Cry, Even Better If You Beg

Orphaned at a tender age, Layla Llewellyn finds herself incredibly fortunate as she comes to live with her uncle Bill, a gardener residing on the picturesque Arvis estate in the Berg Empire. For Layla, Arvis is nothing short of a paradise, and she takes great delight in exploring the sprawling forest, always clutching her notebook to document the diverse wildlife she encounters. Among these creatures, Layla holds a special fondness for the birds, observing them with wonder as they hatch and mature from fluffy chicks into splendid avian beings.

On the other side of this idyllic realm is Duke Herhardt, the youthful and striking lord of Arvis. His fascination with birds takes a different form—he enjoys hunting them. His interest in Layla, however, is driven by a darker desire, one that leads him to derive pleasure from her tears.

“If a beautiful bird finds itself confined within a gilded cage, what choice will it make: a life of opulence or the sweet taste of freedom?”