The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 32】

 

For scolding to be effective, one must understand why they’re being scolded.

 

“Once upon a time, there was a noble young lady. Her older sister had married early, leaving her to spend lonely days. Crouched beneath the large oak tree where she used to play with her sister, the girl burst into tears one day. Oh, how lonely I am! My sister used to play with me so well in the old days!”

 

Though Damian pretended not to listen, Ebel calmly read the book to the child without being swayed. She even acted out the dialogue parts with her voice for dramatic effect.

 

If he were truly bored, he would fall asleep. Or restlessly wander around the room.

 

But Damian did neither. Though he constantly played pranks, he still stayed nearby.

 

In other words, he was listening.

 

“Then a black rabbit and a white rabbit appeared before the girl. The white rabbit was very strange. It held a splendid pocket watch in one hand, but wore clothes that seemed like they belonged in a palace from 100 years ago. Meanwhile, the black rabbit simply carried nothing but an hourglass.”

 

Before she knew it, Damian had become well-behaved.

 

As she continued reading the book, she gradually observed his reactions.

 

“The girl hesitated for a moment, then followed the white rabbit. The moment she pressed her body into the base of the tree! Oh no! The girl slipped and fell. What should she do?”

 

She could almost see his ears perking up.

 

In Damian’s rather serious face, she could see Victor’s features overlapping.

 

Just then, Banya brought sweet potato pie.

 

Since it was just the right time when a young child would lose concentration, Ebel closed the book.

 

“The pie is baked very well. Um, would you like to have a bite too, my lady?”

 

“That sounds good. And from now on, bring sweet potato pie at the same time every day. I plan to read books to him then.”

 

“Understood. And… thank you for caring for young master Damian. I will take the lead in receiving punishment for failing to properly care for the young master.”

 

At Banya’s words, Ebel, who had been cutting the pie, slowly stopped her hand.

 

“I’m going to replace all of Damian’s servants. I’ll have the two children choose them directly. It’s time they learned how to take responsibility for their own subordinates.”

 

If they chose their attendants with their own hands, there wouldn’t be discord like before.

 

Angelm would choose someone weak and soft enough to become his confidant.

 

Damian would select someone sturdy who could play with him.

 

Even without seeing it, she could already picture it clearly.

 

“I will prepare accordingly. Thank you for your mercy.”

 

Even without lengthy explanations, Victor would immediately understand what she was thinking. It didn’t matter if others found it puzzling.

 

Smiling, Ebel gave a piece of pie to Damian. Another piece was hers. And one more was for Banya.

 

“Well, you’ll have your wages reduced for three months.”

 

“That is a generous measure.”

 

Banya smiled sheepishly as she received the warm pie.

 

“Actually, I knew that Lady Genevieve was teaching the young master harshly. I judged it wasn’t my place to interfere. If it would make young master Damian normal, even through such means… I had to pretend not to see what I saw, not to hear what I heard. I suppose I was giving myself absolution, thinking that was the true duty of one working in Bayern.”

 

“It’s good that you acknowledge it. However, there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”

 

Damian threw down his fork and started eating with his hands, devouring the piece in an instant. The boy then cast greedy eyes toward the remaining pie.

 

Ebel lifted the remaining pie whole, keeping it out of reach, and muttered indifferently.

 

“Damian isn’t insane. It’s not because of some demonic, unscientific matter either. This child is perfectly normal.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Banya’s eyes widened.

 

“He knows who dislikes him, who looks down on him. And who has protected him. His mind works that well.”

 

“…!”

 

“So in a moment, gather all the servants in the front yard. Include those waiting at the entrance as well. They need to see what happens when mistakes are made.”

 

After wiping Damian’s hands and mouth with a handkerchief, she gestured toward the utensils with her chin.

 

“Use your fork. I know you can.”

 

“Grrrowl.”

 

“If you sit properly in your seat and eat using your fork, I’ll read you more of the book. You can eat until you’re full.”

 

When he couldn’t get what he wanted immediately, fierceness appeared in Damian’s blue eyes. Within them was even a gluttony that a noble’s child shouldn’t possess.

 

“Come, sit down and pick up your fork. Both I and Banya use forks.”

 

“Ahhh! Ahhhhh!”

 

“Use your fork to eat, Damian.”

 

“Ahhhhhh!”

 

Damian frowned as if he disliked it and struck the table. In that moment, the fork fell to the floor.

 

Ebel silently picked it up and placed it in front of Damian.

 

Clang!

 

Damian immediately grabbed the fork and threw it.

 

But he didn’t have much force behind it.

 

In the past, he would have thrown it at Ebel’s face or eyes, but now he timidly aimed at the floor.

 

“Then there’s no choice. The book is for tomorrow. The sweet potato pie ends here for today too. You can eat the rest tomorrow.”

 

Just as Victor had hoped, Ebel was soft on the outside but no different from steel within.

 

Stubborn and strict.

 

She would let things slide once, but on the second time, she would definitely correct the behavior.

 

“If you don’t know how, we can teach you. But you already know, don’t you? You eat properly when you’re pretending to be Angelm.”

 

Damian, who had been trying to bite her and throw a tantrum, flinched.

 

The boy, who looked surprised as if he didn’t expect to be caught, hesitated and stepped back. Meanwhile, Ebel gestured with a calm expression and really had the pie taken away.

 

She didn’t raise her voice, nor did she handle him roughly.

 

All Ebel established were clear, standard rules.

 

“I should go now.”

 

It was about time to face Cecily Bettel. As she got up to leave, Damian fidgeted. As if he didn’t expect her to really go.

 

“Grrrowl.”

 

“You heard earlier, right? Tomorrow, at the same time, I’ll come again. Promise. Then let’s try eating pie with a fork.”

 

“…”

 

The restless boy stared intently until the very moment Ebel left. An earnestness appeared as if watching someone who would never return, then gradually faded away.

 

Only resignation remained.

 

At this, Ebel finally stopped.

 

She didn’t like the self-abandoning mood she felt from behind her.

 

“Damian.”

 

“!”

 

“Would you like to come with me? I’ll stay by your side.”

 

At her question, various emotions appeared on Damian’s face.

 

First came ‘joy’, then after understanding the meaning, he frowned with ‘rejection’. After that came fierce ‘conflict’.

 

The child, who had been thinking hard with his small head, finally walked over step by step.

 

“Shall we go holding hands?”

 

Nod.

 

And Banya, watching the two of them, was filled with admiration upon admiration.

 

That young master Damian had become like a gentle puppy!

 

She felt ashamed of herself for thinking he was uncontrollable until now.

 

“Indeed, someone who graduated from university is different. This Banya is deeply impressed.”

 

Graduating from university was an incredible achievement in this era.

 

She wasn’t sure if universities taught how to handle young children, but in any case, she was an extraordinary person.

 

And such a person had become the lady of this Bayern!

 

‘I hope she stays for a long time, for life if possible.’

 

Though her wages were reduced, Banya didn’t feel wronged at all. Rather, she thought the punishment for herself was too lenient.

 

Everyone had given up on the second young master.

 

For a long time, the standard of this manor estate had been Genevieve, and whether they liked it or not, they had to follow. In the process, they had become tainted without realizing it.

 

They had thoughtlessly concluded that young master Damian was beyond rehabilitation.

 

But that shouldn’t have been the case.

 

“Anyone who bears the name of Bayern is a Bayern, even if they’re a young child.”

 

At these pointed words, Banya bowed her head even deeper.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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