Chapter 3 - Chapter 03

Evreux walked over to a large desk at the side of the punishment hall, where a stack of paper and a quill were neatly arranged. He picked up the quill and handed it to Severus along with a fresh sheet of paper. "Your punishment is to write, 'I won't drink liquor anymore ' ten thousand times. This will remind you of the rules."

Severus stared at the paper in shock. "Ten thousand times? Are you kidding? This is going to take forever!"

Evreux's face stayed serious. "The punishment is meant to be boring. It's to show you how serious breaking the rules is."

Severus sighed dramatically, taking the quill. "Alright, I'll do it. But a little warning next time would be nice. And maybe a chair or something for comfort?"

He sat down at the desk, grumbling as he began to write. "I won't drink liquor anymore… I won't drink liquor anymore…" He muttered, "This is going to take forever."

As time passed, Severus's jokes turned into real frustration. "Seriously, Evreux, ten thousand times? This is more like a punishment for writing than for drinking! My hand is already sore."

He paused to rub his aching hand. "And this is so boring! I could be out there having fun instead of writing the same thing over and over. I get it, I've learned my lesson!"

Severus looked at Evreux, who was still unfazed. "I swear, if I survive this, I'm going to ask for a drink to celebrate. Or maybe a hand massage. Anything to make up for this awful punishment."

Even with Severus's complaints and attempts to joke around, Evreux stayed firm, watching him closely. "Keep writing. The sooner you finish, the sooner this will end."

Severus sighed again and went back to his writing with a tired look. "Okay, okay. But don't be surprised if I end up writing 'I won't drink liquor anymore' in my sleep tonight. This punishment is going to stick with me for a while."

He kept writing, feeling the minutes drag on, and muttered to himself, "Next time, I'll definitely think twice before breaking any more rules. This is just too much."

Severus kept writing, his frustration growing with every repeated line. The room felt like it was closing in on him as he wrote "I won't drink liquor anymore" over and over. His hand was throbbing, and the endless repetition was wearing him out.

After what seemed like forever, Severus glanced up to see Evreux still standing nearby, his expression as unchanging as ever. "Hey, Evreux," Severus said, hoping for some sympathy, "Can't we make a deal? Maybe cut it down to a thousand times or something? This is really getting to me."

Evreux didn't answer, staring at the wall. Severus slumped in his chair, the quill feeling heavier with each line. He sighed deeply. "I could really use a break. How about a little chat while I write? I promise I'll finish faster if you keep me company."

Evreux finally looked at him, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't a social even. If you need a break, you can have one after you finish."

Severus's shoulders sagged, but he kept trying. "Alright, fine. But could you at least tell me a story or something? Anything to distract me from this boring task."

Evreux's lips twitched slightly, but he stayed silent. Severus took this as a small victory and continued writing, talking to himself. "So, what's your story, Evreux? Got any interesting experience from your past? Or is that a secret too?"

As the hours went by, Severus's energy faded. He slumped over the desk, his quill barely making it onto the paper. His hand was sore, and he rubbed it often to try to ease the pain.

"Alright, Evreux," Severus said, looking up again, "I'm halfway through this torture. Can we speed things up a bit? Maybe give me some encouragement or a less harsh punishment next time?"

Evreux remained unmoved, his eyes still on Severus. "You're almost finished. Just keep writing."

Severus chuckled tiredly. "I'm going to need a week to recover from this. How do people manage to write ten thousand times without going crazy?"

Finally, as Severus finished his last lines, he looked up, exhausted. "Almost done, Evreux. Just a few more lines. I guess I'll be on my best behavior from now on to avoid this kind of punishment."

He completed the final line and slumped back in his chair, relieved. "Done," he said with a mix of relief and pride. "Now, if you don't mind, I need a long rest and maybe a drink of water to celebrate surviving this."

Evreux nodded, finally showing a small break in his stern expression. "You've finished your punishment. Next time, think more carefully before breaking the rules."

Severus got up slowly, stretching his sore muscles. "Definitely. I'll think hard about it. And next time, I'll make sure my plans don't involve sitting in the punishment hall for hours."

With that, Severus made his way out, glancing back at Evreux. "Thanks for the... memorable experience," he said with a tired smile. "I'll make sure to stay out of trouble. Or at least, out of the punishment hall."

Sixten clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Tsk. What did you expect? Evreux doesn't tolerate any rule-breaking. And here you are, making a fool of yourself."

Severus stretched out on the bed, grinning despite his fatigue. "Oh, come on, Sixten. I'm not that bad. Just had a moment of poor judgment."

Sixten crossed his arms and shook his head. "A moment of poor judgment? You're always pushing your luck. No wonder you keep getting into trouble."

Severus chuckled and propped himself up on his elbows. "Yeah, I guess I'm a bit too adventurous. But you know me, I can't resist a bit of excitement."

Sixten sighed, looking frustrated. "You're impossible. One of these days, you're going to get yourself into serious trouble."

Severus waved it off. "I'm fine. Just learning the hard way. Besides, it makes for good stories, doesn't it?"

Sixten raised an eyebrow. "Good stories or not, you need to be more responsible. You're not a kid anymore."

Severus grinned playfully. "I know, I know. But if I can't have a little fun, what's the point? At least I've got you to keep me in line."

Sixten shook his head, but a small smile appeared. "You're something else. Just… try to stay out of trouble. You can't keep doing this."

Severus smiled at him. "Alright, I'll think twice before doing anything foolish. I'll do my best to avoid the punishment hall."

Sixten rolled his eyes but softened his tone. "Good. Now get some rest. You look like you need it."

Severus settled into his bed, his eyes growing heavy. " Hmmm. I'll definitely take that advice."

As Severus fell asleep, Sixten went back to his book, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

The next morning, Seiren walked into Severus and Sixten's room, her face a mix of concern and worry. She had heard about Severus's punishment and wanted to make sure her younger brother was doing alright.

Severus was still in bed, looking disheveled and tired. When he saw Seiren, his face lit up with a tired but hopeful grin. "Sis! Just the person I needed. You won't believe how awful yesterday was."

Seiren sat down beside him on the bed, her expression softening. "I heard about your punishment. How are you feeling?"

Severus groaned dramatically before hugging her waist. "Oh, you know sis, just sore and exhausted. Writing 'I won't drink liquor anymore' ten thousand times is no joke. My hand is still sore."

Seiren reached out to gently rub his shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. But you know the rules are there for a reason. What made you think it was a good idea to drink liquor in front of Evreux?"

Severus sighed, leaning into her touch. "I wasn't thinking, really. I just wanted to enjoy myself a bit. It was just a little wine, after all. I didn't think it would lead to this."

Seiren looked at him with a mix of affection and concern. "Severus, you have to understand that rules are important. And while we are here, we should follow their rules."

Sixten exclaimed, " You're right sis"

Severus just rolled his eyes to Sixten.

Severus pouted, looking up at her with big, pleading eyes. "But sis, It's so boring in here. There's a lot of things that shouldn't do."

Seiren shook her head with a gentle smile. "We can't change the rules, Severus. They're in place for a reason. But I can help you with your recovery. Maybe we can get some rest and relaxation today."

Severus perked up slightly. "Really? That sounds great. I could use a day off from all the punishment stuff."

Sixten, who had been sitting quietly nearby, rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a small smile. "You're lucky you have Ate Seiren looking out for you."

Severus rolled his eyes " Oh, shut up."

"You..."

" Stop fighting kids," Seiren gave Severus a comforting pat on the back. "Just remember, Severus, every action has its consequences. It's important to learn from these experiences and think ahead."

Severus nodded, looking more serious. "I will, Sis. Thanks for being here."

Seiren smiled warmly. "Of course. That's what family is for. Now, let's get you up and moving. We can do something relaxing today and help you recover."

As Seiren helped Severus get up, Sixten watched with a mix of amusement and admiration. The family's bond was strong, and despite the occasional trouble Severus caused, it was clear they all cared deeply for each other.

Severus stretched and yawned, managing to sit up with Seiren's help. "Okay, I'm up. What's on the plan for today?"

Seiren smiled, smoothing his hair. "We'll take it easy today. Maybe a nice walk or some quiet time together. We'll do something you enjoy, as long as it's relaxing."

Sixten, standing with his arms crossed, looked at Severus with a hint of amusement. "Fun, huh? Given what you've been through, you should probably be a bit more responsible."

Severus grinned cheekily. "Oh, come on, Sixten. I promise I'll behave today. Just let me have a little fun. I've learned my lesson and won't be drinking in front of Evreux again."

Seiren chuckled. "Alright, Severus. But remember, fun doesn't mean breaking any more rules. We'll keep it peaceful today."

Severus sprang up from the bed, stretching his arms. "Sounds good! How about we start with a great breakfast? I'm starving after all that writing."

Sixten rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a small smile. "You and your endless appetite. Fine, we'll have breakfast first. But let's not push our luck after that."

Severus feigned offense. "Push our luck? Me? Never!" He winked at Seiren. "Thanks for being so understanding. I'll make sure to keep things calm today."

Seiren laughed softly. "That's all I ask. Let's get you dressed and head downstairs. We can enjoy a nice meal and then decide what to do next."

As Severus and Seiren got ready, Sixten followed, shaking his head but clearly fond of his siblings. "Sometimes I wonder if you'll ever change," Sixten said.

Severus playfully nudged him. "And sometimes I wonder if you'll ever lighten up. It's all part of the fun!"

Sixten smirked. "Fun or not, I'm still the one who keeps things in line. So, let's make today about relaxing and avoiding trouble."

Severus grinned. "Got it! Relaxation it is, and no trouble, I promise."

As the three of them headed downstairs, the aroma of breakfast filled the air. Severus couldn't help but let out a contented sigh. "Mmm, that smells amazing. I think I'm going to enjoy today."

Seiren smiled warmly as she led the way to the dining table. "I'm glad. After everything yesterday, you deserve a good meal and some time to unwind."

Sixten took a seat at the table, looking at Severus with a mix of skepticism and amusement. "We'll see if you can keep your promise. You're known for your troublemaking."

Severus plopped into a chair and grinned. "Hey, I can be on my best behavior when I want to. Besides, today is all about relaxing."

Breakfast was served, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Seiren asked Severus about his favorite hobbies, trying to steer the conversation away from yesterday's events. "So, Severus, what's something you've been wanting to try but haven't had the chance to?"

Severus thought for a moment, then his face brightened. "You know, I've always wanted to learn to play the flute. It seems like such a calming and beautiful instrument."

Seiren looked curious. "The flute? That's an interesting choice. What made you interested in it?"

Severus shrugged with a playful grin. "I heard someone play it once, and it sounded so peaceful. I thought it would be fun to learn and a nice way to relax."

Sixten raised an eyebrow. "The flute? I didn't know you were into music. Are you sure you're not just looking for another excuse to cause trouble?"

Severus laughed. "No trouble, I promise. I really do want to try playing the flute. It's something I've been thinking about for a while."

Seiren smiled warmly. "That sounds like a great idea. Maybe we can find a flute and some lessons for you. It's always good to explore new interests."

Sixten nodded, still a bit skeptical but supportive. "Alright, if you're serious about it, we'll check it out. But remember, no more trouble for now."

Severus gave him a thumbs-up. "Got it. No trouble, just flute-playing and relaxing."

After breakfast, they went out to explore some local shops. They found a music store with various instruments. Severus's eyes lit up when he saw a flute on display. He carefully picked it up and tried a few notes, his face full of excitement.

Seiren watched proudly. "You sound great, Severus. I think you're going to love this."

Sixten, watching from the side, nodded with approval. "It's good to see you find something you're passionate about. Just remember to practice and be patient with yourself."

Severus just nodded at them.