“This concludes my testimony, Your Grace the Duke.”
Sella bowed her head slightly to Callian Klaus in greeting and stood behind Esika Klaus.
Sella’s mind, as she bowed her head, was filled with admiration for Esika Klaus.
“I will ensure your younger sister receives compensation for her injuries.”
To have anticipated how all this would unfold… her abilities are truly remarkable.
“…Your Grace the Duke…”
Yuri Anesis was trembling and shedding tears.
It feels like a cliff in front and a cliff behind.
“I am… truly utterly disappointed in you.”
Callian Klaus’s complexion was slightly flushed as he spat out cold words towards Yuri Anesis.
He had just completely lost face in front of Esika Klaus.
He had warned that his wife would pay the price based solely on the words of the head maid.
He had confidently told the maid that he would stake the honor of the Klaus family.
However, the culprit revealed was undoubtedly Riona Klaus.
A feeling of shame was washing over him.
“…Damn it.”
He touched his forehead and moved his lips.
He couldn’t even begin to imagine what to say to Esika Klaus.
“It seems the tasteless villainess-chasing has come to an end, so I shall take my leave.”
Esika Klaus’s cold voice reached his ears.
“…Esika…”
Callian Klaus tried to call out to Esika Klaus, but she turned around with a cold breeze.
Sella did the same.
Callian Klaus reached out his hand, but Esika Klaus had already opened the door wide and left the room.
The sound of the door slamming shut was heard.
“…Damn it!”
Callian Klaus violently kicked the box of switches that Sella had put down.
At the loud sound of the box breaking, Yuri Anesis shrank back and trembled even more.
**
Meanwhile, a smile played on Riona Klaus’s lips as she lay down, having the maids massage her legs.
Esika Klaus, even if she struggles, is still just a foolish Esika Klaus.
I must show her clearly what the price is for daring to rebel.
“You all watch carefully too.”
The maids flinched at Riona Klaus’s words.
“What becomes of a worthless thing that tries to climb up without knowing its place.”
They bowed their heads low and focused on massaging Riona Klaus.
Riona Klaus, in the Klaus ducal family, no one dared to go against her will.
She even manipulated her son, Duke Callian Klaus, according to her wishes.
Callian Klaus became angry and sympathetic to her tears and gestures.
Callian Klaus’s great filial piety towards his mother, who had pushed aside the previous Duke Klaus’s legal wife and children, and helped the young boy claim the duke’s position.
There would be no way to break down the relationship between the two.
However, a moment later, the sound of someone pounding on the door was heard.
The maid massaging her legs quickly stood up, but before she could open the door from inside, it swung open.
“…”
Riona Klaus, who had been lying down receiving a massage, frowned between her fine eyebrows and turned her head.
There stood Callian Klaus with a much paler face than before.
Another maid slowly helped Riona Klaus sit up.
Riona Klaus, now sitting upright, watched her son approach her.
His eyes lacked the warm glow that always surrounded them when looking at her.
At that moment, Riona Klaus felt a terrible unease.
“What is the matter, Duke?”
But Riona Klaus did not show that unease and asked gently.
Callian Klaus silently stared at Riona Klaus for a long time.
Then he opened his stiff lips.
“I have always spoken the truth to you, Mother. So… you must also tell me the truth.”
Yuri Anesis had finally confessed to Callian Klaus.
That it was the Duchess who had reduced her calves to that state.
And that if Callian Klaus told this story to Riona Klaus, she might die.
To Yuri Anesis, who was trembling and begging for mercy, Callian Klaus said coldly.
It seems you were not afraid of Mother at all, but completely unafraid of Esika Klaus.
Yuri Anesis hung her head and cried loudly.
Is that truly the tears of someone who regrets their wrongdoing… Callian Klaus felt he could no longer trust Yuri Anesis either.
Callian Klaus did not comfort the crying Yuri Anesis and turned to Riona Klaus.
“What do you mean by that?”
Riona Klaus’s eyes were wavering.
He felt guilty about questioning his mother, who always dedicated herself to the ducal family, but once he had staked the Klaus name, he couldn’t let it go like this.
“The person who abused the maid was not Esika Klaus.”
A low voice escaped Callian Klaus’s lips.
For a moment, Riona Klaus’s fingers twitched slightly.
‘Yuri Anesis, you useless thing.’
It was the thought that flashed through Riona Klaus’s mind.
“Duke…”
“Was it you, Mother?”
Callian Klaus’s eyebrows were set firmly.
The corners of Riona Klaus’s mouth, which had been gently raised, twitched.
“Please tell me.”
**
Esika Klaus focused on her qi cultivation today as well.
As she concentrated her mind on her dantian, clear energy gathered.
As she surrendered her body to the flow and focused on training, she felt a refreshing sensation in her head.
For her, who already possessed the knowledge of a master, swordsmanship and forms were mere formalities.
It wouldn’t be too late to train in swordsmanship after building up sufficient inner strength.
‘With about one more month of training, I should be able to match the inner strength of ordinary knights.’
She had made quite a bit of progress with the constant consumption of medicinal pills and qi cultivation.
Although still far from her past achievements…
Even if she regains only half of her original power, it would be a success.
As she finished her qi cultivation and stood up, Sella entered from outside right on time.
“…My lady.”
She had already sensed that the atmosphere in the mansion had changed.
Sella, with a tense expression, opened her mouth with a look of uncertainty.
“The Duchess has summoned you.”
If it were the Esika Klaus of the past, she would have started to fret and whimper.
Riona Klaus, Callian Klaus’s mother, despised Esika Klaus terribly.
Her twisted obsession with her son, mixed with her inherently cruel nature, tormented Esika Klaus, her son’s wife, to death.
Of course, it would have been better if it were only one-dimensional methods.
Her way was to burn and gnaw at the soul without even a moment to breathe.
“I see.”
Esika Klaus answered nonchalantly with a faint smile.
“By the way, did you receive compensation?”
“Yes. His Grace the Duke ordered the butler to compensate for my younger sister’s matter. It’s all thanks to you, my lady.”
Sella suddenly spoke to Esika Klaus in a moved tone.
Having staked the honor of the Klaus family, Callian Klaus would have had no choice.
Esika Klaus, neatly adjusting her dress, headed towards the garden where Riona Klaus always had her tea time.
The maids glanced rudely at her as she walked with dignity.
But now, no one dared to openly gossip about her.
Reaching the garden, Esika Klaus approached Riona Klaus’s table with graceful steps.
There, Riona Klaus was drinking tea, with Yuri Anesis standing behind her.
Seeing Yuri Anesis’s face reddened as if slapped, Esika Klaus suppressed a smirk and bowed to Riona Klaus, placing her hand on her chest.
“Mother, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
At Esika Klaus’s voice, Riona Klaus gradually raised her haughty gaze.
Golden hair elegantly styled, and violet eyes the same color as Callian Klaus’s.
“Yes, it’s been a while. Sit down.”
At Riona Klaus’s permission, Esika Klaus sat across from her.
A chilly atmosphere descended.
In Riona Klaus’s eyes, which appeared calm at first glance, flowed venom no less potent than a snake’s.
“Yuri Anesis, pour the tea.”
At Riona Klaus’s command, Yuri Anesis approached Esika Klaus and filled her teacup.
Esika Klaus felt Yuri Anesis’s cold gaze but inwardly chewed and swallowed it gleefully like a snack.
“I heard the Duke moved your room. He says you seem to have reflected sufficiently.”
“…”
“From today, I will receive your greetings again.”
Since banishing Esika Klaus to a small room, Riona Klaus had not received her greetings.
Even when Esika Klaus knelt in front of her room, begging for forgiveness for words and actions she hadn’t committed, Riona Klaus’s attitude remained unyielding.
It was to insult and torment Esika Klaus, not to teach her.
Even the maids mocked Esika Klaus, and the continued times of humiliation were deep wounds for her.
“I am deeply grateful for your forgiveness and mercy, Mother.”
Esika Klaus replied with a slight smile.
At this attitude, Riona Klaus’s eyebrow twitched.
Riona Klaus had never liked this young woman trying to wedge herself next to her precious son.
She had hoped for misfortune for this child raised in a vulgar rich family with an insignificant title.
So Esika Klaus’s smiling face always stirred up a snake-like fighting spirit.
“And…”
Riona Klaus’s hand gripping the teacup tightened.
“It seems the Duke has misunderstood.”
For Riona Klaus, that day was like a nightmare.
Callian Klaus had asked why she had framed Esika Klaus as the cause of the abuse.
As usual, Riona Klaus tried to gently soothe Callian Klaus, saying it was all for the ducal family, but this time was different.
Callian Klaus had changed.
Doubt that he had never dared to harbor towards his mother filled Callian Klaus’s eyes.
The situation where her son, who had been in her embrace, stood outside her skirts doubting her, was something she had never experienced in her life.
Callian Klaus not only doubted Riona Klaus but also pressured her.
“Apologize to Esika Klaus.”
Riona Klaus’s eyes wavered as if hurt, but Callian Klaus’s attitude did not change.
“She was falsely accused of something she didn’t do. And I…”
Callian Klaus’s tightly clenched fist trembled.
“…Damn it.”
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
