Stella felt so tired after her tea party with Hendrick that she had to retire in her room right after they were done. She even fell asleep so soundly that she only woke up an hour before dinner.
"Where's brother Hendrick?" Stella inquired when he was not around for dinner. Only Zafir and her parents were there with her.
"Ah, he is undergoing punishment right now," the duke nonchalantly replied.
"What?! Punishment for what? Did brother do something wrong?" Stella was shocked. She had no idea that the family actually had rules one cannot break that they would get punished if they broke it.
'I have to know what actions result in punishment. Or else I'll have a terrible life here.'
"For the terrible thing, he mentioned to you, of course," Duke Henry replied casually and calmly continued eating.
"Hendrick must have scared you. Your brother is a bit excessive sometimes but that is because he is too worried about you. Your Father and I will make sure to discipline him properly. So do forgive him, will you?" Duchess Amelia appealed.
Stella finally understood. She was relieved that it was not about some rule she did not know about. Hendrick was punished for saying that he would marry her if he had to. Zafir or the servants must have reported it to the duke and duchess.
"It's alright. I already forgave my brother. I understand that he worries too much. And I have already made him promise not to ever consider something like that again," Stella replied and everyone nodded in approval.
* * *
Zafir was shocked when he heard what Hendrick said to Stella. He already knew since they were kids that Hendrick had an unhealthy obsession with Stella.
But he did not expect that Hendrick could even think of marrying Stella. It was simply nuts. Stella was Hendricks's biological sister.
Incest has never occurred in Valyenor. Some nobles from the farthest corners of the empire may consider it as a last resort in cases of no marriage prospects or in order to maintain a pure bloodline, but never in Valyenor.
That was probably the most extreme thought that Zafir ever heard from Hendrick due to his obsession with Stella.
Zafir thought he had to report it to the duke and duchess. But Stella corrected Hendrick's behavior herself. She made him promise not to ever consider it again if he did not want to be hated by her.
At that, Zafir sighed in relief. Hendrick never breaks his promises to his family, most especially since it was to Stella.
However, the servants were terrified by the mere thought of the possibility that it might still happen so they reported it to the duke and duchess. Thus, Hendrick was punished.
Even Zafir was petrified as he heard Duke Henry say that he would disown Hendrick if he continued having thoughts of marrying Stella. The duchess even agreed. The two even had a consensus of making Zafir the heir instead if Hendrick continued to misbehave.
Duchess Amelia also prohibited Hendrick from ever showing his face to Stella for the whole month.
* * *
"Why you?! It was you who ratted me out weren't you?" Hendrick blamed Zafir since he was hiding behind a tree while the two were having a tea party.
That was probably the first time that Hendrick confronted Zafir after getting scolded.
All servants were scared of Hendrick due to his tendency to punish severely when it was related to Stella so he had probably assumed that the servants would not report him.
But the matter at hand was too serious that the servants had to report it even if it meant risking their lives.
"I did not. It wasn't me. But I would not tell you who did it either since I'm sure you will punish them severely," Zafir replied.
He knew Hendrick could figure from there that it was the servants. But at least he could not punish them anymore since it would further anger the duke and duchess.
"Tsk. You better not be lying to me. Don't assume that I'll hold back just because you are younger than me," Hendrick scowled.
If there was a person in Valyenor that Hendrick did not bother putting up pretenses with, it was Zafir. Hendrick talked to him casually and did not bother hiding all his ugly behaviors from him. He even spoke with him casually and also had Zafir talk to him that way as well.
"I don't have to lie. If I did it, I would admit it. And you are only older than me for a few months. I won't be holding back either."
"Hmmph. I am still older. For your information, I am the older brother so you better watch your mouth."
"You should just go and eat dinner already instead of dawdling here," Zafir sighed.
"I'm not hungry," Hendrick pouted.
Zafir glanced at the moping Hendrick. He was obviously not in the mood to eat after just getting threatened by his own father. His own mother even agreed and prohibited him from seeing Stella for a month.
So far, that was the harshest thing that the duke had ever threatened his son with. Despite Hendrick being used to getting scolded, that was the first time that he was told that he could be disowned. The duke and duchess even agreed about it.
"Stella was worried about you, by the way. She asked about you immediately when she noticed you were not around during dinner," he knew exactly what to say to cheer up Hendrick.
"Really? You are not just trying to make me feel better are you?" Hendrick said with shining eyes. He obviously hoped it was the truth.
"I'm telling the truth. She even said she had already forgiven you."
"Waah! Stella is truly adorable. She is way too kind," Hendrick was beaming once again. "I'm such a useless older brother. Mother was right for prohibiting me from seeing Stella again."
"Well, that was indeed your fault. I was also shocked when I heard you say that. Even if you are worried about her future, you should focus on finding her a good husband instead of thinking about something like that," Zafir admitted.
"Right," Hendrick let out a long sigh.
"I understand I was wrong. But don't you think Father and Mother hate me? Do you suppose they think of me as just a burden and a good-for-nothing son?" Hendrick wondered. He had raised his knees and was hugging them.
That was the first time that Zafir ever saw Hendrick so depressed. And it was not because of Stella, which was the latter's usual cause of happiness or sadness.
Hendrick looked like he just came to the realization that he was actually disposable and replaceable to his parents. Zafir could tell that Hendrick was thinking that his parents did not care all that much about him.
That was probably the first time that Hendrick ever doubted his parent's love for him. He never thought that he could actually get disowned. After all, the duke and duchess doted on Hendrick.
Hendrick was the first child and he looked exactly like Duke Henry. He also got Duchess Amelia's warm glow and energy so he did not look as cold as the duke. You could say that he looked much better than the duke because he had a smiley face that added to his good looks.
As such, Hendrick was the first object of affection of both the duke and duchess. He was the first tangible proof of their love and so he was also loved very much. Hendrick probably did not notice how important he was to the two. He was their first child and only son after all.
"Idiot. Go and eat dinner already. The duke and duchess are waiting for you. Are you going to wait until the duke comes out here himself and drag you to the dining hall?" Zafir said in exasperation.
"What?! Didn't they already have dinner?" Hendrick blinked repeatedly.
"Yes, but they are there waiting for you. You think they would let you eat all your meals alone for the whole month?" Zafir said and Hendrick was so happy and relieved that he had tears in his eyes.
"You should have said that first," Hendrick said before sprinting to the dining hall.
"I was trying to. But you blew up on me," Zafir sighed. He was actually a bit nervous that Hendrick would get angry at him and tell him to get out of Valyenor due to what the duke and duchess have said. But Hendrick never even mentioned it.
Zafir knew that Hendrick was a good person. After all, they grew up together and Hendrick had treated him like a real brother since they were little. He never spoke about Zafir's unknown and uncertain background. Zafir honestly felt blessed that he had Hendrick.
When it comes to Hendrick's obsessive behavior, it all started when Stella was born. And Zafir agreed with the duchess that it was Duke Henry's fault for brainwashing the young Hendrick. Not that Zafir would ever say that out loud.
When they were young, Zafir had actually asked Hendrick about what he was learning during his private sessions with Duke Henry. When Hendrick told him about it, Zafir also believed it. But when he grew up, he realized that the duke was just overprotective.
Zafir did understand the duke's worries since Stella was indeed very adorable and she would surely be a beauty that attracted dangers once she grew up. Being prepared to protect her at all costs was much better than exposing her to danger due to carelessness.