"Such a world exists, indeed," sighed Lila, nestling her body within the comforting warmth of the tub. She had never experienced bathing in such a spacious vessel, nor had she ever felt at ease when cleansing herself. It was because she had always needed to evade Marshall's prying eyes, who would steal glances as her chest emerged and her buttocks swelled.

She had never envied the wealthy before, but in this moment, she found herself yearning for an abundance of money. If she had such riches, she could indulge in this lavish bathing ritual every day.

As her body relaxed and rejuvenated, her tension dissipated. She wanted to savor this moment, unsure if it would be her first and last, but the maid beside her posed a problem. Relentlessly, she bombarded Laila with incessant questions, as if she had an insatiable curiosity.

"Can you believe you don't know the Vanderbilt family? That's preposterous, isn't it? You must be lying."

"No, I'm not..."

Laila's voice faded away like a wisp of smoke. She had never even heard of the Vanderbilt name, let alone its illustrious reputation. Despite her honest admission, the maid narrowed her eyes, as if suspecting Laila of falsehoods. Seeing Lila's perplexed gaze, the maid sighed and spoke with disdain.

"Even if a country falls, the family remains eternal. Especially the Vanderbilt family, which is one of the most renowned in this land. I don't know how you came to meet the Duke, but..."

"The Duke?" Lila interjected, her voice filled with astonishment. She knew Cain was wealthy, but she had no idea he held such remarkable stature. He had never revealed his power and fame to her.

"Surely you didn't follow him without knowing that too?"

The handmaiden brimmed with anticipation, yet upon witnessing Laila's inscrutable expression, she seemed to discern the sincerity. Eager to uncover Laila's true identity, she altered her demeanor and commenced elucidating about Cain Vanderbilt.

The Vanderbilt lineage spanned over two centuries, encompassing an esteemed aristocratic family. Particularly, Cain's grandfather and father, Wolf Vanderbilt and Walter Vanderbilt, had stood among the vanguard twenty years ago, aligning themselves with the people, fomenting revolution, and toppling the emperor. Thus, the Vanderbilt name had commanded reverence and wielded power, dating back to the days before the monarchy. As the successor, Cain inherited their prestige and wealth, perpetuating it through the ages.

Though the term "nobility" had faded, people still referred to Cain as the Duke. It was incumbent upon Laila to listen, until her soul felt suffocated, to tales of the vast number of companies owned by the Vanderbilt family, the opulence and remarkable honor that Cain possessed, which continued to weigh upon her heart.

Curious, indeed.

Why would such an individual appear in the blasted alleys? Not once, but twice. And for what reason did he extend assistance to Laila?

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Tomorrow morning, I shall inquire of all.

"But, pray tell, Miss, what is your true identity? How did our master come across you?"

Having concluded her lengthy explanation, the handmaiden inquired with a face brimming with curiosity. Despite being a guest brought by Cain, she displayed no difficulty in addressing Laila. Perhaps it was due to Laila's shabby appearance. However, there was an unmistakable yearning to discover why their master had brought this impoverished yet beautiful woman.

Exhaustion washed over Laila. Even if she wished to speak, she knew nothing more than the handmaiden.

"Well, I merely received some assistance from the Duke."

"What kind?"

The handmaiden leaned in, her gaze fixed upon Laila's flushed and bruised countenance.

"Forgive me."

Unable to endure the handmaiden's prying chatter any longer, Laila finally spoke up.

"May I have a moment to rest? Please step aside. I will take care of washing up and leave on my own accord."

"Pardon me?"

The handmaiden, appearing bewildered by Laila's words, flinched slightly and fell silent. The woman, who had subtly disregarded her earlier, was now boldly asserting herself, causing a hidden surprise to ripple across her features.

"Yes, understood. The soap is here, and the nightgown and robe are hung over there."

"Just a moment."

As the handmaiden turned to leave in response to Laila's summons, she hesitated and turned back. Laila questioned her with an expression that seemed to ask what the matter was.

"How to use the soap?"

"...."

The handmaiden emitted a bewildered exhalation that was surprisingly loud.

***

The night was deep. Emerging from his study, Cain began to walk toward his own chamber. However, after a few steps, he paused and became lost in thought. Shortly thereafter, he redirected his footsteps toward the place where Lila was staying.

Cain raised his smooth hand and gently knocked on her door. Inside, there was no hint of a response or any sign at all.

"Has she fallen asleep? Well, after experiencing such a harrowing ordeal, it's only natural that she would be exhausted to the point of collapsing."

As Cain turned his body to head back to his own room, he felt a chilling sensation. He once again knocked on Laila's door.

"Laila?"

Just as before, there was no reply.

After knocking forcefully several times without receiving an answer, Cain, without permission, opened the door and entered.

Her room was completely empty. The neatly arranged bed sheets remained undisturbed, and there was no trace whatsoever of anyone having stayed there. It seemed more like no one had even entered rather than sneaking out.

Cain's face contorted in confusion.

He swiftly reeled in the thread and quickened his pace. With a sense of trepidation, he entered the bathroom.

Laila was sleeping, chilled, inside the cold bathtub.

"Laila!"

Cain hurriedly approached and lifted the naked Laila into his arms.