Chapter 12
She hadn’t done anything wrong, and she didn’t want to apologize.
Because then it would truly become something she had done wrong.
And even the chance to explain to Grandfather would disappear.
But would this situation ever end?
It was when Rierusha’s heart was wavering.
The door flew open and someone came in.
A man with silver hair and red eyes, with an impression that looked somehow cold. He looked around and gave a small, amused laugh.
“……My, my. The young duke has returned?”
Someone muttered blankly.
At those words, Rierusha opened her eyes wide and looked at the man.
The man stepped in without caring about people’s gazes.
“What a spectacle. What is this supposed to be? The proceedings begin on your own, before the guardian has even arrived?”
In Pernoer’s hand was a single sheet of paper.
On it, it seemed to say, “Request to Attend the Disciplinary Committee.”
“W-why is that in the young duke’s hands……?”
Marquis Crender muttered, his face flustered.
“Ah, this?”
Pernoer clicked his tongue and looked at Ackmund.
The request had been written and sent by Ackmund himself.
She could see the duke’s official seal stamped upon the document.
Seeing it, Rierusha looked shocked.
She couldn’t believe Grandfather had called Father for her sake.
On the surface it looked like an act for fairness, but to anyone, it was plainly a convenience granted to Rierusha.
“By law, the guardian must attend the disciplinary committee, Marquis Crender. Ah—don’t tell me you didn’t know?”
Pernoer, seated beside Rierusha, stared slantwise at Marquis Crender.
Marquis Crender, sweating coldly, avoided his gaze.
“Raising a child, this is a first for me. Quite fresh. You should thank the marquis. Thanks to him, I returned quickly.”
Pernoer formally announced that he had completely returned to the family.
At the same time, the atmosphere in the hall changed in an instant.
At the young duke’s appearance, the nobles began to stir.
When Marquis Crender seemed to be losing ground, Evil became visibly flustered and hid behind the marquis.
It seemed that when his sturdy pillar suddenly showed weakness, he grew afraid as well.
“So which one of you is Evil? You, hiding back there?”
Pernoer asked, folding the document carelessly.
Evil startled when he was singled out.
“You pulled my daughter’s hair, did you?”
Pernoer asked with a smile. Evil grew greatly flustered and shook his head hard.
“…N-no! I never did that!”
“T-that’s right. Do you have proof? Now, say it before everyone, Evil. Didn’t you say Lady Rierusha pushed you first?”
Marquis Crender hurriedly asked Evil.
But Evil, anxiously chewing at his lip and unable to meet anyone’s eyes, was the very picture of a child lying, no matter who looked.
Watching leisurely, Pernoer’s red eyes narrowed.
“It seems you’ve forgotten who my aide is. Rosinante, bring the evidence.”
“Yes, Young Duke.”
Rosinante, who had been standing behind Ackmund, stepped forward and produced a recording stone.
Soon the image played, vividly showing from the moment Evil picked a fight with Rierusha first, to the moment he grabbed and pulled her hair.
“N-no, Father! No, it’s not!”
Not only had his wrongdoing been revealed, but the fact that he had lied was exposed in full; Evil’s face turned a sickly blue.
“Evil, that’s different from what you told me!”
Marquis Crender, about to have the entire stage he built collapse on him, began grilling Evil and sharply scolding him.
This was a very important place where everyone—including Duke Arakrene—had gathered.
If their family became the target of blame, it would only be a matter of time before their fortunes declined.
When the recording ended, Pernoer spoke.
“Marquis Crender, do you have anything more to say?”
“…C-children, by nature, lie often, don’t they? It was a child’s fight, so if you could just let it pass this once—”
Marquis Crender began speaking in a restless, pleading voice.
As the situation flowed differently than expected and the surroundings grew noisy, Ackmund rose from his seat and struck the floor once with his cane.
It was a small sound, but the hall became silent in an instant, like cold water being poured over it.
“Marquis Crender. Do you object to exiling Evil Crender from the main fortress?”
“Y-Your Grace! That is—!”
Marquis Crender’s face went white.
To be exiled from the main fortress was the same as having fallen out with House Arakrene.
Marquis Crender’s hand, which had relied on the Duke of Arakrene to commit all sorts of abuses until now, began to tremble.
House Crender, with many enemies, would soon become prey.
“Can you not apologize at once, Evil!”
Marquis Crender shouted sharply. Evil, pale, dropped to his knees.
Evil, who held fairly excellent grades in the annex, had that much confidence. He had never expected he would be exiled from the main fortress.
“L-Lady Rierusha, I was wrong. I will never be rude again. Please, show mercy—!”
In the coldly sunk atmosphere, the duke left his seat.
Nobles watching the mood began to leave quickly, one by one.
A ridiculous scene even played out of people covering their faces as they left, in case Pernoer might remember them.
“I would like you to withdraw with your son now, Marquis Crender.”
“Y-Young Duke!”
At the instruction to withdraw, Evil urgently called to Pernoer.
If this ended as it was, Evil would become a disgrace in his family.
That could not happen. Somehow, he had to stop the exile from the main fortress.
“Does Marquis Crender object, perhaps?”
“H-how could I possibly.”
Marquis Crender began dragging Evil away.
It stung to have the child exiled from the annex, but there was nothing he could do.
‘It’s not as if Evil is my only heir—next year I can bring another child into the main fortress.’
Marquis Crender made the decision quickly.
Realizing that, Evil began to scream in despair at Marquis Crender’s actions, abandoning him.
“Father! What are you doing right now! If I’m exiled like this, do you know what happens to my future! …Father, Father!!”
Bang. The door shut.
Rierusha stared blankly at Pernoer at how the situation ended in an instant.
But she couldn’t easily bring herself to call out to him.
Perhaps reading her heart, Pernoer spoke first, acknowledging her.
“It’s been a long time, Rierusha.”
“…….”
“It seems quite a lot of time has passed. You’re already walking around and talking.”
Pernoer gave a small laugh. As if amused, he shook the request to attend the disciplinary committee.
“To make me attend a disciplinary committee the moment I return to the main fortress—how admirable.”
“……Hic.”
Rierusha began hiccuping at his way of speaking, unable to tell whether he was praising her or scolding her.
Was it something like, ‘To dare make me attend a place like this, you’ve got quite the nerve’?
Rierusha timidly covered her mouth. Her small hands were pitiably trying to stop her hiccups.
Behind them, watching the reunion of father and daughter, Rosinante shook his head.
The dramatic meeting between father and daughter ended just like that.
* * *
“Lady Rierusha!”
“Ttona!”
The moment she came out of the Tower of Truth, Rierusha ran to Sona.
From behind, she could feel Pernoer’s blatant gaze, but Rierusha pretended not to know and threw herself into Sona’s arms.
The tension drained from her entire body.
“You did so well. Well done, young lady! Shall we go back to your room, eat something delicious, and rest?”
“Mm…….”
“Today, I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
Seeing Pernoer approach closer, Sona hurriedly rose.
“Greetings, Young Duke.”
“That’s enough of greetings.”
Pernoer waved a hand, as if there was no need to be polite.
At Pernoer’s voice right behind her, Rierusha startled, her shoulders trembling.
“Lady Rierusha?”
“Hm?”
“You met the young duke—aren’t you happy? You said you wanted to see him all the time.”
Sona whispered. Rierusha glanced at Pernoer, but when their eyes met, she jerked her head away.
It was strange.
She had wanted to meet Pernoer, but now that she had, she felt distance. In other words…….
“I wanna go to my room, Ttona. To my room.”
“……Pardon? Yes, young lady. Then, Young Duke, we will take our leave.”
Sona followed as Rierusha led her along, but turned back in flustered surprise.
