Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 5

Standing in front of the main gate of Gillis Women's Academy, Kyle Etman's whereabouts were as natural as the school's street lights. He's here again. The female students thought as they glanced towards the young man waiting.

Kyle looked towards the gate and smirked cunningly. He could see a young woman dragging her bicycle from afar. Kyle could recognize who the woman was through her graceful and dashing steps.

But it wasn't just the way he walked that he could recognize the girl.

His face was always filled with a rich expression and his movements were soft and delicate.

His whole existence was everything to him. There is no other girl like Leyla and she is aware of it since they met in summer it— under the shade of willow tree.4

“Leyla!

Leyla stopped when she heard someone calling her name excitedly. He squinted his eyes at the man who approached him.

Kyle loved those moments.

As the girl's footsteps grew faster after she recognized who she was. When the girl came to him and smiled gently at him.

“Why are you here again? It will be more convenient for you to meet in the cabin.”

“No. Besides I have a lot of time.”

That's lies. To get home from school with Leyla, she leaves the members of her tennis club. Although his senior might have been waiting for him with a commotion the next day, Kyle was not worried at the moment.

Tomorrow's problems must be solved tomorrow. It'll all be resolved.1

The two students walked side by side on a busy street. They bought ice cream while passing through the shopping area. They stopped by a bookstore that smelled of dust.

Leyla laughed often. Other than Uncle Bill, Kyle Etman believes he's the only one in the world who knows how often Leyla laughs in front of him and how beautiful his smile is.

As they entered the road leading to the Arvis region, the wind grew cooler. Leyla's eyes deepened as their conversation led to the school exam. There was a hint of despair in his eyes when geometry was mentioned. Kyle meticulously observed the small changes to his facial expression.

Haven't.

Kyle held back the pounding words that almost came out of his mouth. He did not want their relationship to become uncomfortable due to his hasty confession. She then wondered if it was necessary to ask her out on a date with him when she was already thinking of marrying him.

Leyla Etman's. Sounds fine. That's good.3

"Why are you laughing?"

Leyla asked him while frowning. He complained about his class' difficulties in geometry until he found himself staring at Kyle with a cold laugh.

“Hah..... Alright, ah! I heard Duke Herhardt is coming back?”

Kyle suddenly changed the subject.

"Long time. When did he come?”

"I don't know."

“Everyone is constantly raving about the return of Duke Herhardt, but you don't seem to care much.”

Leyla's hand on the bike became tense.

Over the past few years, there has been little contact between Leyla and Duke Herhardt. They only greeted each other when they met in the forest or whenever Claudine called him to the mansion. Even passing by the duke was uncomfortable as he tried to avoid it at all costs.

He doesn't want to see it.

And he had never wanted to see her again since Duke Herhardt stopped spinning his gold coins with his feet that summer night.

Claudine was the one who invited her and left her, but the duke was the one who made her realize how meaningless Leyla Lewellin was in that strange and colorful world.

The meeting left a different scar to the persecution she endured in Lovita. It was a memory he wanted to forget, but every time he faced the duke, he reminded him of that terrible day. Leyla hates. The duke's appearance continues to remind him how irrelevant he is in the beautiful region.

A black car passed by as Leyla tried to calm her disordered breathing. Madam Norma never drives a car, so Leyla thinks it's Madam Elysse, who must have returned from a social gathering.

“With the return of Duke, Arvis must have been busy for a while.”

"Yes." Yeah."

"Oh yeah. Leylas. Should I try to be an officer as well?”

Kyle now started walking backwards while facing Leyla.

“I want to receive a medal like Duke Herhardt. Captain Etman, a brilliant sniper who can shoot down every enemy with just one shot.”

Kyle pretended to shoot an imaginary gun and then smiled like a bad boy.

“See this, Mr. Etman. You can't even kill a chicken.”

Leyla grinned. Although his pride was injured, Kyle failed to refute.

It happened last year when Kyle proudly insisted that he would pay for his meal at the cabin with help. Uncle Bill had ordered him to catch a chicken for dinner, but when he got inside the chicken, he couldn't even pull out a single feather. That's when Etman got his embarrassing nickname: 'greedy ferbivore'.

“My good friend Kyle Etman. That's why I like you.”

Leyla smiled looking at Kyle's annoyed face.

“I hope you use your hands to save people's lives, instead of killing them.”

“Eh. I plan to become a doctor.”

Kyle awkwardly touched his cheek.

“Then should I become a military doctor? Did they give medals to military doctors?”

“If you save a lot of people, won't they give you one? It was a better achievement than killing.”

"really?"

The two arrived at a crossroads in the middle of their conversation. Etman's house is at the end of the road to the left.

"ah! I left a geometry note that I promised to lend to you at home.”

Kyle scrunched his eyes as he suddenly realized.

“Then, come on time for dinner later. Be sure to bring his notes.”

"Hey. Are you planning on waiting for me or her notes?”

"Note."

Leyla boldly replied while laughing mischievously. Kyle started rushing home.

“You don't need to rush! Dinner takes time anyway!”

Leyla shouted loudly towards Kyle's back.

“Do not bother! I'll go straight to your house after taking my notes!”

Kyle's reply was even louder.\+

Leyla shook her head due to Kyle's stubbornness and started pedaling her bike towards the platanus road leading to Arvis' mansion.

Matthias pulled his car over in front of the driveway of the mansion. The driver and butler panicked at their master's sudden request.

Duke Herhardt's return occurred suddenly. Arvis' servants and the residents were busy moving frantically to prepare for the duke's early arrival. As a result, his social gatherings with the nobles were increased.

Butler Hessen swallowed his dry saliva out of nervousness.

“Master, we still haven't.. ..”

“I want to go for a walk.”

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Matthias cut the words of the butler in his calm tone. The driver hesitantly got down from his seat and opened the backseat door.

"NO."

“See you at mansion.”

Matthias smiled as he turned his back. Hessen obediently returned to the car at her command while the driver quickly returned to his seat. When they left, the streets were deserted.

Holding the officer's hat in one hand, Matthias began to walk leisurely in the shade of the tree. The sound of his boots and the sound of leaves swaying in the wind created a strange yet delightful harmony.

Matthias von Herhardt was the perfect boy, the perfect student, and the perfect officer. And now, he will marry the perfect woman and become the perfect father. All these things were so obvious in his life that he started to feel bored.

Matthias gradually slowed his pace. Streams of bright light flowing through the cracks of the tree leaves made the slightly narrowed end of his eyes stand out. The light then gently flowed into his golden belt and the shining emblem that adorned his blue-gray uniform.

'You should get engaged this summer.'

Matthias gladly agreed to his mother's words; simply because it was his obligation to marry at the right time and give birth to a successor.

'I think Claudine is the best woman for the next Duchess of Arvis.'

Matthias also received his grandmother's notice well; simply because Claudine von Brandt was a highly qualified bride and had a brilliant bloodline.

Matthias never wanted anything.

It was all in his hands before he knew it. Desire is a distant emotion that seems fictitious to him. So too with marriage.

Matthias expects the perfect wedding.

To her, marriage was just a stepping stone that allowed her to strengthen her world. He believes there is no need to drain unnecessary emotions in marriage. Claudine von Brandt was his most reasonable companion, and to him, he had had enough. He's not interested in anything else. He felt he didn't have to.

Matthias stopped in the middle of the road. He suddenly sensed the unexpected presence of a woman. As he lifted his head, sunlight penetrated his eyes.

Matthias turned his gaze to a woman riding a bicycle heading towards him. As he slowly retreated, the woman passed by his left. His clear golden key fluttered in the air like a wave.

Leyla Lewellin's?

As Matthias recalled his name, the woman flicked her head at him. The woman's green eyes widened as she met a glance with the man.

As they looked at each other, Leyla lost her balance and fell off her bike. His screams rang out as his bike hit the ground.

Even after a fall, the wheels of the bike still continued to spin wildly.

Matthias continued to approach the woman who had fallen on the road. The woman raised her head under her shadow. No doubt, it was Leyla Lewellin.

Crazy little bird-loving girl.

“..... Forgive me, My Lord.”

Leyla frantically lowered her head to apologize. He waited for her to pass him.

Matthias was about to leave until his attention was interrupted by Leyla's clothes. His school uniform is dirty with dust and blood seeping through his torn stockings.1

As the spinning wheels of the bicycle stopped, silence enveloped the two.

Leyla raised her slightly frowning eyes and glanced towards Matthias. Although the look on his face was brash, it strangely gave a gentle impression.

This girl is growing too.

Although it was natural for the child to grow over time, the change in his appearance had somehow rattled his nerves.

To Matthias, Leyla Lewellin was just a little girl. The girl who was always trying desperately to avoid him. The girl he thinks isn't important. But he could no longer see the insignificant girl he knew in his memories with Leyla Lewellin standing in front of him now.

The slender lines of his body that were visible behind the thin summer school uniform no longer belonged to the thin child, as well as his cheeks, lips, and delicate scent carried by the wind.

Leyla struggles to wake up when Matthias feels a strange sense of displeasure. Taking a step back, he fixed his shoes and cleaned his school uniform. Although Leyla is now an adult woman, her height has still not reached the end of the duke's chin.

“Leyla Lewellin.”

Matthias impulsively called out. Leyla's shoulders flinched hearing her voice.

“Sorry, Milord.”

Repeating the same words again, Leyla crouched under her feet and started picking up her scattered belongings.

Handbag. Books. Note book.

Matthias' eyes traced pale little hands covered in dust and blood. His gaze was glued to the pen that Leyla gently nudged while collecting her things.

Matthias slowly took a step forward and deliberately stepped on the pen. Leyla then looked up and saw her eyes filled with annoyance.

“Leyla Lewellin.”

He called her again.

"I'm talking to you."

"Okay, my lord."

Leyla answered while closing her eyes tightly. He struggles to pull the pen from his foot but Matthias is unwilling to move.

"I'm listening."

Leyla said quite confidently despite her body trembling. Her green eyes that resembled a bright summer forest glittered in anger mixed with contempt. He suddenly recalled the moment the duke stepped on his gold coin. On that day and today as well, the duke was staring at Leyla with the same expression and gaze.

After laughing silently, Matthias lifted his leg and nonchalantly passed Leyla. He put on his officer's hat and started to walk casually along the road as if nothing had happened.

Leyla stared blankly behind Duke Herhardt in the distance.

Why would he do such a thing if he didn't want to say anything?1

Leyla's pen twitched in her hand.

Would the inhabitants of Arvis believe that Duke Herhardt, who was hailed as a perfect noble, acted like this?

He risked all his savings that no one would believe him. Everyone would call it crazy.

Leyla closed her lips tightly and pulled her bicycle. He made sure to wipe the pen thoroughly and put it in his bag.

He then started following the Duke who was walking slowly. His flaky skin felt very sore. Although he was sure the duke would not look back, he tried to walk properly. To prevent himself from limping, he constantly flexed his leg muscles.

It would be great if he used those long legs to walk faster.

When Leyla was about to sigh in frustration, Duke Herhardt suddenly turned around. A gentle breeze shook the leaves of the trees and the pattern of sunlight entering through the leaves bounced over the path with a slow rhythm.

Leyla who was shocked stood still. Matthias focused his eyes on his face. His gaze slowly turned downward along the wavy strung hair and then onto his body.

The upright chest panted irregularly up and down. A pale hand holds the handle of the bicycle. Very narrow ankles and tiny legs.

And then his eyes.

Matthias observed Leyla's emerald eyes for a long time in deafening silence.

Leyla is still an orphan living in the dugout located on her estate, but one important fact seems to change everything.

Time passed and the boy grew.

And when he accepted that reality, he noticed Leyla.

He's not a kid anymore. That woman, Leyla Lewellin.