On the next morning.
Adonis was summoned to the Duke's court, most likely to be punished for the tragic events at the Awakening ceremony.
Adelaide was accompanying him. Once again, she noticed the oddity of the situation.
Hearing a punishment waiting for them, most would have trembled in fear.
But Adonis was different. His posture was straight, expression indifferent, as though whatever awaited him had nothing to do with him at all.
She, however, was far from calm. After all, this concerned her son's future. If the punishment proved too severe, such as exile from the duchy or death, she knew she would never be able to endure it.
If she cannot protect her son today, she decided to take her own life.
*
When they arrived at the vast court, illuminated by warm chandeliers and glowing magical lamps, they immediately felt the piercing gazes of everyone present fall upon them.
They were scrutinizing Adonis from head to toe. But all they got was an indifferent expression from Adonis, which inwardly surprised them.
They all heard how mature and calm the youngest child was, but it was their first time witnessing it firsthand.
At the very head of the court sat his supposed father, Duke Leonel Kingsbane.
He still looked like the same ferocious lion as in years past, though now some battle scars appeared on his face.
Beside him stood a beautiful woman of noble grace. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, and her composed demeanor made her appear every bit of the virtuous duchess she was.
She was none other than Duchess Clementine: the Duke's lawful wife.
The moment her eyes landed on Adelaide, she smiled.
It was a smooth, feline smile. Yet Adonis felt as though something lay hidden behind it. Like a mask so refined that no one else seemed to notice.
Or perhaps he was simply thinking too much.
The remaining seats, arranged in two long rows, were filled with noblemen: advisors, commanders, and stewards.
Every single one of their eyes rested upon Adonis with undisguised judgment.
However, there was also another notably special guest.
She was a female knight with fair skin and amethyst-colored hair. Her build was a bit muscular, but those large breasts and big butt were enough to ignite any man's lust.
But not everyone was so brave as to look at her that way.
After all, a shiny greatsword was held firmly in her grasp.
Her expression was stern and calculative.
Everyone present knew who she was.
Everyone except Adonis and Adelaide.
It was the Duke who finally broke the silence:
"Esteemed Adjudicator, this is my youngest son, Adonis. I believe he is the one the Church and the Throne have sent you for. Please proceed with your judgment."
"Lord Husband… no!" Adelaide cried out in a heartbroken tone. "He is your own blood. Please… you cannot be so indifferent. Save him, I beg you."
At that moment, Duchess Clementine silently raised a finger to her red lips, as if gently gesturing Adelaide to stay silent.
"Adelaide, calm yourself. Do not interrupt an official procedure. Let the adjudicator perform her duty. Lord Husband believes the judgment will be fair and not cruel toward an ignorant child."
Her words sounded gentle, but the court felt colder than ever.
Honestly, Adonis felt nothing but disgust at that point. Two-faced people had always repulsed him the most.
Two-faced snakes were the most vicious. His past life was living proof of that.
Why couldn't she simply say what she truly wished to say? Or did she fear the Duke that much?
Meanwhile, the female knight strode closer to Adonis, completely indifferent to Adelaide's pitiful cries.
She stood over six feet tall, while Adonis barely reached up to her shoulder.
No intimidation was necessary. Her solid build and unflinching gaze spoke volumes on their own.
She looked like someone who could crush him with a single slap.
Yet Adonis couldn't neglect the massive breasts she was hiding behind that leather armor.
It looked as though those flesh mounds were getting suffocated in that tightness.
Claudia noticed the boy's sneaky glances but dismissed them as innocent curiosity.
"Adonis Kingsbane, you are suspected of sabotaging the Awakening Ceremony by breaking the Sacred Globe."
Adonis did not bat an eye. He simply listened in silence.
"Although this crime is punishable by death, the Kingdom and the Holy Church have chosen to pardon you in recognition of Duke Kingsbane's unwavering loyalty and service to the Kingdom."
She raised her voice slightly,
"Therefore, I, the Acting Adjudicator of the Royal Order, hereby declare you pardoned."
At the judgment, relief flooded Adelaide's face.
Meanwhile, Duchess Clementine's face secretly darkened.
The noblemen and officials began murmuring among themselves, praising the king for his generosity toward the duke's youngest son.
"Silence!"
Claudia was not finished.
"That being said, although you have been spared from death, a punishment is still necessary."
Adonis wondered what that punishment would be. Exile, perhaps?
But his guess was far from the truth.
"That punishment will be administered by me," Claudia declared. "For the next 30 days, you will obey my every command. If I tell you to go west, you go west. If I tell you to eat, you eat. If I tell you to eat dirt, you will eat it. No objection is allowed. Do you understand?"
Adonis and his mother exchanged a glance, both wondering what kind of punishment he would face each day.
Still, it was the best outcome they could have hoped for.
"I accept," Adonis replied nonchalantly.
And that's how the charade was over, and the Duchy of Brunvalia gained a new guest.
---
Later that night, within Duchess Clementine's private chambers.
"Clang!"
A crystal perfume bottle shattered against the marble floor, its contents splashing like spilled blood across the glossy tiles.
"Just thirty days of menial punishment? "This is utterly preposterous!" Duchess Clementine hissed.
The gentle glow of Ether lamps cast twisted shadows across the room as her refined noble composure collapsed entirely.
Gone was the elegant duchess who smiled before court.
In her place stood a woman twisted by jealousy and resentment.
Her expression was furious and venomous. Like a witch stripped of her mask.
Three more concubines stood behind her. Their backs were straight and brows tightly furrowed.
But none dared approach too closely.
Cautiously, the first concubine finally stepped forward.
"Big Sister, something is clearly wrong. The King and the Church would never spare a person accused of destroying a sacred artifact. Not for something like that."
Another concubine, slightly shorter and far less perceptive, frowned in confusion.
"But didn't the adjudicator say the pardon was because of Lord Husband's loyalty and service to the kingdom?"
The second concubine turned on her mockingly.
"Are you foolish, Third Sister? Do you truly believe King Magnus concerns himself with the illegitimate son of a lesser duke? Someone else interfered. Someone from the Royal Family. Otherwise that brat would already be receiving the death punishment by now."
The third concubine blinked, then slowly nodded.
"Ah. That does make sense. But who could it possibly be?"
Duchess Clementine's fingers clenched so tightly that her nails bit into her palm.
"All that anticipation was for nothing. I truly believed that lowly vixen would finally receive punishment for seducing our husband."
Hatred from envy oozed out from her every word.
"What will you do now, Big Sister?" the first concubine asked softly.
Clementine let out a cold laugh,
"Nothing. I know Lord Husband is watching closely. If he were not, I would have killed that vixen and her child long ago."
She turned toward the window, looking out into the darkness beyond the estate.
"Besides, even if he's spared from death, that White Frog is still worthless. With such pitiful talent, he will amount to nothing more than a servant for my son once he inherits the duchy."
Her lips curled into a cruel smile.
"So why should I waste my breath on something so insignificant?"
The first concubine chuckled after her,
"Hahaha. Spoken like a true queen, Big Sister. For now, let us simply enjoy watching that vixen suffer."
Low laughter echoed through the chamber, mingling with the scent of broken perfume.
Far from that room, beneath a quiet roof in the servants' quarters, a boy slept peacefully.
Unaware of the malice directed at him.
And utterly beyond the fate they had already decided for him.