“Shall we find out more?”

The black hawk was thorough and persistent. If Cain wanted, he could even find out the number of Mrs. Themis’ underwear.

“This is enough.”

Cain took in the circumstantial evidence of Mrs. Burnett and Mrs. Themis associating when they were in the capital.

His aunt, Mrs. Burnett, often complained that young people these days were too unruly.

It was obvious without asking that she and Mrs. Themis got along well.

As Cain fiddled with his cigar, he recalled the report he had heard from Mary.

Cain nodded vaguely.

At that time, Mary had an expression like she had more to say, but didn’t make any further report.

Cain took it to mean it wasn’t an issue he needed to address, so he let it go. But now he was a bit curious.

What did that woman say?

How did Jane react?

Once again, Jane occupied Cain’s thoughts.

‘How tiresome.’

Cain put the cigar in his mouth. Smoke soon rose from the lit end of the cigar.

“What will you do about Mrs. Themis?”

The cigar slipped out from between the red lips.

“There’s my aunt’s recommendation, and Mary is watching. There’s no major issue on paper. Let her be for now.”

Replacing the etiquette instructor wouldn’t be a problem. However, doing so would create the hassle of finding a new etiquette instructor.

Cain had no intention of dealing with that hassle.

At least not unless a big problem occurred.

But a few days later, that problem did occur. And it wasn’t caused by Mrs. Themis, but by Jane.

* * *

Mrs. Themis’ face as she came out after finishing the lesson was quite a sight to behold.

Today too, Jane had turned her inside out with that docile face of hers.

The “I understand. Thank you.” uttered with a face devoid of any respect felt like sarcasm.

Any other time, she would have swung the paddle, telling her not to be so impertinent, but with that Mary or whatever watching her with wide eyes, even that wasn’t feasible.

She had even written a letter to Mrs. Burnett trying to get rid of that woman, but there was no reply.

Come to think of it, the steady stream of communication had also stopped.

She started to worry if Mrs. Burnett had become disappointed in her.

‘She has reason to be disappointed.’

Mrs. Themis had boasted that she could drive Jane out in two days. But Jane was holding out for nearly two weeks, past a week.

There was a variable in the middle with that Mary woman intervening, but Mrs. Burnett was unlikely to take that circumstance into consideration.

If things went on like this and her relationship with Mrs. Burnett soured, it would be the end for House Themis.

Viscount Themis had lost all his money by ruining his business. It would have been fortunate if there was just no money, but the problem was the debt.

They had managed to put out the urgent fire by borrowing from Burnett, but it was a fire that could flare up again anytime.

‘If only I could drive out that Jane.’

Mrs. Burnett had hinted that if Jane was driven out, she would help with Viscount Themis’ business.

For Mrs. Themis to survive, she had to expel Jane.

‘What should I do? Isn’t there a good way?’

Mrs. Themis racked her brains over and over. So much so that she didn’t see the child running towards her from the front.

“Aaak!”

Mrs. Themis fell ungracefully after colliding with the small body.

“Ugh.”

It wasn’t just Mrs. Themis who fell. The child also lay fallen, making a groaning sound.

Mrs. Themis, who was already in a bad mood, became inflamed with anger. The child had added fuel to the fire.

Mrs. Themis scrutinized the child with sharp eyes.

A small, thin body, dry skin and chapped lips as if they hadn’t slept well. The child just sat there stupidly, rolling their eyes around without grasping the situation.

They didn’t look like a child from a prominent family.

Mrs. Themis’ eyes turned up wickedly like a witch’s.

“How reckless! Who are you? Who are you to be running around Somnium House like a wild colt without a guardian?”

Mrs. Themis raised her voice. It was a sharp tone that would make even an adult’s skin crawl.

“What are you dawdling for? Get up and apologize right now! Looking at your shabby appearance, you must be a child born outside by a maid. It’s so obvious you haven’t been properly educated. Hastings’ maid management is a mess! Bringing in such riffraff.”

Mrs. Themis’ voice grew louder and louder. She poured out on the child the anger that had been building up for days because of Jane.

So she said things to the child that didn’t need to be said, things aimed at Jane.

“You dirty half-breed, those who don’t know their roots crawling in here to suck the honey from House Hastings. No better than insects. Those who can’t even make a living. No sense, can’t even understand words. Hey! What are you doing not getting up? Are you ignoring my words too?”

Until then, the child remained in the fallen position. The child looked up at Mrs. Themis with their hand pressed behind them. Their pale face was full of fear and shame.

That which couldn’t be seen on Jane’s face!

It was thrilling and exhilarating.

Even while knowing she had scolded the child enough, Mrs. Themis didn’t want to stop.

She wanted that child to kneel before her, crying and begging. Only then did she feel the anger built up over time would be relieved.

“I must give you, foolish one, a lesson.”

Mrs. Themis’ eyes gleamed wickedly. Mrs. Themis, at the height of excitement, became rather calm. She gripped the paddle and ordered.

“Stand up.”

The child gulped. The body that had been immobile with fear just moments ago now moved like a marionette puppet at her single word.

“You should apologize. Bow your waist. ‘I’m sorry, madam. I dared to block madam’s path.’ Ah, add ‘like a worm’ in front too.”

The child blinked their large eyes. But they didn’t cry. That sight twisted her mood.

‘Just like Jane.’

Though clearly a different appearance, a completely different reaction, Mrs. Themis somehow found similarities between the child and Jane.

Because that would make her feel better.

The child slowly bowed their waist. A smile spread across Mrs. Themis’ face. And soon she regretted it.

‘I should have told them to kneel. Instead of telling them to bow.’

But the regret was brief. There was plenty of time anyway.

They had agreed to clear this entire floor until Mrs. Themis went downstairs so as not to disturb the education time.

“S-s-s-sor…”

“Can’t you even say one word properly? You’re a stuttering cripple. You need to be properly educated.”

Mrs. Themis raised the paddle approvingly.

The child’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s. The paddle cut through the air and flew towards the child. The child squeezed their eyes shut. They didn’t even think to dodge.

At the moment Mrs. Themis shouted, the child’s thoughts completely stopped.

A clear impact sound was heard. The child’s shoulders jerked greatly at that terrible sound. But strangely, it didn’t hurt.

Instead, a scent was felt. The warm fragrance that melted the heart soothingly was something the child had smelled before.

Before they could recall when and where, an angry voice resonated through the corridor as if striking it.

“Mrs. Themis!”

“Jane! What are you doing?”

Jane?

The child’s eyelids finally opened. The familiar back view and fragrance, she was the new mother Cain had brought.

The angel-like person who had danced with them not long ago, who had given them an unforgettable moment, was now fighting against the witch.

* * *

“What on earth are you doing, Mrs. Themis? Swinging a paddle at a child! And it’s not even education time.”

Jane, who had come out after resting briefly when the lesson ended, blocked Mrs. Themis without a second of hesitation upon seeing the outrageous situation unfolding in the corridor.

“Teaching knows no time or place, Jane. Move aside!”

Mrs. Themis, who had been in the midst of enjoying herself, tried to push Jane away as her actions were stopped.

However, far from being pushed, Jane grabbed Mrs. Themis’ wrist.

She was surprisingly strong for someone who had been severely ill just days ago. Mrs. Themis’ face contorted.

“Jane! How unladylike to use force. I should educate you first in the education room right away.”

Mrs. Themis gritted her teeth, angered at having her wrist grabbed by someone like Jane.

“You’re the one who needs proper education, madam. How dare you try to lay hands on someone’s body?”

“How dare? Someone? Surely you’re not taking issue with you getting hit by the paddle just now. You interfered, didn’t you? I was about to educate that lowly thing.”

“Lowly thing?”

Jane retorted coldly, glaring at Mrs. Themis.

“Yes. Judging by how they can’t identify themselves, they must be a worthless being who doesn’t even know their father. Such things are common, aren’t they? Maids carelessly fooling around outside and getting pregnant with vermin.”

Jane clicked her tongue. She had listened to Mrs. Themis’ nonsense for too long. While she was sorting out her emotions, she had let the child hear words they shouldn’t have heard.

“You’ll have to take responsibility for those words, Mrs. Themis.”

Jane lowered her head, bringing her face close to Mrs. Themis’.

“Let’s see if you can say the same thing when you find out who the child’s father is.”

Jane smiled deeply.

“Mary!”

Mary came running immediately.

“We need to go to the Duke. Where is he?”

“He’s in his office.”

“Let’s go there, Mrs. Themis.”

Jane released Mrs. Themis’ hand as if shaking it off. Then Jane turned around and picked up the child who was frozen like a statue.

“Let’s go to daddy, Joseph.”

Hearing those words, Mrs. Themis’ eyes bulged as if they would pop out.