Chapter 113: Problem Occurs
It was going to be a normal day for Laura. Going out to visit the shop, scanning through the papers, and other more. She was sitting on the couch, waiting for Lester or Fiona to arrive in her room to tell her that the carriage arrived. But that peace's had for the past week would end there.
The doors of her room banged wide opened, and there was Fiona panting as if she ran all the way from the maid's dormitory to her room. But with that way she gave a worried expression on her face Laura had a hunch, that there is something wrong.
"What's with the rush?" Laura asked as Fiona looked at the hallways before closing the door. She then answered, "Miss Laura, I do not want to be rude, but did you kill a person?" Her brows furrowed, and she thought what a way to start the day.
"Where did you hear that from?" Asked Laura as she crossed her arms.
"I heard it from the other maids saying that you murdered someone when you were in the underground market," Fiona said as the last few words softened.
"I did not kill anyone. Is there a reason why I should kill people?" Laura grumbled. There is no doubt this is one of the schemes of Tine. As someone who knows and used to have the power within the underground market. She would have eyes and ears to report to her.
"To add, they said you killed twins."
Laura clenched her fist and looked away. It was a lie and yet to hear this kind of rumor spread amongst the maids and servants it is not right. They do not even know the whole story of what happened in the underground market. The pain and sadness she had to burry in her. Fiona noticed Laura's change in expression and panicked adding.
"B-but I do not believe it. You aren't the type of person who would kill a person."
That is true she isn't the type of person to kill someone. It isn't her morals either to kill someone. She gave Fiona a smile but it faded quickly. As Laura was about to speak the doors opened once again and rushed in Lester, looking panicked.
Lester read the air between them and realized Fiona had spoken about it already. Not to mention Laura didn't look alright at all. He cleared his throat then spoke, "The carriage has arrived." Laura didn't want to go because of the rumors but she can't let them affect her. She nodded her head and departed from the estate.
They were on their way to the shop and didn't realize that the rumors would spread to the people in town. As she was looking out the window a small pebble was thrown in her direction. Then followed other more, she looked to the side to see that people who were throwing rocks at the carriage she rode.
Fiona closed the window curtains as she got worried about Laura. But when she looked at Laura she didn't look horrified or whatever. It opened her eyes that Laura isn't affected by this and so she to shouldn't be affected by it.
The carriage stopped in front of the shop and Laura got off the carriage. When both of her feet landed on the ground a small rock was thrown in her direction, aimed at her face. The knight who stood by the entrance pushed Laura away, protecting her from getting hit.
Laura walked into the shop but there weren't any people at all. She sees the employees looking at her because of the rumor. Serena walked out of the room and immediately pulled her into another room where others can't hear them.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't open the shop. The people were throwing pebbles and the employees got scared to work," Apologized Serena as she was holding Laura's hand. Even her business is not affected what else does Tine want to destroy? Serena continued to frown as she didn't know what to do after hearing the rumors about Laura. But she didn't believe it since they were all lies.
"It's alright. I understand let's close the shop for the day," Laura smiled but deep down she wanted to storm into Tine's room and yell at her. But starting a fight won't fix this false rumor. It's just like the past again. People believe rumors too quickly.
The people are angry at her and it's because of the rumor. A priestess who kills people? It will be the first in history to be recorded. And because a lot of people believed that, surely the business will not go well this week.
A man wearing a cap entered the store while the other employees politely asked the man to leave the shop. Hearing the commotion in the shop Laura walked out of the room and asked the man if he needed anything. But the man did not answer and removed the cap he wore.
"Do you remember me, Lady Laura?" The man asked.
"You look familiar."
"You don't remember me? How can you not when you kept looking at me that day?"
This voice and face he looked familiar not to mention the way he looks at her. She knew this feeling and wasn't able to sleep well because she kept thinking about it. Perhaps this man is…
"Louis? Louis Yltra?"
"That's right. Even if I just saw you two days ago you look prettier today," Louis smiled, sending shivers down Laura's back. The way he gazed at her. She felt disgusted with it and she wanted to send him away.
Two days ago? Then the man Lester said he looked familiar must be Louis. But why was he in the estate? Now thinking about it the window she looked up to was near Tine's room. Then it must mean this man has some connection with Tine. He might be the person who spread those rumors around.
"Is there anything you need?" Laura asked.
"What do you mean? I thought you wanted to see me?"
"I never wanted to see you."
Is this man delusional? Since when did Laura show such 'interest' in him? Well, she did provoke him in the past and had completely forgotten about it. But to think after two years or more Louis thinks Laura likes him? In the first place she never really had an interest in him at all.
His forehead creases as his eyes narrowed at her. He didn't understand why Laura didn't like him when she had provoked him in the first place. Not once the image of Laura smiling slipped out of his mind and meeting her face to face is already a big deal for him. He even bought a new white suit just to look presentable.
"Why? I thought you liked me," Louis sneered as he walked towards Laura but was stopped by the guard. Who stood in between them. This man has gone crazy and not only that he went missing during those two years. Where was he hiding?
"I think you must have misunderstood something. You never caught my eyes," Laura harshly answered. While Louis clenched his fist then asked, "What do you mean? You looked at me with interest that day. How can you say that?"
"I don't recall that at all. You are bothering us please leave," Laura asked as kindly as possible. While Louis charged towards Laura but was pushed down onto the ground by the guard.
"You love me. You just don't want to admit it," Louis laughed hectically but was silenced when Serena walked towards him and placed a piece of cloth into his mouth. While looking at Laura she said, "This man is disgusting. Let's go somewhere else." Serena then pulled Laura back into the room where they were talking earlier.
While the yells of Louis penetrated the walls of the room Serena couldn't help but still feel disgusted with him. A son of a former Marquess becomes delusional. Maybe the impact of not having a title made him grow crazy.
But what connection does he have with Tine? To add why is she still staying in contact with him? If people find out about their relationship the people will become suspicious since Louis is the son of a murderer.
"Laura?" Serena asked as she gave Laura a cup of warm water.
"Sorry I just had a bunch of thoughts coming into my head all of a sudden," Laura apologized then she took a sip of the water.
"What a day it is. But this must be the schemes of Tine. It has to be."
"I think so too. But I have a feeling it's coming to an end," Said Laura as she placed the cup onto the coffee table.
"What is?" Serena asked while Laura shook her head.
"It's nothing. It looks like this rumor won't die down. Let's open the shop tomorrow. I'll ask Erwin to send two more guards if we don't want lunatics to enter the shop," Laura laughed and joined Serena.