Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Translation: godsn
By the time Matthias finished his bath, the night had grown deep. Loosening his robe, he leaned against the open window facing the garden.
Compared to the vast Arvis estate, renowned for its beautiful gardens and forests, the garden at the Latz residence was modest. Located in the city center, the grounds weren't particularly spacious, and neither the previous Dukes of Herhardt nor Matthias himself had any interest in landscaping.
For this reason, the garden at the Latz residence was maintained just enough to keep up appearances. Yet when the season came for the various rose varieties transplanted from Arvis to bloom in full, even this meager garden became quite a sight to behold.
Whenever the scent of roses began to drift on the breeze, Matthias would find himself thinking about the summer he'd spend returning to the estate. And with that thought, Leila would suddenly surface in his mind—that little wench who used to flit about the garden, helping with the gardener's chores. Unconsciously, Matthias furrowed his brow.
She had carried the scent of roses about her. Like a gardener born with an innate talent for cultivating roses, or like the most carefully nurtured bloom itself. If that were the case, then the gardener raising her in the woods must have been his misfortune. That insignificant Leila—what did such a paltry name even matter?
Matthias turned away to close the window. A droplet of water fell from the tips of his damp hair to the floor.
It was for the best, really. The physician's son was someone a nobody like Leila Lewellin could never dream of matching. Thanks to Kyle Etman's foolish infatuation, if she could become Mrs. Etman and attend university in the capital, it would be the greatest fortune and blessing of Leila Lewellin's life.
"...Leila."
He quietly whispered the name to himself. If that beautiful misfortune were to disappear from before his eyes, it would be to his benefit as well. So perhaps he ought to applaud this marriage more enthusiastically than anyone.
But even after closing the window and the wind dying down, the scent of roses still lingered at the tip of his nose. Belatedly, Matthias noticed the vase of roses placed on the console. It seemed someone had picked roses from the garden and left them in his bedroom.
His gaze lingered briefly on the golden birdcage before returning to the vase.
"Leila."
The name tasted even sweeter when pronounced more clearly.
A season of roses without you.
As he envisioned that world, Matthias grabbed a handful of the lush rose blooms from the vase. The roses bore a soft pink hue—like the flushed cheeks and tear-stained eyes of a sniffling Leila. His grip tightened gradually, crushing the roses in his palm.
It was undoubtedly for the best.
He could readily agree to that.
But still.
Matthias's eyes narrowed slowly.
Could there truly be such a thing as a season of roses without you? When the flowers bloom and I return, how could you possibly not be there? How?
Amid these mounting questions, Matthias recalled a memory he hadn't realized he possessed—that the child had always been there in the summer garden brimming with roses. As if she were part of Arvis itself.
And thus, as if she were his.
Just as he was tearing them apart yet unable to let go, his bird cried out, and for the first time in his life, Matthias wanted to kill someone. Whether it was the physician's son or that woman remained unclear.
Only after the night had grown immeasurably deep did Matthias finally release the mangled petals. Then, with hands still heavily scented of roses, he tore up the documents lying on the table—the paperwork for extending his service as an officer in the Royal Guard by another year, due to be submitted by next week.
"I'm in favor."
After a long hesitation, Bill finally spoke with conviction. Across the table, Leila looked puzzled.
"About that Kyle boy. I'm fully in favor. Wholeheartedly so."
"Uncleee."
Though Leila scrunched her nose, Bill pressed on.
"Just accept his feelings already. Marry him and go to university. I sincerely want that for you, Leila."
"I can't do that."
"You like Kyle too, don't you?"
"But it doesn't make sense for me to marry Kyle."
"What nonsense is that? Since when does it not make sense for people who like each other to marry?"
Bill grew suddenly heated, but Leila's eyes remained calm.
"It would make a mockery of Kyle and the Etman family."
"Dr. Etman has already given his permission."
"But..."
"Leila, stop overthinking everything and just listen to your own heart."
Bill's voice rose sharply.
"If you like Kyle, marry him. If not, then don't. Everything else is pointless."
Leila, who had been blinking rapidly, took a big gulp of the beer in front of her.
The girl, who had grown into quite the drinker, lived up to Bill's expectations. Now, the two of them were drinking buddies, sharing a beer while chatting quietly.
"I do like Kyle. There's no one else in this world as warm, kind, and easygoing as he is."
Leila wiped the beer foam from the corner of her mouth and looked at Bill with a more serious expression.
"That's exactly why I don't want to make a fool of him."
"What nonsense! What's wrong with you? Why do you keep doubting yourself like this, Leila? Huh?"
"It's not that. I like who I am now, Uncle. No matter what people say, I don't think I'm someone to be ashamed of. I'm trying my best to become the kind of adult you'd be proud of."
Her eyes narrowed slightly behind her glasses, darkening in intensity.
"But Uncle, I don't know about marriage. Maybe it'll just make all my efforts look ridiculous. Do I really have to get married?"
"Hah. Please tell me you're not planning to stay holed up in this cabin with this old bachelor for the rest of your life, Leila."
"That's exactly what I want. I don't want to leave the forests of Arvis. I don't want to leave you, Uncle."
"What a dreadful thing to say."
"I've got my teaching certificate now, so I'm hoping to find a position at a school near Arvis. And I want to keep living just like this. Here. With you. I can finally be of some help to you, Uncle."
"Where's the forest going? It'll always be here. So will I. Well, if I get too old and weak to keep working as a gardener, I might have to leave, but Bill Remmer's still got a good decade or two left in him."
This time, Bill took several big gulps of his beer.
"Whether you leave for college, get married, or do whatever else out there—Leila, you'll always be Bill Remmer's little Leila."
He reached across the table and gently took her small hand in his.
With the university entrance exam just around the corner, Leila still hadn't changed her mind. It had frustrated him so much that he'd spent days agonizing over it before setting up this meeting.
"If you marry into the Etman family, you'd be living right next door. Could there be anything better than that?"
"Uncle."
"And Leila, though they're rare, there are men like that in this world. The kind you can be absolutely sure will make good husbands, good fathers. Kyle is exactly that kind of man."
Patting the back of her hand, Bill smiled.
"Think about it. Marrying that fine young man and starting a real family. Have enough kids to fill the whole house with noise. Kyle will make sure you're never lonely for the rest of your life."
"...We're real too."
Leila, who had been fidgeting with Bill's fingers, lifted her head. The corners of her eyes were red.
"We're family too, Uncle. A real family."
"Well, of course..."
This tiny girl must have brought her tear ducts all the way from Lovita, because she kept making his own eyes burn.
"If you really think that, then you'd better listen to Bill Remmer!"
Putting on a deliberately loud voice, he slid an envelope he'd prepared earlier across the table with a flick. Leila, taken aback, opened it—and her eyes widened in shock. Inside was a train ticket to Latz and travel money.
"The exam's next week, so starting tomorrow, you'd better study like your life depends on it. Not that you don't always work hard, but you'll need to push even harder to pass. If you don't go to Latz, it means you think of me as fake."
"Uncle!"
"If you don't take that entrance exam, I'll never see you again, Leila."
Letting go of her hand, Bill straightened his shoulders and looked down at her with an authoritative air. Though his eyes were so warm that it robbed the threat of any real weight.
Clutching the envelope, Leila fell deep into thought. Bill watched her, imprinting the sight of her—still as bright and lovely as she'd been as a child—deep into his heart.
After a long moment of contemplation, Leila finally made up her mind. Still wearing a grave expression, she abruptly raised her glass and thrust it toward Bill—just like she used to mimic adults as a child.
Bill gladly clinked his glass against the one Leila offered. This time, with real alcohol in her cup, Leila downed it in one go. Her face immediately flushed crimson, but for now, she maintained the dignified air of a seasoned drinker.
"Even if I fail... we're still real, right?"
At her watery question, Bill nearly let his eyes well up again like a fool.
"I'll think about it."
Despite his gruff tone, Bill's smile was warm. Watching him quietly, Leila smiled back. Like it was real.
"You'll definitely love it there. The Natural History Museum."
Kyle spoke again, brimming with certainty.
"It'll be like heaven for you."
As he listed off must-visit places in the capital, Latz, Kyle grew most animated when it came to the Natural History Museum. Outside the rattling train window, the blooming scenery of spring drifted past.
Though it was Leila's first time in Latz, Kyle often visited relatives there and knew the city well. He suggested staying at their house, but Leila opted for a small hotel nearby instead.
"You must be exhausted today. Should we go tomorrow?"
"I have to study for the exam."
"What difference does last-minute cramming make? Studying's something you do ahead of time."
"Wow. You sound pretty confident, Mr. Etman."
"Of course, Miss Lewellin."
"Impressive."
"So marry me."
Ah. Come to think of it, he hadn't made that proposal today.
Instead of delivering her usual composed rejection, Leila stared intently at Kyle's face. The unexpected reaction made him flinch.
"Wh-what's with you?"
"Hey, Kyle. Can you imagine it?"
"Imagine what?"
"Us becoming each other's husband and wife."
Leila's expression turned serious, while Kyle's cheeks burned scarlet.
"I can! I can imagine it! As much as I want!"
"I'm not sure. It feels a little strange. The idea of us getting married, having kids, becoming that kind of couple."
"What are you talking about? It's not strange at all!"
"Really? Us engaging in reproductive acts to make a baby, raising it, all that—really?"
"Re... re, what?"
Kyle doubted his ears. Even if he'd misheard, something felt profoundly off—yet Leila, who had just dropped a bomb, wore an expression of pure innocence.
"Reproductive acts."
She dropped it again, without so much as a twitch of her brow.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Kyle. All living things do it for the survival of their species. Birds do it. Flowers do it."
"Do you even know what you're saying right now?"
"Yep. I might be a little weak in geometry, but I do pretty well in other subjects."
At Leila's proud smile, Kyle felt his breath catch in his throat.
"It just feels a little weird to me, the idea of us doing that, and also—"
"Uh—Leila, here, eat this."
Kyle shoved a piece of sandwich between Leila's chattering lips. Though it wasn't yet hot out, the train cabin suddenly felt like an oven.
Startled, Leila chewed the sandwich thoughtfully before swallowing and opening her mouth again. This time, Kyle stuffed a cookie in.
"Eat this too."
Please, no more of that talk. Please.
Swallowing his words, Kyle could only shake his head vigorously.
'When your heart's in turmoil, think of my shovel handle.'
That's what Uncle Bill had told him this morning when he'd gone to the cabin to pick Leila up—with a smile both kind and eerie.
Right. The shovel handle.
Kyle pictured Uncle Bill's massive, dirt-caked shovel, which looked more like a weapon than a tool.
"So, Kyle, what I mean is—"
Having polished off the cookie, Leila parted her lips again. They were beautifully red, dotted with crumbs.
"One more word."
Kyle groaned, clutching his head.
"Huh?"
"If you say one more word..."
Swallowing his true feelings, blocked by the mental image of the shovel, Kyle made a solemn declaration.
"I'm jumping off this train."