Chapter 17 Surprise Present

Leyla, Mr. Remmer’s ‘daughter,’ had been invited to the duke’s party.

People in the Arvis manor had soon caught on to the rumor. Word of the party circulated quickly to the rest of the residents.

Everyone initially was mystified before turning to sympathize with her upon finding out the whole story.

Every soul in that place could see how badly Lady Brandt treated the pitiful Leyla like she was her dog.

“I fail to see why all the aristocrats are so nasty.”

Bill Remmer had been resting in the shade from the midday heat when madam Mona, the chef, visited him in the afternoon. The surprising news rooted him to the spot.

“The aristocrats claim to be considerate, but how intimidated would Leyla be in such a place?”

“Leyla isn’t the type of child who is easily intimidated by things like that. She would only briefly show her face and come back.”

“Ugh. Men don’t know anything!”

Bill just scratched his neck when she grumbled. He took out his cigarette and flicked the ashes.

“Let’s show them what they deserve!”

“Huh, what do you mean?”

“You don’t understand what I mean? With Leyla’s pretty looks, let’s take the wind out of those aristocrat’s sails.”

“No, why are you so…….?”

“I knew it! Do you want to send Leyla to the party in her uniform?”

‘What’s wrong with school uniforms?’

Bill looked at a loss and Madam Mona sighed, “Look here, Bill Remmer. After all these years, don’t you think you should know how to raise a daughter?”

“What do you mean a daughter? I’m still thinking about where to send her….”

“Sure. You have to think about that. You’ll think when you send Leyla on her wedding day, think when you’ll hold her children, and think even when you’re in your coffin.”

“No! How could I send that little girl off to marry? You’re talking gibberish.”

Seeing Bill heat up with anger, Madam Mona’s lips softened, “And you still say she’s not your daughter. You’re a man I really don’t understand.”

“Just leave if you’re going to keep talking nonsense.”

“Come on, let’s buy her a new dress, Mr. Remmer. She’s a girl. How happy will she be when she gets a surprise gift?” Madam Mona suggested him with a commanding tone. “Leyla isn’t the type of child who would ask for a dress, and you’re not the type of person who would care, so I have no choice but to meddle. I’ll help you.”

“…… How?”

“You pay for the dress and I’m going to get it ready for her.”

“Do it, then.”

Bill went inside the house with a grouse and brought his bag out. He used to save his money in the cottage due to his skepticism of the bank.

Leyla had previously gone to the goat pen. She returned to the cottage when Madam Mona was collecting money from Bill to purchase dresses and shoes. The two hurriedly concealed the proof of their deal and put on an innocent act.

Madam Mona refused Leyla’s offer of a cup of tea. After she exited the cottage, Bill silently tucked his purse into his back pocket.

“Did madam Mona nag you talking about me again? I haven’t been climbing trees lately.” Leyla anxiously asked after sitting on a chair next to Bill.

“It’s not like that; no need to worry about it.” Bill cleared his throat and ignited the cigarette he had extinguished a moment ago.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Leyla smiled and leaned into her chair after taking off her hat.

Every day, Bill was delighted to see Leyla sporting the straw hat he had given her this summer. He no longer regretted giving madam Mona his money as he thought it would be multiple times more fulfilling to see Leyla dressed up in an elegant dress.

“Leyla.”

Leyla turned after Bill abruptly called her.

“What are you planning to do? I mean, about the duke’s party.”

“I’m just stopping by to say hello. Since the Etmans have also been invited, I will go with Kyle.”

“Really? That herbivorous glutton is finally paying off for all the food he has eaten at my house.”

Bill felt a rush of relief wash over him when he heard Kyle’s name. That boy was someone he fully trusted.

“But, don’t you need anything? A dress to wear, things like that?”

“I’m fine, uncle.”

“What do you mean you’re fine. Are you planning to wear your school uniform?”

“Well, that isn’t a bad idea.”

Leyla giggled with delight. Seeing her look so carefree, Bill was absent-minded.

Is it true that I’m clueless about raising a daughter?

“No.”

My daughter? What nonsense.

Bill muttered in a dazed dismay and quickly retracted the idea. He felt awkward when he met Leyla’s puzzled gaze which was framed with sparkling glasses.

Bill tasted her efforts to avoid causing him any trouble and avoid being indebted to him if possible. He fully understood. He simply hid it beneath his bluntness, unable to find the right words to comfort her.

Bill admitted that. Despite her extreme means, madam Mona had made a great decision to surprise Leyla with a dress and shoes.

“Leyla.”

Bill called her once again and mustered his guts.

“….. There’s a scorcher outside.”

Again, he failed to express the words he wished.

Leyla chuckled at Bill, who cleared his throat after saying useless things and gently grasped his hand on the chair’s armrest.

‘I’m the one who should comfort you instead.’

Bill’s expression got sour, but he couldn’t shake off her little hand. Leyla smiled at him; she was a girl with a charming smile.

Evening had fallen when Leyla rose from her seat. The chamber was bathed in inky darkness.

She lay motionless on her bed, taking in everything around.

A Familiar ceiling. Creamy curtains that hung over the window. An old desk with a few books on it. A soft duvet cover with a light scent of sunshine.

‘I’m in my room.’

Leyla let out a relieved sigh when she realized where she was.

The nightmares persisted to torment her. She had a flashback to the time she was abandoned in this world. She was without a family, and forced to travel around her relatives’ houses.

Every day, Leyla had been having the same dreams. Until she met Uncle Bill. Even so, her recollection of the place that had instilled in her the fear of water stayed vivid in her mind.

‘It’s all because of you!’

Her uncle always wrecked his anger on her whenever he was drunk.

He was a shy and quiet guy when he was sober, but the uncle Leyla remembered was a man who was drunk five days a week. He got more aggressive when he lost money at the casino and never failed to swear and slap her.

Leyla resented him.

He was someone she detested. All she could do was endure it, as an orphan with nowhere else to go.

Given that, Leyla made every effort she could. She never took a rest from helping with the housework and only ate a little. She rarely moved around, just like an object placed in the corner of the house.

On the day she was officially kicked out of the house, her aunt was kind enough to give her a paper bag with cookies. Leyla took the paper bag from her aunt and said her last goodbyes.

Leyla took out the cookie before going to the place of the next relative and ate it in the carriage. The chocolate’s deliciousness was tearing her heart but she refused to cry.

On the ride to her destination, Leyla practiced smiling. No one in this world liked crying orphans. So, the more she wanted to weep, the more she tried to make her smile bright. Her dainty lips bloomed even wider after being booted out repeatedly.

When she had to cross the border into Berg, though, she hardly smiled. Leyla did believe that the single address she had in her hand was her last hope; she would be forced to go to an orphanage if she was abandoned again.

Leyla couldn’t forget. The day she had the best smile she’d ever had, was the day she met Uncle Bill’s warm, compassionate eyes.

It was an unforgettable day when she truly had a family and a home to which she longed to return to.

‘Everything is going to be well.’

Leyla comforted herself and awoke from her slumber. She seemed unconcerned and didn’t want to dwell on the duke’s party, which was to be hosted this evening. She planned to attend the party with confidence and then quietly leave.

Claudine Brandt surely didn’t know how much Uncle Bill and this warm cottage meant to her. And how Leyla was willing to do anything to protect them.

Leyla flung open the window and let the fresh air in. She washed her face and quickly changed her dress. After she slammed the door shut, she was greeted by Uncle Bill, who was getting ready to go gardening.

“Uncle, Let’s go together!”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The manor was poised to welcome guests as the afternoon arrived. The large-scale party was an everyday thing for Arvisans.

They carried out their responsibilities for their respective roles. All that remained was for the sunset to herald the commencement of this glitzy celebration.

Nobody in Arvis’ manor expressed worry about the party’s success today. Tonight’s party, like anything else that lay in the Herhardt name, would be perfect as always.

Matthias dressed up and exited the fitting room in his evening suit. He exuded a chillier impression whenever he had his hair slicked back, exposing his forehead and brows. His piercing gaze and razor-sharp facial features couldn’t be melted by the faint smile on the tip of his lips.

“It went well and as you had ordered, master,” Hessen reported.

Matthias lifted his brow slightly and turned with a cigarette in his hand.

“They left about an hour ago, so the items must have been delivered by now.”

“Fine, then.”

Matthias nodded, kindling his cigar which he snuffed between his lips.

“Good job.”

Hessen bowed his head gladly in response to his master’s compliment.

Matthias found that Claudine had invited Leyla Lewellin to the party through his mother. His mother impressed and lauded Claudine for her kindness and charity towards the deprived orphan.

Matthias made no objections, believing that : The view of Claudine showing her fullest sympathy and compassion when Leyla arrived at the party in her shabby outfit would be a cringe-worthy sight to see.

Matthias seemed to know which part of Leyla Lewellin did pique Claudine’s attention.

The girl named Leyla was an annoying little child. Trampling on her pride was kind of an enjoyment.

That’s why Matthias was determined about not handing her off to Claudine. He had no intention of sharing his things with anyone.

Only he could have all that fun and pleasure. Only he could bully her.

Her only owner was Matthias von Herhardt.

“What shall I do with this, master?”

Hessen mentioned the box by the fireplace. It was Madam Mona’s prepared present package. The gift was supposed to be delivered to Bill Remmer’s cottage today, but Hessen took it and brought it here instead. The butler had replaced the chef’s box with another one he had acquired on Matthias’ request.

Matthias smoked his cigar as he stared at the gift box. Without opening it, it’s easy for him to figure out what was inside.

“Throw it away.”

His calm directives floated by, along with the soaring tobacco smoke.

Hot

Comments

(+_-)

(+_-)

why are all dads like this??
''WhaT iS WroNG iN sChOOl UniFOrmS(-_-*)''

2025-04-01

0

See all
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)

Download

Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Download

Bonus

New users downloading the APP can read 10 episodes for free

Receive
NovelToon
Step Into A Different WORLD!
Download MangaToon APP on App Store and Google Play