Remmer's Leyla had been accepted at Ratz University.
Within a few moments, the news spread among the people in the Arvis manor. Since it had been widely expected, nobody was surprised to hear that Dr. Etman's lone son had been accepted into a prestigious medical school with outstanding grades.
It was Leyla who topped the talk. In these past few days, she had become the talk of the town wherever people gathered. Even the Duke's greenhouse listened regarding this kind of talk.
"I just can't believe it," Norma gasped. "Bill Remmer made a great choice by sending an orphan, and moreover, a girl, to a College."
Norma Catharina von Herhardt, who wouldn't usually say anything on the street about low-income youngsters, tuned in on today's chatter about Leyla with great interest, just like others.
"I supposed she was born under a lucky star." Elysee von Herhardt added a pinch of salt to the table talk. "She met her daddy-long-legs and was even now engaged to Dr. Etman's son."
Claudine was quietly sipping her tea next to the Duchess, nodding graciously in accordance, then a radiant smirk appeared on her face, "I'm so glad that a poor kid like her has such good luck."
She praised Leyla more sincerely than she had previously done. As luck would have it, the maid who had gone to pick up the kid on Norma's orders returned to the greenhouse just in time. She was with Leyla who was neatly dressed.
"Come here and sit down."
Duchess Norma calmly instructed her to take a seat. Elysee and Claudine both stared at her, their brows slanted, so as Leyla's.
"There's nothing wrong with serving this special child a cup of tea, isn't it?" Norma flashed a smile as she said.
Like many of Herhardt's, Catharina von Herhardt was noble to the bone to say that the blood coursing through her veins must have had a deep blue tint on it. Hence, everyone was astonished with wonder by her willingness to share a tea table with the orphaned child raised by her gardener.
Ushered by the maid, Leyla sat on her chair, her cheeks flushed with nervousness.
"I've heard that getting into Imperial University is very hard, even for the sons of the most illustrious families."
Duchess Norma opened the conversation first after the maid placed the cup of tea in front of Leyla.
"It was all thanks to Uncle Bill," Leyla responded, as she politely lowered her gaze.
"Yes. You must not forget the kindness of your benefactor, Bill Remmer."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Are you from Lovita?"
"My mother was from Lovita, but my father was a Berg."
"Same as me."
Elysee and Claudine both dilated their eyes simultaneously in response to Norma's peculiar words that sounded like a veiled innuendo.
People knew Duchess Norma von Herhardt was a Marquise of repute and the sole cousin of Emperor Berg. Her mother was a progeniture of Lovita's aristocratic line; no one would dare to draw a parallel line between her to an orphan who was raised from a humble background.
"Tell me what you want."
The abrupt request from the elderly Duchess, who just laid her teacup down, caught Leyla jerking her head up, startled.
"Bill Remmer is my favourite employee." She stated it quietly, "And you're a child he raised like his own daughter, so I should give you a congratulatory gift."
Embarrassment immediately rose up to Leyla's cheeks. Just in time, she stared at the Duchess; instead of concealing her eyes, the greenhouse received the arrival of another visitor. Claudine spotted him as he neared them and blurted out,
"Duke Herhardt!"
Claudine's cheery voice got everyone's attention, and their eyes fled to a distinguished man.
Leyla swiftly turned her head and saw Matthias von Herhardt standing haughtily near the table. Their eyes met, faces frowned on one another for a host of reasons. The tension persisted between them until Leyla averted her gaze from him.
"This child had been successfully accepted into Ratz University. So we took her out for tea together because it was something to celebrate," Elysee explained in a voice laced with hilarity.
After a brief nod, Matthias sat down on a chair beside Claudine, which happened to be the seat facing Leyla.
"You're back early today." Claudine gave a warm welcome to her fiancé.
Matthias always departed the mansion right after the clock hit the dawn of the day and would always return late at night after he had taken charge of the family's business for good. It had already been a week since Claudine stayed at Arvis, but this was the first time she had seen Matthias come home before gloam.
"The meeting came to a close earlier than planned, My Lady."
"What a relief. I was worried you might be overdoing it these days."
"Claudine's right, Matthias," Elysee added. "Take your time and avoid rushing. If you end up ruining your health, it would be a real concern."
Following that, the conversation drifted to Matthias's current situation, with the family-run business and Leyla Lewellin's presence seemed to have been wiped out in a blink of an eye.
But thanks to it, Leyla had a moment to catch her breath and take a sip of her already cooled tea. She wished she could escape this unpleasant situation, but she knew it would be rude to do so in front of the two Duchesses who were keeping a keen eye on her every move.
Leyla put her teacup down onto the saucer, cautious not to create any noise within her gestures.
When she elevated her sight, she flinched slightly, and her back banged against the chair.
Matthias sat quietly between his chattering fiancée and his mother; his callous eyes fixed on her in the same gaze he had on the day he ruthlessly trampled her heart and abandoned her behind.
Leyla, who was trying to grab the teacup again, hurriedly slid her hands beneath the table. Matthias was seen speaking to Claudine for a while before turning his attention to his Mother and then back to her.
She lowered her head, daring not to look at him in the eyes, but Leyla could still feel his menacing glare piercing through her body.
That gaze served as a constant reminder of her last summer's memories. In the face of Claudine, those memories grew even more humiliating, and Leyla had enough of it. Although the Duke committed wrongdoings, it was always her who felt guilty.
"So, have you thought about what you want?"
Norma's questions brought the table's spotlight back to Leyla Lewellin.
Leyla clenched her jaw hearing Norma and bit her lip involuntarily as she witnessed Matthias' blue eyes remain glued on her. She immediately switched her look to Norma, attempting to conceal her reddened face.
"You've already given me a wonderful gift, Ma'am. That was more than enough."
"You already got it?"
"Yes. Just allowing me to stay here in Arvis, in Uncle Bill's cottage, is already a gift I cannot repay. It was the biggest and most precious gift I've ever received and I'll be forever grateful for it my whole life."
"We just granted Bill Remmer's request."
"That permission was a gift that changed my life," said Leyla, her lips curved in a faint smile. "I am also very grateful to you, Ma'am," she also didn't forget to express her polite gratitude towards Elysee."…. Also to the Duke and Lady Claudine."
Somehow, Leyla was more than delighted to express her gratitude to everyone, including those she disliked, rather than asking for permission to leave the place.
"I won't forget the kindness you have given me, even when the time comes for me to leave Arvis." With a deep bow, she took Norma's question into appreciation.
Duchess Norma scrutinized her thoroughly before giving a slight nod. It would be impolite to turn down Herhardt's favour; nevertheless, Leyla's courteous attitude seemed to astound her, which she found to be quite commendable for a plebeian young girl.
"Have you already said goodbye?"
Claudine asked sadly.
"You must be sad, Leyla." She kept a silent gaze on her and offered something to her, "I understand how you feel, but I still want to give you a present. Oh, how about if I pay for your college tuition?"
"No, Miss. The kindness you have shown me has already made me feel very grateful."
Leyla looked at Claudine; a smile tightened on her face.
"Uncle Bill has already saved the tuition money aside. He wants to cover the cost of my first semester of college."
"Really? I'll have to think of something else to give as a present then," she declared, "I can't let my old friend leave empty-handed who had been accepted into College and is about to marry. . Isn't that right, Duke Herhardt?" Claudine said. Her lips curving into a brilliant grin, and her voice calling his name sounded as sweet as a honey.
Matthias took a moment glancing at Leyla before he gently gestured his head in agreement with his fiancée.
Leyla was eventually allowed to leave that unsettling tea table after many more formal talks and niceties.
She was standing with her back to the Herhardt family at the time when her eyes were drawn to the scenic view of the greenhouse.
Eden of Arvis.
That's what everyone called it.
The opulent greenhouse, where people say lavished grandiose praises on one another, left her feeling uneasy and out of breath.
The stifling feeling that engulfed her was analogous to the one she had when she saw lovely crippled winged bird or mixed flowers of colours, its scents stinging her nose. From the gurgling water that was flowing from the marble fountain to the sunshine that was cast in through the surrounding glass windows, the whole nine yards echoed that sentiment precisely.
Leyla strode out of the greenhouse without giving a second glance behind. Only when she clapped her eyes on the glimmer of light outside and smelt the wind blowing over her body did she expel her sigh.
Long shadows trailed her footsteps beneath the twilight gloom as she walked into the heart of the forest.
"Sister, do you know what you are talking about?"
Daniel Rayner was stunned and therefore asked in disbelief. The crepuscular light cascading in through the uncurtained window blinded him and his cousin, Linda Etman, who sat calmly opposite from him.
"Sister!"
"Tone down your voice, Daniel!"
Mrs. Etman sternly chastised him as she cast a quick peek through the closed door. Daniel heaved in shock.
Daniel Rayner, who had just regained his business's impetus after the failure of his overseas mining venture, had frequently sought help from Linda Etman, his cousin's-sister and his wealthiest relative. She, who had consistently rebuffed his appeals graciously yet heartlessly, this time came to visit him first.
It went without saying that the promised help won't be returned back. However, Daniel's excitement for taking her helping hand soon turned to hesitation upon hearing Mrs. Etman's improper words.
"It's stealing, Sister. How…."
"No." Mrs. Etman abruptly cut-off his words and narrowed her eyes onto crinkled slits. "It's just a matter of hiding it for a while and returning it."
"But…"
"Don't you care about Kyle too?"
"I do."
"And you, too, need my help," Mrs. Etman said as she lifted her hand from her lap and caressed her heated temple. As foreseen, Daniel Rayner was unable to counter and could only bend his head in shame.
"I'm going to keep the money for a while and return it at the right time", she reasoned. "If you can do that simple task, you will be able to safeguard your family, and I will be able to protect my son."
Mrs. Etman straightened her sitting posture and looked at Daniel Rayner with a satisfied expression on her face.
"I don't think this is a bad deal. What do you think?"