Chapter 32
Chapter 32
"Oh."
That was because Count Joachim had appeared, surrounded by the knights I had sent.
"Truly...... truly astonishing. To think Baron Hawin was this sort of man......."
What was he so surprised about? He'd known all along.
"As a neighbor in the central region, I will certainly testify truthfully at the trial."
"If nobles try to harm each other and get caught, they must face the judgment of the law in court."
This was a matter between nobles.
Kidnapping and threats were clearly crimes.
In other words, it meant a trial could be held and they could be punished publicly.
But for that, a witness was needed.
I chose Count Joachim as that witness.
He was a neighbor who had been of no help to us in our isolated situation, since Hawin Barony lay between us.
'But now that Jejel Street has become Sears land, we share a border with his territory.'
As soon as I reclaimed Jejel Street, I ordered the knights to annihilate all the monsters on this hill. That meant we could now interact with them.
Philip hadn't said this earlier for nothing.
"If it's the monsters living on a hill of this size, we could clear them all out and come and go."
If we cleared out all the monsters on the hill, from their perspective there was no reason to pretend not to know us.
In fact, we were neighbors worth interacting with.
[If you will serve as a witness, I will give you five sacks of wheat.]
Count Joachim was a bit selfish, but he was not the sort of person who made things up.
Moreover, having accumulated the greatest wealth in the central region, he was well grounded.
"I give you my word on the name of Joachim."
"Thank you."
Baron Hawin, the Baroness, and even Dalia.
They were the ones who had kidnapped and sold me in my previous life as well.
Sure enough, in this life they made the same choice.
But unlike in my previous life, this time I intended to make them pay for their crimes.
Count Joachim spoke firmly.
"Once the Monster Wave ends, a trial date will be set."
That was when it happened.
"Are you all right, little sis?"
Alpheus, having flung Baron Hawin aside, came running over.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Hm? It must have been hard all this time, right? Being shut up in a small territory—well, our growing child's face is half...... no, it isn't?"
I stared at him blankly.
'Little sis'? Wasn't that far too familiar a form of address for the two of us?
I had no idea what to say in response.
I had never once heard the words "my daughter" from my mother.
"Um...... did you hit your head?"
In the end, I asked very cautiously.
"You know this is only the second time we've met, right?"
"But we're family, aren't we?"
Alpheus blinked as if stating the obvious.
"Second time or third time, the fact that family is precious is just decided from the moment you're born! That's what my mother taught me."
My mother taught me from the moment I was born that Alpheus was my sworn enemy.......
At that moment, Count Joachim explained from behind.
"No, the Warp broke down, so...... he simply cut his way through monsters and crossed the continent to reach our territory."
Hm? He had run all the way from the east to the central region through those monsters?
"When I said I was going to see Lady Brisa now, he said he would go with me......."
Meanwhile, Philip had been diligently gagging Baron Hawin's family.
Having finished the work meticulously, he ambled over and asked.
"Did the captain come alone?"
He seemed to have forgotten that he was supposed to call him "Marquess."
Alpheus suddenly scooped me up into his arms and answered with a wink.
"The others were too slow."
I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to handle a grown man giving me such a cheery wink.
"They're all following behind. How could I just wait for the Warp to return to normal? A child as delicate as a water-soaked butterfly is managing the territory without a guardian......."
Water-soaked...... what?
The nonsensical metaphor was so absurd that I opened my eyes again.
Alpheus cheerfully turned his head toward Count Joachim and asked.
"Then, Count, what should be done with these people?"
"Now that I, a third party, know about it, a formal complaint can be filed. I believe the young lady intends to put these people in the central court's prison."
"That's right."
I nodded.
The central court was also located in Joachim County, so we could simply leave them there.
Then Tom, who was tied up with them, hastily butted in.
"Then what happens to the barony?"
"Well, they'll just have to manage without a lord, I suppose."
That might actually be better for them. At least there would be no one handing out salt while taking away their food.
"And if a prison sentence is handed down, the territory goes to auction."
At that, Baron Hawin's family began shouting furiously.
"Mmmmph!"
"Mmph mmph!"
"Mmmmmph! Mmph mmph mmph!"
At the same time, Alpheus glared.
"Who told you to kidnap my little sister? Beating your own niece, and whatnot...... are you even human?"
I, who had ordered Wendy last night to "knock Baron Hawin out by striking his head first if anything happens," kept my mouth shut.
"Let's go for now. Philip, since it's late at night, you—hm—make sure the Count gets safely back to his county."
Alpheus gave orders calmly.
"Wendy, make sure these people get to the central court. I don't want my little sister to see any more unpleasant sights."
"Yes, Captain!"
Wendy, too, called out the wrong form of address at the sudden appearance of her superior and moved swiftly.
"The rest of you, follow on your own."
Alpheus spoke to the people hiding in the distance.
They were the intruders who had tried to set fire to the potato field, Baron Hawin's kidnappers, and now people who had become residents of the Sears territory.
Among them were a few knights Baron Hawin had appointed carelessly.
They had defected immediately over a few potatoes.
'Knights in name only...... they're just local young men known for being strong.'
So they were no match at all for the knights Alpheus had brought.
"Alpheus."
For now, I sighed and got straight to the urgent matter.
"Put me down right now."
I wasn't a five-year-old; I was twelve. I was not at an age to be carried like this.
I had not once been carried by anyone since I learned to walk. This was truly a matter of my dignity.
And Count Joachim was even present.
Of course, the war hero Alpheus's build was impressive, but.......
"It's a long way home. I mean, I was going to lend you Philip. It's not really good for a child to still be awake at this hour......."
Alpheus grinned while holding me tightly.
"Let's go back now, to our home. You really went through a lot holding out alone. Hm, will you tell me what happened while I was away?"
"F-first, put me down......."
My voice faded to a mumble.
I felt strange. Like when I had seen Dalia and my aunt holding hands tightly earlier.
'So I was envious then.......'
In that sense, one thing Dalia said had been right.
"Of course, I know you're jealous of us."
Yes, I was jealous.
So I did the meanest thing I could do.
I carried out "eating something delicious alone in front of a guest."
They were truly awful people, but I envied them so much it made my insides twist.
Being able to band together "for family."
Being unquestionably "on the same side."
'Get a grip, Brisa.'
I bit my lower lip hard.
'If Mother in the afterlife knew, she'd leap out of her grave. This man is the one who ultimately took your heir's position away.'
This was too different from the situation Mother had warned about.
Honestly, I still couldn't believe he was being so familiar with me.
'Because he's alive thanks to me?'
But then why had he gone out of his way to rush here like this?
'Did he rush here because he was worried it would be inconvenient later, since I had already taken control of the territory right after Father's death?'
I tried to think rationally.
I was confused by the unexpected situation, but my thoughts slowly began turning over the possibilities.
'And is he pretending to cherish his little sister because Count Joachim is watching?'
That was probably the most likely possibility.
If only to avoid gossip later, he would have to pretend to get along with me for now.
Thinking that way, Alpheus's fussing made sense.
Nevertheless, the warmth of him holding me felt good.
Because no one had held me like this in all that time....... Even if it was just an act, even just appearing to have a "precious family" in front of others felt good.