The elf inside the house looked just like the portrait Layla had seen before her death. He was still beautiful, youthful, and had a charm around him.
But his angry expression made all his beauty worthless, and Layla felt an unconscious need to step back. She could feel those black eyes looking at her with an accusing expression.
"Go back! I refuse to be bound by the Lockhart family, even if it's an imperial contract. I have no intention of following it," the elf declared, his voice filled with defiance.
The elf spoke confidently.
Loyad Ragnarock was a proud person who would never put his life before his ethics. That was why he had been such a good and proper match as a potential male lead (even if he was too old).
Layla had liked him and his ethics as a reader. But as someone forced to deal with this man, it was more than annoying, and she would not take it sitting down.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to play around with you. I chose you as a teacher, so you must teach me. Otherwise, I will be legally within my rights to sue you for all you have."
The only reason this was happening was because the elf had signed a contract with the human royalty to serve them as long as he got to live near the 'original MC's' mother.
The elf had been in love with her. But after spending time with the original MC, he fell for her instead.
It was a messy story that Layla was not interested in. But she had an objective to clear and would make it happen.
"Sue me? Sure, go ahead. It's not like you can get anything from me-"
"Custody of Rosette Clark. You have it, right? Duchess Clark gave it to you in case something happened to her, right? I will demand it and bring Rosette under my wing. Who knows? She might become a Lockhart-"
The elf threw a pot toward Layla.
It happened too fast for her to react, and Masry had to interfere to save Layla.
"How do you know about it? I made sure no one knew about Rosette's birth. That is the only reason I never went to meet her and-"
"But I know about her existence. And I also know where she is. If you truly want to lose her, then send me back. But the choice is yours."
Layla had always had a talent for making people mad and getting them to do what she wanted.
She could already see this elf cracking under all the pressure she was putting him under.
"Fine! I will teach you potions and all you need to. But as long as you remain my student for this internship, you will do as I tell you to. You will not complain about how hard you will have to work and will also not use the help of your maid."
The elf asked, laying out his terms. He likely thought he could scare Layla away if he said all that.
And he would have if Layla had been an ordinary person. But as someone who had lived through all kinds of hardships, how could Layla take this lying down?
"Sure, I will agree to all this. But Professor, you better be careful. There are some laws against child abuse, and I am still a child. You might not get in trouble one way, but you might get in trouble another way if you are not careful."
Layla warned with a smile. She could tell how ready Mary was to end this fight and kill this elf.
And honestly, as important of a character as Professor Ragnarock was, he essentially did nothing for the story and caused a huge mess of love triangles. It would not be bad if he ended up dying early-
'Maybe after I learn all I can from him, I will dispose of him. It is not like I need him for my planned future.'
The elf was observing Layla now, and his eyes looked dark and suspicious. He was likely wondering what the hell did Layla want to do.
"Hey, once you learn potions, what will you do with them? You feel like a magician, and someone like you has no use for potions most of the time. You are also a Lockhart, so you can get medical treatment if you get too sick.
Are you planning something?"
The elf tried to pry her secret from Layla's lips, but she did not feel too bad about telling him about her plan.
After all, there was no point in hiding her secrets.
"Hmm, what I am going to do is simple - I am going to open an affordable potion business for all classes. I want this world to advance for those who don't have any magic. You don't have to worry about it."
Layla assured the elf, but he still looked confused.
"Potions…for common people? Are you sure that is all? What would that even accomplish-"
"A lot! But as I said, there is nothing for you to worry about. All you need to do is focus on teaching me about potions and how you make them. Or are you finally getting curious about me?"
Layla asked, and the elf quickly made a frowning face before looking away.
"Fine, do what you want to. If you don't call me tomorrow morning, you can take the room to the far right. I will meet you in the morning.
Oh! And any food you want to eat, you will have to source yourself. No cooking meat inside the house. If I smell any meat, I will kick you out."
The elf spoke all this before he slammed his door shut.
Layla sighed as she watched the elf's ruined mood. She knew this would happen, and she braced herself for it. But now that she was faced with this annoying elf, she suddenly realized how tough it would be to stay with such a tiring person.