Chapter 84

✧My Little Bird✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Mrs. Grever’s house was located a little farther from the Capital city. During its rapid development, much of the neighborhood was turned into an idyllic rural setting, equipped with well-maintained roads for ease of transportation. Flanking the roads were rows of beautifully made houses, constructed with wooden frames and paneling.

Leyla decided that today was as good as a day to pay her a visit. She had bought a beautiful array of a bouquet to bring with her as a gift, along with a jar of jam that was made with the best summer fruits harvested in Arvis.

She drew closer to Mrs. Grever house as she commuted towards the center of the boulevard, where she could see the green-roofed house. She had her transport stop a few blocks away, before she gathered her gifts into her arms.

She then rang the doorbell as soon as she got in front of the door. She waited for a few moments, hearing muffled sounds of footsteps getting closer, before the door swung open to reveal Mrs. Grever. The older woman beamed at the sight of her, ecstatically inviting her inside.

“Oh Leyla! I’m so glad you finally arrived!” Mrs. Grever greeted, “When you told me you would be visiting, I couldn’t help but get up earlier than usual.” she immediately began telling Leyla, “I apologize in advance if I seem a little tired.”

Leyla only smiled at her pleasantly, before she looked around.

“Am I the last one here?” she couldn’t help but ask consciously, before looking down on her wrist-watch. She didn’t think she arrived too late, in fact, she was ten minutes earlier than the appointed time of their meeting. Mrs. Grever only waved her worries away.

“Oh, don’t worry, you’re not even late.” she told Leyla, and waved her over to follow her to the dining room, where everyone was gathered, “The others just got here a little too early, they’ve all been eager to hear about the Crown Prince’s arrival from you.”

Leyla blinked in surprise, before she saw her fellow young teachers gathered around the table, chatting amicably with one another. Upon her arrival, they all turned to look at her, before greeting her excitedly, immediately making space between them for her.

Even Mrs. Grever seemed to anticipate her tale about the Crown Prince’s arrival with his wife. Leyla couldn’t help but feel a little bit overwhelmed by the expectation. She wasn’t really paying attention to the prince and his family as much as she was looking at the Duke in anticipation.

When she asked them what they wanted to know about the Crown Prince’s arrival, they wasted no time bombarding her with questions, one after the next like excitable little children.

“Tell us about the Crown Prince! Did you really see him?!”

“Did you see his wife?”

“I heard they had twin babies! Were they there?!”

“Oh I wish I could have gone, you’re so lucky Miss Lewellin!”

“Yeah, I only saw the pictures in the newspaper, it must have been a sight to see in person!”

Leyla looked from one person to the next, before she laughed awkwardly, holding her hands up in a placating manner as she tried to get them to calm down a little bit.

“I’m not sure how much help I could be, I was some ways away from the entourage after all.” She then held up one of the newspapers lying on the table with the pictures of the Prince’s arrival, “The pictures here though seemed really detailed, I couldn’t even see this much from where I was standing.” she pointed out.

“Oh boo-hoo!” piped up one of the younger teachers, “What matters is you got to be there in person!” they squealed.

“Yeah!” The others agreed readily.

“Oh, aren’t the Duke and the Crown Prince best friends or something?” another piped up in the middle of the conversation.

Leyla’s stomach dropped at the mention of the Duke, and cold sweat began to escape her temples at the anticipation of where this conversation was going. Fortunately, Mrs. Grever had the foresight to give her a glass of water when she had sat down on the table.

She grabbed it nervously, staring at it resolutely while she took a sip of water. The other teachers seemed to be content letting her be for now, which she was thankful for. The conversation between the teachers flowed easily between the Crown Prince, the Duke and even Marquis Lindman.

“Well personally, I think the Duke’s the coolest between the three.” Mrs. Grever haughtily declared among the young teachers, “Don’t you agree so too, Leyla?”

“Huh?” Leyla blinked, finally back to the conversation, as she noticed the others were now quiet as they waited to hear her answer.

“I said the Duke’s the coolest among the three, don’t you agree too?” she prompted, looking expectantly at Leyla.

“Oh, now that I think about it, Leyla’s met them all in person now!”

“Hey, that’s right!”

“She could tell us better who’s cooler between the Crown Prince, Duke Herhardt and Marquis Lindman!”

Leyla looked like a deer caught in headlights. She looked back and forth at them with a nervous smile on her face as she struggled to formulate her words.

“I, I…” she began to stutter, when one of her fellow teachers answered on her behalf.

“I think Leyla’s opinion is a bit biased Mrs. Grever,” they pointed out, “There’s no question she’s going to choose Duke Herhardt, after all, he practically saved her uncle.”

She quickly nodded along to the teacher’s words. She knows they mean it well, and they were all just having pleasant fun, but at the mention of her uncle, the conversation shifted into praising the Duke’s action for dropping the charges.

Her heart sank the more she listened in on them.

‘A savior they say?’ she couldn’t help but think rather bitterly in her mind. ‘If only they know why he dropped them.’

The rest of the visit went by without a hitch, allowing Leyla to enjoy the company and food when the conversation about the Crown Prince and Arvis died down, and shifting to school and their student shenanigans.

They all parted ways with light hearts and a full stomach, bidding their host, Mrs. Grever goodbye, with a promise to return sometime soon.

Upon her way back home, Leyla decided to stop by at a grocery store along the way. Supplies for home were running short, she should stock up while she’s still outside.

As she passed through the entrance, she wasn’t surprised to see another one of those newspapers with the Crown Prince’s arrival as a headline displayed in the front rack. However, the picture on it made her heart flutter, along with an unfamiliar pang in her heart…

On the centerpiece of the headline, was an image of the Crown Prince and Duke Herhardt shaking hands, while smiling towards the cameras. Beside the prince was his wife…

And beside the Duke, was Lady Brandt.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

In the few days that the Crown Prince and his wife were in Arvis, it was filled with a long life of parties and dinners to attend. Fortunately, the Prince had stated he wouldn’t attend more gatherings until the dinner event to be held in the Herhardt Family’s mansion.

This allowed the busy atmosphere to die down in Arvis, giving the servants some room to breathe, as well as their hosts. Come luncheon time, the Crown Prince was accompanied by both Matthias and Riette.

The Crown Prince regalled them with the current events around the parts of the continent he recently toured. Riette had been lying languidly across the sofa, while the other two sat on wing chairs. As he listened attentively, he couldn’t help but interrupt the Prince politely.

“Forgive my interruption, your highness,” Riette began and the Prince nodded for him to continue, “I can’t help but realize that most of the noble families in the continent are bound by blood.”

“Yes, that is true.” the Prince nodded.

“You would think that would be the case, but the opposite is true in this case,” the Prince explained, “In most of history, it’s the arguments between families that end up having brutal aftermaths.” he sighed resignedly, before looking over at the Duke.

Matthias had been content to sit out of the conversation. He just remained sitting on his wing chair, as he stared intently into the flames cackling in the fireplace. The melody of the waltz danced around them in soft volumes. His feet tapping along with the beat, head swinging along as he relaxed.

But the Crown Prince had a keen eye, and he’s been observing the Duke for some time now. He knew the more quiet the Duke got, the more his mind was being troubled.

“And what of your thoughts Captain Herhardt?” the Prince called out, making Matthias snap his eyes over to his two companions.

“You’ve been on the frontlines before, what do you think about the looming threat of a war in the continent? Are we able to win it this time around as well?” Riette asked, finally sitting up, genuinely curious about his cousin’s thoughts on the matter.

Matthias breathed in deeply, running simulations in his head as he also straightened up in his seat. His finger drummed on the arm rests, staring into the flames with a frown, before he turned back to his two companions.

“I don’t think things will be as easy as the previous ones this time around.” Matthias admitted calmly.

“The tensions between Berg and Lovita are simple, and we do stand a good chance of winning,” Matthias began to elaborate, “But the scale of a war between the two won’t be kept small.”

The Crown Prince hummed in dry agreement, having already known about that, the royal family’s war council already making the same predictions.

“I thought as much.” the Crown Prince sighed, as a sullen air settled around the three of them.

Riette hadn’t been wrong when he pointed out all the nobles had some blood relations with each other. If you’d trace them far back enough, you can tell which side they’re connected to.

But the fighting between the powerful families in the continent was growing day by day. Each one has garnered multitudes of connections through the generations. They’ve cultivated these connections, and treaties have interlocked with each other.

It was just one mess growing bigger the more it spread down the line, affecting many more families and businesses within the empire. Soon enough, the war between two regions would become a war for the whole continent.

“Well, look on the bright side, Your Highness,” Riette interjected when he noticed the gloomy atmosphere, “This threat has been going on since my father’s time. Still there’s been no actual war happening. I’m sure we’ll breeze past through this until we’re all old and gray with nothing ever really happening.” Riette joked about, before he stopped and sighed.

“Although in the event it does happen, we’ll be there in the middle of it, aiming to return as war heroes!” Riette proudly declared, making the Prince chuckle good-naturedly at his attempts to lighten the mood.

“By the way Riette,” the Prince began as he regarded the Marquis with a thoughtful look, “You’re looking a little too serious there yourself. Where did our Riette go?” he exchanged looks with Matthias who only shrugged back at him, “You’re making me all nervous with being all proper!” the Prince teased.

Riette gasped in an exaggerated manner, before mockingly swooning on the couch as he shook his head, while he lay back down on the sofa.

“I wouldn’t dare to show my disgracefulness in front of such an esteemed figure!” Riette gasped out loudly, making the Prince bark out in laughter at Riette’s dramatics. And just like that, the air was lifted around them as the Prince was thrown back in pleasant nostalgia.

Even when they were children, things were always like this. And though many years have passed, and they spent time less and less with each other as their responsibilities grew, the Prince was glad that they could still behave like this around each other as though they were kids once more.

Matthias had smiled and responded accordingly with the conversation, before leaving them both to their own devices as he decided it was more interesting to look out the window. He had noticed Leyla had gone out in the late morning, and was eager to catch sight of her return.

She had been dressed beautifully today, that was enough to make him forget about their last conversation. That one had been grating across his thoughts painfully and insistently since she left him.

‘So she didn’t like the gift, huh?’ Matthias thought, as a tension settled in his jaw. She wasn’t happy with the gift he presented her with.

If it was true that being useful and pleasurable in company was the true worth of a mistress, well, Leyla’s been the farthest example of that by far. He could dig deeper into his thoughts as to why he’s so reluctant to let her go, but it doesn’t seem worth it to him.

All he knew, and was comfortable to understand, was that he just wanted to keep her beside him for as long as possible. Even if it meant enduring the endless hate she spewed at him. He’d keep her by his side until his dying breath.

She was his alone, and his to use. No one else’s. His little canary.

A devious smirk gave way to his lips as he took a careful sip of the lukewarm tea.

He could still feel the ghost of her locks running across his palms; still see the silhouette of her quivering form due to his ministrations; hear the echoes of her voice as she gasped and moaned because of him…

The more he got to know the inside and out of Leyla Lewellin, the prettier she got in his eyes.

Especially if she was in tears. Which reminded him, it had been a while since he last made her cry for him.

Just the thought was enough to make him grip his cup tightly, as the urge to seek her out and see her tears grew inside him. Matthias couldn’t understand his obsession with her. It was like he was going crazy without her, and he had no will to stop it from happening.

Their first night together had been pure bliss for him. All of his senses drowning in her essences, embracing him in a way he always sought for, yet so much better!

His thoughts and feelings drowned in her, and he happily let it overtake him if it meant he’d get to have her for himself. At that moment, she was all he could process, as though she was the only thing in the world he needed to be alive…

To feel alive.

In his research in taking care of a bird, he’d stumbled upon the knowledge of covering the bird’s eyes, and cutting off their feathers from their wings. The bird would tremble in your palm as you prevented them from seeing you trim their wings…

And when it’s all over, they would flap to fly, but found they could no longer go that far away from you.

Matthias had perfected it on his little canary bird. He’d dutifully covered the little canary’s eyes with a soft piece of handkerchief, as he trimmed the feathers. He’d watch as they fluttered to the ground with satisfaction before blowing it a kiss and removing the blinds as he showered it with clear affection, before letting it rest inside its cage.

Lately he found the strange urge overcoming him. When his canary nestled lovingly in his palm, he wanted nothing more than to close his fingers around its trusting form…

And then squeeze it. But then he’d catch himself, and focused on the beautiful songs his canary would chirp for him, and the urge would go away.

The same urge kept coming whenever he’d hug Leyla. But unlike his canary, who’d sing to ease him, she endlessly refused him. She kept struggling to escape him, and that just made him want to see her cry, and stop time just so he could cherish those tears flowing out of her…

The only ones she seemed to freely give him.

But he desired to have her, take all of her and keep her for himself. If he could, he would have swallowed her all up in one go during their sexual intercourses.

“Matthias?”

Matthias was brought back to the present at the sound of his name. He looked to the sides, and saw his companions looking at him inquiringly as they both stood beside him. Only then did he notice the gathered servants in front of the open door.

It seemed he got a little too distracted by Leyla after all. He didn’t like being caught unaware like this.

He put the cup down gently, before standing up, brushing off their inquiring gazes at him as though it was nothing.

Finally, it was dinner in the Arvis Mansion, and the servants began to escort them towards the dining room, while Matthias waited in the back to lock his study.

Just before he’d close the door behind him, a stray thought wandered into his mind.

‘Had Leyla come back?’ he couldn’t help but wonder, feeling a strange worry come over him at the thought she hadn’t returned yet. Which didn’t make sense to him. After all, where else could she return to but here?

He swiftly shut and locked the door before he decided to go back to his room to prepare for dinner.

As he walked through the long hallways, with the fading sun casting orange hues in the walls, he can’t help but think about her again. A cold dread settling in his gut at the thought of her not coming back…

‘What if she decides it’s not worth it coming back?’

Reaching his room with his attendant, Matthias wasted no time changing as he mulled over that thought.

Leyla couldn’t dare leaving Bill Remmer on his own. She looked up to him her whole life, she couldn’t just up and leave him behind.

‘But if it meant she could leave me, then… could she?’ Matthias wondered instead.

Would she really leave? Because of him?

His movements halted just as he was about to secure his cuffs. The cold feeling grew inside him. He could tell it was anger, or nervousness. He’d felt those before, and this wasn’t it.

“Master?” his attendant called out worriedly when he noticed Matthias’ movements paused. Immediately, his master’s movements resumed, quickly finishing securing the cuff links and turned around, to have his coat buttoned up.

Once Matthias had buttoned up the coat around him, the attendant busied themselves with brushing some stray dust and flint all over Matthias as his master stood still in front of his floor-length mirror.

Matthias was thinking about the first time he tried trimming his canary’s feathers. The little bird struggled incessantly in his grasp, making him cut more than he should, causing blood to ooze out its wings.

He’d been worried at first, but was relieved to find his canary alive by the next day. He liked knowing it couldn’t fly away from him. Adored the pitiful sight of its struggles in fact. It wasn’t until it fluttered nervously towards him, and chirped beautifully for him that he got the sense the bird loved him.

It’s feathers would grow back, but even if he were to accidentally cut more than he should, the bird loved him. It regarded him as their home. It wouldn’t want to leave him.

Though he can help but think it would be better if the bird couldn’t fly permanently too. He wouldn’t need to put it in a cage, he’d just let it wander free forever in his sights. They’d be freer that way too.

“You’re all set, master.” The attendant called out to him once more, bowing his head dutifully at Matthias.

Matthias took one last glance of his appearance in the mirror’s frame, before nodding to the attendant in satisfaction. He casted another glance outside his bedroom window, looking over the fading shadows of the trees that stretched across the road the further the sun set in the skies…

Leyla was still nowhere to be seen.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*