Spoiler Cry, Even Better if you Beg

Hm good point.

But if Layla wasn’t on hurry to escape him, maybe would be better for all characters. Because Matthias decided to break his engagement by that time and wanted to pull out Layla from the shadow. I think even if he would’ve settled Layla at Ratz as his mistress, in process of time it wouldn’t be enough for him. He wanted more, he thought Layla’s mistress status didn’t fit her. He wanted Layla to be by his side as wife he would give her official status and the title duchess. But Layla wanted to take revenge, she wanted to make him cry. Sigh that’s why I think their sincere conversation about their true feelings would solve their 90% problems.

What do you think about it?

Wow, cool comparison!
Aria had a great genes. It was my first manhwa that I read. My journey to manhwa/knovel world began precisely from this manhwa)

 

Just my POV let me know how you think of this: There's a scene when Riette warned Claudine not to provoke Matthias anymore by touching Leyla. Because right now, Matthias hasn't realize that his feeling for Leyla is "love", so he has no problem with marrying Claudine while keeping Leyla as toy/mistress. But if Claudine hurts Leyla, this might triggered Matthias to realize it's love, he might get obsessed and insist to marry Leyla.

Matthias might have considered making Leyla his wife, but at that moment, he was 50-50. After calculating the loss, he decided to proceed with Claudine as wife and Leyla as mistress. He had gone as far as to inform Claudine that Leyla will be staying at Ratz mansion as mistress, except that this was interrupted by news of Leyla running away.

In my humble opinion, Matthias wouldn't have realize it's love until Leyla ran away and he went downspiraled. In the scene when he walked around the forest looking at all the traces Leyla had left behind, he cried and he realize it's not ownership but love.

To me, Leyla's revenge and earlier runaway plan was half-cooked at best. Since Uncle Bill found out, she had no choice but to runaway asap.

In the end, this novel is about "everything happens for a reason".
If Leyla hasn't run away, Matthias may have married Claudine and repeat the double life like his father and grandfather. If the bombing had not happened, Leyla may not have confess to Matthias and left with Kyle. Forgetting how Matthias had tormented Leyla, the bombing part was quite touching. When Leyla realize and confident that Matthias will come to get her and indeed, he came to get her.

 

Totally agree with this point!

I’m with you, if she wouldn’t escape him they BOTH never could get and accept their true feelings. They needed sometime to realize what was the main for both of them. If their way wouldn’t been through the “hell” their “heaven” wouldn’t be such a beautiful.
And want to add, it’s just my opinion but I think their affair also was to the good even if it was wrong. Because of this, they dived deep into “forbidden love”. If there wasn’t their “deal” they wouldn’t been so hard in love with each other.

I do like this moment! Riette was absolutely right! He could get the duke’s true feelings towards Layla while Matthias himself wasn’t aware of it. And about triggering, he was triggered by Layla rather than Claudine (and yes Claudine also triggered him time by time). But main reason was Layla herself. He really loved to spend time with her especially when they spent 2 days at town, while Matthias was on business trip. Those moments was for him invaluable. That time he was really happy. I think after this he met with lawyers to discuss his engagement.

I want add one moment from the novel:

“Shadows. There was no word that fit that woman less. She seemed like she was made out of the brightest, most beautiful rays of the sunlight. He had been charmed by the light. It had blinded him. Wanting to live in that light, he had seized it for himself. He couldn’t let it go.”
It was Matthias’s thoughts about Layla. That’s why I think he would marry her. Because he didn’t want to keep Layla in shadows forever. Even if it would’ve taken some time he would realize that Layla and mistress unsuitable each other.

 

Interesting point! I am now still on the second re-reading in Yonder so I'm looking forward to come to the part where Layla ran away.

On my first read, I agree with the theory that Matthias only considered the option to make Layla as wife after she ran away. I did read other theory that Matthias wanted to break the engagement already when he was about to talk to Claudine but she ran away first.

On my second read, I am now at chapter 101, and I could see that Matthias had realised that being a mistress didn't fit her at all. He now knew what Layla wanted the most, and that is to be with Matthias under the light. So I'm looking forward to the time he would go to the lawyer.

In my opinion, if lets say Layla never ran away, Matthias would still feel that having her as a mistress is not enough. Because, he would see how Layla is no longer living in happiness. Matthias's ultimate wish is to see her smile again (he never got that smile throughout the mistress deal). He also had a deep longing to be loved by her and being called by his name ("Matthias" and not "Your Grace").

If they continue their mistress thingy, he would realise that Layla never truly smile for him. Plus, he would never be called by his name because of their difference in status (Layla always called him "Your Grace" and never called him by his name before their marriage; I realised FTL didn't translate the "Your Grace" part. This only happened in Yonder). So, in time, I think he would for sure break the engagement/marriage for Layla's sake no matter whether she ran away or not. But that is my opinion only

What do you think of this theory?

But I totally agree, that the bombing triggered Layla to confess. If not, she would probably leave with Kyle and most likely Matthias would die in the war. His willingness to live was only because he wanted to meet Layla again.

Glad to have this discussion! I think this is the kind of discussion I am always interested to have in the forum.

Ugh yes and about the affair.... The most sizzling topic. I totally agree, without being in that deal, none of them would realise their true feelings for each other. It is because of the deal that Matthias and Layla got to 'taste' and 'grow' their feelings for each other to the point of no return. I don't support cheating, so I'm glad this is only fiction. LOL

"The Deal" really made them realised what they truly wanted. It is the accelerator of their feelings.

So now, I have a question that maybe is great for discussion in the forum:

When do you think Layla fell in love with Matthias?

 

Well for me it seems they both fell in love at their first met (in their adulthood) after Matthias’ returning to the mansion. Scene with bicycle.

“She felt grateful that the wheels of her overturned bicycle were spinning noisily. If it hadn’t been for that, the man might have heard her pounding heart.”

“…. his eyes settled on the spot on the road where, several summers earlier, his life had been turned upside down when Layla fell from her bicycle. Still vividly in his memory were the sounds of the overturned bicycle’s wheels spinning in the air, the leaves rustling in the breeze, and most of all the pounding of his heart.”

These lines mentioned at the novel. They both fell in love at first sight. But didn’t realize until being far from each other. Maybe they already realized but tried deny these feelings. Anyway, even if it was “love at first sight” they took long and painful way to be happy together. They took their way from the hell to the heaven. Maybe it’s to the good. Because all those pains made their love harder.

What do you think?

 

@mireimisty Uncle Bill died from carrying the mortar shells when the warehouse was being air raided during the war right? I remember the air raid bombing the city and unfortunately Bill was carrying the mortars during the raid. His injuries were very gruesome.

I don't hold Matthias responsible for Bill's death. Matthias didn't start the war or orchestrate the air raid. Bill was at fault for causing the Arvis Greenhouse explosion. One of the servants gave Bill clear instructions to not store wood next to the power generator and Bill ignored these instructions. Bill was responsible for the explosion which nearly killed Matthias's Grandmother. I love Uncle Bill but he was also at fault. I love this book because all of the side characters hate Matthias, their narrations paint Matthias as the antagonist. This is realistic storytelling! Through their perspectives, everything seems to be Matthias's fault. However, taking an objective view, Matthias doesn't inflict harm on anyone.

@rubyizek I also remember the book said Matthias looked like his Father, a Herhardt. The Herhardt genes are strong which is why Felix looks exactly like Matthias.

This is my POV

Matthias was on the verge to end his engagement with Claudine. Matthias seeked legal counsel to discuss the financial ramifications for ending his engagement. Even though he had doubts about Layla, he went ahead with his plan. Layla was already known as Matthias's mistress to those close to him. When Matthias asked Claudine for a private converstion, Claudine knew Matthais was going to end their engagement. Claudine was avoiding the conversation then moments later it was announced Bill and Layla had left Arvis. Claudine revels in delight at this news. Matthias wanted to marry Layla at this point but he was too late. Little did he know, Layla's plan for revenge solidified Matthias's love for Layla.

 

Wanted to correct, he was thinking to confess to her on springs in bloom aka her birthday, you can see in kr comment section most korean also agree to that. But Layla alreayd escaped.

and i should let you know Layla was actually reluctant to escape. When Bill asked her to escape she felt reluctant but because she have abandonment issues and afraid bill will be disappointed in her that she chose to be a mistress, she decided to leave. It was Bill who forced to leave. Layla did plan to leave, but after she cried leaving Matthias, her self doubt getting increasing.

proposal daunting = she felt heavy with his proposal, immediately nodded because she was afraid of Bill disappointed in her. Why did she say she had always planned to leave as if she's saying she put her plan on hold? But Bill found out everything, so she gotta leave Matthias.


and let's not forget after he "thought" he felt sorry for her for choosing to be mistress to save him, she didn't understand why he felt sorry and sad for her.
Bill: "Layla, you chose to be a mistress to save me! You poor thing!"
Layla: "????"
Why? Because she chose to be a mistress not exactly because of Bill, and she cried before leaving Matthias, meaning again she enjoyed the time being with him. She didn't understand why Bill would feel sorry for her.

So anyway, if Layla waited bit longer, things wouldn't get worse. The war scene just making things more toxic for me so I hated it and Matthias ended up mentally broken when he wasn't before. Also you do realize while Bill and Layla escaped, there are lot of parts in the novel where Layla said she couldn't eat and sleep properly but then after she met Matthias she could. She even was thinking his marriage to the point she crashed on her bike.

 

OH MY GAWD!

I did not realize Matthias was waiting for Layla's birthday to CONFESS!!!



I was wondering why Matthias did not tell Layla his intentions?? This is SO Matthis though. He's a man of action not false promises. If only Bill listened to Layla's true heart instead of forcing his ideals of a "good adult".

 

It makes a great sense! Thank you for sharing and making clear up.
If she waited a little more(

 

Wow, I didn’t think about that either…
But question is? Did he even meet the lawyer? Because in the FTL, it was not as clearly mentioned that Matthias went to the lawyer.

That for me was the confusion I had. Did he actually go to discuss about the possibility to break the engagement???

 

Yes, in Yonder, Matthias met with his lawyers to discuss the financial impact for breaking his engagement with Claudine. However, in FTL, Matthias only "thought" of meeting with his attorneys.


YONDER







FTL VERSION




The FTL cut a lot from the original version.

Matthias couldn't imagine Arvis without Layla.

 

Ok I havent reached this chapter on my second read in Yonder. My first read was in FTL.

but dang that is very different.

That means in FTL, it was written as if he was not sure if he wanted to stop the engagement because it was written:
”but it wasnt the correct decision. Nothing beneficial to their family would come if he were to pursue this relationship with Leyla. He needed to stop.”

but in Yonder:
”The wild desire for Layla alone. This desire had pushed him to consult with his attorneys. It pushed him to bring Layla into his bedroom in his mansion. It had to be stopped. However, it was hard to imagine Arvis without Layla.”

So this meant, he actually met the lawyer. And he had discussed about the financial impact of cancelling his engagement. why did I even read FTL. Damn it.

 

Oh!! I have always thought he's going to have private talk with Claudine about; (1) Making Leyla his mistress (2) Leyla will live in Ratz mansion and Claudine will live in Arvis? Just like how his father and grandfather had lived. Claudine was angry because, while it's quite normal for married nobleman to live a double life with mistress, it's disrespectful that Matthias is already doing this before their marriage solemnized.

But then, I read this in W which many of you mentioned, this version was heavily edited.

W version : Matthias wanted to consult lawyer about breaking the engagement. It's not going to be easy and there's a lot of loss. So he decided that moving her to Ratz is the best decision. I feel like the novel hinted that breaking the noblemen engagement will be difficult - hence, later Matthias waited and let everyone thought he's dead for 6 months, until Count Brandt give up and make Claudine engage to another man.

Currently re-reading in direct raw-MTL version for more accuracy but I haven't reach this chapter yet.

This is a total surprise to me. Mind to tell me the chapter?

To be honest, if he did confess, I think it's going to be a shit show anyway. Leyla will turn away and Matthias will get angry then coldly spat out cruel words again.

Again W version: Leyla realized; she had always look over to Matthias since a long time ago, before Matthias fall in love with her. Which is why she felt extremely humiliated and bad mood whenever Matthias saw her picking up or holding the coin that Claudine gave. It made her realize that she and Matthias are on whole different level.

For Matthias; he definitely fall in love with her when he saw her for the first time after his return from military (the part when she fall off her bike). Since that encounter, his mind was full of her. Everything he sees, he will connect to Leyla. The canary, the roses in the garden, the green jewel necklace that looks like her eye color.

 

Many speculated that he was on the verge of breaking the engagement and I had the same thoughts as yours by concluding that Matthias would just likely inform Claudine out of respect about his plans for Layla to be his mistress or probably he was thinking of other arrangements to enable him to spend more time with Layla and such. So there was a big question mark on that. I mean he could choose to tell Claudine after the wedding instead. Why that night? However the next chapter struck me after Layla had run away and Matthias actually admitted he almost made an "irreparable" mistake. (Chapter 111).

So, his irreparable mistake might mean that he was on the verge of breaking the engagement.

I reread and tried to find the confession part but I am unable to grasp any content pertaining to this scene. Can share with us?

This cracked me up. There is a possibility to that considering his interaction with Layla almost felt like two lovebirds that are always at odds with each other.

 

What makes you think Matthias will get angry? You know Layla was always saying she is hopeful to him. Hopeful of what? Him admitting his own feelings to her and breaking the engagement.

also why do you read MTL for this hard novel? It makes it harder to understand the emotions sorry to say. I recommend to just read at yonder. Because Layla was really really really looking forward to Matthias being honest with his feelings. So that springs in bloom was the perfect chance. It won't be shit show. Because he thought her birthday as if its important and kept reminding her it will come soon. But she thought she's going to leave him until then. But after their last meeting she cried as if wanted to hold back her leaving. But then Bill came forced her to leave.

oh yeah first he was visiting flower field and was thinking about Layla again, as if he was excited for flowers in bloom day



so let's use logic on here:
1. We all know after Layla escaped. He told Claudine hes breaking the engagement. Meaning? He already prepared the preparation to break engagement. It's not easy and quick to do this.
2. Let's remember again Matthais's personality: he is not the type to tell Layla until everything is settled. Lets remember Bill's grace relocation. He didn't tell Layla until the matter is solved right? So same with break engagement, he didn't want to tell Layla until the problem is solved + its her birthday. I don't think it's going to be shit show when he is considering her birthday so much and as if like he was preparing something?
3. And back again, if he could straight tell Claudine he wanted to break the engagement after Layla escaped, what does this mean? He already had the engagement breakment paper settled.

and here is Layla remembering the promise she had with the duke, and she wanted to forget it by shutting her eyes


Also spring in blooms is important theme in the novel, it started from her dad breaking his promise to see flowers in bloom together



let's remember promises is her traumas because her mom and dad kept breaking it. That's why the fact Matthias always kept his promises helped healing her. Also I am not being biased, if you can see the logic about her traumas, you will get me.

oh and btw I noticed this thing from the korean comment section.. they all mostly agreed on this

 

Thanks alot Kaori for the prompt clarification. Oh wow...this does add up to some point however, as much as I want to believe this, Matthias was having intense sense of doubt especially the part after Layla would like him to love her as her birthday present. And during the family meeting, he was restless and not being himself as well. His actions that night did not seem that he was trying to break the engagement however probably like you pointed out, he might had already prepared the papers, or he already known what the consequences was.

He was only triggered after meeting with Layla before he left for the Empress birthday, and I think he would have continued to marry Claudine if it's not for Layla's birthday request that actually made him question his marital responsibilities with someone that he did not love as mentioned "But was such a life really possible?" - Chapter 110

So to me finally to understand the situation is the word "irreparable" that makes sense to me as to what was he planning to do but was holding back.

 

I think she was angry because she felt herself humiliated/insulted. Because Matthias over chose low, poor orphan girl above her the noblewoman. Her pride was trampled. She was very prideful, perfect noblewoman. She realized that her life goal is going to ruin. She was obsessed with idea of her marriage with the duke and to become the duchess. That’s why she hated Layla and was upset at Matthias. And she noticed Matthias’ change in his actions expressions, behaviors. She was sure it was because of Layla. Layla made to change Matthias, that’s why Claudine wanted to lower Layla, because Layla lowered Matthias the perfect and prideful duke her fiancé, her prospective future. These all were basement of Claudine’s hate for both.

 

If we were to think about the future even if Layla decided to stay as mistress, I think Layla would still decide to run away and it just matter of time for her to break considering if she had children with Matthias and with Claudine around, it is going to be another round of turmoil involving their kids. And Layla would be on the losing end cause Claudine is the legal wife and considering her contempt towards Layla as we all seen it now, who knows what Claudine would do behind Matthias to Layla to secure her pride and position. So it's best for Layla to just leave Matthias for her future safety.

As for Matthias, once he is married to Claudine, I think it would be very difficult for him to leave Claudine considering the consequences of great damages that would incur for him mainly. He would need to think thrice to leave Claudine for the sake of his family name as well. So for this situation, he would either endure in a loveless marriage life behind his perfect demeanor gentleman facade or leave everything to be with Layla.

 

Breaking engagement would follow huge losses. As the businessman and the responsible for the family’s sake his doubts made sense. But he absolutely prepared something for her bday. He was not type of the man who will give nonsense minor promises. And that’s why he decided to talk with Claudine but she didn’t want this. It means she already knew what the theme of the conversation it would be. She was aware of their affair, there was no need to refuse him to tell about this. There was something other. She was sure that the duke was going break the engagement.

 

Hi both! Wow a lot of discussion happened in the last 8 hours. I would like to add the "If" scenario here to answer @ailesander

I tried to read chapter 110 again (in Yonder) to understand the whole ordeal. In my honest opinion, there is no way Matthias would continue the engagement. "If" he didn't say anything about breaking the engagement to Claudine that day, most likely what he would do is to postpone the wedding again like how he already did in the past. He would do this until he found the way to completely break the engagement. He still has roughly 2-3 months before the wedding (At this point it was early spring, the wedding is somewhere in the summer). He still have plenty of times to actually break the engagement. Matthias is too in love with Layla. In fact Matthias loves Layla more than Layla loves Matthias.

And lets say, "If" Layla didn't run away in the spring, she would actually stay until before the wedding. It was written in her letter to Claudine that she would disappear one day before their wedding. So the original plan of Layla was to stay until the Summer time. So, for sure we still have 2-3 months before the wedding where Layla would stay.

So what can happen during 2-3 months? Many things... But remember, Layla was already pregnant by this time. If lets say she stayed longer, she would realise she was pregnant. And the pregnancy would become the best reasoning for Matthias to break the engagement. Especially, if he knew that it is a son. So, I can imagine he would postpone the wedding (again), until Layla gave birth. Then, Layla giving birth to a son would be the strongest key for him to break the engagement. Because now, he has an heir for the Herhardt's family.

Also, one last thing. I was re-reading chapter 110 in Yonder and in W to compare Claudine's thought when Matthias was about to talk to her. It was translated completely different, again.

Yonder:
In that moment, she finally felt like he was seeing her. However, she didn't like it one bit. She had an ominous feeling that she wasn't going to like hearing whatever it was he wanted to talk to her about. She sensed that it was something he would be better off saving at least until the end of the summer to bring it up.

W FTL:
It irked Claudine very much that she could tell just who he’d been thinking about before the odd request even as he talked to her.
The least he could do was marry her first, before bringing up the subject of his mistress.

In FTL, it was already assumed he would talk about mistress topic. But in Yonder, she actually said she had 'ominous feeling' that she wasn't going to like what she is going to hear. Claudine never care about Layla being a mistress. She already knew Layla is a mistress so it is not a new shocking scary information for her.

What Claudine is scared the most? Losing the duchess seats. We all know Claudine is a very smart person. Claudine had the feeling that Matthias would talk about their engagement. That was why she was so scared and she wanted to postpone the talk. At least, that is my interpretation. Claudine is never scared of Matthias having a mistress. Claudine is scared of losing the duchess seat.

I highly recommend to not trust the W FTL, because they added new words that didn't exist in the official translation