Whispers in the Rear Garden

Now that he had cut loose his tail—the one called Emma Urnen—Theo Ramstair must have believed no one left alive knew his secret.

Given Karsein's wretched reputation, even the fact that he had slashed Radiel would more likely draw the verdict that he'd simply caused trouble again than genuine suspicion. And even if Radiel himself stepped forward to smooth things over, the evidence of the old trial—where everyone had pointed to Karsein as the culprit—still held the high ground. Unlike Emma, who had tripped over her own feet thanks to an avalanche of evidence and witnesses, those who might have backed Theo's story were locked away where they could spout nothing, or the proof had simply ceased to exist. Any way you sliced it, the situation made it perfectly reasonable for him to insist it was all lies.

And yet he had been seized by the scruff of the neck all the same.

When the incident in Chapelle Forest—Radiel's stabbing—was raised, this was the one case that floated to the surface the moment his strongest ally vanished. He had stripped away every exposed weakness, but in doing so lost all the power that had shielded him at once. With the alibis and the hired testimony gone, only the victim's own account remained, and that account was now everything.

"N-No! That's...! Bring my comrades—the ones in prison right now!"

"What good would they be?"

"They were present at the scene! They could stand as witnesses to correct the false record of events—!"

"More nonsense. The victim is pointing at you right now, and weren't those two of yours knocked unconscious by Karsein back then, for whatever reason? What exactly would they know?"

"Th-That's..."

When Arcien drove the blade into that blind spot, Theo's face drained to ash. There was nothing left to say in his defense. He could wring his brain dry and the situation would not change.

It was time to drive in the wedge.

"I will present additional evidence."

It had been, truly, pure chance. I was still nothing but a trainee when the incident at the water station finally earned me recognition as an apprentice knight. After the morning run, I moved into the apprentices' quarters and set about sorting my belongings at once. But before I'd even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finished unpacking, I noticed something odd—the wall seemed to bulge ever so slightly out of place. Hoping something might be hidden there, I reached out, and faint light seeped through beneath my fingers.

Yes. It was a Memorial.

In the game, I had never managed to find it at all, but here it let me glimpse yet another of Karsein's memories—and as a reward, I obtained the very thing that would cinch Theo's noose. The item he had failed to destroy, the one that could serve as evidence.

"The commission Emma sent him, and the letter forged in Radiel's name—"

At that instant—CRASH!—Theo brought his fist down on the table.

"...You need not brandish that evidence. It is the truth."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"The commission from Emma promised a fortune, so I took it. In the process I persuaded the others to join in... and I confess I thought it would be convenient to toss the young master Karsein—a sight I'd grown sick of—back into the slums while I was at it."

"Oh?"

Astoundingly, the man was confessing.

"It does appear you are confessing."

"I am. Captain Radiel speaks nothing but the truth. After the deed was done, it wasn't merely the money—I was terrified of the punishment."

Asked why he would say such a thing now, he hung his head, both fists trembling violently, and answered:

"...I heard that the Tulea Mine is divided into depths according to the severity of one's crimes. And I have no wish to be branded by the Orb of Judgment, either."

"Hmph. So it was the Orb of Judgment and the depth of your sentence you feared."

Arcien sneered at him. In a single word: Theo had chickened out.

Under oath in a trial, if one lied, the holder of the Orb of Judgment was empowered to punish the perjurer. The playable text described it plainly—a brand seared openly across the face and body, scorching agony that burned and burned. The mark lasted thirty days on the face, but a brand upon the body never faded and went on tormenting the criminal without mercy. Either way, if you were headed to hard labor anyway, something like that dogging you forever would be reason enough to be afraid.

Still... was it always this easy to clear?

Episode VI—the Chapelle Forest retrial—was, in truth, the episode where I'd needed the fewest retries. That much made it easy to anticipate and prepare for, but...

'Even when it's easy, this feels too easily cleared.'

At some point—before I had even presented the evidence—the achievement rate had already hit 100%. In the game's script, that number was only reached after producing this evidence and demolishing Theo's arguments at least one more time. What followed was the same: by Arcien's verdict he was dragged off just as Emma had been, and the episode ended. The result was no different, but that the entire process had been skipped struck me as significant.

No—to put it precisely, the optimal choices had been selecting themselves automatically, without my input. When Claire stepped forward, and again when the maids and attendants rose to defend me. The same with Heron and Shayden. All that remained for me to do was pick from a handful of options, call the right witnesses at the right moment, and produce the evidence. Episode VI had felt somewhat easier to me even in the game, but never this easy.

'Hmm... could it be the affinity levels?'

The white boxes did read slightly higher than they had in the game, so I supposed that could explain it.

"Take him away. Send word to House Ramstair—keep him locked in the ducal dungeon until his expulsion is confirmed, then deliver him straight to the Tulea Mine."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Theo was led out by the knights. The trial came to a swift end. Arcien's verdict needed no reading: Karsein was innocent, and the frame-up was all but certain. The nobles who had hoped to watch me crumble in humiliating defeat filed out wearing sour expressions, while those who had testified on my behalf bowed their heads as they withdrew.

"I would like to speak with you for a moment, outside. Karsein."

Isabella left those words with me, her face etched with sorrow, and was the first to take her leave.

Now, it was my turn to go. With the two who were essentially Chapter 1's bosses gone, I could breathe easy for a while.

Just as I moved to leave, however, Arcien—who had been transferring the Orb of Judgment's record onto paper—spoke to me.

"Sharp handling of yourself. A fine tongue you have."

"You flatter me."

"Flattery, nothing. When this verdict was first assigned to me, the case leaned heavily against you, did it not?"

That couldn't be helped. The game had been built with punishing clear conditions, after all.

"Had the spectators whipped up sentiment against you and cowed you, that alone would have spelled danger. Tsk. A truly unjust trial, all told."

Dangerous—it had been, in fact. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The spectators wavered at Theo and Emma's claims, turned hostile toward me, and ground the achievement rate down. That was precisely why I'd tried to seize the room's atmosphere in one stroke. But this disadvantage was not something I had overcome alone.

"And yet Your Highness took my side, didn't you?"

"...Oh? And what is this interesting claim? I haven't the faintest idea what you mean—do enlighten me."

Arcien feigned ignorance, playing coy. But the fine curve at the corner of her eyes said she genuinely intended to hear it. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought it up.

"It's because you framed the very thesis of the trial around the water station incident from the start, rather than Chapelle Forest. One of those two would certainly have dragged up Chapelle Forest to smear my name."

"Oh? Do go on."

"You did the same during the trial itself. You did not obstruct my plainly deliberate move to target Emma Urnen—though strictly speaking, this was a joint hearing between Theo Ramstair and myself."

I laid it all out before she could interject. How she had weighed her corrections more heavily against the noble spectators than against Claire—a potential witness—in order to suppress public sentiment. How she had pressed on the flimsiness of Emma's and Theo's claims to keep doubt alive. There was more besides.

Clap, clap, clap.

"Remarkable insight. I wondered how far you had planned your game—and the truth is that evidence was the killing blow, wasn't it?"

"...Yes, it is. The commission from Emma that Theo failed to destroy would have been sufficient on its own."

"So that is how it was. Hahaha."

Arcien seemed satisfied, a faint smile settling on her lips. And then the box before my eyes changed.

"So then—how long do you intend to keep meeting your fake fiancée, Harnie Theresia?"

"...Pardon?"

"No use playing dumb. The nobles may all be deceived, but I know the two of you were never bound by love."

My body flinched despite myself, and she waved a hand.

"Ah, don't misunderstand. This is no threat. It's simply that I require hegemony to take the throne, so from my position, this is vital information."

Come to think of it, Arcien had two older brothers and was, by all accounts, vying for the crown against them through political struggle. Bagrand and Theresia—if those two houses were joined as one, that would certainly have been intelligence she needed to keep a close eye on.

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you."

"Hmm. I see. Something rather significant must have passed between you, then."

"But there is nothing that would affect Your Highness."

It was, after all, nothing more than a contract engagement. There would be no joining of houses. In a year, it would simply dissolve on its own.

"Very well. You vouch for it, so I shall believe you. But I will need to keep a fair eye on your fiancée's movements."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hehe. That part is for you to figure out."

And with nothing but those cryptic words, Arcien departed.

With the trial concluded, Episode VI was over as well. The Status Window seemed to be flashing something at my side, but my body and mind were both too exhausted to care. When I had exposed my housekeeper back on Earth—my real housekeeper—for pulling exactly this kind of stunt and thrown her out, all I'd wanted that day was to collapse straight into bed.

And yet.

"Finished talking with the Princess?"

Even outside, no one would let me rest. So this part didn't change in the game either, huh.

"Mother has already gone home with Claire. She said to talk at the ducal residence."

"Ah. Right."

I answered with resigned indifference.

"By the way, why are you still here? What, did the verdict not suit you?"

"Karsein."

"If that's not it, then you've got no reason to be standing here, do you?"

At the faint edge of mockery in my tone, Arina's brow furrowed.

"Hah. Fine. There is something I simply cannot understand. Why did you restrict Flora's attendance?"

So that was what she wanted to ask. From where I stood it was only obvious—but from Arina's, it was a thing she would never understand. This was the kind of conversation best ended quickly and swept away.

"Because Flora might have taken Theo's and Emma's side."

"That's your reason? You suspect your own sister of siding with those two criminals?"

"Nothing wrong with suspecting it. She did take Theo Ramstair's side at the Chapelle Forest trial, and Emma Urnen was her wet nurse."

Arina's expression turned ferocious.

"A sister who came to help you as family—and you treat her like that...!"

Once again, from Arina's shouting, I had become the villain. This was enough. By burning affinity, I could sever this conversation right here.

"I don't want to wake up the accused again in some trial. Because of someone, I was framed that day until I nearly went mad from the injustice."

"Haah... Karsein. You really..."

"I'm leaving. Today's training was pushed back for the trial, so I have to do it now."

I cut the exchange off one-sidedly, and Arina did not chase after me. If I could sever things this way with Isabella and Claire too, then no other events would trigger. The three of their affinity would dip somewhat, but for the sake of the time I could buy in the next chapter, this was the better road.

The alarm had rung right on cue. And with that—everything was over. Episode VI, complete. Chapter 1, complete. A whole chapter closed behind me, so there was nothing to worry about for a good while.

I was exhausted. Back at the quarters, I collapsed onto my bed and was asleep before I'd even washed.

Ding!

Shoved along between the knights, Theo Ramstair had been thrown back behind the bars. After spending one day like this, come the next dawn, he and Emma Urnen would be hauled away as felons of the gravest order. But the System did not permit it.

A knight stepped into the lightless cell block. Theo recognized the man's face and spoke as though he had been waiting.

"Ryun! Over here!"

The man had been his subordinate once, before being expelled to the 2nd Knight Order. Cast out after Claire caught him red-handed, he remained above suspicion on this end. But Ryun ignored Theo's voice entirely and flung open the door to a different cell—the one where Emma crouched, trembling.

"You idiot woman. This is the best you could manage?"

"I-I'm sorr—urk!"

Seized by the throat, Emma writhed in agony.

"Emma. I gave you funding aplenty, and more than enough intelligence on the ducal house. Or did I not?"

"Th-That's... right... kk—ghk!"

"Then explain this situation. You clawed your way to Head Maid, a position perfect for beguiling the servants—so explain to me how you're the one locked up because you couldn't purge a single lowborn wretch."

"I... I'm sorry—ghk—ghkk!!"

"You shouldn't have done things worth apologizing for. The task entrusted to you was never meant to be handled like this. Or was it that you'd risen to Head Maid, taken the coin, and decided the master himself looked soft?"

Between the terrified Emma and the knight crushing her throat, a meaningful conversation was unfolding. And Theo sensed it instinctively—that this could become his opportunity.

"I have a method!"

The grip on Emma's throat eased. Ignoring the woman coughing and clutching at her neck, the knight turned his head.

"You do?"

I need to speak formally. This man is not the Ryun I knew. A moment's thought made it clear. Here, he had to commit to a decisive gamble.

"Emma there bears the brand of the Orb of Judgment, but I do not. Free me from these bars and I can move as I please."

"Oh?"

"In the end, all that remains is dealing with Karsein, no? I still possess a means to lure him out."

At that, Ryun chuckled. He could see right through the man.

"Fine. Keep going. What's your plan?"

"It's come to this, so we simply call that cur out and kill him. He seems to have kept himself from the courtroom somehow, but I still have an ally—Lady Flora. We stage some manner of false hostage-taking to draw him out, then dispose of him. The young lady is utterly smitten with me, after all."

"True—I know you charmed the ducal house's youngest. Use her, and framing Karsein would be no great difficulty. But what if the man smells the trap and doesn't come?"

"We leave undeniable evidence so that if he doesn't come, he becomes the suspect. Carve traces of Lady Flora's abduction, write only that it was Karsein's doing—the ducal house will pour all its fury onto him regardless."

"Karsein's reputation is rotten either way, so you're counting on them swallowing that their precious youngest was taken because of him?"

"Yes. If we bait the hook further—hint that something happened between Karsein and me—they'll have no choice but to swallow it whole."

Checkmate. If Karsein tried to protect himself, the ducal house would read that transparent evidence and hurl every ounce of ill feeling at him. Short of coming to rescue his abducted sister, no other path would exist.

Here, Theo laid every last card on the table.

"So long as I can have my revenge on that man, that is enough for me. The Ramstair barony? A house on its way down means nothing to me. This side offers far deeper waters, doesn't it? If I can swim in waters like these, I couldn't care less whether I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flee to a foreign land or not."

"Hmm...?"

Hearing that—so he had reached into the Bagrand Duchy itself. Not even the Pecelos imperial family could brazenly orchestrate such a thing. Which meant these people's backing was, at the very least, a foreign power.

"Continue."

The gamble had landed. Now it was time to secure his own place.

"That stupid woman will be remanded to the Imperial Underground Dungeon. Better to cut the root out entirely here and now. Think of it as trading up—acquiring a new subordinate in the process."

"Wh-What! Theo, you bastard!"

"Isn't a man who produced an actual plan more useful than that pitiful creature who could do nothing but repeat her apologies?"

Ryun, who had been stroking his chin with a finger, nodded and walked toward Theo's cell.

"W-Wait a moment! You... you can't be serious—!"

Clang!

Theo's cell door swung open at once.

"You've a decent head on your shoulders. Good. Then first, let us carry out what you just proposed?"

"You honor me."

When Ryun handed Theo a sword, Emma sensed her doom—but there was no means of resistance left to her. The cell door opened; the sword flew through the air. A red arc of blood sprayed in a cross, and a woman's life was snuffed out on the spot.

"Your loyalty is confirmed. However—I'll set two more conditions."

"And those are?"

"There are a fair number of others bound for interrogation or torture. Strangle the life from those men with your own hands. And, while you're at it, I'll be needing an easier way out of here myself, won't I?"

He meant: cut down with that sword everything and everyone in this duchy that could ever implicate us. Put another way, it was also a demand to prove he had the skill for it. A steep condition—but Theo had no way back. This much, he had to do.

"And the second?"

"...No, I see no need to go that far. Withdrawn. Instead, tell me whatever you require. I'll see it delivered."

"Ah. Understood."

Ryun had expected nothing to begin with—but Theo, ignorant of that, curled his lips into a slimy smile.

The rear garden was silent. It felt like only yesterday that the maids had trailed after her in a line, chattering and laughing—but now not a single voice could be heard. Only footsteps. Only the light, unhurried steps of one girl walking through that garden.

Yet for all their lightness, those steps were endlessly, immeasurably heavy. Each footfall pressed out from beneath a suffocating heart, and every time her shadow stretched long across the ground, a dry tear slid from her lifeless eyes.

"..."

That single line, heard at the courtroom, had taught her where the wall stood. She had not even been permitted inside. Not when her arms had been full to bursting with every proof of Emma's crimes.

The eyes that once curled up in gleeful, mocking laughter had gone hollow. The bright warmth that used to fill her blue gaze had cooled to frost. Her pupils, clouded and dim, held a void so complete there was no crevice left for light to enter.

Thud.

Flora, who had circled the rear garden countless times, caught her foot on a stone and fell. Her knee scraped raw, and still she only stared blankly ahead. The pain felt strangely distant. In her overturned field of vision, the moon that had been hidden away all day rose alongside the sinking sun. That ascending moon seemed to reflect her own past—the things she had hidden, and hidden again, and buried.

No matter how you covered it, the moon existed. It was only unseen because of the sun; it merely hid itself somewhere else. Her past self, tormenting Karsein, had been exactly the same. Cover it, hide it, turn away from it—the deed did not vanish.

Yes. It would never, ever vanish.

Not from Karsein's memory.

Flora pushed herself upright. Gazing at the full moon that the passage of time had made impossible to hide from any longer, she murmured in a cracked voice, recalling Camilla's advice.

"But then... what am ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I supposed to do...?"

"A sin that can't be washed away... that's too cruel..."

"I don't know... I've never lived out there. I've never had anything taken from me... I don't understand any of it, I don't..."

Flora broke down sobbing once more, tears soaking her face.

And in that very instant—

"Mmph?!"

A hand clamped over her mouth, rough and merciless. But she could feel it. The familiar sensation of skin brushing against hers. She had to shake it off. Whoever this was had no place at her side.

"Mmmph!"

But Flora had already breathed in a lungful of something cloyingly sweet. Try as she might to resist, the strength was draining out of her body bit by bit.

'I... can't...'

In the end, her body went slack, and even her eyes fluttered shut.