Volume 4 - CH 3

I pushed myself to stand up.

And then I took a look at my calves and thighs in front of a full-body mirror……

“I indeed get hit a lot.”

The whip didn’t cause much pain, but the scars it left were far worse than the pain.

‘Anyone who sees this would think I was hit with a stick.’

I went to my wardrobe and selected the most revealing of my daily dresses.

The dress was revealing enough to show the scars on my calves, neck, and shoulder.

‘For the time being, I should wear this one.’

I could use the magic stones to heal these scars, but I opted not to.

“My Lady!”

Penny rushed in, her eyes swollen, as she entered the bedroom and saw me standing there.

“How are you feeling, My Lady? I’m sure it hurts a lot.”

“I could handle it better than I thought. How about Mother?”

Penny swiftly placed me on the bed and answered my calm question.

“Madam is keeping low for the time being. The Commander called me and asked me if you were beaten a lot by Madam.”

It went just as planned.

Despite the fact that I saw Valhail often, I never did anything inappropriate with him.

And since I’d already told Cedric about everything, I wouldn’t have to worry about being caught.

“The Commander said that Madam will come and apologize when you’re conscious, My Lady.

Well, okay then.

“To be honest…… I was also concerned that the Commander might misunderstand you, My Lady.”

“I know.”

“However, the Commander chastised the Madam, stating there was no way you could have done anything so immoral.”

Smirk- 

Without realizing it, a smirk appeared on my face.

“My Lady, what exactly did you say to the Commander?”

“All I said was……”

* * * * *

“How can you have such a silly misunderstanding and hit a vulnerable child like that!”

“It was natural for me to discipline her as her mother. Cedric, it wasn’t a silly misunderstanding.”

Cedric had caught Camilla flogging Selina, but Camilla remained confident.

“You probably don’t know, but Selina has been seeing that guy every night and has a secret love affair with him. That’s not what a decent lady should do.”

“Countess.”

“Selina met that guy when she went to the monastery. She even enticed you into bringing him to the Countdom. Even now, I am too embarrassed to say it with my own mouth.”

“What is this gibberish you’re talking about? Selina was really opposed to bringing that man to the Countdom.”

Cedric, who shook his head angrily, expressed his dissatisfaction.

“She met that guy every night because of my request. I am saying that I am the reason why Seline does that.”

“……At your request?”

Cedric spoke quietly, like if revealing a secret.

“He’s a talented man with enormous strength and power, but he’s been expelled from the Holy Knight before.”

“Wha-what did you say? That man was expelled from the Holy Knight. What are……?”

Camilla’s eyes widened as she realized the shocking truth.

The Holy Knight was the pride of the temple.

If that man was a Toono who became a member of the Holy Knight…… then it means he wasn’t merely a wandering warrior.

Camilla only knew that he was a lowly Toono, not that he was a knight in the Holy Knights.

“Selina met him to persuade him.”

Camilla’s panicked glance darted back and forth.

“Selina encouraged him to seek forgiveness at the temple. There are even a couple of eyewitnesses.”

The witnesses were Valhail’s colleagues, the members of outer guards, who knew that Valhail and Selina met.

They were witnesses under William’s orders.

Cedric let out a deep sigh.

That was the actual situation.

“He’s my savior, and I really want him to join the White Eagle Knights.”

“Oh my gosh, what will the temple say then……!”

“……That’s why I put him on hold for a while.”

When Cedric asked, Selina told her everything she knew.

The man was a Toono who won the Martial Arts Championship and was expelled from the Holy Knight.

“If Selina hadn’t told me, I’d definitely have him join the White Eagle Knight.”

Eventually, Cedric offered to put him on the outer guard.

It was then when Selina strongly opposed Cedric.

“Selina cautioned me that accepting him, who had been ousted from the Holy Knight, would result in temple turmoil.”

Regardless, Cedric led him to the Countdom.

He couldn’t ignore the fact that Valhails was an exceptional talent who had even won the Martial Arts Competition.

“Selina met him because of my earnest request.”

“Cedric, you’re really……”

“I figured if someone he knew convinced him, he’d beg the temple for forgiveness.”

“How could you entrust Selina to someone so dangerous?”

Camilla feigned to be terrified as Cedric coughed in shame.

“But……no one in the Countdom had seen him hit other people so far.”

“Are you insane?”

“He’s not the type of person who would do anything like that.”

“How could you possibly know what’s on his mind? That guy could do anything to Selina, and……!”

“Countess.”

Camilla swiftly hushed up as Cedric’s icy tone shouted her name.

“The one, who hit that weak Selina until she fainted, was you.”

As she realized she was at a disadvantage, Camilla quickly changed the topic.

“However, why was that person expelled out of the Holy Knight?”

“I heard he didn’t want to train.”

The Holy Knight’s training was notorious for its brutality.

It was reasonable if dedicated warriors agreed to serve as temple knights but left out during training.

“Did he beg at the temple for forgiveness?”

“That isn’t important right now, Countess.”

Camilla averted Cedric’s sight by turning her head aside.

Cedric had no intention of taking it easy on this.

“Doubting an unmarried lady’s dignity and whipping her till she passes out without verifying the facts.”

“……”

“Is that the Countess’s method of discipline?”

“However, Cedric, it will be impossible for her to marry later if such unpleasant rumors circulate.”

“Right, while we’re on the subject, I have a question for you.”

Cedric’s tone lowered even further.

“About the time when you invited the Old Count Grandson as a marriage partner for Selina…… is that true?”

Cedric, who was anxiously tapping the table with his fingers, raised his eyes and inquired.

Camilla just bit her lower lip firmly.

She knew if she replied yes, Cedric would reprimand her, but if she said no, she would be mistaken as the Old Count’s marital partner.

“……Cedric, things weren’t quite proper for the territory.”

Camilla could only come up with it as an excuse.

“I should make Shannon get married and let her go.”

“Shannon…… Were you planning on marrying her to the Old Count?”

“Yes.”

Cedric’s eyes were scornful at the calm answer.

“She is just seventeen years old. But how can you let her marry a seventy-year-old Count?”

Camilla gazed up at Cedric with sorrowful eyes as he groaned.

“Do you believe I would have felt at ease?”

“Still. That is not how it should be done. It wasn’t the child’s responsibility to blame.”

“Every night, I wet my pillowcase thinking about sending my daughter away to a man much older than her!”

Camilla sobbed as she mourned her predicament.

“However, the Old Count came up and made fun of this widow…… Do you have any idea how surprised I was?”

Countess Grandson’s servants stated that Camilla had sent invitations several times seductively referring to remarriage.

But Cedric couldn’t persuade Camilla to apologize.

It eventually escalated into a family feud, causing significant damage to Count Crawford, but when he heard Camilla’s explanation, he realized she was also a victim.

Furthermore, Camilla’s desire to marry Shannon to the Old Count was clear.

“Cedric, you mentioned you needed money.”

Cedric covered his forehead in utter confusion.

“My father said I shouldn’t ask for anymore support, so what should I do?”

“However……not that’s what the Duke had previously promised.”

Duke Maple guaranteed his support for the Countdom when Camilla married the deceased Count Crawford.

“How many years ago was that? Besides, the fulfillment of the promise was to hand over the Countdom to Adrian.”

Count Crawford, on the other hand, died before he could keep his word.

“Either you marry me or hand up the White Eagle Knight to Adrian.”

Cedric should pick between the two, Camilla has remarked frequently.

“I can’t do that.”

“If marrying me is really a bad idea, then pass up the White Eagle Knight’s power to Adrian……”

“Impossible. Countess, as you know, the Knights of the White Eagles were founded by our family and have continued their history until now. How…….”

“Then, Cedric, I have nothing else to say to you.”

“…… I guess so.”

“My father wants to stop pouring water into the bottomless pit. Who wants to keep taking the poison when it can’t even be mine?”

Cedric had nothing further to say as Camilla protested.

As if to put an end to the conversation, he stood up.

“I’m going to ask you one thing. Don’t beat Selina any more. Never.”

Camilla nodded mildly, even though Cedric didn’t look at her.

“Of course, it’s due to my misunderstanding, so when Selina wakes up, I’ll apologize.”

Cedric remained silent, as if it wasn’t enough. Camilla said.

“…… Even if it was a misunderstanding, I admit that my discipline was severe. In exchange for admitting my mistake, I’ll keep a low profile.”

“Thank you, Countess.”

Camilla tightened his fist as Cedric strode out of the study.

‘What a fool! Do you think you’ll be fine after humiliating me like this?’

There was nothing left to hope for.

She hoped to remarry Cedric and pass the Countdom to Adrian…… but it was all a pipedream.

Duke Maple, her father, was a vicious guy. He would become enraged if he discovered that she had failed to complete any of his orders.

Camilla shifted her body to face the garden outside the study.

‘Yeah. If I can have him, I’d rather……’

Rather.

Tap tap-

Her delicate fingers touched the handle of her chair, as if considering something.