Chapter 14 Desirable Woman

Matthias sighted Leyla, who was shaking all over in fear.

Since she was a little girl, nothing had changed about her. Though she often pretended to put on a show of bravery, she was a lily-livered who was always easily frightened.

Matthias kept walking towards her while his mind was running over the memories of the young girl he remembered.

He stopped before her with a few paces left in between when he noticed Leyla’s eyes locking on his outstretched hand. To the glasses clutched in his hand.

“I’m….. sorry.”

Leyla opened her mouth just somewhat. She apologized politely enough though her eyes were overflowing with indignation.

“I didn’t expect you to be here. I am so sorry…”

“What if I didn’t have it? Did you think it was okay to sneak in?”

Matthias cocked his head to confront her. Leyla’s eyes grew redder with each blink, but she stood still and unwavering, whereas she seemed to be about to tear up.

“Like… a thief?”

He sneered lowly, rendering Leyla’s beetroot-red cheeks plainly visible even in the dark.

“I only tried to get what was rightfully mine.”

“Ah. This?”

Leyla’s face flushed even more as Matthias lifted her glasses. Her ears were flaming red as well, as he looked at her face more closely.

“Yes.”

She fearlessly answered his question without flinching.

“My glasses that you hid.”

‘Even though you’re trembling that much.’

Matthias sauntered towards the window. It was the same window where he had thrown her hat over, but this time he had her glasses in his grip.

“D-Don’t… !”

Stupefied. Leyla’s face started to get paler and she chased after him.

“Give it back! Please!”

The lace shawl that had been draped over her shoulder fell to the floor. Leyla heaved her arms to cover her cleavage, which was revealed beneath her v-neck pajamas.

“Isn’t it hilarious that you’re making a fuss over your sleepwear when you’ve already seen my whole body?”

Leyla’s blush flushed down to the nape of her neck at his flout.

“…That. That couldn’t be helped!” She shook her head. “It wasn’t what I wanted, but I had no choi-“

“Did you think I wanted it?”

“What? No….. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

Leyla quickly grabbed the shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders and chest. At that sight, Matthias softly chuckled, finding her half-kayoed expression was somewhat comedic-gold.

“Why are you now behaving like a lady? You said that you weren’t a lady.”

“….. Regardless of who I am, you’re still a nobleman.”

Matthias chuckled some more, looking at her arrogant yet respectful refusal to succumb to his words.

“Well.” Matthias dropped his tone a little lower as his laughter subsided, “I don’t know, Leyla. Maybe I’m not a nobleman.”

“Oh…No!” Leyla exclaimed urgently as she tightly bound the end of her shawl. “You’re a nobleman!”

“Really?”

“Yes! You’re the greatest nobleman in the Berg Empire!”

“You’re quite generous in appraising me.”

“Everyone who knows you would think that.”

“Isn’t that different from your thoughts?”

“…… No.”

Yes!

Although Leyla wanted, to be frank, she kept her innermost thoughts secret by vigorously shaking her head.

“I don’t think that way…”

Only for tonight, Leyla decided to sell her soul for her glasses.

“So, your grace, please give it back to me.”

She was about to cry because she was too upset, but Leyla persuaded herself not to.

“It’s very important and precious to me.”

She begged him again, bowing her head and suffering the humiliation.

Leyla wanted to stomp on all the stones in the forest to vent her anger. But she was mindful of how much she was actually at a disadvantage in this situation.

If the duke courted the matter further, he could’ve turned her into a criminal or he could’ve thrown her glasses out the window into the river.

His simple acts, no matter which one, were both fatal to her.

So, Leyla had to put up with it.

Matthias marched up to her. He began throwing the glasses up, and the gap between them closed. Soon, they were at a near enough distance, where they could sense each other’s body temperature.

Leyla batted her eyes in surprise when Matthias glanced down at her with his deep and placid eyes.

His eyes resembled a bottomless river.

A vast and icy river that had devoured her on that sunny afternoon when all her misfortune began.

Leyla was deep in thoughts as her previously blurry vision became crystal-clear all of a sudden. Matthias had put her glasses on her face. His palms that were covering her cheeks were so smooth and warm, like sand that had been steamed by the sun.

Just his face could be seen in contrast with the rest of his surroundings that were veiled in the darkness.

Leyla was restless. She attempted to shun his eyes, but Matthias held her face by giving some strength into his caressing hands.

Why…..?

She wanted to ask him that, before a peculiar and terrifying feeling suddenly surged through her when his long fingers started to fondle the tip of her lips.

Calmly, Matthias’ fingers come to rest between the crease of Leyla’s lip. His thrilling sigh tickled her forehead.

Leyla could feel his breath tasted hot and had a sweet scent, same as the touch of his fingers.

Matthias locked his raven’s blue eyes on her.

Slowly but surely, he started to nuzzle the delicate skin of her wet bottom lip. In a sensual motion, he moved his finger in and out of her mouth until the tips of his trim nails were nearly touching her lower white teeth.

Leyla seemed to have long forgotten how to flee. Innocently froze, enduring both his gaze and touch.

Matthias tardily closed his eyes. His insane, illogical conduct almost brought Leyla to tears. The hands that had embraced her cheeks tenderly strengthened, but then, Matthias loosened his hold and let her go.

Eventually, his hands freed her.

Leyla lost her footing and staggered backward. Her body trembled violently as she struggled to breathe.

Matthias opened his crystalline-azure eyes; a pair of stunning eyes that had caused her shame and dread.

He looked at Leyla for quite some time, then gave a silent order.

“Get out….”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Leyla had no recollection of what had happened after she left the annex.

After saying her goodbyes, she turned around and walked out. All of her memories of that time seemed hazy.

Only after she heard the grass bugs sing, felt the cold breeze blowing against her body, and saw her silhouette walking under the moonlight, Leyla did realize she had reached the end of the forest path.

Still bewildered, Leyla made her way to the cottage. She didn’t lash out at the stones and tree branches, nor did she run away.

She literally walked.

With her slower-than-usual stride, as light as a ghost on a stroll.

Leyla pumped the water from a spigot in the corner of her yard and washed her face. She unconsciously rubbed her lips until they were swollen and reddish. And though her skin had already peeled off, the water couldn’t clean the unpleasant feeling that still lingered on her mouth.

Leyla’s face, shawl, and the front of her nightgown were all soaked with cold water when she returned to her room. Without thinking of drying them, she sat on her bed, perched up on edge.

Leyla didn’t know what she had been through, but she was sure of one thing.

That she didn’t want to see him ever again.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The canary that had been sitting peacefully in its cage flew towards Matthias when he clicked his fingertips.

Matthias leaned back against the windowsill and extended his hands towards the bird. The canary perched naturally on his finger.

It’s wings needed to be trimmed a bit as it had grown long enough to be able to fly a little distance. But Matthias didn’t feel the need to cut it as short as he did before.

As he listened to the canary singing, Matthias lowered his gaze and peered out the window.

The gardener, Bill Remmer, was in the thick of his job of weeding the garden. But for several days, he didn’t see Leyla Lewellin, which was strange, since she was usually there to help him out.

She had been absent and nowhere to be seen after the night she went looking for her glasses.

But, Matthias was conscious that Leyla began to avoid him like the plague.

After returning the canary to its cage, Matthias clothed himself in a carmine red hunting jacket.

He desired her.

Matthias came to realize what this feeling was called.

That woman, Leyla Lewellin. He craved her.

There was no longer any need to deny that she had grown up to be a beautiful woman. Beautiful enough to pique a man’s interest.

But Matthias knew, this form of desire was supposed to fade quickly.

So, he wondered.

Did she need to leave a stain on his life just to satisfy that desire?

Matthias replayed the events of that night in his mind. About the woman in front of him, Leyla. And he concluded.

No.

Leyla Lewellin wasn’t a woman worth his desire to be kept in his palm.

Then why.

That night, he let Leyla go.

Still, if she were to behave in this way after he had set her free, then he would have no choice.

“I’ve prepared for your hunting session, master.”

Hessen approached politely. Matthias nodded, took the gun Hessen had given him, and exited the room.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“Did something happen?”

Kyle asked, a little concernedly.

Leyla, who was affixing the well-dried flower into her diary with glue, lifted her head and faced him calmly.

“No.” She said, with a lively voice as usual. “Do I seem that way?”

Leyla dropped her voice and whispered, narrowing her eyes.

Kyle was mystified to see her face was red as if something hot had been put on her neck and burnt her skin.

“You’ve been cooped up in the cottage for a few days now. That’s strange.”

Kyle shrugged.

Leyla blinked in a daze a couple of times before showing her usual cheerful smile. Her lips curved into a faint grin and her eyes twinkled brightly.

“You should go out more now that you’ve found your glasses. But what you’re doing right now is the polar opposite.”

Kyle rested his chin on his hand while staring at Leyla. But she only laughed a little and began carefully writing down the locations and characteristics of the flower petals she had found in her diary.

Leyla would usually sketch and paste unknown flower petals onto her notebook before going to the library to look up their names.

Kyle often accompanied her simply to watch her expression when she discovered the names of the flowers.

She was a young woman who was intrigued by the names of all the birds and flowers in the world and Kyle was a huge lover of her geekiness.

Her face looked small in the gleam of the reading glasses she had recently gotten back. Leyla made sure that she didn’t press the notebook hard with a blotter because she didn’t want the ink to smudge.

“Do you want to take a walk? Let’s go to that tree you like, the one right in front of the river.”

“No,”

Leyla replied immediately right after Kyle ended his sentence.

“Didn’t you used to go there all the time? What happened? Did you see something scary in the woods again?”

“No, it isn’t like that. I can’t go into the forest today anyways.”

“How come? Ah, is it the duke’s hunting day today?”

After moving the book to the far end of the table, Leyla nodded. Soon after, she could hear a distant thunderous sound of horses’ footsteps coming from a distance.

“Wow. That’s cool.”

Kyle dashed in front of the window, admiring Duke Herhardt and his group of men as they headed to enter the forest through a road beside the cottage.

The five young men were riding their horses with the greyhounds at the lead.

Kyle and Leyla both looked out the window. The duke was mounted on a lustrous horse today, with fur that was the color of a pitch-soaked wood barrel. His red jacket and shining shotgun also attracted her eyes.

Kyle suddenly changed his expression after admiring the duke.

“But don’t worry, Leyla. I’m not an animal hunter. I’m not going to hunt for the remainder of my life.”

At that moment, Duke Herhadt also turned his head towards the cottage. Leyla quickly jumped away from the window even though she was already hidden behind the curtains.

She had spent the past ten days trying to evade him. She didn’t go by the river, and she didn’t even go for a walk in the woods.

Leyla felt sorry for uncle Bill, who had recently gone out to handle the garden by himself. She only helped him while the duke was away from the estate and quickly left the garden when he returned.

Leyla planned to endure this discomfort until the end of summer. By the time autumn would land, Matthias would have already been engaged and would be moving to the capital. Then Arvis would regain his previous state of tranquility.

“Layla, are you feeling under the weather? Do you want to come over to my place?” Kyle asked while looking at Leyla’s pallid countenance.

“No, Kyle. I’m fine.” Leyla leaned back in her chair which faced the dinner table and shook her head. “The hunt will end tonight, anyways.”

Bang!

Another gunshots rang out the moment she thoughtlessly opened her journal. The sound was then followed by the dogs barking and the horses bolting.

Leyla flipped her book’s pages, which she couldn’t read properly with her fist clenched.

She felt compelled to go to the woods this evening.

Some unfortunate birds had to be buried.

Episodes
1 Chapter 1 Delivered Girl
2 Chapter 2 A Beautiful Bird Slayer
3 Chapter 3 Bring Her In
4 Chapter 4 After a Long Time
5 Chapter 5 The Duke Changed His Mind
6 Chapter 6 Canary
7 Chapter 7 Something Scarier Than That
8 Chapter 8 Safe World
9 Chapter 9 That Humble and Beautiful Girl
10 Chapter 10 Do You Think I’m Begging You?
11 Chapter 11 Deep Water
12 Chapter 12 The Raven Duke
13 Chapter 13 A Night Under the Moonlit
14 Chapter 14 Desirable Woman
15 Chapter 15 Friendly Hunting
16 Chapter 16 Something That Is Nothing
17 Chapter 17 Surprise Present
18 Chapter 18 Emerald
19 Chapter 19 Kiss Me Please
20 Chapter 20 Cry, Even Better If You Beg
21 Chapter 21 Time To Become An Adult
22 Chapter 22 Into The Blanket of Light
23 Chapter 23 Tore It Out, Crushed It Up, and Threw It
24 Chapter 24 Blue Candy
25 Chapter 25 The Color of My Sadness
26 Chapter 26 Let’s Get Married
27 Chapter 27 Season of Roses Without You
28 Chapter 28 Fly in The Spring Like A Bird
29 Chapter 29 A Failed Wish
30 Chapter 30
31 Chapter 31
32 Chapter 32
33 Chapter 33
34 Chapter 34
35 Chapter 35
36 Chapter 36 So, Then?
37 Chapter 37
38 Chapter 38
39 Chapter 39
40 Chapter 40
41 Chapter 41
42 Chapter 42
43 Chapter 43
44 Chapter 44
45 Chapter 45
46 Chapter 46
47 Chapter 47
48 Chapter 48
49 Chapter 49
50 Chapter 50
51 Chapter 51
52 Chapter 52
53 Chapter 53
54 Chapter 54
55 Chapter 55
56 Chapter 56
57 Chapter 57
58 Chapter 58
59 Chapter 59
60 Chapter 60
61 Chapter 61
62 Chapter 62
63 Chapter 63
64 Chapter 64
65 Chapter 65
66 Chapter 66
67 Chapter 67
68 Chapter 68
69 Chapter 69
70 Chapter 70
71 Chapter 71
72 Chapter 72
73 Chapter 73
74 Chapter 74
75 Chapter 75
76 Chapter 76
77 Chapter 77
78 Chapter 78
79 Chapter 79
80 Chapter 80
81 Chapter 81
82 Chapter 82
83 Chapter 83
84 Chapter 84
85 Chapter 85
86 Chapter 86
87 Chapter 87
88 Chapter 88
89 Chapter 89
90 Chapter 90
91 Chapter 91
92 Chapter 92
93 Chapter 93
94 Chapter 94
95 Chapter 95
96 Chapter 96
97 Chapter 97
98 Chapter 98
99 Chapter 99
100 Chapter 100
101 Chapter 101
102 Chapter 102
103 Chapter 103
104 Chapter 104
105 Chapter 105
106 Chapter 106
107 Chapter 107
108 Chapter 108
109 Chapter 109
110 Chapter 110
111 Chapter 111
112 Chapter 112
113 Chapter 113
114 Chapter 114
115 Chapter 115
116 Chapter 116
117 Chapter 117
118 Chapter 118
119 Chapter 119
120 Chapter 120
121 Chapter 121
122 Chapter 122
123 Chapter 123
124 Chapter 124
125 Chapter 125
126 Chapter 126
127 Chapter 127
128 Chapter 128
129 Chapter 129
130 Chapter 130
131 Chapter 131
132 Chapter 132
133 Chapter 133
134 Chapter 134
135 Chapter 135
136 Chapter 136
137 Chapter 137
138 Chapter 138
139 Chapter 139
140 Chapter 140
141 Chapter 141
142 Chapter 142
143 Chapter 143
144 Chapter 144
145 Chapter 145
146 Chapter 146
147 Chapter 147
148 Chapter 148 (END)
149 Epilog I
150 Epilog II
151 Epilog III
152 Epilog IV
153 Side Story 1
154 Side Story 2
155 Side Story 3
156 Side Story 4
157 Side Story 5
158 Side Story 6
159 Side Story 7
160 Side Story 8
161 Side Story 9
162 Side Story 10
163 Side Story 11
164 Side Story 12
165 Side Story 13
166 Side Story 14
167 Side Story 15
168 Side Story 16
169 Side Story 17
170 Side Story 18 (END)
Episodes

Updated 170 Episodes

1
Chapter 1 Delivered Girl
2
Chapter 2 A Beautiful Bird Slayer
3
Chapter 3 Bring Her In
4
Chapter 4 After a Long Time
5
Chapter 5 The Duke Changed His Mind
6
Chapter 6 Canary
7
Chapter 7 Something Scarier Than That
8
Chapter 8 Safe World
9
Chapter 9 That Humble and Beautiful Girl
10
Chapter 10 Do You Think I’m Begging You?
11
Chapter 11 Deep Water
12
Chapter 12 The Raven Duke
13
Chapter 13 A Night Under the Moonlit
14
Chapter 14 Desirable Woman
15
Chapter 15 Friendly Hunting
16
Chapter 16 Something That Is Nothing
17
Chapter 17 Surprise Present
18
Chapter 18 Emerald
19
Chapter 19 Kiss Me Please
20
Chapter 20 Cry, Even Better If You Beg
21
Chapter 21 Time To Become An Adult
22
Chapter 22 Into The Blanket of Light
23
Chapter 23 Tore It Out, Crushed It Up, and Threw It
24
Chapter 24 Blue Candy
25
Chapter 25 The Color of My Sadness
26
Chapter 26 Let’s Get Married
27
Chapter 27 Season of Roses Without You
28
Chapter 28 Fly in The Spring Like A Bird
29
Chapter 29 A Failed Wish
30
Chapter 30
31
Chapter 31
32
Chapter 32
33
Chapter 33
34
Chapter 34
35
Chapter 35
36
Chapter 36 So, Then?
37
Chapter 37
38
Chapter 38
39
Chapter 39
40
Chapter 40
41
Chapter 41
42
Chapter 42
43
Chapter 43
44
Chapter 44
45
Chapter 45
46
Chapter 46
47
Chapter 47
48
Chapter 48
49
Chapter 49
50
Chapter 50
51
Chapter 51
52
Chapter 52
53
Chapter 53
54
Chapter 54
55
Chapter 55
56
Chapter 56
57
Chapter 57
58
Chapter 58
59
Chapter 59
60
Chapter 60
61
Chapter 61
62
Chapter 62
63
Chapter 63
64
Chapter 64
65
Chapter 65
66
Chapter 66
67
Chapter 67
68
Chapter 68
69
Chapter 69
70
Chapter 70
71
Chapter 71
72
Chapter 72
73
Chapter 73
74
Chapter 74
75
Chapter 75
76
Chapter 76
77
Chapter 77
78
Chapter 78
79
Chapter 79
80
Chapter 80
81
Chapter 81
82
Chapter 82
83
Chapter 83
84
Chapter 84
85
Chapter 85
86
Chapter 86
87
Chapter 87
88
Chapter 88
89
Chapter 89
90
Chapter 90
91
Chapter 91
92
Chapter 92
93
Chapter 93
94
Chapter 94
95
Chapter 95
96
Chapter 96
97
Chapter 97
98
Chapter 98
99
Chapter 99
100
Chapter 100
101
Chapter 101
102
Chapter 102
103
Chapter 103
104
Chapter 104
105
Chapter 105
106
Chapter 106
107
Chapter 107
108
Chapter 108
109
Chapter 109
110
Chapter 110
111
Chapter 111
112
Chapter 112
113
Chapter 113
114
Chapter 114
115
Chapter 115
116
Chapter 116
117
Chapter 117
118
Chapter 118
119
Chapter 119
120
Chapter 120
121
Chapter 121
122
Chapter 122
123
Chapter 123
124
Chapter 124
125
Chapter 125
126
Chapter 126
127
Chapter 127
128
Chapter 128
129
Chapter 129
130
Chapter 130
131
Chapter 131
132
Chapter 132
133
Chapter 133
134
Chapter 134
135
Chapter 135
136
Chapter 136
137
Chapter 137
138
Chapter 138
139
Chapter 139
140
Chapter 140
141
Chapter 141
142
Chapter 142
143
Chapter 143
144
Chapter 144
145
Chapter 145
146
Chapter 146
147
Chapter 147
148
Chapter 148 (END)
149
Epilog I
150
Epilog II
151
Epilog III
152
Epilog IV
153
Side Story 1
154
Side Story 2
155
Side Story 3
156
Side Story 4
157
Side Story 5
158
Side Story 6
159
Side Story 7
160
Side Story 8
161
Side Story 9
162
Side Story 10
163
Side Story 11
164
Side Story 12
165
Side Story 13
166
Side Story 14
167
Side Story 15
168
Side Story 16
169
Side Story 17
170
Side Story 18 (END)

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