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When Leyla had been summoned into the Arvis mansion by none other than Elysee von Herhardt, she thought they’d been found out. She never expected it was because Claudine needed an attendant since hers had been injured not too long ago.
Elysee had immediately explained to her what she was going to do, and when she should do it, but to be honest, Leyla hadn’t really been paying attention. It was like the words entered one ear, and out the other as she nodded along without really understanding anything.
“Well, that’s it.” Elysee hummed, “All you really need to do is help Claudine with whatever things she needed doing. And don’t worry, it’s paid work.”
“Madam, I don’t really have the experience though…” Leyla weakly countered, but Elysee only looked at her sternly.
“Haven’t you assisted Claudine before?” she cut off harshly, “I know you probably did when you were still children. It won’t be hard work, I assure you. You’ll just assist her maid until her hand heals and she can do it herself.”
The distaste on the matriarch’s face was clear. She had been in a foul mood ever since she called for Leyla.
“Surely you won’t refuse such a favor?” Elysee prodded, raising a brow at the woman, “After all, Claudine had been so graceful to the fact your uncle destroyed the greenhouse which was supposed to be their wedding venue.” she said as though to add insult to injury, “Think of this as a way to repay her.”
The way the madam mentioned Bill was through gritted teeth. Leyla could tell Elysee wanted her to know she hadn’t forgiven Bill for the accident he caused. A murmur amongst the other ladies with them broke out as they whispered to each other.
“You mean her uncle’s that gardener?”
“My, if I were her I wouldn’t want anyone related to him working under me.”
Claudine eyed the ladies through her peripheral, before walking beside Leyla, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder before pulling away to stand beside her future mother-in-law.
“Oh will you do this for me, Leyla please?” she said politely with a pleading smile, “I promise it won’t be too much of a hassle for you.” she swore. “I just need help with simple tasks every now and then, the rest of the time you’ll be free to roam the mansion even.”
Claudine took the time Leyla thought it through to observe her. She looked paler than she was the last time she saw the woman, but at least Leyla didn’t appear more conniving and ambitious. When Leyla still remained silent, Claudine decided to put her in a corner.
“It’s alright, isn’t it, Leyla?” Claudine asked, pushing her to agree. Somewhere across the room, Riette tried to catch her attention, but she resolutely ignored him as she stared intently at her fiance’s mistress.
After all, if Leyla were to decide to stay with Matthias, she’ll have to learn to live with her. She needed this time to get used to that fact, as well as to ensure Leyla wouldn’t get any ideas in the long run.
“Claudine expects an answer, girl!” one of the ladies snapped at Leyla, looking at her disapprovingly when she still refused to give an answer. Leyla, on her part, looked at Claudine with the eyes of a lost child. Quietly imploring Claudine to let her be.
As Claudine looked back at her, she wondered if it were those eyes who managed to snag such an emotionless man’s heart? She knew what she wanted Leyla to answer, and was content to wait as long as she could to get it.
It wasn’t long until Leyla realized she wasn’t allowed to leave.
“Of course, my Lady.” she finally replied, bowing her head to look resolutely on the floor. Her hands were clasped in front of her meekly, as she hoped for the upcoming days to be over soon.
“Oh how kind of you!” Claudine beamed at her, “Thank you so much, Leyla!” she added, Leyla finally looked up to give her a hesitant smile in return.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
In his four-day stay in Ratz, Matthias’ work schedule was packed to the brim. He hardly had any time for a break.
As most businesses belonging to the Herhardt empire, they were based in Carlsbar. However, there was also a significant number of them in Ratz. All businesses were relevant in managing good relations between the royal family, their respective political circles, as well as social connections in the capital.
Which also meant that half the time, the Duke of Arvis stayed in the capital. And that fact wouldn’t change even if he were to get married soon, and would father an offspring.
Although, it made him think if perhaps he should make Leyla move with him to Ratz? It was a tempting thought. Matthias looked up at the office’ ceiling after the last group of visitors left.
It was no secret that the Herhardt’s mansion in Ratz housed the duke’s mistress for generations. Even his father’s longest mistress once lived here.
Back when he was young, Matthias always saw her whenever he’d stop by at the capital to visit his father. Both him and his mother acknowledged her presence, after all, his father still showed them the right courtesy as his wife and son despite his obvious affair.
As such, the mistress never dared cross his mother, nor him for that matter. It was the way things were in their household after all. The Herhardt house he grew up in.
It certainly would be good for him.
After all, he had no plans to get rid of her any time soon, he might as well join the club of his predecessors. It would make little sense for him to allow Leyla to live in Arvis after he got married. Though he wondered if Leyla would be amenable to his plan.
She’d been getting a little rebellious lately. Matthias could perfectly recall the way she would glare at him defiantly.
It was more likely she would deny the chance to move out of Arvis if that meant cementing her role as his mistress. Plus, she wasn’t the type of woman who’d keep quiet for long. She’ll blab soon enough to her uncle, Bill, who she would choose over him in a second every single time.
“Ah Leyla,” Matthias sighed out, clicking his tongue at the sound of her name. He swept his hand through his hair, before he rubbed his face in deep thought.
That ill-temper of hers had been amusing at first, but it was proving to be more and more of a nuisance as of late. He still didn’t understand her reluctance at being with him when he could give her so much and more.
And yet he knew she’d refuse every single one of them if it came from him.
He knew he had a strong hold over her, but most of the time it felt as though it was the other way around. He could hardly believe the times he had to reassess his plans because of what she wanted.
He thought about her for so long, Matthias finally realized it was becoming a habit for him to keep thinking about her every time he had the time to spare. And yet through all that thinking, he’d yet to reach a conclusion.
She filled his thoughts at every second of every moment of everyday.
A sudden knock came, and Mark Evers entered politely inside his office, bowing briefly before delivering his news.
“Master, Colonel Farrell has arrived,” he announced. Matthias nodded at him briefly in acknowledgement, before rising to his feet and fixed his appearance. Mark then stepped aside as he strode past him to greet his guest.
Mark followed him obediently through the hallway as he proceeded to continue with his news.
“Master, I also received word not too long ago from the Museum of Natural History.” he informed. At the news, Matthias abruptly stopped in his tracks and turned to his attendant, prompting him to continue. “They’d given word that the person who had carved the crystal ornament of a bird in their ceiling was some merchant named Kraken.”
Mark proceeded to inform him that aside from supplying the museum, Kraken was also the one responsible for supplying the Imperial family with their exquisite jewelry.
“Shall I send out word to him that you’d like to purchase an order?” Mark asked him. Matthias took no time to answer.
“Yes, send word I’d like to purchase a sculpture similar to the one in the museum.” he commanded and went on his way, before stopping once more, “Though with some changes.”
“What changes would that be, master?”
“I want him to make the wings yellow.” he ordered, and Mark jotted the information down before Matthias finally went on his way, stopping no more.
In the back of his mind, he recalled the way Leyla had looked up in amazement at the intricate ornament in the museum when they had visited it the first time. The passageway was filled with gaudy bird-like crystal ornaments, and she stood on her tippy toes to reach out to every single one of them…
She looked absolutely radiant at that moment when he held her in his arms. He wanted that feeling again.
She had been content the entire time they toured the museum, and she spent the rest of the day just writing, observing, and admiring every piece in the museum. Perhaps giving her the chance to study in Ratz now wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
The thought of giving her an ornament struck him when he passed by the Museum during his stay in Ratz. It was his sole reason why he sought out the sculptor, and instructed his attendant to order something just as spectacular.
Which was unlike him really.
He finally reached the door to the reception room when the thought of her attending the same college as Kyle struck him. The frustration came bubbling up like a volcano, before quickly dying down to a simmer when he remembered Leyla was already his.
Yes, she wouldn’t ever leave him for Kyle, not anytime soon.
And so, he entered the room in a considerably lighter mood and played flawlessly his role as the perfect, influential Duke Herhardt, schooling his features back into a neutral expression.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
“Oh, do you remember this place, Leyla?” Claudine asked as she sat across from her new attendant, smiling brightly as she looked around, “This was exactly where we first met one another!” she recalled gleefully.
“I remember well, my Lady.” Leyla supplied, looking absolutely stiff in her seat as she looked around nervously.
How could she forget the place in her youth where the young Claudine had dragged her in and eventually abandoned her at?
She kept her gaze down, hoping to avoid any tension between them.
At the very least, Claudine hadn’t been lying when she said the work would be simple. Aside from a few random errands, the work she had to do was mostly minor compared to her work as a teacher. She was mostly just a glorified companion, someone Claudine could talk to whenever she grew bored or restless on her own.
Truly, it wasn’t anything different from how they interacted when they were still children.
“It feels as though it was just yesterday when we first met, but then I see you and I’m reminded of just how much time passed us by!” Claudine moaned with an air of regret. Leyla didn’t know how to contribute to the conversation.
Fortunately, it was when Claudine’s injured attendant rushed in, reminding her young mistress it was time for them to prepare for a tea party, as such a change of clothes were in order.
Leyla quietly shut her book, and obediently followed them both inside, and back to the guest bedroom where Claudine was staying. Already, her next set of wardrobe and accessories were laid out, all that needed to be done was to get them on Claudine.
Leyla also had the privilege to assist Claudine in this area, with the maid boasting that on the side she could do it with her eyes closed. Unfortunately, it was one of the tasks Leyla struggled to do. She doesn’t know what half of the garments were, while the other she couldn’t secure properly in place.
The maid kept scolding her whenever she made a mistake, resulting in Claudine laying a placating hand on her incensed maid, while giving Leyla a bright smile in compensation.
“I’m sure it’s all fine, Maria,” Claudine said, before turning to Leyla, “Go on, Leyla, you can do it.” she encouraged.
It seemed like Lady Brandt had no intention in calling for another maid to assist her after all. Leyla had to endure the difficulty of dressing her by herself. If it were any other maid, Claudine would have been fully dressed by now.
It took Leyla over an hour to finish, and yet she heard neither peep nor sound of a complaint from her temporary mistress. She tried her best really, but she just kept fumbling until it turned out to be an absolute disaster! She couldn’t even secure the corset properly!
Claudine glanced at her attire in the floor length mirror in her room, letting out an inaudible sigh at the sight of her. She then reached out, and took off the accessories Leyla draped around her, which included the hat, gloves, shawl, and even the necklace.
She certainly felt a lot cooler, and lighter than a while ago.
“Oh dear, it must have been difficult for you,” Claudine sighed, careful not to let out any hint of irritation or disappointment in her voice, “You definitely had a hard time just now.” she finished, giving Leyla a pitying smile.
Without the accessories on her now, Leyla could definitely look much better than before. She couldn’t help but stiffen up in embarrassment over her failure. With the way Claudine was looking at her, she couldn’t help but feel as though she was just a child once more.