Chapter 19 Kiss Me Please

On the terrace leading to the rose garden, Kyle and Leyla enjoyed the nightly spring air together.

The vibrant party noise slowly quieted down. After putting up with a less-than-pleasant festive environment, Leyla could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She thanked him while leaning against the marble balustrade.

“Thanks, Kyle. Thank you so much.”

Leyla thought Kyle would make a wisecrack, but his face looked pissed off instead.

“Kyle?”

“Why are you holding it in?”

“Huh?”

“You’re like a kitten on a string, they treated you like a circus animal. Why did you say nothing? You’re not like the prideful and smart Leyla Lewellin that I know.”

“Ah, who cares.”

Unlike Kyle, who was overtly annoyed, Leyla just giggled. “Anything about what they said, there’s nothing wrong. I’m an orphan, I’m indebted to Uncle Bill, and I plan to become a teacher.”

“I can’t understand your logic.”

“Duplicity is human nature Mr. Etman.”

Kyle laughed at her sarcastic reply, “You’re only good at saying useless things.”

“You can go now Kyle. I’m really fine.”

“Go where?”

“There are still many people you have to meet there. Some of your friends have also been waiting for you.”

“No need.” Kyle waved his hand with a peeved look and rested his back against the fence alongside Leyla.

“Kyle, don’t be like that…..”

Kyle turned to her,

” I’m here as your partner today.”

As he said, his pair of brownish hue eyes gleamed warmly in the ashen night.

“So I’ll stay with you.”

A smile gradually crept over his lips like a butterfly blooming its wings.

“Because I want to.”

A gentle wind blew through the rose garden, carrying the sweet scent with it. Leyla tried to answer him back, yet, her lips were sealed tight. So all she could do was grasp the handrail on the terrace in both of her hands.

“Why aren’t you answering?” Kyle asked her.

Leyla dropped her head and gazed at the tip of her shoes awkwardly. Her face blushed with shyness,

“…I don’t know what to say.”

“Are you being shy in front of me?”

“Geez…No way.”

“But your face is blushing.”

“I’m not!”

Leyla touched her rosy cheeks.

“Just kidding.”

Leyla laughed after seeing Kyle’s playful giggling. It was then when Mrs. Etman, who had been searching the party hall for her son, showed up on the terrace and found both of them.

“Kyle. What the hell are you doing here?” She sighed deeply and walked up to them.

Leyla hurriedly straightened her stance and bent her head. Mrs. Etman accepted her greeting in passing and turned back to her son.

“There’s a lot of people waiting to see you.”

“It’s my father, not me.”

Seeing her son’s response, Mrs. Etman’s eyes glowered more sternly, “Kyle Etman. Do my words sound like a joke to you?”

“Mom, you know that’s not what I meant.”

“Let’s go. Madam Norma’s waiting for you. You’re not thinking of making her wait, are you?”

Mrs. Etman showed her obstinate demeanor as if she didn’t want to give an opening for Kyle to come up with any further counter-arguments.

“See you later, Kyle.”

Leyla cautiously spoke after watching the tension between the mother and son.

The duke’s grandmother, Duchess Norma, adored the only son of their family doctor. And Leyla knew very well how proud Mrs. Etman was about it.

“I’ll wait here.”

Leyla smiled to reassure Kyle.

“Thank you, Leyla.”

Only then, was Mrs. Etman able to smile at Leyla. That woman’s brown-hued eyes, which were a replica of Kyle’s, always looked bitterly towards her. Leyla knew that as well.

Kyle reluctantly dragged his heavy steps as Leyla bid a goodbye, waving a little to him, who kept looking back.

“Wait for me!” Kyle cried as he grimaced. “You have to wait for me, Leyla!”

‘I will.’

Leyla wished to reply to his outcry, but she dunno why her lips remain sealed till the end. So, all she could do was laugh and vigorously wave her hand towards Kyle even more.

The terrace was back to its peacefulness after their departure.

The beautiful luminescence of the chandeliers mingled in harmony with the music and sound of laughter from the hall, creating an oasis of calm beneath night’s moon.

Leyla had left her glasses at home, so the flickering lights in the distance were nebulous. But, the dim night world became more dreamy and romantic within her blurry vision.

Now, Leyla Lewellin’s time in the spotlight was over.

Leyla was able to wind down. She chuckled in awe in a happy mood as she looked closely at her unusual appearance tonight.

Whenever she moved her legs a bit, the decorated ribbon on her waist and the skirt rattled slightly. Leyla became so jolly as she tiptoed up and down while her eyes fell on the swirling hem of her lavish dress.

The white dress embroidered with the gold lace she wore was as enchanting as the dreamy night. The silky fabric of her dress fiddled across her skin and tickled her entire body softly.

And the necklace.

Leyla gently fondled her necklace and her sheepish smile perished like a fume.

‘Why did Lady Brandt say that?’

She guessed that probably it was Claudine’s avant-garde way of expressing her disdain and sympathy towards her.

Yet, Leyla didn’t mind it. The gift from Uncle Bill was breathtakingly lovely. Regardless of what some said the dress was meant for her and she was thrilled with it.

Leyla smiled again but once she lifted her head she saw a fine figure of a tall man stepping out onto the terrace.

Her face, which had blossomed with delight when she thought it was Kyle, turned frozen in a split second.

Leyla’s feet were glued to the ground after she realized who the guy was.

It was Duke Herhardt.

Along with Lady Brandt.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“The weather tonight is so clear, isn’t it?” Asked Claudine as she took a few deep breaths.

As shown by her behavior, it seemed like she had taken the liberty of leading Matthias to the terrace to get some fresh air and enjoy the night breeze.

“Summer is my favourite season because its nights are so beautiful. What about you, Duke Herhardt?”

Claudine flashed her dazzling smile as she stood in front of the marble railing. She then tilted her head and eyed someone in the distance who was the reason they had come here in the first place.

Leyla Lewellin, who was standing on the far side of the terrace. She was the key reason why Claudine brought Matthias here.

“I don’t really like summer, my lady.”

Matthias cast his glance around the garden, beautifully framed by the sea of roses. Then his eyes momentarily passed over Leyla’s face, which was flushed with embarrassment and nervousness at the unexpected guests’ appearance.

“Is that so? I thought you liked summer.”

Claudine looked back to Matthias with her back against Leyla.

“Now that I think about it, Duke Herhardt seems to be a callous man. Of course, you know it’s not a reproach, right?”

Claudine, with her hands held together behind her back, drew a step closer. The gulf between them now had narrowed to the point where they could taste the warmth of each other’s breath.

“But actually, I like that insensitivity of yours. I think it’s very aristocratic, emphasizing your nobility and elegant manner, which no one else will match.”

“I’m glad to hear you like it.”

Matthias didn’t back down and faced her calmly with a smirk adorning his lips.

“Then, kiss me, please.”

Claudine demanded boldly with her eyes fixed on him. Matthias just stared at her quietly for a fleeting moment before falling into a solemn silence.

“I like the heartless Duke Herhardt, but don’t we still need to season our relationship with some passion or enthusiasm?” said Claudine.

As she tilted her head, her thickly wavy brown hair fluttered elastically.

“I mean, we will get engaged, get married, and will live together for the rest of our lives. So …. a little passion …”

Matthias narrowed his eyes for a moment before nodding as he agreed.

“You’re right.”

Without a grain of hesitation, Matthias reached out and embraced her cheek with both of his hands. Claudine jolted a little at his sudden move, but she soon closed her eyes naturally.

Staring at the shadows cast by Claudine’s eyelashes, Matthias’ eyes unintentionally wandered to the other end of the terrace.

He glanced at Leyla-who had been hovering around agitatedly-just in time.

While constantly keeping his eyes on her, Matthias slowly lowered his face and bussed Claudine’s lips.

Leyla Lewellin stayed true to her role as Claudine’s sole onlooker. With her body frozen like a doll, she watched the two with a blank expression. The darkness and great distance wasn’t able to conceal the rosy-tint on his two cheeks.

Throughout their very restrained kiss, Matthias’s eyes had continued to be on her. Her emerald eyes helplessly looked at him in a paralyzed state. The luminous moon couldn’t enliven her eyes, which were dull like the night sky.

The moment Leyla avoided his eyes, the canoodle between the two was over as well. She hurriedly raced down the stairwell leading to the garden before Claudine slowly opened her eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Matthias politely reached out his hand, and Claudine held it as if nothing had happened.

“I’m sure, Duke Herhardt…”

Claudine grinned as they entered the party hall.

“I’m sure that we’ll become a pretty good couple.”

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Leyla dashed down the stairwell at a frenzied pace. She wasn’t being chased, but she couldn’t stop her feet from running harder and faster.

The sound of her heels slamming against the gravel on the promenade shattered the serenity of the night garden. Leyla only came to a halt after she arrived at the huge fountain in the middle of the garden.

As she calmed her panting breath, her leg’s long-forgotten pain reappeared. She was just noticing that her feet were hurting because all she had in mind before was simply escaping from the terrace.

“Ah…….”

Leyla loosened the lace of her shoes a little and winced in pain. There were raw scratches all over her feet. Her heel’s skin had been peeled off and was bleeding, due to her new stiletto heels.

What she wanted to do now was to go back to her cottage but Leyla changed her mind and chose to stay in the garden instead.

She had promised Kyle that she’ll be waiting for him. At least, she had to let him know if she was going to take her leave first.

Even so, she feared returning to that frenzied mansion, to that strange and unsettling world.

Lumbered, Leyla walked in a grimace along the right side of the promenade and sheltered under the pergola in which rose vines were trained.

She planned to wait in the garden first, then headed to the mansion to wait for Kyle’s return.

But, can I sit down here?

Leyla was perplexed as she looked at the bench. The exquisite pergola was created out of the rose foliage cultivated and pruned by Uncle Bill’s green hand. Yet, she had never sat underneath it because it was a seat that no other workers or servants were allowed to use.

‘But tonight, I’m here as the Arvis’s guest, so wouldn’t it be okay?’

After having more of such thoughts, Leyla decided to sit comfortably at the bench. She needed a little more time and courage before she could take off her shoes.

She relaxed her exhausted body against the bench’s armrests and wrapped her arms around her knees. Once her throbbing feet collided with the cold marble, the pain started to subside a little.

Her beautiful shoes damaged her feet, to the point that she couldn’t put them on again.

‘My feet would not be hurting like this if I didn’t run.’

She gently grazed the inflamed wound with her fingertips, before shaking her head when a sudden memory flashed in her mind.

Leyla wrinkled her brow as she recalled Duke Herhardt’s face glaring at her while he was kissing his fiancé.

She just couldn’t help wondering why Claudine took his kiss for granted even though she knew someone else was there.

“Why did they do that?”

Mumbling to herself, Leyla unwittingly rubbed her lips.

“….. So shameless.”

This time, she caressed it hard with the back of her hand till the inside of her lips.

She wished to forget about tonight’s memories and the strange feeling she had when looking at his figure under the dim luminance of the moon.

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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