The next morning, Lady Gray sat as if she were waiting for something. Laya approached and called out softly, "Lady Gray."
She seemed to be waiting for the stories about Alen. Beside her lay a handkerchief embroidered with little flowers, and Laya thought that the more effort she put in, the closer the two of them would come. Then Laya followed her gaze and understood.
"Yes. Are you waiting for someone?"
Lady Gray slowly closed her eyes and shook her head. What is this memory? And who is this woman beside me?
At that moment, Lady Gray was startled. Something had just flashed beside her. It was a glowing watch. She gently picked it up, the reflective surface of the watch glinting in her eyes. Her eyes widened in utter shock as the abbey door slowly creaked open.
Gray clutched the glowing watch in her hand, feeling a bit suspicious. That dream was definitely something the pocket watch showed me. This watch is no ordinary timepiece. So that dream wasn't meaningless. If that's the case, then this is what I must do while I'm still lucid.
It was Gray, moving unsteadily with her hand on the wall for support, as she headed toward a room with a flickering firelight. It turned out Laya was sitting and reading by the light of a lamp.
Just then, the door was pulled open with a creak. Laya turned her head to ask, "Who is it?"
Gray stepped in unsteadily and announced, "It's me."
Completely startled, she turned and called out, "Lady Gray."
Immediately after, Gray sat down and said, "Please spare me a moment. I have something to give you."
Laya replied gently, "Of course, my lady. First, let me bring you some tea. You skipped your meal again. Is that right?"
She hesitated before asking, "Did you forget? Although we haven't been formally introduced, we've already spent the past few days together. Still, you may already know, but my name is Gray Thodell."
Hearing this, Laya was flustered, but still introduced herself. "Ah, I'm Laya Thodell."
She couldn't help but think to herself, She's always so expressionless.
Just then, Gray crossed her arms and remarked, "You married Alen, and the stories you told were quite interesting."
Laya answered hesitantly, "Yes."
Gray then bowed her head slightly and continued. "I haven't had a chance to thank you for everything you've done lately. I don't have much time left, so please understand."
Hearing this, Laya could only exclaim in distress, "Lady Gray, I'm fine, so please don't say things like that."
Gray simply looked at her in silence, a faint smile on her lips, before reaching into her pocket to take something out.
"Instead, I have something for you. This is an heirloom that's been passed down from one generation to the next in our family. Have you ever seen it before?"
Laya answered hesitantly, "Ah, no."
Immediately after, she wondered to herself. Have I seen this watch before? Why does it feel so familiar?
At that moment, Gray closed her eyes tightly, smiled, and said, "I intended to pass this down to my own daughter, but I only have Alen, so perhaps giving it to you is more appropriate."
Laya was a bit stunned, bowing her head as she hesitated. "Ah, thank you for entrusting me with such a precious gift."
Immediately after, Gray stood up to leave. "Well then."
Laya quickly stood up as well. "Are you already leaving?"
Gray placed a hand on the door, pulling it open as she said, "From now on."
As she slowly opened the door wide, Laya could only watch in silence at her retreating figure. Gray hugged herself sorrowfully as she left.
"Please take good care of Alen for me."
She clenched her fists, watching her leave, and replied, "Yes, Lady Gray."
A moment later, Laya glanced down to see the watch Gray had given her, emitting a strange light. Laya also felt a sense of hesitation. Is that light coming from the watch?
Back in her room, Laya tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. What was that light from before? Lady Gray's words and this glowing watch. I just don't understand any of it.
She had told her, From now on, please take good care of Alen.
Thinking back on it, Laya couldn't help but worry. What could it all mean? Did Lady Gray see the light from the watch as well?
Just then, the watch started glowing again.
Is this memory my past? No, this is the past life's Laya.
In the past, she was sitting in front of her stepmother. And although she looked very similar, her eyes held a certain sadness. But something was very different.
Laya looked around in confusion, wondering where this place was. This must be the world of the original story. The obsession of Countess Lariston, the abuse from Marissa and Glock. All the tragedies happened just the same here.
I still hadn't met Alen until I arrived at another hell created by Countess Lariston. The countess sold me to a dying old man as a second wife. It was a terrible marriage.
The space around her was shrouded in a dim, hazy light.
The contempt from sons older than myself was even more despairing than my husband treating me like a servant.
Back then, the people around her scorned and trampled on her.
"You're actually a commoner girl, aren't you? That's why you were sold here, right?"
They looked down on me because I was sold by my family.
The two of them continuously kicked the past Laya.
"Countess Lariston is such an old fox. To sell such a gloomy woman to our father, even if he is a dying old man, is truly despicable."
The two of them went back and forth.
"That's right. No matter how cheap the price was, selling someone from the commoner class like this is just too much. Brother, do you know how her family died for being so vicious?"
Hearing that, the past Laya started sobbing, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She quickly shot up and grabbed his leg.
"What? What are you saying? My family is dead?"
The other guy sneered mockingly. "So you really didn't know. How stupid. How long has it been since Countess Lariston cleaned everything up?"
At this moment, the past Laya was bewildered, tears streaming down her face, crying out in sobs. "Ah, no. It can't be."
My family in my dreams died because of Countess Lariston.