IWBQ 18

Chapter 18

. Cane
2023.08.18.

“Your Highness, there’s no need for this anymore. And you mustn’t do so again in the future. You’re going to become my brother-in-law now.”

“Elise…”

“I told you last time, didn’t I? I have no intention of marrying you. And the rumors aren’t lies. I slept with Prince Karan.”

The smile Chase had been forcing cracked. He pressed his lips tightly into a line.

Until now, he had believed it was all lies. But the resolute expression on Elise’s face, her unwavering gaze—at that moment he realized.

It was all true.

Elise had been with that barbarian bastard.

Did she kiss him with the same lips that whispered love to him? Touch that man with the same delicate hands she once used to write letters to Chase?

Chase’s jaw clenched hard. He gripped the table with force.

“I’ve said all I wanted to say. Congratulations on your marriage with Sister Iris. You and she suit each other well.”

Elise rose, leaving Chase behind.

“Stop right there!”

Chase snapped out of his daze and leapt to his feet.

The chair clattered to the floor under the force.

He closed the distance in an instant, seizing her shoulders and turning her to face him.

“That bastard made a move on you, didn’t he? You were tricked into it. You’re only saying this because you feel guilty toward me, right? Tell me it’s true. Tell me you’re upset that we can’t be engaged anymore.”

Elise glanced down at the hand gripping her shoulder.

Chase’s anger made him lose control of his strength, and her shoulder throbbed in pain.

She forcefully pried his hand off.

“I don’t regret it. Not breaking off our engagement, nor spending the night with Prince Karan. So stop being so pathetic. Any lingering affection I had for you is about to be gone.”

Was it lingering feelings, or merely his pride hurt because she broke off the engagement first? Elise couldn’t tell.

She no longer wished to meet Chase privately.

She’d said enough—surely he would understand now.

Elise turned sharply on her heel.

Fraser was a quick man.

Fearing Lady Langie might change her mind, he had already spread rumors throughout society.

Just as Langie wanted, a fairy-tale love story had been created.

According to the story, Iris and Chase fell in love at first sight, but Elise, who also loved Chase, pursued him relentlessly. Kind Iris yielded. Then Elise, fickle as a feather, fell for Karan. In the end, Iris and Chase’s unwavering love was confirmed, and they became engaged.

It was a story with clear villains and heroes.

Thanks to that tale, Elise was criticized not only in high society but also by the servants of her household.

“This much scandal is nothing.”

When she first decided to break her engagement with Chase, she had imagined far worse outcomes.

“I thought I’d have my head shaved. That Fraser would put a shackle on my neck and drag me before Chase. But if it’s only a few insults, that’s not such a bad result.”

She was content enough with how things stood.

Dressed in her nightgown, Elise leisurely enjoyed her evening, sipping the warm milk a maid had brought.

“I can’t stand it, my lady!”

But Elise’s peace didn’t last long. Regina stormed into the room, furious.

Elise put down her milk, and seeing Regina’s face, she widened her eyes.

“What happened to your face?”

“I’m sorry, my lady. I got into a fight. I know I shouldn’t fight when I think of you, but I couldn’t hold back.”

Regina’s eyes welled up as she answered. Elise took her chin and examined her face.

Her lips were split, and a red mark stained her cheek. By tomorrow, a dark bruise would surely bloom.

“Who hit you?”

“It’s not like I was just beaten—I fought back…”

Apparently her pride wouldn’t let her admit she had only been beaten; Regina muttered through her torn lip.

“Three of them came at me, but I won, my lady.”

She raised her fist. Her knuckles were red and raw.

At least she hadn’t been beaten one-sidedly. Still, Elise was upset.

“Your pretty face is ruined. Tell me who you fought. Ganging up three to one—that’s a coward’s fight. Who were they?”

Elise’s genuine anger doused the fire in Regina’s chest.

The girl gave a silly grin.

“I told you, I won, my lady. I beat up all those bad-mouths who insulted you. I—ah!”

Regina hurriedly clapped her hands over her mouth mid-sentence.

She winced, having touched her wound.

“You fought because of me.”

Elise had wondered why Regina—who was usually so careful not to worsen Elise’s reputation—would brawl. Now she understood.

“My lady… please don’t worry. I taught them a good lesson.”

Regina’s eyes welled again.

“Tell me their names.”

Elise threw on a robe over her nightclothes. Her tone was firm. Regina, intimidated, revealed the names.

All three were Iris’s maids.

Once Elise heard their names, she went straight to the head maid.

“What brings you here, my lady?”

The head maid greeted her politely in title only, her displeasure plain.

To come at this late hour, in only a nightgown, without sending word ahead—such behavior was far from befitting a noble lady, in her eyes.

“Even if she’s a half-blood noble…”

Suaz, the head maid of the Warton household, was herself of noble birth, though her family had fallen, forcing her into service.

Perhaps because of that, she clung fiercely to noble-like propriety.

Which was why Elise, a half-noble, never satisfied her.

“If only she were at least gentle.”

In Suaz’s view, Elise’s clear gaze looked arrogant, her sharp mind felt sly.

But above all, what made Suaz despise her were such unseemly behaviors.

Roaming around at night in a nightgown? Compared to Iris, it was night and day.

“What business brings you here at this hour?”

“Do you remember?”

Elise straightened her back. Suddenly, a dignity Suaz had never seen in her radiated forth. The maid stiffened.

“Remember what, my lady?”

“When my sister’s maid wronged me—you said a maid’s discipline was your responsibility, so you’d punish her. Does that still stand?”

“Yes.”

“Then this time too, you must take responsibility. Are you aware of the rumors spreading among the maids about me?”

Suaz almost said no, but something about Elise’s presence made her stop.

Rumors about Elise among the maids were nothing new. After a pause, Suaz nodded.

“Yes, I am aware.”

“Then tell me, what kind of rumors?”

“They are worthless trifles, my lady. You need not concern yourself.”

“Worthless trifles, are they? So you and the others have that much free time, to spread such talk when your master is absent. Does the Warton household have so many idle hands? Perhaps I should suggest to my father to reduce the staff.”

Fraser would likely ignore Elise’s suggestion, but he would certainly scold Suaz for stirring trouble.

“Given the times, Father might even agree. He has been grumbling about the payroll being too heavy.”

Sensing the danger, Suaz quickly replied.

“No, my lady.”

“What’s ‘no’? That you aren’t idle? Or that those are trifles, as you first claimed? Either way, you won’t escape responsibility.”

“My lady, please calm your anger. I will look into it thoroughly. But it is late—you should not be wandering about at this hour.”

Suaz tried to lecture her. Elise’s expression immediately sharpened.

“You told me once, didn’t you? That there are lessons which, if missed, can never be learned. Tonight is the time for your lesson. Bring me a cane, Suaz.”

“What are you…”

“You failed to control your subordinates, and so your maids caused a fight. Regina, come here.”

From the shadows of the hallway, Regina stepped out timidly.

When Suaz saw her battered face, she frowned.

“Quarrels among maids are common enough, my lady.”

“Common enough, so they’re nothing? Is that what you think?”

Suaz bowed her head in agreement, subdued.

Yet Elise’s anger did not subside.

“So it wasn’t conviction that made her torment me—it was just her craven nature, siding with the strong and bullying whoever looked weak.”

That thought only stoked Elise’s fury. She pushed past Suaz and entered the room.

“Maids are my father’s assets. And one of those assets has been beaten so badly she can hardly show her face. And you call that nothing? That such things happen frequently? I can’t let this pass. Pull up your skirt.”

Elise took the cane Regina handed her and tapped it against the floor.

Suaz’s face flushed with humiliation. Caning the calves was a punishment used only to discipline lowly servants or children.

“Why are you still standing there? Do my words sound like a joke? Or do you look down on me because I’m only a half-blood noble?”

Half-blood noble—that was Suaz’s own phrase.

Whenever she had to scold a maid for mocking Elise, she would say:

“Even a half-blood noble is still a noble. Mind your tongue.”

Suaz’s expression darkened.

Her ambition was to reach the royal palace—to become the head maid of the queen or the king. That was the highest position a maid could hope for.

Thus she had always clung to Iris, building favor, keeping herself spotless.

But if it became known that she had used such words, her perfect reputation would shatter.

She couldn’t afford that.

Bowing deeply, Suaz said, “My lady, you misunderstand. I have never thought such a thing.”

“Then there’s no reason to hesitate. Come here and bare your calves.”

Elise’s voice was firm. There was no retreat.