Laura averted her eyes and clenched her hands onto her dress. Her heart was beating loudly as she thought of a reply. As expected of Erwin, he knows what's going in her head. With the gaze Erwin gave, it was impossible to run away from him.
"Yes" Laura hesitated to answer. Nervously fiddling with her fingers.
Erwin smirked, leaning on the back of the couch. He knew what Laura was thinking. Even if he died two years earlier than Laura, he knew that sothing was going on between her and Tine.
"No, I don't want to," Erwin retorted.
"What can I do to convince you?" Laura asked. She leaned forward, looking straight into his eyes.
"I wonder" Erwin teased. It was entertaining to watch Laura struggle, and so he continued to act like he was going to reject her.
"Please?" Laura pleaded.
Laura lowered her head as she lost all hope. It wouldn't be ethical if she forced him into this agreent. But she'll be at a disadvantage if he doesn't lend her a hand.
But out of nowhere, in the silence, Erwin laughed out loud, making Laura startled and confused. Really, Laura is the only person in the world who could shake his heart. It was an unfamiliar feeling that brought him warmth.
"I'm just kidding. I wanted to see how you would react, and it is exactly what I had thought of," Erwin laughed.
"That's...an," Laura stuttered. As her face slowly turned red.
"Plus, I believe that I still need to repay you," Erwin added with a warm smile, making Laura's heart skip a beat.
"Just this once, I'll be asking help from you," Laura confird.
"But I have a condition," Erwin proposed.
Knowing that an agreent will have conditions is an obvious move. But it was his condition that scared her. What if it's sothing she can't fulfill? It scared her.
"I want you to be my partner to the Crowned Prince's birthday party," Erwin smiled. Smiling as if it wasn't a big thing, but it is.
"You're going to show your face?" Laura asked.
"Not exactly. I'll be wearing a mask for the party, and so you will wear one too. The masked couple isn't that mysterious?" Erwin said.
"Sounds suspicious, but isn't it useless as my hair already stands out?" Laura asked. Shaking her head, asking herself just what is he thinking?
Erwin, a man full of mystery, just wants to do things for fun. He didn't mind not having any conditions. But knowing his mom, the duchess, she would force him to bring a random woman with him. And clearly, he didn't like it. Bringing an unknown woman who he doesn't even have an interest in.
"That's it?" Laura asked, tilting her head in the process.
"Yep, that's it," Erwin sheepishly smiled.
"Really? No money or anything?"
"That's right," Erwin assured.
After knowing the condition, Laura's mind was at ease. It wasn't anything challenging or complicated. But deep down inside, she wanted him to ask for more, because supporting soone is a big thing amongst the nobles, especially when the person has a lot of influence.
What else can she do to satisfy herself?
"Are you sure you don't want anything else?" Laura asked.
"It's better than asking for you to beco my lover, right?" Erwin said nonchalantly, walking towards the couch.
Laura's face slowly turned crimson upon hearing this, and blad herself for always reacting this way every ti he teased her. It wasn't like she had feelings for him, right? And despite the many encounters of both, Laura still considered Erwin as a stranger.
But for Erwin, Laura was sothing else. A woman who he wishes to possess entirely and never let her go. But even so, they were both strangers with one another.
"Fine... if you insist," Laura muttered.
"I'll be sending a tailor for you. Actually, I'll be sending Scott to take your asurents. Also, you will keep the dress, and there's no need to pay for it," Erwin said.
"Okay," Laura nodded her head.
"So there's still another thing I want to talk to you about," Erwin said.
The smile on his face faded, and so did Laura's.
It was sothing Laura had expected Erwin to bring up, and this ti she had no excuses and couldn't avoid it any longer. Laura is still Laura, but she is no longer the weak girl who ran away when things got tough.
"Since I'm not really satisfied with your conditions, go ahead, ask anything," Laura said with acceptance, straightening her back, ready for the questions to co.
"What do you know about Septus?" Erwin asked, watching Laura closely as he placed his hand on his cheek.
"He revived back, giving a chance to live a second life," Laura answered.
"That reminds I have to thank you for sothing," Erwin said, and Laura tilted her head in confusion, waiting for him to elaborate further. He continued, "Thanks to you, I rember why I died in the past."
Laura did not react, knowing that he was like her. She has known for a while as she recalled Septus saying. 'Save him, for he is my child.' It was apparent that he was like her.
And being given this opportunity, she realized that maybe this ti, they might beco the strongest in the empire if they both work together.
"Was it a bad choice?" Laura asked.
"No. In fact, I'm going to find the person who tried killing ."
"Do you at least have a clue who's behind it?" Laura asked once more.
"I do. My uncle, Marquess Rogen. The fact that he tried killing several tis when I was younger. I am confident that it was him. Doesn't that man have no conscience at all? Erwin sneered, clenching his fists tightly.
"I think... it's ti I tell you my story," Laura decided.
"You don't have to" Erwin said with a soft voice.
"Be grateful that I'm telling you a stranger my story," Laura attacked.
In the beginning, Laura had no intention of telling Erwin, but his story touched her heart. Moreover, it was nice being able to relate to soone.
And so Laura told her story.
Starting from where she was in court, crying and begging for soone to believe her when she was alone in the dark, confined behind the iron bars when she heard Septus' voice.
Rembering the story of her past was painful. Her chest tightened, but she did not cry. It was a story that wasn't ant to be talked about. But sharing her sufferings and pain to another person would make her relieved.
A tear fell off Erwin's eye, and he was surprised that he himself was crying. Not wanting Laura to see him crying, he turned the other way and hid his face. Wiping all the shed and unshed tears off, it truly was a depressing story to hear from soone else.
"Why are you crying?" Laura asked softly. She walked towards Erwin, but he asked her to stop and not to co closer.
"It's embarrassing to be seen this way. So please, don't co any closer just to look at my pathetic face," Erwin sniffled.
Seeing an unfamiliar side of Erwin, Laura giggled and insisted on comforting this big boy. As weird as it sounds, the sight of him being this way made her happy.
There is still soone in this world who would cry over her story. Is it because they both experienced death before?
Laura patted his head, smiling. While Erwin still hid his face away from Laura, thinking, 'what kind of man would show his tears to a girl?' It was not right at all.
The door opened, breaking the montum, and both of them were startled. Blaine entered the room and saw an unfamiliar sight. He blankly stared at Laura and looked at Erwin.
'Just what in the world was happening?' Blaine was surely confused even if he didn't show it.
Seeing his young master crying, he imdiately turned to the one person who could've known or even caused it.
Laura's mouth opened, and her hands wavered, explaining to Blaine that all this is a big misunderstanding. But there was no way she was going to tell him why he cried.
"Blaine, it's not what you think," Laura exclaid.
"Really" Blaine pondered, still looking blankly at Laura.
Just what is this misunderstanding? The situation felt like one of the weirdest and awkwardest things that he had ever seen. Blaine, who had no idea what was going on, then walked towards Erwin and slapped the back of his head.
"Cry baby," Blaine muttered. While Erwin complained as he rubbed the back of his head and groaned.
"I think I know why he cried. He was touched with your story, and please do not worry about that. Erwin is just a crybaby." Blaine said with a slight smile.
"Really?" Laura asked, relieved that Blaine didn't misunderstand anything.
"I'm sorry if you saw that unattractive side of his. Even if he always acts serious, that man right there has a soft heart," Blaine retorted, pointing a finger towards Erwin.
"You an," Erwin joined as he started to fix himself.
"You're welco," Blaine replied.
"Anyway, would you please stay here for dinner?" Erwin asked, fixing his tie but keeping his gaze at Laura.
"I can't reject you, can't I?" Laura asked. Lifting a brow, slightly smiling.
"Yep."
Erwin and Laura finally found sothing that they had sothing in common. They both lived another life to seek revenge and to claim their safe future. And now that Laura has Erwin by her side, she doesn't need to be scared anymore.
When Erwin first saw Laura by the orphanage, he had instantly fallen for her. Not one day did he forget about the beauty and sadness on Laura's face. It reminded him of the story, "The cursed girl and the prince."
A story where love will never exist between them.
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