Of The Bea 376
Chapter 376Chapter 376
The study was silent, so quiet that even the drop of a pin would be clearly heard.
Enzo knelt on the ground, his face ashen.
On the side, Myles was tied up like an animal awaiting slaughter, drenched in cold sweat.
A drop of sweat slid into his eye, stinging him, but Myles couldn't care about the tiny pain. His blood surged with nervousness, his face flushed, his hands and feet cold, trembling uncontrollably.
After receiving a beating and being kicked out of the mansion, he had learned his lesson and had become much more obedient than before.
However, after recovering from his injuries, Myles slowly returned to his old ways. Yet, just two days after becoming arrogant again, disaster struck once more.
In the early morning, Myles was enthusiastically gambling at the table when a group of guards from the Duke's manor suddenly barged in, binding him without a word, and before he could react, he was brought here.
Seeing his kneeling uncle and Erik sitting high above, it felt as if cold water had been splashed on him, leaving him shivering from head to toe.
The painful memories of being beaten that day surged back overwhelmingly, and Myles was scared out of his wits.
He already understood that Nyx had never fallen out of favor, nor was she just a useless beauty.
Erik had genuine feelings for her and cherished her deeply, yet he had been foolish enough to cut back on her meals.
Myles thought, 'Would the young master have me beaten to death?'
Considering all the stupid things he had done, if not for Enzo secretly covering for him, he would have been dead for a long time.
But while he escaped punishment once, he couldn't avoid it forever. In the end, he couldn't escape his fate.
Overwhelmed with despair, Myles began trembling nonstop.
Enzo took a deep breath, then heavily kowtowed to the ground. "I deceived the master. I deserve to die."
Erik had long instructed him to take good care of Nyx. For her to have been mistreated was already his failure, and to make matters worse, the offender was his own nephew.
Even though Nyx had said there was no need to inform Erik, he should have confessed to him. Yet he had clung to a sliver of hope, hiding the matter, and had been living in constant anxiety ever since. Today, his secret was finally exposed.
"I submit to any punishment the master deems fit. I only beg... I only beg for the master to spare Myles's life..." Enzo pleaded desperately.
From Erik's expression alone, he knew this matter would not end well.
No matter what punishment awaited, he was ready to accept it. But Myles was the last bloodline of the Hussain family, his only selfish concern. He just wanted to protect Myles.
Erik looked down coldly at the uncle and nephew duo, his gaze icy and detached.
He had spent years at war and was rarely home. Used to leaving the household affairs to Enzo, he had trusted him
10:50 Fri, 14 Mar
completely, and nothing major had ever gone wrong in all these years.
Enzo was a loyal confidant, someone he trusted deeply. But he had overlooked the existence of someone like Myles.
"Strictly speaking. Myles is no longer one of the household staff, so I have no reason to deal with him," Erik said indifferently.
Before Enzo could breathe a sigh of relief, Erik suddenly changed his tone. "But he's been in close contact with spies planted here by Banon. What do you think should be done?"
At these words, Enzo turned pale. "He... he didn't do it intentionally..."
Halfway through his explanation, he stopped himself. He swallowed the rest of his plea and kept silent.
Intentional or not, the truth was that over the years, Myles had mingled with Banon's spies during card games, often boasting and inadvertently leaking information about the household.
That alone was enough reason for Erik to take Myles's life, not to mention the offense of mistreating Nyx, which had undoubtedly earned Erik's deep hatred.
At this point, there seemed to be no room for struggle.
With despair written all over his face, Enzo closed his eyes, hearing Erik's cold command: "Beat Myles to death with the rod. Have everyone in the household come and witness the punishment. Lock up Enzo and assign Stefan Moore to take his position."
Just a few words, and their fates were sealed.
Wails of agony echoed through the courtyard, and the scent of blood filled the cold air.
The household staff collectively held their breath, their bodies tense. Some felt satisfaction, others fear, but everyone shared the same thought-Never neglect the madam again.
They all knew clearly that Myles's downfall, along with Enzo's, stemmed from their lack of awareness and from offending the one person they should never have crossed.
Among the crowd, Arlong stood beside Erik, watching Myles's pitiful punishment. He shook his head and sighed quietly.
He knew very well that Erik, whether before or after his injury, was not someone cruel or ruthless by nature. Unless absolutely necessary, he rarely punished his servants.
In fact, many of those previously dealt with in the household were either spies planted by Banon or pawns used to mislead others. Most had not actually been executed but secretly relocated elsewhere.
Using the excuse of a "personality change due to trauma," Erik had taken the opportunity to thoroughly purge the Duke's
Mansion.
For someone like Myles, who had unintentionally leaked minor information in the past, Erik had chosen to turn a blind eye and let it slide. But Myles simply couldn't stay out of trouble.
Myles was foolish, and Enzo was negligent. When it came to matters involving Nyx, they dared to deceive Erik, crossing his bottom line. Nobody could save them now.
As Myles was left barely clinging to life, Arlong composed himself and stepped forward, ready to handle the aftermath.
"Madam?" A sudden exclamation came from the crowd.
The executioners instinctively halted their actions.
Fri, 14 Mar
Erik's body jolted, and he turned sharply, disbelief etched on his face as his gaze
met Nyx's,
He froze for two seconds before striding forward quickly, taking Nyx's hand. His tall frame shifted just enough to block her view, shielding her eyes from the gruesome scene.
"Why... why are you here?" Erik had never imagined this side of himself would be exposed to the one he loved. For a moment, he was at a complete loss, the cold fierceness in his expression melting away, replaced by awkwardness and helplessness.
Nyx gently patted the back of his hand, offering reassurance.
Having endured interstellar wars, Earth's apocalyptic end, savage battles with wild beasts on the plains, and bloody struggles in the primitive era, she had developed stronger tolerance now. A scene like this couldn't faze her.
Even though her expression remained calm, Erik still stood firmly in front of her, refusing to step aside. His voice was low and heavy. "Don't plead for him, Nyx."
If Nyx spoke up, he wouldn't be able to refuse her. He would inevitably let Myles go just to satisfy her wishes. But if he didn't kill this wretched man, the anger in his heart would never subside.
"Who says I need to plead for him?" Nyx raised an eyebrow slightly. "I intend to deal with him personally. Is that not allowed?"
As soon as she woke up, she heard that Pale Wolf had been beating and killing servants. Alarmed, she quickly got out of bed and asked around to gather details.
It was only because he had missed delivering her one meal. Even if it was out of malice, in her eyes, it was a trivial matter- no reason to kill him. The way Enzo had handled it before didn't seem like an issue, but Pale Wolf clearly wasn't satisfied.
Nyx glanced at Myles, who was weakly lying on the torture rack, and clicked her tongue. "Spare his life, and leave him to me."
There were many ways to handle such a person, including thought reform and labor reeducation. Any of those would be better than taking his life.
A capable assistant like Enzo wasn't easy to find. He had been loyal to Pale Wolf for many years, and it wouldn't be right to waste his life over such a small matter.
Nyx's decision was final, and Erik couldn't argue with her. He had no choice but to nod obediently.
The house's doctor was highly skilled in medicine and, following orders, managed to keep Myles alive, preventing his death. However, he was beaten nearly to death and would require at least a year or more to fully recover.
"Calculate the medical fees and the cost of the herbs, and charge them to his account," Nyx instructed the medicine boy.
Upon hearing this, the ever-loyal Enzo lowered his head in shame and immediately reached for his purse. "I'll pay..."
She
Nyx was magnanimous. She had saved Myles's life and even restored him to his former position. From now on, his life belonged to her. He would gladly serve her, even risking his life. If he ever disobeyed, he would deserve the wrath of heaven.
"No need for you to pay," Nyx raised her hand to stop him. "Let Myles pay for it himself."
She glanced at Enzo. "He's already an adult. He should take responsibility for his own actions."
"Spoiling children is like killing them," she muttered, looking back down at the ledger. "Steward Hussain is a reasonable man. You won't fail to understand this."
It was because Enzo had spoiled Myles too much that he turned out to be a
failure.
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+58)
"What the lady says is right," Enzo replied, feeling even more ashamed. "But he really has no skills. If it's left to him, he might never be able to repay this debt."
He had raised Myles into a useless man. He wasn't without regret, but he felt helpless to fix it now.
The medicinal herbs were expensive, and even without considering interest, it would take Myles decades of hard labor to repay, if not longer. Enzo would have
to help him, whether he liked it or not.
Enzo just couldn't bear to ignore Myles.
Nyx waved her hand dismissively. "Whether he can repay it or not, it's still his responsibility to do so."
If he had no skills, he could learn. If he had no money, he could earn. As long as he hadn't repaid the debt, he would work tirelessly every day. The only money he made would go towards paying the debt, with just enough left to cover the most basic living expenses.
This way, he would have neither money nor time for leisure or
ambling.
When Enzo understood Nyx's meaning, his eyes slowly brightened. "Once he recovers, before he starts working, he'll need some orientation training,"
Nyx added. During this time, she planned to cultivate a group of teachers. Some would teach reading and writing as well as thought reform, while others would teach basic math and science. Though these were often seen as useless skills by people of
this era, there would always be someone interested in learning.
If she didn't understand Emperor's true identity, she wouldn't have bothered with this, not wanting to get herself into trouble.
But since Emperor was family, she could confidently delve into the realm of technology. She had nothing else to do anyway, and who knew how long she would stay here? She might as well get some work done. Developing technology was important, but thought reform was just as critical.
"Until Myles passes the thought reform assessment, he won't be allowed to work," Nyx smiled.
Without the ability to work, he couldn't make money. As long as he hadn't repaid
his debt, the house would only provide him with the simplest meals. If he didn't
like it, he could starve.
Someone like him, who indulged in pleasures, would not be able to endure a life
of eating scraps. To taste meat, he would have to work hard.
"Yes, madam." Enzo's eyes glowed with admiration.
Though some of the words she used were hard for him to fully comprehend, it
didn't stop him from understanding her thinking.
He thought she was truly a genius.
*****
On his sickbed, Myles gritted his teeth, groaning in pain. Suddenly, he felt a chill
down his spine and shivered.
He assumed it was just the cold from his injuries, unaware of the fate that was
about to befall him.
****
A heavy snow fell, covering the chaos and the cold vibe in the courtyard, restoring peace to the Duke's Mansion.
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Inside the teahouse, the sounds of bustling conversation filled the air. The waiters
were as busy as spinning tops, with steam rising from the tea on the tables, driving away the chill.
In the elegant upstairs room, a young man in fine clothes rested his eyes halfway,
surrounded by attentive servants.
Some were massaging his legs, others kneading his shoulders, while others
played music, sang, and danced, creating a lively vibe. The faint sounds of conversation drifted up from below.
You could hear a few wealthy youths boasting, a group of merchants discussing
the hardships of the year, and some gamblers arguing over a few copper coins. Suddenly, someone spoke mysteriously, "Have you heard? The Duke's Mansion beat someone again. Although he didn't die, several doctors had to treat him, and it took a lot of medicine just to keep him alive.”
The room immediately erupted into a clamor, waves of voices rising.
"What?"
"Where did you hear this?"
"Quick, tell us more!"
"My uncle's brother works at Duke's Mansion. A few days ago, I went to my
uncle's house for a drink, and he happened to mention it." The person cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "I heard this matter is related to Erik's wife...
He didn't know any more details.
Even though he was drunk, his uncle's brother was very reluctant to talk about the matter and only spoke in vague terms before refusing to say more.
The less people knew, the more they speculated, and soon whispers filled the
teahouse.
In the private room, a man in fine clothes opened his eyes, his gaze landing on the three women who were kneeling and preparing tea. Suddenly, he spoke,
"Brisa, Paola, and Kaila, come here."
"Yes, Your Highness." The three women immediately got up and approached, their
postures obedient and humble, heads lowered, but with a hint of humiliation in
their eyes.
The three women were Joyce, Mila, and Kaya.
After the Voss family lost their power, they fell to such a state. They had thought that being brought to Banon's estate would be their salvation, but they were shocked to find that Banon treated them as ordinary servants, even stripping them of their previous names.
They had once resented it, but after witnessing Banon's cruel ways and seeing disfigured corpses being carried out of the estate, they had no choice but to accept their fate.
Even accepting their fate and obeying his every command, surviving in Banon's estate was not easy.
Unlike the other women in the estate, they had beauty and dancing skills, but no knowledge of serving others, a skill they had never learned.
Banon called for them a few times out of novelty, but quickly lost interest and left them abandoned in a corner.
The prince's estate was filled with women, all of them competitors. If one failed to
earn favor, they were bullied by yor
and trampled underfoot.
When they were beaten and made to kneel in the snow, trembling from the cold,
the three women found their minds wandering, remembering their past.
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58) Chapter 376
Those memories of enjoying luxury, bullying Nyx from a high position, felt as
distant as if they belonged to a past life.
If they wanted to survive, they had to desperately get close to Banon. They used
all their wits to be allowed to accompany him today, but now they could only kneel at a distance, boiling water and making tea, not even able to show their faces. Just when they had lost all hope, unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better. The brief flash of humiliation in their eyes disappeared quickly, and the three women, under the jealous gaze of the other. women, smiled obsequiously at Banon, waiting for his orders.
Banon slowly stood up, looking down at them. "If I remember correctly, Erik's wife
is the daughter of your Voss family, right?"
Upon hearing this, the three women stiffened.
They couldn't figure out what Banon was thinking, and didn't dare to make any
sudden moves. They couldn't nod or shake their heads, awkwardly kneeling
there.
"Don't be afraid," Banon stroked his chin and chuckled meaningfully. "Since we
are family, I should take you to Duke's Mansion to visit your relatives and catch
up."
The spies at Duke's Mansion had been removed too thoroughly, and the only one
left, Jinx and Jules, was of little use. He needed to meet Erik in person. Previously, the intelligence Jinx and Jules had sent said that Nyx was not favored,noveldrama
and if he could find a chance to meet her, perhaps he could use her for
something.
Banon's gaze fell coldly on the three women, with no warmth in his eyes.
If necessary, these three would be the gift he sent to Nyx. After all, she had been oppressed by these women for years, and surely she would enjoy taking revenge on her enemies personally.
*****
A formal invitation was sent to Duke's Mansion, but it seemed to vanish without a trace, as there was no reply.
Banon was not surprised. When the appointed time arrived, he still went in person, bringing only the three women from the Voss family with him.
The three of them clustered around Banon, their makeup and new clothes
revealing a faint sense of joy and smugness.
"Are you happy?" Banon glanced at them sideways, a smile that wasn't quite a
smile
on his lips.
Kaya, the most impatient, couldn't hide her excitement and answered with a bright
voice, "Yes, Your Highness, I am happy." Recently, rumors had spread outside
that someone at Duke's Mansion had been beaten and nearly died. At first, it was said to be related to the lady of the house, but as the story spread,
it became a rumor that Erik himself had ordered her to be beaten to the brink of
death.
Some thought it was absurd and unbelievable, but Joyce, Mila, and Kaya believed
it without question when they hear
They thought, 'Someone like Nyx, who isn't liked, living with the bad-tempered
Erik, how could she possibly end up well? If it weren't the wife being beaten, why
would the Duke's Mansion waste medicine to treat her? It seems that Nyx is the one who has been beaten.'
"Thank you, Your Highness, for showing us such mercy and giving us the opportunity to reunite with our flesh and blood." Mila raised her sleeve to cover
her mouth, curtsying gracefully, and gave Banon a flirtatious wink.
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Fri, 14 Mar
Her heart raced with excitement. She couldn't wait to see Nyx and witness her
misery with her own eyes.
With their father dead and their lives so miserable, the only way for them to feel
better was to see Nyx in an even worse
situation.
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"Good, let's go then. I'll make sure you reunite," Banon laughed heartily, raising
his hand to embrace one of the women's waists, caressing her while striding
towards the hall.
田
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