Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Translation: godsn
The nominal reason was a visit to relatives to welcome the summer. But it was an open secret that Claudine von Brandt hadn't come to Arvis for something so trivial.
Preliminary negotiations between the two families and fostering familiarity between the betrothed before announcing the engagement—the purpose was clear, and neither household bothered to conceal it. Claudine, more than anyone, was no exception.
"Good afternoon, Duke Herhardt."
Claudine, standing before Matthias who had come to greet her, offered a flawless curtsy. There was not a trace left of the younger sister she had once been.
"Welcome, Lady Brandt."
Matthias, too, received her with a perfectly formal greeting. His demeanor was seamless, as though he were meeting a distinguished lady for the first time.
The two exchanged elegant smiles as they regarded each other.
There was nothing particularly surprising about it. Though not especially close or intimate, they had observed each other for a long time—and thus, they knew. They knew just how thoroughly noble to the marrow of their bones Matthias von Herhardt and Claudine von Brandt were. That, in fact, was the biggest and clearest reason they had chosen each other.
Matthias skillfully escorted Claudine. Afternoon tea had been prepared in the glass greenhouse connected to the rear of the mansion—a thoughtful gesture from Elise von Herhardt, who knew Claudine adored the place.
"This greenhouse is beautiful no matter how many times I see it. The Duchess has brought a piece of heaven here."
Claudine, having silently set down her teacup after a sip, spoke with evident delight. Her tone was cheerful yet composed, befitting a young lady of noble upbringing.
"It was tended with devotion over many long years. I look forward to the day it can be passed to a mistress who understands its worth."
Elise von Herhardt spoke in a gentle voice. Across from her, the Count and Countess Brandt gazed at their daughter with proud, moved expressions. Claudine responded with a suitably demure smile but offered no further words.
"Matthias, why don't you show Claudine the paradise of Arvis?"
As teatime drew to a close, Elise von Herhardt made the discreet suggestion. It seemed the real negotiations and arrangements were about to begin.
When Matthias extended his hand, Claudine lightly rested her own, clad in semi-transparent lace gloves, atop it. For a brief moment, the memory of a small hand stained with dust and blood flickered over that touch before vanishing.
The two walked together along the garden path, exchanging pleasant conversation. From the marble fountain adorning the center of the greenhouse, a languid stream of water trickled. The clear songs of birds filtering through the air softened the drowsy afternoon atmosphere.
Claudine stole a sidelong glance at Matthias. Even with his mild smile, his emotions remained inscrutable. His demeanor toward the world was much the same—impeccably courteous, yet beneath it lay the arrogance of a man who had never bowed his head to anyone in his life. It was a quality that pleased Claudine immensely.
"The birds in this greenhouse are truly lovely."
Claudine admired the vibrantly colored birds perched on the branches. Only then did Matthias take notice of the avian residents kept within the glass walls.
Elise von Herhardt, mistress of Arvis, loved birds as much as she loved roses. Of course, her approach to both was identical. Just as the gardeners tended to the roses, hired aviculturists cared for the birds. Her role was simply to enjoy them. That was Elise von Herhardt's way of loving the world.
"How remarkable that they're so tame. I wonder what the secret is."
Claudine smiled at the small bird that had alighted on her outstretched hand.
Matthias slowly surveyed their surroundings. Now that he thought about it, the birds in this greenhouse were astonishingly docile. Even with the windows wide open, they never flew away. They sang beautifully, always at peace in their serene world.
His gaze lingered on a parrot waddling along its perch and the finch trilling on Claudine's hand before he signaled with a glance to the silver-haired aviculturist standing at attention nearby. The man approached quietly and took his place beside Claudine.
"We clip their wings, my lady. That way, they can't fly far enough to escape, and their temperaments remain gentle. A bird that can fly freely is rarely tamed by human hands."
"The wings? Doesn't it hurt them?"
"It's just trimming the feathers, so it doesn't cause pain. It prevents the birds from flying to dangerous places where they might get lost or injured, so it's actually good for them. Would you like me to show you?"
"May I, Duke Herhardt?"
Claudine asked with sparkling eyes.
"As the Young Lady wishes."
When Matthias readily gave his permission, the aviculturist led them to a large cage at one end of the greenhouse where small birds with untrimmed wings were kept. From among them, he carefully extracted the most beautiful golden bird and brought it to the worktable.
"What kind of bird is this?"
Matthias asked quietly as he observed the creature.
"A canary, my lord. A bird known for its beautiful song."
After this brief explanation, the aviculturist first covered the bird's eyes with a small handkerchief before spreading its wings to hold them steady. With his other hand, he picked up a pair of sharp scissors.
Without hesitation, the aviculturist made swift cuts with the scissors. A flurry of severed feathers scattered across the worktable. After trimming the feathers on both wings equally, he gently set the bird down.
The canary desperately flapped its wings but could only manage a short, clumsy flight before dropping abruptly to the ground. As if refusing to accept its newfound inability to fly properly, the bird attempted escape several more times, but the result remained the same.
Watching this, Matthias bent down and picked up the bird now perched at the edge of a flower bed. The small creature struggled in his grasp and began to cry—a sound closer to a shriek than a song.
"It won't be tamed immediately, my lord. It takes some time for them to grow accustomed."
The aviculturist quickly intervened, taking the bird from Matthias as if to prevent further handling.
"Would you like to try taming it, my lady?"
The aviculturist asked while soothingly stroking the bird.
"I'll be satisfied with just watching. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity."
Claudine politely declined before turning to leave.
"Shall we return to the table now?"
This time, it was Claudine who extended her hand first. For a brief moment, the memory of another small hand—dusty and bloodstained—flashed across Matthias's mind before disappearing again.
Before leaving with Claudine, Matthias impulsively issued an order.
"Have it moved to my bedroom."
"...Pardon?"
The aviculturist's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected command.
"That bird."
Matthias indicated the canary with a narrow-eyed glance.
"My canary."
Leila tightly bound her neatly combed golden hair into a single bundle. After putting on her apron and grabbing a large basket, she was ready.
"I'll finish this today."
Her muttered words carried a tone of quiet determination.
With Duke Herhardt's return and Young Lady Brandt's visit to Arvis a few days prior, Leila had grown anxious. She needed to gather enough wild berries before the Duke claimed the forest for himself and before Young Lady Brandt started summoning her frequently. Fortunately, both remained quiet for now—likely preoccupied with the impending engagement.
Pressing the wide brim of her straw hat firmly down, Leila quickened her pace toward the forest. Wild berry bushes grew abundantly everywhere. Even with the people of Arvis and forest animals picking them voraciously, more berries still lay rotting on the ground.
Leila worked diligently, and before noon, her basket was already full. Though her arms ached from the weight, her heart felt lighter than ever.
Dropping the basket carelessly under the shade of a tree, she made her way lightly toward the riverbank. She meticulously washed her hands, removing all traces of the intense berry-picking session, then splashed water on her face.
The Schulter River wound through the Herhardt family's forests and valleys. Though beautiful even when viewed from the city, its most breathtaking sight was here in the Arvis territory, where the clear waters blended seamlessly with the lush forest.
Leila pulled a handkerchief from her apron pocket and wiped her face. The cool river water, refreshing even in summer, eased the lingering heat. She considered dipping her feet in but shook her head firmly.
At her aunt's house—the first place she had lived—there were five siblings older than her, all rough and mischievous. One day, they had dragged her to the river and thrown her in, calling it an initiation ritual for living with them. If not for a neighbor who had heard her screams and come running, Leila might have drowned without a chance to struggle.
Clearly, it was those kids who were in the wrong, but that night, it was Leila who was beaten by her drunken uncle. And within a few weeks, she was sent away to the next relative's house. They said they couldn't take in a child who didn't know her place and caused trouble.
It was unfair, but since the next household was slightly better than the previous one, Leila decided to consider it a blessing. Each time she was passed on to the next home, she made the same resolution. And so, she eventually ended up here—at Uncle Bill's cabin. It wouldn't be wrong to say that things turned out just as she had hoped.
So, everything worked out for the best.
With a faint smile, Leila skipped back to the tree. She tucked the newspaper she had wedged in the corner of her basket into her apron pocket and swiftly climbed up the tree. She wasn't as quick and nimble as she had been as a child, but she had learned better techniques—ones Uncle Bill had taught her.
Leila settled comfortably onto a branch that fit her like a perfect chair. She firmly believed that the view of the Schulter River from this height was the most beautiful in the world. Given that Kyle, who had traveled to many cities, agreed with her, it might even be close to an objective truth.
She gazed leisurely at the waterfowl searching for food, the shimmering ripples, and the lush greenery embracing both banks of the river. She loved this scenery so much that she looked forward to summer every year. Even with the unpredictable variable of Duke Herhardt, summer was undeniably a beautiful season.
Having reached this clear conclusion, Leila unfolded the newspaper from her pocket and flipped to the page with the serialized novel. The sharp-witted detective was just about to uncover the culprit.
Leila began reading the story with rapt attention.
Matthias finally surfaced after a long while.
His breathing was heavy, his Adam's apple bobbing rapidly with each gasp. His muscular, bare torso, glistening with water, looked as fresh as the reflection of the verdant forest in the river.
Just as he was about to turn back, Matthias changed his mind and began swimming again, following the current.
Matthias, who loved the Schulter River and the forests of Arvis, had converted the boathouse by the dock—where he could take in the entire landscape at a glance—into an annex. Since his grandmother and mother rarely walked as far as the riverbank, it had become his own private world.
When there were no guests at the mansion, Matthias often retreated to the annex. He would gaze blankly at the scenery beyond the window, read a book, or, if even that bored him, take a nap. No matter what he did, it was a place where his mind could rest. Of course, the best moments were like now—when he surrendered his body to the river.
Matthias floated on his back, gazing at the green branches and the sky peeking through them. The rustling of leaves in the wind and the calls of birds mingled with the soft sound of rippling water. After the commotion in the mansion over the past few days, the tranquility of the river felt even more pronounced.
The negotiations for the marriage alliance between the Herhardts and the Brandts had proceeded smoothly. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his engagement to Claudine would be announced before the end of summer.
The Brandts had proposed an engagement period of about a year, and Matthias had agreed.
Once he had secured enough honor befitting the Duke of Herhardt, there was no need to remain in his officer's position for long. Spending another year or two in the Royal Guard before retiring and marrying would be the most appropriate course. After that, he planned to focus on the family business.
It was a life that would flow as smoothly as the gentle current.
Matthias closed his eyes and let himself drift in the river. The warm sunlight, the cool water, and the sound of tiny waves breaking near his ears felt like the entirety of the world. But the moment he opened his eyes again, that perfect tranquility was shattered.
There, perched on the branch of a towering tree by the riverbank, sat a woman. Before he could even blink, Matthias recognized her. At the same moment, the woman—who had just folded the newspaper she was reading—turned her head toward him.
It was that utterly irritating girl—Leila Lewellin.