Chapter 103

Music floated around the room as noble ladies from every corner of the empire gathered to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. Among those in current attendance for today’s gathering, was Lady Claudine von Brandt. Upon noticing her, immediately a few ladies made their way towards her in quick, yet measured steps.

In no time, Claudine found herself circled by envious ladies.

“It’s been a while, Lady Brandt.” Greeted one of them.

“Ah, I remember seeing you at a gathering held at the Herhardt’s.” Claudine remarked amicably, “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“Indeed, though we met quite briefly so you probably won’t remember.” She replied with a bright smile, “Please allow me to introduce ourselves again-”

“No need,” Claudine politely interrupted, smiling at the other lady, “I remember you perfectly fine, Lady Esher.”

The younger lady’s cheeks flushed at the sound of her name leaving the esteemed Lady Brandt’s lips. Claudine then turned to her quiet companion with an equally bright smile.

“And of course, Lady Diane.” The shorter lady’s expression mirrored her companion. The two ladies exchanged happy glances at each other, each one giddy at the fact they were remembered despite their short interaction previously.

The two of them were the Viscountess’ daughters. She had been observing them, just a few steps away and couldn’t help the slight sneer appearing on her face at the sight of their inappropriate behaviors.

Nevertheless, the sister’s remained undeterred in their excitement, and proceeded to chatter towards Claudine, praising her from time to time. One particular topic they were quite taken with, was the upcoming nuptials of Lady Brandt with Duke of Arvis, Matthias von Herhardt.

Claudine kept the smile plastered on her face, content with listening to the two sisters’ gossip and praise. Among their chatter included news from all over the empire. Claudine found it absolutely interesting to hear about.

This habit of hers had been instilled forcefully upon her during her formative years, mainly because her mother deemed it important to know what’s been happening and exploit opportunities. Now, it comes to Claudine as a second nature.

Almost as quickly as she could in remembering names and matching it to the correct faces.

As soon as the sisters left her alone, new ladies would approach her, and then they’d talk and then move on. On and on this went, and Claudine made quite a few more beneficial friends. The bright lights shimmered overhead and the sweet smell of flowers wafted through the air.

Overall, it was shaping up to be a very good celebration for tonight.

Eventually, Claudine had made her rounds with all the noble ladies, before ending it with spending time with the Crown Princess. Once they finished chatting, Claudine found herself lounging by the ottoman chairs near the palace’s massive windows, overlooking the darkened empire outside..

Countess Brandt’s observing eyes bore into the back of Claudine’s head. Discreetly, she turned to look at her mother, who gave her a broad smile, seemingly pleased with how active Claudine was in making connections within the court.

In no time at all, her mother was back at her side, a perfectly manicured hand gripping her shoulder gently.

“Look at you, acting all queen-like, Claudine,” her mother praised her quietly, her voice just above a whisper, “What with the current Herhardt Duchesses unable to make their appearance.” Her mother added, slight disdain leaking out of her voice, making Claudine frown a bit.

“Mom.” she softly chided, but her mother just huffed out, holding up her chin in a haughty manner.

“What?” she snapped softly back at her daughter, “It’s not as if I’m wrong in that regard.” She then quickly fixed the stray locks on the back of her daughter’s dress. “You’re proving to be very well equipped as the next Herhardt Duchess, and everyone knows it.” She remarked proudly, unable to hide her giddiness at seeing the other noble ladies flock towards her daughter.

While it was true that the power of the family belongs to the men, it was the women’s job, the hostess, who maintained the dignity and fame suitable for the powerful households.

No matter how high and wealthy a man would be, if the woman of the house was not of a respectable and esteemed position in society, he would only be half of a nobleman.

And even for the great household of the Herhardt in the empire, the same was true.

While no one can deny the long history, honor, and high authority of the Dukes of Herhardt had allowed them to reign as one of the empire’s top aristocrats, it was the Duchess’ of the family who have maintained and cultivated their social status for generations. Because of their involvement in the empire’s topmost social circles, they have strengthened their family’s integrity.

Countess Brandt looked at her daughter, smiling at knowing that Claudine was next in line to become Duchess Herhardt. With one last fussing over her daughter’s impeccable appearance, she eventually returned to the group of ladies she had been mingling with, moments prior to approaching Claudine. Once her mother had left her alone, Claudine returned to the banquet hall to resume doing her part as the soon-to-be Duchess.

“It truly is a pity that the Duchesses of Herhardt were not present, though I am happy at least the soon-to-be Duchess is amongst us.” The Baroness, who was the day’s current host, approached them with a graceful smile on her face.

“Thank you,” Claudine beamed gratefully at her, “It was indeed regretful both of them couldn’t attend tonight as they just arrived this evening in Ratz,” she informed them with an apologetic smile, “Had they arrived earlier, I’m sure they would have attended it with no delay.” She added.

“Ah well, it couldn’t be helped after all, though they are missed.” The Baroness assured Claudine, who returned her a grateful smile upon her understanding.

Indeed the day she’d be wed to Matthias was drawing closer. She couldn’t afford to lose face now with the date being so close…

Soon, she’ll be Duchess Herhardt.

“No.”

Her voice rang deep in the back of her mind as she pulled away from Riette’s warm arms and firmly put distance between them. She had felt the tears flow down her face, a deep aching in her chest as she turned away from her dear friend.

But she was not to be deterred. The fate of her family and their honor rests in her marriage with the Duke. And even if that wasn’t true, Claudine couldn’t be led by her emotions.

“You and I both know that we are people who cannot lead a life away from what we’ve always known,” Claudine explained, “Even if we love each other, we’d soon grow bitter towards each other. You know that we will if we follow down this path.”

She knew now that Riette’s love for her was real. She knew him better than anyone before, and this was why she must pull away before they made choices they will regret.

She also couldn’t bear it if she had to watch Riette’s heart be broken in front of her. But as true as his love for her was, so was their harsh reality.

They were born and raised around luxury. It had been instilled in their youth that there would be no greater honor than to keep their good name and honor of their families, and to remain respected and influential…

And most importantly, above everyone. The higher the status you hold in society, the more you’d be able to enjoy life…

And Claudine loved the luxuries in life. Riette was no different from her in this regard. They’re like the flowers housed in a carefully conditioned greenhouse, tended and cared to perfection.

But once they’re taken out, can they even survive?

Even if they loved each other with everything they had, love was not enough to keep them alive, or their relationship going. Love alone never was.

This was the best she could do, for both her and Riette’s sake. She must be the logical one, she must be strong in her convictions, or else, everything will fall to ruin, and she and Riette will bear the worst of the critics.

Claudine smiled despondently to herself, her mind immediately conjuring up images of a golden haired peasant lying in a pool of her own blood.

Even in that moment, she killed Leyla in her mind.

Leyla must disappear for good in their lives, so that the most perfect husband she knew, Duke Matthias von Herhardt, can return to his old predictable, and respectable self.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Leyla let out a deep breath at the sound of the master suite’s door closing firmly behind her. From the moment since she entered the Duke’s mansion, she could feel her legs shaking, gradually losing strength. She would have almost fallen to the floor had Matthias not been supporting her.

“Don’t laugh.” Leyla glared fiercely at Matthias, who chuckled relentlessly like an amused child. Leyla felt her face flushing in embarrassment. “Are you really laughing at me!?” She huffed out indignantly with a shaky voice.

After escorting Leyla towards the nearest sofa, Mathias coolly walked towards the window, facing the garden. His hands gripped the closed curtains, before flicking them wide open. He then flicked the lock on the window open, allowing a cool breeze to pass through.

She watched him in pure focus, slowly regaining her bearings within her mind, before she looked around them, eyes filled with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

Like all places the Duke’s brought her to, the room was also spacious. It had high ceilings and splendid carvings of design. No matter where she looked, she was met with undeniable proof of how powerful the Herhardts really were, making her feel dizzy and air in her lungs suffocating.

Never once did she imagine stepping foot inside the mansion once she agreed to be Matthias’s mistress. She almost didn’t recognize it in the dark, until he led her through the lobby.

‘How can you be anything but crazy?’ Leyla thought to herself as she observed him. She couldn’t fathom the Duke to be sane at all, especially when he’d risk having her seen in his very own mansion.

“Keep making a racket and the in-house servants will come running here.” He then gave her a mischievous smirk, loving the current struggle she was faced with upon arriving in his house, “Imagine their surprise at seeing you here, with me alone.” He whispered right next to her ear, before pulling away, “Either way, it won’t matter to me.”

Matthias was serious when he said that to her. To him, it would be nothing if they were to be discovered. Upon realizing how futile it was for her to keep resisting tonight, she thought it best to give in to his whims for now.. She also didn’t want to attract additional attention to themselves.

She just wanted everything to be over and done with.

The rest of their night together passed by in a blur for Leyla. So used to their nightly activities, she could just lose herself completely in her thoughts while the rest of her participated in these illicit acts.

The only reminder she had left, was the soreness in her thighs, and the erratic beating within her breast. She found it fortunate that the mansion was massive, and the rooms were spaced further apart from each other.

The house servants remained unaware of her presence in their master’s bedroom, for outside the Duke’s room, the corridors remained still and silent for the rest of the night.

Come morning, Leyla would be walking out of the front door, all skittish and paranoid at wandering eyes. A far cry from when she once walked through these doors last summer season.

It was during that party held by the Duke, sometime in the middle of summer. Claudine had invited her over, and she walked through these doors content and naive. Somehow, this time made her feel intimidated.

“Why exactly did you bring me here?” Leyla finally asked him, breathless as her chest rose and fell in tandem with his. With just a flimsy sheet between them, she rolled over to face him

Matthias spared her a glance, billowing out a smooth stream of smoke out his lips, admiring how perfect she looked draped across his bed, wrapped in his sheets, and all exhausted by him.

“Oh? Does that mean you’re calm enough to be reasonable now?” He quipped at her, and Leyla huffed out in a haughty manner.

“No,” She replied quickly with ease, “I just merely wish to know as soon as possible.”

“Why the rush?”

“The more you keep me in suspense, the more I can never calm down,” She explained to him irritably, “So if you don’t mind, I want to see it quickly and leave before anyone else would see me.”

Despite how serious she was in her response, Matthias ended up bursting into laughter. Leyla remained perplexed at his continued behavior, unable to even think about ways to make the man fall for her.

There were moments she worried she’d gone too far and had dissuaded him from believing she was in love with him, but so far, he’d yet to pick up on her lies.

Disliking how he was finding her amusing, Leyla lifted her head up high, before feeling her breath caught in her throat. She was trying to refrain herself from appearing foolish, and yet she couldn’t help but fidget on the bed.

Matthias eventually discarded his cigarette, swiftly snuffing out the fire from the end of the used stick. He then rose up from his seat, before walking over to Leyla, who sat up on his approach.

She gathered more of the sheets to wrap herself in, looking every bit like an incensed child. Matthias’ lips curled up in a genuine smile. He outstretched a hand towards her.

She stared at his offered hand for a moment longer, before relenting and begrudgingly accepted it. Barely a second of contact, Matthias’ hands wrapped around hers and tugged her up. She squeaked before looking up at him in shock, a pretty flush painting her cheeks.

Matthias repositioned her hand, until her arm was draping alongside his. Leyla’s brows furrowed in confusion the longer she waited for him.

“You’re being weird again.” Leyla slightly pointed out.

“How so?”

Leyla stuttered her answer in a bunch of jumbled and incoherent sounds, unable to word her thoughts. She wanted him to just let it be, but Matthias was stubborn all the way through.

“Are you actually embarrassed holding me like this?” Matthias inquired, a hint of amusement leaking out of his voice, “When we’ve done much more than this? Your state of undress is proof of that.” Matthias pointed out, looking up and down her naked body, which was only covered by a thin blanket.

He can see the outline of her body underneath it with no problem. Leyla flushed at his crude words.

“Y-you! How could you just say it like that?!”

“If you don’t like it, then just take my hand like my good mistress.” He coolly answered her with a smirk firmly on his lips.

Unable to take anymore of his teasing and insults, Leyla reluctantly obeyed Matthias’s orders, firmly grasping his forearm in resignation. Once he was satisfied with her cooperation, they began their leisurely walk.

They were just walking together like this only served to confuse Leyla some more, rendering her unable to decide what her next course of action should be. It was odd for her to imagine her like this, hanging off his arm like how she usually saw Claudine doing whenever they appeared in public.

Claudine, whenever she stood by Matthias, always seemed as dignified and graceful as one would expect a queen to be. Deep down, Leyla couldn’t help but feel inferior to the Lady’s natural grace and talent.

Matthias spared her a glance, before letting out a chuckle once more, gaining Leyla’s attention back to him.

“Hadn’t you gone to a prestigious school for girls? You should have been taught how to walk properly like this.” He mused, taking note at how uncomfortable and stiff her walk was.

The Gillis Girls’ School, which Leyla attended in her youth, was considered to be one of the most prestigious schools in the city.

Most of the aristocrats would entrust their daughters to the home based tutors, but some of the wealthier middle class families preferred sending their daughters to the prestigious schools instead. As such, there was no way that the school, which was solely aimed to cultivate women to act like noble ladies, would have neglected this type of etiquette lesson.

“I did.” Leyla replied dryly, increasingly unsatisfied with his company.

“Well then, it seems to me that the Gillis Girls’ School is not very efficient at teaching their students,” Matthias hummed in thought, “I feel cheated if I were to continue to sponsor you like this, should I withdraw the offer then?”

“Fine, I was a poor student of etiquette! There! Are you happy now?!” Leyla snapped, and Matthias only continued smirking at her.

“Ah, but if that’s the case, then it must have been a rumor that you were one of the top students in school, wasn’t it?” He continued to tease her, which only evoked Leyla to be increasingly miffed at this continuous accusations!

“How dare you insult me like that?! For your information, I did well in everything except etiquette!”

“Why was it so difficult for you to follow the proper manners and etiquette?”

“Simple, I found it beneath me to follow their standards. I had more fun studying actual things of importance than how to greet beautifully and act gracefully.” She huffed out angrily.

So into their conversation, Leyla found herself caught unaware when a new door opened up in front of her, to reveal a new luxurious and spacious room!

When Leyla saw what lay beyond, she felt the breath taken out of her. And yet, in the middle of it, was another massive bed, which made her frown in thought.

Come to think of it, there was no bed in the room earlier. Knowing that all this space, all this freedom belonged to one person, to Duke Herhardt, Leyla couldn’t help but feel glaringly inadequate in his presence once more.

Oblivious to her warring mind, Matthias led a dazed Leyla further into his bedroom.

Truly she never ceased to amaze him! She was certainly more interesting than the rest of the noble ladies he’s met with over the years. Even more amusing watch her stumble and be all clumsy in all terms of manners and etiquette.

Had his grandmother and mother just heard what she said about what she deemed more important, well, they would have been appalled and fainted at the spot!

“Do we still have a long way to go to reach our mystery destination?” Leyla asked him as she looked up, forcing them both to halt in their steps. “Couldn’t you just show it to me now? I really need to be back in the cabin quickly.” She pleaded with him.

Being in this room was suffocating for her, and she didn’t know why. She didn’t want to remain in here any longer than she should.

Matthias simply hummed, cupping her cheek gently in one hand before drawing her face near. He dipped his head down, before planting a sweet kiss on her forehead.

As soon as he pulled away, he looked back into the room and let out a sharp shrill of a whistling sound. Leyla’s eyes widened at his sudden break in pattern and looked around nervously, stuttering through her next words.

“D-duke, what are you doing?” She asked nervously in a whisper. But instead of answering her questions to put her in ease, Matthias proceeded to whistle into the room again.

Leyla grew nervous, her eyes flitting towards both sides of the hall in wariness. She was half convinced the Duke’s true colors of a madman was resurfacing once more, when she heard it…

The unmistakable sound of a returning chirp, perfectly matching the whistle the Duke had just let out.

Leyla watched in rapt attention, the nervousness sliding off her body as she waited to see what made that mirroring melody.

There it was, a small bird fluttering from the other side of the bedroom to the other. It was a small yellow thing, as far as Leyla could tell, and certainly wasn’t a figment of her imagination. She watched as it flapped its wings, before landing on a nearby stand in the form of a peacock.

This small, melodious, yellow thing was a bird.

A canary.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*