Chapter 8 (Part 1)

“Madam is unwell today and will not be attending the banquet.”

Once again, the banquet hall was filled with the finest ingredients from Tarnu’s food storage. The Earl of Opellus and the Bishop of Nux were seated when the butler entered with a very apologetic look on his face.

The bishop of Nux twitched his lips at the sight of the butler pretending to be very sorry while not actually feeling any remorse.

“Ah, the unbeliever’s family has abandoned the child.”

“Madam has asked you to enjoy the meal.”

The butler then gestured to Leni and Greta to fill their glasses with fine wine.

Unable to attend because she’s busy getting screwed under that good-for-nothing bastard.

Schultz felt his stomach churn as he recalled seeing her earlier in her study, being carried towards the bedroom by that servant.

It was true.

He had heard rumors about her taking a lover, and although he had dismissed it when he saw that young boy’s eyes gleam, witnessing it firsthand was a different matter.

‘Did the young lad’s vigor do you some good? The widow looks quite refreshed.’

He had taunted her pale face, but her expression stiffened as if her pride was hurt, which only fueled his spite.

‘Pretending otherwise. In the study, no day or night.’

Anyone could see they had been all over each other just moments ago. Schultz felt both angry and, conversely, aroused at the thought that he could use this as leverage to bring her down.

As the maids of Tarnu brought out vegetable soup, simmered for Madam, as an appetizer.

“Hey, no need to serve us during the meal, so you all can leave, right? The Madam isn’t coming anyway.”

“But still…”

“You too, take a rest. Just leave the wine there.”

The butler tried to maintain formalities, but Schultz waved his hands generously. The bishop of Nux also silently agreed by closing his eyes.

Whatever their intent, it was good that they wouldn’t be serving those who meant harm to the Madam. Since the food was already on the table, the servants reluctantly left the banquet hall.

The butler sliced the roast pork in the center of the table into bite-sized pieces, filled the guests’ glasses with wine, and then exited.

“Uh, Bishop.”

The bishop nodded slightly, sipping his soup, signaling Schultz to continue. Schultz leaned closer towards the bishop sitting across from him.

“Whether it’s pre-marital or post-marital, what difference does it make for people who aren’t in their first marriage?”

“Ahem, well.”

The dignified bishop twitched his wrinkled cheeks, as if discussing the affairs of men and women was beneath him. Despite being known for having handed over Ellenia to an unbeliever’s family, having seen Ellenia’s mother outside, he pretended otherwise.

“Unless she’s a chaste widow, that is.”

“Ahem, this woman must be dealt with immediately.”

It was Schultz who had sought out the bishop of Nux as soon as he heard that the young lord of Tarnu’s wife had taken a lover. The bishop, who considered seeing Ellenia’s mother a lifelong disgrace, eagerly took the bait.

“Considering feelings follow the body, I thought it might be easier if we got closer first.”

“…”

Even half-blooded unbelievers, not knowing shame.

Without showing his thoughts, the bishop wiped his mouth with a napkin with a meticulous gesture.

“I understand your concern for your granddaughter, Bishop. I don’t care about such flaws, and since I happen to have Tarnu’s blood, you thought I’d be the perfect person to entrust your granddaughter to, didn’t you?”

Schultz grinned as he spoke. A piece of roast pork, sliced by the butler, disappeared into his mouth.

Chewing and swallowing, Schultz lowered his voice even further.

“When a woman lives alone, there will come a time when she reaches out to her family. If she has a strong husband, you won’t have to worry about that.”

“I can’t stand the sight of her near Nux.”

“Exactly. If I become the lord of Tarnu, you can save Tarnu before you return to the side of the one who gave you this.”

“Hmm…”

For years, Schultz had been working on the bishop of Nux since he heard of Edarson’s death in Tarnu. Finally, the bishop, who had only sent letters filled with harsh words due to his pride, gave in to Schultz’s persistence.

His top priority was to ensure that Ellenia, the symbol of his disgrace, did not return to Nux. He couldn’t imagine her even dreaming of it.

Even if remarrying under the deity’s law was a sin, there was a pretext if it was a collateral branch.

In the midst of that, she didn’t remarry but brought an outsider into her bed. Truly, the blood of a harlot flowed within her.

‘If only I hadn’t been enchanted by that woman back then.’

A poor girl who couldn’t even afford proper underwear, running around soaked to the skin in the rain, trying to gather laundry—if that wasn’t tempting passing men to topple her, what was? The bishop’s temples throbbed with anger.

“With me right here, if she rolls around with some unknown bastard under the same roof, it’s troublesome for me.”

“So, what do you want?”

“Give me some time alone with her. I need to show her who her future husband will be.”

Tearing off another piece of meat with his bare hands, Schultz chuckled sinisterly. Clearing his throat, the bishop frowned deeply. The wrinkles formed from a lifetime of frowning creased his face.

They were birds of a feather. The blood of a harlot mixed with the blood of an unbeliever.

“What we agreed on.”

“Yes, if I become the lord of Tarnu, a few coins for my wife’s grandfather won’t be a problem. Don’t worry about the upcoming rainy season either.”

Thinking it was a profitable exchange, the bishop wet his lips with wine.

***

Crackle, crackle.

The sound of the fireplace burning echoed nearby. Sitting n*ked in front of it, Edan held Ellenia, wrapped in a blanket, staring blankly at the flames within the fireplace.

And the box beside them. It was what Edan had returned to the study to find while Ellenia was asleep.

It was discovered by the head maid, suspicious of a bundle of belongings that hadn’t been unpacked for months among the sparse luggage Ellenia had brought to Tarnu for her solitary marriage.

A bundle of sticks in a crude wooden box. The sticks, not even properly trimmed, bore a faint dark red stain, unmistakably a whip.

A whip that had come with the bride’s belongings, clearly used before.

The head maid, unable to dispose of it carelessly, had been greatly shocked and taken it to the lord, who, understanding his young wife’s harsh circumstances, had locked it away in a secret drawer.

Click, with a light touch, Edan opened the box’s latch. As if it were a precious jewel, several sticks wrapped in silk emerged.

He hadn’t known they were used to strike her hand. If he had known how much it tormented her, he would have destroyed it long ago.

Crackle, crackle.

Beyond the sound of the crackling fire, the softened sound of raindrops echoed. The storm that had shaken the castle had calmed considerably.

Edan once again wrapped his arms around Ellenia.

“…Ugh.”

Perhaps feeling suffocated by his embrace, Ellenia, barely awake from her light sleep, made a noise of complaint. Realizing she was in his firm embrace, she nestled closer to him.

Edan smiled faintly at his youthful body, stimulated even by that.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because I’m happy.”

Edan lowered his head and kissed her chin, leaning heavily against him.

“There’s much to be happy about. Did the butler or anyone come looking?”

“Nothing special happened. Tomorrow too, just…”

“It’s okay. Really.”

This noblewoman’s stubbornness. 

Edan sighed softly.

As if expecting this, he reached out and took something from the open box. Ellenia’s eyes trembled endlessly as she unconsciously watched his hand.

“That’s…”

“I told you, I know.”

Seeing it in the bundle from over a decade ago, today was the first time. Just seeing the untrimmed sticks made Ellenia’s hand ache intensely. Her hand, clutching the blanket, trembled helplessly.

The fact that Edan knew where the whip was meant overwhelmed her with fear.

The sound of gentle rain echoed outside the window.

“That, that, this, so…”

“Don’t worry. It’s in my hand, not the bishop’s.”

Ellenia, unable to even swallow her dry saliva, stared at his hand with a pale face. She feared that if she looked away for even a moment, it would slice through the air and leave red marks on her skin.

Even though the hand holding it would never do that.

Edan turned to make it easier to reach the fireplace. He readjusted his hold on Ellenia so she could face the flames. His movements were cautious, ensuring the blanket wouldn’t catch fire.

“Watch closely.”

He extended his hand far. The bundle of sticks in his hand slowly entered the fireplace. Crackle, crackle, the sound of sparks filled the space between them.

“It will all disappear like this.”

He poked the fireplace with the poker. The thin sticks mixed with the logs and soon caught fire. The growing flames began to consume the slender nightmares.

Crackle, crackle, the sound of burning wood and the distorted image of the flames reflected in Ellenia’s blue eyes. Whether it was the flickering flames or the tears welling up in her unblinking eyes.

“Even if you cling to me, Madam, no matter what you do in the lord’s study.”

Edan, having set down the poker, wrapped Ellenia in the blanket again. His left arm facing the fireplace felt hot.

“No matter what you want to do, Madam. No matter how happy you want to be.”

A moist sound of friction echoed in Ellenia’s ear. He bit her earlobe as if scratching it with his teeth, then kissed it again. Ellenia kept her eyes fixed on the flames without blinking.

“No one can hurt you, Madam.”

His arms tightened around her. Peck, peck, peck, light kisses followed her jawline.

A teardrop that had fallen from her eyes was swallowed by his lips at her chin.

The shadow of the long stick in the fireplace bent and broke within the flames.