Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 61. Charity Show

A few days had passed since that night, and before long everything faded away as if it was just a dream. Dream of peace in a strange way. He still can't believe it happened.

As time went on, Marquis Lindman finally returned to his estate, and the Duke no longer sent letters demanding him, nor visited him unexpectedly. Autumn soon passed, and winter had taken the first step on its month-long journey, bringing with it a new season. Leyla opened her window, inhaled a breath of cold air, loving the scent that winter brought.

He enjoyed the breeze, his feeling of being numb from the cold for a while, and he appreciated the way the sun hit the snow, making it sparkle as if the forest was made of diamonds.

He left his window wide open, until the cold started biting his fingertips. With one last breath, he closed it off and turned around to prepare for the day.

Today was a day of charity performances prepared by schoolchildren at the town hall in the city center, so the preparation before leaving for work took a little longer than usual. It was shot by royalty and the children were the ones who took to the stage, which meant he could not wear ordinary clothes.

This year's show was held in a reputable venue. It hosts many events that are regularly attended by prominent figures and powerful people. He needs to perform at his best for the school and his students.

'You have to present yourself as a dignified teacher. Okay, Miss Lewellin?'

Even the Headmaster knew he needed to fix his wardrobe. He even added a few more comments about his image at yesterday's meeting, especially about his hopes of not seeing Leyla ride his bike to town hall.

Leyla could only frown at the thought of it, her hands busying herself as she braided her hair in an updo style. “What's wrong with riding my bike?” he mumbled slowly.

She finished her hair rather quickly. By the way, he was quite grateful for his new experience in the department, considering he had to do it many times throughout the semester.

'That hair, it doesn't suit you.'

Ah, when she thought she wouldn't find a way to bother him. But it seemed that even in his mind he could not escape from it. Those were the words that Duke had given him on the path of platanus in early autumn.

The autumn sun had just pierced through his room, hitting the mirror and bouncing with an angle that hit his hair. He gasped at the image of the man suddenly appearing in the mirror, feeling that the man was watching him. Leyla quickly averted her gaze, just like how she had avoided the look in her eyes right then and there.

'It's so pretty, your hair. It's like wings.'

And suddenly, a dam broke in his mind as one after another he recalled every compliment the man had ever given him. It confused him more than the insults he had sent him. Especially as she looked at him with cold and indifferent eyes.

She again brushed her hair, checking her side profile before thinking she was fine and ready for the day. Luckily unlike his memories of their last night together, the bruises on his shoulders began to fade.

He kept his promise that night.

Sure enough, he was terrified when he brought her to his room. The tension between them was initially so thick, you could have cut them with a knife. But it soon waned with every kiss she planted on her bruise.

He let it go, and treated it carefully, as if he did not mind the struggle and blows he had put in just a moment before. The gentle touch of the man followed his wounds, rubbing a soothing ointment to relieve the pain before bandaging the wound with a protective covering.

His movements were so calm and skillful, rivaling the movements of doctors. Not to mention the man's blue eyes were firmly fixed on him, even as he sluggishly put his clothes back on…

In the corner of his eyes, he saw a clock, making him gasp at that moment. Immediately, Leyla got up from her seat and reexamined herself in the mirror one last time, before going around the room for some last-minute preparation.

The dress she wore was still new, which she bought with her own money just for today's event. He ran around, looking for a good pair of shoes, before picking up high heels. Leyla could already imagine her legs throbbing in pain at the end of the day, but she had to endure it. Satisfied with his last appearance, he finally walked out of his room.

“Ah, you are so beautiful, Leyla!” Uncle Bill greeted him in awe as he looked at his nephew. He just got out of the kitchen, made breakfast. “You'll be the prettiest tonight at city hall!” he praised. Leyla simply giggled in disbelief before replying.

“There will be many others who dress better than me,” he said, “There will be a great many mothers and young women attending the event.”

“Ah, but what made them oppose you?” his uncle said, “Both silver and gold on their skin cannot make them put candles on you!”

Leyla rolled her eyes. “Maybe not in my uncle's eyes.” he hummed, a sweet smile appeared on the corner of his lips as he sat before him.

“Oh yes, I just remember,” Bill said before pointing to his neck, “Those necklace you have, why don't you wear it too?” he suggested while eating his breakfast. Leyla's brows furrowed in confusion before widening as she recalled.

"ah! You mean the necklace you bought for me?”

"Yes! The one you wore for Duke's party last year.” he gulped his saliva, before cutting his food again, “I think it will perfectly complement your clothes today. You don't have to wear it if you don't want to, but I'm sure the view will be amazing!”

Bill Remmer may not know anything about women's fashion, he's sure no one can match his niece's beauty. Given Leyla's standout appearance at Duke's party was enough to make her proud even just for that one night, she could turn Leyla into a beautiful princess.

Leyla smiled and nodded, looking at the smile in her uncle's eyes as she suggested it. He got up from his seat and returned to his room, looking for where he kept the necklace. He reached deep into his closet, before he found it.

He straightened his body, and put the necklace around his naked neck. Assuming the necklace to be safe and worn out, he went back out and stood in front of his uncle, with his hands tucked behind him, puffing his chest to further flaunt the necklace.

“So, how do I look?” he asks her politely, and Bill cheers cheerfully when he sees Leyla wearing the necklace once again.

"ah! Absolute perfection, my dear.” she praised before clasping a warm and tender hand on her shoulder, before giving her a brief hug. He pulled himself up and looked at her, his eyes wrinkled with a smile, before looking at her with a hint of worry…

“Now be careful out there Leyla, don't stray too far,” Bill warns her gently, “You will attract a lot of attention because of your appearance, but beware of them too, too, or they might take you. go for themselves.” she's done, and Leyla nods in agreement.

“I'll be uncle, don't worry.” he promised.

He was like a point from afar, difficult to recognize at such a distance, but Matthias could see it even from a mile away, a slight arch in the corner of his mouth was beginning to be seen.

He knew it was Leyla, the woman who was walking along the path through the hunting grounds, heading for the rose garden behind the mansion. He tilted his head as he looked at it, his brows furrowing in wonder…

'Why is he walking to work today?'

Matthias whistled softly, approached towards the window, and stretched out his hand, an index finger appeared waiting. Not long after that a little bird flew over him.

He brought the bird close to his eyes, using the sight of Leyla approaching as his background. He leaned against the window sill near the damask curtain that hung from the ceiling to the floor. He swayed to the wind, framed it perfectly from behind, and hid it from passers-by.

He shifted his arms, as if wanting to give his strings to the unsuspecting woman, yet the bird had flown away, and immediately returned to its cage. The introduction to the two birds did not work, but it did not mean mere futility. So Matthias remained by the window, even long after Leyla had disappeared from his sight.

It has become a routine, perched on the window sill every morning to enjoy the scenery on offer, day after day. And in the meantime, he was just looking, waiting as he was about to leave the cabin of the ancient gardener, and headed for the path through the forest only to go to work.

In this place in his house, he could always see her, and what she would do every time he came home.

'Is he better now?'

Inevitably he thought as he recalled how weak he was the last time he saw him so close. He's bruised and in pain. His body was trembling as he sobbed at her…

It was a pity that he had not been lucky to meet or meet her since then. He could have gone to see her, as he had done before, but this time he chose not to. There was some strange turmoil in him, that night, a feeling he couldn't express.

Matthias pushed himself away from the window, and sat down on a chair leaning by the fireplace while thinking hard. Unknowingly, he grabbed the morning newspaper and opened it, but his eyes did not see the words printed on it.

His mind kept returning to the tears he shed last night. She had seen him cry many times now, but there was something different to the way he cried last time. It was already imprinted in his mind now, and he could not avoid it…

'Wait,'

Matthias remembered his words, when he prevented him from leaving right after he managed to bandage him, and handed him the medicine.

'This is a painkiller, drink enough.'

Leyla's face, at that moment, became pondering as she stared at the bottle, which was still in Leyla's outstretched hands, warily. Impatiently, he opened the lid as he approached her. She flinched at his touch when he suddenly grabbed her chin, gently opening her mouth to pour medicinal liquid down her throat.

He drank it like a veteran, his eyes staring at him in an incomprehensible manner, gulping down his medicine as best as possible despite the bitter taste. Matthias grinned as he watched his struggle.

After she was satisfied with her medicinal intake, she gently wiped the excess medicine dripping on the corner of her lips with the returned handkerchief. After he cleaned, he took out a piece of candy in his pocket, and put it in his mouth.

Leyla held back her tears as she continued to shower him with her attention, unable to make a sound. Tears streamed down her cheeks once again, as she kept the candy inside her mouth, neither spitting nor trying to swallow it.

Finally, she could not help herself, and started caressing her cheeks, no matter how her cheeks wet her hands. His movements were stiff, and untrained, but he kept going.

'Is it still sick?'

He couldn't help but ask. She had never felt so useless before, so helpless, when she asked him that. Leyla nodded back in response not anytime soon. Unable to do anything else, Matthias hugged her once more, and hugged her comfortably.

He tried to fight it at first, but eventually gave up. He kept crying in his arms, his tongue rolling candy in his mouth for quite a long time. By the time he stopped crying, the front of his sweater was already wet with tears.

Even the memory of it brought its own sorrow to Matthias. He sighed, and put aside the paper he did not want to read. He leaned his head back, until all he could see was the ceiling.

He really could not remove that image from his mind. Usually when Leyla cried, all she felt was a tingle. He liked to see her beautiful face crying, so he constantly bothered her. Sometimes he was disturbed to see it.

It upset her because anything, or anyone, other than her had made her cry. At times like that, he wanted them to stop. No one else but him could make her cry. And not just her tears…

His smile, his laughter, his hopes and dreams! Everything he has should be his!

She must be his.

The tears she kept crying back then made her feel as if she had lost, and she was at a loss on how to turn her defeat into victory…

What a strange tear.

Every time Leyla cried, she tended to let her emotions rule her. Sometimes he feels scared, or even scared. And he will enjoy every emotion that he manages to awaken from himself.

But she didn't even understand why she was crying at that moment. They were not filled with anger, not even fear of him. They look like something foreign…

It was almost as if his eyes were empty. And she realized at that moment she hated those tears so much. He wants to stop them. This caused a feeling he did not feel when he saw Leyla crying over Kyle Etman…

Makes her want to strangle him so he stops crying.

Strange and uncomfortable feelings were indeed entrenched within him, but Matthias did not mind them. It was reminiscent of a drunken feeling with a fragrant liquor on his nose. However, it also made him feel that something was approaching him.

It was confusing and very satisfying.

Yeah, that makes him pretty happy.

He felt an uncontrollable happiness, completely different from the usual enjoyment he felt every time he tortured Leyla. He didn't throw it away because he wanted to feel more of it. To know this joy, and experience it to the fullest!

Leyla had entrusted herself to him. He remembered it, the bitterness on his face as he stared at his exhausted figure while still feeling at ease.

Then he continued wiping his tears, sweeping his hair back to see it more clearly in dim lighting. He watched the hint of hope in his eyes turn into uncontrollable fear, making his entire body tremble at his touch.

For a long time he waited until the woman was comfortable, to trust her once more, for whatever excitement he felt before was quickly extinguished from within his body. He wants it back! But how did he get it again? Same answer.

It's always the same.

A sudden knock interrupted his mind, making him frown due to his severed thought path. He has just discussed something important, a little more time and he will find a solution. But life has a way of making important things go unnoticed, like holding sand in the palm of your hand.

“Master, this is Hessen.” a muffled voice came from behind the door.

"Lake in." Matthias replied calmly, his eyes no longer staring at the ceiling as he straightened up in his chair. He watched as Hessen opened the door, approached quickly and stopped beside her seat at a considerable distance. Hessen stood up straight, before lowering her head.

“Mrs Elysee inquired about host dinner schedule today.”

Matthias' eyebrows shot up at the news. "My mom?" She asked.

“Ya,” Hessen confirmed, “At first she planned to attend a charity show with Madam Norma tonight at the city hall, but she fell ill with a fever so she couldn't get out.” he explained to his master. “So, she wonders if you can replace her, accompany Madam Norma. That is, if you have no prior agreement.”

“Any show, you say?” Matthias hummed, as he tapped his finger into the armrest.

“This is a show held by several schools in Carlsbar,” Hessen hastily told, “Even children from this village will take part.”

"Ah" he said while grinning at himself.

Now she knows why Leyla walks alone to work today, dressing up more than usual on a typical weekday.

“It is with pleasure that I can drop off my grandmother tonight.” Matthias replied as he got up from his seat, “Then, we better prepare well for the charity event