Cry, Or Better Yet Beg
chapter 65. Suitable Bride Groom

“Thank you for driving me this far, I can take it from here.” Leyla smiled awkwardly at the man she was with, trying her hardest to be polite. However, he did not seem to be willing to part with her yet.

“Oh, please, no problem, it's just that the distance is a little further.” he insisted.

“Oh no, no need,” Leyla politely declined once again, “My uncle is very strict, know.” he said to her, quietly looking around, hoping no one has seen them yet.

No matter what Leyla would say once rumors that she was seen with a man would spread quickly in Arvis. He hates having to put his uncle's name under the bus, but that doesn't mean it's not true.

"Oh I understand." she finally complied, looking a little sad, before smiling at him once again, “Alright, I'd better just go. I'm having fun today, how about we do it again at lunch on Sunday?” he asked expectantly, making Leyla smile apologizing to him.

“Sorry, I can't..”

“Or if this week is not available, maybe next week? I don't mind." she immediately replied, “I just hope we can do this again.” she finished it, her face was slightly flushed under her gaze, but sounded sincere enough for her.

“I feel bad to have to spend this short time with you while drinking tea.” he reasoned, “I want us to have the right opportunity to get to know each other better, he said, that is if you feel the same way.” he admitted, “If things are not good, I promise I will not trouble you anymore.”

Leyla could see that the man was very honest with her, and whatever the answer was, the man would respect her wishes. But until that time comes, he will not leave without a proper answer from her.

Leyla and the grocery store owner's son didn't know each other very well before. As far as he knew, he was the one in charge of the weekly delivery of school supplies. He never expected to know her more than that.

So when he was called to the Headmaster's office this afternoon, he was shocked to see the principal was there with him. She soon learns that she is a distant relative of the principal, who is looking for a relationship that leads to marriage.

Leyla's mind was blank on hearing that information.

Again, he could not help but give the others away around them. Immediately, he heard a familiar voice from a car that slid down the sidewalk, and turned towards the surroundings. He felt panic start to take hold of his chest, when he expected a miracle, he was wrong, but he was never that lucky.

A bright light shone on the two of them on the sidewalk, the car slowed down as it approached them before speeding away as it passed them…

Leyla recognized the car anywhere. It was Duke Herhardt's vehicle.

“Nona Lewellin?” Her soft voice made Leyla come to a realization from her daydream before she remembered that she remained unreacted to him for some time, as it was locked in her mind.

“I, I'm sorry.” she apologized, while bowing before her, “I'm not ready for such a relationship.” she confessed to him, looking sorry.

Although the Headmaster might have arranged for them to have tea together, he found the Headmaster friendly to befriend. It was not that he was against marriage, he was sure he wanted to get married someday. But not now, for the time being, he already had enough of a steady job and lived a normal life.

“Oh, well, I fully understand.” he replied, sounding sad. He stepped back, smiled back at her to reassure her that she was not angry at all, and apologized for the trouble she was in.

They parted, and Leyla watched as the man left in a sullen manner. This makes Leyla uncomfortable knowing she has to reject a kind-hearted man, but it gets better. If he received it sooner than he should, in the end he would hurt him.

Just like he did with Kyle.

Leyla's gaze darkened as the name entered her mind.

Already many times, since their separation, he wondered how he was doing. But in the end he felt quite praying for his current well-being. He misses her a lot, but he can't go back to a time when it was so easy to be with her.

He couldn't go back to those times when he could still laugh, chat, and walk freely with Kyle.

The sky is dark, the street lights are on. Anxiety arose within him once he removed his fond memories of the man from his memories. The anxiety within him felt like the one he experienced in the first autumn he spent with the duke.

He took a breath, and closed his eyes, imagining the coming spring. He would be in a new place by then, planning on starting a new chapter in his life. He hoped that when he moved he could find an inn room with large windows, so that sunlight could enter and fill his room.

Ideally also if there are trees nearby, or a garden that can be seen. That way he only needs to open the window to breathe the fresh aroma of cut grass or wet forest floor after the rain. After all, that was the thing he missed the most in Arvis.

He soon found himself becoming calmer as he increasingly thought about his success away from Arvis. Calmly and confident that everything would be fine, he gripped the handle of his bike tightly, and started to move, turning carefully around the corner.

His eyes were only fixed in front of him, on an empty asphalt road, framed by trees on his left right, moonlight guiding him on his way home. He took a deep breath, relaxed in his solitude, pedaling swiftly while continuing his journey.

He was completely unaware of Duke Herhardt who was nearby, waiting for him quietly on the dark side of the pavement.

Kyle was overwhelmed with trepidation every time he approached his mailbox. It had become a habit now, every time he picked up his letter, he would search for a certain letter. He always came with little hope that this time, he would get a reply.

However, when he checked his letters, none of them were from Leyla. His smile fell, as he turned sullen. Week after week she wrote him a letter, hoping to get word of his circumstances, the response to his letters to her. But he never returned it, not once.

Sighing sadly, he closed his mailbox once more, and returned to his dorm. The room is located on the east wing, third floor. On the eve of the holiday, the students were busy packing things to go home. But Kyle doesn't feel the need to do the same.

Room as usual. He opened his dorm room, only to be greeted by a dark room, and threw his stack of letters onto the console table, right next to the door. There are only a few of them today, an invitation to an upcoming social gathering, and one from home.

He dropped himself onto the bed, not having the energy to read the contents. He watched the moonlight filter through his window, slipping through the gaps between the curtains as it illuminated his sulking figure.

'Why didn't you travel during your first break?'

Those were his father's words a few days ago when he called home. While it is true that nowadays, most wealthy students tend to travel across the continent at recess, he believes his father has other reasons on his mind.

He ignored the appropriate response to her suggestion, telling her that he would think about it. No matter what he decided, he knew there was no point in going back and looking for Leyla now. So what's the point of him traveling?

'Should I just lie here, suffer without him?' he pondered, shifting to lie on his back, not on his stomach. 'To stay here until I go crazy staring at the concrete while submerging myself in the study room?'

'There is no place in the world where only the two of us can be happy.'

He covered his eyes with his hands, chuckling to himself as he recalled Leyla's words to him. He could not even answer it, unable to find his voice to reply at that moment. And now, all that was left of him was self-loathing.

He hated how weak he was, how he was a nobody if not for his parents. But most importantly, he hated how much he couldn't protect the woman he loved most in the world.

'Leyla, I want to become a doctor so that I can find a place where we can both be happy.' Her mind is sad while feeling a drop of tears in her eyes, 'But it is still far in the future, but it is still far away in the future, can I last that long to be separated from you?'

'Even months away from you is torture.'

Kyle was already close to reaching adulthood, which meant he could finally claim the legacy his grandfather had left behind. He regretted not thinking about it early.

He sat on his bed, and combed his disheveled hair with his fingers, just staring at the empty wall of his dormitory. After making up his mind, he immediately got up, turned on the lights on his desk, and picked up a pen and paper.

He was nervous while writing it down, but this was an urgent matter that he needed to do.

“Why, all of a sudden, everyone is trying to find you a groom-to-be?” Bill suddenly spoke up when he saw Leyla preparing a table for dinner. When she asked him about his day, he had not expected him to go out with the son of the grocery store owner, a meeting arranged by the Headmaster.

Leyla looked at him, frowning while tilting her head in confusion.

“”What do you mean by everyone?” he asked curiously. Bill scratched the back of his head as he recalled the previous incident.

“You know, Ms Mona, that chatty chef?” Leyla nodded to show that she knew who she was talking about, “Well, she approached me a while ago, telling me that she heard Madam Norma ask Hessen around to find a suitable groom for you.” he told her. Leyla inevitably became more confused, and more curious.

“Why did Mrs Norma do that?”

"I don't know," Bill shrugged, "Maybe he likes you." he added just like that while putting their food on the dinner table. Leyla could only mock.

"Impossible." he added senselessly, smiling as he sat down before Bill from the table as he picked up the bread from the stove.

“Yeah, I don't see any other reason why he's looking for you grooms.” Bill pointed and sat down in his chair, "So why do you think he's going to do it?" she asked him this time, looking at him curiously.

“Uncle, you're not tired of being near me, are you?” Leyla flirts, making Bill snort and dismisses the charges.

“Omong empty what is it?”

“If that's not the case, then you won't mind if I'll stay with you forever?” he said further, grinning as they gathered food onto their plates and began to eat it.

The conversation eased up a bit, the only sound they could hear was the friction of their equipment onto the plate as they ate. Bill leaned back in his chair, deep in thought as he chewed carefully, staring at Leyla, before swallowing his food.

“So, if Madam Norma introduces you to a strapping young man,” Bill begins, breaking the silence between them, “You will reject him?”

Leyla simply smiled sadly at him, seeing the worry emanating from her uncle's gaze towards her.

“Yeah, I would naturally like to meet someone similar to you, Uncle,” I got, “sadly, I don't think there's anyone like you.” he smiled, hoping to convince her, I hope, but Bill could only feel her pain.

Once again he felt as if Kylelah was causing him like this. She believes she is deeply hurt by their failed engagement, she finds herself no longer wanting the marriage, thus constantly turning down marriage offers.

Even so, that didn't stop Kyle's desire to reconnect with him. No matter how painful it is to lie to him, Bill has to take Kyle's letters from his stack whenever he sees a letter from the man. He knew that they had a good relationship in the past, but for him the relationship was beyond repair.

“Should have been, uh, Leyla..” she fell silent, making Leyla hum as she listened to what she said…

'If Leyla still had feelings for Kyle, would it help if Kyle broke off the relationship with the Etman family?' Bill inevitably wonders, 'This may be a difficult start, but I will help them settle in, even if they move to the capital.'

If that happens, Bill has decided to move in with them. It may be difficult for him to get a job as a gardener from Arvis there, but he willingly stops for Leyla. And if the time comes, and Leyla gives birth to their child, perhaps the evil Madame Etman will accept their relationship.

"Uncle?" Leyla exclaimed, for all this time she had not heard anything from him.

“Hm?” He looked at her confused.

“You mean?” he asked gently, making her remember that they were still in the middle of the conversation.

“Ah right, um, chicken!” he stated, “Yes, yes, chicken.” muttered as he tapped his fingers onto the surface of the table while thinking. Leyla's face turned into confusion.

“Ayam?”

"Yes! Should we catch the chicken tomorrow?” Bill asked rather cheerfully, before seeing the worry in his eyes, “I briefly crossed my mind for a while, surely because of my growing age. I'm fine, Leyla.” she apologized rather shyly, smiling brightly at him.

Next time, he would think twice before opening his mouth to speak. He was lucky because Leyla had not doubted him yet, so she simply smiled and nodded towards him.

“Sure uncle, tomorrow we eat chicken.” He immediately agreed and the two of them began to finish their meal.

His slender finger grabbed the phonograph volume knob, then raised it. The figure turned around, towards the seat of his wings, a light of fire shone on his face, revealing Matthias.

He sat quietly in his dark room, staring into the flames, the only source of light he currently had. Suddenly there was a flap of wings, a cage trembled, and a bird alighted near his perched fingers.

He looked at her slowly, gently twisting his fingers, whistling to the rhythm of the music being played. It didn't take long for his bird to follow him, chirping to the beat. Matthias could not help but grin contentedly on his lips.

Burung's smart. Although he had never trained her, he followed her speechlessly, chirping naturally following the music. Thanks to her beautiful string bird, she enjoys listening to music as time goes on.

The music he plays most often is the waltz, although sometimes he likes to mix it with an orchestral symphony, or a bagatelle ballet. As far as she knew, her strings would sing beautifully whenever there was a waltz she imitated.

Eventually the music stopped, the soft melody faded away as the song ended, leaving only the crackling of firewood filling the quiet room. Matthias gently stroked his bird with his fingertips, speechlessly praising his natural talent.

Familiar with the touch of his master, the canary touched his fingers, lightly tapping his beak as if trying to kiss his hand. Matthias grinned, slowly rising as he approached his birdcage.

He lowered his hand, hovering right in front of the entrance of the cage, before his hand re-entered and settled inside his luxurious and comfortable nest. Matthias secretly locked the golden cage, before turning towards the phonograph to cut the beginning of the next song.

He took a deep breath, before sighing tiredly while languidly resting on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He then turned his head, looking at his bird with a smile, in his mind, instead imagining a different bird…

"Good night" she said to him, watching her strings fall asleep. As soon as the bird fell asleep, a smile faded on Matthias' lips as he continued to stare at the bird