Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 35. what thieves steal

From a few days earlier, the name Leyla Lewellin was again heard on the tongues of Arvis workers. This time with a very different story.

Now, the outline is; 'The gardener's lodge has been robbed.'

The news spread quickly throughout the Manor like wildfire. The incident was met with public doubt. Few believe that a thief dared to steal from Duke Herhardt's estate. Only until they see Bill Remmer half-dazed looking for the culprit do they believe the robbery actually happened.

Matthias left the Mansion at the peak of the commotion. The scheduled time had arrived, and he had to leave now so as not to be late for lunch.

He was not the kind of person to take part in gossip talk, feeling something different as he passed through the entrance of the Arvis house flanked by Platanus trees.

From across the street, police officers on horseback were walking towards the scene. Matthias did not even need to make any logical assumptions as to where they would go as the route would take them to the Arvis forest.

“They said there was a thief who broke into the gardener's house.”

The intelligent adjutant answered first before Matthias could open his mouth to ask.

“At home Bill Remmer?”

“Yes, she is in big trouble because the funds she set aside for her daughter's college fees were stolen.”

Picklock.

Educational expenses.

Leylas.

Matthias tilted his head to one side, happily repeating the three syllables.

As his vehicle came out of the shade of Platanus, he recalled his unpleasant encounter with a foreign man on the Schulter River this morning.

The man introduces himself as Daniel Rayner, Ny's cousin. Etmanl. He was in the neighborhood visiting Etman's house and stopped by the Estate to congratulate Leyla.

The next few speeches were full of nonsense; the investment firm he ran, overseas mining rights, stock markets, and other business-related affairs. But most of it has been spilled and now it's just a stain on Matthias' mind.

But Matthias recalled some details about the event. His watch showed at nine in the morning when he met a middle-aged man drenched in sweat by the river bank.

It felt strange for a wealthy middle-class businessman who would bother coming just to congratulate his cousin's future son-in-law at such an early time.

But Matthias didn't take issue with it because it was irrelevant to him. He thought the thought was only a momentary attraction until he heard a ludicrous report of a thief sneaking into the gardener's lodge.

Butwhy?

As a civilized businessman, sneaking into Arvis to steal a gardener's money seems to be the wrong course of action, no matter how bad the financial situation may be. If he were her, Matthias would steal from his wealthy cousin's house instead.

“Linda Etman.”

He was ready to stop thinking of such an absurd idea when he muttered the name without even realizing it.

After she inserted Linda Etman's name between the man and Leyla, Matthias was able to draw a very reasonable line of connection between the three of them.

He's just second-guessing. However, it is interesting how well the puzzle pieces are put together.

The car finally stopped in front of the hotel, where his lunch appointment would take place. Before stepping out, Matthias issued a short order to his assistant.

“Forever..”.

"Yes sir."

“Find out about Daniel Rayner. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

The food at the dining table was barely touched, but it was hard to get up from the table where Bill and Kyle used to eat together.

Leyla, who knew the cause, secretly cleaned the table.

Leaving his half-eaten plate, Bill Remmer headed straight for the terrace and lit a cigarette. Ever since the thieves entered, the atmosphere in their hut lost its spirit.

“It's okay, Leyla.”

Kyle spoke carefully as he helped her. Leyla's hardworking hand paused for a moment, and she lifted her emerald eyes to look into Leyla's eyes.

“The thief, I'm sure we can catch him.”

“Even if we can't catch him, don't worry about his school fees. My father said that he will also pay you.”

“Kyle.”

“Do not try to say no. My father wanted to pay for it from the beginning. But Uncle Bill was so stubborn that my father gave up.” Kyle emphatically argues, “Married means to be family, Leyla. It's not about debt, it's about helping each other. Isn't that how a family should be?”

Leyla lowered her gaze, stood still and finally nodded her head slowly. His face becomes very thin in a matter of days, sparking Kyle's hatred towards the robbers who have ruined the peace of the forest.

“ Anyway, just in case, let's think about how to catch the thief first.”

Kyle expressed his optimism by saying, even though he knew the chances of catching the thief were very small. Leyla smiled faintly.

“...Thank you, Kyle.”

"thank you? What have I done?”

"For everything…"

Again, a grin appeared on his lips, but his smiling face made Kyle's heart feel heavy.

Kyle vividly remembered the tinge of happiness plastered on Leyla's face as he imagined coming to the Capital with Uncle Bill. Although Uncle Bill downplayed his trip by claiming that it was to pay for his tuition, in fact, it was their first Family Vacation.

Uncle Bill couldn't express his excitement well, due to his outspoken personality, but no doubt, he was very happy to travel with Leyla, to the point that he teased her, and stated that he would be an excellent guide for her from then on. This would be his second visit to Ratz.

Places to visit, food to try, and activities to do together are mandatory. Kyle was almost jealous of Uncle Bill who witnessed how charming Leyla was when she spoke excitedly and indistinctly with him.

But the thief ruined everything.

Even if they could get their money back, Leyla and Uncle Bill could not travel happily, and Kyle could do nothing.

He looked at Kyle, who was sitting next to him before he went back to sucking on a cigar. Depression has been eating away at him for the past few days. Within him, a burning hatred for the thief began to appear, until he devised hundreds of different methods to kill people.

After a moment of silence, he spoke.

“That's all my fault.”

Her voice choked.

“I left a lot of money at home, but did not lock the door properly.”

“You are innocent. Who would have thought someone would dare to steal on the Arvis Estate?”

“The payment time limit is next week, and I am not sure if the thief will be caught before that.”

“Don't worry about that. If there had been no progress in catching the thief before then, my father said that he would have paid Leyla's tuition as well. I already told Leyla about this.”

Kyle's radiant face made Bill Remmer's eyes sink into a deep well.

“I'll call the Police tomorrow. I'll ask our Officer's acquaintance to properly investigate this case.”

“Thank you Kyle, I owe everything to your family.”

“I feel bad hearing it, I haven't even paid half the price of the food I've eaten so far.”

With his ingenuity, Bill can smile a little, even though his smile is weak.

“Please express my gratitude to your parents. Ah no, please tell them I will visit them after this problem is finished?” He squeezed Kyle's shoulder as he said so.

Kyle nodded, preventing him from saying, ‘It shouldn't.’ He doesn't know the reason, but he has unexplained feelings about Bill Remmer.

Kyle also did not want to offend him in any way.

Duke's house has two study rooms.

The study room on the second floor was a spacious room containing books that rivaled the scale of a public library. The second room, located at the end of the third floor next to the master bedroom, was smaller in size.

The library, which contains mostly historical, political, and economic books, has been used by the Duke of Herhardt for generations as a place to receive guests and hold business meetings.

Duke Matthias von Herhardt.

Mark Evers, Duke's aide, rushed towards the office on the third floor. He looks attractive.

She has been an Assistant to Matthias ever since she fully matured. But never once did the Duke give him orders in such haste as now.

During this time, Matthias always presented him with a picture of a relaxed Master with a relaxed attitude. But shortly after, he realized it. Perhaps, it was because there was nothing under the skies of the Berg Kingdom that could make Duke Herhardt gasp in the slightest.* (Very excited or impatient to do something)

Matthias von Herhardt was an influential man.

He has it all.

And everything he does goes as smoothly as the whistle.

Mark Evers thinks the generosity and kindness of his Master comes from there.

His calm wolf-like predator personality made him feel the air moving slowly whenever he was around Matthias. It was Duke Herhardt, whom he knew.

Therefore, when Matthias added the term 'ASAP' to his order, Mark Evers had a chance to question his ears. After his brain was processed hard, he quickly became impatient and frantically began to investigate Daniel Rayner.

“Master, this is Evers.”

Mark Evers ran into the Duke's Office on the third floor and knocked on the door. A light source shone through the door plate, but no answer came from behind the closed frame.

In other words, it means 'Yes'.

He slowly opened the door and entered the office. Matthias was leaning against the spacious leather sofa. The night was bright, yet she was still wearing the formal attire of her previous meeting with her business partner.

“It's about Daniel Rayner, as you requested.”

Mark Evers politely placed the file folder he carried on the table.

Matthias took his hand off his temple and took the document; he then began to turn the page. His attitude, attentively observing the papers in his hands, was clearly an attitude that Duke Herhardt Mark Evers knew.

But the peace was short-lived, and Mark Evers soon fell into a dire situation.

Matthias was heartbroken when he reached the last page of his reading. He doesn't understand why misadventures toyed with Daniel Rayner; lured by foreign mining investments but tricked, then arrested and forced to give up his house as collateral, he invests a large sum of money and ends up in Queer Street*. (T/N: In difficulty, usually due to debt)

What a heartbreaking loss!

“Daniel Rayner, looks like she has paid off her entire bank debt recently.”

Matthias folded the documents in his hand. One of his lips curled upwards. Her expressionless face was quite gentle, but as she giggled as if comforting, she described herself as a cold-hearted person.

"Yes sir. I'd like to report it to you. He did not pay off his entire balance, but the amount was large enough to save his home from foreclosure. It happened this afternoon, therefore, I can not put it in the report.”

“The amount of money must be from Etman.” Matias said. He continued,

“Linda Etman.”

Matthias spoke the name slowly and encouraged the Bronx.

“So, what should I...”.

"good job. Contact Hessen.”

Instead of responding, Matthias gave another order instead.

Although he looked confused, Mark Evers followed the call, and he did not ask anything