#13. The Punishment of the Maid
“A mere maid dares utter such insolence to me? I shall deal with this offense severely!”
The Lady declared, her face blotchy with rage.
Ariel replied, her voice brimming with indignant injustice.
“I cannot read, Lady. I merely wrote down any words that came to mind.”
“Do you truly believe such a paltry excuse will suffice?”
“But it is the truth. I had no idea you would snatch away my letter of resignation in the first place.”
“Hah! You wretched, cunning creature. I have no further use for your words!”
She waved her hand dismissively.
A cluster of maids surged forward, closing in on Ariel.
Just as they were about to seize her, Ariel recoiled, crying out.
“Yes! Go on then! Drag me away! But in return, I shall tell everyone everything!”
“……”
“That the Lady oppresses a maid who cannot even read!”
The Lady did not even deign to glance at her.
Yet, even if she refused to look, any ear that could hear must surely have caught her words.
As if to confirm Ariel’s prediction, the Lady slowly spun around.
Her black dress swirled around her as she stomped her feet, drawing nearer with each heavy step.
In an instant, she was directly before Ariel, her hand clamping down hard on Ariel’s jaw.
“Ugh…!”
A sharp, stinging pain made Ariel’s eyes prick with tears, just as a chilling voice pierced her ears.
“Your mouth runs quite freely, doesn’t it?”
Ariel struggled to reply.
“It is… the truth…”
“Very well, try it then. I shall personally cut out your tongue.”
Her voice dripped with a menace that promised bloodshed, yet Ariel felt no fear.
‘Did you truly think I wouldn’t know your nature, how much you despise your image being tarnished?’
Instead, Ariel’s eyes flashed, meeting the Lady’s gaze directly.
Just then.
“Lady, I believe that is quite enough.”
Adeline Joubert, who had been silently observing the scene from the side, spoke.
“It is almost the Young Lady’s lesson time. Furthermore, do you not have a tea-time engagement with the Grand Duchess Consort today?”
“……”
As if on cue, the Lady released Ariel’s chin.
-Swish!
As though she had touched something utterly repulsive, she flicked her hand, then vigorously wiped it with a handkerchief before speaking.
“You will most certainly regret this day’s events.”
Without waiting for a reply, she swept out of the room.
‘She’s fleeing, yet still trying to put on airs.’
Ariel watched her go, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
****
-Knock, knock, knock.
Ariel knocked on the door, saying softly.
“Young Lady, are you asleep?”
Unsurprisingly, no sound emanated from within the room.
Ariel glanced at Adeline, a look of helplessness on her face, and spoke.
“The Young Lady is feeling unwell. It seems the lesson will have to be postponed.”
“……”
“I shall tend to her carefully, so perhaps Adeline Joubert might consider returning for today?”
Ariel said with a cheerful smile.
In truth, she had intended to do just this ever since she heard about the lesson.
She needed time to discreetly send Adeline away and then consult with Luen.
‘No matter the Lady’s command, she wouldn’t force a sick Luen into lessons.’
Ariel looked at Adeline, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
Adeline had been staring blankly at the room for some time.
Just then.
She approached Ariel.
Then, she forcibly twisted the doorknob Ariel was holding and flung the door open with a sudden *thud*!
“Adeline Joubert!”
Ariel tried desperately to block her, but Adeline easily pushed her aside and stepped inside.
Having no other choice, Ariel followed her in.
Then, she gasped in surprise.
Luen was standing before the terrace, dressed in a long, flowing white negligee.
“Oh, Young Lady? Why are you awake?”
At Ariel’s words, Luen slowly turned her back.
She was smiling.
It was a breathtaking smile, like a rose adorned with thorns.
“You said you were going to dispose of the trash, so why have you returned?”
“Pardon?”
*But I did dispose of the trash, didn’t I?*
As Ariel, unable to grasp the meaning behind Luen’s words, stood dumbfounded,
Adeline spoke.
“Greetings, Young Lady. My name is Adeline Joubert, and I shall be responsible for your education from now on.”
Only then did Ariel comprehend the true identity of the ‘trash’ Luen had spoken of.
It was none other than Adeline herself.
Luen said irritably.
“You intend to educate me?”
“Yes, Young Lady. Lessons are scheduled for two hours each day at lunchtime.”
“By whose authority?”
“It is the Lady’s command. Ah, and the Grand Duke has also granted his permission.”
“……”
Luen pressed her lips into a tight line.
If the Grand Duke had given his assent, there was simply no way to escape it.
“Miss Ariel, you may wait in the adjacent room. I shall call for you once the lesson concludes.”
“…Yes.”
At her words, Ariel reluctantly nodded her head.
Just as she was about to turn away.
“Wait.”
Luen said.
“And who are you to arrange a separate meeting with my maid?”
Her voice was colder than ever before.
The very air in the vicinity seemed to grow heavy and still.
Seeing the strange aura swirling around her, it certainly appeared as though she was emanating a tangible killing intent.
Strangely, Ariel felt nothing at all.
Perhaps Luen was carefully controlling it so that it wouldn’t be directed towards her.
“It is merely a private conversation; there is no need for concern.”
Adeline replied without the slightest change in her expression, even amidst the palpable malice.
Then, she cast a fleeting glance at Ariel.
A silent pressure seemed to warn her not to speak of the maid who had been beaten.
“Miss Ariel, please leave us now.”
“Yes…”
Fearing that her continued presence would only complicate Luen’s situation, Ariel turned and exited the room.
****
‘The Grand Duke, all of a sudden.’
Ariel, spending time alone in the adjacent room, tried to recall the details of the novel.
She hoped to glean even a small piece of information about who the Grand Duke was.
However.
‘No matter how much I think about it, there’s no information about the Grand Duke.’
After all, the novel itself began with Luen already holding the title of Grand Duke.
The only thing she knew was that Luen had killed him and seized the position of Grand Duke…
Beyond that, there was absolutely nothing else to learn.
Even now, having transmigrated into the inner workings of the ducal family, she had never once encountered him.
“Ugh.”
Sighing at her lack of progress, Ariel rose from the bed and walked towards a chair.
The lesson would soon conclude, and she needed to prepare herself.
‘They said there would be a test again today.’
She had no idea what kind of test it would be, but Ariel felt not an ounce of worry.
And why wouldn’t she? The Luen depicted in the novel was a genius.
She was an all-rounder, excelling in everything from swordsmanship to strategy.
‘She’s incredibly strong even now, in reality.’
Consequently, Ariel had entirely dismissed the possibility of Luen making any mistakes.
Just then.
-Click.
With a soft *click*, the door opened and Adeline entered.
In her hand, she held papers, which appeared to be the test.
‘She couldn’t have gotten a single one wrong, could she?’
Ariel said with a confident expression.
“The Young Lady is quite knowledgeable, isn’t she?”
Adeline responded with a faint smirk instead of a verbal reply.
Seeing this, Ariel’s brow furrowed.
*That robotic woman can smile?*
Ariel felt a sudden ominous sensation and took a step back.
“The Young Lady has much to learn.”
Adeline smoothly unfurled the test papers she had brought.
“Therefore, one cannot expect to master everything on the first try.”
Ariel was utterly aghast upon seeing the test paper.
Not a single one of the ten questions had been answered correctly.
-Snap!
Adeline unbuttoned the cuff of her shirt sleeve, then continued.
“Though I find no pleasure in striking an innocent maid, it is the Lady’s command, and thus it must be done.”
As she rolled up her sleeves to her forearms, her formidable, muscular forearms were revealed.
“Lie down, Miss Ariel. Since the Young Lady answered ten questions incorrectly, you shall receive ten strikes today.”
-Whoosh!
A thin switch, appearing from seemingly nowhere, sliced through the air in her hand.
The sharp whistle of it made Ariel flinch and tremble.
“L-Lady Adeline. Surely this isn’t right?”
Ariel said, her voice trembling.
“What isn’t right? If I recall correctly, it was you who refused the letter of resignation.”
“That’s… Hah, fine.”
Ariel, who had been about to protest further, clamped her mouth shut.
She then walked to the bed and lay prone.
-Click, clack!
The sound of footsteps echoed in her ears.
They drew nearer, and then, with a sudden *whoosh*, Ariel’s skirt was abruptly lifted.
“What…!”
As Ariel started in alarm, trying to sit up, Adeline firmly pressed down on her waist.
“With each strike, you must count aloud. If you fail to count, I shall strike you again from the beginning, so bear that in mind.”
“W-wait a moment. But on bare skin…!”
Just then.
The switch descended upon Ariel’s pale thigh.
-CRACK!!!
A sharp crack echoed, leaving a crimson welt upon her skin.
“Augh!!”
Ariel screamed, the stinging pain searing through her.
Watching her body tremble uncontrollably, Adeline murmured coldly.
“You failed to count, so we shall start from the beginning.”
“Lady Adeline! This is too—too painful!”
Ariel thrashed, squirming as if in a desperate struggle.
Yet, she was a knight, after all.
Pinioned beneath Adeline, Ariel found herself utterly unable to move.
“This time, count correctly.”
“W-wait, Lady Adeline. At least give me a moment!”
“This is a punishment, Miss Ariel. There is no reason for me to consider your circumstances while administering it. So, remain still.”
Adeline ignored Ariel’s plea, issuing a resolute command.
Then, once more, she brought the switch down hard on Ariel’s thigh.
-Whoosh! CRACK!
“AARGH!!!”
Ariel’s body jolted and sprang upwards.
Her thighs, as pale as a newborn’s, were already bruised crimson after just two strikes.
A burning pain radiated throughout her entire thigh because of it.
‘It hurts so much!’
Ariel writhed, unable to even touch the bruised area.
Adeline pressed down on Ariel’s waist with her knee.
In that position, she swung the switch once more.
-CRACK!!
“Ugh! O-one!”
Ariel gritted her teeth, forcing out the number.
“Well done. That is all you need to do.”
With the praise, another strike landed.
-CRACK!!
“Augh! Two.”
.
.
.
-CRACK!!!
“S-s-seven!”
Having received all the strikes, Ariel collapsed onto the bed.
And all of it.
“……”
Luen had been listening.
