Cry, Even Better if you Beg

thias made a spontaneous order to the old man before leaving the area with Claudine.

The zookeeper’s eyes narrowed in surprise as he heard the sudden request.
“…..
Yes, my Lord?”

“That bird.”

Matthias pointed to the bird with his thinly opened eyes. 

“My canary.”

 

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

 

 

Leyla made a single ponytail out of her combed blonde hair.
She then put on an apron and didn’t forget to pick up her huge basket.

“I have to finish it soon.”

Leyla’s expression was grave as she muttered to herself.
Lady Brandt had paid a visit to Arvis a few days before Duke Herhardt’s arrival.

As a consequence, Leyla was pressed for time.
Before she ran into the Duke again.
Or was summoned by Lady Brandt, she had to pick all the raspberries in the woods.

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However, those two people were fortunately occupied as they seemed to be preparing to announce their marriage.

Leyla took a short walk into the woods while wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat.
She found a bush of overgrown raspberries there.

There were always lots of fruits dropping on the ground and rotting away, no matter how much the people of Arvis and the forest animals picked and ate it.

Before midday, Leyla tirelessly trekked the forest and loaded her big basket.
She felt rollicking, although her arms felt like they were going to crumble down owing to the heavyweight of the basket.

She placed her basket under the shadow of a tree and dashed for the water to rinse the fierce raspberry smell and color from her hands and face.

The garden of Herhardt and its valleys was encircled by the Schulter River.

The river’s curve looked beautiful from the central city, but the Arvis cemetery had the best view of that river.

Leyla dug into her apron for a handkerchief and wiped the water droplets off her face.

Over the season, that refreshing river contributed a lot to mitigate the scorching weather.
She thought of dipping her feet into the river, but she quickly discarded the notion.

In her aunt’s house, where she first lived before being shipped out, Leyla had five older cousins who were always rough and rude to her.

One day, she had been dragged and thrown into a river by her cousins. Leyla might have been taken by the water spirit if her neighbor didn’t hear her scream and rescued her from drowning.

However, her cousins defended their behavior by claiming it was her initiative as a ritual ceremony stepped into their household.

Even though her cousins were at fault, Leyla was the one who was beaten by her drunk uncle that night.
She was driven out and relocated to her next relative’s house in the next few weeks, with an excuse that they couldn’t take care of a child who took their kindness for granted.

Although it was unfair, Leyla wanted to see it as a positive because she thought her next relative’s house would be better for her.

The following house.

The next house after that.

Leyla wished for better care any time she was transferred from one place to another.

And when she eventually settled down at Uncle Bill’s cottage, she felt her sincere dreams had been granted.

So far, it has gone well.

Leyla turned around and walked under the shade of the tree.
She stuffed the newspaper pinned to the basket’s corner into her apron pocket and started climbing it.

Uncle Bill had taught her that.
So she knew how to, even though she wasn’t as fast and flexible as she used to be.

Leyla perched like a well-fitted chair on the tree branch.

Looking down, she was confident that the Schulter River was the most beautiful river on the earth.

Kyle, who had traveled to a variety of cities before, also agreed with her.
So Leyla believed her point of view had been validated by credible evidence.

Summer was, without a doubt, one of the most paradisal seasons of the year.

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As the fresh scent of the river permeated through her nose, she watched the water birds hunting for food from the high tree. 

Leyla took the newspaper from her apron pocket.
She flipped to the mystery serial novel section with a focused look on her eyes.
In this episode, the main detective was about to reveal the murderer by his brilliant analysis. 

Leyla began to read the novel with zeal when Matthias suddenly raised his face from under the water’s surface. 

His fit, naked body was displayed over the river water. His distinctive Adam’s apple went up and down to the beat of his rapid breathing.

Matthias had changed his mind and started swimming in the reverse direction of the stream just as he was about to return to his mansion.

Matthias enjoyed the Schulter River and the Arvis forest so much. He moved to the building next to the dock, where he could have a panoramic view of the whole scene from his small annex.

Matthias’s grandmother and mother never walked by the riverside.
That’s why that place was like Matthias’s private world.

When there were no guests at the mansion, Matthias often visited the annex.
Just to blankly stare at the landscape beyond the window, read a book, or even take a nap if he was bored.

It’s the most enjoyable place to do things.

Of course, his favorite thing to do, just as now, was to sink his body into the river.

Matthias looked up at the horizon obscured by the green branches when floating in the water.

The sound of swaying leaves and rippling water, as well as the birds’ chirp, they were both roiled by the gentle breeze.

The mansion had been noisy over the previous few days, so it was only today that he could deeply feel the river’s calmness.

The negotiation process for the marriage deal that Herhardt and the Brandt family were about to sign had gone smoothly.

His engagement to Claudine was scheduled to be confirmed by the end of the summer if nothing surprising happened.

Matthias agreed to a year-long engagement.
He didn’t have to keep his job as an officer if he earned enough honor as the Duke of Arvis.

Moreover, he was at the most suitable time to discharge from the military and marry after serving about one or two years in the military division.
So, after the wedding, he planned to devote his whole attention to his family’s business.

It was a life where he would glide along like a steady, calm stream.

With his eyes closed, Matthias surrendered his body to the river.
Bright sunlight, melting water, and the sound of swirls breaking down in his ears seemed to be all that existed in his world.

But his utter peace was broken the second he opened his eyes again.

There’s a woman sitting on the limbs of the sturdy tree by the river.

Matthias recognized the woman’s features before he had a chance to blink his eyes. 

At that exact moment, the woman who folded up her newspaper she was reading turned her head towards him.

It was that annoying woman. 

Leyla Lewellin.