Chapter 07

The Count of Artes is going to lose his mind when he returns from his business trip.

The poison hidden beneath Aeshila’s sweet voice was unmistakable.

Only then did the Countess finally seem to grasp the situation, reluctantly falling silent.

Finally… she shuts up.

Aeshila tried to cool the fury boiling inside her.

The urge to kill surged through her, but she forced herself to suppress it.

Unfortunately—though under normal circumstances she would have called it fortunate—murder couldn’t simply be settled with money in the Ederka Empire.

For the first time in a long while…

I actually want to ignore the law.

Just as Aeshila—one of the few people who could probably survive perfectly well without laws—was desperately trying to restrain herself…

Something lying on the floor caught her eye.

The cane.

Its surface was stained a hideous reddish color.

…

Ah.

This is driving me insane.

She had barely managed to suppress the anger that had reached its limit…

Only for it to explode all over again.

Aeshila bent down and picked up the crimson-stained cane.

A chilling killing intent wrapped itself around her entire body.

Her head felt strangely numb.

So this is what happens when rage reaches its absolute peak.

It becomes calm.

She slowly asked,

“Exactly…”

“How many times did you hit her?”

“…”

“Little one.”

“How many times were you struck?”

Ronell answered in an almost inaudible whisper.

Aeshila heard every word.

The grinding sound of her teeth echoed through the room.

“Don’t you think…”

“That’s an absurd amount of violence to inflict upon a child, Countess?”

The Countess’s ears instantly turned bright red.

Proof enough that she knew perfectly well what she’d done.

Of course she does.

Anyone with even the slightest bit of common sense would.

Under Aeshila’s icy crimson gaze…

The Countess lifted her chin proudly.

It seemed the noble lady had ultimately chosen shamelessness over conscience.

“I was merely disciplining her, Lady Aeshila Duncan.”

“Disciplining?”

“Yes.”

“Discipline.”

“…I see.”

“Very well, Countess.”

“How about we make a rather generous deal?”

Aeshila casually swung the cane through the air.

“It seems you’re the one desperately in need of discipline.”

“So I’ll gladly provide it.”

“How does one hundred gold per strike sound?”

“What ridiculous nonsense are you talking about?!”

“You called it discipline.”

“If a child can endure that punishment…”

“Why can’t an adult?”

“You’d earn one hundred gold for every strike.”

“Sounds like an excellent bargain to me.”

Her sharp laugh sliced through the frozen atmosphere.

“Ah…”

“So the amount isn’t enough.”

“You’ve completely lost your mind!”

“Hearing that from a child abuser feels incredibly unfair.”

“Let’s negotiate.”

“If one hundred isn’t enough…”

“How much should I pay?”

“One hundred?”

“Two hundred?”

“Five hundred?”

“…”

“One thousand?”

“My.”

“What an expensive body you have.”

Grinding her teeth…

Aeshila raised the cane.

At that exact moment—

The Count’s butler rushed forward, shielding the Countess with his own body.

Unlike Mitchell, who continued watching peacefully from the sidelines…

He had looked anxious this entire time.

“Please restrain yourself, my lady.”

“Move.”

“You think I won’t hit you too?”

“If she’s guilty of assault…”

“Then you’re guilty of standing by and allowing it.”

“Were you enjoying yourself while watching that child become like this?”

“I’ve never heard of a guest striking their host.”

“What a loyal watchdog.”

“You certainly take excellent care of your rabid mistress.”

“Go on.”

“Bark some more.”

Aeshila lifted the cane even higher.

The butler squeezed his eyes shut.

The Countess had become so terrified that she had started hiccuping.

The flexible cane cut sharply through the air—

“Lady.”

“The child is watching.”

Mitchell’s calm voice echoed through the room.

Aeshila froze instantly.

Like a wind-up doll whose spring had suddenly broken.

Mitchell had remained calm all this time because…

She knew exactly how to stop her employer.

After enjoying more than enough of the chaos—something money couldn’t buy—

The secretary stepped in at precisely the right moment.

Ignoring Aeshila’s awkward crimson eyes rolling toward her…

Mitchell calmly crushed the cigarette she’d been holding into the ashtray.

Even when Aeshila Duncan completely lost control…

She would never smoke in front of a child.

At least there was that.

Only then did Aeshila finally come back to herself.

She quietly lowered the cane onto the floor.

From the corner of her vision…

She saw Ronell trembling uncontrollably.

Golden hair shook softly.

Even her tiny hands trembled violently.

Aeshila sighed.

What the hell were you thinking, Aeshila Duncan?

Trying to use violence in front of an abused child…

“Little one.”

Ronell flinched.

She slowly raised her face.

Seeing his future butler trembling…

Ruby glared at Aeshila as though cursing her with his eyes.

Aeshila accepted the silent scolding without complaint.

Then she knelt once more until they were at eye level.

“I’m sorry.”

“I-It’s okay.”

“You weren’t going to hit me…”

“So…”

Ronell stumbled over her words, desperately trying to ease the situation.

She was frightened.

That couldn’t be helped.

But before anything else…

She was grateful.

Someone had gotten angry on her behalf.

Someone had taken her out of that closet.

Watching Aeshila rubbing her temples…

Ronell instinctively became nervous.

Then…

The words that came from those beautiful crimson lips were impossibly gentle.

“Big sister beats trash…”

“But she never hits children.”

“…”

“So…”

“Will you give your big sister a chance?”

A chance…?

Ronell blinked blankly.

Ruby stepped forward.

Thump.

A soft white paw landed gently atop her golden hair.

His warm paw pads stroked her head.

As though whispering…

You worked hard.

It’s over now.

“Will you come with us?”

Ronell slowly looked around the room.

The shed.

The closet.

The Countess.

Lloyd.

The days she’d spent imprisoned.

The countless nights she’d cried while no one listened.

It feels like a dream.

Maybe…

I’m still asleep inside the closet.

Ah…

That’s it.

It’s a dream.

She was simply too exhausted.

Too worn out.

Soon…

Young Master Lloyd would kick her awake.

Or Mary would wake her to treat her wounds.

Or perhaps the Countess would angrily drag her out again.

I wish I never had to wake up.

Ronell looked at the worried cat.

Then at the beautiful older sister whose face was filled with guilt.

Even if this was only a dream…

She didn’t want to make either of them look so sad.

They shone far too brightly…

Far too brightly to exist in her dreams.

“You can…”

“Hit me.”

“…”

“So…”

“Please take me with you.”

“I don’t want to stay here anymore…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence.

She didn’t have to.

The black-haired woman nodded gently.

“Alright.”

“Let’s go home.”

My home.

The promise felt so unreal…

Ronell could only stare blankly.

She simply couldn’t believe she was really leaving.

Without hesitation…

Aeshila set Ruby down on the floor before lifting Ronell into her arms.

The child weighed almost nothing.

The cold sensation pierced straight through her heart.

It was all the proof she needed of how horribly Ronell had been abused.

Ronell stiffened immediately.

Aeshila carefully adjusted her position so the child wouldn’t have to look at the Countess.

Only then did Ronell slowly begin to relax.

Tiny, fragile arms cautiously wrapped around Aeshila’s neck.

Feeling that faint warmth…

Aeshila looked toward her secretary.

“Mitchell.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Make sure there aren’t any complications.”

The order was simple.

Handle the aftermath.

Mitchell gave a short nod.

She casually raised three fingers.

I’ll settle everything within thirty million gold.

Aeshila had been about to say she could spend up to one hundred million…

Instead…

She quietly nodded.

It wasn’t that she wanted to save money.

This simply wasn’t worth spending that much on.

Giving money to a child abuser would only be an insult.

Holding Ronell carefully in her arms…

Aeshila walked away.

Ruby trotted happily beside them.

* * *

As they stepped through the front gates of House Artes…

Aeshila made herself a promise.

This child will never return here again.

Unless…

She came back for revenge.

Even now…

Ronell was still trembling in her arms.

I shouldn’t have let her see me trying to use violence.

That was careless.

Blaming herself once again…

Aeshila noticed Mitchell approaching.

Judging by the satisfied look on her face…

The secretary had resolved everything as skillfully as ever.

Mitchell casually held up two fingers.

Twenty million gold.

Aeshila had intended to authorize up to one hundred million.

Instead…

She simply nodded.

There was no reason to waste more money.

Spending it on child abusers would only be a disgrace.

She looked down.

Ruby sat beside them, leisurely licking one of his paws.

Found your future owner…

Scratched that insufferable brat…

I suppose it really has been quite a satisfying night for His Majesty the Cat.

Still nestled quietly in Aeshila’s arms…

Ronell suddenly murmured,

“…It’s strange.”

Aeshila…

Mitchell…

Even Ruby…

All three immediately looked at her.

“What is?”

Ronell gazed up at the vast night sky.

Then at the luxurious carriage that had just arrived.

Then at the dark garden surrounding them.

“It’s cold.”

“…Even though it’s a dream.”

Ruby frowned.

With one enormous leap…

He smacked Ronell squarely on the foot.

“Meeeow!!”

His indignant cries echoed through the night.

You dare call me a dream after I skipped dinner just to save you?!

What an ungrateful butler!

Naturally…

Ronell couldn’t understand a single word.

Fortunately.

Aeshila could.

Letting out a tired sigh…

She rescued Ronell’s foot from Ruby’s relentless paws.

“Little one.”

“I’m honored to appear in your dreams…”

“But…”

“The problem is…”

“This isn’t a dream.”

It has to be.

Seeing the confusion in those soft spring-green eyes…

Aeshila smiled gently.

“Well…”

“If you still can’t believe it…”

“Then think of it this way…”