The Whipping Maid of House Calley - Chapter 116

Cedric opened his mouth again to answer his parents’ questions. “I mean exactly what I said. I intend to remain unmarried for the rest of my life. Of course, I have no intention of relinquishing the count title.”

“It’s also a count’s duty to produce an heir. What do you intend to do about that?”

When Bernard pressed him, Cedric replied without hesitation, “If Alfonso has a child, I plan to designate that child as my heir.”

“Do you think that makes any sense!” Bernard raised his voice.

“There’s nothing that doesn’t make sense about it.”

As Cedric said, even if someone married, it wasn’t uncommon to look for an heir among collateral relatives if no successor was born. Moreover, if it were Alfonso’s child, it wouldn’t even truly count as collateral.

Unable to find anything to say in response, Bernard’s clenched fist trembled violently.

Shocked by the rare commotion, Marisa could not seem to recover, repeating only, “What is this supposed to mean,” in a dazed voice.

“Then I’ll write the letter to be sent to the Vivarini family myself. It’s my responsibility as well, since I made the reckless proposal.”

Even if Cedric hadn’t proposed, it was time to bring closure to the marriage talks that had continued for so long.

If the other side demanded accountability on moral grounds, that too would have to be resolved.

“I’d intended to enter a political marriage that would benefit the family, but I regret that I cannot do so. Instead, I’m confident I can contribute to the family politically and economically just as much as such a marriage would, so I hope you won’t worry too much. Now that I’ve said everything I needed to say, I’ll take my leave.”

After delivering his words as if announcing a formal notice, Cedric left his seat, leaving only the stunned count and countess behind.

“What in the world is this….”

As Marisa repeated the same words, seemingly unable to think of anything else, Bernard shouted irritably.

“Shut that damned mouth!”

“No, why are you taking it out on me again?”

Marisa protested, struck by this sudden outburst.

“What are you going to do now? You’re the head of the family, so you should have some kind of plan, shouldn’t you? A plan!”

When Marisa pressed him in return, Bernard said, “There’s no plan! Heir or no heir, we’ll act like none of this ever happened!”

“What did you say? How can you even call that—!”

It had only been a month since the appointment ceremony.

Marisa continued, “Whether he marries or not, the eldest son of our family is Cedric.”

“….”

Bernard knew it too. Simply declaring he wouldn’t marry wasn’t enough to strip him of his right to inherit the title.

Seeing his stubborn expression, Marisa’s voice turned sulky. “Do you know how awful you’re being? Cedric is our child too, so why do you hate him so much?”

Cedric didn’t make Marisa entirely comfortable either, but even so, she never doubted for a moment that he would become the next count. Of course, it would be even better if Cedric married Sylvia Stacy and Alfonso became the next count.

“Don’t tell me… you still harbor those petty feelings toward Cedric?”

“Petty feelings?”

Bernard’s expression turned vicious as he repeated her words.

“You think I wouldn’t know? When he was young, every time your father showed affection to Cedric, do you know what your expression looked like?”

“Watch your mouth.”

Bernard raised his voice again, his tone sharp. And that tone always pressed Marisa’s trigger.

“Why should I watch my mouth? If anyone should shut up, it’s you—, aaah!”

As Marisa began shouting back at him, Bernard grabbed her, yanked her up, and shoved her onto the bed.

“You really think nothing of the head of this family, don’t you!”

Smack!

Bernard pulled off his belt and lashed it down onto the bed.

Startled, Marisa twisted her body, but Bernard climbed on top of her and began tearing her dress off as if ripping it apart.

A struggle began between them on the bed.

The sounds of fighting soon turned into ragged breathing and moans.

***

Exhausted from the intense exertion, the two remained on the bed a while longer.

Bernard lay on his back with both hands supporting his head, while Marisa pressed close against him, resting her head on his shoulder with a satisfied expression.

“You’re not really going to cast Cedric aside, are you?”

Marisa’s tone, drained after their bout, was much softer than before.

Even so, Bernard said nothing. Seeing that he was no different than usual, Marisa continued as if she’d expected it.

“Cedric said so himself earlier. He said he’d make sure there’d be no financial loss. Haven’t you seen how much comes in every month from the company he established in Lotas? And we just finished the appointment ceremony with even His Highness the Crown Prince in attendance. What would people say if the heir suddenly changed now?”

Marisa laid out, point by point, the reasons Cedric should remain the heir.

Considering the estate’s finances and their social standing, changing the heir made no sense.

Of course, emotionally, Marisa also found Alfonso easier to deal with than Cedric.

“…I was just saying it.”

Bernard replied after a pause, “Exactly. Besides, people can always change their minds about marriage.”

After finishing her words, Marisa slowly sat up. She opened the bedside drawer, wiped herself between her legs with a small towel, then picked up her clothes and put them on.

“I’m going out this afternoon. I have plans to meet the ladies at the salon.”

In truth, it was a meeting with her lover, but she lied.

They both more or less knew the other had a lover, but openly saying it would be improper.

Of course, not producing illegitimate children with their lovers was also an etiquette they both observed.

Bernard remained silent.

Even as Marisa roughly threw on her dress and left the room….

Even after he was left alone, Bernard remained lying in the same position, lost in thought.

He’d pretended to give up in front of Marisa, but if given the chance, Bernard wanted to make Alfonso the heir instead of Cedric.

Even if it would only happen after his death.

He had no clear reason, but emotionally, he felt no affection for Cedric.

And Cedric’s declaration that he wouldn’t marry made him dislike him even more.

“Do you think being doted on by your grandfather makes you special? The heir can be changed at any time. I could even make you live as Alfonso’s younger brother instead. Do you think I can’t do it?”

Bernard recalled the words he’d once said to Cedric.

Cedric was probably five or six years old at the time.

Cedric, the firstborn between Bernard and Marisa, spent more time with his grandfather Solomon than with his parents even as a baby.

At first, Bernard didn’t dislike it. He even felt proud, thinking he’d given his father a grandson he adored.

Soon after, his second son, Alfonso, was born.

Would things have been different if Solomon’s love had been divided evenly between Cedric and Alfonso?

Alfonso grew up just as handsome and intelligent as Cedric, but Solomon’s attention and affection were directed solely at Cedric.

It couldn’t simply be because he was the firstborn. Bernard himself, Solomon’s eldest son, had never received that kind of love.

“My, how clever! You truly are my proud bloodline.”

Every time Cedric, only two or three years old, received Solomon’s praise, Bernard was seized by a strange feeling.

Bernard had spent his entire life yearning for his strict father’s praise.

He’d never received even the smallest compliment, let alone high praise.

Slow and timid, Bernard had never been a son who satisfied Solomon, who was bold and ambitious.

However, Solomon held a rigid belief that the eldest son must inherit the family line, no matter what.

For that reason, Solomon never praised his second son, Alfred, even though he was more brilliant than Bernard.

He feared the second son might grow arrogant and covet the eldest’s position.

So the side of Solomon he saw through Cedric came as a kind of shock to Bernard.

By the time Alfonso began to act with awareness, Bernard even found it pitiful that Alfonso received not a single word of praise from his grandfather simply because he was the second son.

Bernard’s vile habit began when Solomon, who had lived on the second floor, moved his room to the first floor, saying it was difficult to use the stairs due to old age.

He began locking five or six-year-old Cedric in the third-floor attic, subjecting him to verbal abuse and threats.

“You dare ignore your father’s words already? Stay here and reflect until tomorrow.”

The reasons for punishment were whatever excuse he chose to make.

“If you make noise or mention this room to anyone, you’ll never see your grandfather again.”

Cedric, who had always been composed even as a child, never made a fuss even when he was dragged into the attic and locked inside.

Bernard feared Solomon might discover what he was doing, yet Cedric’s quiet composure only made him tremble with even greater fury.

But after locking the door and waiting for some time, he would hear Cedric’s muffled sobs from inside.

Only then would Bernard smile and return to his room.

At dawn the next day, before anyone could discover it, he would release Cedric.

‘That brat might try to take revenge someday. Insolent bastard.’

Even now, he was acting however he pleased, saying he wouldn’t marry. There was no telling how much more insolent he would become with age.

Seeing how full of desire he was for the heir’s position, there was no telling what he might scheme if Bernard didn’t die soon….

After thinking for a moment, Bernard checked the time and quickly got up.

It was time for Bernard to meet his lover as well.

He’d just ejaculated, and he worried whether he would get hard properly when he met his lover.

His worries about Cedric naturally faded into the background.