Chapter 119: Punishment(4)
Chapter 119: Punishment(4)
I couldn't help but be shocked as I watched Arwen on her knees, her head pressed against the ground as she begged for forgiveness. It was a deeply humiliating posture, not just for a queen, but for any individual.
To be honest, a simple bow would have been enough to convey her sincerity. Seeing her go to such lengths to apologize, however, made me realize just how much Rain meant to her.
"I will not ask for leniency. But I wish to tell you that not all Elves and Dark Elves are like this."
"... ..."
Arwen continued to speak quietly while remaining prostrate. Her beautiful silver-gray hair was scattered across the ground, and since her head was bowed, I couldn't see her expression.
Judging by the atmosphere and her voice, it was clear she was truly repentant for her failings. The problem was that Arwen didn't need to go this far.
While Arwen bore responsibility as the one in charge, the fundamental crime was committed by Rain. Therefore, it should have been Rain, not Arwen, who was face-down on the floor.
With that thought, I shifted my gaze from the back of Arwen’s head to Rain. Rain seemed to be in a state of shock, staring at Arwen with trembling eyes.
She was likely experiencing something similar to a child watching their parent apologize on their behalf for a mistake they made. For a child to truly realize the weight of their wrongdoing, the role of the parent—or guardian—is paramount.
Since Rain was under Arwen's guardianship, this would undoubtedly have a profound impact on her. I waited quietly to see how Rain would react next.
"Qu-Queen..."
"... ..."
"Ugh... hic..."
Tears began to well up in Rain's eyes as she stared blankly at Arwen. Beside her, Siris had closed her eyes, seemingly unable to bear the sight.
What would Rain do now? Would she scream at me, or would she seek forgiveness like Arwen?
Regardless of her reaction, the fact that Rain would be punished remained unchanged. She had already tasted the bitterness of her actions, but a formal punishment here would double the effect.
Just as I was internally debating what kind of punishment would be appropriate for Rain, she squeezed her eyes shut and rushed to Arwen's side. In less than a second, she prostrated herself just like Arwen.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"... ..."
"It was my fault! It was all my fault, so please..."
I stared blankly at the two Elves face-down on the floor before glancing at Siris. I was looking her way because the situation had turned bizarre, but she seemed to interpret my gaze differently.
When she briefly opened her eyes and met mine, she closed them again and slowly walked toward us. Standing beside Arwen, she lowered herself into a prostrate position with movements that were both graceful and disciplined.
"I am sorry."
"... ..."
"For standing by and doing nothing when I could have stopped Rain... I am truly sorry."
No. Not you too. Why was she bowing down? What did she even do wrong?
It was like a chain reaction; with Siris joining in, the situation became incredibly awkward. Moreover, the scene was beyond strange—it was surreal.
All three were exceptionally beautiful Elves, and one was the Queen of a nation. My heart fluttered slightly, just like last time, but I did my best to endure it.
"Sigh..."
I let out a long sigh as I looked at the three of them, who showed no sign of getting up. It seemed best to have them stand first.
"...Everyone, please stand up. Honestly, I can understand Rain, but there's no need for the other two of you to do this. It's a bit overwhelming."
"...I simply wished to convey my sincerity to you," Arwen replied as she stood up, her expression somber. I noticed her knees were stained with dirt from the ground.
Her dress was nearly white, making the stains stand out even more.
Once she stood, Rain and Siris followed suit. Rain was sobbing and hiccuping, while Siris remained expressionless, though her eyes held a hint of sadness.
I rubbed the back of my neck and looked at the three of them waiting for my response, then glanced at Cecile. She maintained the look of a bystander, seemingly determined to remain a third party.
It appeared she was leaving the final decision to me. In that case, it would be best to settle this as quickly as possible.
I looked at the three in front of me and brought up what I knew.
"I heard from Cecile earlier. The Dark Elves decided on Rain's sentence themselves. Five hundred years in prison?"
"That is correct."
"Five hundred years... That's certainly not a short time, even for an Elf, is it? It means spending half a lifetime behind bars."
They say even mountains change in ten years; in five hundred years, the world would change beyond description. The reason people who serve long prison sentences often fail to reintegrate into society is precisely because the world and society have changed too drastically.
Thus, even if Rain were released after five hundred years, there was a high probability she wouldn't be able to adapt at all. For a young girl whose personality was still forming, it was an incredibly harsh sentence.
However, stealing the manuscript was a clear crime, and she had even broken into my mansion. No matter how immature a child is, they shouldn't be excused for things that are inexcusable.
But just throwing her into a cell for that long has its own problems...
It would be fine for the next five hundred years. Even if I lived out my natural life and passed away, I could just leave the future to Cecile.
But that wasn't a fundamental solution. There was no telling what kind of monster might emerge from that prison five hundred years later.
In the worst-case scenario, she might evade Cecile's notice and harm my descendants. It wasn't impossible, considering she would likely harbor nothing but malice after all that time in a cell.
So, I had to find a punishment for Rain that was appropriate—not too excessive, but something everyone could agree on.
And of course, the same applied to Arwen and Siris. Since they were in a position of responsibility rather than direct perpetrators, calling it a 'punishment' felt a bit awkward.
After organizing my thoughts as best as I could, a good idea suddenly flashed through my mind, and I looked at Cecile. When our eyes met, she tilted her head as if asking if I had something to say.
"Cecile."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"You said you'd do anything for me, right?"
"That's right. But why? Does it have something to do with them?"
She was quick on the uptake. Instead of answering, I gave her an ambiguous smile.
Cecile chuckled as if she found me incorrigible and spoke quietly.
"Alright. So, what punishment are you going to give?"
"Probation."
"Probation?"
"Yes."
Cecile looked puzzled, as if she had never heard the term before. The three Elves in front of me shared the same expression.
Indeed, in this world, the concept of a suspended sentence—or even the modern legal term for imprisonment—didn't really exist. If someone committed a crime, they were simply told how many years they would serve; the legal system wasn't that systematic.
I thought about how to structure the probation and began to explain it piece by piece.
"As you all know, I am a human. Compared to Demons or Elves, I have a very short lifespan. It's a given that I won't last a hundred years, let alone five hundred."
"... ..."
"So, I will leave the management of Rain entirely to Cecile. However, considering that Rain is sincerely reflecting on her actions and is still young, I'll reduce her sentence somewhat. Not five hundred years, but maybe three hundred?"
"Th-Thank you! Thank you so much!!"
Rain, seemingly never dreaming that I would mention a reduced sentence, prostrated herself again in gratitude. Arwen also looked stunned, her mouth slightly agape as if she had just escaped a death sentence.
However, contrary to their expectations, I wasn't finished. The true essence of probation was about to come.
"I'm not finished with my explanation. There are conditions."
"Conditions...?"
"Since the Dark Elves have already finalized the five-hundred-year sentence, I won't change that. The three hundred years I mentioned is probation—a sort of period of supervision. If Rain commits another crime during those three hundred years without a special reason, she will immediately serve the full five hundred years in prison. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the new crime, more time can be added to that five hundred years. Do you understand?"
I had considered making Rain a guardian or a maid for our family for five hundred years, but I didn't really like the idea. Cecile had already declared she would protect our family, so there was no need to drag Rain into it.
Therefore, I would give Rain another chance, but if she committed a similar crime again, she would rot in prison for five hundred years without mercy.
At first glance, probation might seem like a good deal, but since she would be under strict surveillance for three hundred years, her freedom would inevitably be restricted.
"...Then, if Rain behaves herself for three hundred years without committing any special crimes, she will be considered innocent?"
Siris, who had been listening quietly, asked me in her characteristically low, husky voice. Judging by the expressions of the other two Elves, they didn't seem to understand either.
Well, probation was a punishment so foreign to this world that it was a natural reaction.
"Absolutely not. Don't misunderstand. Rain has already been sentenced to a fitting punishment, and this is a brand that will never be erased. I am showing leniency by giving her one more chance, but that doesn't make her innocent. Would you want to be monitored for three hundred years? Knowing that if you commit a crime in the meantime, you'll rot in prison for five hundred years without any excuses?"
"...So, while her body isn't bound, she isn't truly free."
"Exactly. It's a foreign concept, so it might be hard to grasp."
The important thing to remember was that Rain was guilty, not innocent. This was why I had entrusted her to Cecile, of all people.
"From this moment on, you can act as you normally would, but Rain will be under Cecile's supervision. Arwen, I doubt you'd interfere, but just in case, it would be best to sign a contract or an affidavit. Is that possible with magic?"
"It is. It's called a 'Blood Pact,' a spell that's almost impossible to break by force. It's usually used in master-servant relationships, though..."
"... ..."
As Cecile trailed off and looked at Arwen, the Queen gave a bitter smile. A pact between a Demon, a descendant of devils, and an Elf, the chosen of the gods.
To make matters worse, the Elf was in the subordinate position, making the situation feel even more bizarre.
"...I shall gladly accept. In essence, this is a form of punishment that is no different from granting us leniency."
"Keep this in mind, Arwen. This is a sentence of guilt, not innocence. If Rain does anything like this again, there will be no leniency. It will be an automatic five-hundred-year sentence."
"I will keep that in mind. Rain surely understands this as well."
"I-I'll never do it again! I promise!"
Rain nodded vigorously, her voice trembling as she swore to remember. For her, it was as if she had taken a step into the gates of hell and barely managed to scramble back out, so her reaction was perfectly natural.
Well, it was unavoidable that Arwen would lose her status as a guardian because of this. But that was their business, not mine.
More importantly, I had only decided on Rain's treatment; Arwen and Siris were still left. I turned my gaze from Rain to Arwen.
"And Arwen, you must take responsibility too. You as well, Siris."
"... ..."
"... ..."
Perhaps because it was finally their turn, both Elves' expressions stiffened. I had been thinking deeply about this.
Since the two of them were bystanders rather than accomplices, the severity wouldn't be that great. In fact, it was almost embarrassing to call it a punishment.
Hmm... let's go with this.
I came up with a good plan that would satisfy my own interests while also allowing me to gain various types of knowledge. I spoke to Siris first.
"Siris. You will act as a messenger between Arwen and me. So that I can contact her whenever I have something to say or need something from her."
"A messenger... I understand. Does that mean I must remain by your side at all times?"
"Hmm... is there a way to contact you whenever I need you? Or perhaps a way to summon you?"
Since science hadn't developed, there were no telephones, and the only means of communication in this world was by letter.
I wondered if it could be handled with magic, and luckily, Cecile suggested a suitable method.
"There's something called a Summon Scroll. If you tear the scroll while it has the target's hair or blood on it, you can summon them anytime, anywhere. However, the target must respond within a certain timeframe."
"Does that mean she could ignore the call?"
"That will never happen. If it can atone for my sins, I will respond to your request anytime, anywhere."
Siris spoke with firm resolve and a strong sense of responsibility. Because her eyes were naturally sharp, she had given the impression of glaring at me since earlier, but it seemed that was just her face.
Anyway, with Siris's role decided, I finally looked at Arwen. Arwen looked tense as our eyes met.
As Rain's guardian, she bore a heavy responsibility, but since she had already prostrated herself, it was difficult to punish her severely.
I debated whether this would be okay before deciding to just say it. If she said it was difficult, I planned to push through; if she said it was absolutely impossible, I was prepared to back down gracefully.
"Arwen. You're the Queen, so you can go in and out of the 'Holy Land' as you please, right?"
"That is correct."
"Then, can you bring out some books from there for me?"
Albenheim's Holy Land was the first library ever built and was history itself. It was no exaggeration to say that all the history of this world was stored there, along with various other types of knowledge.
There were even books critical of Elves, but because Elves were stubborn in strange ways, they hadn't destroyed them and kept them perfectly preserved.
"W-Will that suffice? If it is only that, I can deliver them to you via spatial magic without even needing to instruct Siris."
Arwen's eyes widened at my request, and she asked in a slightly surprised voice. It seemed like an easy task for her as the Queen.
"Then do that. I don't mind. I'd like history books, if possible."
"I understand. But are you sure that is enough? For me, as the Queen, it is a very simple task..."
Arwen asked again, seemingly unable to believe it. It might be easy for her as the Queen, but not for me as a human.
As Professor Elena had told me, entering the Holy Land required a strict and complicated process. Even entering Albenheim involved a rigorous screening, so the Holy Land went without saying.
I shrugged and mimicked the motion of writing with a pen as I answered.
"Did you forget my profession? What do you think I'll feel when I read those books?"
"... ..."
"As I said before, I'm not asking for books you found interesting, but books I want. It's the Holy Land, after all; surely it has the books I'm looking for. If you lie and say they aren't there... you know what happens, right?"
"I-I understand. I shall be careful."
Arwen's face turned slightly pale, likely fearing that I might write something negative about Elves in the Xenon Chronicle. She probably thought that since I had raised the public perception of Demons from devils to people, dragging Elves down would be as easy as pie.
Of course, since I couldn't change the already established story, it was purely her misunderstanding. The fall of Albenheim in the book was already a decided event, and the story of Elves and Dark Elves merging to reclaim it remained the same.
I didn't care what they would think when they saw it. After all, the Demons had gone through it too; what was the point of worrying about it now?
"Now. That's the end of the punishments... Rain."
"Ye-Yes!"
Rain snapped to attention and answered promptly when I called her name. She probably thought I held the power of life and death over her.
In reality, the authority was mine, so if things went south, her five-hundred-year sentence was guaranteed. It seemed she had matured a bit because of it, but there was no harm in reminding her.
"I'll say it again: you are guilty, not innocent. Not only must you live under Cecile's supervision for three hundred years, but if you commit a crime in the meantime, you could face the full five hundred years or even harsher punishment. Understood?"
"I-I'll keep it in mind! Even after you pass away, I will surely keep it in my heart!"
"The phrasing is a bit weird... but anyway, I get it."
"...May I ask one question?"
Just as the situation was about to conclude, Siris asked me in her low voice. Everyone's eyes turned toward her.
Even with all eyes on her, Siris maintained her characteristically sharp expression. I was curious about her question, so I tilted my chin.
"Go ahead."
"How long is the duration of my service as a messenger?"
"Ah, I hadn't thought of that. How about until I die? I'm just a human, so it'll be a short time for you anyway."
It was a joke intended to lighten the mood slightly. But I suppose I should have expected as much from an Elf.
"Then approximately eighty years... I understand. I shall accept."
"...Are you really going to accept that?"
"I believe such a duration is appropriate."
Siris accepted it literally without any objection. Seeing her face, it seemed she had already convinced herself, which actually made me the one who was flustered.
It felt like I had somehow gained a slave for life. I scratched my head in embarrassment and bewilderment, then glanced at Arwen.
"I-I too shall grant your requests until you return to the embrace of the gods. I haven't even read all the books in the Holy Land myself, so eighty years will feel very short indeed."
"... ..."
Let's just let it go. This was a gain, not a loss. Even if it felt a bit burdensome, they had accepted it without issue, so I planned to accept it as well.
Anyway, after that, the situation was resolved by receiving the manuscript back from Rain, and I checked to see if it was the original and if any parts were damaged.
Fortunately, it seemed she had kept it well, as not a single part was damaged.
As I flipped through the clean manuscript, a question occurred to me, and I looked at the three in front of me.
"Hmm... oh, right. I'm curious about one thing. How did you break into the mansion? I'm a bit confused because there were knights dispatched from the Imperial Palace on guard duty. Are Dark Elves that strong?"
"It is not so much that they are strong, but that their abilities are unique. Unless there is a mage present, it is very difficult to detect them."
The answer came from Arwen. I kept my eyes on her as I continued.
"My father said the knights dispatched from the Imperial Palace are very strong. Are they no match for you?"
"They might see a silhouette, but it would be difficult for them to detect stealthy operations. Because of this, mansions of Count-rank or higher by human standards have enhanced detection magic installed. Below that, only detection magic that stops petty thieves is installed."
So, no matter how much a fully upgraded Hero Zealot runs around, they can't beat a single Dark Templar? You absolutely need an Observer (mage).
Hearing the explanation, it seemed Dark Elves were a race specialized in 'Stealth,' just as they appeared in various media from my previous life. The profession of a rogue would suit them perfectly.
If the Dark Elves had participated in the Race War...
They would have gone around slicing the necks of human leaders in places where they couldn't be seen, so there would have been a 100% chance of defeat. Elves had always preferred open warfare over covert operations (assassination).
However, when the tide of war turned unfavorable, a certain Elven warrior had resorted to covert operations to somehow gain the upper hand, only to be imprisoned for tarnishing the honor of the Elves. This was despite the fact that he was the first to realize the decisive way to win the war.
If the Elves had realized that fact just a little sooner, wouldn't that Elven warrior have been revered as a hero? As I thought about that Elven warrior, I decided to ask Arwen, who was right in front of me, what had become of him.
The books only noted his imprisonment; there was no record of what became of him after the war ended.
"Arwen, may I ask one more thing? It’s about that elven warrior who was imprisoned for breaking the law during the Race War."
"That warrior has since been released and is living in seclusion at his estate. Likely due to the lingering pain of being betrayed by Albenheim."
"..."
"For Albenheim, it is a grievous loss to have pushed away both a patriot and a peerless warrior. Even I requested his return, but I was flatly rebuffed."
Indeed, the pain of a soldier betrayed by his own motherland is beyond words. His resentment must have cut even deeper, knowing that his choice had been the correct one all along.
In fact, the elf representing 'Pride' in Xenon Biography suffers from a similar trauma. Enraged by the ugly reality of Albenheim, he chose to turn himself into a demon.
'Well, at least this gives me some good material for the story.'
While Albenheim’s fall to the demons was a foregone conclusion, it was only natural for a hero to emerge in the aftermath.
I spent a moment mentally sketching out the plot before looking at the three people in front of me one by one. They were still wearing tense expressions, waiting for me to speak.
I let out a small chuckle and spoke nonchalantly.
"It’s all over now, so there’s no need to look so tense. I don't have anything else to say."
"I-Is it really over?"
Rain asked, her voice trembling with anxiety. I gave a casual nod.
"Yeah."
Thud!
Perhaps the tension had finally snapped. The moment I nodded, Rain’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Siris hurriedly moved to support her, helping her to her feet, but I could see Rain’s legs shaking like a newborn lamb.
I looked at the two Dark Elves for a moment before meeting Arwen's eyes. Her silver-gray pupils held a mixture of subtle emotions.
I couldn't tell if it was gratitude or relief that I had shown mercy. Regardless, it was definitely a favorable sentiment.
However, my attention was drawn more to her knees, which had become stained. It had already felt wrong to see her prostrate herself in apology, but seeing her knees dirtied like that made me feel genuinely uncomfortable.
"Pardon me for a moment."
"M-My lord? What are you..."
Brush, brush.
Ignoring Arwen’s bewilderment, I leaned down and began dusting off her soiled knees with my hands. Since her silver-gray dress was nearly white, it would eventually need a proper wash, but for now, I just brushed away the dirt and dust.
Fortunately, whether it was due to some magical treatment or simply high-quality fabric, her dress looked much cleaner after just a few swipes. There were still some faint stains, but they looked like they would come out easily with water.
"Still, having the Queen of Albenheim prostrate herself was a bit much. You might not see it that way, but it made me feel quite awkward."
"..."
"Things might be a little strained between us for a while given the circumstances, but let's try to get along like we did during the festival if we can. Alright?"
After finishing with her knees, I slowly straightened my back. Arwen’s cheeks flushed slightly at my words, and she lowered her head, giving a small, soft reply.
"...I understand."
"Well, since everything is settled..."
The conclusion of the long, drawn-out incident of the stolen manuscript was this:
"We'll be going now."
It ended with Rain being granted a suspended sentence—probation.