Chapter 63
63
Pretty
With the comedy that had drawn laughter from everyone brought to a close, the first half filled with performances by the lower-class students came to an end.
The children who had a second-half performance with their siblings stayed behind with their parents, while the young ones who needed to get to bed early set off for home.
“I’m sorry, Teacher. We’re truly sorry.”
Monica’s family apologized to Leila repeatedly, even as they climbed into their carriage.
“Please don’t say that. It’s fine.”
“But still, because of our Monica, you had to suffer such a huge embarrassment…”
Monica’s grandmother’s grave words made Leila flinch.
“Shall we have a hot cup of coffee?”
Teacher Grever approached Leila, who had turned back after seeing off Monica’s family, with a kind smile.
“Thank you, but I think I need to be alone for a bit.”
“Oh, come on. It’s okay. It was cute.”
“You know that’s not much comfort, right?”
Leila grinned and teased back playfully.
“It really was. And today, Teacher Llewellyn accomplished something huge. Noble guests don’t laugh easily, but you had them laughing their hearts out.”
At Teacher Grever’s consolation, Leila’s despair deepened even further. Right. That man must have seen it too. Oh God.
“The principal looked pleased too, you know? Thanks to Teacher Llewellyn, the donations are going to pour in.”
“Tonight, I really hate the principal.”
Leila let out a deep sigh and ended up laughing.
After sending Teacher Grever ahead first, Leila trudged to the park attached to the back of the Public Hall. She really needed some time alone. It felt like her soul had slipped out like white breath and scattered away.
What on earth had she done?
Leila plopped down on a bench in a deserted corner of the park and first kicked off the shoes tormenting her feet. Then, tilting her head back to gaze at the night sky, a held-back sigh escaped her—haaa. It seemed embarrassment couldn’t kill a person after all. She was still breathing, after all.
“Uwaaaah.”
Another cry burst from her, scattering white like her very soul.
Mathias found Leila right where he’d expected.
She’d be dying of shame, so she’d flee to a place without people, and since she couldn’t stand uncomfortable shoes, probably somewhere with a bench. But she was quite timid, so there’d need to be at least one streetlamp. Even better if there were trees.
“As expected.”
In one corner of the park behind the Public Hall, Leila sat blankly on a bench next to a large tree and a streetlamp. Barefoot, pouring out sighs toward the night sky nonstop.
Mathias approached her with slow, light steps. It wasn’t until the tip of his shadow touched the bench that Leila startled and whipped her head around. A small gasp escaped her.
“How…”
Leila glanced around, then looked back at him. Suddenly, she stuck out her foot and pressed down firmly on the shoes she’d taken off. It must have reminded her of that night he’d taken them.
Seeing her wary eyes, a light laugh slipped from Mathias’s lips.
“You think that’ll stop me from taking them?”
When he tossed the joke while eyeing her shoes, Leila panted in surprise and hurriedly shoved her feet back into them. Only after securely fastening the straps and jumping to her feet did her expression relax. No need to ask if she was better; her busy, fluttering movements were as light as ever.
“Sit.”
“No. I’m fine, Your Grace.”
Leila backed away hesitantly until she reached the streetlamp. Her attitude was grating, but he decided not to interfere further. The gaslight’s glow illuminated her like a soft lamp. Mathias quite liked the sight of the woman standing in that light.
“Why not become an actress instead of a teacher? I’ve never seen an actress make more people laugh than you.”
Right. That’s why he’d come looking.
Leila pressed her lips together and dropped her gaze to her toes.
“I know it was a bit, um, clumsy.”
“A bit?”
The duke echoed, then burst out laughing—haha. Now truly embarrassed enough that it felt like shame might kill her, Leila bit her lip harder. Her hands, clasped tightly together, began to tremble anxiously.
“Then I’ll be going…”
“Pretty.”
Leila, who’d been eyeing a way to escape him, looked up in a daze at the unexpected words, like a blow out of nowhere. Mathias was staring straight at her with a slanted gaze.
Thank you?
That sounded ridiculous.
No, Your Grace?
That was just as pathetic.
No matter how desperately she racked her brain, Leila couldn’t find the right words. Maybe she should just run without a word. But she’d only get caught soon enough anyway.
“Bi-Bill bought it for me.”
Leila finally came up with the best response she could. She knew he wasn’t talking about the necklace, but still. Or maybe he was. She’d heard compliments about it several times tonight.
Mathias, who’d been eyeing her with a slight frown, let out another laugh. From her flushed cheeks down her white nape, to the emerald necklace around it. As his gaze moved slowly, Leila felt increasingly strange and hunched her shoulders.
“Do you like it?”
“Huh?”
“That necklace.”
“Uh… yes. Of course.”
Leila answered with conviction. What was so amusing about that? The duke laughed again. It was a low, soft laugh.
Had she known he could laugh like this?
Stunned by the unfamiliar sight, Leila stared at him intently for a long while. Mathias, his laughter fading, filled his deepened eyes with her. A quiet moment passed as they gazed at each other wordlessly, broken only by a single bird perched on a branch.
Startled by the sound of its wings flapping into the night sky, Leila swayed. Only then did the fear hit her—someone might see. Terror froze her body.
“Ah…!”
Caught up in the thought that she needed to get back now, Leila had barely taken a step when Mathias’s hand gripped her.
Before she could even let out a short scream, her stiff back hit the cold streetlamp. Mathias stood blocking her way, as always, large and solid.
“I-I’ll scream.”
Leila wailed, pushing at his chest.
“Do as you like.”
With that flat reply, Mathias cupped her small face firmly with one hand and examined it closely. No matter how hard she struggled, Leila couldn’t shake his gaze.
“Where’d you hide it?”
Before his persistent stare, like he was searching for something, Leila froze in fear and held her breath.
“…Hide what?”
Her questioning voice trembled pathetically.
“What are you… saying I…”
Leila looked at him with bewildered eyes. After scrutinizing her face for a long moment, he let out a sigh tinged with faint frustration.
He’d just caught a glimpse of a clue, and now it had vanished again.
It was quite irritating, but the face of the woman before him now was beautiful enough to erase that unfulfilled desire.
Mathias slowly lowered the hand that had been tracing her cheek and jaw, wrapping it around her slender neck. His fingertips brushed cold pearls, and without realizing, his throat bobbed.
Such delicate flesh that marks would show easily. So if he gripped hard, his handprint would stay. Or better yet, what if he licked and sucked, leaving red marks all over. From head to toe. All mine. Marked by me.
Even with a woman he could do that to as much as he wanted right in front of him, Mathias sighed in frustration once more. With the hand that had gently stroked her stiffened nape, he cupped her cheek again. The lips he traced with his fingertips were moist and warm. Your inside must be like this too.
He slipped a finger between her parted lips, and Leila’s eyes widened round. The tip brushing her soft mucosa soon touched her plush tongue. That’s when Leila bit down—ang. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt; it only gave a dizzying stimulation. That absurd resistance made Mathias laugh.
“Bite harder, Leila.”
Looking down at the woman still biting his finger, Mathias whispered softly, as if offering advice.
“Then it’ll hurt.”
He really is crazy.
Fed up with the laughing Mathias, Leila went limp and released his finger. Even if she bit harder to hurt him, he didn’t seem like he’d stop.
As Leila quieted, Mathias chuckled and pulled his finger out. With it glistening from her saliva, he slowly caressed her lips.
If I kiss you, you’ll resist again.
That’s how it had always been, and quelling her resistance was laughably easy. Like always, Mathias could just satisfy his desires.
But.
Mathias hesitated to press his lips forward, merely gazing down at Leila’s face held firmly in both hands. He imagined Leila willingly accepting him. Not pushing or hitting, but embracing and stroking with her small hands. That moment. That joy.
Lowering the hand fiddling with her chin, Mathias stroked her exposed white nape. Not knowing what to do left him feeling at a loss, and before he knew it, he swallowed dryly. Damn it. His fist clenched to hold back a curse, then gently cupped her cheek again. And in the end, with a quiet sigh, he let Leila go. Leila, dazed, only then showed relief after he took a step back.
Leila didn’t flee in a flutter as he’d thought she might. Unexpectedly, she stayed right there. Eyes lowered as if lost in thought, then looking at him, frowning slightly. And again, several times, gazing at Mathias. All the while, his gaze stayed fixed on her alone.
In that strange, unfamiliar feeling, like being lost, something cold and soft settled on his lashes.
Leila startled and looked up. Mathias slowly faced the sky too.
Snow was falling. The first snow of this winter.
By the time the second half ended, night had deepened.
After finishing up, Leila hurried across the hall. The weather made walking impossible, so she’d need to catch a stagecoach or bus to near Arbis. The last one would leave soon, making her anxious.
“Leila! Or rather, Teacher Llewellyn!”
Leila, descending the Public Hall steps, turned in surprise at the familiar voice calling her.
“Uncle!”
Pete, Bill Lemmer’s friend and the Arbis coachman, waved broadly at her.
“Come on, let’s go.”
He pointed to the Herhardt family’s carriage parked by the road in front of the Public Hall. The crest alone brought that man’s face to mind, and Leila instinctively shook her head.
“No! I’ll go alone…”
“It’s Lady Norma’s orders, Leila.”
The unexpected name he mentioned left her stunned.
“Since we’re heading back to Arbis anyway, she said you could ride with us. Come on, they’re waiting for you.”
