In any case, would Kirsec have gone so far if had had anyone close to him, looking out for him? If he had had someone to catch on to his lack of empathy, would he have been able to act out like that?

Looking at the age of this old butler, he appeared to have been a part of this mansion since before Kirsec was even born.

Having watched over Kirsec’s growth from the very start, it was his error to have not pointed out this issue earlier. If he believed that, as a servant, it wasn’t his place to stop the young master, then he should have at least told the Grand Duke about Kirsec’s abnormality.

From what I had seen of him, although the Grand Duke wasn’t a paragon of virtue, he also wasn’t someone who seemed impossible to talk to. Moreover, as someone in possession of great power, it was even more important for him to avoid blindly ignoring what other people said to him.

If the Grand Duke had shared Kirsec’s attitude of not seeing others as people, then I would have been punished instead of being rewarded when I had asked for the immunity from punishment.

In other words, while the Grand Duke might be a man who does his job properly, he scores 0 points as a father. A typical heartless man who doesn’t care about his family because he’s too busy making money.

Of course, Kirsec’s personality wouldn’t change just by me hitting him once.

That’s why I wanted to use this incident as an opportunity to change the environment surrounding Kirsec. Because that way Kirsec might be able to get it into his head that the servants are still people and he may even be able to behave in a slightly more humane way.

So in conclusion, the person who was currently doing the most harm to Kirsec’s upbringing, was this man in front of me.

I asked the butler, who was still glaring at me fiercely, “Please report this incident to the Grand Duke.”

“You really are a crazy brat. Even if you claim that you’re the Grand Duke’s guest, do you really think his Grace will forgive you for striking his son?”

The butler’s eyes narrowed into slits and his expression turned sinister. Seeing his eyes warp into something that looked like it belonged on a reptile filled me with disgust. He seemed to know that, no matter what happened, once this story was passed on to the duke, it would reflect badly on him as well. With how this old man was acting, I couldn’t help but see him as a wizened old devil.

Kirsec, who had been keeping quiet, seemed to draw strength from the butler’s words and he piped up, “Do you really think that my father will forgive you for hitting me?”

It’s human nature for family members, no matter how distant they usually are, to instinctively feel displeased if an outsider comes over and strikes one of their own.

In the face of their words, which were filled with menace, I began to feel slightly nervous. However it was already a situation where it was impossible for me to back down. I clasped my hands to my chest and reaffirmed my decision.

“That’s why I would like to plead my guilt in front of the Grand Duke.”

In any case, the butler was left without a choice. Kirsec kept insisting that I needed to be whipped, but as the Grand Duke’s guest, the butler wasn’t able to lay a hand on me. Even if Kirsec could restrain himself for now, it would be impossible to stop me from telling my side of the story during dinner. So with all that said, he knew that it would be in his advantage to get the first word in when reporting the situation.

“Fine. I will report this matter to the Grand Duke. Do not regret this decision later,” as the butler said these words, Kirsec jumped in surprise

“What? You’re going to tell my father?

Then, the butler bent down and whispered something into Kirsec’s ear. A series of expressions passed over the brat’s face before he nodded, having been convinced of something.

Seeing that the two of them had the same look of guaranteed victory on their faces, I clasped my hands tightly to my chest to keep my resolve from weakening.

Just in case, I warned the butler as he left to find the Grand Duke, “It would be better for you if you conveyed the situation as it is. Since I will tell the Grand Duke exactly what has taken place.”

The butler paused in his tracks, shot me an angry look, and then turned to leave.

A strange atmosphere descended upon those left in the room. Kirsec was staring at me as he cradled the cheek that I had slapped, and the maid, who had been hanging onto him while crying, was left wondering what she should do. The servants who had come in to restrain the maid, were also left standing there awkwardly while keeping their eyes fixed on Kirsec.

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