"I want him to do something, let him follow me."
"As you wish, My lady."
"But before that, I want him clean, I don't want to touch something dirty." I stare at Ethan in utter disgust.
Cyril didn't hesitate and bows.
'Did I do well mini Veloras! OHOHOHOHOHO.'
—Few minutes later, Garden—
'I ask the butler to lead him here, alone just me and him.'
The butler hesitates but agrees instead, as if he knows there's eyes anywhere that'll make me safe.
'Ethan finally arrives...'
Ethan stares at me as if a puppy made a mistake, well-cleaned and proper.
'It seems they partially healed his wounds just enough for him to move. But the way he looks uneasy tells me they didn't treat him properly, and it probably still stings.'
Ethan kneels down on the bed of grass.
"I'm sorry, Lady Velora, for not once but twice I failed as your personal knight, therefore, I accept any punishment that you'll give me even if it costs my life."
'Woah... Now that felt like I suddenly had to take responsibility... but a life? T-that's too much' I sweat inside, remaining composed with my arms crossed as I'm seated.
'Actually I thought of a punishment for Ethan, that they might reconsider as a punishment. I call it—'
"Archaic Script Replication."
"Eh?" Ethan looks confuse on what I said.
'ohohohoho.'
"That's your punishment."
"The rules are simple."
"You only need to rewrite the entire old children's book by hand."
'It might not be difficult but it's like old English in pretty cursive writing.'
"Same hand-writing, same spaces, one wrong move repeat the whole page."
"You must finish a page."
"Every. Single. Day."
"Heh." I let out a scoff, proud in my way of punishment.
'In their mind I bet they think it's a simple task.'
—Duke's office—
Duke Lucien stares at me.
"..."
Uncertain about the punishment if it's considered a punishment when that is what he is doing as the Duke.
"But Ethan isn't a duke? He only has a Baron's blood and never had any."
'That's right, Ethan has a Baron's blood the lowest noble, the 7th youngest child in the family.'
—Few hours ago, Hallway—
'He was somewhat sold or kicked out based on the information I got from the maids, only to serve under the Rosethorne, to Lady Velora Rosethorne.'
'What happened to him in the real story?'
—present, Lucien's office—
'I can't check his data or resume since I don't want to catch any attention that I know
'I had to gather Intel somewhere that won't make me suspicious.'
Duke Lucien looks at me with cold eyes.
"If he didn't have a hard time , I'll use it as an excuse to give him a more heavier punishment."
'You call that easy? I've been through worse.'
'Back then, I worked like a damn slave—twelve hours a day, six days a week.
Documents. Reports. Rewrites.
Mess up once? Start over. Wrong format? Start over. Not professional enough? Start over.
Over and over and over—
That boss in that company can't decide crap so he tends to put the blame on us for not getting it right!
By the time I got used to it, I could write perfectly even half-asleep.
It takes years of practice!?!'
"Yes older brother." I smile gently.
—Few minutes later, Garden—
'I don't know where we will be doing the studies since he is not allowed in the libraries so I had no choice but to start the punishment in the garden.'
—Few hours later—
I look at Ethan struggling to write as I say.
"Again."
He starts to struggle.
"Again."
'...I feel like the punishment is too heavy cause he is literally having a hard time to write a single word...'
I let out a sigh.
I look at Ethan once more.
'If I were a girl, I might fall in love with that cute face.'
As I stare at him, he suddenly became beet red. Unaware, I get close to him to check on him.
"Are you okay!?!"
"Eh?!"
"You're red!"
'Tsk I knew it he had a hard time with it, he might have a fever, this is too much for him.'
—Few minutes later—
The maid places her hands gently over the wound, a soft white glow forming around her fingers.
'Light element.'
Warmth spreads across the skin as the cut slowly closes. Torn flesh mends, leaving only faint traces behind.
"He's fine now and only needs a few rest to heal his bruises, My lady."
"You can go."
'Phew, I thought something bad happened but it seems like he's okay.'
'I can't let him rest either, punishment might lead to something far worse than death.'
I seat beside him, and grab myself a paper and ink. I start to write the same one myself.
Ethan's confuse but didn't let out a single sound and continues to write.
—Few days later—
'After lectures, every afternoon, I get to punish Ethan till he finish his task.'
'It turns into our daily routine, and over time, he starts writing better, though he's still slow and prone to mistakes.'
'At least I only make him do one page at a time.'
'Older brother seem to not mind the punishment I did.'
'While Rey seems to be ignoring me when I'm with Ethan so its been peaceful.'
'Hmm, I haven't seen Elie for awhile...?'
"My Lady." Ethan smiles happily seeing me.
'Why's this kid so happy?' My eyebrow raises in confusion.
—Few hours later—
Ethan suddenly feels a sharp pain in his abdomen.
"Are you okay?" I stand up and walk closer to him.
I lift Ethan's shirt up in worry.
'He suddenly gain bruises.'
'Don't tell me he gets another punishment after this?'
Ethan lifts his shirt down.
"I'm fine, my lady, I actually finish the first page." Ethan smiles happily like waiting to be praise.
'I should get snacks after this but—'
'That easy? Seriously? It took me months to get there.' I pat his head.
"You did well. Now it's two pages a day." I give him a chilling smile.
—Few days later, Garden—
I seat across the table while reading a book, Ethan on the other hand focus very hard with his punishment.
'We've been doing this for almost a week now.'
"Lady Velora."
"?"
"Will I be allowed to guard you during your baptism?"
"Eh?"
'Crap! I forgot my birthday is within 3 days.'
'I only know is that on the same day of your birthday you get to be baptized.'
'So it's been a long time huh, the day, my continuous suffering as Lady Velora, the Villainess is close.'
'Actually I don't know what will happen to me there, but I might get intel if I ask.'
"Have you been baptize Ethan?"
"Ah... No..."
"How old are you again?"
"I'm 15 years old, my lady."
'Huh he's older than me a couple of months yet he hasn't been baptized?'
"From what I heard before, I was supposed to be baptize after you..."
Ethan's expression shifts, his voice falters as he suddenly grows flustered.
"B-but that was before, my lady. It's only wishful thinking now… since I've made too many mistakes."
"I'm no longer worthy of standing by your side, my lady… so I'm grateful for your presence."
Ethan looks at me with a gentle smile while a hint of bruise can be seen hidden under his shirt
—An hour later, Night time, Velora's room—
I lay down in my bed.
"Erisa, do you know who will be going with me to the Chathedral?"
"Well there's only be you, a maid, family members and the Rosethorne knights."
'Isn't that too many people—...'
"Do you think Ethan can be baptized after me?"
"He's currently in ongoing punishment, Lady Velora."
"But isn't he under me?"
Erisa places a hand against her cheek.
"Our lady has been rather spoiled too much, sigh, You may confirm it with the Duke, your oldest brother."
—Morning, Lucien's office—
"Can Ethan baptized after me?"
"Sure."
"Becau— wait what? Are you agreeing?"
"Well how can I say no to my only little sister?"
—Few days ago—
A dull sound echoes in a quiet corridor.
Ethan is forced forward, a sharp strike landing across his back.
—slash—
A thin line opens across his skin.
Blood seeps through the fabric.
Ethan remains still.
No resistance.
No complaint.
No sound.
Only silence.
—Few days ago, Garden, Lucien's POV—
"So they've been doing it in the garden." Lucien crosses his arms while looking at the window.
"Yes Duke Lucien." Cyril bows down.
Velora sits across the table, posture relaxed, a book in hand—while Ethan sits opposite her, struggling.
"…Again."
Her voice is calm.
Ethan nods and continues writing.
His hand trembles.
Ink smudges.
He starts over.
'Ineteresting.'
My gaze sharpens slightly.
Lady Velora looks at Ethan's paper.
"…Again."
Ethan's breathing grows uneven, his shoulders tense—yet he does not stop.
—End of POV, Lucien's office—
"I see that Ethan's been accepting his punishment whole so I'll be letting it slide since it's your birthday."
I smiled, can't contain my excitement. I bow down instantly running through the corridors.
'The reason why I chose Ethan to be with me is because I need him. Someone I can rely on if things go wrong.'
'At the same time, he's the first guy I've ever considered a friend since transmigrating—brothers don't count.'
'Still, if things take a bad turn, I might have to use him.'
—Cathedral, Velora's birthday—
'The day has finally came.'