IBTHM Chapter 13

"...Your Grace?"

After staring at each other in silence for quite some time, Hades finally snapped out of his daze only when he heard Aisha's voice.

"Ah!"

His startled body tilted backward, creating quite the commotion.

Aisha quickly grabbed Hades's arm.

It wasn't like he was about to topple over backward badly enough to need catching...

Yet for some reason, the area of his forearm where she'd grabbed him burned hot as if scorched, leaving Hades flustered.

"Shh."

But Aisha remained perfectly calm.

As if telling him not to make a fuss, she pressed her index finger to her lips with furrowed brows, and Hades found himself nodding absently.

Aisha carefully turned her head to look down at the sleeping Abel.

Fortunately, he remained fast asleep without waking.

Finding Abel's sleeping face unbearably adorable, Aisha laughed silently.

Hades stared at her like that for quite a while.

Let's go outside.

Soon Aisha mouthed the words and rose to her feet.

Only after standing did Aisha feel her shoulders were quite heavy. The unfamiliar garment must have been draped over her by Hades.

Coming outside, Aisha returned Hades's clothing while saying, "Thank you."

"Did Abel insist you stay beside him? It must have been uncomfortable—you should have declined appropriately and returned to your room."

Hades sighed as he accepted the clothing Aisha offered.

He already felt sorry enough, and it seemed there would only be more things to feel sorry about...

However, Aisha shook her head without any sign of annoyance.

"No. I was the one who said I'd stay with him. I wasn't uncomfortable at all."

"..."

Aisha, grinning widely, seemed like someone who'd already forgotten everything that happened with Agatha at dinner.

Hades hesitated briefly before speaking.

"About... the Countess being rude to you, I apologize. Of course, I've also told her to apologize to you directly."

"Hm? Why would Your Grace apologize for that? And I don't particularly need an apology from the Countess either. I wasn't that bothered by it."

"How could you not be bothered?"

"Ah, well..."

Aisha seemed to think for a moment, touching her cheek before speaking.

"To be honest, I wasn't completely unbothered, but... I understand her position. The Countess is someone who values honor. I heard she originally received heir education."

"She did."

"If the Countess had ascended to the ducal title, she would have chosen both the marriage partner and heir for the family's honor. Everyone has different values they consider right, and that has to be acknowledged."

Hades listened quietly to Aisha's continuing words, furrowing his brow.

Was it possible to think this way even after hearing such insulting words?

He held that question while listening.

"Unfortunately, Your Grace inherited the ducal title instead, but that doesn't mean the Countess can simply detach all the affection she poured into the family in an instant."

"..."

"So I understand. It's reasonable for her to misunderstand me and find me displeasing."

"But it's not the truth."

"No. I didn't deliberately aim for the seat beside Your Grace, but it's true that I shamelessly packed my bags and came all the way north just to see his face once."

At her frank confession, Hades's face suddenly grew hot, and he raised the back of his hand to cover his cheek while averting his gaze.

"Anyway, don't just sit there and take words like that in the future. You had nothing to apologize for."

"Mm, well, I understand for now."

"And what was it you said? That you'd accept it if I decided to call off our marriage?"

Suddenly recalling Aisha's statement, Hades asked with deeply furrowed brows.

"That will never happen. Didn't I tell you I'm not the kind of man who says one thing and does another?"

The firm statement was intended to reassure Aisha in case she was worried about the marriage falling through...

'He thinks I'm desperate to get married. Well, I suppose he can't help but think that...'

Even though she hadn't exactly lied, Aisha felt awkward as her guilt snowballed.

"So you can afford to be a bit more willful."

"Pardon?"

"You're going to become the Duchess of Ruvermonte, which will make you the noblewoman of highest status excluding royalty. If anyone dares to treat you rudely, don't tolerate it or overlook it. Being magnanimous isn't always the answer."

"But I'm not the Duchess yet."

"Ah, damn it. You're frustratingly dense. I have absolu—!"

Hades grabbed Aisha's shoulders and met her eyes as he spoke with emphasis.

"—tely no intention of retracting my proposal to you!"

Since she'd become the Duchess anyway, she might as well start acting like one now—that's what he meant.

Aisha looked into Hades's earnest red eyes before bursting into laughter.

"Yes, I'll do that."

Act like she was already the Duchess...

Was he telling her that when she faced sharp vitriol like earlier from Countess Gaspel, she shouldn't endure it but fight back instead?

Aisha didn't particularly want to go that far.

From a modern person's perspective, there were aspects of Agatha's obsession with her natal family that were genuinely understandable.

So while she'd answered yes, she didn't truly think she could act willfully.

Not until then, at least.

The next day, Abel waited for Agatha with a rather resolute expression.

It was time to receive instruction from Agatha as promised.

Agatha arrived at Abel's room at the exact time, not a minute late.

Her deeply wrinkled face and strict-looking expression always intimidated Abel.

Abel stood and bowed in greeting.

"You've arrived, Countess."

"Sit down."

Agatha ignored Abel's greeting while gesturing with her chin to her accompanying maids.

The two maids, carrying thick books piled high in their arms, set them down on the desk.

After dismissing the maids, Agatha spoke.

"The young master seems woefully ignorant of etiquette, so I've decided the first lesson will be on manners. Today you'll copy all these books and take a test."

"...Yes."

At Abel's docile answer, Agatha's insides twisted.

The small child was always like this. Fortunately, like a beast with some sense of shame, he seemed aware of what a burden his existence was to Hades.

That's precisely why she couldn't help but feel angry every time she recalled yesterday's scene of him shouting in defense of Aisha.

Already an eyesore, and now defending someone utterly disagreeable.

Abel seemed to think Aisha would soon become his mother.

Agatha gave a derisive snort.

"The young master seemed quite taken with Lady Esclife, didn't he?"

"I... My lady."

As soon as Aisha was mentioned, Abel spoke as if he'd been waiting.

Biting his trembling lips nervously, Abel looked directly at Agatha.

"I have a request."

"What is it?"

"L-Lady Esclife... please don't treat her badly."

"Ha... What did you say?"

Agatha was dumbfounded.

"I... it's not just an empty request. I'll study hard, really hard for you... and I'll do everything you tell me to. So..."

Tears nearly welled up from the sudden surge of emotion, but Abel held them back firmly.

Aisha had said she wouldn't leave the north, but who knew how things might turn out?

What if Agatha, who seemed to disapprove of Aisha, treated her carelessly the way she treated him?

He was used to it and didn't find it hard to endure, but Aisha was different.

Having grown up loved as a noblewoman, she might not be able to bear Agatha's harassment and eventually leave.

No, she definitely would.

Clenching both fists on his thighs, Abel held back tears as he spoke.

"Could you please treat her well? I'll be more, more obedient. I'll listen to Father and to you... And I won't speak rudely like yesterday. I'm sorry."

Agatha's expression was strange as she looked at Abel bowing his head.

"Treat her well..."

"..."

"You mean don't say bad things to her like yesterday? Yesterday you rudely shouted at me that I said 'bad things' to her, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Our once-obedient young master, interrupting adults' conversation and shouting so presumptuously—where did you learn such habits... I was so shocked yesterday I couldn't sleep a wink. You must have learned it from watching His Grace."

"N-no! My lady! That's not it! Father doesn't do that. I'm, I'm the bad one..."

Abel kept holding back the feeling that tears would fall as he spoke.

"...I'm the bad child."

"That's right. Yesterday the young master showed absolutely no trace of manners whatsoever. I've told you repeatedly that I hope you won't disgrace the Ruvermonte name."

Agatha stared blankly at Abel with an expressionless face as she added, "If you've done wrong, you must be punished so you won't think of such rash behavior again. That's how I was raised."

"Yes..."

"His Grace dotes on you so much that he doesn't point out your lack of manners at all, does he?"

At Agatha's question, Abel briefly thought of Hades.

Everything she said was true.

Having barely survived picking up moldy bread in back alleys like a beggar, a few years of living as a noble wouldn't have changed him much.

Yet Hades hadn't particularly tried to teach him, and never got angry even when he acted foolish.

Abel nodded.

"Yes..."

As soon as Abel answered, Agatha called for her maid.

Without even giving any specific instruction, the maid brought a thin switch and handed it to Agatha.

"I'll seriously consider the young master's request. If you want me to view Lady Esclife favorably, then the young master should make an effort."

"Yes, yes. I will. I will."

"Do you have any objection to receiving punishment? If you don't want it, there will be no corporal punishment. It would be troublesome if His Grace rebuked me for punishing a young master who doesn't even want to be educated."

Smiling sweetly as she spoke, Abel shook his head immediately without hesitation.

"I'll accept it. Because I... did wrong."

"Good."

Agatha rose from her seat and tapped the sharp-edged desk lightly with the switch.

Tap tap.

"Take off your shoes and kneel on top of this."