Volume 4 Chapter 12 Inquiry Session
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I see…”
”But the fact that they committed a crime can’t be changed… I’m prepared to face the punishment.”
Carly seemed to be filled with regret, wearing a solemn expression alongside Annabella.
Milly clapped her hands with plap to get everyone’s attention, and it seemed they were ready to get to the heart of the matter.
”So, I’d like everyone to think about how we should punish these two. They’ve committed theft, falsified records, and illegally obtained 2 non-sale items. How should we judge them?”
The group gathered in the dining room-slash-living room began to murmur and talk among themselves.
Suddenly, a hand was raised.
It was Feria.
”Excuse me. What about the baby that’s going to be born? We know the father is Mr. Kent, but since the pregnancy is tied to a crime, won’t that cause problems?”
”Well, as Kent has said before, the child will take the Blackdagger name. The child is innocent, after all.”
Feria seemed concerned that since Annabella and Carly’s pregnancies were linked to a crime, it might cause issues later.
”If that’s the case, I wish I could’ve had that pregnancy potion too! Then I could’ve convinced my parents with a child! Head Maid Annabella is so unfair!”
Dee was fiercely condemning Annabella’s wrongdoing.
Dee also felt guilty about secretly working as my maid behind her father’s back, which made her unable to forgive Annabella’s actions this time.
”Isn’t Ms. Carlamia the one who should bear all the responsibility? If she hadn’t tempted Ms. Annabella with the idea of getting a contraceptive, Ms. Annabella would’ve held back.”
Helga was defending Annabella and harshly criticizing Carly.
Helga had worked with Annabella often and seemed to want to stand up for her emotionally.
”But Ms. Annabella couldn’t resist and she deserves to be punished. And she even committed the most terrible crime of all: falsifying the books. That’s a betrayal of Mr. Kent.”
It seems that my mother-in-law couldn’t forgive Annabella, who, like her, was in charge of managing funds, for tampering with the accounts.
”But both of them are carrying Kent’s child, right? Isn’t that an achievement as concubines? No matter the means, carrying a child with Kent’s blood is a remarkable feat.”
Lina, though frustrated that she herself wasn’t pregnant, argued that the fact the two were pregnant should exempt them from punishment.
”But according to Lina’s logic, as long as they’re pregnant, even if it’s a crime, it’s fine. That would just start a crime-like competition among the concubines to win Kent over. To prevent that, we need to properly punish them.”
Giuliana insisted on disciplining the two to maintain order among the concubines.
”So, how should we punish them-nya? In Abyss Vena, theft can be pardoned with a fine-nya. Should we have Ms. Annabella and Carly compensate for the stolen amount with a fine-nya?”
Manon suggested imposing a fine on the two for their crime.
”Manon, even if we call it a fine, the pregnancy drug they stole is a non-sale item with no set value. We can’t calculate a fine.”
Milly pointed out that the drug Annabella and the others stole was a non-sale item with no price, so I dismissed Manon’s proposal.
Then, Aida proposed a more extreme punishment.
”If we can’t calculate a fine, why not use Ms. Miriallia’s Mental Magic to brand them as slaves? That way, they’ll serve Kent for the rest of their lives.”
Aida suggested reducing them to slaves, forcing them to serve me for life as punishment.
”That’s a harsh punishment. If that happens, the children they’re carrying would be born as slaves, right? That wouldn’t be good, would it?”
Milly expressed concern for the unborn children.
”Then what should we do? Should we execute both of them? In the Estfort army, assault, theft, and embezzlement are punishable by death.”
Ane brought up military law as a basis for their punishment.
Milly said that the drugs Annabella and her friends stole were not for sale and had no value.
So I rejected Manon’s suggestion. Then Aida suggested some extreme punishment.
”Ane. This time, it’s about the internal affairs of the Blackdagger family. I’d rather not go that far…”
”I see. If Your Excellency says so… then there’s nothing we can do.”
Aurelia, who had been silent, raised her hand and proposed.
”Then, how about this? What if we don’t allow Annabella and Carly to claim parenthood this time, including the punishment? The child could be raised as Lady Miriallia’s adopted child.”
Hearing Aurelia’s suggestion, the two of them panicked.
”P-please, not that. Don’t take this child away from us, I beg you.”
”I’ll do anything. Just please don’t take the child away.”
”That’s… too harsh. Aurelia, I have no intention of taking the child’s mother away.”
Hearing that, Ulrika raised her hand and proposed a punishment.
”Then, how about this instead? For the next 6 months, until the stable period begins, they will be suspended from Sir Kent’s duties. And all caregiving will be prohibited. This way, the other concubines will have a better chance of conceiving. Though, we’ll need your cooperation, sir…”
Ulrika suggested banning Carly and Annabella from their duties and prohibiting contact with me as part of the punishment.
”No way… I won’t be allowed to participate in Sir Kent’s duties… Even that morning?”
Annabella anxiously asked about the morning service.
”Yes, contact is prohibited. I’ll take care of comforting our lord in your place.”
”T-that’s…”
”Besides, you won’t be in a condition to perform the service until the stable period begins, so you should decline, right?”
”That’s true… But can’t I at least wash Sir Kent’s underwear?”
”No. Serving tea or other tasks are also prohibited. However, you can still have meals together.”
I thought it was a bit harsh, but considering Annabella and Carly’s bodies, I thought it would be better to do so, so I decided to put Ulrika’s proposal to a vote.
”I’m thinking of using Ulrika’s suggestion as punishment for the two of them. What do you think? If you agree, raise your hand.”
Then, everyone raised their hands.
This means that the punishment for Annabella and Carly has been decided.
”It’s hard… but… we have no choice… we committed a crime…”
”Head Maid Annabella…We are carrying the seeds of Kent…Let’s hold on here.”
The two of them were forbidden from contacting me and from working until they entered the stable period.
Any other punishments will be handled within the Blackdagger family’s circle and will not be punished.
From tomorrow morning, Ulrika will come to calm my rowdy behavior instead of Annabella.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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