Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 1

The boy arrived by postal train.

It was early afternoon in spring. Bill Remmer was busy planting rose seedlings all day long.

“Are you Mr Bill Remmer?”

Standing with a puzzled expression on his face, the boy asked a careful question. His subtle pronunciation gave off a strange feeling.

"Yes. I am Bill Remmer.”

Bill took off his straw hat with the same hand that washed the dirt off his clothes.

As the tanned face hidden behind his straw hat was revealed, the shocked child gulped down his saliva. The boy's reaction was nothing out of the ordinary for Bill. Anyone who first sees Bill Remmer generally reacts like a child because of his or her rugged appearance.

"Who are you?"

Bill's face grew even scarier as he frowned at the boy.

"Hello. Uncle Bill. I'm Leyla Lewellin. I am from Lovita.”

The boy said it clearly and slowly. Lovita yes.. Bill realized why his pronunciation sounded a bit strange.

“You mean, you crossed the border into the Berg Empire alone?”

"Yes. I took the train.”

The child smiled awkwardly and enforced his posture unnaturally. The postman carrying the child approached the two from behind.

"Ah. This boy has finally met you, Mr. Remmer.”

“Exact time. What made you take this kid?”

“This boy was walking alone in front of the station so I asked him where he was going and he said he was on his way to find Bill Remmer, the Herhardt family gardener. I brought it here because I was on my way to deliver some mail.”

The postman answered with a smile and handed an envelope to Bill Remmer. It was a letter from a distant relative living in the neighboring country of Lovita.

Bill immediately tore the envelope in place. The letter contains the story of an orphan who was taken care of by relatives who are now no longer able to care for him because of their circumstances are considered 'poor'. The boy's name is Leyla Lewellin. The little girl standing in front of Bill was an orphan.

“Cursed people. They must have told me this news quickly.”

Bill lost his breath in amazement.

No one in Lovita can take care of these orphans. Bill Remmer was the last person among those to have a cryptic relationship with the child. The letter states that if Bill's situation is unfavorable, he must leave the child in an orphanage.

Bill muttered the curse and threw the crumpled paper on the floor.

“These people must go to hell. How can they send this small item here alone.”

Now that Bill understood the whole situation, his face gradually turned red in anger. The child is treated like a bomb that is spread from one relative to another and is meant to be thrown away when no one else wants it. He was eventually sent to another country with the address of a distant relative whom he did not even know about.

“Sorry, Uncle Bill. I'm not that young.”

The boy who had been watching Bill suddenly opened his mouth.

“I'll be twelve years old in a few weeks.”

He whispered in a somewhat mature tone. Bill chuckled in amazement. He was relieved because he was older than he thought. The boy looked smaller than his age.

When the postman who delivered the troubled girl left, the two were left in the park. Bill wrapped his head in his hands and begged God for help.

Despite being distant siblings, the two looked more like fathers and sons from afar. Bill has not met his distant relatives for more than 20 years, but it is there that he is stuck with a child he has never known to exist to date.

Despite the cold weather, the boy was wearing thin clothes. She's skinny – like an iron skewer. All Bill could see from her were her bright green eyes and her gold-woven hair.

There's no way he's taking care of her.

But the only solution left was to put her in an orphanage, which drove her crazy. Bill once again muttered the mockery to his kinsmen who had put him into this mess. The boy gasped and started biting his red lips.

"Follow me."

Bill shook his head in frustration and led the way.

“Let's fill our stomachs before I make a decision.”

His blunt words were carried by the night wind. As the two walked further towards Bill's cabin, the boy's timid steps gradually became light and cheerful.

_____________________

“Only that's what you eat?”

Bill frowned at the small plate the boy was holding.

"Yes. I ate a little.” The boy smiled.

“Son, I hate kids who don't eat much.”

The boy's eyes widened to hear Bill's words. The light of the table lamp shone on the boy's skinny wrist which was seen behind the sleeves of a shirt that was carelessly raised.

“You should eat everything like a cow.”

Bill's expression became more resolute. The troubled Leyla, slowly blinked her eyes, moving more pieces of meat and bread onto her plate. He then hurriedly began to devour his food.

“I can't eat like a cow, but I eat pretty well, Uncle.”

The girl smiled brightly with breadcrumbs near her tiny lips.

"Yes. I can definitely see it.”

Bill laughed and began to fill his high glass with alcohol.

“Are you not afraid of me?”

Bill scrunched his face to deliberately frighten the boy. The child simply looked at the man, not daring to avoid the look in his eyes.

"NO. You don't yell at me. You gave me a lot of good food. So I think you're a good person.”

What kind of life does this child live? thought Bill while filling his beer glass again.

The letter said the child's mother abandoned her husband and child to elope with another man. The father of the child, heartbroken by the betrayal, became an alcoholic and died of alcohol poisoning. After that, the child was raised in the home of his relatives, abandoned only by them.

Although the boy has a sad past, Bill is sure raising him is still absurd.

Bill Remmer downed a glass of beer and decided that he would take his decision next week.

____________________

“Did everyone hear it? Gardener Bill Remmer has started raising a young girl.”

A young maid hurriedly rushed to the waiting room the maid used during their free time. The rested servants turned their gazes towards the young servant.

"A girl? Mr Remmer? It would be more reasonable to say that he decided to keep a lion or an elephant.”

One of the servants snorted.

Herhardt family gardener Bill Remmer is a man who has a natural talent for growing flowers. Thanks to his talent, he was able to maintain his position as a gardener for 20 years despite his harsh temperament. He was very trusted by the Herhardt family. Especially Norma. Because of Norma's unique love of flowers, she gives her infinite understanding and tolerance to Bill's way of gardening and temperament. It was also his decision to give the gardener a cabin in the woods located behind the Herhardt family home.

He works in the park and rests in the cabin. Although she drinks with her co-workers, she spends most of her time surrounded by flowers and trees. Even after decades had passed since his wife died of illness, he could not get close to any woman.

Bill Remmer raised a little girl? The waiters who were resting in the waiting room reached a consensus that the rumors were unreasonable until one of the servants sitting by the window called out.

"God. That must be true! Look over there."

The waiter pointed to the glass window with his eyes wide open. The servants immediately rushed to the window and were immediately shocked in astonishment. On the other side of the park, Bill Remmer is gardening with a crouching body and a petite girl who is rumored to be following in his footsteps.

The girl's golden hair, braided in a single strand, trembled back and forth like a pendulum as she ran.

'”I still haven't made a decision.”

When a question is asked about the child, Bill repeatedly answers the same answer.

“I can not leave it here so I have to think well.”

While Bill's thinking continued throughout the spring, then into the summer, Leyla Lewellin slowly settled on Herhardt's estate. The boy's vigorous walk in the park and the forest had become a familiar sight to Herhardt's servants.

“I think he's been a little bit developed.”

Madame Mona, chef Herhardt, smiled as she looked out the window. Leyla was observing the grass and flowers that were beginning to sprout behind the forest cabin.

“The journey is long. She is still smaller than girls in general.”

“Listen, Bill Remmer. Children are different from your plants. They can't grow overnight.”

Ms. Mona shook her head while lowering her basket onto the table.

"What's this?"

“Kue and cake. There was a tea party yesterday at mansion.”

“I hate the sweet-sweet.”

"really? It belongs to Leyla”

Bill Remmer's dark brows furrowed at Madam Mona's indifferent response.

This child shouldn't be here, but the Duke's servants started to look after Leyla every day. They greeted him, brought him food, and sometimes visited him. This is a problem for Bill Remmer.

“You should buy him clothes. The young lady's skirt looks like it will reach her knee.”

Madam Mona clucked as she looked at Leyla who was running after a bird. Bill failed to argue. Even in her eyes, it was obvious that Leyla was wearing clothes that were not suitable for her.

"God! Holy hooch! Look at that woman!"

Just as Ms. Mona was about to leave, she suddenly pointed towards Leyla and shouted anxiously. Bill glanced at the direction that Bu Mona was heading towards with a strange look. When the bird that Leyla was chasing perched on the branch of a tree, she began to swiftly climb the tree. His movements were athletic and light like a squirrel.

“She does have a knack for climbing trees.”

Madam Mona scowled at Bill's uncaring answer.

“Bill Remmer! You know about him climbing a tree and you just let him? How do you raise your child?”

“He grows strong and healthy as you can see.”

“You raised that girl like a beast! My god."

Madam Mona raised her voice and made a fuss as Bill peeked out from behind the window deafeningly. Leyla perched on thin branches and observed miniature birds playing in the bushes.

After nurturing the girl for several months, Leyla Lewellin proves to be a child full of curiosity and wants to know more about the world. Flowers and grass, birds and insects. Anything that catches his attention will leave him amazed and interested. One night, when Leyla does not return for dinner, Bill goes deep into the woods and finds Leyla sitting by the river looking at a flock of waterbirds. He was so focused that he could not even hear Bill calling his name repeatedly.

After throwing some more crude talk, Ms. Mona has returned home. Bill slowly walked to the back of his cabin.

"Uncle!"

Leyla happily waved at him.

The boy who came down from the tree as fast as he climbed, hurriedly ran towards Bill. The dull grey one-piece dress that Leyla wore was short-sleeved and ragged. His second-hand clothes seem inappropriate when meeting the duke so Bill has taken the decision to buy him new clothes.

“Prepare and exit.”

Bill impulsively said as the two got to the front door of the back of the cabin.

"Ah. Uncle?"

“We will go to the city center to buy some clothes so you don't need to look confused.”

Bill awkwardly let out a dry cough and scratched his back neck.

“Duke Herhardt is coming soon, so it would be rather strange to welcome him with your current state.”

“What Duke means, you mean this landowner, right?”

"Yes. Since it's a break, he'll be back.”

"Destructive? Does Duke attend school?”

Leyla frowned while tilting her head. Bill grinned and stroked the boy's disheveled hair.

“Duke is only 18 years old so he has no choice but to attend school.”

"What's? Eighteen years? Duke?”

Bill's laughter grew louder at the surprised expression of the boy. The delicate hair of the child that Bill touched with his rough fingertips was as soft as cotton.

_____________________

Trains from the capital have entered the platform at Carlsbar station.

Waiting waiters approached the station's private section. By the time they lined up in a straight position, a tall and slim boy descended onto the platform.

“Halo, sir.”

Starting with a polite greeting from Hessen's butler, all the other servants immediately lowered their heads towards the boy. With a straightforward and graceful demeanor, Matthias responded to their greeting with a light yet silent respect. His reddish lips curved into a smile that was neither excessive nor sufficient.

It was only after Matthias took a few steps that Herhardt's servants began to move. The spectators quickly retreated and paved the way for the young master to pass by. Matthias walked past the platform without showing any possibility of slowing down.

“A car.”

Matthias grinned when he found the train waiting for him in front of the station.

“Ah….. Yes, mister. Madam Norma doesn't believe cars can be trusted.”

"I knew. For grandma, a car is just a very vulgar and dangerous piece of iron.”

"My apology. Next time…"

"NO. 'Classic' is not bad. Occasional.”

Matthias calmly boarded the train. His long arms and legs let out a slow but steady movement. The carriage slowly increased the speed as it passed through the square and the crowded shopping street. A separate cart carrying Matthias' luggage followed the carriage carved with a golden emblem in the distance.