Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 46, when our Eyes meet

The chatty and loud children who had laughed until their ears hurt turned out to be calm as they entered the pavilion. Their eyes sparkled with excitement as they looked around the house but did not dare to joke and play around like before.

Leyla had to calm down the frightened Monica first, so she was the last person to enter the pavilion, and the servants welcomed the young guests of the Duke with the same treatment they gave to the VIP guests.

"Please get through here."

One of the servants immediately escorted the waiting children from the living room to the living room. Inside, Matthias was sitting there with his back facing the window facing the river—he had been waiting for them to arrive.

Leyla held her breath as she walked to a place filled with bad, humiliating, and humiliating memories.

“Thank you very much for your kindness allow us to visit Arvis, Duke.”

Mrs Grever was very grateful to her, and her spirit made Leyla feel at ease. He hoped that his teacher friend would take on the role of Duke's speaker, so that he could sit quietly like the furniture of the room and leave the place when the pleasantries were over.

“Instead, I must thank all of you for accepting my sudden invitation.”

Matthias greeted them as he rose from his seat. The background light of the window made a shadow cover his face, but it strengthened the impression of his presence.

“Teacher... hurts.”.

Monica's whisper shocked Leyla who was staring blankly at her silhouette.

"My hand is hurt."

Monica groans in pain. Leyla's eyes widened when she realized she was grasping the child's hand too tightly.

"Ah sorry. I'm sorry, Monica.”

He massaged Monica's wrist in a panic, and at that moment, the door opened to a balcony overlooking the river bank.

The smell of fresh water came from the open door. Leyla turned around facing the sight. A luxurious tea table set up on the sun-drenched terrace and a white tablecloth that swung gently followed the wind, caught his attention in an instant.

"Let's go."

Matthias' gaze went from Leyla to Ny. Grevers. The teacher received his escort by lightly putting his hand on his arm with flushed cheeks.

The astonished children who had never experienced a tetime like this, happily followed Duke with excited expressions on their faces. Leyla walks with Monica behind her and becomes the last person to head to the balcony.

“Wah, Teacher! I feel like a princess!”

As she walked to the balcony, Monica rolled her eyes, and her innocent face shone with admiration. Leyla couldn't argue with the boy's praise, as the wide variety of brightly colored snacks served on the balcony table seemed quite appetizing. It was amazing to think how quickly they prepared everything.

He saw a bouquet of Baby breath flowers, and red daisies adorned the center of the table. There were beautiful silver tea cups and cutlery on the table, too many for the school children in the countryside. And the scenic beauty of the Schulter River behind the fence is the perfect spot for their lunch.

The sunlight hit his slender glasses frame and broke out like shrapnel. Matthias' eyes explored the shards of light…

The river flows blue in jewels….Princess sky—Sun is bright white…

And….A sea of trees, under a garland of red and gold.

In the autumn moment in Arvis, when all the beautiful colors of nature are seen most vividly,

Their eyes meet….

Monica was so happy. He constantly thought about how beautiful the pavilion was, how handsome the duke was, and the delicious cakes he ate. The child could not help but praise everything.

“Woaaa!”

This time, the boy was lured by a scoop of ice cream. His eyes sparkled as he looked at the ice cream dish, and he hurriedly extended his hand to Leyla who was sitting beside him.

Leyla stared in surprise, and Monica whispered,

“Teacher, it feels like a cloud.”

Leyla blinked a few times before catching what the boy wanted to say. With a smile he took a napkin and gently rubbed Monica's lips to clean the ice cream stains on her lips.

Monica just started school this year. She is physically smaller than her friends, a timid cat, and still a shy girl. Her introverted nature makes it difficult to socialize with other children. She used to cry, wanting to go home every day. And for the first few weeks, Leyla had an uphill battle to deal with the child.

Now, however, he was Leyla's best student among her classmates. After learning that Monica's mother died of illness last spring, Leyla has a deeper understanding of the child's heart.

“Teacher, you should try it too.”

“No, Monika. Teacher is fine.”

Leyla hesitated for a moment. But he firmly rejected it. Although there was no law prohibiting adults from eating ice cream, she did not want to look childish in front of Duke by eating ice cream prepared only for children.

Leyla took another sip of the half-cold tea while eavesdropping on the conversation at the ongoing table. Mrs Grever led the conversation in a cheerful manner, as she wished.

Meanwhile, while removing the weight of her mind, Leyla glanced at Matthias, who was sitting on the head seat. He listened to Mrs. Grever was attentive. His short reply and smile showed perfect politeness. Surprisingly, by showing such a perfect change, others can feel its dominance and clarity in the relationship. All of his gestures were haughty yet graceful at the same time.

Like a researcher, he watched Matthias closely as Monica suddenly stood up and approached him with a bowl of ice cream.

“Teacher... teacher! This ice cream is delicious. Please try it?”

As her tiny hand pulled on her sleeve, Leyla flinched and pulled her back. Monica dropped the ice cream bowl and it splattered all over her skirt. The loud commotion attracted the attention of everyone sitting at the table to her.

“I, sorry, teacher!”

Monica paled as the bowl fell onto the wooden floor, covering her teacher's skirt with ice cream. Tears slowly came out of his eyes.

“Do not cry, teacher is fine.”

Leyla smiled and immediately wiped the ice cream with a napkin to calm the child down. Meanwhile, the servants immediately contacted them and rushed to wipe the wet floor.

Leyla became confused after seeing her sticky hands and her stained skirt. Seeing that, Matthias pointed towards the servant standing nearby and he hurriedly escorted Leyla to the dressing room.

Monica almost cries when Leyla leaves the terrace, but luckily Bill Remmer calms her down. At the same time, Mark Evers quietly approached.

“Duke, Count Klein wants to call you.”

The more she rubbed it, the ice cream stain on her skirt grew bigger and more stubborn.

He carefully turned off the gold sink faucet and checked his reflection in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed red due to her futile efforts of removing ice cream stains from her skirt.

She tidied up her drooping hair and took a breath before leaving the dressing room. Not long after that he again tensed up, his stomach feeling heavy as he watched Duke leaning against the wall of the hallway towards the living room. Matthias looked at him, smiling as he gasped.

'Shoppers.'

A wrinkle appeared on his face, and he looked around. There was no one else here, and his mind was spinning, worried about what would happen next.

'Don't tell me he's been waiting for me….'

After a few minutes had passed, he remained standing there, indifferently staring at her. A grin slipped out from the corner of his lips, a quipped grin that would never be known to those who praised him as a perfect noble. And every time she smiled like that, Leyla knew something bad was going to happen to her.

Bad feelings rule him. He gulped, his trembling hands clenched, waiting for the man to step aside. However Leyla decided not to waste time which would lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

Without letting go of his vigilance, he took a cautious step forward. Matthias, who was still leaning against the wall, continued to stare at him. And as soon as he approached, he blatantly stood in the middle of the corridor.

Seeing him flinch in fear and retreat from him, Matthias' laughter grew louder.

After a brief phone call from Count Klein, for no particular reason, he went in the opposite direction instead of returning to the balcony. He just wanted to wait for her because she had not returned yet. Just in case something interesting happens to her. Exactly as it is today.

Leyla approached him with a flat face, as if walking towards the battlefield. He intended to avoid it, but the passageway was unable to.

As he walked right beside her, Matthias slightly stuck out his legs. Leyla reflexively retreated.

'Dodging!'

But his excitement soon turned to shame when he just pretended to move to change his posture. He now looked like a rabbit jumping around foolishly in front of the upright and graceful Duke.

Matthias sneered and turned around as if nothing had happened. Alone in the hall, Leyla remained silent until she entered the living room and was no longer visible.

A liar—He would definitely be branded that way if he told everyone about Duke Herhardt's unreasonable personality.

'NO.'

Leyla put those thoughts aside and walked into the living room. On reaching the balcony, he saw her acting normal, like an exemplary man. He had a warm conversation with her. Grever, and a smile never left his face.

“Oh, welcome back, Miss Lewellin!”

Mrs Grever was happy when she came back.

“Come boating!”

“Boating?”

“Duke said he would lend his yacht to our children. Isn't it nice to take a boat on that beautiful river?”

“Uhm... But I...”.

Leyla looked at her uncle with a worried look, and Bill stepped forward.

“I'm sorry, Duke, but Leyla is so scared of water. It will be difficult for him to get on board.”

"Ah. So so."

Matthias pretended to be saddened by the story, even though he had seen him drown in the same river a year ago.

“Then Ms. Lewellin, you can rest here.”

'He... Why is he showing such attention now?'

While her husband's unexpected worries baffle her, the children run away from the balcony, accompanied by the Duke's maid.

“Yes, Miss Lewellin. I'll go, so you can stay here.”

“Yes, don't worry, Leyla. I'll take care of those little kids.”

Bill smiled and took Monica's hand from Leyla's. The boy was terrified and wanted to cry every time he saw Bill, but he was suddenly willing to follow him.

“Thank you, Mr. Grever and Uncle Bill too.”

Leyla was embarrassed but grateful for their kindness. They were good people, unlike the enigmatic Duke. Moreover, he also felt lucky to be able to stay away from the Duke.

However, as he waited, Matthias did not rise from his seat.

He gave her a confused look.

Matthias remained seated in his chair even after everyone had left. He then realized that Duke canoeing with the village children would be even stranger.

Realizing that she had made a difficult choice, Leyla jumped out of her seat. The two boats carrying the children had already left the boat hangar downstairs and headed towards the river. The waiters tirelessly paddled while Uncle Bill and Mrs. Grever watches the kids on a different boat.

"Teacher! The teacher! The teacher!"

The children laughed and waved at him, who was standing behind the fence.

“Teacher, I'll be back!”

Even the shy Monica grinned in excitement.

He could no longer pursue his children. He was engrossed in despair when a sound as cold as the river breeze, suddenly broke the silence.

"Sit down."

Leyla flinched back. Matthias was looking at him with his legs crossed.

“Leyla.”

He smiled, calling out his name as if he was humming to a rhythm