After quite a while, they spotted a carriage descending from the sky, landing a short distance away from the courtyard. The door opened, and many young men and women stepped out, walking towards Fia's house with purposeful strides.
"Everyone seems okay," Mother Veny said with a relieved smile, her eyes scanning each face as the others gathered around to welcome them warmly.
"Big Sister!!" Little Princess's voice rang out as she broke into a run, launching herself at Nat and hugging her tightly. "It's good you're okay!" she said, her small arms squeezing with all the fierce protectiveness her young heart could muster as she felt her sister's warmth.
"Yes, I am, thanks to you and everyone else," Nat said softly, her voice gentle as she patted Little Princess's back to comfort her. The warmth of the reunion filled her chest as she then straightened and bowed respectfully to everyone gathered, her gratitude clear in every careful movement.
Mother Ariana walked towards Zack and Sasha, who were standing quietly at the back, slightly separated from the group. She stopped before them and bowed deeply, her expression pained. "Sorry, my dear ones. I couldn't keep my mouth shut!" Mother Ariana apologized, her voice heavy with regret as she explained that she'd told them about Miss Eva's condition.
"Ooooh, I guess she came here with her own two legs now. Kekek, good! I'll kill her first, then kill that husband of hers!" Zack's face twisted into something dark and furious, his eyes blazing with killing intent. WHOOSSSHH! Without warning, he exploded into motion, sprinting toward the door like a man possessed.
"Huh! What!" Mother Ariana stood frozen in shock, her mind struggling to process what was happening—she didn't have time to react.
"ZACCKK, STOOPP!!!" Sasha shouted desperately, her voice cracking with panic as she lunged forward, trying to catch him before he could do something terrible.
Zack's face was twisted with rage, completely lost to his fury as he closed the distance to the entrance, his footsteps pounding against the ground.
SSLLAAPPP!!!!
The sound echoed like a thunderclap across the courtyard.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING INSIDE WITH SUCH KILLING INTENT? ARE YOU GOING TO ATTACK A SICK, DEFENSELESS WOMAN? IS THAATTT WHHATT II HAVEE TTAAUUGHHTTT YOOUUU, YOUUUNNGG MAANN?!!" Mother Veny stood like an immovable wall in front of the door, her hand still raised from the devastating slap she'd just delivered. Her voice boomed with the kind of authority only a mother could wield, stopping Zack dead in his tracks.
"Agh! Move!" Zack snarled, still not in control of himself, his eyes wild as he glared at her with barely restrained violence.
SSLAAAPPPP! SLLAAPPPP!! SLLAAPPPP!!
"YOU DARREEE SPEAKK TOO YOURR MOOTTHHERRR LIIKKEE THHATTT?!!" SLLAAPP! SLLAPPPP! Mother Veny's hand flew with practiced precision, each slap landing harder than the last, turning Zack's cheeks bright red and making his head snap to the side with each impact.
"Mother, Mother, stop! Zack, he's not in control!" Nat and Sasha rushed forward desperately, placing themselves between them, their voices pleading as they tried to protect him from further punishment.
"Yes, Veny, calm down! Zack is also sick. Please don't hit him anymore!" Mother Ariana stepped in gently, her voice soothing as she placed a calming hand on Veny's shoulder.
The others quickly gathered around, their voices joining in a chorus of pleas as they tried to de-escalate the situation and calm everyone down.
"Hmm, what's with all this commotion? I went outside for just a little while, and this is what happens," Uncle Esjar said with mild amusement as he strolled into the courtyard, his eyes sweeping over the chaotic scene before him with casual curiosity.
"That's why I told you to stand guard! What are you running here and there for?" 4th Rock Leader Remek said, shaking his head in disapproval, though there was no real heat in his words.
"Well, I had to inform you, didn't I? I did find this Dead Fish Eye guy's wife after all. Otherwise, he'd be searching all around and probably getting himself killed somewhere in the process. Your wife is quite a daring one, trying to assassinate Grankell. Kekek!" Uncle Esjar smirked, his gaze shifting to the Dead Fish Eye guy, who was now standing without his mask. His face was fully visible, though his raven wings armor still remained equipped on his body.
"Thank you, Sirs, for your kind gesture!" Bradon bowed respectfully, his voice sincere despite the tension in his shoulders.
"Don't worry, Mr. Bradon Wilson. Practically, you haven't done anything wrong, but we still need to detain you until the ceremony is complete. Go meet your sick wife first," Leader Remek said casually, waving his hand in a dismissive but not unkind gesture.
"Ah! Well, I guess I have to solve his anger first," Bradon said with a tired smile as his eyes caught sight of Zack running towards him like a crazed animal, murder written all over his face.
"Haha, you came here! Fine, fine, let me beat you to de—" Zack started to shout, his fist already rising.
BOOMMMMM!
"ACCKK!!!"
THUMP!
Zack's body hit the ground hard, completely unconscious.
"This brat, what is he running around in madness for? Looks like I have to discipline him again. Tsk, little brats jumping around in front of their elders!" Grandpa stood there, his fist still extended from the devastating blow he'd just delivered, looking completely unbothered by the chaos he'd just ended with a single punch.
"GRAANNDDPAAA, don't beat Zack!!" Nat and Sasha shouted in unison as they dropped to their knees beside an unconscious Zack, who lay sprawled on the ground with actual steam rising from his mouth.
"Bad Grandpa! Don't hit your grandson so hard!!" Nat complained as she rushed over and shouted up at him, her face twisted into an adorable pout that would've melted anyone else's heart.
"Little lass, you have to be strict in order to control little brats like that. What will you do with your cute little innocence when you have kids of your own? Learn from your elders, don't be so soft all the time," Grandpa said with a proud huff, completely unapologetic about knocking his grandson unconscious.
"GRANNDDPAA!" Nat still grumbled in frustration, but her anger couldn't last long. She came forward and hugged his arm warmly, leaning against him as she said with practiced sweetness, "He's just sick a little! Don't hurt him too much, Grandpa." She smiled up at him while gently fixing his messy hair and adjusting his glasses with delicate fingers.
"Huh! Little wife already knows how to please her elders! Haha, fine, fine! I'll beat him only slightly next time. Hey, little Sasha, stop glaring at me like that and move aside! I'll bring him to the house. You also come along, Little Nat. Stay with us tonight. Let these little rock leaders play their games. I can protect you all by myself. These young men are weak, very weak!" Grandpa said happily, his chest puffing out with pride as he effortlessly grabbed Zack and hoisted him onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Nat followed close behind, her eyes constantly checking on Zack to make sure he was alright.
"Ah! Queen Guards, you can just casually patrol around here. Don't be too tight with security. You know nothing will happen to me while I'm here, so be relaxed and take a break," Princess Natlia called out in a hurry over her shoulder, then turned and followed the laughing grandpa as he carried Zack away.
"Geez, did you forget about your own granddaughter?" Sasha said with an amused smile, watching their backs disappear—the old man carrying an unconscious Zack with a fidgeting Nat hovering nearby, and two little animals floating above them like a strange parade. Then she turned her attention toward the Dead Fish Eye guy, her expression shifting to something more serious.
"Hey there, Miss Eva's husband!" Sasha said with a friendly smile as she approached him. "Miss Eva has gotten sick from some weird energy. She's not in critical condition, but if left alone, her life will definitely be in danger. The good news is there's a high chance that Zack can treat her!!" She paused, her expression becoming more serious as she looked into his eyes. "From what I've heard about your situation, it sounds like you haven't done anything wrong. Nat has probably already forgiven you and Miss Eva, but I still need to confirm something for myself!" Her voice was firm, leaving no room for deception.
"Agh!" Bradon desperately wanted to rush inside and see his wife, but he forced himself to calm down. Taking a deep breath, he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead against the ground, his voice breaking with emotion. "PLEASSEE TREEATT HEERR!!" He stayed there, motionless, his entire body radiating desperate hope. He didn't say anything more—his prostrated form said everything.
"Will you hurt Nat or the others in the future?" Sasha asked, her voice cutting through the silence with one simple, direct question.
"NEVVEER!!" The answer came immediately, simple and absolute, filled with conviction that left no doubt.
"Fine. Zack wasn't in his right mind just now, so don't think too much about what happened. He'll save her. Go meet your wife, then I'll bring her to my house and let Zack treat her properly," Sasha said, her voice softening as she turned around and walked back toward her friends.
"THAANKKK YOUUU!!!" Bradon kept his head pressed to the ground for a long moment, his shoulders trembling with relief, then finally stood and rushed inside the house. Everyone else waited outside respectfully, giving them the privacy and space they needed.
.
"Eva, Eva, what happened to you? Did they do something to you? Open your eyes, EVVAANNGGGEELLIINNEEE!" Bradon's voice cracked with fear as he rushed to her side, his hands cradling her face as he shouted desperately, searching her face for answers.
"Uggh, Husband, you're here. Good, you're fine. Achhkk! I... I... I'm sorry, I... without asking you first, I went to try to assassinate Grankell. Sobb, soobb, wwaahh!" Tears streamed down her face as the words tumbled out in a rush. "I didn't do it, Husband! Sobb, I... I didn't sleep with him! I don't know—he, he made my mind all weird! I... I didn't sleep with him! Trust meee!! You can check! Agh, you can check my body! There's nothing there! I can only feel you!! I didn't sleep with him! Wwahhh, trust me, Husband! I still feel our baby inside! It's true, I didn't—"
TTTPPP!!
His hand covered her mouth gently but firmly.
"SHUT UP! I HEARD YOU, WOMAN!! DON'T CRY LIKE AN IDIOT! I ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! GEEZZ! I TOLD YOU TO JUST WAIT FOR A BIT! CAN'T YOU JUST STAY STILL FOR ONE MINUTE? NOW LOOK, YOU'RE SICK!" Bradon stopped her crying abruptly, his voice a mixture of frustration and concern. She stared at her husband in shock, her tear-filled eyes wide with surprise, then suddenly turned around on the couch, hiding her face—and her revealing, sexy outfit—from his view.
Seeing her hunched shoulders and the way she was trying to hide, he simply reached out and patted her head gently, his touch tender despite his harsh words.
"Well, I was angry at first, I won't lie about that. But I know you didn't have sex with him. Grankell is famous for controlling women with his tactics. Do you think his face is handsome enough to make women come running to him willingly? He probably used some kind of energy power to mess with your mind and control you. There are many people inside his mansion who keep an eye on him and report everything to the Queen Guard Leaders. Yesterday night, I confessed everything and asked the Queen about the one percent chance we talked about." He paused, his voice becoming bitter. "She said even she hasn't gotten any entry inside important places, so forget about us common people ever getting in there. Sigh! I haven't done anything wrong, but they're still going to put me in jail for now until things settle down. So stay with Sasha and Zack for a while, alright? They're good people, and Zack will treat you properly. Make sure you say thank you to him from my side. And Eva, let's figure things out ourselves from now on, okay my love?" Bradon smiled warmly as he gently turned her toward him and saw her beautiful face streaked with tears.
"Hmm, sorry Husband, I'll do whatever you say and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!" Miss Eva said, her voice trembling as she smiled through her tears, feeling the warmth of his hand against her cheeks.
"Hmm, I love you too, my beautiful wife," Bradon said softly, his smile genuine as he moved his hand down to touch her belly tenderly, feeling the smooth skin. Then his expression suddenly shifted, and he spoke with a dangerous edge to his voice, "I DID HEAR ALL THE DETAILS THOUGH... HOW YOU SHOWED YOUR BEAUTIFUL BODY TO ANOTHER MAAANNNN. TRUTHFULLY, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU STRONG PUNISHMENT FOR THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR THE MOMENT, GET BETTER FIRST. THEN I WILL, YOU KNOW, BEAT YOU TO DEAATHHH! KEKEKEKKE!!" His smile turned positively evil as he gently pinched her ear between his fingers.
"OW, OW! Husbanddd, nooo, plleassee!!" Miss Eva's eyes widened with genuine fear as she imagined what kind of "punishment" awaited her in the future. She looked up at her husband, who stood up slowly, towering over her with that wicked smile still on his face. Then he leaned down and kissed her belly gently, his lips pressing against her soft plump soft skin.
"DON'T WORRY, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY, MY LOVE!" Bradon said softly, his hand lingering on her belly for a moment before he finally pulled away. He walked toward the door, taking one last long look at his wife, committing her image to memory.
She smiled back at him, her hand moving to touch the spot where her husband had kissed, and whispered softly to her unborn child, "YOUR DAD IS DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW! HEHE." Despite everything—the pain, the sickness, the fear—Miss Eva smiled beautifully, as if she'd never been in pain at all. The love in her eyes was clear and unwavering.
Bradon stepped outside and immediately bowed deeply to Sasha once more, his gratitude evident in every line of his body, then walked away with Remek and the other leaders, accepting whatever fate awaited him.
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END OF CHAPTER
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Author Blabbering
"One slap and the child gets back in line."
I've heard this sentence far too often—especially online—where discipline and violence are constantly argued as if they're the same thing. Some people dismiss all discipline as abuse, while others justify everything in the name of "good parenting." The truth, as always, sits uncomfortably in the middle.
Yes, some people go too far. And no, parenting is not easy. But what rarely gets discussed is something far more common and, in many cases, more damaging than a single act of physical punishment: constant scolding.
Parents who scold often don't have an upper limit. Words keep coming—louder, harsher, sharper—until they stop feeling like correction and start feeling like erosion. People underestimate how deeply words can cut, especially when they come every day, wrapped in shouting, sarcasm, or humiliation.
Children who grow up in environments filled with constant yelling, unresolved arguments, or aggressive "disagreements" don't come out untouched. Even without a hand ever being raised, the damage can be real. It shapes how they see themselves, how they handle conflict, and how safe they feel expressing emotions. Mental wounds are quieter—but they last longer.
Before parents declare themselves "good parents," they need to pause and judge their actions honestly. Not defensively. Not emotionally. Honestly. Parenting is tough—undeniably so—but it becomes far more manageable when you sit down and actually think about what you're doing and why you're doing it.
Discipline should teach, not scare.
Correction should guide, not break.
And words—spoken in anger—should be treated with the same caution as actions.
Because children don't just remember what you did.
They remember how you made them feel.
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