The Reason Why She Can’t Get Married - Chapter 61

Schedule: Tuesday and Friday

Chapter 61

Lyla didn’t refuse Selena’s request to meet. Selena, who had been prepared to barge into the Verrilyn estate if she avoided her, was relieved.

Allowed entry with permission, the Verrilyn town house, a secondary residence, was smaller than she’d expected. Still, with its garden and fountain, it wasn’t shabby.

“Welcome, Lady Selena. I am Jackson, the butler of the Verrilyn family’s city residence.”

As Lyla had injured her leg, the butler came down to the first floor alone to greet Selena, bowing politely.

“It’s a pleasure, Jackson. Where is Lady Verrilyn?”

“Lady Lyla is currently in her room. Due to her injury, she is unable to move freely and apologizes for the inconvenience.”

“Lead the way.”

The butler escorted Selena to the second floor, to a room with a yellow door. “Lady Lyla, Lady Selena has arrived.”

“Show her in.”

The door opened, accompanied by Lyla’s clear voice. Selena slowly stepped inside, taking in her surroundings. The room was decorated in a charming, delicate style. The wallpaper was bright and cheerful, the décor small and cute. In the center of the room, Lyla sat on a lace-canopied bed, her leg bandaged.

“Welcome, Lady Irving! I didn’t expect you to visit. Thank you.”

Considering her drastic actions, Lyla seemed excessively cheerful. This struck Selena as odd, and her face hardened. Stopping before the smiling Layla, she spoke in a heavy voice.

“Lady Verrilyn.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know what I think is the most foolish thing in the world?”

Lyla tilted her head at the sudden question. “Um… well? What is it?”

“Throwing your life away because love doesn’t go your way.”

Selena clenched her fists. She wanted to channel her mother and smack Lyla, but she refrained. “Even if you’re fond of the Duke, how could you do something like this just because I refused your commission?”

“Oh…”

“Human life is so precious…! Did you consider how much your actions would hurt those around you?”

Lyla stammered, flustered by the sharp rebuke.

“Well, Lady…” She tried to speak, but Selena, still agitated, didn’t notice.

“And how do you think I felt when I heard this news after refusing your commission? I’m sure you didn’t consider that, did you?”

“No, I…”

“Let me be clear, risking your life for love is utterly foolish! How do you know what kind of love awaits you in the future? Why are you so fixated on this one?”

Lyla ended up being thoroughly scolded by Selena for a good thirty minutes. Having regained her composure, Selena stopped talking, exhaled, and ran a hand through her hair.

Seeing her dejected posture, she felt a pang of sympathy. “…You like Duke Ratliffe that much?”

“Yes? Yes.”

Layla nodded vigorously, her face downcast. It seemed she still hadn’t given up on Noel. Selena pressed her hand to her forehead, silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

“Honestly, even if you had commissioned me, there was no guarantee your love for the Duke would be reciprocated.”

“That’s alright. I just wanted to confess, with as much chance of success as possible…” Lyla replied cautiously. She truly didn’t expect much.

Lowering her hand, Selena looked at Lyla with a resolute expression.

“Alright, then.”

“Yes…? Alright, what…?”

“I’ll accept your commission.”

Her eyes widened slowly. Realizing Selena had changed her mind, she tried to jump up from the bed. Hindered by her leg, she only managed to lurch forward, but then looked up at Selena with bright eyes.

“Is that true?!”

“Yes, so never do anything foolish like this again. Understand?”

Selena narrowed her eyes, speaking sternly. Lyla, who had been overjoyed, paused and hesitantly spoke. “Um, but you see…”

“Yes?”

“Weeell, um… it was a misunderstanding.”

“What was?”

Selena tilted her head, wondering if she had misspoken. Lyla fidgeted with her fingers and revealed the truth.

“Uuuh, I, I didn’t jump from the window…!”

“…Then?”

“My bedroom window is close to a tree in the garden, and there was a cat sitting on a branch. I reached out to pet it and slipped.”

Selena was momentarily speechless at the truth, which was starkly different from the widely reported story.

“It’s true that I’ve been cooped up in my room lately, feeling down, so I think strange rumors started…” Lyla added with an embarrassed expression, then asked anxiously,

“You’re not going to cancel the commission now, are you?”

“…Of course not.”