“Miss…”
Looking at the mess in the courtyard, Jenny was first a bit confused, then flustered and at a loss.
Although there was a faint sense of relief in her heart, …there was even more worry.
She was afraid of how her father would treat her and her birth mother when he returned.
“It looks…quite miserable, doesn’t it?”
Ireya didn’t turn around, only glanced at Jenny out of the corner of her eye.
“I am very sorry…I failed to accomplish what you entrusted to me, my lady.”
Hoo!
Compared to the madam of her household, Jenny was clearly much smarter.
She endured the pain in her body and directly fell to her knees, her tone respectful, without a hint of fear—only full of…awe.
At this moment, she threw aside all thoughts of the future, or of her father.
Because from the instant Ireya spoke, she already realized: as long as she stood under this lady’s protection, whether it was her father or Bija, they could no longer harm her in the slightest.
She might even replace her father and become the true holder of power in this household.
“No matter. Everyone makes mistakes~”
The lady turned around very amiably and slowly squatted down.
But instead of helping Jenny up, she simply patted her head gently with her small hand— as if patting a well-behaved dog.
“I am someone who…at most gives a subordinate three chances. There may be a first and a second mistake, but never a third~”
When Ireya said this, her tone was light and gentle.
Yet also very cold.
Like a glass of ice water drunk into the belly—refreshing at first, but then chilling the whole body, causing stomach cramps.
“Y-Yes! My lady, I…understand.”
“Mm~ as long as you understand~”
Ireya smiled, her fingers slowly sliding down Jenny’s cheek and chin, before standing up.
“Alright~ get up, come with me outside to take a look.”
“Yes!”
So…she was forgiven, right?
When Jenny stood up, she felt her legs go weak.
If it hadn’t been for Yumina supporting her, she would’ve fallen flat on the ground.
“Thank you!”
Under the gaze of those around them, the three slowly walked to the middle of the street.
At that moment, Jenny’s pupils shrank to their smallest.
Because she saw people curled up on the ground, trembling and convulsing— and a pair of pale severed hands scattered there on the street.
Those hands…she remembered them too clearly.
When she was little, these hands yanked her dry hair, cursing her as a little bitch.
And she…could only smile obsequiously, just to avoid being beaten, to have food to eat, to wear clothes that didn’t expose her skin…
But now…although her hair was a bit messy, it was smooth and soft, while these hands…had already been severed from their arms, lying on the ground covered in blood and dirt.
“Ah…ah…Jenny! Save me…please save me, mama knows she was wrong…mama really knows she was wrong, I beg you!”
The moment Bija saw Jenny, she crawled forward like a crazed beggar, but because of the excruciating pain in her arms and her blood loss, she couldn’t move too fast…
Jenny froze, subconsciously turning her gaze to look at the lady.
But the moment she did, her eyes met those crimson ones directly!
“There may be a first and a second, but never a third.”
These words exploded in Jenny’s mind, making her instantly make her choice!
Step, step, step!
“Je…Jenny! Haha…I…I knew you would…”
Huff—!
Thud!
“Shut up! You wretched woman…I already told you that money belonged to the lady and you still dared to touch it! You must be tired of living…when father returns, you can just get the hell out of this house!!”
—Eh?
At the moment Jenny’s foot struck Bija’s face, the madam was bewildered.
Wasn’t she…in name, Jenny’s mother?
Wasn’t she the madam…the second master of this house?
How did this little bitch dare to…
“Ah!”
Clatter!
Jenny’s kick was clearly not just all her strength—it also vented all the unfairness she and her birth mother had suffered in this mansion.
White teeth mixed with blood scattered again onto the ground.
After doing all this, Jenny again glanced at Ireya from the corner of her eye.
Only to see that at this moment, the other’s lips finally showed a slight curve.
She…had gambled right!
Since she chose to serve this lady, she would always stand by her side!
No matter who was standing—or crawling—before her…
But thinking of this, Jenny still felt some lingering fear.
If she had hesitated a bit longer just now, would it have…
No no no!
There are no ifs!
She had already made her choice.
“Yumina, throw the other one up there too~”
Ireya waved to her personal maid.
“Yes, my lady.”
Yumina nodded slowly, then made a gesture to the soldiers behind her.
Step, step, step!
The soldiers dragged a fat man into the middle of the street.
“You…you…”
At this moment, the masked assailant gradually came to his senses from being badly beaten.
His eyes somewhat dazed, looking around— only to see Bija lying on the ground, missing both hands, trembling like a dying dog.
“Mother…”
“Mother?”
Hearing the masked man in front of her say that word, Jenny instinctively…took a step back.
No…it couldn’t be…
The only person who would call Bija “mother”…
This man who just nearly violated her…was her half-brother!?
Although…he had never treated her very well either, often bullying her when they were young.
But…after they grew up, especially when she began to shine in social circles and brought benefits to the family, her brother’s attitude—like her father’s—had become much more gentle.
He could even be considered a decent older brother…
So…
Jenny truly never imagined that he could be such a beast!
She could understand that he liked her, but could not comprehend…
Thinking of what he had said to her in the woodshed before, and what he was about to do…
Jenny felt a wave of nausea.
She could not imagine having lived under the same roof with someone like this for so long.
Huff!!
The man’s mask was ripped off by the soldiers, exposing his face to the crowd.
It really was…
Baruch Bes, eldest son of Knight Bes—
Jenny’s half-brother.
“You bastard!!”
At this moment, Jenny could no longer contain her rage.
She stepped forward, wanting to slap this beast across the face!
“Jenny…eh?!”
Huff!!
But in the next instant, Jenny’s motion was stopped by a green iron rod covered with twisted runes.
This was…?
The girl was momentarily stunned, and instinctively looked toward the other end of the rod— it was held by the maid with the red twin-tails.
“The lady wishes for you to use this to resolve the matter.”
Yumina said with a smile.
“He wanted to completely destroy you. You should understand what you must do.”
What I must do…
Jenny subconsciously took the iron rod from Yumina’s hand, its surface flickering with blue electric arcs.
She slowly stepped up to stand before Baruch.
“Je…Jenny…you…you’re not really going to do this, are you? If father…if father finds out, he absolutely won’t forgive you! This…this was my fault! I’m apologizing to you! Your brother knows he was wrong! I am your elder brother after all…you…”
“Shut up!”
Huff—!!
Jenny swung the rod with all her strength!
Thud!
“Ugh ah!!!”
Veins bulging!
The blow landed heavily on Baruch’s head.
Blue electric currents burst out instantly, even slightly deforming his forehead.
His eyes bulged.
But that wasn’t the end…
Huff!
With every swing, images of what had happened in the woodshed flashed through the girl’s mind— she imagined the fate that would have awaited her had she been violated.
And this man, after defiling her, would one day take off his mask and again appear before her…likely putting on that gentle face.
And she, clueless, might even treat him as her last bit of warmth…
Truly…
Disgusting.
Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting, disgusting!!!
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!”
Huff!
Huff!
Huff!!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud thud thud!!
Each strike of the iron rod unleashed blue lightning, stinging the eyes of the people around them…mixed in with the blue currents were sprays of blood— dotted with white, tofu-like matter.