Chapter 80: Unwelcome Guests
At first, his tutor, Mr. Gaius, had come every day. But now he only visited twice a week. The teacher once said that there was nothing more left to teach, but he continued to visit because he enjoyed talking with Shiao Yi.
To be honest, Shiao Yi was far more studious than Dominic. The young master had always preferred swordsmanship than studying. He often ran away from his lessons, leaving Mr. Gaius in frustration.
"You’re very diligent, Madam," Jude said while bringing him a cup of tea.
Shiao Yi smiled shyly as he responded. "When I was little, I only trained all the time. The knowledge I got was just the stuff needed to fight. I always dreamed of being able to study in a real school. I used to study by myself using the B.O.W facilities, but I never had full control over my time. So being able to learn like this—it makes me really happy."
Jude didn’t fully understand everything Shiao Yi was talking about, but he could sense that Shiao Yi’s past must have been difficult. Even so, Shiao Yi remained cheerful and always looked forward, which made Jude respect him even more. He thought that someone as thoughtful as Shiao Yi was a rare and lucky match for Lord Dominic.
As Shiao Yi turned his attention back to the thick parchment book in front of him, Jude gave a respectful bow and quietly left the room, returning to the butler’s quarters downstairs.
The practical running and management of the entire estate was Jude’s responsibility. Both Lord Gabrant and Lord Dominic showed no interest in household matters. Because of that, Jude’s duties were wide-ranging and complex.
Jude didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly heard voices and lifted his head. He had been so focused on tallying the expenses that everything else had faded into the background. The voices seemed to be coming from the second floor. For them to be heard all the way down here, they must have been shouting quite loudly. It wasn’t Shiao Yi’s voice.
No one had rung the bell, but the noise bothered him enough to step out of the butler’s room. As soon as he opened the door, the voices became much clearer. From the corner of his eye, he saw Midas peeking nervously out from the kitchen. And as soon as Eline, who had been fidgeting at the bottom of the stairs, spotted Jude, she rushed toward him.
"Jude! It’s those idiot brothers from the mistress’s side—her boys are here again!"
"When did they get in? I didn’t notice at all."
"They obviously sneaked in like thieves, that’s how. No one heard a thing."
"So, what are those two making a scene about this time?"
Eline grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward the stairs.
"What do you think? They’re picking a fight with Madam again. They’ve been saying whatever they want, and I’m so angry I could scream."
’You’ve got some nerve, you little slut! This is the estate of the Grand General and a viscount, you know that? Filthy little slut like you don’t belong here, not even for a second!’
As they climbed the stairs, Jude heard a coarse, vulgar voice echoing above. It must be Elijah, the oldest son of the general’s second mistress.
’I don’t care what Dominic told you. If you don’t want to disgrace this house any further, you’d better pack up and leave! Just being here ruins the family’s reputation. You’re a stain!’
From the hallway, Jude couldn’t hear how Shiao Yi was responding. But he imagined the boy was keeping calm and handling it with composure, as he always did. Another voice rang out then—sharp, shrill, and irritated. That had to be the younger brother, Keith, the nervous one.
Whatever they misunderstood, those brothers kept coming back here often. The first mistress had only one daughter. So, these two brothers believed they had just as much right to inherit the family estate.
The first mistress was a quiet woman, a descendant of a fallen noble house. The second mistress, on the other hand, was the daughter of a city merchant—uneducated, spoiled, and proud of her curvy figure.
’You arrogant slut. You just sit there with that calm face, like nothing we say gets to you! Dealing with an idiot who doesn’t even understand what’s going on is exhausting. I don’t get what Dominic was thinking, bringing a slut like you in here.’
’Big brother, there’s no point talking to someone like this. Let’s show him with force. Make sure he can’t even look Dominic in the eye again.’
’Yeah, that’s right. He’s probably just Dominic’ little boy toy, huh? That’s the only reason someone like him would be allowed to live here. Let’s have a taste too, while we’re at it.’
The tone of the brothers’ voices turned dark and threatening. Jude felt a chill run through him. He rushed toward the room where Shiao Yi was staying. But just as he reached for the door handle, he heard the lock click shut from the inside.
His face turned pale. The older brother, Elijah, was a huge man—he had inherited the general’s powerful build. Keith, the younger one, took after their mother and was also large, heavyset. There was no way someone like Shiao Yi, with his small and slender frame, could physically fight back.
"Open the door! Madam! Elijah, open this door right now!"
Jude banged on the door, but it didn’t budge. Inside, he heard loud thuds, things crashing and banging. He turned and shouted to Eline downstairs, ordering her to bring the spare key immediately.
Soon, Lambard came running up the stairs, his face tense with fury. Eline must have told him what was going on. Lambard quickly unlocked the door with the master key.
With a bang, the door burst open.
The books and papers were scattered everywhere. Elijah and Keith were both sprawled on the floor, sitting on their backsides.