Cry, Even Better if you Beg - Side Story 3

A wooden cabin appeared amid the clamor of chirping birds like an ancient forgotten shrine and the rumble of the forest road. Leyla took off her hat that she had been wearing like a crown and took in the landscape in front of her like a fresh air, admiring the façade of the cabin’s ageless beauty.

The building’s construction was unaltered and untouched although abandoned for a long time. The two duchesses planned to raze the abandoned cabin that belonged to Uncle Bill and construct a garden for leisurely outdoor tea parties, but Matthias strongly opposed their idea.

Upon hearing the news about the cabin’s alteration, Leyla inquired about Matthias’s plans for Uncle Bill’s Cabin.

‘’Why do you ask that of me?’’ As he sat at his desk in the study, Matthias questioned while keeping his gaze fixed on her. He calmly continued going against his wish, turning his attention back to the pile of papers in front of him. “It is absolutely up to you what you desire to do with it,” he said.

Leyla was perplexed by Matthias’s statements once more as he talked calmly. ‘’Are you claiming ownership of Uncle Bill’s Cabin?’’ She inquired, attempting to steal her answers.

Upon hearing his wife’s innocent queries, he met her eyes and gave a fleeting nod, yet his posture remained erect. Leyla didn’t really understand the significance of his simple gesture until the room started to fill with the deafening sound of papers turning. Matthias’s demeanor remained serene as he made eye contact with her and nodded his head briefly. It was only after the sound of papers flipping filled the room that Leyla comprehended the meaning of his concise gesture.

Leyla traversed the front yard as fast as her feet could take her, glancing at the golden watch on her pale wrist as she made her way towards the cabin. The clock said she still had some time for the tea which was arranged with Duchess Norma.

As she entered the impeccably maintained ageless cabin, she took a slow, thorough look around like. There was a few furniture left. The cabin was empty like a well devoid of water. The only remaining furniture was covered in white fabric like a corpse, while all other belongings had been gathered and moved to their mansion in Ratz.

Leyla found herself awfully lonely the moment she stepped into the cabin. She got devastated, the loneliness stretched into torture and the atmosphere around her got unbearable. Leyla rushed and stepped out onto the balcony to get some fresh air. There, she found the two seats, mismatched in size and color yet placed in their original positions as they always used to be.

Leyla turned toward the huge wooden chair that was next to her and took a seat. She had the impression that she could see Uncle Bill smoking the pipe in the wind while seated in a bent position. Although it seemed phantom at first, then she actually thought she could hear him calling her name and laughing in a cheerful manner. Uncle Bill arrived, filling the empty space with his pleasant smiles and loud voice.

“I am fulfilling your wish by attending college, just as you wanted. While all my classmates are male, however your Leyla is excelling and exceptional. Are you pleased with my achievements?” Leyla spoke in a cheerful voice to Uncle Bill, as she had done on other occasions when they had conversed while sitting next to one another, just like the good old times.

She told several anecdotes, like a happy child who joyfully chatted with her father when he got home from work about his day. She told him about Felix’s school life, Matthias the man, her husband. The more frequently the voice shook, the more at ease her enchanting smile was.

“Felix is thriving and growing up strong. It feels like just yesterday that he took his first steps in the shoes you bought him, but now he can run and speak eloquently. I’m sure you already know. I wish I could have another child to wear those shoes, but Matthias is opposed to the idea. He doesn’t want another child.” Leyla’s face dropped, her smile vanishing into the howling wind while confessing the sorrow of her heart she had been carrying for long.

“I’ll return shortly,” Leyla stood from her seat, spilling agony with her face. The long afternoon sun cast shadows over the empty, old chair where she was seated.

“Father, you are so dear to my heart and I love you the most.” The words she spoke with affection lingered into the thin air as she gently dropped beneath Porch.

Along the way through the woods, Leyla accelerated her pace. The wind was howling. It was blowing the woodland aggressively. The white dress’ hem that Leyla got herself adorned with floated softly in the direction of wind, to eastwards.

Although she hadn’t made a single decision regarding the cabin, she was certain of one thing.

While penetrating through wind in the woods, Leyla halted for a moment and fixed her steely gaze heavenwards with sheer determination. She got her answer she was eagerly looking for; creating a space where Uncle Bill would be happy.

Your Leyla is a grownup now. She would make you happy, she would make you laugh.She whispered to herself, joyous as if she finally conquered the answer of the dilemma she was caught in.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

In front of the Schulter River, which had a road leading into the forest, the luxury car transporting the Duke family came to a halt. The disciplined, beforehand-prepared servants gave their masters a befitting reception pretending to be over joyous upon receiving their masters.

Matthias was the first to exit the vehicle as the driver hurried to open the door in the back seat. He was as dapper as ever in a cream linen suit. It was the exact likeness of Duke Herhardt, who was well-known for being free of fault and epitome of perfection.

As the servants looked on, a small foot adorned with a decorated strap emerged from the open car door. The driver, who had been approaching as usual, was startled and straightened up. Duke Herhardt did not delegate his wife’s escort to others – this was a widely known fact among all users of Arvis.

Who would have imagined that forest girl, raised by a gardener, would grow up to be a Duchess?

The people who recalled the girl, being Arvis’ child, were taken aback by Matthias and Leyla.

With no faint trace of awkwardness Leyla held the Duke’s hand as she exited the vehicle. Her silk skirt’s wide flair was wavy, matching her soft gesture. A bright smile of Leyla, envying sunshine, flared in the green eyes as she glanced at the surroundings.

“What a beautiful day it is,” the Duke’s wife said with joy, causing a gentle softening of his features, letting his lips to make a curve and welcome a sweet smile. In that moment, the atmosphere around him transformed. Until then, he had been the epitome of the ideal dictator, cold as ice and drained of any sort of emotion. His face was flat, his words were lifeless, while he depicted a programmed robot.

People who gathered to welcome thought he might have changed a bit, but they soon realized that the slight shift in demeanor was only allowed in the presence of Leyla von Herhardt, the love of his life. The gap, previously like incontinence, became a shield, giving the man’s life a more substantial appearance.

The waiting servants walked after the duchess as they started to walk side by side.

The route through the woodland remained quiet despite the high number of people traveling. This allowed Leyla to hear the birds and winds more clearly as she carefully raised her head. While Matthias was moving gently and keeping his eyes focused, Leyla was looking for traces of exotic birds and the chirp she was dearly fond of.

Leyla saw the face, whose appearance changes anytime like an ashen shadow collided with a light of a thousand suns combined. She didn’t realize nor took a heed to notice that his gaze was aimed at her, she met his eyes reciprocating his gesture, leaving her star struck.

Leyla’s eyes widened and screamed yet her mouth chose to stay quiet.

Although it was a little different from her initial assumption, she refrained from bringing it up. It’s a joyful moment which she couldn’t afford to ruin.

Leyla followed her desire and smiled and established eye contact with Matthias once more. She then turned to face her son who was riding in the stroller being pushed by the nanny. Felix, who had been complaining about having to ride in the stroller, was now grinning and looking around as if he had never done so, overjoyed by the moment, unlike anyone else.

Leyla’s heart exploded with desire to hold her son yet she forced herself to resist the impulse to approach the child right away as she straightened her posture. It ached her heart yet her posture was equally important to keep up.

She knew her life was led by rules and customs. She must behave with poise and not carelessly pick up a child in front of the maids. She was cognizant of the fact that the order in Arvis differed from that of the Ratz mansion. She knew that, just like the two Duchesses, she and her family should respect the rules during their stay in Arvis. This was the meaning behind the Duchesses’ words that the next Duke of Herhardt should embrace tradition.

Upon arriving at the picnic area, Leyla couldn’t help but be amazed wholeheartedly. “Wow…” she exclaimed. The stream, where she used to rest after picking raspberries, had been transformed into a completely unfamiliar place.

On the spacious picnic mat nestled in the shade of the tree, Leyla saw many unfamiliar and exotic sights. A brazier boiling tea, delicate pottery and silverware, cushions and blankets, and fresh flowers in a vase. Despite choosing the picnic spot herself, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of being in a strange place.

”It appears as though a room from the mansion has been transported here.”

She spoke gravely, but Matthias merely grinned back. With such a sweet expression, his face resembles a calm stream of water. Perhaps that explains why she keeps feeling dizzy anytime she sees him.

“I’m grateful,” Despite the fact that the picnic would be very taxing, Leyla decided she would not miss today’s enjoyment. “For honoring your commitment.”

She always trusted him when he made a commitment. Regardless of what anybody says, forever. He nevertheless kept his word. He was a man of his words.

Matthias responded by holding her cheek and reaching out to stroke it. Leyla quickly glanced around after saying that. Her heart started beating like a drum, resisting slowing down, not even after his touch left her cheek that remained there only for a fraction of a second.

She found the light in her heart against the dark heart, which she had only realized after the gloomy shade of her shame and dread. Yet there was more to reveal and to reveal it she required a lot of bravery.

“Ng..Matthy….”Leyla softly called out to Matthias, who was walking ahead, causing him to turn around. She hesitated before finally saying, “It’s just that… the weather is nice, don’t you think?” She knew she was being silly, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say. Matthias sat under the shade of a tree, appearing calm as the servants began to move about efficiently in the summer forest.

Leyla approached him, still wearing her hat, the weight of her agony heavy upon her. She couldn’t bear to take it off, not yet.

The news arrived at the end of tea, delivered by the servants. While they were shocked by the unexpected words, Matthias remained collected.

“Are you really going to dismiss all the servants, even the nanny?” Leyla asked, struggling to believe it. But Matthias’ answer did not waver.

“Yes,” he replied, his gaze drifting over the stunned faces of the servants before returning to the attendant. “You have all done an excellent job in preparing. 6 o’clock, be back here to tidy up.”

With a simple gesture, Matthias checked the time by raising his cuff, effectively cutting off the attendant’s protest. “It should be enough.”

Leyla looked around in a daze. When even the nanny, who had handed Felix over to his mother’s arms, retired, they were left alone in this forest.

The words were spoken in a euphemistic tone, but the message was clear. Despite feeling uncomfortable, Mark Evers eventually submitted to his owner’s will. Under his command, the servants began to depart, like a low tide receding.

“Can you do this?” Leyla asked in a jolt, meaning to break the rules by being unaccompanied by staff as the Duke and Duchess. But Matthias only looked at her with confusion, as if he didn’t understand the meaning of her question. It was then that Leyla realized that…

Her husband was the owner of this place, the lord of Arvis.

Leyla had much to say, but couldn’t find the words. Matthias usually honored the wishes of his grandmother and mother, but only in regards to the work he chose to do. She knew better than anyone else how, when he made another decision, he would follow through with his own will.

Leyla spoke inanely to Felix in an effort to divert her attention. Under Matthias’ close observation, it was difficult to avoid feeling self-conscious. She felt ashamed since Matthias was constantly observing her and she assumed he wanted to be intimate since they were by themselves. Matthias started to talk as she responded tensely to the sound of him setting down his teacup.

“Take it off now, Leyla.”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*