Chapter 14: Persistent Gaze

“I’m back.”

Beyond the sound of the door opening, Timo’s somewhat weary figure appeared.

Her slumped shoulders and red, swollen eyes made it clear she’d been crying.

Leilia hesitated for a moment, set down her teacup, and looked at Timo.

“Did you just come from the Duke of Liston?”

“…Yes.”

Biting her lip as if to hold back tears, Timo nodded.

Leilia’s eyes and hands quickly moved over her, checking for any injuries.

She inspected every part of Timo’s body, worried something might have happened.

“Did he hit you? Or did he try to violate you?”

At the question, Timo shook her head a couple of times instead of answering.

The frustrating response made Leilia’s brow furrow deeply.

Given Carlisle’s personality, he almost never laid a hand on his servants, but there was no telling what might happen—she needed to know every detail, especially if it involved Timo.

“You have to tell me exactly what he did. That’s the only way I can help you.”

“It’s nothing like that. Nothing happened. I’m sorry I made you worry.”

Forcing a smile, Timo headed to the dressing table, picked up a round brush, and moved behind Leilia.

Her small hands gently undid the beautifully styled silver hair, brushing it with great care.

Leilia’s long, silver hair shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, like waves on water.

It was an ordinary, peaceful scene, but Leilia couldn’t shake off her uneasy feeling.

Her clear golden eyes rolled over to Timo, and sensing the gaze, Timo parted her lips to speak.

“Really, I swear, nothing happened. So please, don’t look at me like that.”

“Did the Duke threaten you? Tell you not to say anything to me?”

“No. Actually, the opposite. He praised me, said I’d proven my worth. It’s just… I’m worried. No, honestly, I’m scared. I’m afraid that the lie I told might end up hurting you…”

Timo wiped her teary eyes with her sleeve, swallowing back her sobs.

Her large eyes were filled with fear of the unknown—she really was a timid child.

Leilia bit her dry lips, carefully choosing her next words.

Only now did she realize, instinctively, that this was the time to cut ties with this kind fool and run.

She didn’t want to hurt her, but it was something she had to do.

“Whatever happens to me from now on, Timo, it’s the result of my own decisions and choices. It has nothing to do with you.”

“But…”

“You only did what I told you to do. Any consequences are entirely on me. So you don’t need to think about what comes next. That’s for me to deal with, not you. Don’t wonder, don’t get curious—just do exactly as I say, nothing more.”

Leilia’s words were deliberately cold as she drew a clear line.

At least with Timo, she had no intention of sharing her plans.

Even if there came a time when she had no choice but to speak, her ultimate goal—disappearance—would be hidden until the very end.

Timo’s role had to end here.

She needed to stay ignorant of the secret deal with Albion and the true use of the Alibu fruit, just as she was now.

“The Duke seemed eager to get along with you. He was genuinely interested in you. Maybe it’s time to reconsider. There’s no real reason for you to be at odds with him, is there?”

“What do you know?”

“…Huh?”

“How much do you really know about the Duke of Liston, that you act all smart and innocent in front of me?”

“Miss…”

“Don’t overstep. I brought you here simply because you’re competent, because you don’t inconvenience me. Not because you’re special. So don’t try to do anything for me beyond what I ask. Don’t make the effort, don’t try so hard. It’s just a nuisance.”

“I just wanted to be helpful to you…”

Timo bit her trembling lips, head hanging low.

Leilia deliberately looked away, her voice icy as she dismissed her.

“Go. Don’t come in until I call for you.”

“…Yes.”

Timo replied quietly, tidied up the area, and shuffled out on weary feet, her shadow looking especially small as she left.

She hadn’t escaped.

With the door closed, Leilia stared blankly into space.

Her golden eyes, empty and dazed, lingered there for a long time.

***

Darkness fell quickly.

The sky, tinged with sunset, had turned black, swallowing the last traces of light, and before she knew it, it was nearly midnight.

The gentle, rhythmic sound of raindrops lent an eerie mood to the once-beautiful surroundings.

Feeling the chill in the air, Leilia slipped on a robe over her thin chemise and slowly walked to the window.

Maybe it was the rain, but the faint scent of wood and damp earth brushed her nose.

Basking in the comfort that only nature could bring, Leilia exhaled slowly.

Not a single night in the Liston manor had been restful since her arrival.

Even on the rare occasions she managed to sleep, she was tormented by nightmares, waking after only a few hours of restless dozing.

How much longer would she have to endure before she could finally put an end to this wretched life?

With a dry face, Leilia gazed down over the railing.

She felt like she was staring into an endless tunnel, or perhaps into the same black sea that had swallowed her in a past life.

For a moment, the urge to throw herself into the abyss rose up within her, but she barely managed to restrain herself.

If she was going to become nothing more than a helpless child by giving up, she’d rather remain bound but able to do something—anything—while she still could.

That thought brought a stifled sigh into the crisp night air.

“The weather’s gotten chilly. Is it autumn already?”

Leilia sat in the armchair by the window, gazing blankly up at the sky as she counted invisible stars to pass the time, trying in vain to summon sleep.

As she waited, a carriage cut through the rain-soaked night and pulled up to the house.

“Rest well, my lord.”

At the sound of voices, Leilia’s eyes naturally turned downward.

Beneath the large carriage, a tall silhouette stretched like a painting.

His sleek black hair was like the night sky, veiled in rainclouds.

Now and then, she felt as if their eyes met in the darkness.

So what does he expect me to do about it?

Leilia shook her head slightly, pushing away the thoughts that were starting to unravel.

She got up at once and drew the curtains shut.

She had neither the patience nor the stomach to meet that unwelcome man’s eyes and exchange pleasantries.

It wasn’t long before she heard the sharp sound of shoes climbing the stairs.

Since there was only one set of footsteps, it seemed Ethan had already returned to his own room.

In this huge mansion, only the two of them were awake.

Just as Leilia closed her eyes and sank into the armchair, the footsteps in the hallway stopped outside her door.

It wasn’t what she’d expected, but it was easy to guess that Carlisle’s destination was here.

Creak.

The harsh sound of the door hinge made Leilia’s lashes lift slowly.

Beneath her closed lids, her dazed golden eyes followed the noise.

The only light in the room came from the candle at her bedside.

In that dim, wavering glow, Carlisle’s eyes shone, tinged red and sharp as ever.

“The Duke is always so rude.”

“I had a feeling you were waiting for me, so I came.”

Carlisle replied with a lazy smile, leaning against the doorway.

He tapped his fingers on the empty console table.

Tap, tap.

The steady rhythm carried a tension that was hard to ignore.

Though his lips were smiling, his upturned eyes looked dangerously predatory.

“We’re not exactly close enough for late-night visits, are we?”

Leilia retorted coldly, standing up from her seat. Carlisle’s gaze lingered, sticky and uncomfortably persistent.

Even with her robe on, she wore nothing but a thin chemise beneath.

His stare felt almost invasive.

“I thought we could become close, starting now.”

Carlisle’s lips curled up on one side as he slowly swept his gaze over her.

His one-sided attitude wasn’t just uncomfortable—it was infuriating.

Leilia hurriedly straightened her disheveled clothes, but he showed no sign of backing off.

A brutish hand brushed her smooth jaw, and his brow furrowed.

Though she was slim, her body had some curves—still, her slight frame looked all the more delicate in her sheer nightgown.

After his brief assessment, Carlisle put a cigar between his lips.

Once lit, the scent of wood vanished, replaced by acrid smoke swirling through the room.

Leilia’s brow creased in displeasure as his presence started to fill the space.

“So you have a long-time lover?”

“I thought we agreed to respect each other’s privacy.”

“I was going to, but getting stabbed in the back leaves a bitter taste.”

“You’re the one who said I could take a lover. I simply took you at your word.”

“No wonder it was so easy. There was a reason. What kind of man is he, this one who makes you risk it all in secret? Must be a hell of a relationship.”

“This conversation is unnecessary. I’d like you to leave.”

“I have no intention of taking back what I said. Go ahead—spread your legs, enjoy yourself. I’ll give you that much freedom, at least.”

Carlisle blew out a cloud of smoke and snuffed the cigar out carelessly.

His large shadow rose from where he’d been leaning and moved closer.

“But you see…”

“……”

“I’m a greedy man.”

As the distance closed between them, Leilia instinctively took a step back.

A glint sparked in Carlisle’s eyes, sharp as a snake’s as he raked her up and down with a predatory chill.

“I don’t care if you give your body away, but the thought of you giving your heart to someone else bothers me,”

His thick lips brushed over with his tongue, as if tasting the words.

In his mind, snippets of conversation with the maid flickered past.

‘Miss Leilia and Lord Albion…they’re longtime lovers. Three years ago, Miss disappeared for a while. We found her quickly, but that must have been when it started.’

‘But no one seems to know him.’

‘That’s because they met in secret. At her request, I’d help arrange their meetings, though I never imagined it would come to this. She’s a lonely person…I thought her feelings would cool off soon enough.’

At first, it was nothing more than curiosity—what sort of mischief could that tiny mind be plotting?

But hearing all this, Carlisle couldn’t help the sudden wave of irritation that washed over him.

It was oddly irritating—almost insulting.

Carlisle’s eyes grew hazy as he dropped his gaze.

Beneath the thin robe, her smooth, slender calves—utterly devoid of muscle—were tempting.

Below that, her delicate, pale ankles looked as if they could be enclosed in one hand.

He couldn’t look away.

Should I devour her?

A slow, predatory smile curved Carlisle’s lips.