Chapter 8 - -8 : A safe world
The doorman looked flustered.
Leyla nodded towards him as if she understood. She was sure one's ever brought a junk bicycle to the best hotel in the city.
After the doorman took several turns of examining Leyla and Claudine, he took away her bicycle. Leyla expressed her gratitude with a short greeting and entered the hotel. The tearoom was sitting on the right side of the central lobby.
Coming with his quick steps, the manager guided them to the terrace that was headed to the riverside. Leyla was the last to sit at the table. Her seat had happened to be facing right across Duke Herhardt.
Leyla hurriedly focused her eyes on her legs in order to avoid his vacant stare. The thin, gold-rimmed glasses glistened in the summer sun.
Shouldn't the person who was seen naked be more embarrassed than the person who saw it?
Leyla was amazed at the duke who continued to casually look at Leyla as if nothing had ever happened at the river.
It was understandable. To the aristocrats, commoners and servants were nothing more than furniture or painting. No one was ashamed of being naked in front of a furniture. And there wasn't a furniture that was ashamed to see a naked person.
When Leyla reached her conclusion, the tetable was set up. Even though Duke Herhardt didn't order anything, there was a cup of strong-scented coffee placed in front of him. His fingers holding the teacup were very smooth and long.
Claudine and Matthias continued their own conversation as if they had completely forgotten about Leyla's presence. The exhibition they saw today. An update on their relatives. A weekend party at the mansion. Matthias's soft, low tone and Claudine's fluttering, high tone crossed at regular intervals.
Leyla wondered why they decided to bring her along if they were going to converse among themselves. Lady Brandt's actions were largely beyond Leyla's understanding. She never understood her ever since the first summer they met.