Chapter 98

Chapter 98 – The Way I Learned From You

✧The Way I Learned From You✧

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“Have a drink, Mr. Remmer.” Matthias offered, gesturing to him the tea. He noticed that Bill seemed a little bit tense, but the old gardener only stiffly agreed, immediately going to grab the cup of tea. Which left Matthias feeling a little bit confused.

Matthias watched as Bill took careful sips of his tea as he did the same with his own cup. Once he deemed he let the gardener relax enough, he spoke up once more.

“Firstly, I would like to thank you for working hard for us for a long time.”

“Ah, it was my pleasure, Duke.” Bill stammered, trying to calm himself down in front of the man who spared him. “I’m really grateful that you even allowed me to stay in Arvis, and to correct the great wrong I’ve done. Ah but I’m not saying this to appease you!” He flushed, “Truly, I am so grateful for you, my Duke.”

Bill bowed his head in reverence at Matthias. He would forever be grateful for the act of mercy the Duke bestowed upon him. He would have rotted in jail because of his negligence, and yet this man prevented that, and allowed him to fix his mistake!

How could he ever repay the Duke?

“Well then, what do you say about continuing to work for us even after your work in Arvis’ greenhouse? Say, in the Herhardt mansion, located in the capital city?” Matthias offered, cutting straight to the point.

He thought about it long and hard, and knew this was the only way Leyla would ever move to the capital’s mansion he owned.

Bill Remmer was a permanent fixture in her life, she wouldn’t dare leave him alone. As such, if he were to convince Mr. Remmer to move to Ratz, then Leyla would soon follow, just to remain by her uncle’s side.

Bill looked at his young master in a mix of perplexion and confusion.

“My Duke, is… is this because of the accident?” he asked rather meekly. “It isn’t as though I’m ungrateful for the continued opportunity to work for you, but I had thought after my job with the greenhouse was finished, you would let me go?”

“You’re right,” Matthias hummed, putting his teacup down on his desk, before clasping his hands in front of him as he stared at Bill, “But it isn’t just because of the incident that I am thinking of transferring you.”

Bill looked even more nervous now.

“I recognize that the garden in Arvis is too large. I anticipate it will be harder and harder for you to maintain it as the years go by.”

“Oh it’s not-”

“Additionally,” Matthias interrupted, eyeing Bill a little bit in disapproval for interrupting him when he wasn’t even finished. “The gardens in the mansion in Ratz are of a smaller scale. Much easier to maintain, plus I want it to be on par with the gardens here, in Arvis.” Matthias finally finished.

Bill wanted to deny that work in Arvis was fine as it is despite him advancing in age, but he can’t deny the words of his master, because the Duke was not wrong. It was growing more difficult for him to keep maintaining the vast gardens in Arvis estate, even if he is still in his middle-ages.

“Truly, I thank you for this opportunity, but I don’t know where to put myself, Duke.” Bill admitted regretfully, “I’m afraid I’m at a loss at how I can earn your confidence in me.”

“Then you need only continue working for Arvis.” Matthias replied plainly.

Bill Remmer eyed him nervously, his eyes dropping down to look at his reflection in the tea, and saw how weary his eyes looked back at him.

“Duke Herhardt, I knew since you gave me a second chance, I could never remain to work in Arvis after that. In fact, I already planned to leave Arvis with Leyla as soon as my work is done with the greenhouse. It’s only fair I leave, especially after you’ve given me mercy.”

Something in Matthias’ eyes darkened as he looked at the old gardener.

“Mr. Remmer, I didn’t free you from your sins out of mercy.”

His tone was calm, yet cold. Bill gulped his tea nervously, before putting the cup down in front of him to look at his young master’s face properly.

“As I was saying, you worked for my family for many years, and your expertise and skills are outmatched.” Matthias explained once more, “And that’s why, I want you in Ratz, to make use of your skills there as well. So there’s no need for you to feel indebted to me.” He finished explaining, yet there was still some doubt in Bill Remmer’s eyes.

“I-I see, my Duke,” Bill wetted his lips nervously, as he rubbed his clammy palms on his pants. “B-but how could I move so far away and leave my Leyla behind?”

Matthias raised his cup over his lips, allowing himself to smirk victoriously before answering him.

“Then take her with you.” He pointed out, and Bill blinked in surprise.

“Take Leyla with me?”

Bill seemed even more flabbergasted.

“Yes.” Matthias nodded his head lightly in affirmation. “It was unfortunate that last year’s theft happened, but my grandmother had expressed her wishes to fund Miss Lewellin’s education back then.”

Matthias proceeded to tell Bill that things had gotten too hectic before, which was why it hadn’t come up until now. Should Leyla retake the college entrance exam, and get accepted, she would officially be sponsored by the Herhardt house, as was his and his grandmother’s will.

Bill couldn’t believe such a generous offer from the people he caused so much trouble to!

He really was so fortunate to have been employed by such gracious people! Any other family would have thrown him to jail for his crime, but the Herhardts just kept giving him and Leyla so many blessings on their way!

How could such kind people exist in reality? People like this only existed in stories as far as he knew, and yet here was one in front of him!

Matthias watched as the light began filling the old gardener’s eyes, and knew he’d convinced the man.

“Well, what do you say Mr. Remmer?” Matthias asked coolly at him, “Are you willing to accept this opportunity?”

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“Uncle!” Leyla greeted excitedly, and half filled with relief at the sight of him.

The first thing she took note of was how healthy his complexion seemed. At the sight of her, Bill gave her a warm smile, before huffing at the sudden force at Leyla throwing her arms tightly around him.

He couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm at seeing him return.

“Oof! What are you, a child!?” Bill teased as he pulled away and fixed his scarf, “You seem to forget you’re not as small as you used to be Leyla. And what are you doing out here waiting for me? Didn’t I tell you I’d meet you back home?”

He patted Leyla’s hair fondly like he used to when she was so much smaller, and Leyla only giggled, immediately grabbing onto one of his arms and hugging it close to her as she rested her head on his shoulders.

Quietly, she closed her eyes as she sighed in relief.

‘He still doesn’t know.’

They walked peacefully side by side, with Leyla feeling less alone with her uncle back at her side. The trek back to their small cabin was long, but the walk hardly felt tedious with their pleasant company.

Leyla jogged a few paces ahead, holding the door open for him to enter as he shuffled through their door, and praised Leyla for the feast she had prepared for his return. Leyla urged him to get changed as she warmed up the food.

As soon as that was done, and all the food was warm once more, they both sat down at the table, ready to eat.

“Ah, Leyla, I would like to tell you that the Duke just offered me a great chance!” He announced excitedly at her, as he piled some of his favorite food on his plate. Leyla’s smile stilled in her expression at her uncle’s words.

“A chance?” She asked quietly, careful to keep the smile on her face, “What kind of chance?”

“He offered me a transfer to their mansion in Ratz,” Bill started.

He proceeded to relay to Leyla the information the Duke gave him in their impromptu meeting. How he would move to stay in the Herhardt mansion in Ratz and tend to their smaller garden there instead.

And how he was even allowed to bring Leyla!

“Of course you will need to pass their entrance exams once more, but I know you can do it again!” Bill declared proudly, “It was originally Duchess Norma’s idea, but the Duke supports her decision wholeheartedly. They both agree how amazing you would be.” He smiled proudly at Leyla.

Leyla could only think about how further it would drive her deeper into the Duke’s clutches and control.

“Do you think I should take the offer, Leyla?” Bill asked her, looking a little expectantly, and yet despondent at the same time.

“Uncle…”

“Truthfully, I’m feeling a little shameless at accepting the offer about what I just did, but if it’s what you want to do, then I can do it dear.” Bill said with a smile, “I’d be more than happy to stay and move to Ratz if it meant you get to live your dream.”

Leyla felt like her throat was closing up. How could she even begin to tell her uncle no?

She steadily grabbed her glass of water, trying to delay the time she needed to say her answer. Looking at her uncle’s happy expression stung Leyla’s eyes.

She couldn’t bear to see it gone.

Suddenly the day Claudine revealed to her all that she knew about the Duke and her affair with him seemed to be so long ago. She didn’t even remember how she stood back up and brought herself home.

All she could recall was her bawling her eyes out on the floor, barely unable to stop herself from crying until she exhausted herself.

She wanted to deny everything. All of Claudine’s accusations seemed too cruel to be true, but Leyla found herself in front of Daniel Rayner’s house. And with no further thought, she rapped her knuckles against his door to seek answers.

She couldn’t even think about how rocky her relationship with Daniel Rayner had become because of what happened. Right now, she felt invincible within her armor of pain and numbness. She needed to prove Claudine false.

She couldn’t be right about Matthias planning for her engagement with Kyle to be destroyed.

When Daniel had seen her that day, he looked as though he saw a ghost, and moved to close it once more, but Leyla held it open, a desperate plea went out her mouth.

“I just need to know one thing!” She exclaimed, holding the door open, “Just one thing! You owe me this!”

Her words, fortunately, made him stop and relent to her.

“That day you stole the money meant for my college fund,” Leyla began, ignoring the way he flinched at the reminder of what he did, “Did you, or did you not, meet the Duke on your way out of our cabin?”

She didn’t know how much she would regret ever seeking the truth from him, for she regretted knowing his answer.

It took him a while to give it, but by then it was too late for Leyla to turn back.

“I don’t know why you need to ask me that after all this time but…” He began, looking so exhausted, as though he wanted to move on from his crimes.

“Yes…” Leyla trailed off as she recalled that moment.

He avoided looking at her as he said it, but she could hear he was telling her the truth. He spoke a few more words, but it was drowned out by the ringing in her ears as the truth hit her in full force.

She staggered away from him, and faintly remembered how Daniel Rayner hurriedly slammed the door behind her, sounds of the locks on his door being reinforced, but Leyla hardly cared anymore. She just kept walking, even as the road darkened in front of her and her head pounded, unable to produce more tears.

She remembered the police officers telling them how the money failed to turn up, and no witnesses came forward. They even went to the mansion, and asked the Duke himself, but no one had seen anything.

The puzzle pieces fell into place.

Claudine hadn’t been lying.

She knew it had been a possibility. As a noble lady, Claudine von Brandt would dare spread such a baseless lie, not when she would lose too much if she were to get caught defaming her fiance’s good name.

“Leyla?” Uncle Bill called out for her once more, shaking her out of her thoughts and she looked back at him with a practiced smile.

“If you need more time to think about it, then I completely understand.”

“I agree I will need time to think about it, uncle.” Leyla smiled at him, and he reciprocated it, before looking at her in an apologetic way.

“I do want you to consider it though Leyla,” He admitted, “Because we both know by now, I can’t give you the life you wanted. The duke is offering to give you wings that I can’t give you.” He pointed out sadly.

And Leyla felt her heart breaking at her uncle’s words.

‘Oh uncle, if only you knew he was the one who brutally broke my wings.’ She thought in complete despair.

Uncle Bill reached out from across the table, to hold her hand in a comforting manner.

“I know you’re the kind of person who can reach beyond what people expect you to if you put your mind into it,” He praised her softly, “Some will be envious, but more others will be inspired by you.”

He looked at her with such warm, and loving eyes, it shone brighter than the light Leyla had put on the table for them. She could only smile shakily back at him, taking more sips of her water to keep her throat from drying in her guilt and nervousness.

They continued to eat their dinner, the topic shifting to what he had seen in his travels, and then exchanging mundane stories of what they had done while away from each other.

Dinner ended with them sitting out on the porch, cups of coffee in hand as they leaned against each other. The night had rolled out of the sky, the wind picking up around them, but not yet cold enough to make them freeze.

Fortunately for Leyla, Uncle Bill decided to retire to bed early. His travels still left him tired, and Leyla happily let him, staying out on the porch to look up at the starless skies above.

She had been struggling to hold in her composure as her uncle was around, but she couldn’t deny the unbridled anger simmering underneath her skin, especially when she closed the door to her bedroom, only to see Phoebe return, with a note attached from the Duke.

Just as she thought as she unrolled the small piece of parchment open, his orders remained the same, and she must go to him. But this time, she felt no fear or shame at their impending meeting.

No, her mind had never been as clear as they were tonight.

She’s determined to escape the clutches of both the Duke and Duchess Herhardt of Arvis Estate.

She ripped up the letter, and tossed it into the open flame as she walked over to her closet. She glanced over her wardrobe, before grabbing the clothes and shoes the Duke had bought for her.

Next, she sat in front of her vanity, putting more effort into styling her hair in a presentable way. After all, she must look her best tonight. She’s meeting someone very dear to her, she mused sarcastically.

This time, she’ll stop begging for him to release her.

She stared into her reflection with steely eyes, satisfied at how beautiful she made herself appear to be. The intricate braid she made framed the nape of her neck beautifully, and complemented the clothes perfectly.

‘Just as I learned from you, I’ll bide my time,’ Leyla thought as she put on some light make up on her face and smiled enticingly at herself in front of her mirror, ‘This time, it’s my turn to play with you, and break your heart at the right moment.’

A strange excitement came over her, making her feel giddy all over, even more than her previous plans of simply denying the Duke whatever he wanted. This time, she knows better. This time, she finally knew how to break a man’s heart.

‘Looks like it’s time for me to give you your own medicine, my Duke,’

She smirked, mind finally made up.

She’d be his perfect mistress, give him the excitement he craved, and present herself so beautifully for him. She’d stop fighting him, and make him feel appreciated. She’ll give him promises she’d never intend to keep, before she’d just casually…

And cruelly…

Rip his heart into a million little pieces.

Leyla quietly walked out of her cabin, weeks of experience making it a lot easier than before now that she wasn’t dreading to see him.

After all, how would she dread the thought of seeing him on his knees?

How could she even dread the thought of seeing him so miserable and in pain one day like he did for her?

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