Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

Each strike sent his head whipping in the opposite direction.

Even though Hugo was only using his palm, the sheer force of his blows made it feel like being hit with a metal club.

By the time Hugo had delivered his sixth slap, the servant's mouth was a bloody ruin—teeth scattered across the floor, crimson pooling beneath his feet.

"Guhh—! Ack—! Khk—!"

"Stop this at once!" Another servant finally shouted. "You can't do this in front of the Young Master!"

William tilted his head, letting out a short chuckle.

"I was the one who ordered him to do it."

"…What?"

"You heard me. I told him to discipline those who refuse my orders. He's doing a fine job, wouldn't you agree?"

"Y-Young Master…!"

"Hugo," William said, completely ignoring their panic, "keep going."

"With pleasure."

CRACK!

The next slap was even harder.

With a sickening thud, the servant collapsed onto the floor, his face barely recognizable beneath the bruises and swelling.

"Young Master, he's unconscious," Hugo reported.

William barely spared him a glance.

"Toss him to the side. When he wakes up, continue."

"If we keep going, he might die."

William shrugged. "That's not my fault. If he disobeyed his master, he should've expected the consequences."

"Fair point," Hugo mused. "I'll keep at it. If he dies, I'll wrap him in a rug and dump him somewhere."

"…!"

The remaining servants turned pale.

They could tell—this wasn't a bluff.

The punishment had been real.

Hugo had struck the man with the full intent of rendering him unrecognizable.

The poor fool had survived, but his broken jaw and missing teeth would likely leave him unable to eat properly ever again.

In the worst case, he would lose his vision or hearing entirely.

Hugo dusted off his hands and turned his gaze to the next servant.

"Alright. You're next. You were the one who refused to listen and begged for leniency, weren't you?"

"Wait—! Please, wait—!"

CRACK!

Another slap rang out.

This time, it wasn't just a slap—it was a full-force blow that could shatter a cheekbone.

The rest of the servants, trembling in horror, couldn't hold out any longer.

They collapsed onto their knees.

"Young Master! Please forgive us! We were wrong!"

"We'll bring the head maid right away!"

William leaned back, resting his chin on his hand.

"Hmm… no need. You're afraid of Jordi, aren't you? I wouldn't want to make my poor servants do something they're terrified of."

"N-No! The second young master has nothing to do with this! You are our only master!"

"Don't force yourselves," William said, his tone almost soothing. "I won't order you anymore. I'll just kill you instead. It's better than letting Jordi do it, right? He'd never actually kill you, after all. You'll be fine."

"Khhh—! Young Master! Please! Please have mercy!"

They knelt even lower, their foreheads pressed against the cold floor.

It was only now that they realized how utterly stupid they had been.

Yes, Jordi was capable of killing them.

But what about William?

They had never even considered the possibility.

They had underestimated the wrong person.

The servants had always feared Jordi.

But that fear had blinded them to the simple truth—anyone could kill them.

The duke, his wives, the other young lords… any of them could end their lives on a whim.

And William was no exception.

If survival was the goal, they had to be loyal to their direct master—the one who at least knew their names and might care enough to spare them.

Jordi? He wouldn't even notice if they died.

And if he did? He'd laugh at their misfortune and move on.

No one had use for a servant who lacked loyalty. No one would mourn them.

"Please! Just one more chance!"

"If you want, I'll cut off my own fingers as an offering!"

"Please, Young Master! Please, spare us!"

They screamed, pleaded, and wept.

Yet Hugo's massive palm continued to descend.

The sharp crack of flesh meeting flesh filled the air as he punished them without hesitation.

By the time the second servant collapsed, unconscious, Hugo was already moving on to the third.

But before he could strike—

"Hugo, stop."

"Yes, Young Master."

Hugo obeyed instantly, stepping back without question.

The remaining servants gasped, panting as if they had just escaped drowning.

William watched them with a blank expression before speaking a single word.

"Head maid."

"Y-Yes!"

There was no need to say anything more.

The servants scrambled to their feet and bolted from the room, nearly tripping over themselves in their desperation to obey.

It took less than five minutes for the servants to return, dragging the head maid, Jenny, with them.

"You miserable bastards! Do you have any idea what Jordi will do to you?!"

"Shut up!"

The servants forced Jenny onto her knees before William.

Her face was bruised, and her clothes were disheveled—evidence that she had resisted on the way here.

Despite her injuries, her spirit remained unbroken.

She thrashed, struggling against the hands holding her down.

William clicked his tongue.

"Hugo, kneel her properly."

"Understood."

At his signal, Hugo's men stepped in, shoving the trembling servants aside and gripping Jenny's arms.

They were built like giants—men with broad shoulders and calloused hands, each one a head taller than the average man.

This time, Jenny couldn't move an inch.

Still, she wasn't cowed.

Glaring up at William with fire in her eyes, she spat out her words.

"Young Master! Do you really think you'll get away with this?!"

"...."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Jenny had crossed a line no servant should ever cross.

Even the other servants, who had once stood on her side, paled.

William's expression remained unreadable.

But Jenny, mistaking the silence for hesitation, pressed on.

"If you lay a single hand on me, Jordi will not stand for it! Have you forgotten what happened a year ago in the training grounds? That incident was nothing compared to what he'll do to you now—!"

BAM!