My Novel Antagonist is My Husband
Chapters 12. Carrot and Stick

“I don't know for sure, but every time I go home from school, he talks less than before" Cass replied. I gave him two packets of chocolate candy in return. Cass was so happy when he received the sweets, like a child.

It's been two days since I wondered to Cass what the advantages and disadvantages of Theo, the eldest son of the Valcke family were. The answer is not very satisfying, because according to Cass, Theo does not have things that are liked or hated. He also has no advantages and disadvantages. Truly a neutral and impeccable child.

“Nona Alissa, I'm done running.” Dea's voice came from behind the door. I immediately let him in.

“What's up?” ask me without further ado. Dea lowered her head, taking out a piece of paper from her apron pocket.

“This is about Mr. Theo, Miss. I get information from the Young Master's personal servant,” replied Dea, my personal servant who has now become very obedient.

After getting a lead from Cass yesterday, I asked Dea to investigate Theo and gather as much information as possible. The personal servants of the young master one must know if there are different movements from his master. Fellow waiters usually share gossip. I asked Dea to get close to Theo's waitress to get her information scraped.

“Alright, what do you know, Dea?”

“Ummm, according to what I heard, Young Master became moody because he could not summon his own mystical animal,” Dea explained.

I scrunched my forehead. “Why? Isn't a ten-year-old child natural if he can't do summon? Usually, right, people can summon at the eleventh age!”

“Ah, but you are not so, Miss ..” sahut Dea. I forgot that he used to meet Kyu, my mystical animal.

“I am an exception,” I answer while shaking hands. “OK, then why did Theo become moody, when it was a natural thing?”

“Oh, that .. .” Dea again checked his note paper, then said, “because his rival, Young Master Duke Hast can summon, Miss.”

I remember that character. Duke Hast's son, Leon, was a rival of Theo Valcke. They both compete with each other in everything from academic grades, sports, and swordsmanship.

Actually, I made Theo's character the one who never paid any attention to such competition. But Leon Hast is a shitty guy. He liked to bully the students weaker than him. Since he was the son of the duke who had a direct blood relationship with the queen, Leon became big-headed.

I know this because Leon is one of the figurines that I wrote the flashback scene when I met Theo. I don't know in detail what happened at Theo's school, but I'd bet no one would dare to defy Leon's mischief because of his background.

“Why should Theo be moody about it?” ask again.

“That's because Young Master can no longer prevent the bullying that Mr. Leon did, because the existence of his mystical beast made him stronger than before. What's more, Young Master is the chairman of the student organization for the elementary academy level, so ..”

“Ah, so. I understand,” I said, not letting Dea finish her sentence.

The student organization of the academy has the aim of regulating the welfare of the students. His authority is directly under the principal. Theo's responsibilities were so great, even though he only served for the elementary academy level.

I'm wondering why Theo didn't just report to Dad to fix Leon Hast's this---

Oh yeah, I forgot. With a trait he always wanted to rely on as the eldest son, where perhaps Theo pitted what had happened at his school against Duke Valcke.

Hmmm, this could be my chance. Although I actually did not need to help Theo get a mystical animal, because at his eleventh age, he was able to do it.

However, this way I can take the haughty Young Master's heart.

“Ah, soon Miss, about three o'clock in the afternoon.”

Dea folded back the note paper in hand and put it in the pocket of the apron. He walked backwards while looking down. I stared at him closely. Dea did not want to return my gaze at all. It looks like he's been traumatized by what I did.

I walked over to the dresser and pulled the jewelry drawer. Inside, there are various earrings, bracelets and headdresses made of satin that Duke Valcke bought for me. I took a pair of earrings decorated with ruby.

To shape a person's personality, there is a method called carrot and stick, or carrot and stick. When interpreted, that is the reward and punishment. What I did to Cass by giving him chocolate candy was a carrot, aka a gift. By giving me a gift, Cass can take his heart easily. What I did to Dea until she was traumatized was a stick, aka punishment. Now Dea became very obedient to what I commanded.

Since the punishment has already been given, it's time to get the carrot out now, because Dea managed to carry out his duties well. I walked over to Dea and handed her a pair of ruby earrings in her hand.

“I-this what, Miss?” asked Dea nervously. His eyes could not be separated staring at the sparkling ear jewelry.

“Gift for you, because you have managed to bring me important information. Thank you, yes!” I said with a smile. How much Dea was so excited to hear my statement.

“This ... true for me?!” Dea asked once more. I'm nodding. “Save well, yes!”

Dea expressed her gratitude many times before I let her out of the room. Why give a gift? If I always pull out a stick, Dea can betray me later, stab me in the back. I had to show him that I was the one who deserved him to be faithful.

Now, I wait for three o'clock in the afternoon patiently. Many times I came out of my room on the second floor to peek down the stairs, whether Theo had entered the house or not. However, until four o'clock in the afternoon, Theo did not reveal the trunk of his nose.

Where is the Young Master? Did Dea lie to me?

I traced the courtyard around the Valcke residence. I also had time to go to the training area, maybe Theo went straight there without entering the house first. However, the result is nil. Theo could not be found in the places or rooms he used to visit. Valcke's residence is very spacious and makes me exhausted to be surrounded with my legs which are still a little girl of five years old.

Until finally, I could find the figure of the eldest son, sitting under a shady tree in the garden. Theo appears to be slouched in the face between the two bent knees. Is she crying? It doesn't feel possible. However, it could be, because Theo is a person who is full of great responsibility. Maybe he is frustrated at the moment.

I approached the Young Master's body. Theo didn't even realize I had been in front of him, until I called him out loud.

“Kak Theo!”

Theo's body was blown away in shock. He looked up and found my little body shaking its waist in front of him. Theo looked at me for three seconds, then threw away a glance, as usual. He didn't reply to anything on my call just now.

I knew he wouldn't respond to me if it kept going like this. I decided to pull his hand.

“Cute with me!”

***

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(Ryby: If you like the story, don't forget the likes of each chapter. Thank you so much for accompanying us here. Do not forget also, minal aidin wal faidzin, sorry inner birth ⁇ Happy Eid al-Fitr, reader ganges!)