Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 536

They walked all the way into the main courtyard.

Archer saw his son almost immediately.

The same boy who needed help dressing at home, who had servants waiting on him for every little thing, was now stripped down to a plain inner shirt, struggling to carry a heavy wooden bucket.

Step by uneven step, he made his way toward a row of garden beds, arms trembling as he tried to pour water without spilling most of it.

Archer stopped cold.

"What is this supposed to be?" he demanded, disbelief clear in his voice.

Anson answered calmly, "This is precisely why he was invited to Hale Manor."

Archer turned to him sharply. "Invited? To carry water?"

Anson inclined his head. "Yes, my lord."

"That's ridiculous," Archer said, his voice tightening. "He's from an official family. He's a scholar preparing for the court exams. You can't have him doing labor like this. It's degrading. It's improper."

Anson nodded once. "You're right."

Archer drew a breath, ready to demand that it stop immediately.

But Anson continued, his tone unchanged. "Which is why Her Grace asked for you to come as well."

Archer blinked, caught off guard. "What does that mean?"

Anson turned slightly toward him. "Her Grace said your son lacks discipline and proper upbringing. That is his fault. But a father bears responsibility for how his son is raised. Since he is here to reflect on his behavior, you will join him."

For a moment, Archer didn't react.

Then his expression hardened.

He was a fourth-rank official. Deputy Communications Councilor.

And now he was being told to haul water in a courtyard garden.

The humiliation hit all at once.

He almost refused outright.

Before he could speak, Anson added, almost casually, "He resisted earlier. The marks are still there. If you're unwilling, the guards can assist. They tend to be... thorough."

Archer glanced around.

The men standing nearby were silent, steady, and clearly not the kind who hesitated.

The refusal died before it reached his mouth.

His face slowly drained of color as he let out a quiet, defeated breath.

Inside the study, the atmosphere was calm.

Elowen rested against a cushioned seat by the window, a book open in her hands.

"Your Grace," Anson said as he entered, bowing slightly. "They've both started working in the garden."

Elowen lifted her gaze and looked outside.

Through the greenery, she could make out two figures moving back and forth, clumsy and uneven in their efforts.

She's enjoying this more than she expected.

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