Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 26. Let's Get Married

Spring comes early in Ratz, the capital of the Kingdom of Berg, located in the southernmost province of Carlsbar. The Arvis Plantation began to flower with the coming of May, but the whole city of Ratz was already filled with the sweet scent of roses.

Matthias suddenly remembered the turn of the season as he passed through the garden of the Crown Prince's Palace. He suddenly stopped his steps, and the other officers who were following from behind also stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"NO." Matthias replied briefly, “No.” He smiled slightly, the tip of his lips raised.

A brief silence broke after Matthias stepped back. The young aristocratic guard officers continued chatting while joking. Their faces and voices shone with excitement as they discussed how to spend this beautiful spring weekend and roughly come to a very similar conclusion.

Partied. Horse racing. Alternatively, spring date with a lover.

“Captain we will leave his fiancee and spend a quiet spring.”

The horde of officers giggled as one of their colleagues threw a joke. Matthias just chirped casually and chuckled softly in response to the pranks of his men.

The engagement ceremony between Duke Herhardt and Lady Brandt, held at the end of last summer, was a success. For a few weeks, the couple who have officially got engaged became a warm conversation in the community.

But Matthias did not feel much change from his daily life. A week after her engagement, she was assigned to Berg's army garrison and had to leave for the capital the next day. Meanwhile, Claudine, who had been living in the Arvis area, returned to the Brandt area located in the center of Carlsbar, a metropolitan city that was far from the capital Ratz.

So, nothing has changed from their previous way of life, except the fact that their engagement has been publicized. During the social season, Claudine stays at Brandt's mansion in Ratz for a while. However, it was nothing new to him, as he had previously been a regular visitor to the estate seasonally for some time. In addition, they also attend social events together as they have always done so far.

Things have basically remained the same, except that they now have a definite official status as their respective fiancees, which is the only thing that has changed in their lives.

“I will finish my military service soon. What about you, Matias?”

A fellow attendant who was walking beside him asked a question that drew everyone's attention to Matthias.

“At the moment, I am considering to extend it one more year.”

As soon as he said that, the people around him looked surprised at his shocking answer.

“Are you not going to get married and focus on family business?”

"Wedding? Maybe next year."

“Is it because the warm conversation about Duke Herhardt's marriage has subsided in social circles? So you want to postpone the wedding?”

Matthias flicked his chin instead of answering. Rather than calling it a delay, things are going as they should. He intended to stay in the capital for another year. At the same time, the Brandt family wants their daughter to spend her honeymoon in Arvis with her husband.

When Brandt first requested that the engagement be postponed for another year, Herhardt's family agreed without hesitation.

Given her young age, Claudine does not need to get engaged immediately. And more than anything, both families yearned for this perfect marriage from the start.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Matthias wasted no time in returning to his home.

In terms of age, the old brick house located in the heart of Ratz is the second oldest building among the Herhardt family properties after the Arvis mansion on their property. The mansion served as the family headquarters for generations, as long as they were in charge of the capital's work. The architecture of the house is more simple and classic compared to the house of Arvis, which symbolizes the aesthetic tastes of the hostess.

“Both Madam is here,” reports the waiter while approaching Matthias who just got off the car.

“My mom and grandma?”

“Yes, madam has arrived this morning. They said, “they came here to attend the wedding of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess.”

Matthias nodded his head and slowly entered the mansion.

The princess, whose pride has been shattered after being evicted and losing the seat of Duchess Herhardt, is desperate to find another partner so she can continue the wedding ceremony as planned. After that, the title of his spouse fell to the Grand Duke of the nearby duchy who had the same social standing as the Herhardt family.

“Have long time not met, Matthias!”

Catharina von Herhardt, waiting for Matthias to enter the foyer, greeted her with a bright smile and wide open arms.

“Son, we can only see your face if we come here like this.”

His mother, Elysee, remained the same as always; his approach to his only son was more straightforward.

Matthias approached the two with a warm smile on his face. It was another Saturday afternoon, just like any other day. Just like a rose garden that blooms in early spring.

“The weather tonight is very good, Leyla.”

Kyle approached him with a jolly face after parking his bike. Leyla, who was busy helping Bill clean his wagon in the park, quickly turned to the sound, as did Bill, who was holding a shovel.

"Let's get married."

Kyle shouting.

After hearing it over and over again, her marriage proposal is no longer surprising and sounds more like a good morning greeting every day these days. After taking a short pause, Leyla and Bill casually returned to work on their work.

“Halo, Kyle.”

Leyla greeted him cheerfully while carrying the rest of the planted seedlings.

“I won't marry.”

Leyla spoke in a friendly tone afterwards, emphasizing her firm rejection of her proposal.

Sighs.

Bill breathed. He seemed to feel the pain of Kyle's heartbreak. But instead, Kyle seemed unfazed by Leyla's constant refusal. She just smiled gently and offered to help him without being asked.

“Alright, I will accept your rejection today. Then, I'll ask you again tomorrow.”

"Enough. Don't ask again.”

“No, I'll keep asking. Someone's mind must have changed.”

With the way he behaved, it was no exaggeration to say that Kyle's shameless and stubborn spirit was probably the most formidable in the entire Berg kingdom.

Bill tried to maintain his flat face while looking at Kyle and Leyla while trying to hold back his laughter.

Kyle Etman started proposing at the end of the summer, and stayed on until the season changed several times.

When Bill first learned that Kyle had proposed to Leyla, he believed it was most likely caused by one of two possible causes. Either the boy is drunk, considering he can't drink well, or he's crazy. That's why Bill didn't hit him on the head with a shovel. But the next day, Kyle appeared again with a very sane face and repeated the same thing.

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'How many times has it been since?'

Kyle stopped by the lodge without missing a single day throughout the fall, winter, and even this spring, saying the same thing every time. Just to be rejected on every visit.

'How about sending Leyla to college?'

Said Dr. Etman visited Bill at his cottage last fall.

Suddenly Bill's heart sank like a gloomy chimney. Even if he wished Leyla could continue his studies to a higher level, his current state, where he was forced to live resignedly, prevented him from doing so. When he replied hesitantly, 'I can't afford it.' Dr's Face. Etman was beaming with smiles. He continued.

'If our children have feelings for each other and want to be a couple, it would be nice if they get married and send them to college together.'

Bill stared blankly at the doctor in surprise. He did not believe what he heard, although he was very happy with the offer.

To him, Leyla was the most extraordinary child in the world. However, he soon realized that the whole world had its own standards that he could not understand. One of them was about the social status of the Etman family in Carlsbar society, something he had not understood at all.

Dr. Etman seemed to understand his confusion, therefore, he spoke first.

'Kyle said that Leyla was the only person who could bring out her best side, so she wanted to live by his side as a good person for him.'

Bill was quite surprised, when he learned that the boy who spent most of his time lazing in his cottage and filling his stomach with free food had said such a thing to his father.

'That is a very sincere thought that comes from young children who are still teenagers.'

'But Doctor, Leyla is….'

Bill was silent, but Dr.'s expression. Etman became more friendly.

'I do not require that his future wife come from a rich family or have a perfect education, because I know that Leyla is a good child even though she does not have such privileges.'

He said it with a smiling face similar to his son.

'If Kyle doesn't change his mind until he decides his career path next year, I want to allow them to be together. What about you, Mr Remmer?'

Deep down, Bill Remmer was on cloud nine and felt grateful that he was willing to hold Dr. Etman—which he regards as a human-shaped angel— on his back and runs across Carlsbar or even the entire Berg. Principality. No matter how tired her physical condition was; Bill would be able to endure it whenever he imagined Leyla's happy face before him.

That's his true feeling.

Kyle's foolish proposal might end up being a blessing in disguise for Leyla.

Bill threw the shovel into the warehouse because he had decided to do something about the matter.

“Oh, Matthias. You know Dr.'s son. Etman, right?

Elysee von Herhardt lowered his voice amid the boring talk about the princess' marriage. There were only the two of them at the spacious dining table, enjoying their blue plate dinner since Catharina had already gone to bed earlier that night.

"Yes mother." Matthias nodded calmly, putting the glass of water he had been drinking on the table. “Kyle Etman's. Single son Dr. Etman.”

"You're right. That kid, Kyle, he's getting married.”

His voice sounds sharp. It became a sign that the woman who became Kyle Etman's companion was an unwelcome figure. But Matthias remained silent, patiently waiting for his mother to finish her story.

“She's an orphan raised by our gardener, otherwise her name is Leyla.”

'Leyla.'

Matthias muttered, with no sound coming out of his lips.

“For me, it seems that she will not meet the criteria of the Etman family as their future daughter-in-law.”

His throat felt a little choked when he heard his mother say his name.

“That's funny, isn't it?” Matthias then gave a gentle answer. “Sadly, all of Grandma's efforts to find her a good partner were in vain.”

His voice was a bit tense for some reason.

Matthias gave no further response, but Elysee enthusiastically told the story of Kyle Etman's marriage, which has recently been spotted on Arvis' estate.

Mrs Etman is upset by Kyle's decision to marry Leyla as she has struggled for years to secure a title from her family-in-law, which she now cannot get due to her son's choice. However, it seems that she was actually let down by the wishes of her husband and son.

If all goes according to plan, rumor has it that Leyla will marry the doctor's child and continue her education. After their honeymoon in Ratz, they go to college together.

After the next summer has passed. Shortly after the rose season.

“Grandmother must have been heartbroken. He adored Dr.'s son. Etman.”

"Yes. He should." Matthias put down his cutlery and took the napkin on the table with his alabaster hand.

“I feel sorry for Ms. Etman. She was the wife of an esteemed doctor, more than them, who was of noble status. But she lost her hard-earned social status due to her silly daughter-in-law.” Elysee took a sip of wine to moisten his lips. “What kind of nobleman wants to befriend a wife who takes a lowly orphan as her son-in-law?”

“The situation may change.”

Matthias straightened his posture and turned to face his mother.

“Because they are not married.”

“Alright, Matthias, if things could be changed, Mrs Etman wouldn't be so depressed like this. As you know, Dr. Etman is a persistent person and most importantly, Kyle is very fascinated with that orphan boy.”

Elysee flicked his tongue, expressing his sympathy to the doctor's wife who was currently almost ostracized by the community.

“She's a very pretty girl. It was a troublesome reason why his son could not stay away from him.”

As he rang the bell, the waiters began to serve dessert on the table.

“I don't believe the girl is able to overtly take over Bu Etman's position. He's really weird. No, should I say she's smart?” Elysee shrugged his shoulders lightly and stuffed the dessert fork into his mouth. “Actually, it makes no sense to blame him alone. The dumbest is Bu Etman's son, who was blinded by a girl and humiliated his entire family.”

After being content to joke around and reach the desired conclusion, Elysee von Herhardt finally changed the topic of his conversation.

Now, he again raised the topic of his social life, in which there are a myriad of famous and uninteresting names.

Matthias, on the contrary, remained deafening silent while listening to his hum.

'Leyla.'

The name was ringing at the end of his tongue, like the taste of a mouthful of wine that left a sweet mark on his body.

Leylas.

Leyla Lewellin's.