/
“You have my gratitude, Dr. Etman.”
The eyes of Norma Catharina von Herhardt were full of appreciation as she watched him pack his medical bag.
“Oh, don’t mention it! I’m glad that you are back to your peak health.” Dr. Etman replied warmly, smiling like his usual kind self.
“Given my old age
it wouldn’t be surprising if my health starts deteriorating.”
“Please, don’t say that.”
Dr. Etman left his work earlier to re-check Norma’s health.  The Duchess had caught a cold and had the potential to become serious considering her youth had passed.
“It’s all thanks to you that this old woman is enjoying these years in good shape. Isn’t that right, Elysee?” She asked her daughter-in-law who had been silently standing next to the doctor the entire time.
“Of course!” Elysee von Herhardt agreed, gladly grabbing the chance to praise their family doctor. “You’ve done well, Dr. Etman.”
“Thank you, Madam. I must get going now.” Dr. Etman replied as he picked up his already packed medical bag, intending to leave the room.
“Oh yes, how’s Kyle doing?”
The instant he heard Elysee inquire about his son, Dr. Etman’s eyes twitched, but he quickly regained his calm and replied with a bright smile. “Kyle is doing well. He’s currently absorbed in his studies.”
“I see. He will be a great doctor in the future since he resembles you a lot.”
“I’m honored that Madam thinks that way.”
“Will he return to Carlsbar during the winter break?” Elysee tried probing.
“I don’t believe he has decided yet.”
“True, he might prefer to stay and mingle with his new friends since it’s his first break and there’s also the option of exploring the south.”
“Yes, either way, I’d like to respect Kyle’s wishes.”
“Do tell me his decision; if he decides to spend his winter vacation in the capital then I’ll introduce him to an excellent social club or if he chooses to go on a trip, I’ll help him in any way I can.”
Elysee proposed without hesitation, leaving the other two surprised at her unexpected consideration and kindness, especially Dr. Etman.
“Please send my regards to Mrs. Etman as well.” Elysee added as she accompanied him towards the bedroom door.
Hearing Elysee’s considerate words even though her relationship with his wife had soured, a content smile spread across Dr. Etman’s face.
Following his departure, the maids also stepped out of the room, and the Herhardt’s duo were left unattended.
“You’re quite attentive to Kyle, Elysee.” Norma faintly praised her daughter-in-law as she leaned back onto the soft cushion with a tender smile on her face.
“After contemplating for a while, I have realized that your words were indeed right. ” Elysee expressed further, “If Kyle becomes an excellent doctor, he could be useful to our Matthias. Mrs. Etman and I have grown apart, but I’m trying to respect the Etmans as our family doctor.”
“I’m glad you agreed.”
Norma replied with an eager nod. Kyle Etman was to replace his father’s role as the Herhardt family’s doctor after he graduated, if everything went as predicted.
The gradual conversation between the pair that had begun with Kyle Etman eventually deviated back to Matthias, the living honor of the Herhardt family.
“Matthias attended a council meeting at the town school recently.” Elysee informed with delight. “His attentiveness towards such matters amazes me.”
“He is on the right path to becoming the head of the household. I am impressed at how fast he has improved.”” Norma praised her grandson wholeheartedly , which pleased Elysee von Herhardt to no end. After all, Matthias was her son.
“Of course! He will become the best Duke Herhardt has ever had!”
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
So to speak, it was a coincidence.
Riette proposed attending a social gathering since there was no schedule prepared for the day, and Matthias agreed.
The social gathering was pleasant, yet tedious. They finally excused themselves and came across Leyla on their way back.
Matthias recognized Leyla from a distance instantly when the car entered the mansion.  She cycled her bicycle along the Platanus road in the October cold, wrapped in the white coat he had gifted her.
“Isn’t that Leyla Lewellin?” Riette noticed her as the distance from the woman on the bike gradually shortened. “The bird lover that lives in the Arvis’ hunting grounds?” His eyes switched from Leyla to his cousin who was staring unblinkingly at her with his piercing blue eyes.
Matthias nodded without removing his gaze from her. He could see how fatigued she was yet she endured and pedalled her bike as usual.
Realizing that a car had been following her, Leyla parked the bike to the side of the road to make way for the bigger vehicle. Matthias was able to get a good glimpse at her as soon as his vehicle passed by; she was wearing brand-new shoes that he had bought for her as well.
“If I’m not mistaken, earlier, you told me that she’s a village school teacher. She should be on her way back home from school .” Riette grinned as he kept staring at his cousin, whose eyes never left the girl.
“Maybe.”
Matthias drew his glance away from Leyla at the end of his vague reply, his lips still had a faint smile on its corner. Riette couldn’t take his eyes off his cousin’s face, who seemed like a little boy experiencing love for the first time.
“
Got something to say?” Matthias mischievously asked as he turned to face Riette who had been burning holes on him with his gaze.
“We will hunt today. I hope you can join us.” Riette replied with an excuse. “I’ve invited some guests and it wouldn’t be right if the Arvis’ owner is absent.”
After Riette announced his weekend plan to hunt in the Arvis’ forest, requests for invitations flooded in. Matthias had shown green light to his cousin’s request to invite guests to his mansion.
“I can’t act like the owner of your estate, Matthias.” Riette added just as the car stopped at the front door of the mansion.
‘Leyla would definitely roam the forest during the weekends, wouldn’t she?’
After contemplating for a moment, Matthias gladly agreed.
“Fine
”
“As expected.”
Riette got out of the car looking delighted. This was the Matthias he was familiar with.
“Now you’re acting more like Duke Herhardt, my cousin!”
Laughing, Riette wrapped her arms over his shoulders, which Matthias let him do, despite his dislike of such intimate acts.
The two men walked alongside each other, entering the mansion’s foyer, which was lit up at evening hours.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Phoebe was a smart pigeon.
Intelligent enough to know how to scheme to get her freedom back after she got dissatisfied with being confined in a cage in the backyard.
It all started with Bill Remmer, who forgot to lock her cage properly after volunteering to feed the bird on behalf of Leyla one weekend morning as she was busy preparing breakfast for them.
The gluttonous pigeon hadn’t noticed the unlocked door right away as she was more interested in filling her stomach. It was only while Bill and Leyla were busy raking up the leaves that blanketed the entire backyard, that the bird noticed something unusual about her cage.
“Don’t go out into the woods today Leyla. The Duke is out hunting with his friends.”
Leyla sighed deeply as she cleaned the ground. “He has been quiet for a while but it seems his hobby hasn’t changed.” Her disappointment was audible as she vented her frustration by sweeping.
“What kind of marksman would waste his skill?” Bill pointed out as a matter of fact.
“I feel like you’re siding with the Duke.”
“I
 I’m not taking any sides! It’s just
I’m just telling the truth.”
Leyla smirked as Bill hurriedly turned his words around. “It seems that everyone in Arvis likes the Duke.” She stated her observation and her uncle shrugged. “There’s no reason to dislike him. On the contrary, he’s the noblest gentleman Arvis ever had. That saucy aristocratic lady is lucky to be engaged to a man like Duke Herhardt.”
“
Yes.”
Leyla raked the backyard with a brighter smile as she relished the back and forth conversation with her uncle. She occasionally glanced at the bird cage and would feel at ease seeing Phoebe safe and sound; everything was fine.
The naughty bird, however, finally made its bold escape when Bill left for work and Leyla began to clean the house.
The wooden door of the cage creaked by the wind. Following the sound Phoebe tried her luck by pecking at the swinging door. She quickened her pace and the rickety door of the cage was fully open not long after.
Phoebe was puzzled for a second as she stared at the opened cage door, thinking it was a perfect chance to escape the unfair punishment Leyla had given her for delivering the Duke’s letter.
The fatty pigeon flapped her white wings vigorously and flew towards the forest, the same place where the Duke’s hunting party would head for their session.
Leyla took a break from mopping and peered out the window as she heard noises outside. A familiar sight unfolded before her: hounds leading the way and aristocrats following on horseback. She jerked into a tense pose in fear. Repetitive flashbacks of gunshots firing with an eerie light resurfaced in her head.
Leyla was startled when Matthias turned his head towards the cabin and caught her gaze. Facing an overwhelming sense of dread, she withdrew from the window, her heart pounding hard.
Fidgeting frantically, Leyla fastened the window and drew the curtain hurriedly.
‘It’s not my first time seeing them, why am I behaving more cowardly than before?’
Her heartbeat had barely returned to normal even after the hunting party had left. The first gunshot was heard as Leyla massaged her cold and stiff shoulders followed by the resounding barks of the hounds.
‘It’s him! The insane Duke who casually kills birds.’
The small, motionless bird drenched in its blood, wounded by the bullet.
The scent of blood

All those memories began to re-live itself in her mind.
Leyla hurriedly took her bag and left the house to bury those dead birds in the forest once the hunting session was over. She went to the backyard to check on Phoebe first , as if it was routine, to make sure the pigeon was still there before leaving.
“Phoebe
”
Leyla’s face turned pale with fear as she stood in front of an empty and open cage. Trembling, she held the bag strap and ran as she heard another gunshot ringing in the forest
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Matthias was the first to shoot. His bullet immediately put an end to the roe deer’s life as it galloped through the undergrowth.
“Are you considering hunting on the ground as well?” Riette asked with amusement while he applauded Matthias’ success. “That would be a little disappointing, I really wanted to spectate Duke Herhardt’s bird shooting ability.” He continued, commenting on Matthias’ sudden change.
Riette stopped his nonsense and picked up his gun as the hounds drove him to a new prey; a grey fur rabbit.
The deeper they moved into the forest, the more intense the hunt grew. However, Matthias did not make a move against any of the birds even though others added them to the catch.
‘As long as it’s not a bird, it’s fine, right?’
Matthias didn’t understand the reason for such a random thought but he soon came to a realization :
He didn’t want to see her cry.
He’d rather that it became a dull hunt than to upset her by aiming for a bird.
The sound of the horse hooves running over the thick layer of fallen leaves shook the serenity of the forest. The hunting party set out for the rookeries at the Schulter River – Matthias’ favourite hunting location.
On the way to the river, Matthias inadvertently saw a familiar bird with white feathers seated on a long branch. It’s leg tied with a familiar red thread.
“Phoebe.”
His unwitting murmur drew the attention of the others to the twig, where a white pigeon was perched calmly without a care.