Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 45. Princess Master

“...A-Is that person the father of our teacher?”

Stuttering, the little boy blinked his eyes nervously.

"Lied! He is not at all like our teacher!”

A little girl— smaller than the boy whined and the other children who were crowding behind Leyla, reacted the same: their eyes opened wide in fear as soon as Bill Remmer appeared before them.

Bill was bored by their not-so-exceptional reaction. He dislikes rowdy kids, but Leyla specifically asks him to take his time to guide the kids who come for a picnic in the Arvis forest for a day. But he already felt that this was not an easy job.

“Kids, Uncle Bill is a good person.”

Leyla smiled as she comforted her students. The shy little girl some time ago came back crying after Bill showed her a big smile.

“Job! I didn't do anything..”.

"Uncle!"

Leyla immediately silenced Bill's abusive mockery and knelt down in front of the crying child. Unable to smile or frown, Bill could only stare at the tiny creature with a face full of question marks.

“Uncle Bill is a very nice guy and he will take us around the forest today.”

The sobbing child in her arms stopped crying, and Leyla continued her praiseworthy explanation.

“We will study the flowers and trees in the forest with Uncle Bill. Isn't that fun?”

The children seemed to disagree with his teacher's words, but they reluctantly nodded at the same time.

'What a cry!'

Bill scratched his head and started leading. Leyla and the children quickly followed in his footsteps.

“In retrospect, I thought you were the same age as those kids when I first met you.”

Bill's stiff lips softened as flashbacks of memories flooded his mind.

“Eh, Uncle. These children are all under ten years old.” reply Leyla, with a pouting face. “I was 11 years old then, and will soon be 12 years old.”

Bill joked when he said that, but Leyla took it seriously and she hit back by telling him her age like she did when she first came to Arvis.

"Hehehe.."

Bill chuckled, remembering that day. Leyla, her little girl who had not liked to be labeled 'small', had now grown into a beautiful woman.

It was 1 o'clock past a bit when Matthias returned to the Estate.

The car passed through the mansion and headed towards the riverside pavilion. The driver and his aide were initially confused by the shocking order, but soon understood when they remembered that it was a picnic day for rural school children. This kind of charity event was basically the duty of the hostess, but there was no reason to exclude the Duke from participating.

Bright flashes of sunlight reflected off the trees and shone on the bushes as the car drove through the forest towards the riverbank. The splendor of the forest is colored with red and orange colors and the sparkling of the original river with the scales of radiant water into a natural fence that surrounds both sides of the road.

Arvis is a place that offers beautiful views all year round, but the period with the most beautiful beauty by far is autumn.

Matthias stared at the beautiful scenery that looked like a movie scene with a strange feeling.

Arvis, to his knowledge, was either a green summer or a quiet snowy winter. In the spring of the twelfth year, he inherited the title of Duke after the death of his father. And the following summer, she enrolled in a school in the capital. From then on, he spent spring and autumn in Ratz and summer and winter in Carlsbar, living a life divided between the two cities.

“Duke, it's been a long time since you spent the fall in Carlsbar, hasn't it?”

The driver who was watching Matthias while looking out the window, asked cautiously.

"Yes that's right."

Matthias nodded with an autumn smile as he recalled the memories of his eleven-year-old fall. A very long time had passed, yet his life seemed almost no different between then and now.

He was raised as the heir of the family from his birth and was groomed to succeed his father as Duke of Herhardt. It was a life that had been mapped before; only its turn came sooner than planned. And the same circle will apply to Herhardt's future heir, who will be owned by him and Claudine. Just like his life, which is parallel to his father's life.

Matthias turned his gaze away from the car window where an unfamiliar autumn scene unfolded. The car stopped immediately at the pavilion dock. When the driver opened the back seat door, he was greeted with laughter and children talking.

After getting out of the car, Matthias looked towards the voice. The little ones he saw this morning were walking cheerfully along the riverbank. The gardener followed them, and….. Leylas. His bright smile resembled the autumn sun.

Their eyes met each other as he looked away from the children. She wore a wide lace-collared top and a red maple skirt. Her teacher's clothes looked good, but everything about her was clumsy.

Matthias buttoned his suit and walked towards the autumn sunshine.

"Oh. Is that Duke Herhardt?”

Madam Grever asked, surprised as she looked at Matthias who was approaching them. She is the mother of two children and the homeroom teacher of the upper class.

“Yes God, this is the first time I've seen him this close! He is even more handsome than the picture in the newspaper!”

He muttered in an excited tone, not giving Leyla a chance to answer.

Mrs Grever's carefree reaction made Leyla aware of Duke Herhardt's important reputation. Residents admired and respected him, whose face was often featured in publications. But in his eyes, Matthias Von Herhardt was nothing more than a psychopath.

“Omong-by the way, Miss Lewellin..”.

Madame Grever was about to speak when Matthias stood in front of them.

“Halo, Duke.”

Bill who was busy fighting with the children hurriedly approached them and greeted him which also made Mrs. Grever is coming. Still upset by her jerkiness last weekend, Leyla belatedly lowered her head.

'Fuck! I should have thrown the tubers at him!”

He walked home from the greenhouse that day with a bad feeling. Even if he could rewind time, he wouldn't dare to commit such brash actions~ That's what he had to tell himself to temper his frustration.

Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thank you

Matthias asked nicely as Leyla raised her head. His courteous, graceful, and courteous manner astonished him. He seems to be a very different person.

The impression of 'Other People' towards Duke Herhardt will always be like this.'

That insight amazed him.

“Le... Leyla?”

A confused Bill patted his back.

"Hmm? Ah... Yes, Duke.”

Leyla quickly regained her senses and took a perfect standing position, clasping her hands under the navel. He decided not to get angry for failing to throw the tubers at him. He sets out to prove to Duke that he has polished himself into a good adult, no longer like a jungle boy he can just disturb.

Leyla introduced Ms. Grever to him professionally. He also patiently explained to the children who were wondering who the Duke of Herhardt was. Leyla decides to follow her children's love for her, even though she disagrees with most of their words. If he had to tell the truth about how bad he was, he would have to use harsh words that no child should hear.

“Thank you so much for allowing us autumn picnics, Duke.”

Leyla stood confidently before him, with her shoulders straight and chin slightly raised, proud of her appearance.

“Bless you, kids have fun.”

He also placed a gentle emphasis on the term 'children' to reinforce his position as a teacher.

"really?"

Matthias' lips slightly lifted as he spoke.

“People having fun seems to be Miss Lewellin.”

"… sorry?"

Matthias remained silent hearing his question. She just laughed looking at Madam Grever's confused expression and said goodbye to Ny. Grever and the children with his polite personality were able to cover up his deviant personality.

Matthias, his aide, and the driver then turned around and left the scene. Leyla stood silently watching their backs as they approached the riverside pavilion. She completely lost her understanding of his words until Ny. Grever gave him the answer.

“Um... Miss Lewellin..”.

"Yes!"

"Your head…"

"Hmm?"

A little shy, Miss. Grever pointed over his head.

"Head? What's wrong with my head..”.

Leyla's bewildered face wrinkled as she felt the soft touch of flowers and grass leaves on her head.

Flower crown!

There was a crown of flowers adorning his head. Monica, her youngest and closest student, has put up a wreath of wildflowers she made just like Uncle Bill taught her.

Mrs Grever felt bad for not telling her. “I was about to tell you, but Duke Herhardt suddenly came.”

Leyla has a stone face. He could not speak and just blinked.

'So I pretended to act like an adult while wearing this.'

Shame rules him. He almost shouted the swear words that Uncle Bill often said if not for the children.

“It's okay, Guru.”

Monica, the child who gave Leyla the crown of flowers, encouraged her lovingly.

"You look beautiful! Like a princess."

The other children agreed with Monica and nodded their heads together.

Ha ha ha ha

Leyla seemed to know very well why Uncle Bill was laughing out loud. If one could die from shame, he would be willing to fall into a deep sleep on this beautiful autumn day.

“No need to be humiliated.” Bill happily patted her back. “It's just a little embarrassing, but it doesn't mean you committed a crime or anything like that.”

Hearing her words that were not soothing at all, Leyla's cheeks flushed red like a ripe apple. Then, suddenly, an even worse ordeal hit him.

"Trs. Remember that! Miss Lewellin!”

Mark Evers, who had just left with Duke, returned with a bright smile.

“Duke has invited kids on picnics to his pavilion. He wanted to have tea with everyone. Of course, with both teachers and you too, Mr. Remmer.”

“Waaaaaaaa!”

The child's frenzied cheer resounded throughout the forest. Mrs Grever's jaw was agape, and Bill didn't seem to hate Duke's invitation.

Amidst everyone's excitement, Leyla stared blankly at the sky, grabbing the flowers that adorned her head.

He knew shame couldn't kill someone, but he prayed at least shame could bring him down.

Leyla pleaded solemnly, but her mind was as clear as the dazzling autumn sky