I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Broken Wings (11)

Silence filled the wash area. In that silence, the knights thought:

‘What did he just say?’

‘Carsein? Having a fiancée?’

‘Is he saying that handkerchief Theo’s holding is from his fiancée?’

And then... they burst into laughter.

“BWAHAHAHA!”

“Ha! Young Master, you said fiancée, right? You’re serious?”

Even Theo Ramstear, clutching his bleeding neck, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oh, my apologies. You should really try to make your lies believable. I mean, come on, your fiancée? This handkerchief might be expensive, but it’s not that expensive.”

“BWAHAHAHA!”

The knights found the whole situation hilarious, their laughter echoing through the wash area once again.

And who could blame them? Carsein Bagrand, with a fiancée? Preposterous! It was obviously a lie.

“Well, I guess anything’s possible. You're a man, young master; it's only natural to have a woman you're attracted to. Of course, there are other ways to get a handkerchief from a woman besides having a fiancée.”

Ways like blackmail, extortion… and threats using the Bagrand ducal authority.

“Ah, these days, marriages between different social classes are becoming quite common, aren't they? Perhaps one of the maids fell head over heels for someone like you, young master. Of course, if it's a maid from another family, and this was your first encounter, the possibility is even higher.”

“AHAHAHAHA!”

“Damn, Theo! This bastard!”

The surrounding knights chimed in, anticipating where Theo was going with his taunts.

"Ah, don't get me wrong. The world is vast, and people have diverse tastes. Even the young master could be charming to someone."

“Indeed, even though marriages that transcend social status are rare, they do exist, even if they only appear in plays.”

“Imagine, a scandal between the young master Bagrand and a maid! How scandalous!”

Once again, raucous laughter filled the air.

"But for someone to give you a handkerchief like this, she must be from a high-ranking noble family. And you're claiming you received this from your fiancée?"

Theo pressed, examining the handkerchief with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"There's not a single noble in the entire Pesselus Empire who doesn’t know about the adopted son of Bagrand. And you think you have a fiancée? Who in their right mind would give you a handkerchief? Hell, you barely have anyone to even talk to!"

He then brought up Carsein's reputation: what kind of person he was known as throughout the Empire, and how others perceived him. He pointed out the widely held belief among the nobility:

“You might call her your fiancée, young master, but no lady of noble birth would ever accept such a claim. Actually, scratch that, maybe not even any woman in general? I doubt even the maids in the ducal manor would ever dream of falling for someone like you.”

Theo added mockingly. It was a blatant statement but also a valid point.

It was plausible that the handkerchief came from a fiancée, but only if she were a commoner. This handkerchief, however, clearly belonged to a noble. Thus, the claim that he received this from his fiancée was a lie. In this empire, it was safe to say that no woman would ever look at Carsein Bagrand, the young master of Bagrand, in a romantic light.

"This proves that your claim of receiving the handkerchief from your fiancée is a contradiction. However, this isn't all, young master."

Theo Ramstear sneered, implying that things were far from over. The other knights closed in, surrounding Carsein.

“Lady Arina gave explicit orders that if you, young master Carsein, were to injure anyone under any circumstances, you would be immediately expelled from the training grounds and your sword confiscated. This is included in your own prohibition order’ young master.”

Theo calmly pointed at his own neck with his index finger. Other knights chimed in.

“The very act of pointing your sword at Theo's neck is a violation of the training ground rules.”

“Even if you have the Duchess’s permission, this is unacceptable.”

“Since we can no longer continue your training, we now have the legal right to expel you, young master.”

“Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it? You never change, do you, young master?”

They weren't laughing openly like before, but their expressions were smug, their lips twitching as they struggled to contain their snickers.

“Don’t resent us too much. This is all your own doing, young master.”

As the other knights closed in, Theo pushed the sword away and offered a final farewell. But this time, instead of a sword, a kick landed squarely in his gut.

“Gah!”

-Swish!

As Theo Ramstear lay sprawled on the ground, a sword was once again held against his throat.

“Finished?”

“Gah! You're crossing the line with this!”

“You guys crossed it first. You insulted me, and you insulted my fiancée. The evidence is right here, staring you in the face, and you fail to recognize it? Unless… you're all collectively blind.”

“What… What are you talking about?!”

Theo spat out, gritting his teeth.

“What evidence?! That handkerchief…!”

“You should take a closer look, Theo Ramstear.”

“Look closer…?”

At that moment, Theo's eyes widened in shock.

“I suppose it wouldn't be easy to notice. The custom of embroidering one's family crest on a handkerchief isn't as common anymore.”

“Crest?”

“What’s he talking about? It’s just an expensive handkerchief, isn’t it?”

No. It wasn't.

That crest…

‘That’s the Theresia Marquisate’s crest…!’

This was absurd! Impossible! He must be lying!

They thought they could push him around as much as they wanted.

But this… This was different.

Theo’s face turned pale.

“What's going on here?!”

The senior knights arrived at the wash area.

According to Carsein's memory, it wasn’t time for the senior knights to arrive yet. However, he could guess why they were here early.

A young girl peeked her head out from between the senior knights before quickly hiding behind them again.

It must have been her doing; she must have ratted them out.

“I-It’s nothing, sir!”

Did they really think they could get away with that?

Not a chance. Carsein was going all the way. He addressed the official knight in charge of the morning training.

“Sir Carlton.”

“...! Y-Yes, Young Master.”

He was different from those incompetent fools. As an official knight who had served for a long time, he immediately understood that Carsein was no longer addressing him as a trainee, but as a member of the Bagrand ducal family.

“These men have laid their hands on my belongings. I want you to teach them a lesson they won’t soon forget.”

One might think it was an unreasonable order. After all, they had just arrived.

They had no idea if Carsein's belongings were even touched, let alone if they actually belonged to him.

Theo and his cronies scoffed inwardly at Carsein's words.

-Thwack!

“Ugh?!”

-Whack! Thud! Crack!

The official knights, without a word of protest, began to beat them senseless.

▶The official knights have witnessed Theo’s gang stealing your belongings!◀

▶You have succeeded in achieving a result beyond the choices provided!◀

▶Theo’s gang will be unable to refute the accusations.◀

‘Now that's what I call a beating.’

Carsein had chosen the option to have them “taught a lesson,” but he never imagined it would be this literal.

They were being ruthlessly pummeled with fists and feet; a few of them, struck with scabbards, were already sporting impressive bruises.

They must have been wondering:

‘Why?’

‘Why are they hitting us?’

‘Unlike you lowly trainees and apprentices, these men are official knights.’

The Snowflake Festival was the key.

The official knights were dispatched on Isabella’s orders that day, and after searching for Carsein, there must have been quite a stir amongst them.

The contents of the pouch were all items from the festival, leaving no room for doubt. They knew full well that Theo and his gang not only stole Carsein's belongings but also burned, ruined, and pilfered them.

Therefore, as knights of the ducal family, they were obligated to punish those who dared to lay a hand on their master’s possessions.

There was nothing wrong with this order.

“Enough.”

The knights immediately stopped at the command to cease in the dusty wash area. No one seemed likely to object.

There was no protest; there was no question of defiance.

‘As I thought. My guess was right.’

Although the official knights might harbor negative feelings towards Carsein, they were ultimately loyal to the ducal family and wouldn’t overstep their boundaries. It was no surprise that those who readily followed Theo’s lead were nothing but apprentices, trainees, and other low-ranking knights.

It was a contradiction in itself.

The difference between official knights and trainees was like night and day within the Knight Squadron, yet Theo hadn’t managed to bring any of the official knights under his wing.

Even in the past, Theo never directly used the power of official knights to expel Carsein. Instead, he resorted to framing him and manipulating events.

And this scene playing out before him… the fact that Theo was only able to rally those below him, those who held no real power over the official knights, only confirmed his suspicions.

Theo couldn’t touch them.

He could only manipulate and exploit those weaker than him, trying to isolate Carsein. That was his limit.

That's why he was so desperate to become an official knight himself.

Unable to influence the top, he consolidated his power by controlling those beneath him. Knowing that wouldn’t be enough, he reached out to Emma. And finally, he grabbed Flora's attention, aiming to seize control of the entire Knight Squadron.

The higher-ups were clean; it was those below who had muddied the waters, turning the training grounds into a cesspool of corruption.

In that case, it was time for bolder choices.

“Carlton.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“As Carsein Bagrand, I command you. Expel these men who have insulted me and my fiancée from the Bagrand Knight Squadron. And,”

-Swish!

Carsein pointed his sword at the group again and continued.

“Inform the Imperial Family that effective immediately, these men are to be sent to the Thulea Mines. They are to be branded as criminals, never to wield a sword or see the light of day again.”

[ 5. You have chosen to inflict the harshest punishment: imprisonment in the Thulea Mines. ]

"You can't be serious!"

"Sentenced to the Thulea Mines?! You can't do that!"

"We won't accept expulsion either! Reconsider, please!"

The men vehemently protested.

Expulsion alone was a grave punishment, but to be sent to the Thulea Mines, the Empire’s largest and most notorious prison… it was no wonder they were losing their minds.

“Silence!”

“Take them away!”

Their protests fell on deaf ears; criminals had no right to speak.

They were dragged away by the real knights, not by the hollow shells of men they had been following.

Even the official knights seemed to think that the punishment was too harsh; they hesitated for a moment before carrying out the order.

Once the criminals were gone, one of the knights stepped forward and bowed his head. It was Carlton, the knight Carsein had addressed earlier.

"Young Master. While they deserve punishment for laying their hands on your belongings, their crimes are not severe enough to warrant imprisonment in the Thulea Mines."

Carlton continued in a respectful tone.

“The Thulea Mines are the largest criminal detention facility in the Empire, owned and operated by the Imperial Family. It is a place from which escape is impossible. Crimes like robbery, theft, and insulting nobility are simply not serious enough to warrant imprisonment there.”

“And?”

"I propose we detain them in the Bagrand dungeon for the time being. We can deny them food and water for 90 days, creating an environment detrimental to their health. Once they have served their sentence, we can strip them of their authority and banish them to their hometowns. How does that sound?”

Carlton's suggestion, or rather, his advice, was perfectly sound.

Based on the events that had just transpired, those three charges were the extent of their crimes, making expulsion and dismissal from knighthood the maximum punishment they could receive.

If Carsein insisted on excessive punishment and faced backlash, the consequences would fall solely on his shoulders. It would also create undesirable consequences as word spread among the Empire’s nobility.

It was clear that Carlton was not simply loyal to the family in appearance only. He was a good knight who had simply been unfortunate in choosing his subordinates.

However, Carsein was already aware of this.

[ 3. What if their crimes go beyond that? What if they deserve to be sent to the Thulea Mines? ]

"What if their crimes are far worse than that? What if they deserve to be sent to the Thulea Mines?"

“What are you implying, Young Master…?”

“That they’ve committed crimes worthy of being sent to the Thulea Mines, of course.”

Carlton, flustered, looked at the other knights, silently asking if anyone had any information.

Naturally, they had none.

At that moment, someone interjected.

"Proceed as the Young Master instructs."

“Vice-Captain Mark?”

“Captain Radiel?”

The knights, bewildered, turned to see the Captain and Vice-Captain of their squadron standing before them.

It seemed unnecessary to ask them what had happened.

"I have a question for you all." Radiel's voice rang out.

"If you had to explain what transpired here in the wash area, what would you report to me?"

One of the knights raised his hand.

"I would report that Young Master Carsein was being robbed by Trainee Theo Ramstear and his fellow trainee knights and that he drew his sword in self-defense."

The other knights nodded in agreement. It was a concise and easy-to-understand report.

"Now, let's assume for a moment that none of you witnessed this scene. What would have happened then?"

“Hmm… I suppose I would have heard about it from someone else."

"That's right. You would have heard it secondhand, not having witnessed it yourself. So, who would be the first to relay this information?"

"It would have been the trainees, Captain. We often receive reports from our juniors."

The knights all tilted their heads in unison.

"Come to think of it, all those men from earlier…"

"They were all trainees and apprentices, weren’t they?”

"That's not all. Every single one of those who touched the young master's belongings were trainees. None of us official knights were involved."

"Moreover, I don't recall receiving any reports from other official knights after a certain point."

"This is suspicious. It’s almost as if they are working together as a group."

The knights' expressions grew serious. It was as if they had all missed something crucial.

"This is just a hypothetical scenario, but if we hadn't witnessed what transpired…"

As that thought surfaced, Radiel spoke up.

"Indeed. That's the blind spot."

“Captain…?”

“Wouldn’t this be the perfect scenario to frame someone who already has a bad reputation? To paint him as a liar? Especially when the entire information network is controlled by trainees and apprentices?"

“How could that be possible? There's no way such a scheme could be orchestrated within the Knight Squadron…"

"And yet, we found this hidden in the storage room. It seems some of our trainees enjoy living a lifestyle far exceeding their salaries. They must have hidden it, fearing they would be caught."

-Clatter!

As if waiting for that cue, Radiel upended the chest she was holding. The contents spilled out onto the ground.

“The evidence is right here. Now, imagine that someone offered these trainees a sum equivalent to thirty percent of their salary to alter their reports. Do you think those who value money over honor would refuse?”

“...You can't mean that this money… that this was happening within the Knight Squadron…"

"That's not all."

“What?”

"What if these requests came from outside the Knight Squadron?"

“...!”

The knights' faces darkened in an instant.

It wasn't just a small amount of money. The chest contained a significant sum, along with jewelry and other valuables.

Among the trainees and apprentices, there were quite a few who were known to be materialistic. Some had even boasted about buying new gear with their suddenly increased salaries.

Radiel drove the point home.

"As long as they got their stories straight and kept the higher-ups out of the loop, it wouldn’t be difficult, would it? Even framing the young master for attacking me."

"C-Captain!"

“Are you saying…?”

The knights gasped, their eyes falling on one person in particular.

“Are you saying that Young Master Carsein…?”

“That he was framed?”

“That he didn’t actually attack you, Captain Radiel?”

Confused gazes darted back and forth.

With the evidence laid out before them, it was no longer a question of belief.

They had all witnessed the malice directed at Carsein by the trainees and apprentices. And now, there was clear evidence suggesting that someone was paying them to do their dirty work.

“Who… is behind this?”

Carlton swallowed nervously and asked Radiel.

As both the victim and witness to that day’s events, she had to know the culprit’s identity. She knew who among the three was responsible.

It was a nerve-wracking moment. Whoever’s name left her lips, the knights would not let it go unpunished.

However, the person whose heart pounded the loudest was none other than Flora.

Clutching her collar tightly, she waited with bated breath.

Finally, Radiel’s lips moved, and a name escaped them.

As the weight of her actions crashed down on her, the young girl felt her breath hitch in her chest. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.

‘Because I helped Theo… Did Carsein…?’

Something within her shattered.