10. Monthly Lara
In recent years, there has been no bigger controversy than this in Hautean society. Digging deeply into the case revealed family affairs much more provocative than any other popular novel. When the daughter reported about her father's corruption for her mother, the father kidnapped his daughter and threatened to kill her. Then, the daughter set fire to escape her father's house.
People lost their minds over Lara's name more than Marquess of Bailey's crimes or the drugs found in the Temple of Glory. The girl, who was kind enough to be mentioned as a strong candidate for the Princess Consort, became the top villainess in Hautean, and in the end, committed immorality.
Of course, the fault lay with the Marquess of Bailey, that was absolutely true. But still, many people criticized and were uncomfortable with Lara's actions. They condemned her, saying, how could a child abandon her parents first.
Isadora finally got a divorce from her husband. She even offered a huge sum of money to the royal family to get Lara's and her name to be removed from the House of Bailey's family register.
The King neither object nor did he approve of her request.
He must have thought that it would be a waste to remove an easy-to-use noble family with his own hand.
The King only approved half of Isadora's request.
Their names were removed from House of Bailey's family register, but some possibilities were left. So that when Lara wanted to change her mind and take over the family, or when her future husband needed a peerage, the King himself could pretend to show his mercy and give the name back.
"He's no longer a Bailey."
Instead, the King hurried to take Marquess of Bailey's name and gave an order for him to be banished. He was not telling him to live just outside the capital, but to get out of the border altogether. The Marquess was chased out empty-handed, without a name, as well as his family, property, and identity. There was no one on his side the day he was banished.
Nobody even remembered his appearance from behind when he wept while getting further from Hautean.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The cicada's piercing cry reached its peak.
The last stage of heat was in full swing. The sky rose noticeably and there was a brief chill at dawn.
Eunice and Ximena did not go home and just stayed at Isadora's hotel. They did not want to go home, and they hated it even more to be in the hospital. They got permission from Isadora to stay in the hotel's VIP room while getting their treatment.
"Welcome, Lady Lara."
As Lara entered the hotel lounge, the hotel manager approached her and extended his arm to her.
Lara put her hand on his arm and smiled shyly.
"Do we have to do this? It's a bit cheesy."
"Are you talking about the escort?"
"Yes, I heard they don't even do this at a banquet these days."
"Hotels are different. This is a place where people pay to be served. Having an escort is just the basics."
"But I'm not paying anything."
"Oh no, get your hands off me."
Lara laughed out loud at the manager's clever joke.
She was wearing a knee-length mint dress and a soft light pink gown.
The guests coming to and fro the lounge glanced at her attire.
"Where's mother?"
"I will tell you where she is if you call her mom."
"Manager, I'm already an adult."
"My son is over thirty, but he still calls his mom as mom."
"Did he call you dad?"
"Nope, just old man."
Lara laughed louder.
Her laughter echoing through the spacious lounge was as clear and lovely as a bell.
"Your friends are waiting over there."
Eunice and Ximena were waiting for Lara.
They were sitting in armchairs in the lounge, showing their wounds to the doctor.
Eunice had the side of her head torn apart and Ximena had bruises on her face and stomach. The wounds should be hurting but they kept laughing and chatting throughout their treatment.
"My junior is here."
Ximena, who had finished her treatment first, got up and opened her arms to Lara.
Then, she spoke in a voice filled with a hint of a smile.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Should we, the girls who set fire to our father's house, hug?"
"What?"
"I will especially allow you to call me your senior."
Lara stood there and looked at Ximena with a dumbfounded face.
Eunice was giggling and laughing.
The doctor nagged her not to move because her wound might get infected, but she could not stop laughing.
Lara sighed and told them.
"I'm here to visit you. Can you at least pretend you're sick? You got injured because of me. Why are you making me feel so flustered even before I get to feel sorry?"
"Why are we injured because of you? We're injured because of those damned kidnappers."
Eunice shook her hands, saying Lara was being ridiculous.
Lara really was coming to visit them, holding flowers in one hand.
Eunice, who saw the flower, mumbled with a disappointed face.
"You should have brought us booze…"
She was such a consistent friend.
Isadora's hotel was spacious and luxurious.
There was also delicious food and a beautiful garden.
But for Eunice, this place was no different from the place where her friend's mother lived. Moreover, that person was the Thousand Gold Isadora. No matter how much of a troublemaker Eunice was, she could not drink and enjoy as usual while being treated by a doctor sent by Isadora.
She whined that she had to involuntarily be a kind patient for a while.
"So, the conclusion is that you just want to drink and enjoy yourselves."
"Yeah."
"Now I know why your mighty warrior called you the morning dew of Dvonn."
When she first saw their mighty warriors battle at the arena for the first time, Eunice's mighty warrior called her that.
The morning dew of Dvonn.
It meant that she went drinking all night every day and going home in the early morning dew.
Eunice opened her eyes wide, saying she did not expect that Lara would remember such a thing.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
They went to the arena together for the first time in a while. The warden ran out to the entrance to greet them. He said that, as Eunice and Ximena, who were the big customers in the arena, did not come for a while, the sales were on the verge of dropping.
The warden opened the VIP seats for them before the match even started to talk and have fun comfortably.
Lara asked to be excused and went to meet Demian.
Today was the day he agreed to bid farewell to his life in the arena and move into Isadora's house.
He had finally broken his stubbornness.
I'm sure he's packing his luggage by now. If he still hasn't done anything, should I help him?
The corners of her mouth kept on twitching.
She used to smile secretly for the past few days with the thought that she had finally freed her mother, but thinking that she could take Demian home now, the corners of her mouths danced.
Lara had so much she wanted to do for him.
She would prepare a good bed for him to relax in after living a hard life on the battlefield. She would dress him in good clothes and let him eat good food. She would support everything he wanted to achieve.
Until now, he had lived the life as a slave without any desire, but in the future, she would let him live a life where he could have possessions and dreams. So that one day, when the day he would leave her side come, all his memories of her would only be pleasant and happy.
There was another piece of good news.
Princess Sonnet bestowed the sword of the royal family to Demian after much consideration.
Before this, it was inevitable because they refused any rewards. Now, he deserved the award because not only did he attack the red-light district and get rid of another black sorcerer, but he also rescued Lara from being kidnapped.
Lara assumed that was also the King's apology for not fully accepting Isadora's request. Because the King's permission was needed to bestow the sword of the royal family.
Even in Lara's eyes, the sword from the Princess was great.
The silver pattern faintly engraved on the blade of the sword was beautiful.
It was a sword with a sense of weight and moderation. It seemed antique, but there was no old or rusty part.
The sword, which was found by an explorer in an unknown cave, was dedicated to the royal family by the late King when he ascended the throne.
And, after a long time, it was given to Demian.
Lara brought the sword to Demian's room, which had been set up in the annex building. She planned to bring him the sword and surprise him with it.
'He'll be happy, right?'
Lara hoped so.
She could not imagine him smiling brightly, but she wanted him to at least like it.
'Is he sleeping?'
Demian noticed Lara's visit even before she could knock.
That was how it had been so far. So, this time again, she stood in front of the door without knocking and waited for him to open it.
"…Demian?"
But there was no response.