Chapter 30
After praising Luirene, who had come to serve her tea first, in a low voice, she continued.
“Bring some directly to Hita as well.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Luirene took the remaining cup and went to Hitaon. As the cup was placed on the desk, Hitaon naturally turned his gaze and said.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Yes.”
It ended simply, but he worried how it appeared to his mother’s eyes. The tea itself was also a problem. Drinking it would look suspicious, but not drinking it would also look suspicious. The warm steam rising from the cup felt as if it were a deadly poison.
“Hita.”
“Yes?”
“You haven’t been able to focus since earlier.”
“…Perhaps it’s because I just used my body.”
“You just finished swordsmanship training? Oh dear. That won’t do.”
It would be ideal if she backed down here, but… the mother Hitaon had known was not an easy person. The reason he had come to insist on a life of “moderation” was precisely because he was sick to death of his mother’s greed, which never knew moderation.
“You are the one who will lead this household in the future. If your concentration falters over something so trivial…”
Her attitude was one of genuine concern and distress, yet somehow he sensed an artificial quality within it. An ominous signal. Before he could suggest ending today’s lesson here, the Marchioness clapped her hands.
“I’ve thought of a good method.”
“A method?”
“We’ll bring in a ‘Penance.'”
In that moment, everything in Hitaon stopped. His body’s movements, the flow of his thoughts, even the sense that he had to step forward—Penance. The word his mother had thrown out had sent ripples through him.
“There’s no suitable person at the moment… So, yes, Luirene. Come here.”
He had to stay calm. If he showed agitation here, all the time he had gritted his teeth and endured would turn to nothing. As Hitaon clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his flesh, Luirene approached the Marchioness with a bewildered expression.
As if it had already been arranged, the servants moved swiftly. They set up a small platform beside the Marchioness and respectfully handed her a switch. Luirene realized the situation was turning strange when she saw the switch.
“Step up. Raise your skirt.”
“…Pardon?”
“Have you heard of ‘Penance’?”
“…….”
“In simple terms, it refers to a servant who receives punishment in place of a noble’s wrongdoing.”
Luirene, who had been lifting one foot onto the platform while gripping her skirt, froze. While one foot was still on the ground, Hitaon’s voice, laced with a sigh, spread out as if to intervene.
“Why are you doing this, Mother? This is practically deceiving me.”
“This? How so?”
“Isn’t ‘Penance’ a system used at most for noble children under the age of fourteen? Surely you haven’t forgotten the age of your only son?”
“How could I. How could I not know that my son has grown up so splendidly?”
“If you know that well and are still doing this, then you truly intend to humiliate me. I am a proper adult. I should have no need to be punished, and even if I did, it would be proper for me to receive it directly.”
Hitaon tried his best to reason calmly. But the Marchioness insisted on making Luirene stand on the platform. She must have come with this intention from the start. Luirene’s hands, holding up her skirt, had turned white.
“Hita. Look properly. I haven’t raised the switch yet.”
“…….”
“Whether Luirene actually becomes a Penance or not depends on your ability. If you simply focus properly from now on, this mother can be plenty generous.”
Luirene’s fear was reaching him. The thought that his own actions might cause her harm made the platform look like an execution stand. Why? Why did Luirene have to stand up there? Because of suspicion that she had been involved in something improper with him?
“Let us begin.”
He wanted nothing more than to take her down from there immediately, but he knew—to death—that was exactly what his mother wanted. The best move he could make here was to focus on the lesson and escape this hellish time as quickly as possible.
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