/
“Thank you for walking me all this way, I can take it from here.” Leyla smiled awkwardly at the man with her, trying her best to be polite. However, he seemed to be unwilling to part with her just yet.
“Oh please it’s no problem, it’s just a little more distance.” he insisted.
“Oh no, there’s no need,” Leyla politely declined once more, “My uncle’s very strict you see.” she told him, discreetly looking around, hoping no one has seen them yet.
It didn’t matter what Leyla would say as soon as rumours of her being seen around with a man would spread like wildfire in Arvis. She hated having to throw her uncle’s name under the bus, but it wasn’t as though it was untrue.
“Oh, I understand.” he finally complied, looking a bit dejected, before smiling at her once again, “Well, I guess I better go then. I had fun today, how about we do this again through lunch on Sunday?” he asked hopefully, making Leyla smile apologetically at him.
“I’m sorry, I can’t…”
“Or if this week’s not available, perhaps sometime next week? I don’t mind.” he quickly retracted, “I’m just hoping we could do this again.” he finished, flushing slightly under her gaze, but sounded quite sincere for her.
“I feel terrible having to spend such a short time with you over tea.” he reasoned out, “I’d love for us to have a proper chance to get to know each other more, that is, if you feel the same.” he admitted, “If not well, I promise not to trouble you any longer.”
Leyla could see he was being very truthful to her, and that no matter what her answer would be, he would respect her wishes. But until then, he was not leaving without a proper answer from her.
Leyla and the grocery store owner’s son were not well acquainted with each other before this. As far as she knew, he was the one in charge of the school’s delivery of their weekly supplies. She never expected to get to know him beyond that.
So when she had been called to the headmistress’ office just this afternoon, she was shocked to see him there with her. She soon found out he was the headmistress’ distant relative, looking for a relationship leading to marriage.
Leyla’s mind blanked out at that information.
Again, she couldn’t help but give another once over around them. Immediately, she heard the familiar sound of a car rolling down the pavement, and turned towards its general vicinity. She felt panic beginning to seize her chest, as she hoped for a miracle she was mistaken, but she was never that lucky.
Bright lights flashed them both on the pavement, the car having slowed down as it neared them before speeding up as it passed them by…
Leyla recognized that car anywhere. It was Duke Herhardt’s vehicle.
“Miss Lewellin?” His gentle voice shook Leyla out of her thoughts before she remembered she remained unresponsive with him for some time now, having been locked in her thoughts.
“I, I’m sorry.” she apologised, bowing before him, “I’m not ready yet for that kind of relationship.” she admitted to him, looking apologetic.
Though the headmistress might have set them up to have tea together, she found him to be amicable to be with. It’s not that she’s against marrying, she was sure she wants to someday. But just not right now, for now, it was enough for her to have a stable job and live a normal life.
“Oh, well, I completely understand.” he replied, sounding dejected. He stepped back, smiling back at her reassuringly he was not angry at all, and apologised for the trouble she went through.
They parted ways, and Leyla watched as he left in a sullen manner. It made Leyla uncomfortable knowing she had to turn down such a kind man, but it was for the better. If she had accepted him sooner than she should, she would have hurt him in the end.
Just as she did with Kyle.
Leyla’s gaze turned dark as the name entered her thoughts.
There had been many times, since their separation, that she’d wonder how he was. However in the end she found it enough for her to pray for his well being for now. She missed him dearly, but she couldn’t go back to the times when it was so easy to be with him.
She can’t go back to the moments when she could still laugh, chat and walk freely with Kyle.
The skies have turned dark, the street lamps now lit up. Anxiety bubbled up in her as soon as she shook her fond memories of him away out of mind. This anxiousness in her felt just like she did with the first autumn she had spent with the duke.
She breathed in, and closed her eyes, imagining the distant spring time to come. She’d be in a new place by then, planning to start a new chapter in her life. She hoped when she moved she could find a lodging room with a huge window, allowing the sun to seep in and fill her space.
It would also be ideal if there were some trees nearby, or a park she could see through. That way she only needs to open the window to breathe in the fresh smell of cut grass or the wet forest floor after a rain. That’s what she would miss most in Arvis after all.
She soon found herself calming down the more she thought about her successful move away from Arvis. Composed and confident everything would be fine, she gripped the handle of her bicycle tightly, and began to move, turning carefully around the corner.
Her eyes were only set in front of her, on the empty asphalt road, framed by the trees on either side, moonlight guiding her way home. She breathed in deeply, relaxed in her assumed solitude, pedalling briskly as she continued in her way.
She was completely oblivious to the Duke Herhardt that had been nearby, waiting for her quietly by the shadowed side of the pavement.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Kyle was overcome by a familiar trepidation whenever he approached his mailbox. It’s become a habit now, whenever he’d retrieve his mails, for him to search for a particular letter. He always arrived with that faint hope that this time, he’d get a reply.
However, when he sifted through his mail, none of them were from Leyla. His smile fell, as he turned sullen. Week after week he’d write to her, hoping for word of how she was, a response to his letters to her. But she’d never written back, not once.
With a dejected sigh, he closed his mailbox once more, and went back up to his dormitories. His room was located on the east wing, third floor. With vacation just right around the corner, students were busying themselves in packing for home. But Kyle was yet to be struck with the need to do the same.
His room was just as usual. He opened up his dorm room, greeted by nothing but the darkened room, and tossed his meagre pile of letters by the console table, right beside the doorway. There were only a couple of them today, an invitation to an upcoming social gathering, and one from home.
He plopped himself on his bed, not having the energy to read through their contents. He watched the moonlight filter through his window, slipping through the gaps between his curtains as it shone on his sulking form.
‘Why don’t you go on a trip during your first break?’
Those were his father’s words just a few days ago when he phoned home. While it was true that nowadays, most of the wealthier students tend to go off on trips across the continent during breaks, he was certain his father had some other reason in mind.
He glossed over a proper response to his suggestion, telling him he’d think about it. No matter what he’d decide on, he knew it was pointless to go back and seek Leyla out by now. So what point was there for him to travel?
‘Should I just lay here then, all miserable without her?’ he pondered, shifting to lie on his back instead of his stomach. ‘To stay until I become insane from staring at concrete while drowning myself in studies?’
‘There’s no place in this world where only the two of us can be happy.’
He tossed his arm over his eyes, chuckling dryly to himself as he recalled Leyla’s words to him. He couldn’t even answer her, couldn’t find his voice to speak back at that time. And now, all that’s left of him is a deep sense of self-loathing.
He hated how weak he had been, how he was nothing if not for his parents. But most of all, he hated how he couldn’t even protect the woman he loved most in the world.
‘Leyla, I wanted to be a doctor so that I could find a place where we could both be happy.’ he thought wistfully, feeling the pinprick of tears in his eyes, ‘But that’s still in the distant future, could I survive that long to be parted from you?’
He pressed his palms over his eyes before sighing. He pulled his hands away as he opened his eyes, before trying to catch the light of the moon in his hands.
‘Even a few months away from you is torture.’
Kyle was almost of age by now, which meant he could finally claim the inheritance his grandfather left him. He regretted having not thought about it sooner.
He sat up on his bed, and ran his fingers through his dishevelled hair, staring at nothing but the blank walls of his dorm. Making up his mind, he immediately got up, flipped the light by his desk on, and grabbed some pen and paper.
He was nervous when he wrote it down, but this was an urgent matter he needed to do.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
“Why, all of a sudden, is everyone trying to find you a groom?” Bill suddenly piped up as he watched Leyla set the table for dinner. When he’d asked her about her day, he hadn’t expected her to have been out with the grocery store owner’s son, a meeting set up by the headmistress.
Leyla looked up at him, frowning as she tilted her head in confusion.
““What do you mean by everyone?” she asked curiously. Bill scratched the back of his head as he recalled earlier events.
“You know, Mrs. Mona, the chatty chef?” Leyla nodded to indicate she knew who he was talking about, “Well she approached me a while ago, telling me she overheard Madam Norma asking Hessen around for a suitable groom for you.” he informed her. Leyla couldn’t help but grow more confused, and more curious.
“Why would Madam Norma do that?”
“I don’t know,” Bill shrugged, “Perhaps she took a liking to you.” he added offhandedly as he placed their food on the dinner table. Leyla couldn’t help but scoff.
“No way.” she added preposterously, smiling as she sat across Bill from the table as he fetched the bread out of the stove.
“Well, I don’t see any other reason why she’d find you a groom.” Bill pointed out and sat down on his seat, “So why do you think she would?” he asked her this time, looking at her inquiringly.
“Uncle, you’re not getting tired of being around me, are you?” Leyla teased, making Bill puff out a scoff and waved the accusations away.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“If that’s not the case, then you won’t mind if I’m going to live with you forever?” she further said, grinning as they gathered food into their plates and began to dig in.
The conversation died down a little, the only sound coming was the scraping of their utensils against the plates as they ate. Bill leaned back in his chair, deep in thought as he chewed carefully, eyeing Leyla, before swallowing the food.
“So, if ever Madam Norma introduces you to a strapping young man,” Bill began, breaking the silence between them, “You’d refuse him?”
Leyla only smiled sadly at him, seeing the concern reflected through her uncle’s eyes for her.
“Well, I’d certainly love to meet someone who’s just like you Uncle,” she admitted, “Unfortunately, I think no one is like you.” she smiled, hoping to reassure him, but Bill could only ache for her.
Once more he couldn’t help but feel like it was Kyle why she was like this. He was certain she was so hurt by their failed engagement, she found herself no longer wanting marriage, hence continuously turning down marriage offers.
Though that’s not stopping Kyle from wanting to reconnect with her. As much as it pained him to lie to her, Bill had to take Kyle’s letters away from her pile every time he saw one from the man. He knew that they had a good relationship in the past, but for him it was beyond a point of repair.
“Should, uh, Leyla…” he trailed off, making Leyla hum as she listened to what he had to say…
‘If Leyla still has feelings for Kyle, would it help if Kyle cuts ties with the Etman household?’ Bill couldn’t help but wonder, ‘It might be a rough start, but I’d help them settle down, even if they move to the capital city.’
Should that happen, Bill has resolved himself to move with them. It might be difficult for him to get a job as a gardener from Arvis there, but he’s willing to quit for Leyla. And should the time come to pass, and Leyla gives birth to their child, then perhaps that wicked Mrs. Etman would come around to accepting their relationship.
“Uncle?” Leyla called out, having heard nothing from him for sometime now.
“Hm?” He looked up at her in confusion.
“You were saying?” she prompted gently, making him remember they were still in the middle of a conversation.
“Ah right, um, chicken!” he declared, “Yes, yes, chickens.” he murmured, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the tabletop. Leyla’s face twisted into confusion.
“Chickens?”
“Yes! Should we catch chickens tomorrow?” Bill asked rather jovially, before seeing the concern in her eyes, “It slipped my mind for a while there, must be my age getting to me. I’m fine Leyla.” he excused rather sheepishly, smiling brightly at her.
Next time, he’d think twice before opening his mouth to speak. He was fortunate that Leyla hadn’t doubted him yet, so she only smiled and nodded brightly back at him.
“Sure uncle, let’s have some chickens tomorrow.” She readily agreed and they both began finishing their meals.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
Slender fingers grabbed the knob for the phonograph’s volume, turning it up. The figure turned around, heading towards his wing chair, the firelight illuminating his face, revealing Matthias.
He sat quietly in his darkened room, staring into the fire, the only light source he had right now. Suddenly, there was a fluttering of wings, as the cage rattled, and a bird landed by his perched fingers.
He regarded it slowly, gently turning his fingers, whistling the same tune of the music that was playing. It didn’t take long for his bird to follow in suit, chirping along with the tunes. Matthias couldn’t help the smug grin on his lips.
His bird was clever. Despite having never trained it, it followed him wordlessly, chirping along naturally to the music. It was thanks to his beautiful canary he enjoyed listening to the music as it followed along.
The music he mostly played was waltz, though sometimes he liked to mix it up with either the orchestra symphonies, or ballet bagatelles. As far as he could tell, his canary would sing beautifully whenever it was a waltz it was copying.
Finally the music stopped, soft melodies fading out as the piece ended, leaving only the crackling of firewood to fill the quiet room. Matthias lightly caressed his bird with the pads of his fingers, wordlessly praising its natural talent.
Familiar with its master’s touch, the canary nuzzled towards his fingers, lightly tapping its beak as though it was trying to kiss his hand. Matthias smirked, slowly getting up as he approached his bird’s cage.
He lowered his hand, hovering right in front of the cage’s entrance, before it fluttered back in to settle inside it’s plush and cosy nest. Matthias quietly locked the golden cage close, before turning towards the phonograph to cut the beginnings of the next song off.
He breathed in deeply, before letting out an exhausted sigh as he languidly rested on top of his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He then turned his head, to look at his bird with a smile, in his mind, imagining a different one instead…
“Good night.” he said to it, seeing his canary settle down into sweet slumber. As soon as the bird was asleep, the smile faded on Matthias’ lips as he kept staring at the bird.