Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Translation: godsn
Leila Lewellin's name had been frequently mentioned among the servants of the ducal residence these past few days, but the tone had shifted dramatically.
A thief had broken into the gardener's cottage.
The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire mansion. Most people wondered what kind of bold thief would dare infiltrate the territory of Duke Herhardt's household, but the sight of Bill Remmer—half out of his mind as he searched frantically for the thief—was enough to dispel any doubts.
Matthias left the mansion just as the commotion reached its peak. It was time to depart if he wanted to arrive in time for lunch.
Though he normally had no interest in trivial gossip, he sensed an unusual atmosphere as he passed through the tree-lined entrance of the estate. Mounted police officers were approaching from the opposite side of the road. Since this path led only to Arvis, there was no need to wonder where they were headed.
"A thief broke into the gardener's house," a quick-witted attendant answered before Matthias could even ask.
"Bill Remmer's house?"
"Yes. It seems the money he'd saved for his child's university tuition has gone missing, and he's in complete disarray."
Thief. Tuition. Leila.
Tilting his head slightly, Matthias repeated the words with mild interest. It was just as the carriage emerged from the shade of Platanus Road that he recalled the unfamiliar man he'd encountered by the Schulter River that morning.
The man had introduced himself as Daniel Rayner, cousin to Mrs. Etman. He claimed he'd stopped by to congratulate Leila on her acceptance while visiting the Etman family. He had gone on and on about various things—his small investment firm, mining rights for overseas mines, the stock market—but most of it had gone in one ear and out the other.
However, Matthias remembered the time. His wristwatch, facing the middle-aged man sweating profusely as he rambled, had shown it wasn't even nine o'clock yet. It was far too early for a refined middle-class businessman to visit and congratulate a girl who would soon be his cousin's daughter-in-law on her university acceptance.
But it wasn't his concern, so he had passed by indifferently. He thought that was the end of it—until he heard the absurd news about a thief breaking into the gardener's cottage.
But why?
No matter how dire his circumstances, it made no sense for him to come all the way to unfamiliar Arvis just to steal from a gardener. If anything, it would have been more plausible if he had stolen from his own wealthy cousin's house.
"Linda Etman."
Just as Matthias was about to lose interest in the trivial matter, he unconsciously muttered the name.
Inserting Linda Etman's name between that man and Leila painted a rather convincing picture. Of course, this was still closer to conjecture, but at least it fit together better than before, which was quite intriguing.
Before stepping out of the carriage in front of the hotel where lunch was to be held, Matthias gave a brief order to his attendant.
"Look into Daniel Rayner. As quickly as possible."
The dinner table was left nearly untouched. It was a rare sight at a table where Bill and Kyle, both hearty eaters, usually sat together.
Leila, who knew the reason all too well, quietly cleared the dishes. Bill Remmer, who hadn't even finished half his plate, immediately stepped out to the porch to smoke. Since the break-in, the atmosphere in the cottage had remained somber like this.
"It's okay, Leila."
Kyle, who had been helping Leila, cautiously broke the silence. Leila, who had been moving busily, stopped and lifted her green eyes to look at him.
"About the thief... we'll catch them for sure."
"Yeah."
"And even if we don't catch them, don't worry about the tuition. Father said he'd cover your fees too—he asked me to tell you that."
"Kyle."
"Don't even think about refusing. He's wanted to pay for it from the start, you know. He only backed down because Uncle Bill was so stubborn about it."
Kyle's tone was uncharacteristically firm.
"Getting married means we're becoming family, Leila. It's not about owing favors—family helps each other. Right?"
Leila, who had been standing still for a while, slowly nodded. Her gaze remained slightly lowered. Her face, which had grown noticeably gaunt in just a few days, only fueled Kyle's hatred for the thief who had disrupted their peaceful woods.
"Anyway, this is just a precaution. For now, let's just focus on catching the thief."
Though he knew full well the chances of catching the thief were slim, Kyle spoke as if brimming with hope. Only then did Leila manage a faint smile.
"......Yeah. Thanks, Kyle."
"Thanks? What for? I haven't done anything."
"Just... for everything."
Leila let out a quiet laugh, but Kyle's heart only grew heavier.
He remembered vividly how thrilled Leila had been about traveling to the capital with Uncle Bill. Though they'd said it was to pay her tuition, it was really their first family trip—Uncle Bill was gruff and bad at expressing it, but Leila had been childishly happy about it. She'd even boasted that since it was her second time in Latz, she could guide him properly, and Kyle had teased her, sharing in her joy.
The places they'd visit together, the food they'd eat, the things they'd do. Leila had chattered excitedly, so endearing that Kyle had almost felt jealous of Uncle Bill.
And then the thief ruined everything. Even if they got the money back, Leila and Uncle Bill would never set off on that trip with the same joy—and there was nothing Kyle could do about that.
Shaking off the suffocating sense of helplessness, Kyle took a deep breath and walked over to Bill Remmer, who was sitting glumly on the porch. Glancing briefly at Kyle as he sat beside him, Bill simply lit another cigarette. The past few days, spent plotting dozens of ways to kill the thief, almost felt preferable to this.
"It's all my fault."
When Bill finally spoke, his voice was lifeless.
"Leaving that much money in the house and not even bothering to lock up properly—what a fool."
"It's not your fault, Uncle. Who'd ever think a thief would break into the Arvis estate?"
"Registration closes next week. Who knows if we'll catch that bastard by then."
"Don't worry about that. Father said if there's no progress by then, he'll cover Leila's tuition too. I already told her."
Bill's eyes darkened like deep wells as he looked at Kyle's smiling face.
"He also said he'd contact the police station tomorrow. He'll ask an officer he knows to investigate the case properly."
"Thank you, Kyle. I'll owe the Etmans everything—I've no face left to show."
"Don't say that. I haven't even repaid half the meals I've eaten here yet."
At Kyle's cheeky reply, Bill let out a weak chuckle.
"Tell your parents I'm grateful. No—tell them I'll come by to thank them in person once this is settled."
Bill gripped Kyle's shoulder firmly.
Kyle hesitated, about to say it wasn't necessary, then slowly nodded instead. He didn't fully understand, but he sensed this was something Bill needed to do.
Kyle wanted to protect his heart.
The ducal residence had two studies. The study on the second floor was a vast space filled with as many books as a decent-sized library, while the study at the end of the third floor, near the master bedroom, was comparatively smaller. Mostly stocked with historical, political, and economic texts, this study had long been used by successive Dukes von Herhardt for receiving guests and conducting official business. Matthias von Herhardt, Duke von Herhardt, was no exception.
Mark Evers, the attendant, walked briskly toward the third-floor office.
Though he had served as Matthias's personal secretary since the duke came of age, he had never once received an order that demanded haste. For a while, he had assumed it was simply due to Matthias's naturally unhurried temperament—but he soon realized the truth. Perhaps, under the skies of the Berg Empire, there was nothing that could make the Duke von Herhardt rush or grow impatient.
A life where he possessed everything, where everything proceeded smoothly.
Matthias von Herhardt was a man who knew he had already conquered the world. He was certain that the tolerance and kindness he displayed stemmed from that very fact—like the leisure of a well-fed predator. Perhaps that was why, in Matthias's presence, even the air itself seemed to flow at a languid pace. That was the Duke von Herhardt as Mark knew him.
So when Matthias added the condition "as quickly as possible," Mark Evers doubted his own ears for a moment. Once he confirmed it was indeed true, his mind grew restless, and he threw himself into investigating Daniel Rayner without delay.
"My lord, it's Evers."
Anxious, Mark Evers practically ran to the office on the third floor. Though light seeped from beneath the door, no verbal response came from within. It was permission enough.
He quietly opened the door and stepped inside. Matthias was deeply reclined against the back of a spacious leather sofa. Though the night was late, he still maintained his formal attire, having just finished receiving officials.
"Here are the documents regarding Daniel Rayner, as you requested."
Mark Evers respectfully placed the file folder on the coffee table.
Matthias picked it up with a hand pressed against his temple. One page, then another. The deliberate way he read through the documents was no different from the Duke von Herhardt Mark had always known.
But his relief was short-lived. Soon, Mark found himself facing an even more bewildering situation. After carefully reading to the last page, Matthias suddenly let out a low chuckle. Where exactly had this pitiful man—who, tempted by what amounted to a fraudulent overseas mining scheme, had mortgaged his home to invest a fortune, only to lose it all and face destitution—managed to amuse the usually impassive duke, Mark couldn't begin to guess.
"Daniel Rayner—he must have recently repaid his bank debts in a rather dramatic fashion."
Matthias lifted his head, the file still folded in his hand. One corner of his mouth curled upward. His face, usually quite mild when expressionless, now carried a ruthless edge as he smirked in amusement.
"Yes, my lord. I was just about to report that. Though not the full amount, he repaid enough to prevent foreclosure. It happened this afternoon, so it wasn't included in the report."
"The source of that money must be Etman."
Matthias continued, his face still twisted in amusement.
"Linda Etman."
He pronounced the name slowly, looking utterly delighted.
"But how did you—"
"Good work. Send for Hessen."
Instead of answering, Matthias issued a polite command. Though dumbfounded, Mark Evers obeyed without question.