The luxurious meals which he had not eaten in a long time were incomparable to the meals of the servants. He licked the bowl clean, leaving nothing behind. It was a very satisfying meal.
Aran was furious to learn that it was the same servant who bullied Enoch every time. But Enoch, who knew she was weak-minded, didnât expect much. It was just his feeble hope that the beating and bullying would decrease.
But that night, he found Aran to be more driven than he thought.
After dining with the princess, someone secretly called him back to his quarters after finishing the rest of the work. The woman with a familiar face, it was the princessâ lady-in-waiting who served her the longest. She led Enoch into a wide dark room.
Enoch, who was looking inside with curious eyes, soon found James and his gang. They were all bound by their hands and feet and Aran was sitting in front of them.
âYour Highness?â
Aran looked up at Enochâs call. Somehow he looked somber. Enoch passed James and the other servants and approached her.
âI originally tried to punish them myself by just doubling what youâve been through, but on second thought, I donât know how much youâve suffered.â
Aran glared at the servants.
âThey only asked for me to forgive them.â
âThatâs why you wanted to ask me?â
âNo.â
She shook her head and gestured at the lady-in-waiting. The latter brought a long wooden box and handed it to Enoch. Inside the box was a whip, a sword, a dagger, and so on.
âGive it back to them yourself. Iâll take responsibility for everything that happens here.â When Enoch did not answer, Aran quickly added, mistaking the meaning behind his silence. âIf you canât, you can ask my escort to do it instead.â
âNo, Iâm just surprised because I didnât think youâd care so much.â
âBecause Iâve been so indifferent⊠this wonât cover all the pain youâve suffered, but I want you to feel a little better.â
The majority of them were aristocrats, even though she was a member of the royal family, and even though they were servants, there was no escaping the consequences of this action. Aran decided to pay all the price for Enoch. He was willing to accept her kindness. If he were going to borrow the hand of the princess anyway, he had better make use of it completely rather than take a step back halfway.
Enoch picked up the most placid looking whip of the lot. Seeing that, Aran got up from her seat.
âI have to go back now. Iâll leave an escort here just in case.â
Enoch bowed his head and thanked Aran.
Aran closed her eyes once in acknowledgement and soon left the room. She left because she didnât have the courage to watch violent scenes, but she also meant for him to punish them with ease. The level of punishment has not been set so she did not know whether he had remembered her promise that she would kill them if he so wanted.
Enoch approached James in no hurry. The latter looked up at Enoch with a frightened face. His face was already covered with tears and snot.
Enoch broke him free of his bindings and let him go.
âWhat⊠what are you..?â James asked with great nervousness.
âBecause an opponent who canât resist is not fun,â Enoch answered in a nonchalant manner.
Understanding his meaning, James blinked several times, and soon laughed meanly. âAre you saying that your pride is left intact? Youâll soon regret your decision!â
Enoch beat him mercilessly as he rushed in. Soon the unilateral violence began.
***
After some of the servants were called by the Imperial Princess and were returned wrapped in burial shrouds, there was no one to pick a quarrel with Enoch anymore.
Enoch did not forget that he was a toy the emperor gave her. Aran was still young and Enoch had not caused much trouble, so he let him be, but if he had a chance, the emperor would immediately get rid of him. Enoch didnât have any complaints, as it was enough to make an example out of them.
Funnily enough, when the bullying disappeared, he fell badly ill, perhaps because he got relaxed. He thought his health was okay because he didnât care even if he got hit every day, but maybe it wasnât like that after all.
Enoch laid alone in bed and looked at the dizzyingly shaky ceiling. After the incident, he started to use the room alone. It was a luxury that a low-level servant, or even a commoner, could not enjoy.
He had no family or friends, so no one came and cared for him. But he wasnât hurt by that. On the contrary, he felt that it was fortunate that no one was bothering him. He was already tired, so he laid in bed and slept all day.
Enoch then opened his eyes in the middle of the night, feeling a gentle pat on his cheek.