DLMSWSHH Chapter 9

TL: Hua

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Chapter 9: Rose Garden

Zhong Ming was a bit hesitant. The rose garden was very intact and looked meticulously cared for; Zhong Ming didn’t know if he could just pick one.

“Why aren’t you moving?”

Albert frowned, slowly narrowing his eyes: “Are you going to disobey my order?”

The boy’s features were exquisite yet sharp, with his brows and eyes set close together, which made his face appear very cold and unforgiving when he frowned.

“If that’s the case, I’ll have to punish you.”

Hearing this, Zhong Ming paused, glanced at Albert, and finally turned around under the boy’s watch to walk toward the flowerbed.

He crouched down, reached out to grab the nearest rose, and applied a bit of pressure. The green stem of the rose snapped with a crisp sound.

Hearing that sound, Albert curled the corners of his mouth.

At the same time, Zhong Ming felt a sharp prick in his hand. He frowned and looked down to find a small hole pricked into his fingertip, with a tiny drop of fresh blood seeping out. He had forgotten that roses have thorns.

Holding the flower, Zhong Ming walked back and looked at the boy sitting by the third-floor window, feeling a bit troubled.

“Young Master Albert,” Zhong Ming asked, holding the flower, “can I bring it up from inside?”

“No.”

By the windowsill, Albert propped his chin with one hand, his brow arched high. He looked down at him with a cold expression. “Servants are not allowed upstairs without permission.”

Hearing this, Zhong Ming froze for a moment. True, the only time he had been to the second floor was when he was carried up in the mouth of the Spider Duchess. But… He looked at the high-hanging third-floor window and bit his lower lip in distress.

Albert sat by the window, watching him at his leisure, a faint, lingering smile playing on his lips.

Zhong Ming pursed his lips and stepped forward with the flower. Stepping onto the first-floor windowsill, he managed to grip the ledge with his left hand while reaching up as high as possible with his right, attempting to deliver the flower to Albert.

But no matter how he stood on his tiptoes, he was still a distance short. Cold sweat broke out on Zhong Ming’s forehead. Finally, just as he was about to lose his support and his strained feet were on the verge of cramping, Albert, seeming to have enjoyed his plight long enough, gave a light wave of his hand. The flower suddenly rose from Zhong Ming’s hand and drifted unsteadily up to the third-floor window.

Zhong Ming watched blankly as Albert reached out and grabbed the flower, utterly dumbfounded.

This little brat had such a skill yet chose to toy with him!

Zhong Ming’s eyes widened. He watched Albert look down and admire the rose for a moment before looking up and curling his lips at Zhong Ming. “You may go back.”

He turned around, the window behind him closing automatically, and his figure vanished in a few strides.

Not even a thank you… Zhong Ming lowered his eyes and ground his back teeth, thinking that this young master was indeed in need of discipline. He needed a strict tutor; it would be even better if someone could give this brat a few swats.

But what can a servant do? Zhong Ming sighed, turned around, and continued his duty of watering the rose garden.

When the horizon began to glow with the orange of dusk, Zhong Ming put away his watering can. He took one last look at the garden, which looked exceptionally beautiful under the sunset, and turned to return to the main hall.

All the implements in this manor were kept by the housekeeper, Madam Mary.

When he returned to the hall, Madam Mary was conducting an inventory for storage. Zhong Ming saw Matthew put down a shovel, and Madam Mary placed a checkmark in her ledger.

Zhong Ming followed and lined up behind Tao, who was returning a ledger. The bespectacled young man wore a black suit slightly different from theirs; he had his arms folded and held a thick account book in his right hand. He seemed somewhat impatient, his leather shoes tapping the floor rhythmically. Based on Zhong Ming’s observations over the past few days, Tao seemed to be in charge of clerical work, as he was never seen going out to work like Matthew and the other menservants.

When Tao glanced sideways and saw Zhong Ming lining up behind him, his expression instantly darkened. He tilted his chin up and let out a sneer from his nose. Zhong Ming ignored his contempt. He lowered his head and stopped about two paces away from Tao, trying his best to keep his distance.

Seeing that he didn’t react, Tao felt bored and coldly snorted as he turned around.

Soon it was Zhong Ming’s turn. He stepped forward and set down the watering can under Madam Mary’s stern gaze. The woman’s eyes were like a sharp blade, sliding inch by inch over the iron watering can on the table, trying to find even the slightest scratch.

Zhong Ming was a bit nervous; he had used it very carefully, and there shouldn’t be any flaws.

A moment later, Madam Mary nodded with reluctant satisfaction and looked down to check the register. However, just as Zhong Ming breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze moved slightly upward and suddenly froze.

Seeing her expression, Zhong Ming held his breath again, a bad premonition suddenly rising in his heart.

In the next instant, Madam Mary grabbed his hand, forcing his fingers open. She stared at a spot on his fingertip and said coldly:

“…You touched the roses in the garden?”

The young man’s fair, slender hand was displayed under the light. The servants in the hall all looked over and indeed saw a still-bleeding thorn prick on Zhong Ming’s index finger.

“This is…” Zhong Ming also saw the wound. His eyes widened slightly as he tried to explain, “This was for the Young Master—”

“Shut up.”

Mary barked the command. Zhong Ming trembled. He looked up to see every wrinkle on Madam Mary’s gaunt face pulled tight. Her face was as pale as a demon from the abyss, scaring him into silence.

Madam Mary’s disgusted gaze landed on Zhong Ming’s face. Her shoulders shook slightly with anger as she muttered rapidly, “It’s always restless fellows like you who love these sneaky thieving tricks—”

The more she grumbled, the tighter she gripped his hand. Zhong Ming felt a sharp pain in his wrist and couldn’t help but let out a cry of pain. Madam Mary’s rage reached its peak. She shouted, “Go to the confinement room and reflect on your actions!”

Zhong Ming was stunned, not knowing what the confinement room was. Matthew, standing to the side, had a change of expression. He stepped forward and said, “Madam, please forgive Zhong Ming on account of him being new and not knowing the rules.”

He glanced at Zhong Ming: “I promise to discipline him strictly in the future.”

To his surprise, Madam Mary seemed to grow even more furious at Matthew’s plea. Her brows knitted together tightly, and her voice was icy:

“Matthew, have you been bewitched by him too?”

Matthew froze at the words. Tao, who was leaning against the wall watching the show, sneered and raised his voice, “Madam, this kid has already turned everyone’s heads. Can’t you tell?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Mary’s face turned even colder. She turned back, her gaze looking as if it wanted to carve a piece of meat off Zhong Ming:

“To dare steal the Duke’s roses now… who knows what he will do later. Such a disrespectful person who violates God’s teachings must be severely punished.”

The atmosphere in the hall grew cold. Matthew frowned, opening his mouth feebly. Zhong Ming pursed his lips under the woman’s harsh gaze, feeling that Madam Mary was indeed biased against him.

Just then, a burst of crisp footsteps rang out.

“What are you doing?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Zhong Ming looked up and saw Albert’s figure appearing at the corner.

His face was pale, and his cold green eyes looked down at everyone in the hall. “Is this not allowed?”

The anger on Madam Mary’s face stalled. She looked with some surprise at the boy walking slowly down the stairs. “Young Master Albert, why are you here?” She frowned slightly and looked down at her pocket watch. “Shouldn’t you be in math class right now?”

Albert looked at her and said, “I finished early.” Having said that, he walked down the stairs, passing Zhong Ming as if he didn’t know him, and said to Madam Mary: “What did this servant do that made you want to send him to the confinement room?”

Madam Mary glanced at Zhong Ming and bowed slightly. “Reporting to the young master, he took a rose from the rose garden without permission.”

Zhong Ming looked up at Albert and opened his mouth. However, he saw the boy looking at him with playfulness in his eyes, deliberately drawing out his words:

“Oh, so that’s how it is.”

He looked at Zhong Ming, his gaze filled with the mockery a superior has for an inferior, and curled his lips:

“Then Madam must certainly punish this dishonest manservant well.”

Zhong Ming snapped his head up, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Madam Mary nodded. “Of course.”

Zhong Ming’s heart sank heavily. He subconsciously looked toward Matthew, but the latter lowered his eyes unnaturally, clearly unable to help him. Under Madam Mary’s instruction, two other menservants stepped forward, reaching out to grab Zhong Ming’s arms.

Zhong Ming breathed rapidly. Finally, throwing caution to the wind, he looked at Albert, who was standing quietly beside Madam Mary:

“Young Master Albert.”

His dark pupils were slightly larger than those of an ordinary person, and making such an expression made him appear somewhat pitiful.

“Please, save me.”

Albert’s eyes lit up. Zhong Ming’s reflection appeared in his emerald eyes. Curling his lips, he suddenly spoke:

“Wait.”

The two menservants stopped in their tracks. Simultaneously, Albert raised his hand and conjured a vivid, dripping-wet rose out of thin air. Under Madam Mary’s surprised gaze, he smiled and said,

“I told him to pick the rose.”

Zhong Ming let out a massive sigh of relief.

However, as Madam Mary looked at the arrogant Albert, her expression shifted several times. After a long while, she slowly let out a breath and closed her eyes. “Since it was the Young Master’s request, the confinement room can be waived.”

Hearing this, Albert curled his lips and looked at Zhong Ming with an expression like he was claiming credit.

However, in the next second, Madam Mary’s tone shifted: “But, there must be punishment.” She turned to Matthew. “Matthew, go and fetch the ruler.”

Zhong Ming’s eyes widened at this. Albert, on the other hand, was instantly incensed. His gaze pierced toward Madam Mary: “…What did you say?”

When he got angry, his face turned pale and his brow pressed down; his frigid expression hardly looked like that of a child. But Madam Mary was unmoved. She straightened her back and said slowly, “The Duke’s rose garden is not to be picked without permission, even by you, Young Master.” She reached her hand out to Albert. “Please return it in full.”

Albert looked like an angry lion cub, his green eyes glaring at the withered woman, his teeth clenched tight, and his chest heaving violently. Madam Mary remained expressionless, as immovable as a mountain.

Albert glared at the woman before him, never expecting that even that man’s servant could humiliate him at will.

In the end, he gently released his hand. The rose floated up, flew toward Madam Mary, and landed softly in her palm.

“Good boy.”

Madam Mary curled her lips in satisfaction, not sparing her praise.

Albert remained cold-faced, staring at her like a stubborn little beast.

Just then, light footsteps sounded. Matthew had returned to the hall holding the ruler.

Zhong Ming turned his head. His eyes widened the moment he saw the long, thin ruler in Matthew’s hand. It was as long as a normal person’s forearm.

Matthew glanced at him, walked to Madam Mary’s side, and whispered, “Madam, shall we follow the old custom?”

Madam Mary shifted her gaze, took the ruler from Matthew, and turned toward another direction:

“Tao, you do it this time.”

Being called by name, Tao’s eyes widened slightly. Then, a smile curled on his lips. He slowly straightened up and walked over to take the ruler from Madam Mary.

Holding the ruler, he swung it twice through the air. The ruler sliced through the air with a series of whistling sounds.

Zhong Ming trembled at the sound and subconsciously shrank his neck. Seeing Tao walking toward him, he took a fearful step back.

“Stand still for me.”

Seeing his movement, Tao immediately barked out the command. Zhong Ming froze in his tracks, hearing the crisp sound of leather shoes striking the floor. He looked up with slight terror at the young man before him who was wearing a half-smile.

Tao held the end of the ruler and stood firmly in front of Zhong Ming. The other end of the ruler hit his palm with a “clap.”

His eyes narrowed behind his gold-rimmed glasses. His gaze swept over Zhong Ming’s entire body, from his fair face to his two slender hands, then to the young man’s long, straight legs encased in suit trousers. A malicious smile curled at the corners of his mouth:

“I’ve found you an eyesore for a long time now.”

The man’s nasty voice echoed in the air.

He reached out and pointed the ruler at Zhong Ming from a distance, arching an eyebrow:

“The calves or the palm. Pick one yourself.”