Chapter 58

✧Play With Me✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

The Principal’s lips pursed into a thin line, her face set with a slight frown as she regarded the woman across from her. Leyla, on the other hand, sat calmly, yet resolutely as she waited for her decision. From her eyes alone, the Principal could see that Leyla was determined about this.

“Are you sure of this, Miss Lewellin?” She asked Leyla anyway, her eyes peeking above her spectacles to look at her. Leyla only nodded in response.

“Yes. I’d like to do that.” She responded immediately, as though the thought hadn’t just hit her out of nowhere. She wasn’t kidding about her desire to move away. To teach in a different school, a much farther school.

“Forgive me for prying, but,” The Principal hummed as she rested her chin above her clasped hands, scrutinizing Leyla some more, “Isn’t this school the closest one to home? Why would you wish to be transferred away?”

As far as she knew, Leyla only had to pedal her bike to commute to school everyday. She was asking, not because Leyla was a seasoned teacher, but because she was a hard worker. Sure, she was a novice, often lacking experience in handling matters which would cause a few headaches along her way, but she could see the potential the girl had.

In short, she had grown quite fond of Leyla. As a matter of fact, this school was also the best choice she could have of growing experience and a career.

“Should I also point out that the other Carlsbar schools lack an opening to hire you?” The Principal inquired, sighing briefly, “In addition to that, you would have to move away, find a place to stay in, as well as travel quite a few times just to switch schools?”

“Yes, I understand, and I’m prepared to do it.”

Leyla did think about those things. It was impossible not to. But she knew she needed to do this. The Principal hummed in thought before leaning back on her chair.

“If there is a problem within the school, then I assure you, we can handle this Leyla.” She said softly, “Has there been some troubles between your students? Colleagues?”

“No! There has been no trouble.” Leyla vehemently denied, “The teachers have been good to me, you most especially. And the children are absolute angels, it’s just…” the words caught in her throat. How was she to explain her reasons for leaving were not even work-related?

“Just…?” The Principal prodded, a pristine brow raised at her for further inquiry. Leyla schooled her features, smiling politely.

“I’ve thought about this not because of my troubles in school, but rather because I feel as though I need more experience outside my comfort zone.” Leyla explained, “I want to broaden my horizon, move past my home so that I could better my skills, for me and the children I will teach.” she finished. The Principal whizzed at her answer, minutely impressed.

“How eloquently put.” She sighed in resignation, “If that is what you truly want, then who am I to deny that?” She looked down on her work table and began rearranging papers, “Fortunately, there are many who also wish to gain experience here in Carlsbar, so finding a replacement for you shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Thank you so much for your consideration!” She thanked profusely. Leyla knew that her experience in Carlsbar was good for experience. The school was fairly prestigious, located in a flourishing city not too far away from the capital of the Berg Empire. A prime job opportunity, in fact, that she landed a job in such a place despite her lack of experience.

But it was the only excuse she could think of that would suffice the Principal of her requesting a transfer of schools, far away from home.

“Though you will still need to serve the full semester before your transfer can be processed.” The Principal continued, “However, should you change your mind, feel free to come back and retract your transfer.”

Leyla doubted she would ever retract her request, even if she was given a whole semester to think about it. She was resolute in moving far away from this place. Thanking her once more, Leyla got up and left the headmistress’ office, softly shutting the door behind her, and walked back to her classroom before letting out a long sigh of relief.

Checking she was alone, Leyla moved towards the window, watching the leaves of the oak tree outside gently sway with the wind before its stem snapped and fluttered towards the ground. Autumn was nearing its end as winter crept in ever slowly.

The sun’s rays flowed between its almost barren tree branches, filtering in the light seeping through her windows, casting elongated shadows across her face.

‘I have to leave Arvis.’ she thought to herself, taking in the sight of what would serve to be her last autumn in the school.

Leyla did, in fact, think this through carefully. It took her quite a few sleepless nights and busy days before she reached such a decision. As much as it pained her to be leaving and thus wouldn’t be able to spend more precious time with her Uncle Bill, she didn’t want to repeat the events that happened with Kyle.

She had learned her lesson. She could no longer hold onto impractical wants and desires. It would only complicate things more, make it harder for her in the long run, and ruin everything she had been working hard for.

So Leyla decided to focus on her original plans.

Besides, just because she’d become a teacher in the neighbouring city or somewhere further did not mean she couldn’t come to visit Uncle Bill from time to time. She reckoned she could even turn it into weekly visits if she would do it during her weekends.

And maybe lodging and board would turn out to be expensive in a foreign place and delay further preparations she had when continuing college education. Still, it was a far better alternative to staying any longer here in Carlsbar.

She would do anything just to get away from that man and Arvis.

“It’ll be alright,” Leyla softly muttered to herself, “Everything will be alright soon. You’ll see.” she repeated.

Perhaps after repeating those phrases over and over, she would start believing in them. And so, schooling a smile over her lips, she went back to her desk.

She was no stranger to moving, after all. Her entire childhood consisted of her moving around from one place to the next, staying with relatives, one after another. It made her feel miserable as a child, but it certainly imparted quite a few valuable life lessons, which she found handy right now.

Yes, she was an adult now, with a loving uncle to support her every endeavour. Everything would definitely turn out fine in the end.

Unconsciously, her fingers went up to gently rub her lips in a back and forth motion. She took in a deep breath before standing up to put on her coat. She fixed her belongings and packed what she needed into her bag for the next few days before her breathing stuttered at the sight of a simple white cloth.

There, stuffed innocently inside one of her bag’s inner pockets, was the Duke’s handkerchief. Memories of their latest kiss assaulted her mind before she shook them away and breathed in deeply.

She couldn’t allow him to affect her any further. And so, without further ado, she locked her classroom as she left and went out of the building. She beelined to her bike, hoisting herself over the seat as she did a thousand times before, and began to pedal through Arvis.

She knew where she was going next.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Riette von Lindman dutifully drove his car, eyes kept resolutely on the road. His grip on the steering wheel lightened as he made a soft turn, entering the path leading up to Arvis Estate. As soon as he passed the boundary, he caught in his peripheral a woman, taking shade under the tree.

He slowed down to a stop, eyes glancing in her direction. He took note of the bicycle propped against the tree as she stood idly waiting for someone.

‘Who is she waiting for?’ Riette hummed in wonder at sight. This was certainly quite the surprise, and he wanted to know what she was there for. He unbuckled and got out of the car, locking the door behind him. As he neared the woman, he blinked as he recognized her.

“Good day Miss Lewellin.” he greeted as soon as he was near enough to be heard.

Leyla, who had been busy spacing out, snapped her head up at the unexpected presence of the Marquis. In her anxiousness, she staggered back when he stopped before her.

“Marquis Lindman, a good day to you as well.” she politely greeted back after a whole minute, though the nervousness in her persisted. Nervously she looked around, noticing they were alone, and unconsciously stepped back away from him, putting more distance between them.

She was already nervous being in the estate; she didn’t need any noble poking around to see why she was here as well. But of course, she was never that lucky.

“What are you doing here?” Riette asked her.

Leyla struggled to answer him. What could she say? The more she thought about why she was even here in the first place, the more she felt stiff and frozen on the spot. She couldn’t answer him.

Riette, on the other hand, watched as she slowly paled, silence reigning between them after his inquiry. It didn’t take him long to piece out the puzzle, and he let out an amused chuckle at her terror.

“Hmm, well let’s see, the it couldn’t be the doctor’s son,” Riette chuckled, eyes watching her in scrutiny, “He’s not in the estate at the moment.” He pretended to think about it for a few more moments before gasping in mock dramatics, “Could it be? You’re here for Duke Herhardt himself?”

Leyla’s eyes snapped back to him at his mocking tone. She could feel her cheeks flush, eyebrows furrowing in response, the shame she felt hidden in her eyes by the glasses she wore.

Riette drew closer, hands clasped behind his back, lowering his mouth next to her ear…“The man whom Miss Lewellin is waiting for must be Matthias, right?” He whispered before straightening up, putting some distance between them once more.

Upon hearing his suspicions once more, Leyla felt her palms turn clammy, cold sweat slid down her temples, her knuckles turning white as the grip on her bag tightened in frustration.

She was only here to return the Duke’s handkerchief, but how was it that she felt as though she’d been strapped with a time bomb instead? She didn’t want to be trapped alone with him at the annex, so instead, she waited here, by the road…

Oh, what a mistake that was.

“Cat got your tongue, hmm?” Riette mused, “Why? Did I hit too close to home?”

“Forgive my rudeness, but I must leave now, Marquis.” Leyla forced herself to say, discreetly manoeuvring her bag behind her as she turned to indeed leave the place. She’d catch the Duke at a different time instead.

However, Riette was taller and nimbler than her. He managed to catch up to her quickly, herding her to a stop as he blocked her exit.

“Ah, won’t you wait a little while for my dear cousin?” he asked, “You haven’t seen him yet, and you’ve surely waited for sometime now. It would be quite a waste of time to leave now.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t a waste, excuse me.” Leyla dodged once more to pass through him, but instead, Riette grabbed her by the shoulder and held her back.

“Oh but I insist!” He exclaimed, “By the way, did you know that the Duke is actually not at home right now?” He told her informatively, “In fact, he left to escort his fiance!” He emphasised, “Does that upset you, oh poor Miss Lewellin?”

Leyla frantically tried to get away from his grip, which in turn was also beginning to get on his nerves the more she struggled. Couldn’t she see beyond her fear he was trying to help!?

When Riette had initially stopped and approached her, he had only meant to tease her a little. However, when he learned or rather guessed correctly that she had indeed been waiting for Matthias, the teasing turned into pity. The poor thing didn’t even realise her precious Duke had gone and left the estate.

He sympathised greatly; after all, he too was in his very own tragic love affair. Riette firmly believed she was also suffering the effects of heartbreak at the news, the same way he suffered when he’d witnessed Matthias heading out the mansion to escort his fiance, Claudine, this morning.

The painful sting of longing was still heavy in his heart, so of course, he understood her. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t against playing with her a little longer for his amusement.

“Though come to think of it, Matthias is quite the simple man isn’t he?” Riette continued to hold her back, his grip on her shoulder tightening before he grabbed hold of her bike instead, effectively stopping her from leaving. “Also, your relationship with him, isn’t it akin to that of a mistress?”

“Wha-what?!” Leyla hissed, her breath hitching at the accusation.

“Yes, yes, that’s the exact word.” Riette insisted, straightening up as he held her bike far from her, “You’re almost like the Duke’s mistress, are you not?” He blinked innocently before smirking at the growing rage on her face, “What? Too vulgar for your tastes, Miss Lewellin?”

Leyla was fuming at the blatant insult to her face. She wanted to tear that smug look off his face in response to baseless accusations. Though that didn’t help in easing the shame as she remembered the latest kiss the Duke and her shared, never mind the fact she had been reluctant to do so.

“It is, isn’t it?” Riette found it amusing to keep pushing more and more of her buttons. “If so, then I deeply apologise for using such a word.” He continued to mock, tilting his head for added effect, but the smugness was still there.

“Give me back my bike!” Leyla demanded in anger, arms reaching out to yank her possession away from him, but he dodged her quickly, effectively keeping her bike out of reach.

“Now, I feel a little disappointed that you, the esteemed Miss Lewellin, who like both the doctor’s son and Duke Herhardt, couldn’t even stand to be around me! Oh, how you wound me!” Riette feigned dramatics as he swooned in mock pain. “Very well, here’s your bike.” and he let it go.

Leyla immediately moved to gather her bike, but in her haste to get it, she had let go of her bag, allowing the Marquis to snatch it up quickly. She gasped in panic, abandoning her bike instead as she began to run after the Marquis, who was now busying himself with her bag’s contents.

“Perhaps I could find something here for me instead.” he teased her once more. Twisting and dodging around her to keep it out of reach from Leyla. “I don’t know about the doctor’s son, but I’m sure I can be more interesting than Matthias.”

“Give back my bag!”

“Come to think of it, even Matthias and I look quite alike.” He pointed out, pausing as he touched his chin and looked down on her, raising her bag high above him, “Don’t you think so, Miss Lewellin? Although I can’t give you as much affection as Duke Herhardt, I’m sure I can still make you happy.”

Uncaring of how she would look, Leyla grabbed on his arm as she jumped to retrieve her stolen bag. She could feel the growing frustration threatening to burst inside her as her eyes blurred and lips began to tremble.

“Let the dull Duke get along with his boring fiancée, and in the meantime, play with me, Miss Lewellin.” Riette said in a sing-song voice as he kept the bag out of reach from her.

It was undoubtedly quite amusing for him to watch her hop on her tippy-toes to reach for her bag, as though it held all the treasures in the world. Ah well, his hand was beginning to feel numb, and so he immediately dropped it back down and let her have it back as well.

“Give it back!”

Leyla wasted no time in snatching it away from his fingers, wrapping it close to her bosom protectively. She sniffed and grabbed her abandoned bike, righted it up and hoisted herself over, and pedalled away.

In her haste, she failed to notice her striped shoes slip off.

“Oh, come on now, I was only teasing!” Riette called out after her, “Oh Miss Lewellin, I promise to be a good boy!”

But Leyla was no longer listening and was gaining steady distance between them. Riette only sighed in pity before noticing the shoes left behind.

He picked it up, turning it over in his hands before groaning in resignation, and began sprinting towards the direction she left before disappearing by the corner.

SCREEEEECH!

He didn’t get too far before he heard the alarming sound of a collision between something metallic and another object. Riette slowly began to pick up pace as alarm bells rang in his head!

As soon as he turned the corner, he stopped in bewilderment when he saw the sight of a downed woman in the middle of the road in front of a familiar black car, who seemed to have skidded to a stop.

Riette stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do when someone hurriedly exited the car. The driver, it seemed, was the first to check up on the woman who stayed still on the ground, and soon a couple had emerged from the back…

Matthias and Claudine.

“Oh my god! Leyla!” Claudine exclaimed in panic as she saw the woman. Riette could only stand dumbly as he stared at the scene before him, taking in Leyla’s crumpled form and her dented bike by the front of the car.

Riette’s eyes then were drawn towards Matthias, who regarded Leyla’s prone form with indifference. In Leyla’s arms, she still clutched her bag like a precious artefact. Matthias raked his eyes over her before his gaze turned to the side to meet Riette’s gaze, who stood uselessly in front of an overhead lamplight.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

It was fortunate that the accident looked worse than it actually was. Despite having been hit by the car, Leyla had only sustained minor injuries, and thus, still managed to stand and walk fairly well. Matthias had suggested taking her to the hospital to be sure, but Leyla had stubbornly refused.

After confirming she was fine, Matthias deemed it fit to put the incident behind them.

“Let’s get back to the mansion now.” He announced, glancing around at the servants with them, who had been attending to Leyla. Though the servants were particularly concerned about Leyla, they did nothing as they watched her until she disappeared from their sight.

“Yes, that would be a good idea.”

Claudine readily agreed after bidding Riette goodbye. So that was the end of that. Matthias dutifully escorted her back into the car. Riette, who looked flushed,  following shortly behind them as he headed back into his, by the entrance of platanus road.

Claudine watched outside the car window, eyes staring worriedly as they both passed by Leyla. She couldn’t help but recall the way Leyla had absolutely rushed in front of the car. Normally, Claudine was a calm woman, but when Leyla appeared out of nowhere and got hit by the car, she assumed the worst!

“I thought she got hit pretty hard. I’m glad that she is fine.” Claudine sighed in relief. Speaking of Leyla, she recalled the way Riette had been holding onto Leyla’s shoes just moments after he rounded the corner where Leyla got hit.

She must admit, she almost let her composure slip at that very moment. She had not expected Riette to be that rash and impatient. Claudine’s eyes shifted to her peripheral, discreetly scrutinising her fiance. She expected something after that near-death scare for Leyla, but she could not read him at all.

Even after this, he was still so indifferent.

If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought he did not care for Leyla at all. Matthias didn’t even look livid about the driving hitting her accidentally, nor questioned Riette about why he had been holding onto her shoes.

How very typical of Duke Herhardt.

By the time they reached the front door of the mansion, and the car came to a stop, Claudine couldn’t help but feel sorry for Leyla.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*