Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Men Steadying the Wheelchair
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The backyard of the lord's castle was abuzz with preparations for departure.
Two carriages—one that Eisen and I had brought—stood waiting.
The problem was the luggage.
Karl was planning to stay in Eisengard for a while to recuperate before heading to the academy.
The servants would transport the bulk of his belongings later, but even the essentials amounted to quite a pile.
And chaos was erupting in the process of loading it all.
"Y-Young master! Why are you lifting something that heavy yourself? We'll do it!"
"Eek! Your Highness?! Please put that down! Our heads will roll!"
The retainers and servants were pale as ghosts, stamping their feet in panic.
At the center of it all were Kairun and Prince Radians.
The two noble-born men had cast off their outer coats, rolled up their shirt sleeves, and were personally hauling wooden crates.
"Out of the way. This is my brother's luggage."
Kairun grunted as he hoisted a box of books, sweat dripping down his face.
"I want to handle it with my own hands. Don't make others do it."
It was his way of atoning and showing affection for the brother who'd suffered on his account—he was willing to endure this much hardship.
The problem was the man beside him.
"Heave-ho! Hup!"
Prince Radians was straining to lift a crate of clothes.
"What's the big deal about helping a friend with his stuff? I'm strong, see? Check out these muscles!"
"Your Highness! Please! If His Imperial Majesty finds out, our families will be wiped out!"
"Ah, just don't let him find out! And between friends, what does rank matter?"
It was a total mess.
The retainers couldn't wrest the crates away, nor could they just stand by, so they hovered anxiously around the carriages.
The prince and young master dug in their heels, while the servants looked on the verge of tears—a scene straight out of hell.
I crossed my arms, watched the spectacle, and let out a deep sigh.
...Noble young masters are a problem when they're too casual.
I got the sentiment, but the efficiency was abysmal.
At this rate, we won't depart before sunset.
"Make way."
I strode forward and wedged myself between Kairun and Radians.
And then.
Thud. Thud.
I lightly snatched the crates they'd been struggling with, one in each hand.
"Huh? Barg?"
"Wha? My luggage?"
The two, suddenly empty-handed, stared up at me in bewilderment.
I stacked the two crates in one hand and fixed them with an overbearing glare.
"Both of you, step aside. You're blocking the way."
"No, this is my gesture of sincerity. I want to do it myself..."
"Save the sincerity for your heart and leave the heavy lifting to the professionals."
I nodded toward the ashen-faced retainers.
"You'll give the retainers heart attacks. And young master, that's a box of books—it's heavy. One wrong move, and you'll throw your back out before you even reach the academy. Want to end up in the hospital?"
"......"
Kairun shut his mouth.
His arms had been trembling anyway, so my words must have rung true.
"I'll take care of this, then."
Not just the crates they'd been holding, but all the scattered luggage on the ground—I scooped it up in one go.
Three crates on my left arm.
Three on my right.
Practically building a tower of baggage, I headed for the carriage's luggage compartment.
Thunk. Thunk.
I packed it in like Tetris—tight, with no gaps, but careful not to damage anything.
Perfect.
"Wow..."
Radians let out an exclamation.
"As expected of Sir Barg. You're a powerhouse. It would've taken me until tomorrow."
He grinned shamelessly and chuckled at the still-pale retainers.
"See that, Kairun? Their faces?"
He poked Kairun in the side.
"Every time I picked up luggage, they clutched their necks, wailing about heads rolling. This is the little thrill of power, eh?"
"......"
Kairun shook his head with a look of utter exasperation.
I shot Radians a sidelong glance while finishing up the packing.
...Is he just innocently cheerful, or straight-up trash?
He seemed to enjoy others' distress, yet maybe he was just trying to lighten the mood.
Impossible to pin down.
Like Elysia.
Anyway, thanks to my intervention, the loading was done in a flash.
It was time to go.
A cold northern wind whipped the flags into a frenzy.
Karl, seated in his wheelchair, positioned himself before the grand duke couple and Kairun.
The grand duke looked down at his son.
"When you go..."
The grand duke spoke first.
"Don't shame us. Don't tarnish the Northguard name."
Words that might sound harsh—in the old days, Karl would have taken them as condemnation, "You're a disgrace to the family," and hung his head.
But not now.
Karl met his father's gaze without flinching.
He understood the true meaning beneath the gruff words.
'Come back healthy.'
His father was clumsily wishing for his son's well-being.
"Yes, Father."
Karl answered firmly.
"I will return standing on my own two feet. I will prove the Northguard pride."
"......"
The grand duke nodded silently.
Then he turned without lingering and walked back into the castle.
But his steps weren't as heavy as usual.
They seemed lighter, as if he'd finally set down a burden that had weighed on his shoulders for years.
As the grand duke departed, Kairun approached his brother.
"Brother."
"Yes, Kairun."
"I'll pack to align with the academy dorm move-in period. Until then... I'll stay at the lord's castle and watch over Father and Mother."
Kairun gripped Karl's hand tightly.
It was a vow to protect this fragile house and their unstable mother in his brother's absence.
"We'll see each other again soon, brother. Wait for me at the academy."
"Right. I'll be ready by the time you arrive."
Karl clasped his brother's hand in return and smiled.
"Take care of yourself and come quickly."
The brothers locked eyes deeply.
No words needed—they knew how much they cherished each other.
And then Karla approached cautiously.
Her eyes were still puffy and red.
She'd tried to cover it with makeup, but the traces of last night's tears were indelible.
"Mother..."
At Karl's call, Karla flinched, hesitated, then took his hand.
Her right hand still trembled faintly with guilt.
But her left, filled with relief, steadied it.
The hand of the son she'd poisoned with her own right.
Did she even deserve to hold it again? Karla questioned herself.
But she wanted to.
She had to say goodbye.
"I'm sorry... Karl. Truly sorry..."
Even though the swelling around her throat, bandaged by the grand duke, had subsided, her voice was choked.
"It was my failing... I put you through so much."
Karl, unaware of the horrific truth, simply thought his frail body had caused his mother worry.
"Mother, don't say that."
Karl shook his head and patted her right hand.
"It was my weakness that troubled you. You've always taken care of me."
"......"
Karla bit her lip.
Her son's pure faith tore at her heart.
"Please take care of your health too, Mother."
Karl beamed.
A smile unchanged from the one the young Karl had given when Karla first arrived at the castle to welcome her.
"When I return... I'll carry you on my back then. Like before."
"......Carry me?"
"Don't you remember? Before I got hurt, I used to carry you around the garden. Let's sweat a bit again."
Karl looked down at his legs, vowing to himself.
He would stand on both feet and show her the healthy son from those days.
"Sob..."
Karla finally broke.
"Yes... I'll wait... I'll wait for you..."
Kairun, who knew the truth, turned away with a bitter expression.
His brother, to the end...
Was too good a man.
That made it hurt more—and made him want to protect him even more fiercely.
Kairun embraced his sobbing mother's shoulders.
"Don't worry, Mother. Brother... I'll cherish him more than my own life."
"......"
Kairun and Karla's eyes met.
'I'll be watching.'
'I know. It won't happen again.'
Forgiveness wasn't complete yet, but they'd averted the worst catastrophe.
The fragile thread called family, on the brink of snapping, had tenuously reconnected.
It took thousands of looms striking down to weave cloth.
They'd bought time for those thousands of strikes.
While the farewells unfolded,
I glanced up at the window of the grand duke couple's bedroom.
It wasn't time for them to be there, yet a shadow lingered behind the curtains.
Last night...
I didn't know what conversation had taken place in that room.
How Karla had persuaded the grand duke.
What had made him break his stubborn resolve.
But seeing Karla's swollen eyes and the grand duke's strangely softened gaze that morning...
It wasn't just talk.
Curious, but no need to know.
I turned away.
My ignorance meant the other factions were in the dark too.
That secret nighttime talk had saved House Northguard and Karl.
Good results are what matter.
I turned with a light heart.
"Hold on, Sir Wintersword! Where are you off to?"
Prince Radians grabbed my arm.
"Where? To the carriage."
I headed for carriage number two—the luggage one.
"I'll ride in the luggage cart. Gotta sort stuff and it's comfier."
Carriage one held the patient Karl, his caretaker Baron Eisen, and the prince.
I ranked lowest, so let the VIPs ride easy... but really,
Three men— an awkward trio—in a confined space.
Adding me? I'd suffocate.
So I planned to curl up in the corner of two like baggage.
But Radians wasn't having it.
"How can you leave me alone? I hate being by myself."
"Alone? You've got Baron Eisen and Young Master Karl."
"Nah, those two will be all serious talk. I'll die of boredom."
Radians whined.
"And... don't we have business to discuss?"
"Business?"
He grinned slyly and whispered in my ear.
"You're working on bedding Lady Kara, right? Well, for me to push forward with Princess Elysia... we'll need to put our heads together, no?"
"......"
"We need a strategy session, Sir Wintersword."
This guy's using that as an excuse to latch on.
"...Fine. Let's ride."
I gave in and boarded carriage one.
The result? Predictably miserable.
"Heave-ho... tight squeeze."
Even as one of the empire's widest special carriages, carriage one had issues.
The passengers' builds.
Near two-meter me, a hulking northerner.
Baron Eisen, with his long northern bones.
Karl, wheelchair included.
Tall Prince Radians.
Four grown men—big ones—crammed tight.
"Heh..."
Eisen gave a wry chuckle at my squished shoulder.
"The empire's widest carriage, and... it reminds me of crossing the border. Here we go again."
That time it was luggage; now people.
We sat packed like sardines.
Radians on my left, Eisen on my right, Karl's wheelchair fixed opposite.
"Haha! Better than riding solo, right?"
Radians laughed, clearly enjoying it.
"Coming here, it was dark, cold, lonely. This is paradise by comparison."
Then he brazenly leaned on my shoulder.
"See? This little crampedness keeps Karl's wheelchair rock-solid, even on bumpy roads."
"......"
The guy's infuriating because he's not wrong.
My bulk pinned the wheelchair firmly against the wall.
Karl smiled and nodded.
"Indeed... reassuring. Your Highness. And you too, Sir Wintersword."
"Thanks."
I rubbed my folded knees and forced a grin.
Not bad, actually, being wedged in like this.
"Depart!"
With the driver's shout, the carriage lurched.
We left Northguard lord's castle behind, heading back to Eisengard.