Chapter 15 Friendly Hunting

The forest, which had been swept through by a bloody activity, had a calmer atmosphere than usual.

Matthias stopped his horse in the middle of a wide road that ran between the woods after dispatching his group first.

Tangled bangs draped down his forehead when he removed his hat. The hunt today was a lot of fun. Matthias was able to hit every target he set out for and each moment was as thrilling as ever. But one bird that had desperately attempted to fly away made him unsatisfied.

Matthias slowly pulled the reins and spun the horse in the direction of the cottage. When the hunt was over, the little girl who lived by the hunting grounds would come out into the forest crying and bury all the dead birds. It was her ridiculous habit that he still remembered very clearly.

So, what about that woman now, who’s no longer a child?

The curious Matthias pointed his rifle at a tiny bird sitting on the branch’s rim, and…

Bang!

With his aimed shot hitting the target, the little bird fell to the ground.

Matthias left behind the prey he had killed and slowly motioned his horse to advance.

Once.

And then once again.

He was pointing and shooting.

The birds fell one by one covered in blood, adorning the long path Matthias walked through into the deep evening forest.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

‘I hate him!’

Leyla dug a hole and said those words over and over as she buried the dead bird.

‘I hate his heinous pastime. I really hate it.’

Leyla swallowed her sadness while wiping her sweaty forehead. She felt she was almost there until she spotted another bloody bird lying down only a few meters away.

Leyla picked up her shovel again and stepped closer to that poor bird. She didn’t want to blame the act of killing an animal. Uncle Bill hunted for food as well and she also bred livestock. But she didn’t understand why the duke killed just for entertainment and then abandoned his hunt behind.

When is this summer going to end?

As she buried another bird-a beautiful ruby-crowned kinglet with a pretty feather’s pattern-Leyla sighed deeply, hoping that her favorite season would soon come to an end.

Leyla had already entered deep into the evening forest when she suddenly sensed something strange.

Duke Herhardt loved hunting. And every time, Leyla buried the birds he had killed. But she had no memory of making the tomb of birds in a row the way she did now, as if she was setting down a path made up of bird carcasses.

Should I go back now?

Leyla’s face winced as she sensed something ominous. The sheltering sky above her head was painted in a crimson color. She turned her eyes away from the setting sun and gazed down behind a clump of shrubs.

And, she saw him.

Duke Herhardt was sitting on the trump of the chopped oak. He was silently watching her.

Leyla’s mind turned blank, and she almost stumbled.

With a laid-back attitude, he greeted her.

“Hello, Leyla.”

Matthias’s voice sounded luscious.

As velvety as the birds’ feathers he had shot and killed.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“By the way, Matthias is quite late. I think those who went with him are already back. “

Elysee von Herhardt squinted her eyes while putting her card on the table. She was getting bored with the card game she was playing. She wanted to start dinner early, but her son, Matthias, hadn’t returned from the hunting grounds yet.

“He had said he’d go for a walk in the forest before.”

Claudine, who didn’t have the look of someone who had just lost a game, answered her with a friendly smile.

The ladies, very much aware that she’d lost the card game on purpose, looked at Claudine with admiring smiles, seeing the next Duchess of Arvis was a well-educated lady with classy manners. Claudine also knew very well that she was well-liked and highly praised among those aristocratic ladies.

“Matthias surely has a thing for that forest.”

Elysee lightly rang the bell the maids rushed over and started setting the table.

The idle ladies clustered around the reception table to chat and enjoy simple snacks. They talked about various stories, of course, with all its formalities that entailed.

“Oh, Claudine. Why don’t you invite your friends over and throw a party?”

“Me? In the Arvis manor?”

Claudine’s eyes widened as she heard Elysee’s suggestion.

“You will get bored if you deal with us every day. Don’t you need to change your pattern a little?”

“No. I’m not bored. Really.”

“Why are you so startled? I was just kidding, Claudine.”

It was tough to fathom that Elysee was the mother of an engaged son because her relaxed, smiling face was so youthful yet beautiful. Matthias, her only son, was endowed with her loveliness.

The people of the empire admired Duchess Elysee von Herhardt for her timeless beauty. Yet, she was still unable to capture her husband’s affection.

Claudine believed that women obsessed with love were ridiculous as she learned of Elysee’s tragic love life.

Matthias’s father, like every other man in his position, had a mistress. However, he didn’t make life difficult for his successor by taking in an illegitimate child.

Even though they didn’t love each other, the Duke and Duchess of Arvis respected each other and carried out their responsibilities faithfully. They acted their part in the household perfectly. They remained calm and untainted by selfish greed or desire.

So Claudine aspired to live a similar life like them with Matthias.

“Don’t worry, Claudine; you’re never under any pressure. Consider it as a rehearsal. If the mansion is filled with young people, we’ll have much more fun.”

Elysee’s smile had brightened vastly. “Don’t you think the same as well, ladies?”

But, all in the room were aware that her question was not intended for soliciting their feedback.

“The duchess is very generous and thoughtful.”

Countess Brandt complimented the soon-to-be-mother-in-law of her daughter. Other ladies soon joined in, making praising noises with some exaggeration sprinkled on top.

Claudine sheepishly smiled as she bowed her head softly. She was thinking about the names of people she had liked to invite until now when her eyes drew her attention to the window.

The moment she saw the forest beyond the dusk garden, she instantly thought of that girl: Leyla Lewellin. The poor orphan girl who lived in that forest.

She was well-mannered and knew where she belonged even though she was a little arrogant at times.

“Do you mind if I invite Leyla?”

The brow of every lady in the room was raised upon hearing Claudine’s cheerful question.

“Do you mean the gardener’s orphan girl?”

“Yes. That girl, Leyla Lewellin.”

“Claudine, wait.”

“I’m sure that poor girl had never been to a formal party before.” Claudine seemed unaffected by Countess Brandt’s embarrassment-filled glare. “I want Leyla to have an experience she will never forget.”

She said those intimidating words without losing her ladylike courtesy and dignity.

“Come to think of it, what’ve you said makes sense.”

Duchess Norma Catarina von Herhardt, who had been watching Claudine the whole time, smiled contentedly.

“Then, do as you please, Claudine.”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Looking back to the path of buried birds Leyla shifted her eyes. There was only one answer she could come to as she turned her head and watched the duke.

-A psycho.

There were no other words to describe him.

The sweat was spilling from her muddy gloves. Her heart began to pound with anger and fear.

‘Let’s get out of here.’

Leyla was about to run to the cottage the moment she heard his voice.

“Leyla.”

Matthias’ face remained impassive as he pronounced her name slowly.

“Leyla Lewellin.”

After he called her name like a song’s lyrics, Leyla straightened her back by using the shovel in her hand as a cane. She squeezed her lips closed and tight, flexing both of her legs’ muscles.

She realized, it was useless to run. The duke could quickly catch her if he set his mind to it.

The sound of woodland leaves swaying in the wind surfaced, but there was nothing but silence for them. Leyla raised her twitching eyes and glared at him.

“Keep going.”

Matthias was the first person who breached the silence.

“You should get on with your job.”

On the side of the bushes that he pointed to with his eyes, a bird that seemed to be the game of his last chase, lay dead.

Leyla trudged up to the bird and saw red thread tied to the bird’s bleeding ankle. It was the same thread she had tied to the baby birds who had hatched near the Schulter River last year.

Without saying a word, Leyla buried the bird in a pit she dug herself. Because of that beautiful bird’s slayer, she had become used to doing all of this.

“That thread. Did you tie it?”

Matthias asked as he sat there watching.

“Yes.”

“Why.”

“The birds that leave their nests to migrate … I wanted to know when they will come back.” Answered Leyla while patting the soil. “This is not the kind of reunion I was hoping for.”

She watched Matthias’s apathetic face and experienced lightheadedness.

“So, do you want to blame me?” Matthias crossed his leg. A mocking smile bloom on his lips.

Leyla’s patience had officially expired.

“I can’t help myself not to say no.”

“What exactly is the problem?” Matthias scowled. “I only hunted my birds, in my territory, on my hunting grounds.”

“But the birds don’t know.”

Leyla dared to retort, repeating –for uncle Bill– words in her head.

“For the birds, it’s just a forest. A place where they were born and raised. It’s also a home to which they’d want to return after their migration.”

“Is it necessary for me to understand them?”

“Not really, but…..” Leyla removed her bloodstained gardening gloves and took a deep breath. “You don’t have to be so ruthless in hunting them.”

She’d have to summon a heck of a lot of courage to utter those sentences. A very delayed feeling of regret washed over her after that, but the duke showed no signs of displeasure or anger. Leyla felt even more suffocated because of his odd stillness.

“Leyla Lewellin, the bird-loving girl.”

Matthias spoke up after a long moment of silence.

“What in the world do you think hunting is?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you want me to go for a friendly hunt?”

His scorn surely clawed at her heart. Leyla could only endure his insult by clutching her skirt.

“…… I’m sorry for my mistake. I’ve said something rude. Please forgive my impoliteness.”

“What makes you so fond of birds?”

“I don’t think it will be a compelling story for you.” Leyla lowered her head, signaling that she didn’t want to see him any longer.

Matthias was deafeningly silent.

“Now that I’ve finished my work, I’m leaving.”

Leyla bowed profoundly and turned her body while Matthias still stayed muffled.

Bang!

Right as she was about to take a step forward, a rabid shot unexpectedly rang out, reverberating throughout the wilderness sky.

Leyla quickly circled back with a horrid face.

Click…

Matthias eyed her with a rifle in his hand after fired his gun towards the tree branch.

A bloodied bird then fell on the ground between them.

“What will you do, Leyla?”

He then sat back on the tree trunk as if nothing had happened.

“I don’t think your job is over yet.”

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María Belén

María Belén

I can’t

2025-01-19

2

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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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