"Hah, what a strange story." A drop of sweat slid down Olivia's forehead as she listened intently to Leila's tangled words, feeling as though she were drowning in a whirlpool with no idea where it would end.
"So, Leila... that man, is he your husband?"
Leila calmly raised her gaze, her expression cloaked in mystery. "In a way."
Olivia's features twisted in confusion as she stared at her, her mind unable to comprehend the response. "In a way? What do you mean? He's either your husband, or he isn't!"
Leila took a deep breath, as though bracing herself to drop yet another bombshell. "I have another husband... but I don't consider this man my husband."
Olivia gasped, her mouth hanging open in shock, and the teacup almost slipped from her hand. "Miss Leila, are you mocking me?"
Leila shook her head with a faint smile that carried a hint of pain. "I'm entirely serious. This is my reality."
Olivia continued to stare, completely stunned, her words a jumble in her mind. "You... you're married to two men? How did this happen? This... this has to be a joke, right?"
Leila didn't respond immediately. Instead, she wore a mysterious smile, as if savoring Olivia's reaction.
Olivia swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "So... how did this happen? And who is your second husband?"
Leila sighed slowly, as though gathering the threads of her complicated memories. "I don't know."
Olivia's surprise deepened, her eyes fixed on Leila as though she were confronting someone who had lost their mind. "You don't know?"
"Yes, I don't know. That's why I came to the duchy... to find out who he is."
Olivia began to suspect that Leila might be mocking her or perhaps speaking nonsense, but she couldn't ignore the sincerity in her voice and gaze. "You're joking... right?"
Leila chuckled softly, a laugh that left one lost between mystery and truth. "Your expression is truly priceless, sister-in-law. Don't worry, I'll explain everything."
Leila took a deep breath, as though preparing herself for a long confession. "As you know, I'm the same age as my brother Mathias."
Olivia nodded slightly. "So, you're twenty-seven."
"Yes. And that's considered quite old for a woman who hasn't married yet."
Olivia hesitated but nodded lightly. "Well... I can't deny that."
Leila smiled a sad smile, blending sarcasm and bitterness. "That was my reality. I was a single woman... not because opportunities weren't available, but because I chose that path. I couldn't live with a man who saw me as nothing more than an instrument for his desires. So I rejected every suitor. Instead, I focused on my work as a doctor."
Her eyes filled with painful memories. "Back then, society looked down upon women working. Even women themselves would scorn the idea of a woman working outside the home, let alone men. I faced fierce rejection when I decided to study medicine. Everyone was against it, except for my brother Mathias. He secretly paid for my tuition, keeping it from our father."
Leila sighed and continued, "After I graduated, I started working in a hospital in the village of Latine. The reception wasn't warm, of course, but my brother's recommendation ensured that no one opposed me openly. I worked hard, spending my time between patients and home, where my mother and younger sister were waiting for me."
Olivia felt a flicker of sorrow in Leila's words, but she didn't interrupt.
"Last year, my mother fell gravely ill. My younger sister had to join the academy at my brother's request, which made me leave my job in Latine and return to care for my mother. I decided to look for work in a new hospital, and this time, I applied for a position in Akansi."
"But when I applied, my request was rejected outright. I didn't understand why, so I went to meet with the hospital director. I asked him, 'Why was my application rejected? There's a shortage of doctors, and I'm a graduate from a reputable academy.' Instead of answering, he asked me a strange question: 'Do you have permission from your husband?'"
Olivia gasped. "Permission from your husband? That... that's unbelievable!"
Leila shook her head with regret. "Yes. And when I told him I wasn't married, he narrowed his eyes and looked at me with disdain, saying, 'As long as you don't have a husband or his permission, you can't work here.' I went home utterly crushed. It felt as though everything I had worked for had evaporated because of a single paper... because I wasn't a woman with a man by my side. That night, I cried a lot, but I didn't know that what happened next would change my life forever."
A moment of silence passed, and Olivia looked at Leila with deep empathy, as though seeing her own struggles reflected in her eyes.
Olivia's face, previously devoid of expression, now bore a trace of sorrow, a familiar feeling sweeping through her heart as she listened to Leila's pain. It reminded her of how she had been treated by her own mother, the woman who had never acknowledged her after marrying the emperor, reserving all her love and care solely for her son.
As Olivia was lost in her memories, Layla continued her story, her smile tinged with sorrow, struggling to hold back tears.
"That night, Your Highness, I was alone at home. My mother was at a friend's house in the village, and I was drowning in my dark thoughts. Suddenly, I heard a knock at the door. It was forceful, and fear flooded over me. I asked several times, 'Who's there?'"
Layla paused for a moment, as if recalling the voice she had heard that night.
"He replied in a faint, broken voice, 'I need a doctor. They told me there is a doctor here.' Then... I heard a thud. I was terrified and cautiously opened the door, only to be shocked by the sight of a man lying on the ground, covered in blood."
"Fortunately, my mother wasn't home, or she would have been horrified by the scene. I struggled to drag him inside and quickly cleaned the entrance from the blood stains. I had no idea who he was, but it was clear his wound was serious. I grabbed my medical bag and my magical stones, and began to tend to him."
Layla took a deep breath, as if she could still feel the pain of that moment.
"I started tearing his clothes to expose the wound. It was very deep, deeper than any ointment could heal. I had to stitch it by hand. It was incredibly difficult, especially since there was no anesthetic to ease his pain. He kept groaning the entire time, and I tried not to lose my composure. It took hours, but I managed to save him. Then, I sat by his side all night, watching over him. I was exhausted, but I couldn't take my eyes off the patient."
Layla paused, a faint smile crossing her lips, tinged with irony:
"But, it seems that exhaustion was stronger than me. I fell asleep without even realizing it."
"When I opened my eyes in the morning, I was stunned. I was the one lying in bed, while he sat in a chair beside me, staring at my face. I don't know when he had carried me and placed me on the bed. It was a strange moment."
Layla swallowed hard as she recalled that strange moment.
"I jumped up quickly: 'You! Are you alright? Your wound is very serious!' But he smiled and bowed, 'My lady, thank you so much for helping me. You saved my life. If there is anything I can do to repay you, just let me know.'"
Layla paused, smiling at the memory of her embarrassment at that moment:
"I told him, 'There's no need for that. You can leave if you wish. I don't need anything.'"
Kyle replied, "Well, thank you again. Could you point me to a nearby hotel? I need a place to stay for at least a month."
"Of course. There's a hotel at the end of the main street, next to the grocery store."
The man smiled and extended his hand, saying, "Then, I'll see you later, Miss?"
"Layla. My name is Layla."
He smiled and said, "A beautiful name. I'm Kyle, by the way."
Olivia looked at her in astonishment, "And who is this man?"
Layla shook her head with a mysterious smile: "At that moment, he was just someone in need of help. I didn't really know who he was."
Layla sighed and continued:
"It felt good to return to practicing medicine, even if it was just by chance. It made me rethink my situation. I decided to insist on submitting my application again to the new hospital, no matter the cost. I had already quit my old job, and I had nothing left to lose. I didn't know that decision would change my life forever."