Chapter 27
At Pamela’s shout, a fierce emotion filled the green eyes of Damian. He drew the sword of the knight standing right next to him and hurled it toward Pamela.
“Aaaaah! Aaaaaaah!!”
The sword gleamed ominously as it pierced Pamela’s arm. If she hadn’t raised her arms to block her face, it might have stabbed her neck—such was the threat it posed.
Isabella’s voice cut off, and the inside of the mansion became deathly quiet. Through his clenched teeth, Damian’s trembling voice leaked out.
“You dare… threaten me?”
Damian closed the distance to Pamela and grabbed her throat. Glaring coldly at her as she choked and gasped, he whispered something into her ear. Pamela’s face turned deathly pale at once, and Damian loosened his grip. Watching her collapse and tremble on the floor, Damian spat out,
“Is this the Rosana estate or a street market?”
Damian’s cold green eyes now turned to Isabella.
“Isabella, have you forgotten all dignity and decorum as a noble lady? What kind of language is that?”
Now Eliano’s face twisted. Speaking with a face just like their father’s and using the same tone—it made it impossible to feel any attachment.
“Eliano, cutting off her right wrist? Do you really think that’s a just punishment?”
Eliano’s eyes widened at his interfering tone. Damian Rosana was always like this. Whatever she did, he never left it alone.
“I believe the older sister who was born first has at least that much authority, Damian. Would you not respect me?”
“She knows our secret. Didn’t you hear?”
“And the future of Rosana hangs on a nanny’s tongue? How pathetic.”
At Eliano’s sarcasm, Damian’s lips twisted.
“I want to respect my little sister, but isn’t it because you can’t issue a proper punishment?”
“Damian, do you want to humiliate your other half like that? I clearly said to cut off her right wrist!”
The last words came out as a shout. The two green-eyed siblings clashed mid-air with their emotions. Damian was the first to avert his gaze. He turned away, as if not worth arguing with any longer. Eliano clenched her skirt.
“Cut off Pamela’s right wrist and tongue. But gag her first—she’s noisy.”
At Damian’s command, Eliano blinked blankly with her green eyes.
“If the little sister so wishes to play the elder, we must oblige.”
“You—!”
“Pamela, be grateful to Eliano for saving at least your left wrist. But that tongue—I will claim it for daring to bite its master.”
Pamela, gagged, let out muffled sobs and tears streamed down her face.
“Everyone remember this—those who steal from their masters in Rosana will lose both wrists and be cast out. Pamela’s fate will not be repeated for others with sticky fingers.”
At the young duke’s stern warning, all the servants trembled and bowed their heads. That losing only one wrist and a tongue was considered lucky—it was chilling.
“Do it immediately.”
Pamela shook her head and pleaded with tears, but she could not stop the axe flying toward her right wrist. Groans of pain slipped past the gag. Perhaps the axe blade was dull; it swung several times more. The moment her wrist was completely severed, Pamela lost consciousness from the pain.
“Wake her. She’s committed a crime greater than theft.”
At Damian’s order, cold water was splashed over Pamela’s face. Two people held her down and forced her mouth open. As her tongue was cut, the weaker servants covered their eyes and let out faint screams. Most trembled and hung their heads.
Eliano, however, watched every moment of Pamela’s agony with wide-open eyes. The corners of her lips curled softly. What filled her green eyes was joy. A heavy knot in her chest seemed to unravel.
“Young lady! Young lady! Please come to your senses.”
“Lady Isabella!”
At the maids’ panicked voices, Eliano quickly hid her expression.
“Second young lady has fainted! We told her we should go back…”
Emily sniffled. Having watched the horrific scene, Isabella had gently lost consciousness. For a young, underage girl, it had been too cruel.
Damian, now realizing this, smacked his forehead. Then something came to him and he whipped his head around—but the sister who should have been the most faint-hearted was calmly giving orders to the maids.
“Quickly take Isabella to her room, and call Emma.”
With that, Eliano walked elegantly over to Pamela. She nudged the body with her foot. Pamela didn’t budge.
“Is she dead?”
Her voice asking the question was indifferent. Miller snapped out of it and checked Pamela’s pulse. She soon replied,
“N-no… she still has a pulse…”
“Well, a person wouldn’t die so easily from just losing a tongue and a wrist.”
There was a tone of disappointment in her voice. Eliano gave the order.
“Miller, move Pamela to her room and treat her.”
“What? Treat her? But…”
It’ll be hard to reattach the wrist… Miller’s voice trailed off. Surely she wouldn’t ask for a healing priest? The head maid looked anxious, waiting for Eliano’s next words. With an expressionless face, Eliano jerked her chin.
“Throw those things away right now. They look disgusting. I feel faint just seeing them.”
“My lady! We’ll take you to your room. After such a horrible sight, your mind and body must be distressed. How about a bath to calm down?” Lavender and Jane chattered as they each took one of Eliano’s hands.
“Huh…”
Damian let out a hollow breath as he watched Eliano’s retreating figure. Then he wiped his expression and barked at the hesitant servants.
“Did you not hear what my sister said? Clean it up. I can’t bear to look any longer.”
Damian shuddered. The butler cautiously asked,
“Then… the nanny’s treatment…”
“Didn’t Eliano say it? Treat her, she said! You coward! Even when you have the chance…!”
As Damian turned to go back to his room, his gaze fell on the scattered Ella Island flowers on the floor.
“All of it! Take it to Eliano’s room. Place it on the nightstand beside the bed!”
