Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 2

A visit to relatives who plan to spend the summer in Arvis. Social gathering. Trademark ship insurance issues that will sail next month.

Matthias, who was sitting at the back of the carriage, stared out the window as his butler, Hessen, reported pending family issues. Matthias replied to Hessen with a short answer or nod. The directors were in charge of the company, and Mattias' mother and grandmother were in charge of family affairs, but the power to make the final decision was in Duke Herhardt's hands. And Matthias has been in that position since he was twelve.

By the time Matthias entered the Platanus road leading to the Herhardt region, Hesse's report was complete.

Matthias stared at the familiar scene with his head tilted. The tall trees lined up on either side of the driveway were curved as if they were holding hands. Fragmented sunlight glided through the swaying leaves embroidering the path like a beautiful pattern.

Passing through the street and entering the region, a large white house with a dark blue roof had been seen. At the door, the mother and grandmother came out to greet the head of the family. As Matthias was straightening out his linear tie position, the wagon door opened.

“Welcome, Matias.”

The widow of the Duchess of Arvis, Norma Catarina von Herhardt, greeted her granddaughter with a bright smile. Matthias lowered his head and received his grandmother's kiss. Elysee von Herhardt, who was standing behind them, approached Matthias with a slightly more straightforward attitude.

“You have grown taller.”

She hugged him warmly and smiled. His dark black hair, just like his son's hair, shone in the early summer sun.

Matthias replied with the same smile. The greeting that was distributed to other servants who were waiting in line was not much different. Matthias' delicate demeanor and manners were clearly visible to the servants. He is the perfect owner of this family, Duke Herhardt.

Standing between his grandmother and mother, Matthias led and crossed the lobby hall. Before climbing the stairs, he suddenly lifted his head and looked up at the large chandelier that was lit in the middle of the day. Behind the chandelier is the Herhardt family crest imprinted on the ceiling.

He was a Herhardt.

It was another name for unrelenting intelligence, elegance, and character.

In his own life, Matthias never had any complaints or doubts. He was well aware of the kind of life he had to live and was willing to accept it. He handled his life as if he was breathing and it was that easy.

With a focused look down, Matthias climbed the stairs with large strides.

When the owner of the house entered the house safely, the servants were now able to breathe well.

The residents of Arvis prepared days before to greet Duke Herhardt thoroughly. Everything and everyone must be perfect upon his arrival, including those who are in his land. The servants must perform at their best. The uninvited guest of the Arvis family, Leyla Lewellin, is no exception.

“Does Duke enter? Already?"

Leyla, who was standing on the edge of the servant group, whispered in a somewhat disappointed voice. The ivory dress that Bill bought fluttered following the girl's movements.

“You will see Duke Herhardt in the forest. Then I have to ask permission.”

Bill Remmer gave an outspoken answer and began walking towards the forest. Leyla's after.

“Does the duke also like the forest?”

“Yah, of course. He likes to hunt.”

"Jealous? In woods?"

Leyla's eyes were wide open. Bill snorted while glancing at the boy.

“Isn't it natural for the forest to be a hunting ground for this family?”

“Then... does he hunt birds too?”

“Duke likes bird hunting the most.”

Leyla stopped walking while pondering at Bill's insignificant remark. After realizing what he was saying, Bill awkwardly coughed dry.

He thought of calming him down with a proper lie, but Duke Herhardt was scheduled to be at the hunting grounds within a few days. He was worried that he would give the boy a bigger surprise if he tried to alleviate it with his white lie.

“You will be surprised when you see the duke's shooting ability. He's young but he's a great sniper.”

Bill rambled because he thought he had to say at least something to convince the young girl. But Leyla was almost crying.

“Why does he like to catch birds? There is a lot of food in the mansion like that.”

“For the nobles, hunting is just a form of recreation. Birds are the most attractive targets to shoot at, and.”.

Bill once again realized what he was saying and turned towards Leyla. His eyes met Leyla's dejected face.

Why you should love birds!

Bill almost yelled. He did not know why he bothered to explain all these things to her while having to be careful with the child's feelings. Bill eventually remained silent because if he said one more word, he looked like he was going to cry.

Leyla was crying.

He hated seeing children cry.

After hesitating, Bill started walking again. The boy followed in his footsteps with a limp shoulder. The boy who was actually excited to wear his new ivory-colored dress was now nowhere to be found. It was such an incredible sight to see her so agitated with the dress she had just gotten.

“I hope Duke starts hating hunting.”\+

The long silent child said carefully.

“Maybe he'll get tired of hunting?”

Leyla looked at Bill with eyes full of hope. Bill could only retaliate by scratching his nape timidly.

Leyla was sure her prayers could be fulfilled.

A week after he returned, the duke was nowhere to be seen near the hunting grounds. It was understandable because he was busy taking care of the guests who flocked to the mansion to meet him.

Every day, there were boisterous meetings held in the mansion but the forest remained silent. Summer is almost over. The baby bird hatched from its eggs and the wild rose, which was once still in its early stages, is now in perfect bloom. Leyla happily observed the small changes taking place in the forest.

“Do not go too far, Leyla!”

Bill raised his voice as Leyla excitedly left the cabin.

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Leyla turned around and frantically waved her hands over her head. The old leather bag that the girl was holding on her shoulder trembled along with the restless child.

Leyla was the first to see a bird that had just hatched from a tree branch. A hairless baby bird is waiting for its mother to bring food. Leyla rushed down from the tree and recorded the baby bird she saw today on a small note taken from her leather bag. Although the sketches were a bit messy, he tried his best to catch the little birds through his drawings.

Leyla drew and wrote everything she saw in the woods in her little notebook. The land was more beautiful than any other place he had ever lived. Leyla wanted to write everything down so that when the time came to leave the place, she could recall the memories she had experienced in the forest through her notebook. The thought of leaving that place one day made him sad.

As Leyla walked along the road to the riverbank, she constantly logged the forest. He pastel-colored flower petals between the pages of his notebook and plucked some strawberries he found on the street. The sun began to set as he reached the edge of the glittering river.

Leyla climbed onto a large tree that stood at the border of the forest and river. Thick and long branches of trees become his favorite place because they are as comfortable as chairs. Just as Leyla was about to open her notebook, the clinking sound of a horseshoe sounded from afar.

Leyla hurriedly stuffed her notebook into her bag. Meanwhile, the sound of the horse's clattering sounded closer and closer. Afraid of the intruders coming, Leyla held her breath while hugging the branch of the tree where she lay.

Soon after, a horse with fine dark brown fur appeared. A man was on his back. Of all places, the man chose to rest his horse right under the tree where Leyla was. The movements of men since descending from the horse were light and flexible.

Leyla was sure she should go down but the strange man had already leaned his back under the tree. Not knowing what more reason she should say, Leyla simply stared at the man who raised his hand to take off his hat. Right at that moment Leyla's leather bag slipped off her shoulder and hit the branch.

The memory of the next moment is unclear.

The man reflectively turned his head towards the tree branch and looked at Leyla. Leyla looked into his eyes. His blue eyes, visible from the thick black hair flowing down his forehead, were like transparent glass beads. As Leyla calmed down, the man pointed his gun at her face. Leyla's face turned pale imagining she would be shot by that long threatening weapon.

Leyla, who was frozen in place, only hugged the tree for life. His entire body was trembling with sweat. The man slowly sighed in silence and lowered his weapon.

"What are you."

A low voice flowed through his crooked lips.

“…..Leyla.”

Leyla managed to let out her voice but almost cried. His golden hair fluttered in the wind.

"What?"

His eyes are getting narrowed. Leyla hugged the tree so tightly that her fingertips began to hurt.

“Leyla. Leyla Lewellin.”

"Uncle! Uncle Bill! Uncle!"

Leyla's voice rang out within the forest.

Bill was sitting in front of the cabin shed. He turned his head puzzled at Leyla's panicked call. Leyla rushed towards him with a dead red face.

"What's the problem?"

“A- There's a man in the woods! He's tall!"

Despite the shortness of breath, Leyla was about to explain her encounter with the stranger.

“You must have met the Duke who is out hunting.”

Bill retaliated while taking his equipment from the warehouse.

“Hair is black and eyes are very blue. His voice is as light as a feather.”

“That Duke Herhardt without error.”

Bill growled while laughing. Leyla stood long in front of Bill, trying to catch her breath.

The beautiful yet terrifying man stared at Leyla for quite some time and turned around without saying a word. When he returned to his horse, two other men appeared from within the forest. The man turned his horse to join the other two men as they drove further into the forest. When they were out of sight, Leyla came down from the trees and ran to the cabin.

“Then duke... ..”

When Leyla could say something, the sound of cold gunfire rang out, shaking the tranquility of the forest.

Leyla was surprised and she turned her head towards the voice. Surprised birds emerged from the end of the forest. One of the shocked birds fell into the trees, with its wings drooping helplessly.

The shooting continued for a few more rounds. Bill patted Leyla on the shoulder in an attempt to calm the frightened girl down.

“Leyla.”

Leyla slowly raised her head. As their eyes met, Bill involuntarily held his breath.

The boy was crying.

What a beautiful bird.

That's the title Leyla Lewellin decided to give her.

Everyone on this estate, even Bill Remmer, praised him as the perfect noble. The community seems to care and love Matthias von Herhardt, who has an extraordinary quality as the owner of this land.

But Leyla disagreed.

From the day the duke went hunting, the mother bird disappeared. Newly hatched baby birds are no longer fed by their mothers. Moreover, countless birds were no longer visible.

Why does the duke only hunt small and beautiful birds, not large birds that are meant to be eaten?1

Leyla, who had been observing and suffering for the past month, now seemed to know the reason.

To him, the birds were moving the target.

The smaller the size, the more difficult and interesting it is to aim for. The Duke did not bother to look at the prey he had hit. He turned around just like that after reaching his target. In the days she went hunting, Leyla buried a dead bird covered in blood.2

Wham

The sound of gunfire was heard once again in the distance.