I reincarnated as an elf .......and married the yandere villainess.-Chapter 8:punishment.

His footsteps rang louder than usual in the semi-dark hallways. Atheline smiled and looked up at the moon that shone its light into the hallway.

The city before him was shining with light crystal shining from all the houses.

The glass bridges between massive trees reflected down on the river flowing through the city.

It was one of the crowned jewels of the city since it was from the water falls thats fell on the World tree. The river had been directed to make sure it never left the elf kingdom.

The night was one of the most beautiful sights according to Atheline.

He came to a stop in front of the door at the end of the hallway and knocked.

The door swung open on its own as though it was waiting for his arrival. Atheline sighed softly under his breath and put on a smile before stepping into the room.

His training was about to begin.

"Father," he called the moment he stopped in.

A small light from the moon shone onto the Aether well at the edge of the room.

"Atheline, you know what you did wrong right," his father said and stepped into the dim light.

Atheline nodded.

"I let the groom escape a second time... Forgive me father i was careless, " he said softly while maintaining eye contact with his father.

"Do you know how catastrophic the results would have been if the man really managed to cross into the other continents ," his father said coldly and stepped towards him.

The slightly charming and smiling man at the dining table had turned into a strict father.

"The blame would have fallen on us," Atheline recited as if he had planned beforehand.

His father sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"The king was not pleased by this repeated attempt and so was I. There is no other honour than serving the royal family, although I’m proud of you as my son this incident will really affect your future in the long run. I wish for this to be the last time I see such carelessness, your age will no longer give you a pass for this."

"I understand father," Atheline nodded indifferently but inside his mind was running in miles.

’I knew it was bad, but it seems to have created a bigger problem than I had anticipated’

His father smiled and nodded.

"Good, I hope we won’t ever have to do this again. Always remember Atheline a good attendant must learn to control their emotions and expressions. They are meant to remain silent unless spoken to and fulfill their duties gracefully and efficiently. "

’In other words, I’m a royal secretary until I finish planning my escape before the villainess goes bonkers."

"I know father i will not let you down."

His father huffed and walked to a table and picked a thin black whip.

"Take off your robes. "

Atheline inwardly sighed and took off his robes until he only remained in his inner trousers. He knelt down shirtless and watched his father walk towards him.

"You know I do not like punishing you bit mistakes must be punished."

"Yes father," he answered indifferently but inwardly he was sighing.

’Just get it over with’

The punishment started when he was seven after he had thrown a tantrum in front of the prince. His father called it training to control his emotions.

Every time he did something remotely bad, he would be whipped for it. In time, he had gotten used to the pain and punishment.

This method had really worked well beyond wonders since they basically taught him control.

"Do not disappoint the king next time, our family owes the royal family."

The whip fell on his back cutting past the skin onto his flesh. Not a single sound escaped him as they continued to.

"Thank you, father."

With each fall, he would thank his father emotionlessly. His emotionless eyes wandered to the pool then glanced at the door where Luther had been waiting.

Atheline almost chuckled when he saw the pain on his attendant face. Those were one of the things that amused him.

After more than fifty lashes and his back bleeding a river, the duke stopped his punishment and stepped back.

"Do you need anything?" The duke asked.

Atheline chuckled inwardly.

’Carrot and stick. Bon apattite."

This was one of the things that made him not react against the punishment. His father’s guilt after punishing him was the best way for him to get things out of him that would take a lot of begging.

"I want my own private Aether well, I do not wish to share with brother. I also need more sun stones. Can I use Grandfather’s training manual.." His father’s face clouded at that but Atheline wasn’t about to waste the golden opportunity, " I’ll be able to control.. no take care of the prince better if I get stronger."

He watched the thought process go through him in anticipation. His father heavy sighed then nodded.

’Letting that fool escape really paid off’

"Thank you, father."

He faked a painful expression and stood up. The whip was coated with a medicine that slowed down his healing.

’Sleeping today is going to be a fucking bitch’

"Atheline, I’m sorry, " his father said.

This was one of the reasons he could never bring himself to hate the man.

"Don’t worry father, it’s part of the tradition."

This cruel punishment had been set up by the founder after the former elf king had saved his family from doom at the border.

His family hadn’t been as powerful as it is now. Athelines great grandparents had sworn to serve the crown after the king saved them from a corrupted monster invasion.

His family had been nothing but Letharis (Baron) who had just risen in power after buying and owning a few pieces of land.

To serve the king as his advisor requires a lot both mentally, physically, and emotionally. Manipulation and grooming were the easiest methods to create an emotionally inept person.

His father had also gone through the same thing, training.