Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 16. Something That's Nothing

As the sun began to set, the forest quickly darkened.

Leyla looked at the dead bird with unfocused eyes while Matthias stared at Leyla. There was a long silence, but Matthias was not impatient. Leyla was right in front of him and he was sure Leyla might not be able to escape for a while.

"Just……"

Leyla immediately raised her head. His eyes were filled with anger that even darkness could not hide. His eyes were arrogant and bold, but he thought it was much better than avoiding eye contact.

"Tell me. What mistake have I made?"

"Wrong?"

"Yes. What kind of mistake have I made.... until I was punished like this?”

“I never gave you any punishment.”

Matthias answered quite seriously.

“I do my job, and you do your job, Leyla.”

He's sincere.

“Doing an error.. Alright..”.

After thinking for a moment, Matthias looked at Leyla with a calm look.

“Why do you like birds so much?”

The same question was asked in a tone that was not slightly different from a while ago.

When she opened her tightly shut eyes, Leyla looked up at the sky, the dead bird, and then at Matthias again. His shoulders were trembling, but his eyes were wide open. Matthias found it funny and a little annoying.

“To always be by my side.”

Leyla Lewellin answered clearly. He sounded a little angry, but he did not threaten.

“I've been wandering around a lot of places since I was a kid, but birds are always there wherever I go. Always near me. As the seasons changed, some of the birds that were left behind were unceasingly returning as I waited for him. The birds always come back.”

Leyla's voice calmed down as she continued to speak. His voice sounds very smooth. Probably because of his soft pronunciation.

“There is no season without birds. There is no place that has no birds. I am happy to be near that beautiful and free creature.”

"really?"

"Yes. Although my words may mean nothing to the duke.”

Bluffing with a face that was about to cry.

Matthias stood up while chuckling softly. Her dinner party was close before she realized it.

“Are you going to hunt like this again?”

Leyla hurriedly asked him as he was about to leave.

"If needed."

Matthias answered without hesitation. At the moment when Leyla's eyes were filled with despair, fear, and anger, Matthias was delighted.

“Leyla.”

After changing his mind to go through it, Matthias stopped in front of him.

“I want everything in my world to be in its place. In a place where nothing is hiding or escaping.”

"What do you mean?"

“Stay in your place.”

"I…. I don't understand what you mean by ‘place’.”

“Think carefully.”

"Duke."

"Who knows? If you find the answer, I will probably start holding hunting sessions that are ‘friendly’.”

Matthias turned around without hesitation while Leyla was left in a daze. He didn't really want much from Leyla Lewellin. However, he wanted Leyla to be in Leyla's position. As an orphan living in the woods. As a curious schoolboy. And soon, as the female teacher where she was supposed to be.

Sitting on the back of his horse, Matthias turned his head and looked towards the bush. Leyla had lowered her small body in front of the dead bird. Seeing her cheeks twinkle, she was sure she might cry. There was a sense of satisfaction in Matthias' eyes when he saw those tears.6

He was born in a world dominated by perfect order and soon became its ruler. Everything was simple and clear based on that command. It is not at all difficult to carry out the roles and expectations given.1

Successor to the pride of grandmother and mother. A generous lord to the people of Arvis. Brilliant officers on the battlefield. Competent employers from the director.

Matthias has always been a 'something' for someone and is willing to play a suitable role. The people who take care of him are like that. Subtle roles, attitudes, and emotions come and go regularly. That was the feeling Matthias saw, heard, and learned.

But a lowly orphan living in my woods?

Matthias' eyes on Leyla squinted.

He's nothing.

The easy conclusion made Matthias smile.

This was the first time he had something that was 'nothing'. There is no unnecessary stain in the life of Duke Herhardt.

It was strange to have something that was not needed in his life, but he thought it was not too bad. The emotions that the woman, who was a nobody, showed her comforted her. Just like the moment a flying bird falls to death comforts him.

Most importantly, tears. He likes Leyla crying. She was a woman who cried beautifully. Pretty enough to make her cry again and again.

Matthias left the forest with a lighter heart.

The usual routine was repeated in the mansion where he returned. A boisterous dinner time. An empty but complicated conversation. Cold champagne and fake laughter.

When a short summer night passes and morning comes back, Matthias thinks it's not too bad to go on a 'friendship' hunt next time. When she looked out the window, Leyla was in the rose garden. He secretly helps the gardener.

Seeing?

Matthias turned away from the window with a smile.+

It's easy for Leyla.

“Thank you, Leyla.”

Claudine kindly expressed her gratitude. Claudine's friend who was sitting next to her also thanked Leyla with a faint smile.

“No problem, Miss.”

Leyla politely bowed. His white hands were held together. There was a grass stain on his fingertip, which came from the flower he picked. There were also some blood-soaked wounds from the thorns of the rose piercing his fingers.

"I now……"

“Can you cut those red roses too? I think one pack is enough.”

Claudine cut Leyla's words with a gentle question.

Leyla turned her head and looked in the direction that Claudine pointed. It was a flower bed in the middle of the garden. There was a beautiful red rose in full bloom.

“Ya, Miss.”

Leyla obediently followed orders as usual.

Claudine silently looked behind Leyla as Leyla picked up her basket and scissors again.

Claudine finds Leyla while walking in the park with a friend who is visiting Arvis. After disappearing for a few days, he now works diligently to help the gardener.

Claudine changes their plan to have tea together and then suggests arranging flowers for her friend. Emilia agreed happily, and the flower arrangements for the two women were prepared under the pergola that was under the rose plant.

And then Leyla.

Claudine sent a waiter to call Leyla. They've been like that since childhood. Leyla Lewellin's job was to pick up the roses Claudine needed whenever she started arranging flowers under the pergola.

He's not quite Claudine's playmate, but Leyla follows the task well. On days when things were boring, Claudine occasionally called Leyla to say a few words.

“That girl, she is acting very polite, but strangely she feels arrogant.”

Emilia sneered her lips as she looked at Leyla.

“What should I say.. It seems that he does not know his condition well.”

“Do not like that, Emilia. Leyla is a pathetic child.”

Claudine frowned a little. The rose branches were cut with scissors that Leyla gave her.

“Of course, he does have some flaws, but let's stay tolerant towards him.”

Emilia grinned at Claudine's words.

"By good. You are too generous to your residents.”

“Citizens who do their job faithfully should be respected.”

Claudine's voice is getting quieter. The blue porcelain vases were one by one filled with the flowers he had pruned.

Leyla soon returned with a bunch of red roses. Once again, with perfect courtesy, Leyla bowed and placed the roses on the table.

Claudine stopped her hand movements and looked at Leyla. Emilia's criticism of Leyla is correct. Claudine, who had met the boy for a long time, agreed with Emilia's words.

Claudine vaguely understood why Emilia could make such criticism.

Leyla Lewellin's submissive attitude seemed to emerge from her unconcerned attitude. There was a daughter of a famous noble who was eager to befriend Claudine, yet Leyla was not at all happy or pleased whenever Claudine was nearby. Leyla did not bother to appear attractive in front of Claudine. He never flattered Claudine either.

He is the kind of person who obeys and follows orders.

Claudine was not used to such indifference. The fact that Claudine received indifference from the orphans made her feel humiliated.

“Good work, Leyla.”

Claudine smile.

Leyla stepped back while bowing and the waiter, who was waiting a few steps away from her, approached Leyla. It was Claudine's most anticipated moment. The moment when Leyla's original emotions were revealed through her eyes when she was given a gold coin in her hand.

After all these years, Leyla still could not keep her composure when she was rewarded with gold coins. Claudine was satisfied when Leyla's hand holding the gold coin shook like it was holding a hot potato. Claudine plans to give him another gift as a complement. An invitation to a party that will give a happy memory to the pitiful boy.

“Did you give this to me?”

Leyla's eyes grew bigger as she received an invitation from the same servant who gave her the gold coin. He looks very confused.

"Yes. I have asked for permission and both mistresses allow it.”

“But, Miss... ..”

“I really want you to come, Leyla.”

Claudine smiled as she cut out Leyla's words again. Leyla's face turned pale while Claudine's smile grew brighter.

“I'm sure you won't reject my solicitation.”

After Claudine spoke to Leyla as if she was her old childhood friend, Claudine then turned her eyes away.

I had to tame that stiff kid before I became the Duchess of Arvis.2

Claudine started pruning the red roses while calmly pondering her intentions.

The rose vase decorated by the skilled Claudine was exquisite.