Sold to My Killer Husband: His Concubine's Dilemma
Chapter 41: The princess of Valcour

Chapter 41: The princess of Valcour

Liora stood behind the storage room’s door; her back was to the chilly wooden slats. Through the wood came piercing the voice of Queen Dowager Lilian as she was calling for Beatrice; this meant they were just around, outside of the storage room.

She swallowed hard and her throat was dry from thirst.

The first time she had seen Lilian, that was seared into her mind, not for what had been said but because of the way in which Lilian’s eyes had met hers; they were cold. She looked at her with disgust. It was like the woman had peeled away all of Liora’s layers with one glance and left her exposed and naked.

The memory made her stomach twist.

She hadn’t screamed. She hadn’t fought. She’d just stood there, her heart racing so fast she swore the others could hear it. Her voice had been silenced, snuffed out by the heavy burden of responsibilities, of obligations, of knowing no one was coming to rescue her.

Liora’s hands shook as she let out a shuddering breath.

She didn’t get it, not yet. Her life had been fragmented into parts: her parents, Miral’s, Lucien, the house, and the woman who had taken her like she was some plaything to be utilized. She was walking in a path set for her, not knowing where she went, not even knowing if she could stop it.

No, she hadn’t struggled.

But that wasn’t because she didn’t.

It was because the day her aunt had forced open that door, the day she had been pulled out into the world she never wanted to be, something within her had died.

She had learned that fighting only made them drive her harder. That crying only made them glare at her in contempt. No one. Neither her aunt nor her uncle, not the nobles, and no one in the world was going to hear her.

So she let herself be led and banished and herself become whatever they wished her to be; as long as it didn’t kill her, she could survive.

’But for how long?’

Liora’s vision was blurred by tears as she struggled to take a breath. She gripped her dress tightly, focusing on whatever was on the floor beneath her. She couldn’t remain hidden and keep running from everything.

But for now, just for a little while, where she was.

Liora stirred uncomfortably, her back resting against the hard wooden walls of the storage space with little light filtering in through the spaces in the door. She’d been here since Mira had yanked her hastily inside as confronting Queen Dowager Lilian had put a chill through her veins. She had hoped Lilian would ask for her presence; Beatrice would go and check her room first, so she could not be in her room. So she asked Mira to help.

Although initially Mira was not helping her, she somehow melted at Liora’s requests. Liora had been thankful for this cover but now her legs were hurting and her bladder screamed from standing so long in the same stance that this room had no space at all, and her body locked from not moving; even her dress did not allow her from doing so.

The corridor outside had been silent for some time now but from the receding of footsteps, it seemed to be empty.

Perhaps it is safe to exit now.

Her heart racing at the very idea of the adventure, even to return to her room. But what if someone else was searching for her? and more importantly,

She had to pee...

Liora clenched her lower lip, moving from one foot to the other. She simply couldn’t remain here anymore.

’I only need a few minutes...’

Taking a slow breath, she gently grasped the door handle; her fingers were shaking to turn the handle, slipping the door partially ajar in order to have a lookout. Liora hesitated as she ducked her head out of the door; she saw that the long corridor lay empty before her. She sighed in relief.

She moved slowly out, staying near the wall and making her soft shoes hardly a sound on the bright floor. She was familiar with her room’s path, but she was also aware that if she got caught now, she would not be able to give a reason for not being there.

She darted rapidly, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. She had to be careful. What she didn’t realize was that fate had something else in store for her, because at the very moment, there was another pair of footsteps along the corridor, coming straight in her direction.

"Check every corridor," a man ordered; his footsteps were coming closer.

When Liora heard a man’s footsteps, she became alarmed. She said, sweat forming on her forehead, "Did anyone see me come in here?"

To hide herself again, she ran to the nearest room possible. She held the frame of the door, inclining on it Liora’s breath hitched the moment she felt a light tap on her back. By instinct, she swatted the hand away without even glancing behind her, as she was too focused on the hallway. But as soon as the realization struck her that she was not supposed to be here, maybe someone caught her

Slowly, she turned around.

The person behind her was someone she had never met yet.

Liora had seen beautiful people before, but this woman looked like she had stepped out of a painting. Her features were delicate, her eyes sharp yet inviting, and her lips curled into a knowing smile. Her gown, made of the finest silk, shimmered under the dim lighting, the soft lavender hue accentuating her pale, flawless skin.

Liora felt strangely small in front of her.

The woman, standing just a step too close for comfort, tipped forward on her toes, her smile widening as she whispered, "Who are we hiding from?"

Liora blinked.

She stepped back slightly, gathering her thoughts. Her eyes quickly darted to the woman’s dress, the intricate embroidery on her sleeves, and the delicate jewelry adorning her slender wrists. She wasn’t just beautiful; more like she was wealthy. a Noble.

Layla watched Liora’s eyes scan her from head to toe. She knew she looked stunning; she had been told so all her life. Still, the way Liora assessed her amused her.

So, with a playful flick of her head, Layla let her golden curls bounce as she returned the favor. Her gaze traveled over Liora’s face, then to her dress; it looked nice, yet too simple for someone meant to be Lucien’s concubine.

She had heard about this woman. ’So this is the girl Queen Dowager Lilian had sent to Lucien’s estate.’ Layla had imagined someone different.

Yet, standing before her was an ordinary-looking girl with big brown eyes and long brown curls, although she looked baffled as if she wasn’t sure whether to run or stay.

Layla’s lips curled into a smirk.

"So, how are you, Lady?" she asked, letting the question hang in the air for Liora to answer.

Liora swallowed, as she had no idea how to react. Just looking at the attire, it was easy to guess this was someone rich, maybe a noblewoman, someone leagues above her.

’Shall she bow? and then introduce herself properly? Liora was not sure, Yet, something in Layla’s gaze told her that this woman already knew exactly who she was so she decided not to, rather she chose to answer Layla’s question.

Liora forced a small smile. "I... I wasn’t hiding."

Layla raised a brow, tilting her head. "Oh? Then why were you lurking in an empty hallway like a lost kitten?"

Liora stiffened. She felt exposed, like Layla was peeling away her excuses with just her, while Layla was confused.

She had a feeling that Layla Valcour was not a woman she wanted to be on bad terms with.

Liora’s mind scrambled for a response. She didn’t want to keep this conversation going; she didn’t want to be caught in a back-and-forth with this woman, but her eyes darted past Layla, looking at the room behind her. That’s when she realized she had stepped into the library; the room must have been open when she entered the house.

This was the same library the servant had shown her during the tour.

She had never entered before and never bothered to look around, but now, surrounded by the tall shelves filled with books.

Layla followed Liora’s gaze; the smirk on her lips deepened as she got an idea to know about Liora and Lucien. It felt like fate played in her favor today that she got to meet Liora before Lilian could. She decided to ask something to Liora, but as it cannot be asked straight forward, she thought of another way so she turned and marched toward the tall shelves; she picked out a book.

"Oh?" She turned slightly, running her fingertips along the spine of a book. "Lady Liora, isn’t this room simply wonderful? Lucien has collected quite a number of books here."

Liora, still observing the shelves, finally looked at Layla and Layla returned her a smile.

"Isn’t he a sweet person?" she mused, plucking a book from the shelf and flipping through the pages. "He must be good to you too."

"...." Liora kept blinking while understanding the words.

"Who?... Good... to me?" Liora muttered it to herself, confused by Layla’s words.

They had barely spoken since she arrived. The man wanted nothing to do with her. Their only interactions had been cold, distant, and if anything, filled with hostility.

Liora’s fingers curled slightly over the fabric of her dress.

’What is she talking about?’

Layla, however, seemed to take Liora’s reaction as feigned ignorance. Her smirk didn’t falter. If anything, it deepened, as though she found Liora’s cluelessness amusing.

"Did I ask something too personal?" Layla tilted her head, her voice dripping with mocking concern.

’Personal?’

There was nothing personal to say. Her relationship with Lucien was nonexistent. Layla watched her carefully and waited, expecting at least something. maybe a reaction or a denial, perhaps even an embarrassed little confession.

But Liora gave her none of it; she did parted her lips to answer her, but nothing came out of it