FaRtaL Chpt 16

==From a Ristar to a Lady - Chapter 16 -==
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Haynes Palatial Manor
Innerman City, Inman
Milligan PDZ, Woodbine Operational Area,
5th March, 3061
0800 hrs (1600 hrs on local 28 hr cycle)
The sound of footsteps stepping on the shiny marble echoed coolly in the hallway.
The man’s steps were slow. He cleared his throat and looked around anxiously. Before reaching his destination, he sighed inaudibly. He didn’t want to accept the invitation, but he felt he had no choice.
From the narrow gap in the large door, golden light and a loud voice leaked out.
When he opened the door and went inside, he saw a young man sitting on a red chair in the middle.
At a glance, the young man sat with his legs crossed in a relaxed posture, and seemed overflowing with his characteristic arrogance. He wore a twisted smile that didn’t bode well for people who crossed him.
The young man’s gaze turned to the man that just entered. His face brightened.
“Come here, uncle!”
“Greetings to Baron Haynes.” They were supposedly the same rank in the aristocracy, but as the presumed heir to the Count, Renard actually ranked higher, and he had to show subservience.
Renard shook his head. “No need for such formalities, uncle.”
He shook his hand affectionately and pointed to a chair right next to the seat where he was sitting.
“Come here.”
He guided him to the seat beside himself. Usually, Viscount Drake sat next to Renard, but today for some reason, the seating arrangement was different. When he looked at Viscount Drake, the other noble he nodded as if he allowed it.
“Sit down.”
Baron Kalinski sat down. Looking around, he saw the Haynes household guards standing around them.
“Are you busy with your mining on Altoona?”
“It’s just mining. What’s so busy about it?” He laughed weakly.
Renard smiled at the Baron’s words. The Baron’s landhold on Altoona relied on mining to maintain its economy, and also held some strategic importance for the Trivet and the realm at large since it produced germanium, the key element for constructing Kearny-Fuchida faster-than-light jump drives. This mining activity brought significant wealth to House Kalinski.
But that wasn’t all. “I’m always reassured that my uncle is helping me financially.”
“Family should help each other, my lord. Although my contributions are small, it should definitely help.”
Renard lounged in his seat and rested his chin on one arm. “Uncle, did Ana go back to Altoona?”
“Yes.”
“That’s too bad. I thought about meeting her at the drop-port to see how she is doing.”
“…”
“I think you did the right thing. There’s no point in staying on Inman if there’re rumours that she’s crazy. She’ll only be a laughing stock.” He looked down at the Baron. The other nobles sitting in the room burst into small laughter as if sympathising with Baron Kalinski. Nevertheless, the Baron’s expression remained unchanged.
“Poor thing, it must have been very hard for her. Well, it’s not too much. But I’m not going to forget.”
Renard chuckled. Then a woman’s scream was heard. Some of the Haynes household guards dragged in a woman in a maid’s uniform. She was shaking with fear. Baron Kalinski looked puzzled.
“Oh, I’m sorry. The maid broke a bowl in front of me when she said she would bring us tea. She needs to be punished.”
The maid was a beautiful woman with black hair like night. Baron Kalinski’s face hardened when he saw it. No wonder it was uncomfortable. It’s like… No, that must be an illusion. Baron Kalinski shook his head.
“Please watch too, Uncle! A little bit of entertainment for my guests.”
Renard giggled, raised his hand and lowered it, a clear signal for something.
“Sa… please save me! Save me!”
The maid clasped her hands together and begged for mercy. However, Renard’s expression did not change. He liked to abuse people below him, especially women. And somehow, today must have been a bad day for him. Baron Kalinski tried to keep his face expressionless and looked around at the people around him.
Viscount Drake looked blankly at the maid, Baron Hoppe looked terrified, and Baron Jules was smiling funny and openly, expressing sadistic excitement.
Soon after, a guard raised his whip with an expressionless face and swung the whip down hard. The whip cut through the air and hit her slender body.
“Argh! Save me, save me!” The maid cried. The strong whip struck mercilessly. The first blow alone had torn her clothes.
Again and again, the woman was whipped. It wasn’t long before blood began to splatter across the floor.
“Harder!” Renard’s face was grotesque, distorted by sadism.
“Uncle, do you see it? Look at that pathetic thing! She will sound like a beast soon!”
Renard’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at the maid. The sound of the whip echoed loudly through the room, and the maid was in too much pain to even utter a sound.
After a while, only the moaning of a woman in abject agony could be heard in the reception room of the palatial manor.
Renard turned his head and looked at Baron Kalinski, right next to him. Baron Kalinski dared not show any reaction. Renard’s snake-like eyes flashed with joy, as if to observe his reaction.
Baron Kalinski tried to hide his worried expression and just watched the black-haired maid being beaten. Then he realised that Spencer Larouche was not here. He was usually a person who showed up at these meetings, being at Renard’s beck-and-call.
His eyes moved to the maid, who was still being whipped. As Renard had predicted, the maid was no longer just screaming, but howling like an animal.
“Next time, I’ll show you something even more fun. Aren’t you excited?”
Baron Kalinski suppressed a shudder.
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*; Chapter Note from the Wiki Editor: Record Sheet for the Attica Recharge Space Station from wiki cloud drive
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Chapter 16