Translator: Nox

Chapter 6

6

Canary

The nominal reason was a visit to relatives’ home to welcome the summer. But it was a well-known fact that Claudine von Brandt hadn’t come to Arbis for such a trivial excuse.

Pre-engagement negotiations between the two families and efforts to build familiarity between the parties involved. The purpose was clear, and neither family bothered to hide it. Claudine, more than anyone, made no effort to conceal it.

“Hello, Duke Herhardt.”

Standing before Matthias, who had come out to greet her, Claudine offered a greeting with impeccable etiquette. There wasn’t a trace of the little sister anywhere in her demeanor.

“Welcome, Lady Brandt.”

Matthias greeted her with equal formality. His attitude was flawless, as if he were meeting a lady for the first time.

The two exchanged elegant smiles as they gazed at each other.

There was nothing surprising about it anymore. They weren’t particularly close or intimate, but they had known each other for a long time, and thus they understood. They knew how thoroughly aristocratic Matthias von Herhardt and Claudine von Brandt were, down to their bones. That was the biggest and most obvious reason they had chosen each other.

Matthias expertly escorted Claudine. Afternoon tea had been prepared in the glass greenhouse connected to the back of the mansion. It was Elise von Herhardt’s consideration for Claudine, who loved the place.

“This greenhouse is beautiful no matter when I see it. Lady Herhardt has brought paradise right here.”

Claudine set down her teacup silently after a sip and spoke with evident delight. Her tone was cheerful like a young lady’s, yet carried a calm dignity.

“It took many long years of devoted care to cultivate it so. She eagerly awaits the day she can pass it on to a mistress who appreciates its worth.”

Elise von Herhardt said in a gentle voice. The Count and Countess of Brandt, seated across from her, looked at their daughter with proud, moved gazes. Claudine offered only a suitably shy smile and said no more.

“Matthias, why don’t you show Claudine around Arbis’s Paradise.”

As tea time drew to a close, Elise von Herhardt suggested casually. It seemed the real negotiations and arrangements were about to begin.

When Matthias extended his hand, Claudine gently placed her hand, gloved in translucent lace, into it. A brief memory of a small hand stained with dirt and blood flickered over that hand and vanished.

The two strolled along the path, conversing on suitable topics. In the center of the greenhouse, a marble fountain released a slow stream of water. The clear calls of birds slipping through mingled with the lazy afternoon atmosphere, diluting its languor.

Claudine stole a sidelong glance at Matthias. Even with his mild smile, it was hard to read his emotions. His attitude toward the world was the same. Impeccably polite without fault, yet at its core lay the arrogance of a man who had never bowed his head to anyone in his life. It was a trait that quite satisfied Claudine’s heart.

“The birds in this greenhouse are truly lovely.”

Claudine exclaimed in admiration as she gazed at the vividly colored birds perched on the branches. Only then did Matthias become aware of the birds kept in this glass greenhouse.

Arbis’s lady of the house, Elise von Herhardt, loved birds as much as she did roses. Of course, the method was the same. Just as gardeners tended the roses, hired breeders cared for the birds. Her role was simply to enjoy them. That was Elise von Herhardt’s way of loving the world.

“They follow people so well. It’s truly amazing. I’m curious about the secret.”

Claudine smiled as she watched a small bird alight on her outstretched hand.

Matthias slowly looked around. Come to think of it, the birds in this greenhouse were remarkably docile. Even with the windows wide open, they never flew away. They sang beautifully at all times in this peaceful world.

Matthias eyed the silver-haired breeder standing by respectfully as he observed the parrot waddling on its perch and the lovebird chirping on Claudine’s hand. The man approached quietly and stood beside Claudine.

“We clip their wing feathers, miss. That way, they can’t fly far, they don’t escape, and their temperament becomes gentle. Birds that can fly freely aren’t easily tamed by people.”

“The wings? Doesn’t it hurt them?”

“It’s just trimming the feathers, so it doesn’t hurt. It prevents them from flying to dangerous places, getting lost, or injured, so it’s good for the birds too. Would you like to see?”

“Is that all right, Duke Herhardt?”

Claudine asked, her eyes sparkling.

“As you wish, my lady.”

With Matthias’s ready permission, the breeder led them to a large aviary at one end of the greenhouse. Small birds whose wings hadn’t yet been clipped were kept there. He took out the most beautiful golden one and brought it to the workbench.

“What kind of bird is it?”

Matthias asked, watching the bird quietly.

“It’s a canary, master. A bird that sings beautifully.”

After a brief explanation, he first covered the bird’s eyes with a small handkerchief, then spread its wing and held it. With his other hand, he gripped sharp scissors.

Without hesitation, the breeder moved the scissor blades. The trimmed wing feathers scattered softly onto the workbench. He did the same to the other wing before releasing the bird.

It flapped its wings desperately, but the bird couldn’t fly far and plopped down. As if denying its new reality of being unable to fly properly, it tried to flee several more times, but the result was the same.

Matthias bent down and picked up the bird sitting at the edge of the flower bed. The small bird trapped in his grasp began to struggle and cry out, but it sounded more like a scream than a song.

“It won’t be tamed right away, master. It takes some time for them to get used to it.”

The breeder hurriedly took the bird from Matthias as if to dissuade him.

“Would you like to try taming it, miss?”

The breeder asked, stroking the bird to calm it.

“I’ll just be satisfied with watching. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity.”

Claudine refused politely and turned to leave.

“Shall we head back to the table now?”

This time, Claudine offered her hand first. Over that beautifully sculpted, smooth hand, the memory of a small hand stained with dirt and blood flickered once more, briefly, and vanished.

Before leaving with Claudine, Matthias left an impulsive order.

“Move it to my bedroom.”

“……Pardon?”

The breeder’s eyes widened at the unexpected command.

“That bird.”

Matthias pointed at it with narrowed eyes.

“My canary.”

Leila tightly bound her neatly combed blonde hair into a single ponytail. She then put on her apron and picked up a large basket.

“Today, I have to finish it.”

Leila’s expression was deadly serious as she muttered to herself.

Duke Herhardt had returned, and just a few days ago, Lady Brandt had visited Arbis as well. It made Leila anxious. She needed to gather enough wild strawberries before the duke claimed the forest and before Lady Brandt started summoning her at every turn. Fortunately, the two were still quiet for now. It seemed they were preoccupied with the major matter of their engagement ahead.

Leila firmly pressed down her wide-brimmed straw hat and hurried toward the forest. Wild strawberry bushes were everywhere. Even if the people of Arbis and the forest animals picked and ate them diligently, more fruits fell to the ground and rotted than were consumed.

Leila roamed the forest busily and filled her basket full before noon. Her arm felt like it might fall off from the weight, but her heart was lighter than ever.

She dropped the basket under a tree’s shade and lightly headed to the riverbank. She washed her hands thoroughly, erasing the traces of her intense strawberry picking, and splashed water on her face.

The Schulter River flowed around the Herhardt family’s forest and valley. It was beautiful even from the city, but the place where it looked most beautiful was undoubtedly this Arbis estate, where the clear water blended with the forest.

Leila took out the handkerchief tucked in her apron and dried her face. Thanks to the cool river water even in summer, the heat subsided considerably. She considered dipping her feet in but shook her head.

The aunt’s house where she had first been placed had five siblings older than Leila. They were all rough and mischievous, and one day they dragged her forcibly to the river and threw her in. They called it a sort of initiation rite she had to endure to live in that house. If the neighbor uncle hadn’t come running at the child’s screams, Leila might have become a water ghost without moving.

It was clearly those kids who were at fault, but that night, it was Leila who got beaten by her drunken uncle. And not long after, Leila was chased off 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 house was better than the previous one, Leila decided to consider it a good thing. She thought the same every time she was passed to the next house, and then the one after. And so she ended up here, at Uncle Bill’s cottage, so it wasn’t wrong to say things had turned out as she believed.

So, everything worked out for the best.

Leila smiled brightly and trotted back under the tree. She tucked the newspaper that had been wedged in the corner of the basket into her apron pocket and quickly climbed the tree. She wasn’t as quick and nimble as she had been as a child, but she had grown more skilled instead. Uncle Bill had taught her.

Leila settled comfortably on a branch that fit her like a custom chair. From here, she firmly believed the Schulter River below was the most beautiful river in the world. Even Kyle, who had traveled to many cities, had agreed, so it might be close to an objective fact.

Leila slowly took in the water birds searching for food, the shimmering water scales, and the greenery lining both banks of the river. She loved this scenery so much that she looked forward to summer. There was the variable of Duke Herhardt, but summer was undoubtedly a beautiful season.

Having reached a clear conclusion, Leila unfolded the newspaper from her pocket and found the page with the serialized novel. The detective, with his brilliant mind, was just about to uncover the culprit.

Leila began reading the novel engrossed.

It was some time before Matthias finally surfaced.

His prominent Adam’s apple rose and fell rapidly along with his ragged breaths. His robust, water-slicked nude body gleamed fresh like the shadows of the greenery reflected in the river.

Changing his mind about heading back, Matthias began swimming again in the direction of the current.

Matthias, who loved the Schulter River and Arbis’s forest, had renovated the boathouse by the pier—where the scenery could be taken in at a glance—into his annexe. His grandmother and mother rarely walked as far as the riverbank, so it was a world for Matthias alone.

When there were no guests at the mansion, Matthias often visited the annexe. He would gaze blankly at the scenery beyond the window, read a book, or nap if even that grew boring. It was a place where his mind felt at ease no matter what he did. Of course, the best was moments like this, entrusting his body to the river.

Lying on his back in the water, Matthias gazed at the green branches and the sky between them. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind and birdsong mingled with the faint breaking of the current. After the recent bustle at the mansion, the river’s tranquility felt even more vivid.

Negotiations for the marriage alliance between Herhardt and Brandt were proceeding smoothly. Barring any surprises, his engagement to Claudine would be announced before the summer ended.

The Brandts expected an engagement period of about a year, and Matthias agreed.

Once he had acquired sufficient honor as Duke Herhardt, there was no need to remain long in his officer position. Spending one or two more years in the guard before discharging and marrying would be most appropriate. After that, he planned to focus on the family’s businesses.

It would be a life flowing smoothly along calm currents.

Matthias closed his eyes languidly and surrendered to the river. The warm sunlight, cool current, and the sound of ripples lapping at his ears felt like the entirety of the world. But the moment he opened his eyes again, that perfect peace was shattered.

There was a woman sitting on the branch of a large tree by the riverbank. Before he could even blink once, Matthias recognized who she was. At that same instant, the woman, who had been reading her newspaper, folded it and turned her head toward him.

It was that irritating girl, Leila Llewellyn.