Chapter 35
35
What the Thief Stole
Leila Llewellyn’s name had been buzzing among the servants of the ducal estate just as busily as it had been these past few days, but the direction had changed dramatically.
A thief had broken into the gardener’s cottage.
The news spread quickly throughout the mansion. Most people wondered how any thief would dare infiltrate the Herhardt ducal lands, but Bill Leamer’s half-demented search for the culprit was enough to dispel those suspicions.
Matthias set out from the estate just as the commotion reached its peak. It was about time to leave if he wanted to make it to lunch on schedule.
The man who had no interest in trivial gossip sensed that something was different than usual as he passed the mansion’s entrance lined with platanus trees. Across the road, mounted policemen were approaching. Since this road led only to Arbis, there was no need to guess where they were headed.
“A thief broke into the gardener’s house, they say.”
Before Matthias could even ask, a quick-witted attendant answered first.
“Bill Leamer’s house?”
“Yes. It seems the money he’d saved for the girl’s tuition is gone, and he’s in a panic.”
Thief. Tuition. Leila.
Muttering the words as if intrigued, Matthias tilted his head slightly. It was around the time the carriage emerged from the shade of Platanus Avenue that he recalled the stranger he’d encountered by the Schult River that morning.
The man had introduced himself as Daniel Rayner, Mrs. Etman’s cousin. He’d stopped by on his way to visit the Etman house, wanting to pass on congratulations to Leila for her university acceptance. After that, he’d prattled on about this and that—his small investment firm, mining rights in overseas mines, the stock market, and so on—but Matthias had let most of it go in one ear and out the other, so little stuck in his memory.
But Matthias did remember the time. With the middle-aged man sweating profusely and spinning his long-winded tale right in front of him, the watch on his wrist had shown it wasn’t even nine o’clock yet. Far too early for a cultured middle-class businessman to visit and celebrate a girl who would become his cousin’s wife’s niece’s university acceptance.
It wasn’t his business, though, so he’d brushed it off indifferently. Or so he’d thought. That was all there was to it—until he heard the absurd news about a thief in the gardener’s cottage.
But why?
No matter how desperate his circumstances, it made no sense for the man to come all the way to unfamiliar Arbis to steal from the gardener. It would be one thing if he’d robbed his wealthy cousin’s house instead.
“Linda Etman.”
Matthias murmured the name unconsciously, just as he was about to lose interest in the trivial matter.
Putting Linda Etman’s name between that man and Leila suddenly painted a fairly plausible picture. Of course, it was still mostly speculation, but the pieces fit together better than before, which was intriguing enough.
Before stepping out of the car that had stopped in front of the hotel for lunch, Matthias gave his attendant a curt order.
“Look into Daniel Rayner. As quickly as possible.”
The dinner table food was left almost untouched. It was rare for a table with hearty eaters like Bill and Kyle.
Leila, who knew the reason well, quietly cleared the table. Bill Leamer, who hadn’t even finished half his plate, headed straight out to the porch and lit a cigarette. Ever since the theft, the cottage’s atmosphere had been sunk in this kind of gloom.
“It’s okay, Leila.”
Kyle, who had been helping Leila, cautiously spoke up. Leila paused her busy hands and looked up at him with her green eyes.
“The thief—we’ll catch him for sure.”
“Yeah.”
“Even if we don’t, don’t worry about the tuition. My father said he’d cover yours too and told me to let you know.”
“Kyle.”
“Don’t even think about refusing. He’s wanted to pay it from the start. He only backed off because Uncle Bill was so stubborn about it.”
Kyle’s tone was unusually firm.
“Getting married means we’re becoming family, Leila. It’s not about owing a debt—family helps each other. Right?”
Leila, who had stood frozen for a moment, slowly nodded. Her gaze drifted gently downward. Seeing how much she’d withered in just a few days stirred Kyle’s hatred toward the thief who had ravaged their peaceful forest home like a marauder.
“Anyway, just in case, but for now, let’s focus on catching the thief.”
Kyle spoke with hope brimming over, even though he knew the chances were slim. Leila finally managed a faint smile.
“…Yeah. Thanks, Kyle.”
“No need to thank me. What did I even do?”
“Just… everything.”
Leila let out a small chuckle again, but it only made Kyle’s heart feel heavier.
Kyle clearly remembered how delighted Leila had been when she learned she’d be traveling to the capital with Uncle Bill. He’d suggested going to pay the tuition, but she’d called it their first family trip—Uncle Bill was gruff and bad at expressing himself, but it was definitely that—and she’d been overjoyed like a child. Teasing her as she boasted about being able to guide him well in Ratz since it was her second time, Kyle had been happy right along with her.
The places they’d go together, the food they’d eat, the things they’d do. Leila chattering excitedly had been so lovable that Kyle had nearly felt jealous of Uncle Bill.
But then the thief had ruined everything. Even if they recovered the money, Leila and Uncle Bill could never set off on that trip with the same joy, and there was nothing Kyle could do about it.
Shaking off the overwhelming helplessness, Kyle took a deep breath and approached Bill Leamer, who sat glumly on the porch. Glancing briefly at Kyle as he sat beside him, Bill just kept chain-smoking. Kyle almost missed the past few days when Bill had burned with murderous intent, plotting dozens of ways to kill the thief.
“It’s all my fault.”
After a long silence, Bill finally spoke, his voice sunk in defeat.
“I kept a wad of cash at home and couldn’t even lock the door properly.”
“It’s not your fault, Uncle. Who would think a thief would break into Arbis estate?”
“Registration deadline’s next week, and I don’t know if we’ll catch that damn thief by then.”
“Don’t worry about that. If there’s no progress by then, my father said he’ll pay Leila’s tuition too. I already told her.”
Bill Leamer’s eyes deepened like a well as he looked at Kyle’s smiling face.
“He said he’ll contact the police station tomorrow too. Ask a friendly officer to properly investigate the case.”
“Thanks, Kyle. From one to ten, we’re indebted to the Etman family now. I have no face left.”
“If you say that, I’ll be hurt. I haven’t even paid back half the cost of the meals I’ve eaten here yet.”
Bill let out a weak chuckle at Kyle’s cheeky response.
“Be sure to pass on my deepest thanks to your parents. No—once this is sorted, tell them I’ll come visit to give my greetings in person.”
Bill gripped Kyle’s shoulder firmly.
Kyle started to say it wasn’t necessary but held back and nodded slowly. He didn’t know exactly why, but his intuition told him it was what Bill Leamer needed.
He wanted to protect that man’s heart.
The ducal estate had two studies. The one on the second floor was a vast space filled with books rivaling a library, while the smaller one at the end of the third floor near the master suite had mostly filled with history, politics, and economics texts. For generations, it had been used by the Duke of Herhardt for receiving guests and handling work. Matthias von Herhardt did the same.
Mark Evers’s steps were hurried as he headed to that third-floor office.
Since Matthias had come of age, he’d served as his secretary and attendant, but he’d never once received an urgent order. At first, he’d thought it was just the young master’s naturally laid-back temperament, but he soon realized there might be nothing under the skies of the Berg Empire that could make the Duke of Herhardt rush or fret.
He had everything, and everything went smoothly for him.
Matthias von Herhardt was a man who knew he would conquer the world. Mark was certain his tolerance and kindness stemmed from that—like the leisure of a well-fed predator. Being around Matthias even made the air feel languidly calm. That was the Duke of Herhardt he knew.
When such a man added the condition “as quickly as possible,” Mark Evers doubted his own ears for a moment. Once he confirmed it was real, his mind raced with impatience as he frantically investigated Daniel Rayner.
“Master, it’s Evers.”
In his haste, Mark Evers practically ran up to the third-floor office door. Light seeped out, but no answer came from beyond. It was permission.
He quietly opened the door and entered. Matthias was deeply reclined against the back of the wide leather sofa. Though night had fallen, he was still dressed formally after meeting with executives just earlier.
“Here are the files on Daniel Rayner as you requested.”
Mark Evers politely placed the folder on the reception table.
Matthias picked it up with a hand pressing his temple. One page, then another. Reading slowly, he seemed no different from the Duke of Herhardt that Mark knew.
But the relief was short-lived. Mark soon faced an even more bewildering situation. After carefully reading to the last page, Matthias burst into a low chuckle. Mark couldn’t fathom what about this pathetic man—who’d been duped by shady overseas mining rights, mortgaged his house for a fortune, lost it all, and ended up on the streets—could make the impassive duke laugh.
“Daniel Rayner must have dramatically paid off his bank debt recently.”
Matthias looked up, folder in hand, one corner of his mouth curved upward. His face gave a rather mild impression when expressionless, but the amused snicker lent it a chilling air.
“Yes, Master. I was about to report that. Not in full, but enough to keep from losing the house. It happened this afternoon, so it wasn’t in the report yet.”
“And the source of that money is the Etmans, no doubt.”
Matthias continued with a still-grinning face.
“Linda Etman.”
Pronouncing the name slowly, he looked utterly delighted.
“How did you…”
“Good work. Call Hessen.”
Instead of answering, Matthias issued a polite command. Stunned but unquestioning, Mark Evers obeyed the order.
