Chapter 11
Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Vindication
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Your Grace! Look over there!”
Maranello shouted.
“Hmm.”
Grand Duke Guntram lowered his left arm as he watched the earth take human form.
Now that the ritual had begun, it wouldn't be too late to delay the final verdict.
“Sh-she was a real spirit user?”
“The earth is taking the shape of a person…!”
The citizens, who had been so disappointed, now fixed their gazes on Evangeline's spirit magic.
Soon, the events of that day began to unfold.
- *Heeheehee! What're they gonna do to me? Hic! I'm a direct descendant of the Sigmund family! My old man is the lord of Decaron! Hah-hah! Hic!*
- *Ahhh! I'm so... buzzed! Getting drunk! Drun...*
*Stumble, thud!*
- *Hey, which one of you bastards! Hic! Show yourself! I'll kill you! Hic!*
It went without saying, but since this was a record of that day, it was inevitable that the real Carlyle's drunken antics would be revealed to the world.
- *Buuuurp!*
- *Bleeeaaargh!*
A loud burp and vomit were also displayed, unfiltered.
*Swoooosh—!!!*
Not only public urination, but also a man's symbol (!) was starkly revealed.
Of course, being a figure made of earth, it wasn't *that* realistic, but...
“Look at that damn degenerate.”
“Ugh.”
“Still, it's pretty impressive.”
The citizens clicked their tongues, disgusted by Carlyle's drunken behavior.
“...'Old man'.”
Grand Duke Guntram trembled with rage upon hearing what Carlyle called him.
They say even kings are cursed behind their backs, but hearing it broadcast like this was another matter entirely.
Yet Carlyle himself didn't even bat an eye.
“Young Master, are you all right?”
“About what?”
“Your disgraceful behavior is being exposed for all to see.”
“I told you, that's not me.”
“Young Master, some things aren't worth arguing.”
“Think what you want.”
Carlyle replied as such, showing no sign of shame.
*'It's not like this is the first time.'*
The real Carlyle had made a spectacle of himself in public more than once, so why act surprised now?
While they spoke, the real Carlyle's drunken tirade came to an end, and the truth of that night began to emerge.
- *Pant, pant!*
- *Who are you? Hic!*
- *W-who are you? Pant, pant!*
- *Dammit! Of all places, to run into this degenerate... Pant, pant!*
Carlyle and Alberto had accidentally met.
- *Did you think you could run forever?*
- *I told you to give up. Don't make us break a sweat.*
- *You damn bastard. Two of our comrades are dead because of you.*
Then, Jeffrey and his gang appeared.
- *He'll lose his memory for about an hour, so let's clean this up and get out of here before he wakes up.*
- *You mean we should frame him?*
- *It's the best option.*
- *True. If we say that degenerate did it, everyone will believe it.*
At last, the truth of that day was revealed to the world.
“N-no way.”
Jeffrey's face, seated in the witness box, turned deathly pale.
“How dare you.”
Grand Duke Guntram glared at Jeffrey with eyes as cold as frost.
“You son of a bitch!”
Jeffrey quickly tried to pull a vial of poison from his coat, but it was futile.
*Vwoom!*
A powerful vibration erupted as Grand Duke Guntram extended his hand.
*Urk!*
“Aaaaaargh!”
Jeffrey's wrist snapped and twisted at a grotesque angle, and the vial he was holding fell and shattered.
*Hssssss!*
The poison was so potent that the spilled liquid sizzled ominously as it corroded the floor.
“Arrest that man.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
The waiting knights swiftly moved to handcuff the fallen Jeffrey, even gagging him to prevent him from biting his tongue.
“Mmph! Mmph-mmph! Mmmph!”
Jeffrey struggled with all his might, but it was useless.
“To not only frame my son but also mock this court with perjury.”
Grand Duke Guntram's fury was immense.
Had he not almost made Carlyle a slave soldier and even cut off his left arm?
Despite this, Grand Duke Guntram exercised restraint.
Though he desperately wanted to dismember Jeffrey on the spot, he had a feeling the circumstances of the case required a more thorough investigation.
“I swear, you will pay the price for this.”
“Mmph! Mmph-mmph!”
After speaking to Jeffrey, Grand Duke Guntram turned back to the dais.
“As you have all seen, the true culprit has been identified...”
Grand Duke Guntram looked back at Carlyle.
“I hereby declare Carlyle van Sigmund not guilty.”
Although his past misdeeds remained unpunished, no one dared to take issue with it.
No matter what a degenerate Carlyle had been, after he was falsely accused and Grand Duke Guntram had nearly cut off his arm, no one was bold enough to question it.
*Ting!*
A status window appeared before Carlyle's eyes.
[Notification: Notoriety has decreased by 100.]
[Notification: Trust has increased by 30.]
Notoriety: 211
Trust: –69
***
Immediately after the trial ended.
“What are you doing?”
Carlyle snapped at the knight beside him.
“S-sir?”
“I asked what you're doing.”
“Wh-what do you mean...?”
“Unlock them.”
Carlyle held up his cuffed hands.
“How long are you going to keep these on me?”
“Ah! My-my apologies!”
The knight hastily unlocked the cuffs.
“Ugh.”
He had only worn them for half a day, but his wrists were tingling, and angry red bruises dotted his skin.
“You've been through a lot, Young Master.”
“It was a close call.”
He'd almost lost his left arm.
Even if he could have explained himself again before the sentence was carried out, a severed left arm couldn't be reattached.
“Young Master! I did it!”
Evangeline approached with a bright smile.
“You did.”
“...”
“What?”
“Oh, it's nothing.”
Evangeline was slightly taken aback by Carlyle's lukewarm reaction.
Where had that gentle smile from before gone?
“Aren't you... happy?”
“Not particularly. Relieved, maybe.”
“I-I see.”
“Anyway, you did well.”
Carlyle praised Evangeline.
“You won't have to worry about your siblings from now on. You've proven your abilities. You'll be treated accordingly. Start thinking about moving.”
“Moving...?”
“You'll be living in the inner castle soon.”
“...!”
The castle Carlyle mentioned wasn't the large outer castle where the domain's citizens lived, but the inner castle situated within it.
Only the blood relatives of the Sigmund family, their vassals, and a select few were permitted to reside in the inner castle.
“I-I'm going to live in the inner castle?”
“Do you think Father would let someone contracted with an earth spirit live in the outer castle?”
“But...”
“You're more important and precious than you think.”
“What?! A-am I that kind of person to you, Young Master?”
“What are you talking about?”
Carlyle furrowed his brow.
“You think it's just to me? You're now one of Decaron's greatest assets.”
“...So that's what you meant.”
“What were you thinking?”
“I-it was nothing.”
“Even the royal family will covet you.”
Carlyle said with a meaningful expression.
“Is it that serious?”
“Yes.”
“I-I see.”
Just then.
“Young Master, may I escort Lady Evangeline? It is an order from your father.”
As soon as Carlyle finished speaking, Kristan approached with his knights and spoke.
“Get lost.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, get lost.”
“But it is your father's order...”
“She's my personal handmaiden, so she's my property. That means you can't take her, even on my father's orders.”
Maranello jumped in surprise at Carlyle's declaration.
“Y-Young Master!”
“Is it true or not?”
Carlyle ignored the startled Maranello and asked Evangeline.
“Huh?”
Evangeline's eyes widened like a startled rabbit's, hearing this for the first time in her life.
*Wink.* Carlyle shot Evangeline a signal from the corner of his eye.
“Th-that's right. I'm the Young Master's handmaiden.”
Evangeline answered, flustered.
“You heard her.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Go tell my father. If he needs Evangeline, he'll have to get my permission first.”
“...”
“If you understand, then get lost.”
“...Understood.”
Kristan gave a slight bow and departed with his knights.
“Young Master, why on earth did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Why make Lady Evangeline your handmaiden...?”
“Because I want to.”
“But...”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, sir.”
In this world, a noble hiring a handmaiden was an inviolable right, so there was no issue at all.
“Then why did you speak so harshly to Sir Kristan?”
“I just don't like him.”
“Excuse me?”
“It's not the first time. Just get used to it.”
...Though he said that, Carlyle truly despised Kristan.
Kristan.
Grand Duke Guntram's adjutant was, in fact, the highest-ranking spy planted by an enemy faction.
The Kristan that Carlyle knew was more than capable of kidnapping Evangeline, or even killing her and staging it as an accident.
He couldn't just hand Evangeline over to a man like that.
*'Ungrateful bastard. Repaying kindness with malice?'*
Carlyle knew all too well what had happened when Grand Duke Guntram trusted Kristan, and the crisis the Sigmund family had faced.
So it was only natural for harsh words to come out.
Besides, since he was playing the role of a degenerate, speaking a little harshly wouldn't be a problem.
*'It might be a pain, but I have to make sure I finish that bastard off for good.'*
Carlyle watched Kristan's retreating back, quietly sharpening his blades.
***
That evening.
Carlyle acted as if nothing had happened, just like any other day.
There was no sign of joy at having overcome a great crisis.
He only grumbled about the bruises on his wrists from the handcuffs.
“These are going to last a while.”
“Shall I call a mage to cast a healing spell, Young Master?”
“No need. It'll heal on its own in a day or two. Anyway, it's a relief.”
“Are you referring to the trial?”
“No.”
Carlyle shook his head.
“The formal wear. It was suffocating.”
“Haha.”
Maranello let out a laugh, as if he still couldn't get used to it.
The man who used to insist on elaborate outfits even in his own room now preferred an unbuttoned shirt and bare feet...
“What about Evangeline?”
“She is being well guarded. There happens to be a vacant house in the inner castle, so she can move in as early as tomorrow.”
“Good.”
Just then.
*Click.*
The door opened, and Grand Duke Guntram stepped into Carlyle's room.
“Huh?”
Carlyle was taken aback by the completely unexpected visit.
*'Is it because of Evangeline?'*
With that thought, Carlyle offered an awkward greeting to his father, Grand Duke Guntram.
“You're here.”
“I am.”
“Have a seat.”
“I will.”
“...”
“...”
An awkward silence filled the room.