Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Translation: godsn
"I-is that man your father, Teacher?"
A young boy blinked rapidly, his voice trembling with nervousness as he mumbled the question.
"That's a lie! He looks nothing like our teacher at all!"
A girl slightly smaller than the boy even began to sniffle, on the verge of tears. The reactions of the other children huddled behind Leila weren't much different. When Bill Remmer appeared, they startled, their eyes widening like saucers, before fearfully shuffling to hide behind Leila's back.
Bill remained unfazed—it was a familiar reaction. While noisy, chattering children were precisely what he detested, he'd made a special exception today at Leila's request. His task was to guide the schoolchildren on their field trip through the forests of Arvis for the day. Though, judging by their reactions, it didn't seem like things would go smoothly.
"Kids, Uncle Bill is a good person."
Leila soothed them with a gentle smile. Bill, too, bared his teeth in an attempt at a grin. But the moment the timid little girl caught sight of his expression, she burst into tears.
"Damn it all! What in blazes did I even do...?"
"Uncle!"
Leila swiftly cut off Bill's gruff complaint and knelt before the crying child. Stuck between not being able to smile nor frown, Bill could only watch with an awkward expression as he gauged the reactions of the little ones.
"Uncle Bill is really a good person, and he's going to show us the forest."
Once the child in her arms stopped sniffling, Leila continued her patient explanation.
"We're going to learn about the flowers and trees in the forest with Uncle. Doesn't that sound fun?"
The children still wore expressions of utter disbelief at their teacher's words, but they reluctantly nodded anyway.
Troublesome little brats.
Shaking his head in exasperation, Bill took the lead and started walking. Leila and the children soon followed.
"Come to think of it, you were just about their size when I first met you."
A memory from years past surfaced, softening the lines of Bill's mouth.
"No, Uncle. These kids are all under ten."
Leila wrinkled her nose slightly in protest.
"I was eleven back then, and about to turn twelve soon."
At first, he thought she was joking, but her tone and expression were entirely serious. Just like that child from years ago, who would stand on her tiptoes whenever she insisted on her age.
Hahaha.
Bill laughed just as he had that day. Back then, she had been a tiny thing who hated being called small—now, his Leila had grown into a proper young lady.
Matthias returned to the estate a little past one o'clock.
The carriage carrying Duke Herhardt bypassed the main mansion and headed straight for the Riverside Annex. The driver and attendant were momentarily flustered by the unusual order, but considering it was the day the village schoolchildren had come for their field trip, it made sense. While such charitable events typically fell under the domain of the lady of the house, there was no reason the Duke couldn't involve himself if he wished.
As the carriage left the forest path and approached the riverside, sunlight poured in once more. On either side of the road stretched a breathtaking view—the forest ablaze with autumn colors and the river shimmering like scattered jewels. Arvis was a place of beauty in every season, but autumn was undoubtedly when its splendor reached its peak.
Matthias gazed at the scenery passing by the window with a faint sense of unfamiliarity.
The Arvis he knew was either cloaked in summer's verdant foliage or blanketed in winter's silent snow. His father had passed away in the spring of his twelfth year, leaving him the title, and by the end of that summer, he had enrolled at a school in the capital. Since then, his life had been divided between two cities—spring and autumn in Latz, summer and winter in Carlsbar.
"It's been a long time since you've seen Carlsbar in autumn, hasn't it, Your Grace?"
The driver, who had been watching the Duke's pensive gaze out the window, ventured the question cautiously.
"Yes. I suppose so."
Matthias replied with a smile like autumn sunlight.
He tried to recall the autumn when he was eleven. Though an exceedingly long time had passed, his life now didn't feel much different from back then.
Matthias had been raised as the family heir from the moment he was born. And as he was raised, so he became Duke Herhardt. Aside from that happening earlier than expected, it had simply been a life following predetermined steps. It would continue that way, and the life of the next Duke Herhardt that he and Claudine would produce would be no different. Just as his life was no different from his father's.
Matthias withdrew his gaze from the car window where the strangely familiar autumn scenery unfolded. The car soon came to a stop near the dock where the annex stood. When the chauffeur opened the rear door, the sound of children laughing and chattering reached them.
Stepping out of the car, Matthias turned his head toward the sound. Along the riverbank, the young children he'd seen that morning were walking toward them.
His gaze passed over the gardener following behind them and stopped on Leila's face, radiant as she smiled like the autumn afternoon sun. It didn't take long for Leila to notice him too. She was wearing a blouse adorned with a wide lace collar and a skirt as red as autumn leaves—an outfit befitting a teacher. Though of course, everything else about her still seemed awkward.
Buttoning his jacket, Matthias strode forward into the autumn light.
"My goodness. Is that gentleman Duke Herhardt?"
Teacher Greber asked in apparent surprise upon seeing Matthias approach. A mother of two, she was also the homeroom teacher for the upper grades.
"This is my first time seeing him up close! He's far more splendid than in the newspaper photos, isn't he?"
Before Leila could answer, the teacher whispered in an excited voice. At this reaction, Leila was newly struck by Duke Herhardt's fame. A man whose photos frequently appeared in newspapers, receiving the admiration and respect of the entire city. Even if to Leila he was nothing more than an utterly maddening man, by any objective standard Matthias von Herhardt was undoubtedly that.
"But Miss Lewellin—"
Just as Teacher Greber was about to say something, the Duke stopped before them.
"Good day, Your Grace."
As Bill, who had been roughhousing with the children, hurried over to greet him, Teacher Greber followed suit. Leila, who had been brooding over last weekend's humiliation, belatedly bowed her head.
I should have thrown that bulb at him.
All the way back from the greenhouse that day, Leila had been consumed by bitter regret. Even if she could turn back time, she wouldn't dare commit such an outrage, but the thought alone helped soothe her frustration.
"Would you introduce this lady, Miss Lewellin?"
When Matthias's eyes met Leila's as she raised her head, he made the request with perfect courtesy. His dignified and polite manner left Leila utterly dumbfounded. It felt like she was looking at a completely different man.
Is this how Duke Herhardt always appears in others' eyes?
The realization made it all the more astonishing.
"Le-Leila?"
Flustered, Bill tapped Leila's back as if knocking on a door.
"Huh? Oh... yes. Your Grace."
Snapping to attention, Leila rigidly clasped her hands together below her navel.
The resentment from that weekend afternoon when she couldn't bring herself to throw the bulb revived with renewed determination. Leila Lewellin needed to show she was now a proper adult—no longer some forest child the Duke could torment at will.
Straining to maintain a mature expression and tone, Leila introduced Teacher Greber to the Duke. She also kindly explained to the curious-faced children just what kind of person Duke Herhardt was. Though most were words Leila could never truly agree with, she followed the accepted narrative. To speak her true feelings would require uttering harmful words unsuitable for students.
"Thank you so much for permitting the autumn picnic, Your Grace."
Filled with confidence at having handled the situation better than expected, Leila gazed at the Duke with rather bold eyes. She lifted her chin just enough to avoid being rude and squared her shoulders straight.
"Thanks to you, the children are having a wonderful time."
Leila subtly emphasized the word "children," imprinting upon the Duke her rightful position as their teacher.
"Hmm."
Matthias, who had been listening quietly, allowed the corner of his lips to twitch upward.
"It seems Miss Lewellin is the one having a wonderful time."
"...Pardon?"
At the utterly absurd remark, Leila reflexively questioned him, but Matthias offered no reply. He merely watched her for a moment before letting out a brief chuckle. That fleeting moment of irreverence was quickly overshadowed by the elegant and courteous manner in which he greeted Teacher Greber and the children.
As the Duke departed, the attendant and chauffeur who had accompanied him also turned to leave. Leila stared intently at their retreating figures heading toward the Riverside Annex. Just as she was struggling to grasp the meaning behind the Duke's words, it was Teacher Greber—unexpectedly—who provided the answer.
"Um, Miss Lewellin."
"Yes!"
"Your... head..."
"My head? What about my...?"
Puzzled, Leila reached up to touch her hair—and her face instantly froze. Her fingertips brushed against soft flower petals and blades of grass.
The flower crown!
Only then did Leila realize she was still wearing the wreath of wildflowers. Monica, the youngest and most devoted of her students, had picked the flowers—the very ones Uncle Bill had taught them about—and woven them into a crown for her.
"I meant to tell you earlier, but then His Grace arrived so suddenly..."
Teacher Greber added apologetically. Leila stood dumbfounded, blinking wordlessly like someone who had lost their wits.
So this was how I boldly pretended to be an adult, huh.
The realization nearly drew out one of Uncle Bill's favorite rough-edged exclamations. If only the children hadn't been present, she surely would have let it slip.
"It's okay, Teacher!"
Monica, the very culprit who had placed the crown on her head, beamed proudly.
"It's pretty! You look like a princess!"
At Monica's earnest declaration, the other children nodded in enthusiastic agreement.
Hahahaha.
Now Leila understood all too well why Uncle Bill laughed like that whenever he was at a loss. If shame could kill a person, Leila Lewellin would have met her eternal rest on this beautiful autumn afternoon.
"No need to be so embarrassed."
Bill, who had been chuckling heartily, gave her shoulder an affectionate pat.
"It's a bit awkward, sure, but it's not like you committed a crime, right?"
His words provided no comfort whatsoever—Leila's cheeks burned like perfectly ripened apples. And then, an even greater and more merciless trial descended upon her.
"Mr. Remmer! Miss Lewellin!"
Mark Evers, the attendant who had left with the Duke, returned with a bright, cheerful smile.
"His Grace has invited the children on the picnic to the Riverside Annex. He requests your presence for tea as well—both teachers and Mr. Remmer included."
Waaaaah!
The children's excited cheers rang out clear and bright. Teacher Greber grinned from ear to ear, and even Uncle Bill didn't seem entirely displeased.
Amidst everyone's joy, Leila clutched her flower-crowned head and stared helplessly at the sky.
If shame couldn't kill a person, she dearly wished it could at least knock her unconscious.
But no matter how fervently she prayed, Leila's consciousness remained as clear and unclouded as the vast blue autumn sky above.