Chapter Nine: An Abrupt Showdown

Inside the room, a faint scent of chestnut blossoms mingled with the sharp tang of sweat and musk. Lady Yalf hurriedly flung open the window, letting in a breath of fresh air.

“Kneel down at once and slap yourself!” Lady Yalf’s voice was sharp as she noticed Holger trembling uncontrollably.

A glimmer of understanding flashed in Holger’s eyes. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees before Lady Yalf.

The sound of slaps filled the room. He was merciless to himself, each blow struck as if it were aimed at an enemy. Before long, his cheeks flushed a deep red.

“Rebecca, who is in this room?” Robert entered, puzzled by the noise. His gaze flickered between his wife and the butler kneeling and slapping himself on the floor. “Who allowed you into my chamber?”

Rebecca stared at Robert with fierce anger, like an enraged lioness baring her fangs. “I have questions for him. I heard there will soon be another Lady Yalf in the estate. When do you plan to introduce her to me?”

Robert’s face darkened, his gaze sharp and hostile as it fixed on Lady Rebecca. “That’s none of your concern!” His nostrils flared slightly, as if the scent in the room aroused his suspicion.

“Are you going to leave or not?” Lady Yalf was startled and shot a warning glare at Holger, silently urging him to move.

Holger quickly rose, slipping past Robert like a shadow. Only after leaving the room did he wipe the sweat from his brow.

Lady Yalf turned to Robert. “You haven’t explained that matter to me yet!”

“What explanation do you want?”

“That’s for you to consider!”

As Holger stepped out, the quarrel behind him finally released the tension coiling in his nerves, as if he had been immersed into a breath of fresh air, breathing freely once more.

He exhaled deeply, turned to face two imposing Viking warriors, cleared his throat twice softly, and elegantly adjusted his attire. His plump face bore a stern expression as his hands folded over his protruding belly. “Where exactly did Yalf go just now?”

“Sir, Yalf…” One by one, they recounted the earlier events in detail and relayed Yalf’s instructions to Holger.

Holger nodded slightly, licking his lips gently. A profound expression crossed his face, as if he foresaw a shared destiny looming ahead.

It seemed he had not yet had his fill.

In a low voice, he said, “Understood. I will handle this matter properly.”

Then, he signaled his men to escort her to his residence so they could carefully discuss the matters entrusted by Yalf.

“As you command, sir!”

...

Unaware of the approaching storm, Ony was enveloped in the warm ambiance of her bedroom, guiding Sina and Vanessa as they skillfully wove the dream of a large distillation apparatus, immersed in hopeful visions of the future.

To teach more efficiently, the two girls had moved into Ony’s chamber, as if regarded as trusted confidantes undergoing special tutelage.

---

Ralph, Ony’s capable assistant responsible for managing the boys, burst into the room hurriedly.

He pointed outside with urgency. “Miss Ony, a warrior claiming to have a pact with you requests an audience!”

Busy as she was, Ony lifted her crouching form slightly, her gaze passing over the obstructing Sina and resting on Ralph. “Who is he?”

“He says his name is Harold!” Ralph replied.

Ony frowned slightly, puzzled. “Harold? What brings him here?”

Ralph watched her reaction and confirmed, “It seems you do know him!”

After a moment’s thought, despite her overwhelming busyness, Ony nodded to agree to the meeting, considering that refusal might harm her reputation.

Guided by Ralph, Ony stepped outside. There stood Harold, arms crossed, like “Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden,” curiously observing the burning furnace and attempting to reach out and touch it.

The furnace still required six days to fully solidify and transform under intense heat into a sturdy brick structure.

Thus, it remained an unfinished masterpiece, not yet ready for its destined task.

Harold’s gaze was deep and affectionate as he looked at Ony, his eyes shimmering with hope, stirring a flicker of unease within her.

“Did he hurt you?”

She met Harold’s eyes calmly, shaking her head. “No, thank you, Harold. I’m fine.”

Since hearing Harold’s declaration in the lord’s hall, Ony resolved to keep clear of the brothers’ feud, avoiding becoming the fragile “bowl” caught in their storm of conflict.

Yet, recalling Lord Robert’s enigmatic words before his departure, Ony sensed a hidden secret within the brothers’ relationship.

Harold’s words were laden with affection and worry, driven by strong emotion. “Seeing you unharmed brings me peace. If you were hurt, I would carry the guilt for life!”

Ony felt awkward at his bluntness. She nervously rubbed her left arm, as if feeling the hairs on her skin rise, a chill running through her, goosebumps prickling. Inwardly, she mused: “Ugh, what a greasy thing to say.”

Harold then invited, “May I take you for a walk?”

Ony watched him warily, weighing whether to be frank with her feelings. Yet, fearing to hurt him, she hesitated.

A truly thorny dilemma!

...

On the cliff above the sea, Ony and Harold sat side by side on the cold, hard stone, gazing out upon the vast, boundless ocean.

The waves roared and crashed beneath the cliff with such force, it seemed they could swallow everything whole.

The cries of Arctic terns echoed through the sky, their voices resounding high and clear, though their forms were lost in the endless expanse above.

The sea breeze gently brushed against Ony's body, scattering the strands of hair behind her, which carried a faint fragrance of rosemary, intoxicating to the senses.

Harold crouched beside her. The large, burly man now appeared like a child wronged, helpless and fragile.

His voice, heavy with the sea wind, slowly unfolded his tale.

“My father had two sons: Robert and me. As the eldest, Robert always seemed to hold my father’s heart. No matter how hard I tried, my father’s eyes saw only his achievements. Robert could effortlessly take everything from me, and my father ignored this. Such favoritism caused me unbearable pain and anger. Under my father’s cold gaze, I felt worthless, while Robert received endless praise and favor for his ‘success’—whether in battle skills or other matters.”

As he spoke, the waves seemed to murmur in sympathy, adding a solemn note to the shadows of his harsh childhood.

“As time passed, this conflict took root in my heart, growing into an insurmountable chasm. I began to doubt whether I was worthy of my father's love, even doubting my own existence. Whenever Robert shone brilliantly before our father, jealousy and resentment surged within me like a tide. Yet I never dared reveal these feelings, knowing it would only bring more blame and disappointment.”

Harold’s voice trembled in the wind, his story like the roaring waves—turbulent and fraught with emotional turmoil.

“Until the day my father suffered a mortal wound. On his deathbed, he revealed a secret and begged my forgiveness. He too had endured brotherly conflicts. To protect me, he chose to conceal his love, fearing Robert might, like him years ago, kill his own brother for power. He feared I would become a casualty of this fraternal strife.”

Ony listened quietly, the sea breeze gently stirring her hair as her heart swayed with the tale.

She smiled awkwardly but offered no response.

She liked hearing others’ stories but seldom shared her own emotions.

To her, relationships between people could never achieve true equality; opening oneself up meant exposing one’s vulnerable belly like a wolf, inviting weakness.

“I have come to understand that everything here belongs to Robert. I intend to leave. The time alone with you has brought peace to my heart. Will you give up everything and come with me?” Harold reached out his hand to Ony, his eyes hopeful yet tinged with pity, resembling a lonely stray dog yearning for companionship and acceptance.

Faced with this sudden confession and invitation to elope, Ony’s face darkened as if doused with cold water, swiftly transforming from bright sunshine to an overcast gloom.

This awkward situation was like an unprepared storm, catching her off guard.

Her expression revealed helplessness and confusion, silently asking: Has our relationship truly reached this point?

The tense atmosphere formed an invisible wall between them, suffocating and isolating.

“No, I refuse!”

The once pleasant exchange grew tense. Ony nervously fiddled with her boot toes, embarrassed and regretting having agreed to come here.