Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Desperate Plan
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“Young Master.”
Maranello showed a hint of disappointment.
“Such an attitude is unwise.”
“What’s wrong with my attitude?”
“Right now, Young Master, instead of repenting for your crime, you seem to be trying to evade responsibility. I can assure you, if you maintain this attitude, His Grace the Grand Duke will show you no leniency or mercy whatsoever.”
It seemed Maranello had completely misunderstood Carlyle’s words.
‘It’s understandable.’
Carlyle understood Maranello’s reaction.
Looking at the case file alone, the fact that Carlyle had killed Alberto was irrefutable.
Besides, it was an undeniable fact that Carlyle had drawn his sword in the tavern, and there were dozens of witnesses.
With witnesses present, Maranello's reaction was perfectly natural.
“I know what you’re thinking, but that’s not it, so don’t worry. Am I an idiot? Do you think I’d try to get out of this situation with some pathetic excuse?”
“…That is usually how you act.”
“…”
*Sigh.*
Let’s just drop it.
“Not this time.”
Carlyle said, then went back to carefully looking over the case file.
“Then do you truly believe that?”
“Yeah.”
“You must have some grounds for it.”
“It’s too soon to say.”
Carlyle replied, his eyes returning to the case file.
Looking closely, it wasn't just the witness that was strange.
‘Alberto… a war veteran highly respected by the people of the domain. Played a major role in the war against the barbarians in his youth. Even received two medals.’
The man named Alberto, who Carlyle had supposedly murdered, was no pushover.
Of course, if he were sober, it might have been possible.
Carlyle had trained in swordsmanship since he was young, so he could probably cut down a few back-alley thugs.
The problem was that Alberto was a robust middle-aged man who worked as a hunter and even took up jobs as a mercenary when monsters were rampant.
On top of that, being a war veteran, it went without saying that he had abundant combat experience.
A seasoned veteran like that was killed by some drunken scoundrel?
‘That’s ridiculous.’
The investigator who had looked into the case had also noted this view, but the problem was the witness.
‘How can I trust the word of a spy from the Lauren family?’
The Nürburg Kingdom was a kind of united kingdom.
Its members, the thirteen families, governed their own territories, constantly repeating a cycle of cooperation, rivalry, and hostility.
As far as Carlyle knew, this guy Jeffrey was one of the spies deliberately planted by the Lauren family, who were hostile to the Sigmunds.
This was a fact revealed when playing as Frey, one of the main characters in the game *Overlord*.
Of course, since that reveal wouldn't happen for more than ten years, Carlyle was currently the only one who knew the truth.
‘This could be a plot by the Lauren family.’
No matter how he looked at it, there were suspicious elements, making Carlyle's thought process quite rational.
The problem was that no one would believe him.
Notoriety 311
Reputation –99
Credibility –99
‘With a credibility of –99, no one would believe me even if I told them the sky was blue.’
Already on everyone's bad side, making such a claim in court would only earn him more scorn.
It was suspicious, but it was also difficult to be certain he'd been framed.
‘Is there a way to dig into the case more deeply? There must be a way.’
As he pondered for a while, a thought suddenly struck him.
“Ah, there was that.”
“What is it all of a sudden?”
“I think I’ve figured out a way to know exactly what happened that day.”
“And what way is that?”
“First, can you help me with something?”
“How can this old man be of service?”
“Get me out of here. Tonight.”
“I'm sorry, Young Master, but I cannot do that.”
Maranello shook his head firmly.
“You are currently under house arrest. If you were to be discovered…”
“I know. But I have to go out.”
“What is the reason?”
“I want to go look at the crime scene. There’s also someone I need to meet.”
“Still, I cannot allow it.”
“You never know. I might not be the culprit. Are you telling me to just give up?”
“That is…”
“You know what will happen. If things stay as they are, I'll die at my father's hands. Even if I'm lucky, I'll rot away beyond the border for the rest of my life. Like a prisoner with a life sentence.”
“…”
“Please. Just help me this once.”
Maranello remained silent for a while, clearly conflicted.
He wanted to grant Carlyle's request, but given the circumstances, he couldn't dare to act rashly.
But that was only for a moment.
As if he had made a decision, Maranello spoke with difficulty.
“This once, and only this once. I will never again defy the Grand Duke's orders to help you.”
“I know.”
Maranello's loyalty was beyond question.
He was the most faithful among the vassals of the Sigmund family.
If Carlyle's life hadn't been on the line, he would never have disobeyed Grand Duke Guntram, even with a knife to his throat…
* * *
That night.
“I will stand guard myself tonight, so you all go and get some rest.”
“B-But…”
“I also have an urgent matter to discuss with the Young Master, so don't you worry and be on your way. Just be back by dawn. Surely you don't mistrust this old man, do you?”
“If you say so, Sir Maranello…”
Maranello had the knights leave their posts and then took Carlyle outside the castle.
This was only possible because Maranello was such a deeply trusted and respected figure.
‘He's as amazing as they say. Even a bird couldn't move like this.’
Carlyle marveled at the sight of Maranello's back as the man ran with him on his back.
Maranello, a vassal of the Sigmund family, was no ordinary butler.
Maranello was once a man of incredible martial prowess, known as the Grim Reaper of the North, who had made a great name for himself.
Though he had laid down his sword twenty years ago due to a certain incident and chosen the path of a butler, Maranello's strength was still enough to rank him among the top three in the Sigmund family.
‘He might even be the strongest.’
Lost in thought, he found they had soon arrived near their destination.
“This is the place you spoke of, Young Master.”
“Let's see…”
Carlyle searched his memory, checking once more if this was the right place.
A rundown house on the verge of collapse.
‘This should be it, right?’
He was a little uncertain, but it seemed to be the house where the person he wanted to meet lived.
“Wait here.”
“As you wish, Young Master.”
Carlyle left Maranello behind and knocked on the door of the house he was looking for.
*Knock, knock.*
“Who is it?”
The door opened, and a young girl with a youthful face appeared, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
She was a striking girl with light green hair, almost the color of new leaves.
“Evangeline, right?”
“Ah, yes. That's me. But… who are you?”
“Carlyle van Sigmund.”
Carlyle replied, pulling back the hood that had been drawn low over his face.
“Gasp!”
Evangeline gasped in shock, stumbling backward as she spoke.
“P-Please, spare me. Y-Young Master. I haven't d-done anything wrong.”
“…”
A bitter smile formed on Carlyle's lips.
‘It's no wonder she's scared, with a scoundrel who's even killed a man showing up unannounced.’
Carlyle reassured Evangeline.
“Calm down. I'm not here to hurt you.”
“B-But…”
“It's true. I just came to ask a favor.”
“A favor…?”
“Yes. There's something I need you to do.”
As he spoke, Carlyle casually tossed a pouch of gold coins onto the table.
“I-I can't! Even for all the money in the world, I would never—”
“What kind of filthy thoughts are you having?”
Carlyle frowned.
“You… don't tell me you thought I came here to buy you?”
“Ah, if not, then I'm truly sorry. Please forgive my rudeness, Young Master.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Sometimes… there have been men who made such offers…”
“Well, there's trash like that everywhere… Wait. So you thought I was that kind of despicable person?”
“I-I'm sorry. I heard rumors that you frequent the red-light district…”
“…”
Carlyle was left speechless.
“I q…uit.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I quit.”
“…”
Evangeline didn't press the matter of Carlyle's lame excuse.
She figured if that scoundrel were to fly into a rage, she might really find herself in a terrible situation.
“That's not why I'm here, so let's drop it and get to the point.”
“P-Please, go on.”
“You…”
Carlyle began to speak to Evangeline.
* * *
‘Honestly. I have no idea what he's thinking.’
Watching from a distance, Maranello was confused, unable to comprehend Carlyle's intentions.
He said he had someone he urgently needed to meet, but to think it was a poor commoner girl.
‘How could that child possibly be of any help?’
It wasn't that he looked down on commoners.
It was just that in a situation as serious as this, there seemed to be very little the girl could do.
Nevertheless, Maranello let Carlyle do as he pleased.
Seeing him act so unpredictably, it seemed he must have some kind of plan…
‘Hmm. The Young Master's personality has changed quite a bit.’
Maranello was someone who had watched over Carlyle for a long time.
There was no way he wouldn't notice the change in Carlyle's personality.
‘He's become calm and composed, and he doesn't even get angry. He seems a bit more cynical than before, but…’
In truth, that wasn't the only strange thing.
He wasn't looking for alcohol, nor was he spewing verbal abuse at his subordinates.
Of course, considering his past behavior, it wouldn't be at all strange if he were to throw another tantrum at any moment.
‘Is it because of the accident?’
It was rare, but there were cases where people who had near-death experiences or suffered severe head injuries changed from who they were before.
Carlyle fit both criteria, so his sudden personality change wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
‘It would be nice if the Young Master could turn over a new leaf…’
If that were truly the case, it would be the most welcome news.
Though it might already be too late for him to mend his ways.