Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Earth's Memory
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News of Carlyle's trial spread to all members and vassals of the Sigmund family in less than a day.
The general consensus was that the inevitable had finally come to pass.
Indeed, considering everything Carlyle had done, it was a wonder his head was still attached to his shoulders.
Even so, not many welcomed the idea of a direct descendant of the Sigmund family receiving a severe sentence.
No matter if he was a murderous degenerate, it wasn't easy to be so cold-hearted as to watch one's own bloodline perish on the executioner's block.
Therefore, it was only natural for the members of the Sigmund family to go and plead with the family head, Grand Duke Guntram.
“Father… no, Papa. Please, show Carlyle mercy. Please?”
“I know my brother has committed a great sin… but I hope you won't sentence him to death.”
Selena and Frey went to Grand Duke Guntram and begged him.
It wasn't just out of concern for Carlyle.
In truth, their greater desire was to prevent their father, Grand Duke Guntram, from staining his hands with the blood of his own kin.
They didn't want the tragedy of a father killing his son to unfold.
However, Grand Duke Guntram didn't even bat an eye at his children's pleas.
“The sinner will be punished strictly according to the law. Now, leave.”
“Ah, Papa.”
“But…”
Despite Selena and Frey's pleas, Grand Duke Guntram seemed to have already made up his mind.
“How can I let personal feelings interfere with punishing a criminal? If you bring this matter up one more time, I will consider you both to be defending the sinner and punish you severely as well.”
In the end, Selena and Frey had no choice but to leave, having failed to change Grand Duke Guntram's mind.
But Selena and Frey were not the only ones appealing for leniency for Carlyle.
“Please, can't you just spare him from execution?”
“We only wish for Your Grace the Grand Duke not to stain his hands with the blood of his kin.”
Many others also came to Grand Duke Guntram to plead for leniency for Carlyle.
And among them was Carlyle's aunt.
“Brother-in-law, are you really going to sentence Carlyle to death?”
Hestia de Hilder.
An outstanding knight, she was the younger sister of Adelia, Guntram's wife and Carlyle's mother, who had passed away long ago.
“Carlyle is the child who resembles my sister the most. Do you truly intend to behead such a child?”
“…”
Guntram offered not a single word in response to Hestia's plea.
“Punish him however you see fit. But please, just don't take his life. I'm begging you, brother-in-law.”
“…Leave now.”
Despite the entreaties of his sister-in-law, Hestia, Grand Duke Guntram firmly ordered her to leave.
Thus, Grand Duke Guntram's intention to punish Carlyle severely seemed unshakable.
* * *
Late at night.
Grand Duke Guntram stood motionlessly before the portrait of his wife, Adelia.
Although it had been fifteen years since Adelia passed away, her portrait still hung in Grand Duke Guntram's bedroom.
“I'm sorry. It's all my fault.”
Grand Duke Guntram said to the Adelia in the portrait.
Her eyes, holding a gentle smile, were the same beautiful shade of violet as Carlyle's.
And of the three children born to Grand Duke Guntram and Adelia, only Carlyle had inherited those violet eyes.
“I failed to raise our son properly. It's because I couldn't fill the void you left that Carlyle ended up so broken. I must be a terrible father. If you were still alive, Carlyle would never have become like this… I always miss you… but I miss you even more today.”
Grand Duke Guntram's eyes reddened slightly.
But no tears actually fell.
His tears had long since dried up completely when his wife, Adelia, passed away…
“As a father, I could forgive and protect Carlyle a hundred, a thousand times over. But as the Lord of Decaron, I cannot. I have a duty to mete out a fitting punishment to one who has committed a grave crime. My beloved Adelia, do not ever forgive me. I am nothing but a poor husband and a poor father.”
Despite Grand Duke Guntram's monologue, his wife in the portrait did not stir.
She simply continued to gaze at her husband, Grand Duke Guntram, with a gentle smile…
* * *
At the same time.
Carlyle spoke with Evangeline about something, and then they left the house together.
“Where's the crime scene?”
“This way, sir.”
Guided by Maranello, Carlyle led Evangeline to the scene of the crime.
“Hmm.”
Carlyle's gaze swept over the crime scene.
But with three long months having passed, there were no traces or clues left at the scene.
Any bloodstains that might have remained had long since been washed away by the rain.
“Young Master, trying to figure something out or find anything here is…”
“Impossible, of course.”
Carlyle agreed with Maranello.
“Then why did you come here?”
“I might not be able to, but she can.”
“Pardon?”
At Carlyle's words, Maranello turned to look at Evangeline.
Maranello's eyes were filled with doubt, as if to say, ‘This girl?’
“So this is the place. Alright, let's see. Let's see if I really killed Alberto.”
Carlyle muttered to himself, then turned to Evangeline.
“Alright, it's your turn.”
“I don't know if it'll work…”
“It probably will. It's not that difficult.”
“Th-Then I'll try.”
Evangeline nodded, took Carlyle's hand, and focused her mind.
Carlyle also held Evangeline's hand and concentrated.
A little time passed.
“…”
“…”
Nothing happened.
“It's not working?”
“I-I'll try again!”
A little more time passed.
“…”
“…”
Still, nothing happened.
They tried concentrating with their hands clasped several more times, but the result was the same.
“What, you really can't do it?”
“…I'm sorry. I've never done something like this before.”
“Hmm. Is it because you're still young?”
As Carlyle said this with a frown, Maranello asked.
“Young Master, may I ask what you are doing?”
“We're trying to read the earth's memory of me. She's a spirit user.”
“…!”
“She made a pact with an earth spirit a while ago.”
“What?!”
A look of astonishment crossed Maranello's face.
Spirit users were extremely rare beings, even in this world dominated by sword and sorcery.
History books even contained records of legendary spirit users who had single-handedly laid waste to entire metropolises.
Moreover, those who contracted with earth spirits were said to be so immensely useful that they could sometimes determine the rise and fall of nations.
Of course, that wasn't what was important right now.
No matter what, discovering the truth of that night was the priority.
“Is-is that really true?”
“Yeah.”
“How did you know that, Young Master?”
Maranello asked Carlyle, unable to believe it.
‘How do I know? I recruited her when I was playing as Frey.’
Evangeline was a character who appeared in the scenario mode of Frey, one of the protagonists of Overlord.
Of course, Frey recruiting Evangeline would happen much later.
‘The timing was good. It would have been a problem if she hadn't already contracted with the earth spirit.’
After talking with Evangeline, he learned she had made her pact with the earth spirit just six months ago.
Of course, he couldn't tell Maranello the truth, so Carlyle spun a rough tale.
“About four months ago? I was walking on a forest path and happened to see her. She was talking with an earth spirit.”
“Hah, and you just let it go? You didn't report it to His Grace the Grand Duke?”
“I forgot.”
“…”
Maranello was left utterly speechless by Carlyle's words.
How could he possibly forget something so momentous?
A spirit user contracted to an earth spirit was a matter of great importance, one that would even draw the attention of the royal family…
“I remembered now, didn't I? What more do you want? It's not like I forgot forever.”
“…”
“But it's not working well. She must still be inexperienced since she only made the pact a short while ago. To know exactly what happened that day, she'll have to read the earth's memory of me.”
At that, Evangeline lowered her head and said.
“I-I'm sorry. For not being able to help.”
“That's a problem.”
Carlyle frowned slightly.
“I really need that information.”
“But it's not working…”
“We still have time, so let's keep practicing.”
The trial was one week away.
From Carlyle's perspective, he had to uncover the truth of that day and prove his innocence before the trial.
Of course, he might not be innocent, but regardless, the fact remained that he needed Evangeline to read the earth's memory.
“Can… I really do it?”
Evangeline looked uncertain.
“You can.”
Carlyle said firmly.
‘She's the kid who will eventually contract with the Earth Spirit King. How could she not handle something like this?’
Evangeline was destined to one day make a pact with the Earth Spirit King and become one of Frey's most powerful assets.
Carlyle couldn't imagine her being unable to read a simple memory from the earth.
The failure of the ritual was purely a matter of proficiency, not a lack of ability on Evangeline's part.
“Can I really?”
“Yes. I believe in you. So let's keep practicing. You've got talent.”
“O-Okay!”
Encouraged by Carlyle, Evangeline clenched her fists, her expression resolute.