Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 52. It's Over

it was late afternoon when Riette von Lindman arrived at Herhardt's mansion, his carriage full of luggage for his brief visit to Arvis.

“Welcome, Riette.” Elysee von Herhardt welcomes her cheerfully, “I hope my sister comes with you.”

“My book will be traveling soon.”

“She is definitely planning a trip south for winter.”

“Yes, she hates the cold.” Riette smiled as she conveyed her mother's greetings in a soft voice. “Where is Mrs Norma?”

“He's taking a nap right now. You can greet him later.

Elysee von Herhardt takes Riette to the living room.

As a cousin and close friend of Matthias, she was in and out of Arvis while growing up, and was already considered part of the family.

The two drank tea in the living room, after which Riette took a walk in the forest of Herhardt plantation. Matthias would not return until nightfall, and the servants needed time to arrange Riette's belongings. Therefore, curiosity controlled him. Riette decides to set off on a special occasion: meeting with an elusive boy living in the woods, Leyla. In other words, the woman who wreaked havoc on Matthias and Claudine's once orderly lives.

Riette knew the boy, but she never glanced at him in the slightest. To him, he was just one of the many servants living in Arvis. She sympathized with her suffering and thought of her as a pretty girl, but that was all. So imagine how surprised Riette was when she learned that the woman Matthias was interested in was Leyla Lewellin.

The shameful affair between the nobles and their servants was nothing new, but if the noble became Duke Herhardt, the story would be his own. Even if it's just a delusion.

'Duke Herhardt lied.'

As the gardener's cabin appears on the horizon, Riette recalls the night last summer when Claudine suddenly talked about Matthias.

'He lied to separate Leyla from the doctor's son.'

Claudine smiled, but Riette looked over from behind her facade as she caught a glimpse of her icy and terrifying gaze.

'The blue-blooded Matthias von Herhardt lies and conspires only to have the miserable orphan. Do you believe me, Riette?' Claudine grunting.

'What kind of lies did he tell?' Riette asked, but Claudine gave no further explanation.

"I hope he gets it as soon as possible."

Claudine looked out the window expressionlessly, as if nothing had happened. The long summer sunset split the horizon beyond Count Brandt's estate like a piece of gold.

'He needs to have it to throw it away as early as possible.'

Claudine muttered with a bored expression on her face, as if she was a spectator of a third-rate and low-class performance.

Riette could peer directly into his mind. He doesn't look jealous of Leyla Lewellin. He only described a hint of disappointment and scorn towards the lowly tendencies of his noble fiancee.

Conversely, if Claudine was jealous or depressed, Riette would ask her to marry him instead of being tied to a marriage that would make her miserable. However, Claudine insists that marrying Matthias will be the only way for her to get the happiness she wants.

That day, the two of them sat down for tea and chatted casually, then enjoyed dinner in the same friendly atmosphere. The next morning, Riette leaves Brandt's estate with Claudine standing at the door until his car disappears from view.

'Why do those memories stick around and become a prolonged regret?'

A sorrowful laugh came out from Riette's lips as she arrived in front of the wooden cabin. Forest trails connect hunting grounds without fences and small huts.

Every second, the glorious lamp of heaven casually dripped gold into the glittering river. As the sun slowly sets behind the horizon, the lighting inside the house dims. However, instead of leaving, Riette decided to wait. With his back resting comfortably on the porch fence, he stared at the molten branches.

Riette Lindman harbors feelings for someone who will never be miserable out of love. And he knew very well that the woman he loved was the root of his misery.

However, Riette enjoyed a simple and carefree life, so she willingly accepted her tragic love easily. He did not mind giving Claudine the pleasure and helping her overcome her jokes.

Just as he was about to light a cigarette, Riette suddenly heard footsteps coming from the other side of the path in the forest. The sounds of conversation were heard along the way.

He turned his attention towards the sound in the distance and smoked his cigarette for a long time. He then exhaled a puff of smoke while continuing to wait. Shortly after, a bear-like man and a woman the size of half of his body appeared before him. They stopped in front of the entrance when they saw Riette.

With a grin on his face, Riette approached the couple. The gardener said his greetings upon recognizing the man and the petite woman next to him lowered her head.

“Halo, little forest bird girl.”

Riette greeted him calmly, similar to when she saw him crying as he buried the bird that Matthias had killed.

"Ah. Should I tell Miss Bird now? Or a bird teacher?”

Leyla's eyes sparkled with suspicion behind her glasses, her brows furrowed as she processed the man's nonsense.

Riette's impression of Leyla Lewellin remained unchanged. She was indeed beautiful, but not stunning so that it made the men around her fascinated. However, it seemed like he had a hunch how he managed to tickle the favorite of the doctor's son and his own noble cousin.

“ Anyway, nice to meet you, Leyla.”

“Be careful of Marquis Lindman.”

It was a stern warning coming from Bill Remmer, who was staring at something at the end of the table. Leyla giggled as she placed the pot filled with freshly cooked soup in the middle of the table.

“This is not a laughing stock. Don't take it lightly”

"Uncle."

Bill bit the bread violently, tearing it into small pieces.

“He greets you and babbles about useless things. This is very suspicious so you have to be more careful.”

"Yes yes."

Leyla replied straight away, knowing the man's nagging would never end if he didn't comply. For his half-hearted response, Bill is unsure.

“Remember my words, Leyla. Not all nobles are as courteous and dignified as Duke Herhardt.”

“Ya... Hah, what?”

Leyla's forehead shriveled amid an unintentional nod. Bill's exaggerated respect for Duke Herhardt left him speechless; but he couldn't dissent because except for him, everyone looked at Duke Herhardt in such a different way.

Leyla simply continued to nod while hastily eating her bread, keeping her own opinion. Nonetheless, the memories of the indecent and undignified man became clearer. He started coughing, choking on his bread as he recalled the offensive bows and expensive pens he had sent him at school.

"What's wrong?"

"There's nothing." Leyla shook her head. “I'm hungry, but I ate too fast.” He took off his glasses, and wiped away the tears from his great cough.

Bill laughed out loud as he watched her. “At a time like this, do you still look like a child.”

His tone was reproachful, but Bill's smile said otherwise.

“Eat again. But be careful this time.”

Bill took a large portion of the meat, putting it one by one on Leyla's plate. Then the other one. The food piled higher and higher each time Bill moved his hand.

"It's too much!"

“Do you not know? I like kids who eat like cows.” Bill, as always, refuses to listen to Leyla's objections.

“I'm not a child anymore.”

Leyla stated, but Bill's only response was to add one more piece of meat to his plate.

Their comfortable night was spent chatting and laughing at the table. Leyla found it hard to eat like a cow; but she tried to eat in moderation, to please her uncle.

Leyla washes dishes while Bill Remmer fixes the creaking table chairs. After that, they both sat on the terrace holding a warm coffee cup in hand, while looking at the reddish-brown leaves that had fallen off. The wind brings a real chill, but Bill and Leyla will continue their end-of-day conversation for as long as possible until winter arrives.

“Goodnight, Leyla.”

Bill says a simple yet warm goodbye before entering his room.

“You too, Uncle. Good night."

Leyla's lips smiled gently, as usual. His cheerful voice had an essence like a glimmer of light flowing through the gap of a curtain.

After returning to her room, Leyla sat down on the chair that Uncle Bill had reserved for her and corrected her student exam papers. Later, he read some mystery novels borrowed from the library and replied to letters from his friends who had been teachers at other schools.

After finishing his last letter, he suddenly recalled the pen the Duke had given him as he closed the lid of his worn-out letter.

Leyla was silent for a moment while staring blankly into space, before deciding to open the desk drawer. The pen he reluctantly brought home was still neatly tucked away in his box.

'I know that.'

While growing up, Leyla often heard clicking noises whenever she made a mistake or tried to behave better than her classmates.

'As expected of a child growing up without parents.'

The words he used to hear always carried one of two emotions: a sneer or a pity.

Leyla always wondered why she was always blamed, whereas other children also made the same mistakes as her. However, as she grew older, Leyla realized that the rules of society did not apply equally to all of its members.

So he wants to do better.

Although she cannot be perfect, she is determined to live a life where she gets no sympathy from others. Every time she faced the harsh world standards, Leyla tried her hardest to survive and fight. She wants to live an honorable life for Uncle Bill, who has cared for, loved, and raised her in every meaningful way.

After he made up his mind, he took out a pen from the box without hesitation. His hand grabbed a piece of paper to wrap the package.

Leyla meticulously packed the parcel and wrote down the address using an old pen. The recipient is the owner of Arvis, Duke Matthias von Herhardt. As for the sender, he wrote down the name and address of the stranger who received the pen.

At dawn, Leyla put the box in her bag and left for work that day. He had to leave home earlier than usual to make the short trip to the post office in a nearby hamlet.

After returning her gift, Leyla felt a heavy burden as if lifted from her chest.

Leyla was sure it was over by now.

He's sure of it