Chapter 4
Bang!
Kanna, who had been dozing on the sofa, jerked awake.
What was that noise…?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—
Bang!
Another deafening crash echoed through the room.
“Why haven’t you opened the door yet?! If you don’t open it this instant, I’ll break it down!”
It was the sharp voice of a middle-aged woman.
At the same time, something slammed against the door again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three heavy blows in rapid succession.
Staring blankly at the door, Kanna suddenly realized it was locked from the inside.
I don’t remember locking it…
Mary must have done it!
“I’ll open it right away!”
She hurried over and unlocked the door.
The moment it swung open, she saw several attendants carrying hammers.
Leading them stood a woman.
There she is.
The true mistress of this estate.
Sylvien Valentino’s stepmother.
Kanna’s mother-in-law.
Countess Josephine Elester.
She wasn’t Sylvien’s biological mother.
His real mother had died when he was ten years old.
Afterward, his father remarried.
That second wife was Josephine.
Even after the previous duke died, Josephine never left the estate.
Instead, she took one of House Valentino’s many noble titles—
The title of Countess Elester.
Officially she was merely a countess.
In reality…
She continued acting as though she were still the lady of the Valentino household.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Have you forgotten how to greet your elders properly?”
Josephine swept into the room, snapped open her fan, and glared at Kanna with undisguised contempt.
“Mary has told me something rather… peculiar.”
Sure enough.
Standing behind her was Mary, wearing a smug smile.
She had run straight to Josephine to complain.
“Have you forgotten the rule that you must greet me every morning?”
“It’s already one in the afternoon!”
“You even skipped your noon greeting!”
“No.”
“I didn’t forget.”
Every day.
Seven in the morning.
Twelve at noon.
Six in the evening.
Three greetings.
Without fail.
If she was even one minute late…
She was showered with abuse.
Remembering everything Joo-hwa had endured over the years, Kanna smiled sarcastically.
“I simply didn’t want to do it.”
Actually… this works out perfectly.
She intended to divorce Sylvien anyway.
If Josephine caused trouble first…
That only benefited her.
Even better if they threw her out of the house.
“Three greetings every single day?”
“If other noble ladies heard about that, they’d faint from shock.”
“Even in your generation, Mother, customs this outdated didn’t exist, did they?”
Sometimes…
Utter astonishment leaves a person speechless.
Kanna straightened her shoulders.
“…What did you just say?”
When Mary had come to her crying, Josephine hadn’t believed her.
Kanna?
That hopeless fool?
Using a switch to beat a servant?
The same girl who constantly tiptoed around everyone else’s feelings?
Josephine had assumed Mary was exaggerating.
Or perhaps Kanna had simply lost her mind.
She really has gone insane.
She was actually talking back.
Clearly.
Confidently.
The same girl who would’ve picked food off the ground if it meant earning someone’s affection.
“Those are the rules of this family!”
Josephine barked.
“Now that you’ve married my precious son, you will obey the traditions of House Valentino whether you like it or not!”
“Those rules…”
Kanna answered calmly.
“…were made by you.”
“…What?”
“They’re nothing more than your own petty whims.”
“And yet you dare call them the traditions of House Valentino?”
“Aren’t you ashamed in front of your family’s long and distinguished history?”
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Then, exactly as Kanna expected—
“Someone!”
“Seize her immediately!”
The attendants hesitated before grabbing Kanna by both arms.
“Today I shall personally correct your disgraceful behavior!”
“Bring me a switch!”
Mary immediately handed Josephine a thick cane.
It was far sturdier than the one Kanna had used earlier.
“Mary!”
“Lift her skirt!”
“Yes, Madam!”
Mary rushed forward and grabbed Kanna’s skirt.
Outwardly she remained composed.
Inside…
She was thrilled.
Serves you right.
How dare you touch Madam’s favorite maid?
But—
“Move.”
Tap.
Kanna casually brushed Mary’s hand away with her foot.
Then she calmly lifted her own skirt.
“I’ll do it myself.”
“…”
“Go ahead, Mother.”
That faint smile…
Sent chills down both Mary’s spine and Josephine’s.
The Kanna they knew would’ve already been begging for forgiveness.
Instead…
She was openly mocking them.
“Do you think I’m joking?”
“Fine!”
“I’ll discipline you until you finally learn your lesson!”
Discipline.
Kanna quietly repeated the word to herself.
Then…
She burst into innocent laughter.
“Disciplining your daughter-in-law with a cane.”
“How very fitting for a prestigious noble house.”
“I’m sure Duke Valentino must be extremely proud of the way you educate your family.”
“Silence!”
“How dare you interrupt your elders!”
Crack!
A bolt of agony exploded across Kanna’s calf.
She clenched her teeth.
She had prepared herself…
But it hurt so badly that she nearly screamed.
Consumed by anger, Josephine raised the switch again.
Crack!
“So House Addis never bothered teaching you proper manners?”
“How shameless!”
“They actually sent an uncivilized girl like you into my family as my daughter-in-law!”
Crack!
Crack!
Again.
And again.
Every strike carved another crimson line across Kanna’s leg.
Soon…
Her skin split open.
Blood began flowing freely.
The watching maids gasped inwardly.
But Kanna merely gripped the hem of her skirt tighter.
She bit her lip until it nearly bled.
I won’t scream.
If she cried out…
Josephine would enjoy it.
And she refused…
Absolutely refused…
To satisfy the woman who had treated Joo-hwa like a dog all these years.
“Huff…”
“Huff…”
How much time had passed?
Josephine’s arm finally began trembling.
She wasn’t accustomed to swinging a cane with such force.
By then…
Kanna’s calf had swollen grotesquely, completely soaked in blood.
“Do you still not understand what you’ve done wrong?!”
“I don’t.”
“You…!”
What a stubborn girl.
Even the servants watching clicked their tongues.
Mary’s face, once full of delight, had turned completely pale.
Kanna’s calf was split open.
Blood poured down her leg.
It had swollen like a giant radish.
She’s crazy.
She has to be.
How can someone change this much overnight?
Cold sweat covered Kanna’s face.
Yet…
She still showed no intention of surrendering.
Neither did Josephine.
She thrust the switch toward one of the male attendants.
“You.”
“You whip her.”
“…Madam?”
“Did you not hear me?”
“I said you do it.”
“M-Madam…”
“But…”
Even if only in name…
Kanna was still a high-born noblewoman.
He was merely a male servant.
If he struck her…
Who knew what consequences might follow?
“Do it!”
Forced into obedience, the attendant reluctantly stepped forward.
He lightly tapped Kanna’s leg.
Barely enough to count as a strike.
“What are you doing?!”
Josephine shouted.
“Hit her properly!”
“M-Madam…”
“But…”
“Her leg…”
“It’s already…”
Her calf was already a mangled, bleeding mess.
How could he possibly strike any harder?
The servant hesitated.
Josephine finally fell silent.
She had been so furious that she’d beaten Kanna with all her strength.
Now…
The servant wasn’t wrong.
There was hardly any intact flesh left to strike.
Surely this has broken her spirit.
Josephine stared coldly at Kanna.
“Do you still believe you’ve done nothing wrong?”
Kanna gave a weak smile.
Her jaw ached from clenching her teeth.
Cold sweat drenched her entire body.
The burning pain climbing up from her leg felt as though it would consume her whole body.
But—
I don’t want to live like that.
Three greetings every single day.
At fixed times.
No matter what.
That wasn’t respect.
It was violence.
An unspoken warning:
Don’t even dream of having your own freedom.
I will never…
Never live like that.
She didn’t know why she had returned to this world.
She desperately wanted to go back.
Perhaps…
She never could.
If that was the case…
Then she wanted to live properly.
As a human being.
Not as an animal to be abused.
If she gave in now…
Nothing would ever change.
Nothing.
“Yes.”
Kanna finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
“I was wrong.”
At last.
She’s admitting it.
Just as Josephine’s triumphant smile began to form—
Kanna continued.
“I should have refused from the very beginning.”
“I kept forcing myself to endure things I hated.”
“So yes…”
“The one who was wrong…”
“…was me for ever putting up with it.”
