Cry, Even Better if you Beg

Chapter 20  Cry, Even Better if you Beg

“How kind of you, madam.”1

Mrs. Etman’s eyes, looking at Madam Norma, were full of heartfelt admiration.

“How can you show such great kindness?”

The clearer the joy spread on Mrs. Etman’s face, the more troubled Kyle Etman looked as he stood beside her. Matthias watched the two with an interested glance. He knew that his grandmother liked her doctor and adored his son. Dr. Etman was a competent doctor and had excellent character, so it was reasonable.

Maybe Kyle Etman, who resembles his father, will live that same life as long as there is no change.

Grandmother was sure of it, and Matthias agreed.

But that was it.

There was no reason for Matthias to pay any more attention to the obvious and tedious facts. Linda Etman, the very ambitious lady of the house, acted differently from the two men of the Etman’s family.

“May I greet them now?”

Fearing that Norma might change her mind, Mrs. Etman lost her composure and pressured Norma.

“Dear.”

Dr. Etman, who had been quietly watching, gently dissuaded her, but she didn’t seem to be willing to give up at all.

Matthias turned to Kyle Etman again.

His grandmother had offered to introduce Baron Arundt’s family to the Etman family. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t know the hidden meaning behind her words when Norma said the two families would match well so they could be good acquaintances. Baron Arundt had a daughter who was around the same age as Kyle Etman. A daughter who was at the age to start thinking about getting married.

Even though the Etman household had no title of nobility, they were wealthier than the Arundt household. They also had greater prestige. If the two families became in-laws, it was Baron Arundt who benefited the most.

“Yes, Mrs. Etman. That sounds good.”

Norma Catarina von Herhardt called in her servant with a generous smile. She had ordered to bring in Baron Arundt and his wife. The servant quickly disappeared through the crowd. Kyle’s face, glancing towards the terrace that connected the garden, was now indescribably nervous.

It was as if he had left behind something precious there.

A smile flashed on Matthias’s lips as he was sure of what that was.1

A mother who had an infinite attachment and expectation for her son, and a son who didn’t know how to disappoint her. When Matthias thought of Leyla Lewellin in between the two, he almost chuckled. In the meantime, Baron Arundt and his wife, who were guided by the servant, appeared. Their daughter was with them, of course.

Kyle seemed to have noticed the meaning of the occasion. Even though he had a look of immediate desire to run out, the boy couldn’t let go of the role of a good and polite son.

If that was the case.

Matthias left the stage of a boring matchmaking scene. His gait across the terrace and down the stairs was relaxed without the slightest sign of impatience.

It was obvious what kind of ending the dutiful son’s puppy love would come to. Leyla was ultimately going to be abandoned and left in Matthias’s woods.4

By the time the obvious conclusion was reached, Matthias found Leyla. She was staying underneath the pergola in the corner of the garden, not bothering to go far because she had promised to wait for the boy.

Matthias moved towards her at a slower pace. He was wondering why she didn’t become flustered as usual, but he then realized that she was fast asleep. The faint moonlight that traveled through the rose bushes shone on the small, crouching woman.

Matthias stopped at a short distance from the bench. And deeply looked. At her neatly taken off shoes, wounded feet, slender arms wrapped around her knees, and her face that looked more innocent when asleep.

A long stretch of hair wrapped around her thin neck and shoulders. Matthias gently lowered his waist and picked up her shoes as he wondered how soft her golden locks would feel.

It was then when Leyla slowly opened her eyes.

~~~~

It’s a dream.

Leyla vaguely thought. In the meantime, Matthias stood against the pillar of the pergola that faced the bench. In his hand, there were shoes that looked like a woman’s.

But even if this is a dream, isn’t it too strange?

When the question came to mind, the lingering feeling of sleep receded.

“…… the duke?”

Leyla couldn’t believe what was seeing, so she had whispered to him. Instead of answering, Matthias took out a cigarette and held it to his mouth. The white smoke of his lips streaming out of his mouth proved that this moment could never be a dream.

Leyla, who was about to faint in surprise, belatedly realized that the shoes he held in his hand was hers. Leyla crouched her body to the edge of the bench. Matthias stared at her as if he was amused and slowly waved her shoes.

“Do you want it back?”

A low voice came along with the hazy cigarette smoke.

“Yes.”

“Then cry, Leyla.”7

The following words were even more languid and appalling.

His unbelievable words stunned Leyla. She hoped that Kyle would come quickly, but the road beyond the pergola was empty.

“He’s not coming.”

The duke spoke calmly as if he had read her mind.

“Kyle Etman.”

Matthias whispered as he looked at Leyla frowning in doubt.

“The one you’re waiting for.”

Matthias dropped the half-smoked cigarette onto the ground.

When the thinly rising smoke stopped, Leyla looked up in tears.

“No.”

Leyla pulled herself up as she was determined to not show her wounded feet. She faced Matthias with both her feet strongly placed on the floor. Although she was still afraid of him, she didn’t want to become his amusement anymore.

“Kyle always keeps his word.”

“Does he?”

“Yes.”

Leyla replied with conviction.

“You look quite confident.”

“I think I know more about Kyle than you do.”

Leyla clearly and emphatically said, mustering up all the courage she had. A smile spread over the duke’s lips.

“Confidence isn’t something to be reckoned with, Leyla.”

The duke approached along with his words. Although her shoulders cowered in fear, Leyla didn’t back down.

“I…. I really don’t know.”

“About what?”

“Why do you hate me so much?”

Leyla’s eyes were direct and lucid, unlike her trembling voice.

“I feel pleasant when I hate you.”3

He calmly answered with one corner of his mouth raised.

“It’s enjoyable when you cry, and it’s fun to see you beg.”

“How can you say that?”

“Leyla, I’m just answering your question.”

Matthias simply looked nonchalant with the astonished Leyla in front of his eyes.

“You don’t act like this to anyone other than me.”

His insults had brought tears to her eyes, but Leyla managed to put up with it. Matthias willingly nodded to her words.

“Right.”

“Then why is it only me…..”

“Because it’s you.”

“What?”

“Because it’s you, Leyla. Because you’re a nobody.”7

His reply was calm and dry. His tone had made Leyla even more miserable.

“I’m sorry, your grace.”

Leyla stared at him as she tried not to cry. She started to miss the relatives who had kicked her out for various reasons. Not even her drunk uncle was that cruel to Leyla.1

“I’m so sorry that I’m a nobody that dares to stay in your territory.”

Now, not only her voice but also her hands that were clenched into fists trembled.

“If you were going to act like this, why didn’t you just disallow me to stay in your estate instead?”

“Leyla, isn’t that too unsympathetic?”

“You’re truly unsympathetic enough.”

No matter how hard Leyla had tried to hide it, her voice continued to whimper.

“Are you going to kick me out now?”

“No.”

Matthias’s eyes grew darker.

“Don’t worry about that. You’re doing enough for your use.”

“You said I was a nobody.”1

“That’s your use.”5

When she slowly opened her closed eyes, Matthias erased the scorn that used to remain at the end of his lips. His expressionless face now looked stiflingly cold and still.

“That’s enough of an apology.”

Matthias raised his head, which had been leaning deeply towards Leyla, and stood in a straight posture.

“The Kyle Etman you’re waiting for is not coming.”

Matthias’s hand pointing to an empty path touched Leyla’s hair that flowed over her shoulder. Leyla backed away in fear, but was blocked by the bench and couldn’t take a step further.

“So Leyla…..”

With her golden hair grasped and fondled by Matthias, he looked at Leyla with a deeper look than before.

“Cry.”

Even at the moment he gave a heartless order, Matthias remained calm.

“Even better if you beg.”7

With the addition of his suggestion, Matthias’s lips had formed into a faint smile.

Crazy person.1

Leyla had been thinking that for a long time, but she was sure now. This man was definitely crazy.

~~~~

When Matthias had returned to his mansion, Kyle Etman was still held up by his mother. The Baron and Baroness Arundt seemed to like the idea of becoming in-laws with the Etman household. They showed considerable favor and Mrs. Etman’s response was not much different. Kyle’s attitude was now noticeably stiff, but his mother didn’t seem to care much about her son.1

Matthias once again drew away his attention from the obvious and tedious affairs. Mixed between familiar faces, he began to play the role of the master of Arvis, Duke Herhardt.

Leyla cried.2

Matthias felt satisfied while recalling the moment. She trembled and droplets of water fell from her face as she couldn’t hold in her rage. Her wet eyes looked more clear because of the corners of her eyes that had turned red. At the moment, Leyla Lewellin’s eyes sparkled like the jewels that hung around her neck, and Matthias liked that.

He returned her shoes because she cried beautifully.1

When he was about to leave the garden, he looked back and saw Leyla still standing there crying. She cried because of him, therefore, the tears that came from Leyla’s was his. Matthias’s steps became lighter.2

His despondent feeling of when he saw Kyle Etman escorting Leyla into the mansion was washed away with Leyla’s tears. As well as the indescribable feeling he felt the moment he kissed Claudine while staring at Leyla.

Tonight, in his world, Leyla was beautiful, and the beautiful Leyla had cried in front of him.5

So it was a perfect summer night.

By the time Matthias reached that satisfactory conclusion, Leyla unexpectedly reappeared. Standing on the edge of the aisle linking the hall to the terrace, she was carefully looking for someone.

“Kyle Etman.”

Matthias slowly whispered the name.

Leyla seemed to have found him soon. However, she wasn’t able to approach. She seemed to have understood what it meant for Kyle Etman to be surrounded by the Arundt household, especially Baron Arundt’s youngest daughter.

Leyla, who had been hiding behind the post for a long time, approached the passing servant and had said something to him. The servant nodded his head and started to head towards Kyle Etman, who had a cold look on his face as if he had reached his limit. Meanwhile, Leyla had left the terrace.

Matthias impulsively approached the servant.

“Please call Count Klein.”2

The eyes of the servant grew bigger at Matthias’s order. For a moment, he glanced over to Kyle Etman’s side, but gave the very answer Matthias expected.

“Yes, master.”

Turning his steps, he hurried through the crowd to accept Matthias’s order.

Matthias left the terrace and leaned on the pillar where Leyla had stayed a while ago. Leyla was drifting absently along the promenade and then to the center of the garden. Her feet seemed to hurt as she limped. She later took off her shoes and walked barefoot from the middle of the path.

Matthias watched her as he waited for his servant. Of course, Count Klein wasn’t going to come. Having a neurotic headache, the count had only shown his face early in the evening and returned home.1

By the time Leyla disappeared deep into the forest, the servant from before had approached.

“I’m sorry, master. Count Klein had already returned home.”

“I see.”

Matthias nodded and smiled.

“Well done.”

Matthias leisurely left the terrace after his salute.

Only then did the servant return to his previous duty. As he approached Kyle Etman, he delivered Leyla’s words and a sense of dismay flashed across Kyle Etman’s face.

Kyle suddenly began to rush out to the terrace after asking for his understanding, but Matthias didn’t mind any longer. Leyla Lewellin, despite her little figure, walked pretty fast. It was too late for Kyle to catch up to her.3

Matthias willingly took the glass of champagne Riette had offered.

The glamorous midsummer night, the party was perfect.7

⊛⊛⊛⊛

Korean Comments Section✎1

He called for Klein to stall for time right..?1

Kyle was perfectㅠㅠ But Kyle’s mom doesn’t seem to like Leyla.2

He’s a very complicated character that Matthias~ And I’m curious about his end.