The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 71

71 – 71. CHAPTER 1 (5)

At the moment when Emma Urnen’s tail was cut, Theo Ramsteer would have thought that there was no one left who knew his secret.

Considering Karsein’s bad reputation, it was easier to think that Radyel had caused trouble again rather than suspecting him, even if he had been framed.

Even if Radyel tried to clear this up personally, the evidence from the old trial where everyone blamed Karsein as the culprit still held a strong position.

Unlike Emma, who stumbled due to all sorts of evidence and witnesses, there were those locked up in prison, silenced at the source or with no evidence left to spout nonsense.

It was not unusual to insist on lies no matter which side one spoke for.

But he had been caught red-handed.

As the incident of Radyel’s ambush in Schapel Forest was mentioned, Theo recalled this event floating to the surface just as Emma, who had been the strongest ally at that time, disappeared.

Although all exposed vulnerabilities had been removed, all the power he had vanished simultaneously.

With the disappearance of alibi evidence and testimonies related to the commission, only Radyel’s testimony as the victim remained.

“Oh, no! That…! Please bring my colleagues who are currently in prison!”

“What significance do they hold?”

“They were present at the scene at that time! They can testify to correct the misinformation that is circulating…!”

“You’re talking nonsense. The victim is currently pointing at you, and those two people collapsed unconscious by Karsein for some reason. What could they possibly know?”

“T-That’s…”

As Arscien pointed out the flaw, Theo fell into contemplation.

There was no more room for excuses.

No matter how much one wracked their brains, the situation would not change.

It was time to drive the wedge in.

“I will present additional evidence.”

It was truly a stroke of luck.

Due to the incident at the waterway, which occurred when I was just a trainee, I was belatedly recognized as a squire.

After the training, I moved to the squires’ quarters and immediately began to tidy up my belongings.

However.

Before unpacking, for some reason, it seemed like the wall was slightly protruding.

Thanks to that, I had a feeling that there might be something there, so I reached out and discovered a faint light seeping through.

Yes, it was a memorial.

In the game, I had not even found it, but through this, I could glimpse another of Karsein’s memories and obtained an item to fill Theo’s missing evidence.

An item that Theo had failed to use as evidence at the time.

“The commission letter sent by Emma and the letter forged in Radyel’s name─”

At that moment.

Thud! Theo slammed the table.

“…You don’t need to present that evidence. Because it’s true.”

“What do you mean?”

“I accepted it because I could earn a lot of money through the commission from Emma. In the process, I manipulated the others a bit more… and I also thought I could return Karsein Doyen, whom I detested, to the slums and come back.”

“Oh?”

Surprisingly, the guy was confessing.

“It seems you are now confessing.”

“Yes. What Radyel Commander said is all true. I was afraid of receiving punishment after carrying out the task.”

When asked why he was saying this now, he bowed his head, trembling with clenched fists.

“…I heard that the Thulea Mine is divided into layers according to the depth of one’s crime. Also, I didn’t want to be stamped in the Seal of Judgment.”

He said.

“Hmph. Were you afraid of the level of the Seal of Judgment and the execution of the sentence?”

Arscien chuckled as he looked at Theo.

Theo was clearly intimidated.

In a trial, if one swore falsely despite taking an oath, the one holding the Seal of Judgment could punish them.

In the playable text, it is written that the stamp is boldly imprinted on the face and body, inflicting pain as they are taken away.

Furthermore, while the effect lasts for 30 days on the face, the stamp on the body remains, tormenting the sinner severely. Whether it is forcing hard labor or tormenting them, it would be fearful.

‘But… did I clear this so easily?’

Episode VI. The Schapel Forest Retrial Episode had the least number of retries in reality.

It was easy to anticipate, and also because I could prepare…

“Easy, but it feels like it broke too easily.”

In no time, the achievement hit 100% before even presenting evidence.

According to the game’s progression, one must present this evidence, refute Theo’s argument once more, and then the achievement reaches 100%.

After that, following Arsien’s judgment, just like Emma, I was dragged out and the episode ended. The outcome was no different, but skipping this process felt quite significant.

No, to be precise, even without my intervention, the best choices were automatically selected at crucial moments.

When Claire stepped forward, it was the same.

When the maids and attendants who supported me stepped forward, it was the same.

It was the same with Heron and Shayden.

Therefore, my actions boiled down to a few choices, the right timing for calling witnesses, and presenting evidence.

Episode VI felt a bit easier for me, but it wasn’t that simple.

“Hmm… Is it because of intimacy?”

Seeing the figures in the white boxes slightly higher than in the game made me think it might be due to that.

“Take him away. Send a letter to Viscount Ramstair to isolate him in the Duke’s prison until further notice, then send him to the Tullea Mines.”

“Yes!”

Meanwhile, Theo was led away by the knights.

The trial ended quickly.

Arsien’s verdict was the acquittal of the unworthy Carsein.

It was a clear verdict that I was falsely accused.

The nobles who hoped for my defeat left with sour expressions. Those who helped me as witnesses left with bowed heads.

“It seems you want to talk outside, Carsein.”

Isabella left me with a sad expression and walked away first.

Now, it was my turn to leave.

With the two who were nothing short of bosses in CHAPTER 1 gone, I could finally relax for a while.

As I was about to leave…

Arsien, who had transcribed the contents of the verdict into a document, spoke to me.

“You handled it cleverly. Your eloquence was impressive.”

“You flatter me.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“It’s not flattery. Initially, the case was heavily biased against you.”

It couldn’t be helped.

The game had set strict conditions…

“If the audience had swayed public opinion and you stumbled, it would have been risky. It was truly an unfair trial.”

Indeed, it was risky.

The audience wavered with Theo and Emma’s arguments, becoming my enemies and continuously lowering my achievement rate.

So, I tried to change the atmosphere at once.

But overcoming this bias wasn’t solely my doing.

“Even the Princess supported me.”

“Hmm… Now this is an interesting statement. I don’t quite understand, so please explain.”

Arsien pretended not to know.

With the corners of his eyes delicately creased, it seemed like he was genuinely interested. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

“From the start, you redirected the topic from the Chapel Forest incident to the incident at the fountain. Perhaps because one of those two people would surely bring up the Chapel Forest incident to tarnish my reputation.”

“Hmm. Is there more?”

“During the trial, you allowed Emma Urnen to openly target me. Strictly speaking, it was a trial between me, Theo Ramstair, and her.”

I brought up everything before other irrelevant things could be mentioned.

I emphasized to the nobles in the audience, who could potentially be witnesses, more heavily, tried to suppress public opinion by pointing out the weaknesses in Emma and Theo’s arguments, and raised doubts.

-Clap, clap, clap.

“Remarkable insight. I wondered how far you had seen through, but in reality, was that evidence the key?”

“Yes. That’s the truth. Just Emma’s request that Theo hadn’t handled properly would have been sufficient.”

“I suspected as much. hahahaha.”

Arsien seemed satisfied, a faint smile playing on his lips.

And the figure in front of me changed.

[ Arscien Lihern Pecellos ]

[ Intimacy: 7% ]

“So, until when are you supposed to meet your fake fiancée, Harnie Theresa?”

“…Yes?”

“Pretending not to know won’t help. Nobles might be fooled, but I know that the two of you aren’t connected by love.”

She involuntarily flinched, then clapped her hands.

“Oh. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to threaten you. It’s just that, in my position, having the upper hand is necessary to become an emperor.”

Come to think of it, Arscien had two older brothers and a setup where he and his brothers aimed to become the emperor through political struggles.

Vargrand and Theresa.

Since the union of the two families could take place, it was information she needed to pay attention to.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Seems like some important information has been exchanged.”

“But there shouldn’t be anything that would affect the princess.”

After all, it’s not a simple contractual engagement. It will naturally fall apart after a year.

“I see. I’ll trust your words. But it seems important to keep an eye on the movements of the fiancée.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“hehehe. You’ll figure it out on your own.”

With those meaningful words, Arscien left.

***

By concluding the trial, Episode VI came to an end.

It seems like the status window is popping up nearby, but right now, both my body and mind are too exhausted.

When I exposed that Emma, along with my real domestic helper, was up to such antics and drove them away, I was so tired that day, I just wanted to collapse on the bed.

But.

“Is the conversation with the princess over?”

Even when I step outside, I’m not allowed to rest.

It seems like this doesn’t change even in the game.

“Mother left with Claire first. She said she’d talk at the Marquis’s residence.”

“Oh, I see.”

I replied resignedly.

“But why are you still here? Well, is it because you didn’t like the trial’s outcome?”

“Karcein.”

“If it’s not that, there’s no reason for you to be here, right?”

My slightly sarcastic attitude made Arina’s eyebrows furrow.

“Huh. Yeah. There’s something I just can’t understand. Why limit Flora’s position?”

Asking that, I wondered if that was it.

From my perspective, it was natural, but Arina wouldn’t understand anyway.

At times like this, it’s better to quickly end the conversation and move on.

“Flora might be able to side with Theo and Emma.”

“Are you saying that now? Are you suspecting your own sister of supporting those two criminals?”

“That’s not wrong. In reality, during the Chapel Forest trial, Theo Ramstair was supported, and Emma Urnen was Flora’s nanny.”

Arina’s expression turned fiercer.

▶ Arina’s Intimacy has decreased! ◀

[ Current level: 21% ]

“To treat a sibling who’s trying to help you as such…!”

From Arina’s accusation, I found myself being portrayed as the one who had done wrong.

That’s it.

By consuming intimacy, this conversation can be cut off.

“I don’t want to become a criminal again in that trial. I was falsely accused that day and suffered unjustly because of someone else.”

“Sigh… Karsein. You really…”

“I’m going. Training got postponed due to the trial, so I have to do it now.”

As Karsein unilaterally ended the conversation, Arina stopped following him.

Since she could cut off the conversation with Isabella and Clare, there would be no further events.

Although the intimacy among the three might decrease, it was better for the time that could be brought up in the next chapter.

-Ding!

The alarm went off right on cue.

With this, it was all over.

Episode VI was over.

CHAPTER 1 was over.

Having finished a chapter, there was nothing to worry about for the time being.

I’m tired.

Back in my room, I collapsed without even washing up.

***

The reception hall was quiet.

It felt like just yesterday when the maids who usually followed in a line, chatting and laughing, were now nowhere to be heard.

Just the sound of footsteps.

Only the light footsteps walking through the reception hall.

But despite the sound of footsteps, those steps felt infinitely heavy.

With a heavy heart, taking each step forward, every time a shadow lengthened, dry tears streamed from lifeless eyes.

“…”

– I’m sorry. Miss Flora is not allowed to enter.

That one statement heard in the courtroom.

Karsein realized the wall his friend was.

He couldn’t even enter.

Even though he had plenty of evidence to prove Emma’s innocence.

The mocking eyes that had twisted cruelly lost their vitality.

The lively energy that filled the blue eyes had turned cold.

The once bright pupils now clouded over, void of any light.

-Thud.

Flora, who had been circling the hall endlessly, tripped over a rock.

Even with scraped knees, she continued to stare blankly.

The pain, oddly, did not feel real.

In her upturned view, the sun was setting along with the obscured moon, reflecting like her past mistakes.

No matter how much she tried to hide it, the moon existed.

It was just not visible due to the sun, lurking somewhere else.

Just like her past that tormented Karsein.

Hide, conceal, turn away, those things don’t disappear.

Yes.

They never disappear.

In Karsein’s memories.

Flora sat up.

As time passed, now unable to hide the full moon, she looked at it with a cracked voice echoing Camilla’s advice.

“But what should I do…?”

-That sin cannot be washed away. You must carry it with you for life.

“A sin that can’t be washed away. That’s just too much…”

-The young master has surely shown you mercy several times already.

“I don’t know… I’ve never lived outside. I’ve never had anything taken from me… I know nothing…”

Flora sobbed again, tears welling up in her eyes.

At that very moment.

“Huff?!”

Someone roughly and violently blocked her mouth.

But she felt it.

The familiar sensation that touched her skin.

She had to shake it off.

This person was not supposed to be here.

“Ugh!”

However, Flora had already gulped down the sweet scent.

Even though she tried to resist, strength was leaving her body gradually.

‘This… can’t be…’

Eventually, her body slackened, and her eyes closed.

-Ding!

▶Hidden Episode in Progress!◀