Chapter 2

“Your family’s sins are so severe that they deserve a proper sentence, but His Majesty the King has shown His kindness.”

“…”

“Therefore, I order the forced return of the criminal Jaden Serdian’s daughter, Ayla Serdian. As of today, his daughter, Ayla Serdian, has been stripped of her criminal status and will live as a low-class maid in the Royal Palace, until the criminals Jaden Serdian and Catherine Serdian show up. The above order remains in effect until His Majesty’s instructions are given.”

***

She was given a week.

In the meantime, if she cannot find her parents’ whereabouts, she may have to live her whole life as a maid.

The King’s choice of words was that she, who was the esteemed daughter of a noble family, had to live serving someone else.

Tap, tap

Ayla’s hurried footsteps stopped, as if she had reached her destination.

At the same time, her heavily sunken blue eyes looked around in a slow motion.

“Ha…”

The mansion, where Ayla lived in when she was a child, had already disappeared and turned into an empty plot.

Right now, she couldn’t think of where to go or what to do.

‘At this rate, I will have no choice but to be confined in the royal palace….’

The sky was dark, and heavy raindrops fell one by one.

As the weather was somber, the emotions she had endured so far suddenly burst out.

Ayla shook her head, struggling to keep her emotions together.

Even if she were to complain, the situation has already happened, and nothing could change it.

“What should I do from now on?”

A shallow sigh came out from Ayla’s mouth, as she muttered to herself.

When she was organizing her thoughts with her eyes closed, she felt a warmth over her delicate shoulders.

“Found you.”

Above Ayla’s blue eyes, a breathless Louis Daniel appeared, panting.

“Louis? You, how…?”

“First, let us go home. You’re soaked.”

“No, I don’t want to bother you.”

Ayla coldly shook off Louis’ warm hands, which had been covering her.

She could not grasp how on earth this situation happened.

Will it end like this…? At a time when a bigger punishment might come, Louis, who had nothing to do with it, could not ease the burden.

Moreover, Louis was the son of a duke who was favored by the royal family.

If she held this hand now, it was obvious that there would be problems.

“You have nowhere to go. I knew this would happen, so I came here myself.”

“…”

“Let us think slowly… There must be a way.”

Louis’ warm, sluggish voice had the power to calm down the confused mind.

Is it because of that? She felt like she wanted to lean on him a bit, just for a little moment.

***

Louis’ house was a place she often visited when they were young, but she felt a sense of alienation from how different it looked from before.

The whole house sparkled.

A reindeer’s head, whether it was real or a replica, was adorned above the fireplace.

The impressive chandeliers and a variety of very expensive-looking wines and jewelry seemed to emit an aura all over the house.

Louis turned and spoke first to Ayla, who was standing still as if trying to adapt to an unfamiliar environment.

“It changed a lot, right?”

“Yes… It did.”

Louis Daniel, her only childhood friend.

They spent their childhood together, sharing delicious food and playing hide-and-seek.

When they were young enough to make jokes about getting married when they became adults, Louis and Ayla were close and a little special.

The relationship between the two remained, even after she left for ‘Fencers’. Once a year, he took the time to visit Ayla all the way to the distant Fencers. She complained about why he went all the way there, but she was very glad to meet Louis in a faraway country.

As such, Louis was always a thankful, precious and affectionate being to Ayla.

But now, at this moment, Louis felt more uncomfortable than anyone else.

Louis brought a well-dried towel to Ayla, whose body was soaked by the sudden rain.

Holding the towel in her hand, Ayla’s twitching lips showed signs of her discomfort.

“Louis.”

“You’ll catch a cold. It is my older sister’s clothes. Get changed.”

Louis changed the subject, as if he had a hunch.