her curiously, but when she kept pushing his back, he relented and started walking.

This time, she was the one to grab his hand. Justifying it to herself by saying it was because of the crowd…

Passing through the market entrance and heading deeper inside, they came across rows of outdoor food stalls. Groups of people were sitting together, eating and sipping on drinks.

“Have you ever been to a place like this?”

“No…”

Not even once. In fact, she had never even tried alcohol. She watched the golden liquid being poured into people’s glasses. 

Was that beer? 

Her mother had always drunk aged wine or homemade fruit liquor. Apple-based drinks were her favorite.

“And alcohol?”

“No…”

“You want to try it, don’t you, Leti?”

He lightly patted her shoulder as he spoke. Startled, she turned her gaze away from the people and looked at him.

“Want to give it a shot?”

“……”

“I like beer myself.”

He smiled and coaxed her gently. When she didn’t answer, he took her arm and led her toward one of the outdoor stalls. As she matched his steps, she felt her heart pounding again. This time, it wasn’t because of Karl Lavresion. It was because of anticipation.

Karl Lavresion and Leticia chose a spot where the wind wasn’t blowing as strongly and opened the menu. Most of the dishes listed were unfamiliar to her. She pointed to the safest option—french fries.

“This.”

“Got it.”

He raised his hand to call over the server and ordered french fries and two glasses of draft beer. After finishing the order, he turned his head to look at her. At that moment, a breeze blew, tousling his hair. His fine red locks clung to his forehead before falling away. As if annoyed, he brushed his hair back with one hand.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Leti?” 

Only then did she realize she had been watching his every move. She quickly averted her gaze, and he let out a small laugh before falling silent again.