Pride and Sanctimony

Chapter 22

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[Butler] “We’ve been waiting for your return.”

Once Valentia arrived at the Baron’s mansion, the butler was the only person to greet her. But this was unusual, considering no one, whether it was the lord, the butler, or any servant, waited for her to return home.

[Valentia] “Me?”

[Butler] “Yes, my lady.”

[Valentia] “What’s going on?”

[Butler] “The Baroness told me to retrieve you upon your return.”

The Baroness sent someone to find her? She never thought the person, who was determined to act as though she did not exist, would suddenly go off looking for her.

[Valentia] “And you have no idea why?”

[Butler] “I do not. I was not informed.”

[Valentia] “…….Very well. Take me to her.”

Once the door opened, Valentia entered, and a maid quickly closed it behind her.

[Valentia] “Did you need me for something, Madam?”

Slap—

And the second she spoke, what welcomed her in return was a fiery pain upon her cheek.

It was like lightning was flashing in front of her. Unable to overcome the pain or the sudden shock, Valentia collapsed onto the floor. Her cheek stung so much, she couldn’t even touch it.

[Valentia] “Ah…..”

There was even a stinging pain when she tried to speak.

[Baroness] “What on earth is wrong with you!? How dare you say that to me, you shameless wench!”

[Valentia] “….What….?”

[Baroness] “How long did you think you could hide it?”

[Valentia] “…May I ask what I’ve been hiding?”

[Baroness] “You must have decided to mar the honor of the barony and ruin it!”

It was then that Valentia could understand a little bit of what the Baroness was trying to get at.

[Valentia] “That….”

[Baroness] “So you remember now? How could you slap the Prince!? Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was at the countess’ party!? And you dare let this pass by without telling me!?”

[Valentia] “That issue was resolved amicably with the Prince.”

[Baroness] “Amicably? You dare say that? What will the Imperial family think!?”

[Valentia] “The Imperial family said they did not have an input on the situation, and the Academy solved it without any issue.”

This bottom feeding wretch spoke well. Apparently there was a reason why she was at the top of the Academy. But even so, she had no intention of listening to Valentia.

[Baroness] “You’re acting cheeky and talking back. You still aren’t aware of your own faults?”

[Valentia] “I didn’t tell you because everything was resolved.”

However, for all her competent explanations, this woman was not one that would hear them out.

[Baroness] “Intolerable bitch. Bring it.”

At the ready, the maid presented an expensive looking box, held closed by an ornate looking lock. Once the latch was undone, inside was a luxurious looking short whip.

This was something that could not have originated in this woman’s room. She wasn’t even in possession of the small daggers some women would keep for self defense. This was something she must’ve prepared in advance.

Valentia’s face turned white.

Whip—

When the Baroness lightly brandished the whip, even such a small movement was enough to make the sound of the air cutting through. It was enough to make Valentia collapse and turn her back to it without realizing it.

She knew there would be a commotion if that situation became known, but the Baroness was someone who had treated her like air for years, always insisting she was someone who did not exist. She had no way of knowing she would suddenly go this far.

[Baroness] “Hold her down.”

At the woman’s orders, the maid grabbed her by the hair, shoving her back to the ground and holding her in place so that she could not move.

[Baroness] “Remove that.”

The other maid went to take off Valentia’s jacket, and Valentia, whose hands and feet were being held in place, could not move.

Then, there was the sound of the whip cracking through the air, echoing against Valentia’s back.

[Valentia] “Ah!”

Valentia cried out.

[Baroness] “Such a vulgar scream. Cover her mouth.”

The maid took a bundle of cloth and shoved it into Valentia’s mouth.

[Baroness] “You must be doing this to ruin our family!”

Crack—

[Baroness] “You detestable brat!”

Crack—

[Baroness] “Bitch!”

The sound of the whip hitting against her flesh was terrifying. As the pain became sharper, Valentia curled up, her entire body trembling.

She couldn’t even scream because her mouth had been covered. All she could do was silently shake as the tears flowed down her cheeks. The first pretty and new clothes she had gotten in a while were being torn to ribbons.

[Baroness] “Vile bitch! You look just like your mother!”

This girl was unsightly from the very beginning. Why must she be forced to deal with the daughter of her husband’s ex-wife? That woman was already dead and there was nothing left for this girl since the title was passed onto distant relatives. 

But despite how little this child had, the Baroness could not bear to see her with her chin up.

She approved her enrollment into the Academy because she didn’t like seeing her around the mansion, but it didn’t end there.

Whenever the ladies gathered, they could never keep their mouths shut, and she was made to deal with their little comments that made her feel so wretched.

[Lady] —’I heard the Baron’s first daughter is rather brilliant. Good for you.’

They were laughing at her. The first daughter she didn’t even give birth to was so brilliant, but what about her biological children? That’s what they were getting at.

She struggled to keep a smile while trembling under the hidden humiliation of the other ladies’ unspoken words. Her children, who hadn’t had the chance to attend the Academy yet, were being insulted by this disgusting girl.

[Baroness] —’I told her to take things slow, but she’s so eager.’

[Lady] —’Well, if they are anything like their elder sister, the younger siblings will do just as well.’

They all knew that woman was the daughter of her husband’s ex-wife, but they still said that. It was enough to make her want to rip off their mouths. If there wasn’t any kind of familial risk, she might’ve slapped her cheek right then and there.

She couldn’t even send the bitch to an orphanage because others would take notice, so she had no choice but to endure the presence of a parasite in her house. The best she could do was close her eyes and pretend she didn’t exist.

They were having another gathering, and she knew she would not feel good if she had to hear another word about that damn girl if she went. However, the social world was all about networking. Although the Baroness had wealth and property from her maiden family, she was not of a high enough rank to attend on a regular basis.

So when she received an out of the blue invitation, she had no choice but to go.

The Viscountess, who was always the first to bring up the topic of that horrendous creature, said something she couldn’t understand.

[Viscountess] —’You must be very worried, Madam Baroness.’

[Baroness] —’Whatever could you mean?’

[Viscountess] —’Oh! Did you not hear?’

Her voice was clear, and her expression was like she was reciting a line from a play.

[Baroness] —’I do not know what you speak of.’

[Viscountess] —’I suppose your first daughter must have hidden it for fear of making a fuss, so I don’t know if I should stir this up.’

[Baroness] —’If it concerns my house’s business, then you must tell me. Did she make a mess? I will have to punish her thoroughly if she’s been trying to hide it. Such trouble.’

[Viscountess] —’I suppose you are the only one not to hear of the incident where she slapped the Imperial Prince in the face.’

Her tone made it clear that this was an incredibly well known incident, and that it was strange and appalling for her not to have heard of it until now.

The Baroness’ expression turned pale.

The Imperial Prince? It was already a famous story that a Prince was attending the Academy as a student, but then that detestable bitch had to go off and slap him in the face.

[Baroness] —’What do you mean?’

[Viscountess] —‘It’s a good thing the Imperial family is unbothered and the Imperial Prince has forgiven the incident. But still, you must feel so heavy.’

Looking at the atmosphere of the room, everyone seemed to know about this except her. Somehow, she knew she received that invitation, asking her to come specifically because they wanted to bring this up.

She was not the Baron’s first wife, and she originally came from the rich, commoner class. Because of that, she lacked social connections since she entered society through a remarriage.

And so this was her first time experiencing such a fatal thing—hearing of a rumor that everyone else already knew.

Everything was because of this detestable girl.

By the time the Baroness was exhausted from the whipping, Valentia’s body had gone completely limp. Even if she were to hit her again and again, she did not move. If the person whipping her was exhausted, obviously she would be completely unconscious by now.

The Baroness gracefully wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, then handed the whip off to the maid next to her.

[Baroness] “Clean this up.”

The maid nodded, dragging the unconscious Valentia from the room.

The Baroness’ hand trembled and the maid recognized the movement.

[Maid] “Are you alright, Madam?”

[Baroness] “How could I be?”

[Maid] “You must have been so shocked. Shall I prepare you some tea?”

If someone else had witnessed this scene, a maid asking the Baroness if she was shocked after beating someone unconscious, they would’ve stuck their tongue out at such viciousness.

[Baroness] “Yes. I must have been shocked.”

[Maid] “You are the precious madam, so the best remedy for shock is having something nice to eat.”

The maid perfectly matched the Baroness’ rhythm.

[Baroness] “You know how I feel.”

[Maid] “I will have some tea prepared. It’d be best to add a touch of sugar.”

[Baroness] “Very well.”

But the reason why the Baroness’ hand trembled was not because she was shocked nor because she was exhausted. It was because she was recognizing within her a desire she never knew she had.

That felt good.

She had fun beating Valentia.

Even though it was a lightweight whip, it was still difficult to wield. Ladies of the time never held anything heavier than a tea cup, a fan, or a parasol, so she could only swing it for minutes at a time.

But she’d been holding back for too long.

She’d been enduring the sight of that former wife’s filthy offshoot, disgusted by her presence, but unable to do anything about it. Seeing such an awful girl before her did nothing but fuel her anger.

But seeing her curled up on the ground like a bug, shaking every time the whip fell upon her, brought her an unexpected joy. It felt so good to see her crying without making a single sound.

[Maid] “Madam, I brought your tea.”

The Baroness drank the tea brought to her by her maid.

Drinking such warm and sweet tea, she could feel herself rejuvenating the energy she had lost. If she had something to drink while she was whipping Valentia, she could’ve hit her more. Suddenly, she thought about what a loss that was.

It’s alright. This is something I can do now.

Next time, she should recharge her strength so she can hit her more.

[Baroness] “I should discipline her more from now on.”

[Maid] “……With your discipline, she will become a better lady.”

The maid quickly understood the Baroness’ words to mean she would continue beating Valentia in the future. The Baroness nodded.

Yes, I must discipline her.

[Baroness] “I haven’t been able to pay much attention to her since I’ve been so busy, but I cannot let this go unpunished. Such lax behavior will no longer be tolerated.”

She’s the daughter of my husband’s ex-wife, so I ignored her, and this was how she grew up. I should have disciplined her more.

Even in the midst of difficulties from such a harsh beating, the thought was enough to make the Baroness tremble with joy.

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