Chapter 361 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 7 - The Desolate Lands (IV) (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1719, 1st day of the 11th month*

Six weeks since the last time they'd officially met, and yet, Layton had yet to miss a morning of watching over her from the building opposite as she baked her goods for the day.

On the one day she did not open in a week, she could sense him watching over her bedroom window instead. Perhaps Allyra should have felt terrified given what he was, but knowing he was there gave her a sense of calm. A feeling like she was protected.

It was probably why, when a ghost from her past had come to haunt her that morning, she had not felt all that bothered by it.

”Allyra Cavahall,” her ex-fiancé, Damien Navou, stepped inside her café, a woman Allyra recognised immediately holding his arm. Isla Beckett, a woman Allyra had once called friend, ”I didn't believe it when I heard it in the circles, but now that I see it before me, my how the mighty have fallen”.

Allyra smiled apologetically to the woman she was handing a cake to then stood tall and approached them, ”Welcome to my café, Master Navou, Miss Beckett, can I offer you a table?”

The two of them, who before had been smiling widely like a game was about to be played, seemed to blanch for a moment in surprise at Allyra's professional response before they fixed their expressions, Isla talking this time, ”It's Lady Navou, now”.

The woman purposely displayed her wedding ring, but contrary to expectations once more, Allyra smiled, ”My, I see, congratulations are in order then. I apologise for not being aware sooner, perhaps I can offer a complimentary cake in celebration?”

”Just a cake?” asked Damien, ”Surely a marriage of our scale would amount to a full meal”.

”Oh? You think so? From the age and style of the ring I would say the marriage is not a recent thing, not to mention your wife's clear pregnancy, I suppose I can offer some tea to her as well to celebrate that, something good for the baby,” Allyra smiled.

Isla looked surprised. Allyra's gaze said it all. Yes, she had not been in society's circles for some time, but that did not mean she was not well aware of the styles and trends of the upper class. She had to cater to them often thanks to her business.

Damien cleared his throat, ”Yes, we are quite proud, perhaps when the child is born your own can be a play mate”.

Allyra raised a confused brow, ”My own?”

Damien's grinned turned ever-so-slightly malicious, ”Surely you jest Allyra, how could you forget the bastard you surely conceived on the eve of our wedding? I certainly cannot”.

The entire café turned pin-drop silent. Allyra was enraged. How dare he bring up such a thing in her shop. In her livelihood! He was clearly out to ruin her. They both were, Allyra thought as she saw Isla hide her own victorious grin.

Very well then, if they would ruin her, she had no problem ruining them. Besides, she had enough money now that she could go elsewhere to set up shop if need be.

”I think there is some misconception here,” Allyra stated, ”I do not deny that I slept with a man who was not you when we were not yet married, however, the reason and the outcome are far more simple than what you are implying. The reason, I had no d.e.s.i.r.e to remain a pretty bird in a cage for you to take out and pet when you d.e.s.i.r.ed. So, when my father refused my will, I took matters into my own hands. And the outcome? I was ousted from my family, stripped of my inheritances, and, perhaps the greatest relief of them all, I did not have to bind myself to you. Those were the only consequences that came from the loss of my maidenhood. If anything, I would say that singular night was more pleasurable than anything you ever gave me, or ever will”.

Allyra had the thought the café had been silent before.

Just when the atmosphere in the room began to grown awkward, Allyra, and everyone else, heard the unmistakable sound of a woman chuckling. All eyes were drawn to the dark-haired beauty who sat at a table among friends. Allyra knew who she was right away, as did many others.

”Lady…Startree?” asked Isla. The woman was a fashion icon, and held the closest ties out of anyone to the Moonshadow Business. There were few who did not know her name.

Falla Startree gathered herself, then stood, strolling across the room with her party close behind. She paused beside Allyra, ”Miss Cavahall, thank you for the divine food and soothing tea as always. As for the entertainment…that was quite unique, though your co-actors were a little dry. I shall be back the same time next week”.

Allyra nodded, gratefully with a smile, Damien and Isla all but forgotten as the woman left with her party.

Allyra turned back to them though, ”Shall you dine with us today?”

Damien huffed and turned away, ”I could ruin you before she comes back”.

”Thank you for your warning, but I don't believe you have such power. You are, after all, second in line to your father's businesses. Nothing but the spare, really”.

The door slammed shut behind them, and an elderly woman beside Allyra spoke from behind her fan, ”I would not have married him either, his gait is so inelegant I doubt he could tell his left foot from his right”.

Perhaps it was because most of them were regular customers. Or perhaps because Allyra had proven herself time and again to be capable without a husband. But no one made another comment about her exposed scandal, and in the week following, no threat to her business ever arose.

***

”Is it true that you were kicked out because of me?”

The question scared her out of her wits. Her basket tumbled to the ground outside of her café, and Allyra placed a hand over her heart as it calmed, her eyes coming to rest on where Layton stood beside the door.

”What?”

Layton frowned, ”The night we spent together, is it true that your family ousted you because of it?”

Allyra frowned. She was pretty sure he never watched her during the day. Still as she retrieved her basket and the items that had spilled out, she found herself replying.

”Yes”.

Layton was silent for a long moment before Allyra stood once more, meeting his gaze.

”I'm so-”

Allyra shook her head, ”I don't want your apology. You have nothing to be sorry for”.

Layton tilted his head in question.

”If anything,” Allyra stated as she went to step around him, ”I should be thanking you. Without my encounter with you, I would have been stuck in a loveless marriage, forever catering to the whims of an arrogant and entitled asshole”.

”Instead, you slept with a regular asshole,” Layton huffed.

Allyra just smiled as she paused looking back over her shoulder at him, ”I wouldn't call you regular, you seem too different for that…but then, I wouldn't call you an asshole either”.

Layton raised an eyebrow, ”It's what I am”.

Allyra shrugged, ”And I am a fallen noble woman who lost her standing, and her v.i.r.g.i.n.i.t.y to a stranger. But that isn't all that I am. Just like there is something more to me, there is something more to you too. You just tend to hide that part of yourself”.

Layton frowned, seemingly offended by the statement. Before he could speak though, Allyra continued, ”Thank you, for showing me these past six weeks, that you're not just an asshole”.

Layton's eyes widened a little, but he showed no further reaction as she turned away to walk to her apartment.

”Allyra?”

Allyra turned back to Layton, who took a few steps towards her, then he cupped her face as he met her gaze, his eyes turning red.

Allyra became utterly entranced by his ruby-like eyes for just a few seconds, then, just as suddenly as he'd grabbed her, he released her, stepping back as his eyes became icy blue once more.

”What…?”

”It seems wrong at this point to continue to hide it from you,” said Layton.

Then he was gone. For a moment, Allyra had no idea what he was talking about, but then, all at once, the memories of their night together pushed to the surface. They were no longer foggy or clouded or mismatched. They flowed in one long, l.u.s.tful event.