Chapter 28
28
Flying This Spring Like a Bird
“It’s a perfectly understandable choice, but I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.”
Colonel Perel, the commander of the Imperial Guard, looked at Mathias with a quiet smile. Mathias met his superior’s gaze with calm eyes.
“I mean, it feels like I’m losing a capable officer. Looking at it from the perspective of the entire empire, tying down Duke Herhardt in the military would be an even greater loss, but I’m speaking from a soldier’s standpoint.”
The regret in his eyes seemed far too genuine to be mere formal courtesy.
Captain Herhardt, who had been planning to stay with the Guard for one more year, had changed his mind. When the discharge papers arrived instead of the extension request, he had been quite surprised. He had wanted to persuade him otherwise, but with the reason being Lady Norma of House Herhardt, who was advanced in age, there was no excuse to hold him back.
“Thank you for everything.”
Mathias bowed politely.
In terms of rank, Duke Herhardt was far higher nobility, but he always showed the proper respect to his superiors. It was a stark contrast to the other noble officers who couldn’t separate public and private matters well, and he greatly appreciated that about Mathias. The same went for how he had chosen a harsh overseas frontline as his first posting and earned merits there.
“When you’re in Ratz, be sure to come visit me.”
Mathias gladly accepted the colonel’s offered handshake.
“Yes, Colonel.”
With a firm grip of hands, Mathias bid farewell and left the colonel’s residence.
As he stepped out onto the street, the languid spring sunlight poured down.
The carriage carrying Mathias headed toward downtown Ratz. Only after meeting a few more superiors there did the multi-day round of discharge farewells finally come to an end.
Mathias halted abruptly as he approached the waiting carriage. His gaze was fixed on the end of the street across the road. It was Leila. A woman who could only be Leila was walking through the bustling heart of Ratz.
“Master.”
His attendant approached the motionless man.
“Go back first.”
Mathias issued a curt order. His eyes remained fixed on the street across the way.
It was Leila. It shouldn’t have been possible, but Mathias harbored no doubts.
He crossed the street with wide strides.
Even on a second visit, the museum was enormous.
Leila gazed up at the grand building of the Berg Empire Natural History Museum with the same awestruck expression as her first day.
The day after arriving in Ratz, Kyle had brought her here first thing. The Art History Museum and Natural History Museum, facing each other across the main boulevard, were said to be among Ratz’s greatest prides. Even Leila, accustomed to the prosperous city of Karlsvar that rivaled the capital, was captivated by this street.
Her friends from the girls’ school who had stopped by the capital on their way had all raved about the beautiful Art History Museum, but Leila had chosen the Natural History Museum without hesitation. As Kyle had declared, it was paradise for her. The only problem was that it was so vast she couldn’t see it all in one day.
If she devoted today entirely to it and squeezed in another day before leaving Ratz, she could probably manage to see nearly everything. With her resolve firm, Leila entered the museum lobby with eager steps.
Kyle had offered to come along today too, but she had refused. She had finished her exams yesterday, but his were tomorrow. No matter how much studying was best done in advance, she couldn’t drag him here the day before his tests.
Before entering the exhibition halls, Leila steeled her determination once more.
Comfortable shoes, ready.
Notebook and pen, ready.
Stamina stocked up, ready too.
Clutching the notebook and pen she pulled from her bag, Leila quickened her pace toward the exhibition room she hadn’t finished the first day.
Today’s Leila Llewellyn was just like a child out on a picnic.
Mathias watched Leila steadily as she tirelessly traversed exhibition hall after exhibition hall.
He had been certain it was Leila the moment he spotted the woman entering the Natural History Museum, but he followed at a discreet distance. For a while, he was curious what she intended to do, and once he saw, he wanted to observe a bit longer.
Come to think of it, the university entrance exams in the capital were around this time. If she had come to take them, it seemed she had made up her mind to attend university. And to marry Kyle Etman as well.
Leila stood glued to a glass case filled with plant specimens, scribbling away intently. She even smiled brightly, as if peering at a jewel. He couldn’t imagine what about mere specimens could make her smile like that.
He considered approaching but decided to watch a little more. If he did, she wouldn’t smile anymore.
Mathias clasped his hands behind his back and slowly followed her path.
She looked much the same as last summer, yet subtly different somehow. Her slightly more refined face, gentler expression, softer movements. In her white dress adorned with lace trim, Leila seemed even more grown-up than before.
Only after a long while did Leila leave the plant specimens hall, stopping abruptly at the threshold to the next one. Mathias soon realized why.
The passageway connecting the halls was like something out of heaven. White feathers adorned branches painted silver, as if they were leaves. Colorful crystal ornaments shaped like birds hung from the branches everywhere, reflecting the light and making the space feel even more dreamlike.
“Wow—.”
Leila’s innocent exclamation reached even Mathias.
Watching her dash off excitedly, Mathias let out a soft chuckle. Her abundant golden hair and the hem of her dress swayed along with her childlike leaps.
In the midst of that beautiful passageway, Leila stopped. She stretched on tiptoe, reaching for the ornaments, but her fingertips couldn’t quite touch the birds.
Mathias moved toward her without hesitation as she gazed up at the ceiling in endless wonder. His motion to lightly scoop her up from behind was a fraction faster than the moment she noticed his presence.
By the time she startled and turned her head, Leila was already floating up into the air as if flying. The crystal bird that had been out of reach sparkled at her eye level. It was a strange and beautiful moment, like dreaming with eyes wide open—as if she could fly anywhere this spring like a bird.
Mathias set her down as if nothing had happened. The white dress skirt, which had puffed up abundantly, settled softly, gently tickling her calves.
Still dazed, Leila hid the hand that had touched the crystal’s texture behind her back and lifted her head blankly. In that time, he had slowly removed his officer’s cap. Those same blue eyes from that late summer afternoon held her.
Beneath the museum’s dome was a café selling simple meals and drinks. It was where she had eaten lunch with Kyle on their first day.
Mathias led the way there. Realizing what it meant, Leila scowled and stopped.
“It was nice seeing you, Your Grace. I’ll be going now.”
Mathias turned at her words. Leila, having caught her breath, bowed to him.
“Stay there.”
He commanded as she turned to leave.
Ignoring it, she took a few more steps, but Leila couldn’t escape. In the blink of an eye, Mathias overtook her and blocked her path. She could feel passersby glancing their way.
“Why are you doing this?”
Leila asked sharply, scanning the surroundings.
“I don’t like it.”
“What.”
“……This. I don’t like it.”
Mathias’s utterly nonchalant attitude fueled her anger.
“This isn’t right.”
With her fidgeting hand, born of anxiety, Leila gripped the strap of her shoulder bag tightly.
“Now, so…….”
“Want to try doing something that shouldn’t be done?”
A faint laugh colored Mathias’s voice. Stunned for a moment, blinking in disbelief, Leila suddenly scrunched her face and shook her head vigorously.
“No!”
It felt so insulting that her hands began to tremble.
“Absolutely not!”
She felt a sharp heat in her cheeks. They must be bright red by now. The shame of that realization only made her face burn hotter. Only she, in front of the composed and amused duke.
Mathias’s gaze, which had slowly circled the area, settled back on Leila’s face.
“Buying a cup of tea for an orphan from my estate whom I happened to run into in the capital. What’s wrong with this act of kindness?”
Even as he uttered words that insulted her, Mathias’s demeanor remained utterly detached.
“There’s nothing wrong with it.”
The mirth faded from Mathias’s eyes, turning them coldly serene.
“Right, Leila?”
With that question, murmured almost to himself, Mathias resumed walking toward the café. A long, thin sigh escaped Leila’s lips as she stared at his back.
She couldn’t claim to know Duke Herhardt well, but one thing was now crystal clear. That man would achieve what he wanted by any means necessary, and resisting him would only drag her into deeper trouble.
Resigned, Leila followed behind the duke with heavy steps.
Shortly after they ordered, the waiter brought two cups of coffee. Steam rose in white wisps from the teacups placed between the two silent people.
“I never imagined I’d run into you here, Your Grace.”
Leila finally spoke with difficulty. She couldn’t bear the silence any longer; she had to say something.
“Your Grace and natural history…….”
“Not interested.”
Mathias set down his coffee after a sip and cut her off.
“You already know that, Leila.”
A sneer tugged at one corner of his raised mouth.
“That I have no interest in things like this.”
“Then a promise or…….”
“You know this isn’t mere coincidence either.”
“No.”
Leila answered reflexively. Tension flooded her body, her heartbeat growing erratic. She would rather be the pitiful orphan receiving the duke’s pity. She didn’t want to be anything else to this man.
“What I know.”
Her voice kept trembling, so Leila swallowed dryly for a moment.
“Is that Your Grace dislikes me.”
To banish the horrific memory of their first kiss that suddenly resurfaced, Leila closed her eyes. But it was futile. When she opened them, Mathias was there, his blue eyes still fixed on her, and the memory wrapped around her once more in the present.
“Yes. I don’t like you.”
Mathias agreed coolly. A dry smile ghosted over his raised lip.
“Now I truly, utterly despise you, Leila.”
