~Chapter 15~
. Things to Get Used To
2023.08.15.
Lady Bailny, standing beside him, hurriedly supported him.
“You’ve disgraced the family name. Go at once, deny everything, and kneel before His Highness Chase if you must.”
Even now, when things had come to such a pass, Bailny’s obsession with pushing through the engagement with Chase was revolting.
“I’ve already sent word to His Highness Chase that the engagement is off. The fault is mine, and I’ll make sure His Highness suffers no damage……”
Ellis couldn’t bring herself to finish the words.
Smack—her head whipped violently to the side at the sharp crack of impact.
She’d been struck across the face—by Fraser.
Ellis clutched her burning cheek and glared at Fraser.
His voice was raised, but in her ears it sounded muddled.
He put all his strength into that.
Slowly, her dulled hearing returned.
“……You’ve made the Warton family a laughingstock. Get to His Highness at once and kneel. I’ll see it undone for you.”
“How can you undo something that already happened? That would be deceiving His Highness. Isn’t that the greater sin?”
Ellis’s defiant reply left Fraser speechless with rage.
In just a matter of days, Ellis had become a different person entirely.
The girl who once flinched and bowed her head at his slightest shout was now staring straight back at him, answering without fear.
“So now you see me as a fool, do you? Everyone, leave us.”
Flames seemed to spark in Fraser’s eyes.
To be alone with Ellis meant he intended to vent his wrath as he pleased.
“Father, don’t be too harsh. She’s still young and foolish.”
Iris seized the moment to interject.
Pretending to worry for Ellis, pretending to care—putting on her act as the dutiful, gentle sister.
“I’ll talk to her calmly.”
“My sweet Iris, my good daughter. A beast does not learn by words. A beast must be beaten to be taught.”
“Father, but Ellis is a person.”
“Oh, my pretty daughter. You see her that way because your heart is so precious. You wish to see only what is good…… Go on up now. I’ll ‘talk’ to her as you say.”
The exchange between Fraser and Iris was sickening.
Pretending to be the good father, pretending to be the good daughter.
Bailny took Iris upstairs, and the attendants disappeared. In the wide hall, only Ellis and Fraser remained.
“You’ve grown arrogant because things with His Highness Chase seemed to be going well, haven’t you?”
Fraser stepped closer. Ellis planted her feet firmly so as not to retreat.
I’ve done nothing wrong. There’s no reason to yield.
She would not let him see her weakness.
Fraser raised his hand again.
Smack! The pain ripped across her skin, and Ellis collapsed to the floor.
“Do as I say while I’m still speaking kindly. Tell His Highness you were frightened, and the letter was a lie.”
“No. I won’t do that.”
Fraser would not kill her.
Nor could he go much further with the beating—because the royal banquet was approaching.
If Fraser wanted her to maintain good relations with Chase, Ellis had to attend that banquet.
Thus, the slap she had just received was the worst punishment he could allow himself to give.
Ellis had calculated all this before she made her move.
From the floor, she glared back at Fraser.
He panted furiously, then crouched before her and seized a fistful of her hair.
Her head was yanked sharply back.
“Listen well, Ellis. Without marriage to His Highness Chase, you are worthless. Do you think we’ll keep a worthless thing in this house? You’ll be cast out in disgrace. And then—what will your life be? Shall I recite it for you? How your mother died?”
Ellis bit the inside of her cheek hard. Tears welled quickly in her eyes.
Fraser’s mood lightened at the sight of her tears.
See—defy me, and you’ll always be put in your place.
He shoved her head aside. Ellis stumbled and fell.
Dusting off his hands, Fraser clicked his tongue.
“Stay shut in your room. Don’t even think of going out. Everyone, you heard me—keep a close watch!”
Hurried footsteps scattered about.
Ellis’s shoulders shook where she lay.
“Don’t snivel here. Get to your room. You disgust me.”
But Ellis could not rise right away. If she stood now, he would hear her laughing.
Ellis had to bite down hard on her lower lip until she reached her room—hard enough to draw blood.
Only after closing the door behind her did she release it.
Pfft.
Laughter slipped from her lips.
Fraser was moving exactly as she had foreseen, and that delighted her.
Now Iris’s plan was ruined as well.
She must have intended to meet Prince David at the hunt, but that won’t happen now.
Even if Chase had fallen from the king’s favor, for David—the heir—to be seen sporting while his brother was embroiled in scandal would not sit well with the public.
His Majesty will have to rein him in. How will he resolve this, I wonder?
Ellis fervently prayed that the king’s wrath would be great.
“Cut out the article and keep it.”
Hartebin accepted the copy of the Alleycat Times Karan handed him and frowned.
“It’s not exactly flattering.”
“It’s glorious. It officially confirms Ellis and my connection.”
“It’s a scandal…… sir.”
“What does that matter? What matters is that our names appear side by side.”
Hartebin sometimes could not understand Karan.
So logical and cold in every matter, yet when it came to Ellis, he lost all reason.
Still, since it caused him no harm, Hartebin simply let it be.
“Perhaps we should frame it, then?”
In truth, he was egging Karan on, amused.
“Do as you like. Buy several more copies, too.”
Karan said this while putting on his coat.
“Going out, Your Highness? Do you need me to come?”
“You’ve work to finish. The withdrawal from Bedroca isn’t wrapped up yet.”
Karan had canceled every venture he’d been preparing in Bedroca.
Without Ellis, Bedroca meant nothing to him.
One day I’ll destroy this place. I don’t want any of my effort tied to it.
He glanced once at the bustling streets of Bedroca through the window, then stepped outside.
His destination was a small park known for its promenade.
Watching Bedrocan nobles strolling leisurely beneath parasols along the lakeshore left a bitter taste in his mouth.
How carefree they are.
The amusements of Bedrocans were luxuries never afforded to the Tetris people.
Call it jealousy or inferiority, but tracing back to the ancient past, to the slumber of Ragnarok, Karan’s condemnation was not without basis.
The Bedroca royal family are frauds.
His gaze grew sharper.
“Your Highness? You came early.”
At the sound of Ellis’s voice, Karan’s entire demeanor shifted.
His eyes, though still fierce in shape, softened in their gaze.
“Ellis, come here…… What is this?”
But the gentleness vanished as he took her chin and tilted her face up. His eyes lingered on her swollen cheek.
“It’s nothing.”
Ellis forcibly removed his hand.
A blaze ignited within Karan. That pale, delicate face was swollen, bruised purple as though painted—and she called it nothing?
“Is this something you’re used to, or do you want me to ignore it? Or are you the type to enjoy pain?”
Too angry, he lashed out with biting words.
“It’s so I won’t get used to it. I don’t want you to concern yourself either. Pain…… is something I can bear, depending on the reward waiting on the other side. I don’t enjoy it.”
Was she deliberately trying to overturn him inside out? Ellis replied without even a tremor in her brow.
“Who did this? Was it because of the article?”
Karan felt ashamed of himself—for having been pleased at seeing the article.
He had not considered the burden Ellis would have to bear.
His fists clenched tight.
“Your Highness, it’ll heal quickly. But if you keep on like this, I’ll regret coming out today.”
The truth was, when Karan had asked to meet, Ellis had intended to refuse. Sneaking out was no easy task.
But she had to meet him—so that the scandal would not end as just scandal.
What she hadn’t expected was his fierce reaction to her injuries.
Chase, after all, had often dismissed it when Ellis was struck by Fraser.
“Put some ointment on it.”
That had always been Chase’s entire response.
Back then, Ellis had thought he was suppressing his anger in order to stay in the Wartons’ good graces.
But no—it was that he never cared about my wounds at all.
Whether she was hurt or not meant nothing to him.
