Inside the Altavis family's carriage parked in the mansion's courtyard, Haverd sat on one of the sofas, directly facing his father and his younger brother. Although the interior of the carriage made by Kazien was very spacious and comfortable, the atmosphere among the three of them felt so heavy and suffocating.
"Haverd!" called Duke Hubert with a very firm tone.
Spontaneously, Haverd flinched. He immediately looked at his father's face with an expression full of fear and slightly lowered his shoulders.
"Are you aware of what you have done to your own biological younger brother?" asked Duke Hubert, his voice trembling as he held back the anger of a disappointed father.
"I-I am aware of it, Father... and I know that it was a highly disgraceful act." Haverd answered with a hoarse voice filled with sincere regret. He swallowed his saliva, then gathered the courage to look at his younger brother. "I apologize for having done that disgusting thing to you, Hudeon. And I will accept any punishment you give me, Father."
Duke Hubert narrowed his eyes. "Even if you have to die, Haverd?" he threatened without hesitation.
"Yes, Father!" Haverd answered without the slightest hesitation. "This is purely my mistake and I am ready! Kazien has truly made me realize my mistake through the torture he gave me. Hudeon must have experienced a very severe trauma, exactly like the fear I am feeling right now. But..."
The green-haired youth fell silent for a moment. He bowed his head deeply with an expression full of resignation.
"But... if my death can make Hudeon smile in relief again, and you can feel satisfied for having atoned for my fatal mistake... I am ready to accept everything, Father."
Hearing his son's resignation, Duke Hubert stared at him intently. "Now answer me!" Hubert said seriously. "What is your reason for having the heart to do such a heinous thing to your own brother?"
Haverd slowly raised his face. "At that time... I liked Hudeon, Father." Haverd confessed honestly, his voice trembling slightly. "I was so afraid that if I told you, you would definitely keep me away from him immediately. At that time I lapsed and could not think clearly. Therefore... I instead took a shortcut and did that disgusting thing just to bind him, so Hudeon would not have the desire to turn away from me."
After stating his selfish reason, Haverd looked at his younger brother's face, who was still cowering in fear behind his father's arm.
"I apologize to you, Hudeon. I am truly sorry! I regret my actions!" Haverd said pleadingly and full of regret. "If you hate me and want to punish me, please punish me. I will accept all punishment from you!"
Hudeon still did not answer. The green-haired boy merely remained silent and hid behind his father's broad back.
Duke Hubert remained silent for quite a long time, thinking about justice and his position as a father. He then made an absolute decision regarding the fitting punishment for his second son.
"I will not execute you. But, I will punish you with 40 lashes a day, for six consecutive months without stopping!"
A very severe physical punishment for a noble. However, Haverd's response was truly unexpected.
"I am willing, Father!" Haverd replied quickly without hesitation, his face implying full readiness. "Please do it!"
Duke Hubert furrowed his brow slightly, completely unexpected that his son would immediately accept such a heavy punishment without arguing.
"What did Kazien actually do to you there?" asked the Duke, feeling bewildered by his son's drastic psychological change.
Receiving that question, Haverd without hesitation began to recount what actually happened at the mountain peak.
With a low voice, he recounted the time Kazien cut off his shaft mercilessly then reattached it with healing magic. He also recounted how the youth inserted the thorny ice rod into his hole repeatedly and brutally, then healed the torn wounds he suffered just to be able to repeat the torture process again.
Duke Hubert and Hudeon were extremely shocked and horrified to hear his story. Haverd had experienced non-stop brutal psychological and physical torture for three consecutive days while being with Kazien at the mountain peak.
"But thanks to that punishment and torture, I truly realized my wrongful actions." Haverd continued. He took a deep breath, staring at his father intently. "And now, I want to just be honest with you, Father. I... I like Kazien, and I really want to marry him. During the three days there, even though he tortured me, I knew he cared so much about me."
Haverd leaned his body forward with a hopeful gaze. "When I finish undergoing my punishment later, will I be allowed to become Kazien's wife like the three of them?"
Not only was Duke Hubert shocked half to death upon learning that Haverd had turned around and wanted to marry Kazien..Hudeon also widened his eyes in disbelief that his older brother wanted to become the wife of the person he liked very much.
Why does my brother actually like Brother Kazien? Hudeon screamed in his heart, his hands squeezing his father's robe tighter. Even though I also really want to be his wife. But... right now I am already officially Ritalia's prospective fiancé. If I betray Ritalia, Brother Kazien will definitely feel disappointed in me.
Hudeon lowered his face, burying a sense of regret.
If only... if only at that time I chose to be braver in approaching Brother Kazien when he was unconscious, surely right now I would be the one who had become his fourth fiancé.
While Hudeon was busy with his own feelings, Duke Hubert stared sharply at his second son.
"Haverd, are you aware of what you just said?" asked the Duke with a warning tone.
"Yes, Father!" Haverd answered very confidently. "I am grateful that you are giving me a whipping punishment for only six months without having to execute me. This way, I still have the chance to live to prove myself, to ask for a blessing from you and Kazien's three fiancés so that I can become his fourth wife."
Duke Hubert stared into his son's eyes looking for lies. "Are you hiding a malicious intent or revenge behind your desire to make Kazien your husband?"
"Of course not, Father!" Haverd answered firmly, trying to convince his father. "I am very sincere towards him. In my eyes right now there is only him! I beg you, if I successfully undergo your punishment later, please allow me to marry Kazien."