Chapter 73: the punishments

"I am here to know why Killian would be punished, for just a day holiday?" my voice was cold and the warden flinched.

"This is the basic procedure of breaking the rules, your highness. Lord Killian was absent without taking the leave or informing anyone. This is the case of indiscipline." she replied strictly and I bit my lip as I had no idea of the rules. I studied in the academy and it had different procedures.

"I want the list of all the rule and important information related to his studies and training, and till then, his punishment will be on hold,'' I ordered and she looked at me with widened eyes.

"But, your highness" I raised my hand stopping her right there.

"I am not asking you to cancel his punishment, I just want you to hold it. I want to check every information personally, and be sure about the rules.`` I explained calmly and she nodded reluctantly.

"Good, now you can leave." 

They bowed and turned when I added,

"If I found even a single harsh thing or unfair treatment, I will make sure you will suffer 100 times more than what Killian had suffered."

They both turned and looked at me with pale faces.

"Oh, you don't need to worry, since you both are fair and have done their work perfectly," I added with a bright smile. 

They gulped but nodded their heads and scurried out. The moment they turned my expressions hardened. It was clear that they were reluctant to share the information with me.

Maybe I was overthinking but my gut feeling said that there was something wrong with it. That's when I heard his footsteps, without turning back I invited him,

"Oh, darling, you are here, come and sit, this fish soup doesn't taste good if it turns cold," I called him but the footsteps halted,

I waited but he did not come forward. I furrowed my brows and stood up, 

"Is there some problem dear?" I asked, turning back when my eyes bulged out and the rest of the words stuck in my mouth.

"You"

"You" 

"Your highness, why are you here?" I asked looking at the man who was here since god knows when.

"Would I need permission to be here?" he asked with cold expressions.

'Only if you had that much manners, always barging in like the whole palace was yours! Then why did even personal chambers exist here' 

I stayed silent, letting him make the conclusion. He would have done that, even if I had told him the truth.

"Father, mother" we both turned back to see Killian coming in with surprised expressions on his face. At Least I don't need to share the same air alone with him now, I can be with my baby all the time.

"Hey, come here, Killian. The soup would not taste good if it gets cold." 

"Since when did we need to take care of that. Are there not 9sufficient staff to take care of that," he spoke as if I was talking to him.

Did anyone ask for his opinion?

Killian walked towards us, and we all sat to have dinner.

But there was an awkward silence in the room, 

"Taste this, it's good for your health." I offered to Killian 

"And this is specially made for you." 

"You should have some too, mother." he offered me back.

We both spent time like we were the only ones in the room.

"I saw you were talking to the teachers," he stated and my grip on the knife tightened.

'If only I could..'' I looked at the knife and then at him, calculating the pros and cons.

Why did he always disturb my peaceful life with his rude remarks?

He must have understood my expressions as his expressions turned colder. But I couldn't help myself, these days I was getting more and more annoyed with him.

Look at him, why did he open three buttons of his shirt, could he not wear it properly, everyone around him knew he had a sexy body. And then speaking again and again to gain our attention.

This ice statue was made just to ruin my world.

"What are you looking at?" he asked and I averted my eyes.

"I was talking about the future studies of Killian, your highness." 

"I heard everything too," he added, and I glared,

It had been some time since we both continued staring at each other, no one was ready to give up first.

"What were you talking about, mother?" asked Killian and I finally averted my eyes from him.

"I am taking the inspection and management of your studies in my hands. Tell me, Killian, did you get punished every time you miss a class.'' I asked and he nodded.

"Why did you not complain." I was amazed, "and what is the punishment?"

"It depends. From doing double work later to not giving food or to practising the whole night. But all those punishments are easy." he assured looking at my darkening face.

I wonder what made him that strong!

"Killian is right, this much punishment is necessary to make him strong and disciplined." once again Cassius butt in.

"He is nothing but a child, don't you think your way of educating him is a bit harsh," I yelled, I wanted to maintain my composure but it was getting difficult.

"This is what a duke's heir should face, the more he grew, the more he had to face to be a strong person. 

You are saying so because you have no idea about politics and administration." he rebuked and I laughed, my laugh was cold and eerie.

"Giving physical punishment to a child in the name of discipline, and you are justifying it by degrading me. Who said that I don't know anything about politics and administration?

I had got a degree in administration from the royal academy, and sire Henry Knight was my master.'' I replied with a smug smile and his eyes cracked.