Chapter 8

Translation: godsn

The doorman wore an extremely flustered expression.

Leila nodded understandingly. There probably hadn't been a single guest who'd dragged a beat-up bicycle to the finest hotel in the city until now.

After alternately eyeing the Duke Herhardt's party who had entered first and Leila several times, he finally accepted the bicycle. Leila expressed her thanks with a brief greeting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before stepping into the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hotel. The tea room was located on the right side of the central lobby.

The manager who approached with brisk steps guided them to the terrace overlooking the river. Leila was the last to take her seat at the table. And of course, it was directly facing Duke Herhardt.

Under his openly staring gaze that brought back certain memories, Leila hurriedly lowered her eyes. The thin gold frames of her glasses glinted in the slanted summer sunlight filtering through the awning.

But shouldn't the person who saw something be more embarrassed than the one who was seen?

Even after such an incident, Leila found it simply fascinating how Duke Herhardt could look at her without any apparent discomfort.

Well. Considering that servants meant no more to nobles than furniture or paintings, it did make sense. No one feels ashamed stripping in front of furniture. And furniture wouldn't feel embarrassed seeing someone naked.

While Leila was drawing her own conclusions, the tea table was set. Without even placing an order, a strong coffee was placed before Duke Herhardt. The fingers holding the teacup were remarkably long and smooth.

As if having completely forgotten Leila's existence, the two continued their private conversation. Today's exhibition. Updates about relatives. The party to be held at the mansion this weekend. Matthias's smooth baritone and Claudine's clear soprano alternated at regular intervals.

She couldn't understand why they'd bothered to bring her along for this, but Leila decided not to wonder. Countess Brandt's actions generally lay beyond Leila's comprehension. It had been that way ever since they first met when she was twelve that summer.

"So, Leila. How's school? Are you enjoying it?"

With a clink of porcelain as she set down her teacup, Claudine's slightly raised voice reached Leila's ears. Though only a year older than Leila, Claudine always used that adult-like tone reserved for speaking to children.

"Yes, Miss."

For Uncle Bill. Reciting the familiar mantra in her mind, Leila replied.

Looking satisfied, Claudine nodded and asked a few more perfunctory questions about school life, to which Leila responded with consistent smiles and repeated answers.

Yes, Miss.

That single response was generally all Claudine wanted from Leila. And by now, Leila had grown accustomed to giving it.

"You'll be graduating next year then."

Though her expression was somewhat bored, Claudine's tone remained unfailingly kind.

"Yes, Miss."

Leila likewise faithfully performed her role in this exchange.

"What do you plan to do after graduation?"

"I'm in the class preparing for teaching qualifications."

"A teacher..."

Claudine drew out the word as she held her teacup. The ribbon adorning her small hat and the corsage swayed gently with her slow nodding motion.

"How dutiful of you, Leila. A splendid goal. It seems like such a fitting path for you."

Claudine smiled again, as if praising a well-behaved child.

"Don't you agree, Duke Herhardt?"

Following Claudine's gaze toward Duke Herhardt, Leila unconsciously shifted her eyes as well. Seen through glasses, his eyes took on an even clearer shade of blue. Only belatedly realizing those eyes were directed at her, Leila hurriedly lowered her gaze again.

"Indeed."

He agreed without any particular reaction. With that, Leila Lewellin's presence faded into the background once more. Relieved by this fact, Leila waited impatiently for this uncomfortable tea time to be over.

"I was supposed to meet Kyle after his tennis match downtown. What if I end up being late?"

Anxious, Leila raised her head. At the same time, Matthias also turned his gaze. Instead of avoiding his eyes as before, Leila simply stared back at him.

When she was younger, she used to imagine that if she met those blue glass-like eyes, a clear, chiming sound would ring out. Now, as that childish fantasy—long forgotten—resurfaced, the Duke felt even more unfamiliar and uncomfortable ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to her. As if the clearer her vision became, the sharper her emotions grew as well.

"Excuse me, Your Grace. And Miss."

Unable to bear it any longer, Leila finally parted her lips, which had been trembling slightly.

"Would it be terribly rude if I were to take my leave first?"

Her gaze, now free from Matthias, settled on Claudine's face. Only then could she breathe properly again.

"I have plans to meet a friend soon," she added, unable to hide the restlessness in her voice.

Claudine chuckled softly and nodded in permission. Finally, relief washed over Leila's expression.

After offering a polite bow, Leila hurriedly left the hotel. Pedaling frantically, she raced through the bustling streets. But the farther she got from that indifferent world, the more vividly the face of that indifferent man lingered in her mind.

It's because of the glasses, Leila thought between ragged breaths. I saw him clearly, so he stayed clearly in my mind. Yet, at the same time, she also felt a strange sense of relief. What if that wretched incident had happened after she got her glasses?

Just as dizziness threatened to overwhelm her, Leila arrived at the meeting spot. Kyle, who had gotten there first, waved at her with a bright smile.

This was a safe world—one where she could finally relax.

"That girl has grown up quite a bit, hasn't she? You could almost call her a young lady now," Claudine chattered, glancing in the direction Leila had left. Her tone was oddly maternal, as if she were speaking of a daughter rather than a girl her own age.

"She's reached that age, after all," Matthias replied with an appropriately indifferent smile.

"Yes. She's reached that age, after all."

Claudine, momentarily lost in thought, suddenly beamed like the summer sun.

"Oh, by the way, have you heard? Liet bought a splendid new carriage."

With practiced ease, Claudine steered the conversation elsewhere.

The two resumed their shared world of conversation as if Leila Lewellin—who had lingered briefly in the seat across from them—had never been there at all.

But the girl would soon make her presence known again in the most unexpected place.

It was on their way back to Arvis after a leisurely tea time. The road was congested, forcing their carriage to halt briefly, and Matthias absently gazed out the window.

There she was—Leila, walking down the street with a boy, pulling her bicycle alongside her. The friend she had mentioned meeting, no doubt.

Matthias studied the vaguely familiar face of the boy until it finally clicked—the family doctor's son. Kyle Etman, if he remembered correctly.

Leila Lewellin shouted something at the boy, who kept poking at her glasses mischievously. But his teasing only grew more persistent, and eventually, Leila sighed and broke into laughter.

The two of them cackled together for a long while before stopping at the steps of a library. Leila parked her bicycle and sat at the top of the stairs, and the boy followed, carrying a paper bag from his basket. Inside were two bottles of soda and some sandwiches.

Leila Lewellin sat side by side with the boy, sharing the food. Every time he said something, she laughed, and when she laughed, he laughed too.

By then, the carriage blocking the road had moved aside.

As the carriage began moving again, Matthias withdrew his gaze from the street. Claudine, who had been looking out the opposite window, also turned her eyes toward him.

The two exchanged smiles and resumed their appropriate conversation. At some point, Matthias unconsciously recalled the memory of teatime. Leila Lewellin hadn't even touched the teacup placed before her. She had simply remained seated with her hands neatly folded on her lap before quietly taking her leave.

She left me to go to that boy.

As he dwelled on that fact, Leila's face staring intently at him resurfaced in his mind. Her expression had been unmistakably restless and uncomfortable.

Because she wanted to go to that boy.

When his thoughts reached that point, the image of Leila's retreating back as she left the terrace came back to life. She had quickened her pace as if fleeing.

Leaving me, to go to that boy.

Before he knew it, their carriage had turned onto Platanus Road leading to the Arvis estate.

As they passed near the midpoint of that road where the bicycle had fallen, Matthias reluctantly admitted it. Though Leila Lewellin could never be anything to him, this feeling was still far from pleasant.

"Since you treated me, I'll buy you dessert."

Leila rose lightly from the library steps with a smile. She carefully packed the empty paper bag and drink bottles into the bicycle basket.

"Come on. No need to be so exact about it."

Kyle gave an awkward smile as he mounted Leila's bicycle. The warmth of Leila seated naturally behind him felt even more distinct than the midday heat.

Kyle began pedaling while trying to suppress a heat that had nothing to do with the weather. She could grip him more firmly, but Leila was only lightly clutching his shirt, just enough to be frustrating. Yet even that was enough to bring a gentle smile to Kyle's lips.

He'd left his own bicycle behind on purpose. Because he wanted to meet Leila and ride back together like this on her bicycle. Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that Leila would ever know.

"Hey, Kyle."

Leila's soft voice seeped through the sound of the turning chain.

"Yeah."

The knuckles on Kyle's hands gripping the handlebars stood out white.

"I'll still buy you ice cream."

After making it sound like she had something important to say.

The anticlimactic statement made Kyle burst out laughing.

"Be honest. You just want some yourself, don't you?"

"...That's not it."

Which meant it was exactly that.

Kyle turned the bicycle toward the cafeteria they often visited after school. While he parked, Leila scampered inside.

Changing his mind about following, Kyle leaned against the shade of the awning to cool off. Leila soon returned with two vanilla ice cream cones.

Side by side, they ate their ice cream. Though it was a routine repeated countless times, everything felt newly wondrous to Kyle, who kept stealing glances at Leila. Maybe because Leila with glasses looked unfamiliar.

"Leila."

Kyle quietly whispered the name he could no longer hold back. When she turned to look at him, Leila's cheeks were flushed. Though he knew it was just the heat, Kyle's heart pounded helplessly.

Swallowing dryly, Kyle took a big bite of his half-melted ice cream.

"It's good, the ice cream."

At Kyle's belated comment, Leila gave a wry smile.

"Right? Vanilla's still my favorite."

Leila lifted her head to gaze at the clear summer sky. As Kyle noticed how long and slender her neck was, he quickly averted his eyes and took another large bite of ice cream.

Cold and sweet.