TSOHLWTL Chapter 09

Chapter 09

 

 

Slap—.

“Shut your mouth!”

Catherine froze in shock at the scene unfolding before her.

It all happened suddenly in the middle of class. She didn’t know what Eleanor had whispered to Iris, but Iris suddenly charged at her like a madwoman, furious. 

Her flushed face twisted into something monstrous.

Catherine already knew Eleanor was going to be slapped. In the original story, Eleanor endured Iris’s violence until the duke arrived just in time to save her. 

Seeing Eleanor being hit in front of him left the duke in deep shock and regret. That was his first moment of realization in the original story.

If Catherine interfered now, she might disrupt the story’s flow.

‘Why isn’t he coming yet?! The original said he arrived quickly…!’

She anxiously watched, waiting for the duke to appear.

But—.

Bang! Slap!

‘This isn’t right! The punishment wasn’t this severe!’

Iris had completely lost control. Slapping Eleanor wasn’t enough—now she had knocked her down and started kicking her.

‘At this rate, she might kill her!’

Iris climbed on top of Eleanor, grabbing her by the collar.

“You dare…!”

“Why? Aren’t you curious what will happen when the truth gets out? The entire social scene will be buzzing about you!”

Iris tightened her grip. Her pupils expanded like a predator before the kill.

“Shut up!”

She reached for the heavy glass lamp on the desk, raising it high.

If Eleanor got hit with that, she could die.

Panic surged through Catherine, and she rushed between them.

“W-Wait! Calm down! Stop! Stop it!”

“Get lost, you nuisance!”

Screech—. Smack!

Iris’s sharp nails scraped across Catherine’s cheek.

A thin red scratch appeared on her pale skin.

At that moment, the door to the room swung open.

The long-awaited Duke Hereis stood at the entrance, his face stone-cold.

Everyone in the room froze.

His sharp gaze immediately locked onto Iris.

“…What do you think you’re doing?”

Meeting his eyes, Iris finally seemed to regain her senses. Her hands trembled.

She quickly got off Eleanor.

“D-Duke! I-I was just…”

“I wasn’t aware a mere teacher had the right to pin down a noble lady.”

The entire room fell silent. The duke had a presence that crushed people psychologically.

The once-heated atmosphere turned ice-cold.

“I asked you a question. How long must I wait for an answer?”

“T-That’s…!”

His chilling voice made Iris tremble violently.

The duke shifted his gaze to Eleanor, who had been pinned down.

His face twisted in anger.

Eleanor was a mess.

Bruises stained her pale skin, her clothes were wrinkled with footprints, and her once silky silver hair was a tangled mess.

Yet, she didn’t cry or glare—she simply stared at him silently.

“I-It was just a little punishment because Lady Eleanor wouldn’t listen…!”

Iris crawled toward the duke, pleading desperately.

Gone was the refined woman—she now looked like a crazed beggar.

“…Beating someone like an animal is considered punishment? I’ve never heard of such a lesson.”

“Lady Eleanor was spreading rumors—! No, I-I can explain!”

The duke frowned.

“I’ve heard enough. Take her away.”

“Yes, sir!”

“N-No! Duke, wait!”

Knights entered the room and seized Iris by the arms.

She thrashed violently, but it was useless.

Just like she had done to Eleanor, Iris was dragged out, her hair pulled back.

“……”

Silence settled in the room.

After a moment, the duke approached Eleanor first.

“…Are you alright?”

Eleanor dusted off her clothes as if she had expected this all along. Her tone was calm, indifferent.

“Yes. I knew this would happen.”

“What do you mean?”

The duke’s face hardened. His teeth clenched audibly.

Eleanor met his gaze with a detached expression.

“You said things would be different this time, but look at what happened.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Unable to meet her eyes, the duke looked away.

But his gaze briefly wavered with emotion.

“It’s fine. I never expected anything different.”

Without another word, Eleanor turned and left, refusing the knights’ help.

The duke didn’t stop her—he simply watched her retreating figure, frozen in place.

Meanwhile, Catherine, still sitting on the floor, silently observed everything.

‘The duke will leave now that everything is settled.’

Then, she could quietly return to her room.

But contrary to her expectations, the duke didn’t leave.

Instead, he turned toward her and slowly approached.

He even knelt on one knee to meet her gaze.

Catherine looked at him in disbelief.

“…Does your cheek hurt?”

Startled, she swallowed hard before replying.

“Uh… Ahem. N-No, I’m fine.”

For a moment, their eyes locked—her blue ones and his violet ones.

But the duke seemed to be both looking at her and not looking at her.

His beautiful eyes held a mix of emotions—pity, concern, and resignation—clouded in an unreadable depth.

It made Catherine uncomfortable.

‘I wish he would just leave…’

Then, pain flared in her scratched cheek, and she winced.

The duke, who had been staring at her, suddenly pulled out a white handkerchief and gently pressed it against her cheek.

“…Ugh.”

She flinched at the soft fabric touching her wound.

“When did things become like this…?”

The duke murmured, his face dark with sorrow.

Catherine hesitated.

‘Should I tell him how Eleanor has been treated in this mansion all this time?’

But she remembered Eleanor’s words—“Don’t interfere in my matters.”

So, she simply pressed her lips together and turned away.

“…That child, too… No, never mind. I’m sorry, even to you.”

“……”

“This was all my fault. Make sure you get treated properly.”

His heavy, sorrowful voice lingered in the air.

But Catherine pretended not to hear.

She knew exactly who he truly wanted to speak to.