Spring in My Grasp - Chapter 50

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

(50) Going to Such Lengths?

‘That’s not it at all.’
Layla swallowed hard.
‘All of that was mine!’
A thousand silent screams echoed within her. It felt as though her chest was being torn asunder. Yet Layla summoned superhuman restraint and forced herself to broach one of the reasons she had come to this castle.
“I’ve mentioned it to you in letters a few times….”
Her voice trembled as she forced down the bitterness threatening to spill over.
“Cedric… he’s been wanting to meet my brother-in-law once, and to introduce himself.”
“Ah.”
Rowan nodded absently.
“Well, he’s family after all. It seems to weigh on him that he hasn’t met you face to face.”
Even someone as politically naive as Rowan could see through this intention plainly. If Alexis had still been nothing but the second wastrel of Count Glister’s Estate with no prospects, would his younger brother and sister-in-law truly be so eager to meet? Not a chance. They would have lived as strangers, let alone maintained any contact.
Yet Rowan found herself in such a blissful and contented state at present that she could afford to overlook such transparent machinations.
“Alexis is terribly busy and finds it difficult to spare the time, but I’ll mention it to him. If he truly cannot manage it, then I’m afraid it may be difficult in the near future.”
“Please speak to him especially persuasively, sister.”
Layla said this, and Rowan nodded. Between them stretched a long silence, with nothing more to say.
To Rowan’s eye, Layla was not the person she remembered. There was something about her that suggested she was holding something back forcefully, and it seemed to wound her pride terribly to broach such matters with Rowan.
Above all, she appeared unstable, which prevented Rowan from treating her harshly.
“You’ve grown prettier since the wedding. You must be doing well.”
As the silence stretched uncomfortably long, Rowan spoke up with whatever came to mind. Layla, who had picked up her teacup, took a sip.
“Well, yes.”
“….”
And then came another stretch of quiet.
‘Did she come all this way just to say that?’
Rowan wondered, puzzled.
‘It’s quite a distance from Baron’s Estate to here.’
Surely such a thing could have been conveyed by letter. No matter how urgently she felt compelled to come unannounced, if Alexis refused, a meeting with Cedric would be impossible anyway.
‘Perhaps she’s bored lately. She’s wasting energy on strange things.’
With that thought, Rowan felt a wave of fatigue and let out a small yawn. These days, sleep came at all hours—it was becoming quite the problem. Once Layla left, she intended to rest her eyes.
“As for you, sister.”
Layla spoke up.
“You’ve gained some weight.”
“….”
One would think a compliment deserves a compliment in return. But this woman’s manners never change.
Rowan’s eyes narrowed.
Yes, better to think of it that way.
“As I get older, the weight just doesn’t come off as easily.”
Rowan gave a half-hearted response, then found herself staring blankly at Layla for quite some time.
What is this? Why won’t she leave?
“I hear your brother-in-law is quite a good man.”
“Oh, yes. That’s right…”
Layla’s answer was lukewarm, but Rowan didn’t pay it much mind.
“That’s fortunate. To have married such a good man.”
She recalled the letters Layla had sent back in those days when she was mistreated at her husband’s estate and confined to the Annex, brimming with praise for her future husband. Based on those glowing accounts, she should have been living a happy marriage, yet her expression seemed strangely dark.
‘Perhaps she’s just tired from the journey here.’
No matter how hard I tried to conjure more conversation, nothing came. As I killed time mentally planning tonight’s dinner, Layla suddenly spoke up.
“Your brother-in-law is also a good… person, isn’t he?”
“Hm?”
Is Alexis a good man? I pondered this. He’s an incomparable husband to me, but from what I’ve observed of how he treats others, both when we first met and now, he couldn’t be more cold.
“A good man… well, I suppose so.”
I scratched my cheek as I answered. A good husband, certainly, but a good man? Ah, who knows. It’s all the same either way.
At my vague response, Layla’s expression suddenly flashed with something. For a moment, I was startled enough to notice it. It was like a single point of light flickering in an otherwise dark, bottomless swamp.
‘What’s gotten into her?’
Now I was beginning to feel uneasy. Just then, Lea knocked and entered the Reception Room.
“Madam. It’s time for your rest now. The master said that at this hour, he absolutely insists that you take your rest.”
As Lea spoke, she glanced back at Layla. She didn’t say it outright, but her gaze was an obvious rebuke—it was your fault the madam hasn’t been able to rest. Now it was I who felt flustered.
‘What’s gotten into her now.’
Since when did she start calling me “madam” and “master”? But from Lea’s demeanor, I could roughly grasp the situation. She was likely trying to rescue me from dealing with this stepsister who wasn’t on good terms with me.
‘Lea is better than my sister.’
I made a gesture of realization at Lea’s words.
“Right. That’s true. I completely forgot. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my sister.”
As I made excuses, eager to get inside and rest, Lea spoke in a pointed tone.
“You mustn’t forget, madam. Your health is the master’s greatest concern.”
Then she deliberately added one more thing.
“Though I’m sure you understand—since you married, you haven’t seen your family even once.”
Back when she was mistreated at Count Glister’s Estate, she had either ignored inquiries or sent mocking letters. Now there was an unmistakable whiff of her coming around because she wanted something.
Layla’s face went pale as if cold water had been splashed on her. If she could, she would have beaten this insolent maid standing before her senseless.
Originally, shouldn’t this maid have served her as well?
“Ha ha… I really should get inside and rest. Don’t worry, Layla. I’ll make sure to tell my husband everything you said today.”
With that, I awkwardly rose from the sofa. Then, suddenly, Layla approached me and grabbed my arm, linking it through hers.
‘Is she insane?’
Stunned, I stared at her with my mouth agape, and Layla began speaking rapidly, as if in urgent circumstances.
“Don’t say that, sister. I really came here with such difficulty. It’s been so long since I’ve seen your face—I’m so happy. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
‘What?’
What is this absurdity? Why would we link arms like this?
Even as I turned to look at her with exactly that expression, Layla continued babbling on frantically.
“I have so much to catch up with you about, sister. Don’t you have anything to say to me? How have you been all this time? Do you know how Father is doing? Do you realize how much people talk about you?”
It was absolutely possessed-level persistence. Even Lea couldn’t help but gape in astonishment. Layla showed no signs of stopping.
“Well, since I’ve come all this way, I might as well see my brother-in-law’s face before I leave. I’ve already made the trip—surely you’re not going to deny your sister-in-law a simple dinner? Besides, I’m famished anyway. Why don’t we wait for your husband to arrive and dine together? After all, I am your sister-in-law.”
Oh my God. Rowan silently screamed. I shouldn’t have let her in!
***
Having abandoned all pretense of dignity, Layla thereafter clung to Rowan’s side like a fixture, spilling out an endless stream of chatter.
Unlike her earlier silence, this was a different kind of torment. She droned on about how much Father resented his sister for never reaching out, how Mother’s marriage arrangement had transformed Rowan’s entire life, what High Society was currently saying about her—a haze of negativity that stretched the hours into an ordeal.
And eventually, Layla came face to face with Alexis. Rowan watched their interaction nervously, bracing for trouble, but Alexis handled Layla with unexpected courtesy and composure.
Upon meeting Alexis, Layla’s demeanor grew noticeably subdued. Rowan tilted her head, wondering if her sister had suddenly grown weary. Yet rather than return to her own home, Layla lingered at the Castle late into the evening before finally departing.
The sheer absurdity of today’s events left Rowan beyond anger—merely bewildered and exasperated.
“Wow, Lady Rowan, your younger sister really is… quite something.”
Even Lea, completely drained, felt compelled to say as much. Rowan felt as though her soul had departed her body. Still, she found it surprising that Alexis had treated Layla with such restraint.
“I’ve made a decision because of today.”
Rowan said.
“I will never return to High Society.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————