Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
Chapter 21. Time to Become an Adult

“I don't know if I can leave you alone here.”

Bill sighed with a worried face.

“Uncle, you will miss the train if it continues this way.”

Leyla kindly urged him. Bill is convinced of his belief that he can be alone at home, but somehow he feels a little sentimental.

News of the death was sent to the cabin yesterday afternoon. Bill's brother has died. Although the two brothers are not close and have not met for a long time, Bill can not ignore the fact that his brother was once the only family left in the world.

Bill finally decided to take a few days off and travel to his hometown. Going there was no problem for Bill, but leaving little Leyla alone made his heart feel heavy like lead.

“You must make sure the door stays closed. Despite the heat, close the window.”

Bill repeated his words of advice several times since last night.

“Hunting weapons hanging in my room...”.

“I will lock the doors, windows, and move the hunting weapons in your room to my bedside. If bad guys show up, I'll shoot them.”

Leyla calmly spoke the words she often heard.

“I will eat well, sleep well, and stay healthy.”

He'll only be gone for at most three days, but Bill worries about Leyla as if he's going away for months. Bill reluctantly departs, though he still looks worried. Leyla followed him to the entrance of the mansion to escort him away.

“Leyla, did something happen at the party that day?”

Bill asked carefully after taking a glimpse of the magnificent mansion building.

“No, I'm having fun. There's no problem whatsoever. I'm serious.”1

“I'm glad you did…. But somehow, you seemed to distance yourself from Kyle after the party.”

"I? Kyle?”

Leyla laughed as if it made no sense.

"Impossible. It's just.. We're busy lately.”

“Can I trust your words?”

"Yes. Why would I lie like that?”

"That's right. There's no way your relationship with Kyle is awkward. Then Leyla, if you're too scared to be alone, take Kyl…. No-no. Pretend you didn't hear it.”

Bill shook his hand with a serious look.

“He's the most dangerous.”2

“Paman.”

“If he comes, be sure to send him back before sunset. Remembering."

“Stop saying weird things now, please.”

Leyla comforts Bill's back with a warm touch.

Bill looked back a few times and repeated his advice while drifting away across the path of the platanus.

Leyla stayed there for a while until Bill was nowhere to be seen again. Every time she turned around, Leyla smiled and waved her hand.

He was sure the next three days would be a very long time.

“Leyla avoids me.”

Kyle is sure now.

“I think it was because of the party that day.”

The reason is not too difficult to find.

“You think so too? Febe?”

Kyle asked seriously, but Phoebe sat in the window frame pecking at the wheat and pretended not to hear. Kyle sighed deeply as he found himself talking nonsense to the pigeons. Phoebe brought back Leyla's notes today with disappointing news. The note reads that Uncle Bill will be in his hometown for a few days and Leyla plans to be in the library all day so that his cabin will be empty.

He had been receiving messages like this for days. His notes mention he plans to go to his other friend's house; he has an appointment downtown; he's busy helping Bill take care of the garden. At first, she thought it was her consideration to tell him rather than letting him into the cabin in vain when it was actually empty. But right now, all of that seems like an excuse. Bumbling excuse to avoid Kyle Etman.

“I don't blame him. I'll do the same."

Kyle held his head and let out a long sigh.

She proudly declares that she is her partner and promises to protect him. However, he left Leyla alone. After hearing the servant's words that Leyla left him, she ran out of the hall, but she was already gone.

He didn't know why he couldn't get out of there sooner. He told her to wait. He made her wait. He failed to keep his promise.

Kyle nervously walked around the room while Phoebe, who had eaten until she was full, left. Kyle stared at the flying dove and impulsively stormed out of the room.

He doesn't remember how he rode his bike and pedaled. He thought of Leyla while out of breath. By the time his heart nearly exploded thinking of Leyla, Kyle had arrived at the cabin on Arvis' estate. His shoulders moved up and down as he tried to catch his breath under the scorching sun.

White sheets and pillowcases are seen dripping water on the clothesline in the yard. And behind it, there was the shadow of a woman with a gentle and thin body line.

Relieved and desperate, Kyle slowly swept his sweaty hair behind his forehead. Leyla gently showed her face under the covers as if she felt her presence. Her green eyes were rounded as she met a look at him.

“....Kyle.”.

The sweet voice coming out from his lips was enough to make him forget this embarrassing situation.

"I'm sorry."

Kyle, who was sitting in front of the table, fell silent for a long time then sighed. Leyla sat across. As he looked at his fingertips, he suddenly raised his eyes due to Kyle's apology.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

"NO. Don't." Don't."

Leyla shook her head after being surprised.

“I'm the one who's sorry. Sorry I lied for not being home.”

“No, it's because of me. It's all my fault."

"It's not like that. I'm not upset or angry with you. I'm serious, Kyle.”

“Then is there another reason? Why.... you avoid me.. “.

“You know Kyle, I like you as a friend. You guys are like my family. So.... so I think we should advance ourselves now.”

Leyla tried to pull the corner of her lips to smile calmly, but Kyle didn't seem to notice.

Leyla was sincere when she said she wasn't upset or angry at Kyle. But that night, at the dream party, Leyla saw clear boundaries. The line drawn between Kyle and himself that he could not cross just because they were friends.

He already thought that he was not enough to just get along with a son from a smart family. But the gap between his vague thinking and the reality was very cruel.

Heir to a family of highly respected doctors who can easily blend in with the nobility. Kyle Etman whom Leyla saw that day in the duke's enchanting banquet hall, was a man living in a world beyond that sure line. Kyle Etman can no longer be the kid that used to play with Leyla.

Why should a child grow up and become an adult?

That night, as Leyla walked along the path in the dark forest with shoes in her hands, she thought of that clear and pitiful question. And then he decided. To receive time. And accepting the only way he can protect his precious best friend, even in time gone by.

“You know you're talking nonsense, right?”

Kyle opened his lips after a long time. His voice was lower and quieter than usual.

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"NO. I mean it."

“You like me, but why should we part?”

“Thus, we can be good friends for a long time. Kyle, I don't want to lose you.

“You think I want to lose you?”

Kyle's eyes quivered as he looked at Leyla.

“How can we, not others, part? That's impossible, Leyla.”

“Kyle.”

“I will never lose you. I won't even go any further than you. How can you say that?”

Kyle put down his glass and clenched his fists with all his might.

You can't do that, Kyle.

Time to become an adult.

Leyla stood up as she swallowed those thorn-like words.

“Come lunch, Kyle.”

Leyla hurriedly tightened the apron she had taken off earlier.

“As an apology for lying, I will make you a very delicious lunch.”

“Matthias, can't you quit the military and concentrate on your family's work now?”

Riette lay on the sofa while putting down the newspaper she scanned. As he turned his head while yawning, he saw Matthias sitting on a wing chair while reading a book.

“It is not bad to spend several years in the military division.”

Matthias gave a casual answer while turning the page. Even on this scorching summer afternoon, she wore a jacket and tie in her bedroom.

“Well, it is indeed a family tradition Herhardt.”

Riette muttered while stretching in lethargy.

“Matthias von Herhardt will be the most perfect Duke of Arvis, better than any other predecessor.”

While Riette chuckled, the canary that was playing well in the cage suddenly spread its wings. The bird flew lightly and perched on top of the book Matthias was reading.

A gentle smile appeared on Matthias' face as he stared at the chattering bird. The sight was quite astonishing for Riette, who had seen Matthias shoot and kill birds without winking at the hunting grounds for many years.

“I hope the bird is female, Matthias.”

Riette shook her head as she lost her breath.

“If not, I think I will feel disgusted.”

Matthias extended his hand to the bird without answering. The little bird tilted its head from one side to the other then began to gently rub its beak on its fingertips.

“Do you not think so, Claudine?”

Riette turned to Claudine, who was sitting right across from Matthias and Riette. He looked at Matthias and his bird with embroidery in his hand. As he met eyes with Riette, a faint smile was seen on his expressionless face.

“I hear birds that have a melodious voice are usually male sex.”

“Uh. Please, Claudine. Consider it a woman.”

Riette jokingly shuddered.

“It's scary to imagine them interacting like that if they're both male.”

"What's wrong with that? It's just a bird.”

Claudine laughed and picked up the needle to start embroidering it again.

Matthias turned the page only after the bird that bounced on his book moved. He looked unconcerned even as the bird flew about chaotically while patting his hands, shoulders, and head.

“You should wear a light yellow dress at the engagement party, Claudine. Duke Herhardt may love you like that bird.”

"NO."

Claudine replied back without delay.

“I hate yellow.”

After taking a deep breath, she continued sewing.

“It's a bit vulgar.”

His words were accompanied by a hint of ridicule.

A strange smile appeared on Riette's lips. At that moment, he stopped talking about the bird and started babbling about Matthias' military service and the engagement ceremony that was about to take place.

“Our little girl, Claudine, will soon be the woman who defeated the royal princess.”

“I am ashamed of such flattery, Riette.”

Although his eyes frowned, Claudine smiled brightly.

It was common knowledge that Emperor Berg had longed for Duke Herhardt as his son-in-law.

The emperor's love for his youngest daughter was extraordinary. What's more, she is a beautiful woman nicknamed ‘Socialita’ Flower. Claudine, who had underestimated the position of Duchess Arvis since childhood, felt a crisis because of the princess.

But in the end, Claudine won. Of course he won not because of love.

'Matthias doesn't have to do it.'

Herhardt's response to the reason for not being the imperial family's in-laws was summed up in the brief remarks.

Herhardt was a household with history, wealth, and honor that was not inferior to that of the emperor. It is not unreasonable to judge that the complexity of serving the princess outweighs the advantage of having her as a noble. Such arrogance could be understood if placed in front of Herhardt's name.

Thanks to that, Claudine Brandt became the woman who defeated the emperor's daughter. It's obvious why the Herhardt family chose him. She was the only daughter of a prominent noble who had no successor. So the Herhardt family considered Claudine a bride who has a good pedigree and a dowry that is not inferior to the princess. They also did not have to serve Claudine, unlike the royal princess.

When the engagement was held, the name Claudine Brandt was predicted to be placed in a higher position than the emperor's daughter. The thought made Claudine feel she could love everything in this world. Including that vulgar little bird.

“I can't believe your engagement is coming soon. It makes me feel weird.”

Riette sat down and spread her hands.

Claudine, who was calmly staring at Riette, started sewing again casually.