His Highness’ Secret Accountant

"Go inside first."

Theon's voice was unexpectedly calm.

Ayla looked at the two men and walked towards Theon, when Eden softly grabbed her wrist.

"Keep yourself warm and sleep. The wind is cold."

Ayla nodded silently at Eden's kind voice. Soon, Eden turned to Theon and spoke.

"I'm leaving, so the two of you go inside. She was very startled today, so don't push her too hard…"

"It sounds like you're asking me to take care of your lover."

"Keep it a secret from Grand Duke Ermedi."

With a shallow smile, Eden turned around and left the forest.

When he told him to keep it a secret, Theon also had the sense not to hold onto Eden.

‘Eden… He's really confusing.'

Ayla felt Theon's cold gaze looking at her.

It would have been better if he spoke coldly, but he kept a heavy silence and just stared at Ayla.

Looking at her, Theon frowned.

Ayla's white neck was filled with scratches from the surprise attack.

As she felt his gaze on her neck, Ayla raised her hand and pretended to stroke her neck, covering the scratches.

Theon looked away from Ayla and pointed at the iron door with his chin.

At his action, Ayla went up the stairs, cowering as if she had become a criminal.

"I have moved the guards, so go back to your room quickly. You don't have to prepare the tea tomorrow morning."

As she finished going up the stairs, the Theon's cold voice echoed inside the dark detached palace.

Theon's eyes didn't seem to contain any emotions.

When Ayla quietly bowed her head and turned back into the hallway, Theon also walked upstairs without looking back.

She somehow felt hurt by Theon's attitude.

‘He's a mean guy…'

The terrible things that had happened in Terr passed through her mind like a panorama.

Soon after, she left the detached palace with quick steps, while clenching her fists tightly.

***

"Did you come in late yesterday?"

"Ah, yeah. I had a lot of work."

"Isn't His Highness making you work too much? Gosh, you go out from dawn until midnight. It's really too much. Look at how damaged your skin is."

Lily approached Ayla, who was in bed because there was no morning teatime, with a worried look. Unlike Lily, who was smiling widely, Ayla's face turned dark. She clearly confirmed she was sleeping.

"How… Did you know?"

"Hahaha, I woke up for a moment at dawn. You weren't here…"

Lily scratched her face and blurred her words. Then she tilted his head as if she knew nothing.

"Ah…"

"Ugh, this won't do! I'll give you a face pack that is good for your skin. Your face is a mess."

"N-No! I'm fine."

"I am not fine. Come here, quickly! Oh my God, what a state you are in."

Ayla barely managed to stop Lily, who was talking hectically while extending her hands.

After making a fuss, Lily said she had to attend to the Grand Duke and went outside, with a ‘See you later!'.

Making sure her footsteps were fading away, Ayla silently stepped down from the bed.

Soon after, she took out a bunch of papers from the pocket of the black dress that was hanging on the hanger and opened them.

"Certificate of support… Shall we take a look at it?"

Ayla smiled and flicked the papers with her finger.

Checking the contents of the papers, Ayla's eyes turned into a half-moon shape, as if she were satisfied.

***

Before lunch, Ayla headed to the dining room to prepare Theon's tea.

The scratches on her neck were annoying so she hurriedly wore a black scarf, but for some reason it seemed to stand out even more.

"Why is she wearing a scarf?"

"Maybe something hot happened last night."

"Oh my, this child, really!"

‘I can hear everything, you guys…'

As Ayla passes by, the whispers of each maid reached her ears.

She took calm steps, as if she couldn't hear anything, but on the inside that wasn't the case.

The longer she lived in the palace, the more she felt her self-esteem falling. Sadly.

Ayla sighed while boiling the water in the kettle.

All she could do in this place was sigh secretly.

"Did you use the clothes?"

‘What is this woman, really.'

Diane, who had come into the room, was smiling and looking at Ayla with her arms crossed.

As she faced Diane, she remembered her dress that had been ruined.

"Yes, well, thanks to you… But those clothes… I don't think I can give them back."

"I also didn't intend on getting them back in the first place."

"?"

Diane only smiled, raising one corner of her mouth, and said nothing else.

Diane's red eyes seemed to pierce through everything even without saying anything.

Then, she took the dessert out of the showcase with quick hand movements and left the dining room.

Ayla stared blankly at the place where Diane left for a while.

***