CH 14

Siella tried to be polite to Eschert although she felt a sense of terrible betrayal, considering the years they had spent together. But even that was casually tossed aside by Eschert. 

Is there a need to be considerate to someone who’s not polite in return? Siella turned around and left Eschert behind. 

“I will reinforce the mansion’s security more thoroughly than before in case of any possible threat now that Edwin’s back.” 

Eschert said behind Siella’s back, who was slowly walking away. Whether Siella left the room or not, his  gaze was still glued on his documents as if he had no intention of holding her back. He only said what he wanted in a nonchalant manner. 

“I will give you a escort if you don’t feel safe enough, so I want you to wait in silence until we know the truth.” 

Siella paused and quietly looked back at Eschert. He continued talking to himself as he keep his eyes on his documents, as if he was uninterested on how the other person reacted to his words. 

“You will never be in danger in this place.”

Eschert seemed convinced that Kyle would never appear here. Or, he had no doubts that if he ever came here, he would have full control of the situation. 

Either way, it was clear that he regarded her words as little more than minor scratches. He doesn’t understand her fears or her trauma. 

Ignoring Eschert’s words which were not even worth replying to, Siella left the room. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Siella and Leonard met at the back garden again as promised after the parted ways the day before. Leonard arrived at the back garden before Siella did and asked an attendant to prepare a lunch for the two of them. In the first place, he deliberately made their appointment at lunch after hearing from Siella that she had been starving these days. 

On the other hand, the attendants quickly prepared their meal inside the huge greenhouse. Siella appeared after he had been seated in front of the table where the food was prepared and waiting for her for quite some time. 

Leonard stood up from his position of leaning back and greeted Siella. As Siella walked inside the greenhouse, her face was slightly flushed. Her red cheeks seemed to represent her heightened emotions. 

Leonard quietly offered a seat instead of asking Siella what had happened. Then as Siella sat down on her seat, she smiled and immediately said, as if it was ridiculous, “It’s like talking to a wall.” 

Tilting his wine glass, Leonard glanced at Siella and hinted, “Are you talking about your fiancé?” 

“Yeah. It was really, really ridiculous.” 

It seemed like they didn’t get into a consensus with each other. Leonard lightly clicked his tongue and put the wine glass to his mouth. 

With a resolute expression, Siella said, “So I left without saying anything.” 

Holding the glass to his mouth, Leonard paused and then asked her again, “You just left?” 

“Yeah.” 

Siella nodded her head without any hesitation. 

When he saw that, Leonard thought of a realistic problem. For example, the issue of contract involving Eschert and Siella. But that was something that Siella knows best, so he didn’t feel the need to point it out. Most of all, Leonard could guess why Siella made this decision. So when she said that she just left without saying anything, he just quietly shut his mouth instead of rebuking Siella’s judgement. 

Siella quietly looked down on the table and kept her silence. She stayed like that for quite a while. Since Siella was unwilling to touch her food, Leonard also didn’t dare touch his food and just kept on tilting his wine glass. And before he knew it, the wine in the decanter was empty. 

“Hmm.” 

Leonard glanced at the empty decanter, but quickly shook it off. Because they are in this place to discuss about Siella’s future, the attendants who had served their meal had already left. 

Putting down the glass of wine and wiping his mouth with a napkin, Leonard peeked at Siella’s face. Eventually, he broke the silence between them and opened his mouth. 

“I thought you’d live happily as long as you got out of the family.” 

Siella remembered the first time she heard from her stepmother Bianca about her marriage to Count Shedland. Siella didn’t protest against Bianca that time, who decided to marry her to Count Shedland without asking her at all. It was because she badly wanted to get away from that terrible family. 

“But only the place changed. Nothing much has changed other than that.” 

She had no doubts that it was a rational decision to choose Eschert, the lesser evil, than the worst, Count Shedland. Despite the fact that she knew Eschert would soon meet the female lead and fall in love with her, she still hoped in her heart that he wouldn’t break his promise or go back on his words. She even vaguely imagined that if one day their contract ends and they have to part ways, they will turn around and wish each other happiness. 

But that couldn’t happen. The reality was different from what she had imagined. Since he no longer had use of Siella, Eschert no longer kept the very least amount of loyalty.  

‘How long has it been since Edwin had returned to the Duchy?’ 

Eschert didn’t properly fulfill his contract with Siella. Siella even pointed it out to him demanded to faithfully abide by the unfinished contract, but he ignored it. Even though Siella said something about terminating the contract, he didn’t even listen and just shirked it. 

“I found out too late that no matter where I was, it wouldn’t make much of a difference.” 

“…” 

“I wish I had known sooner.” 

Leonard listened to Siella’s self-deprecating tone. He doesn’t have anything to say, and more than anything, he thought that it was something he could talk about. 

Moments later, Siella raised her head and pushed her plate of food at the center of the table. 

“So I’ve been thinking about it Leonard, and I don’t think I can pay you anything right now.”

“That means you don’t trust me enough.” 

“That’s right.” 

Siella nodded her head and admitted it. Leonard also nodded his head and agreed. 

“I understand.” 

Kyle, who they thought would be confined inside an island on the south for the rest of his life, had now returned to the empire. It was very surprising that not even Leonard had anticipated for this to happen. 

Even more so for Siella, who had placed her trust in Eschert and entrusted Kyle to his recruits, she felt that this situation was all the more sudden and perplexing. Realistically, it was only natural that Siella couldn’t trust Leonard right now. 

“In the first place, there will be no big problem even if the timing of payment is delayed a little.” 

Leonard didn’t care. It didn’t matter to him whether Siella trusts him or not. In any case, he will write a contract with Siella that could guarantee their individual rights. 

“So, have you made a decision?” 

“Yes, I have decided.” 

Last night, Siella told Leonard that she would think about the price she would pay Leonard for another day. After listening to Siella’s terms, Leonard decided to write a contract with a promise that he would expel Kyle from the family and send him out of the country. 

“I received mine last year.” 

“A mine?” 

“Yeah.” 

The last time that they renewed the contract, Siella received a mine among the assets she received from Eschert. 

“I will give you a portion of the mining rights.” 

At Siella’s words, Leonard had a face as if he had lost interest at once. 

“Well, if it’s a mine, what I own now is more than enough.” 

It was only a condition of receiving a portion of the mining rights. Leonard wasn’t at all reluctant to help Siella in exchange for that amount. 

(T/N: I don’t trust Leonard, but at least he would help Siella, though with a price.)