Cry, Even Better if you Beg

Chapter 19. Kiss Me Please

Kyle led Leyla to a terrace connected to the rose garden. As the tumultuous and colorful atmosphere of the party faded from a distance, Leyla finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thanks, Kyle. Thank you so much.”

Leyla thanked while leaning against the marble railing. She thought Kyle would laugh, but he somehow looked austere.

“Kyle?”

“Why are you holding it in?”

“Huh?”

“They’re dragging you around like a spectacle. Why are you staying still? You’re not like the prideful and clever Leyla Lewellin that I know of.”

“Who cares.”

Unlike Kyle, who was unusually furious, Leyla simply smiled.

“They’re not wrong. I am an orphan, I am indebted to Uncle Bill, and I am planning to become a teacher.”

“I really don’t get you.”

“People are born two-faced, Mr. Etman.”

“You’re only good at saying useless things.”

Kyle ended up smiling at Leyla’s mischievous reply.

“Go now, Kyle. I’m really fine.”

“Go where.”

“You have a lot of people to meet here. You also have a lot of friends.”

“No thanks.”

Kyle waved his hands as if he was annoyed and leaned his back against the railing along with Leyla.

“Don’t be like that…..”

“Leyla, I’m here as your partner today.”

Kyle slowly turned his head. His brown eyes gleamed warmly in the dark.

“So I’ll be by your side.”

A smile slowly spread over Kyle’s lips.

“I want to.”

The wind carried the sweet rose scent from the garden. Leyla tried to answer back, but all she could do was to grasp the handrail with her lips tightly closed.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“……. I’m not sure.”

“Are you being shy in front of me?”

“No way.”

“Your face looks red.”

“No!”

Leyla raised her hands and stroked her cheeks.

“Fooled ya.”

Leyla laughed when she saw Kyle playfully giggling. It was then when Mrs. Etman, who had been searching for her son, found the two on the terrace.

“Kyle. What the hell are you doing here?”

She approached and let out a deep sigh.

Leyla hurriedly straightened her posture and bowed her head. Mrs. Etman accepted her greeting with a frank look and then turned to her son.

“There’s a lot of people waiting to see you.”

“You mean my father.”

Kyle grinned, but Mrs. Etman’s eyes became stern.

“Kyle Etman. Are my words funny to you?”

“Mom, you know that’s not what I meant.”

“Let’s go. Madam Norma’s waiting for you. You’re not thinking of making her wait are you?”

Mrs. Etman’s attitude was obstinate, it was as if she wouldn’t allow any further counterarguments.

“See you, Kyle.”

Leyla carefully opened her mouth after holding her breath.

Madam Norma adored the only son of her doctor. Leyla knew how proud Mrs. Etman was.

“I’ll wait here.”

Leyla smiled to reassure Kyle.

“Thank you, Leyla.”

Mrs. Etman was, only then, able to smile at Leyla. Her brown eyes that resembled Kyle’s had always looked bitter towards Leyla. Leyla knew that as well.

Kyle reluctantly took a heavy step. Leyla gave a small wave at Kyle, who kept looking back.

“Wait for me!”

Kyle cried as he grimaced.3

“You have to wait for me, Leyla!”

Ok.

She was willing to answer, but Leyla couldn’t take her lips off. All she could do was to wave her hands more vigorously.

After Kyle and Mrs. Etman left, the terrace was calm again. The music and laughter from the hall mingled with the beautiful lights, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Leyla had left her glasses at home so the lights looked blurry, but the scenery looked more dreamy with her blurry vision.

Now Leyla Lewellin’s role was over.

Leyla was able to relax. With her relaxed state, her unfamiliar clothes came into view.

When she slightly moved her legs, the waist decorated ribbon and the bottom of her dress shook. Leyla started becoming jolly as she tiptoed up and down while looking down at the rich hem of the flowing dress.

The white dress embroidered with the gold thread was as majestic as the dreamy night. The dress’s texture that brushed against Leyla’s skin was so soft that her entire body was ticklish.

And the necklace.

Leyla gently fondled her necklace as she lost her shy smile.

Why did Lady Brandt say that?

Leyla guessed that Claudine was probably expressing contempt and sympathy in a sophisticated way, but Leyla didn’t mind. Uncle Bill’s gift was dazzlingly beautiful. No matter what others said, Leyla was content with her gift.

Leyla smiled again, and when she raised her head, a tall man came out onto the terrace. Leyla believed it was Kyle and had gotten excited, but when she recognized who the man was, she froze.+

It was Duke Herhardt. Along with Lady Brandt.

“It’s very clear at night, isn’t it?”

Claudine asked as she took a deep breath. Her behavior seemed like she had led Matthias to the terrace because of the night breeze.

“I like the summer because its nights are pleasing. What about you, Duke Herhardt?”

Claudine smiled brightly as she stood in front of the marble railing. Her gaze had left Matthias’s face and went towards Leyla Lewellin, who was standing at the far opposite end of the terrace. Leyla was the primary reason Claudine had brought Matthias here.

“I don’t like summer very much, my lady.”

Matthias stood beside Claudine. His eyes that were looking at the rose-filled garden then briefly passed by Leyla’s face. She looked very embarrassed and nervous at the appearance of unexpected guests.

“Really? I thought you liked summer.”

Claudine now looked at Matthias with her back against Leyla.

“Come to think of it, I feel like Duke Herhardt is a heartless man. Of course, you know that’s not a reproach, right?”

Claudine, with her hands held together behind her back, came a step closer. The distance between the two was close enough to reach each other’s breath.

“I actually like your insensitivity. I think it accentuates your nobility and elegant manner.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Matthias didn’t back down and faced Claudine.

“Kiss me, please.”

Claudine demanded boldly. Matthias stared at her in silence.

“I like the heartless Duke Herhardt, but don’t we still need to put in some passion or enthusiasm?”

As Claudine tilted her head, the thickly curled brown hair shook elastically.

“I mean, we are getting engaged, married, and will live together for the rest of our lives.”

“Minimal passion…..”

Matthias narrowed his eyes for a while and gave a nod to agree.

“Indeed.”

Matthias wrapped Claudine’s cheek without much hesitation. Claudine looked a little surprised but she soon naturally closed her eyes.

While looking at the shadows of Claudine’s eyelashes, Matthias’s gaze unconsciously turned to the opposite end of the terrace. The fidgeting Leyla had met eyes with him just in time.

Leaving his gaze of Leyla intact, Matthias lowered his lips over Claudine’s lips.4

The spectator Leyla Lewellin that Claudine wanted was faithful to her role. Frozen in place, Leyla blankly watched the two. Even the darkness and the long distance couldn’t hide Leyla’s red cheeks.

Throughout the very restrained kiss, Matthias’s eyes had continued to be on Leyla. Her green eyes helplessly looked at him in a paralyzed state. Although the moon was bright, her eyes looked as dull as the night.

When Leyla avoided his eyes, the two people’s blunt kiss was over. Leyla ran down the stairs leading to the garden while Claudine slowly opened her eyes and oddly smiled.2

“Let’s go.”

Matthias politely reached out his hand. Claudine held the hand as if nothing had happened.

“I’m sure, Duke Herhardt.”

Claudine, who had just entered the hall, grinned.

“I’m sure that we’ll become a pretty good couple.”

~~~~

Leyla frantically ran down the stairs. She knew she wasn’t being chased, but Leyla kept running faster.

The sound of Leyla’s shoes on the promenade shook the serene garden of the night. It wasn’t until she reached the massive fountain in the middle of the garden when Leyla finally stopped. She didn’t realize the pain in her feet because all she could think of was escaping the terrace.

“Ah…….”

Leyla slightly took off her shoes and winced. There were raw scratches all over her feet, which suffered from the new pumps. Her heel was skinned and blood flowed down. All she wanted to do was to run to the cabin but she eventually turned around.

She promised Kyle that she’ll be waiting. Leyla believed she had to at least tell him that she was making her leave first. But she was afraid to go back to that mansion, to that strange and uncomfortable world.

Leyla agonized as she limped along the right side of the path. She stood under the vine roses where the pergola stood. She was planning to first wait in the garden and then visit the mansion when Kyle was about to come back.

Can I sit down?

Leyla stared at the bench and wondered. It was the rose vine Uncle Bill pruned with special care, but she had never gone under it. It was a seat not allowed by any other residents or servants.

But wouldn’t it be okay today since I’m here as Arvis’s guest?

After more thoughts, Leyla was able to quietly sit at the end of the bench. She needed a little more time and courage to then take off her shoes.

Leyla leaned her back against the armrest of the bench and wrapped her knees in her arms. The throbbing feet touched the cold marble and the pain started to subside a little. She now learned how good looking shoes wore out her feet, so she couldn’t bear to wear the shoes again.

If I hadn’t ran, I could’ve at least saved my heels.

Leyla gently grazed the painful wound with her fingertips. She shook her head to shake off the sudden memory.

When she thought of the man who stared at her while kissing his fiancé, Leyla frowned. Leyla didn’t understand why Claudine had casually accepted the kiss even though she knew there was a person there.1

“Why are they like that?”

Mumbling to herself, Leyla unwittingly rubbed her lips.

“….. So shameless.”

This time, she rubbed the inside of her lips with the back of hand. It was as if to erase the memory and the strange feeling of that night when the moon was lit.

⊛⊛⊛⊛

Comments, votes, and follows are greatly appreciated~ ^^

Korean Comments Section✎

From what I see, I think Claudine likes Leyla. It’s real love everyone.1

I think Claudine was testing Matthias to see if he was man who treated a mistress simply as a mistress.1

I thought Matthias and Leyla were going to kiss when I saw the chapter title….