Chapter 67

[ 1. Prove Mark’s innocence from the knights who do not know the inside story. ] ☑

[ 2. Prove Theo Lamstair’s guilt. ] ☑

[ 3. Prevent Radie and Mark’s radical actions during the knighthood period. ] ☑

[ 4. Increase Flora’s guilt to over 70%. ] ☑

▶Episode V’s all clear conditions have been met!◀

[ding!]

▶Cleared Episode V. Broken Wings!◀

▶Proved innocence in the training hall within the knighthood period!◀

▶Recognition grade in the training hall rises to reputation grade!◀

▶The threat level in all areas of the training hall changes!◀

[First Knight Order Training Hall: Normal]

Radie’s mouth spewed out someone’s name and suddenly the status window was flooded with countless words, and soon after, the episode was cleared.

After that, I didn’t pay much attention and slipped away from the sink.

With such a major accident happening, there was no one to grab me unless there was a crazy person thinking they should be training.

This means that in the training hall, many of Carsein’s enemies were eliminated.

Theo Lamstair and his gang were caught in prison instead of trying to chase me away hastily.

Knights who previously had a bad impression of Carsein changed their view when they realized some sort of deal happened with Mark and Radie.

Camila, a strong backer of Emma, sat down speechless.

With three types of dangerous enemies disappearing due to clearing the episode, I could finally catch my breath.

‘But I need to finish this cleanly.’

When completing Episode V in the game, there was an unsettling feeling despite the completion message.

Even though it started and ended with Flora, the completion message didn’t feel like the end because convincing Flora alone didn’t resolve the multiple events involved.

And it really played out that way.

Firstly, even though Carsein’s false accusation in the training hall was cleared, Theo didn’t stay idle in prison.

There was no way he’d willingly go to the Empire’s most notorious criminal detention center.

So, he soon requested a trial.

Secondly, Emma, trapped in isolation, would soon escape. With timing matching Theo Lamstair’s trial, Emma’s escape would give Theo’s claims more weight.

Ultimately, it led to a trial just like in Carsein’s memorial.

So, we needed to act preemptively.

*Swoosh*!

“Huh, huh-ugh…!”

“If you don’t want to die, it’s better not to move.”

On the sixth day, when Emma, driven mad with worry by Theo’s lack of news, asked her maid to bring records, this moment had to be seized.

“K-Karsen young master… It wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything…!”

Though the maid wasn’t being choked, she was terrified.

She must have been threatened somehow.

▶Found the maid sent by Emma in the old warehouse!◀

▶Obtained items!◀

■Items in Possession■

▶[Emma’s Secret Ledger]

▶[Emma’s Approval Documents]

‘I was wondering where the other two were. They were here all along?’

I was also in the dark.

In the game, it looked like the maid just gave them, but another document was hidden on the opposite side of the torn page.

After gathering the documents, I put away the sword I had pressed against the maid and said,

“Go and give this to Emma.”

“What? Me?”

“She was coerced, so she didn’t come here by choice. Just giving her this will solve the problem.”

“T-Thank you! Thank you young master!”

The teary-eyed maid bowed repeatedly and left.

▶Reputation in the Duke’s House increases!◀

“…Why did my reputation rise over there?”

Anyway, with this, the most important evidence for Episode VI, The Rehearing of the Schapel Forest, has been secured.

The upcoming rehearing of the Schapel Forest incident will force us to confront two relentless opponents.

By investigating this evidence and other materials, I can create choices to navigate the trial.

“Just a few more days of hard work.”

Resting can wait until after the trial ends.

For the final wrap-up of CHAPTER 1.

And to ensure these villains don’t get off easy.

Now is the time to act a bit more.

***

“…Ugh?”

Flora groaned and lifted her eyelids.

“This… Where am I?”

The ceiling wasn’t familiar.

But knowing she was lying on a bed and feeling the blanket, Flora couldn’t help but sit up.

“Then… I fainted?”

Clutching the blanket tightly, Flora turned her head and glanced around.

It wasn’t her room filled with personal items.

It was a room furnished only with essentials and furniture designed for practicality rather than decoration.

Seeing the beach through the window made her realize she had fainted in the training hall.

And then.

Naturally.

She started recalling the moments before fainting.

-It was Theo Lamstair. He stabbed my back and framed young master Karsen.

“…”

The blanket was gripped tightly in her delicate hands.

What on earth did I do?

A false testimony, created by shallow emotions, felt overwhelmingly heavy.

That single false testimony created a prejudice in someone.

Once spread, the prejudice grew uncontrollably.

It crushed the target,

broke their wings,

and I only realized too late that I was defending the real criminal.

“What should I do now…?”

There used to be someone who always gave advice when I was unsure.

Someone who quickly calmed my anxious heart.

But now, there’s no one.

No more kind-hearted knights or nannies who cared for me since childhood and told me to trust only them.

At this point, they were people I absolutely shouldn’t trust.

No one could tell me what to say to Karsen.

She curled up.

Covered herself with the blanket.

She wanted to run away somewhere.

But she couldn’t escape.

Even if she closed her eyes and covered her ears, her own past that tormented Karsen pursued her relentlessly.

In the midst of this,

a maid entered the room.

Flora reacted irritably.

“Who is it! Can’t you leave immediately…?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were coughing. Miss Flora.”

Thinking it might be Emma’s maid, Flora pushed aside the blanket.

The blue eyes didn’t belong to Emma’s maid.

“Who are you?”

“Until your maids arrived, I had to bring clothes and food, so I had no choice but to come out.”

The maid bowed respectfully and backed away.

That girl.

Camila, Karsen’s maid.

“I apologize for upsetting you. Your maids will arrive shortly, so I’ll take my leave.”

When Camila said she would leave, Flora shouted immediately.

“No! Don’t go!”

All of her maids are close to Emma.

Absolutely. They must never be called.

“Miss Flora?”

Camila tilted her head in confusion.

“I have a few questions I want to ask you…”

“Please speak.”

Camila bowed politely as if awaiting orders.

Unlike other maids, her smile didn’t reach her eyes, which allowed Flora to feel comfortable enough to ask.

“Did I come here how long ago?”

“The knights said you fainted about three hours ago. I just returned from vacation, so I don’t know the details.”

“Really? So, you were going to call for the other maids…?”

“I thought it wouldn’t be right to wake you, so I was about to call for them now that you’ve just woken up.”

“Ah, I see. If you haven’t called yet… Then, don’t call them.”

“Understood.”

It seemed the news hadn’t reached the Duke’s house yet.

She had some time.

Moreover.

‘…Camila. Yes, if I ask this maid, it might be okay.’

She couldn’t ask the knight who orchestrated the scheme by bribing the training hall knights and the real culprit behind the broken wings.

But, what about this maid?

She could give straightforward advice on what to say to Karsen. She seemed like the right person.

Her hesitation didn’t last long.

Her tightly pressed lips soon parted.

“You… What did you say to Karsen to get released?”

-ting!

▶Flora Bargrand’s affinity box reactivates!◀

[Current value: 20%]

***

Theo Lamstair.

After dealing with all the troublemakers, they were all sent to prison.

Of course, there was one mistake Karsen made.

It was an excessive measure.

While public opinion turning was understandable, apart from the fiancée’s handkerchief, Karsen’s actions should have been confined for a day at most if they claimed equality under the training hall rules and knighthood period.

Therefore, pointing out the excessive punishment and suggesting demotion to Tullea Mine, while adding that it was due to hidden malice, was necessary.

However.

‘Damn it…! What the hell is going on?!’

Despite the passage of time, there’s no sign of leniency.

No. If they hadn’t ignored the initial excessive measures, any knight would have seen them clearly.

So, did they ignore it?

A one-day sentence turned into a two-night ordeal, and the official knights who showed no interest in Karsen since the incident were not only unwilling to reduce the sentence but were also abusing prisoners.

Suddenly, Emma’s maid’s words came to mind.

-They’re writing petitions to send Theo to Tullea Mine…

It seemed they were determined to frame Theo as a criminal.

“Damn, are these guys out of their minds?!”

Is that even possible?

We are in the same knight order.

He was your junior not long ago, and in two months, he would have become a full knight alongside you.

To hear you say that a criminal came from our knight order, does that make any sense?!

Theo vented his frustration on the prison walls, causing the nearby knights to cower.

“Why are you making so much noise?”

Mark, the vice-captain, walked in just then.

If it were Radie, the captain, he wouldn’t understand, but this guy would.

Theo seized the opportunity.

“I demand a retrial for the excessive sentence imposed on young master Karsen!!”

Either way, he’ll face execution. Might as well go all out.

“I’ll accept the punishment for wrongdoings, but I can’t accept being demoted or working in the Tullea Mine. Please request a formal trial in the Duke’s mansion!”

The look on his face when he was about to resist with violence before being disarmed still vividly remained.

And after provoking him a few more times, he couldn’t even set foot in the training hall.

Same thing.

Take away and provoke.

Though some people were lost, public opinion hasn’t completely flipped, and branding him as a liar again would be no different.

This could be the chance to not only drive Karsen out of the training hall but also the Duke’s house.

‘And if that happens, Karsen, prepare yourself.’

Theo’s teeth ground together.

How dare you humiliate me like this after injuring me!

I won’t let you go easily.

“Hmm. Understood. I’ll pass on the message.”

Mark, who appeared to be hesitating, nodded positively and left.

The trial process should proceed smoothly.

The argument in court would favor the past stories.

But now, a new obstacle appeared.

‘Why did Flora suddenly take Karsen’s side?’

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand.

The obedient young lady who followed everything, and the innocent young lady from the Duke’s house, why would she suddenly interfere?

I can’t comprehend how she could defend Karsen while calling other official knights.

“Hey, hey… Theo. Are we okay?”

This guy.

Are we okay?

With his already irritated mood, he’s saying something nonsensical.

*Bam*

“Ouch!”

“Damn it, why are you saying such obvious things!”

Theo continued beating his subordinate until they were unconscious, unable to stop himself.

***

Three days passed.

The deadline for Episode V has expired, and without further incidents, I could have advanced to a probationary knight.

There are no more dangers in the training hall.

Yet, I kept moving busily.

Preparing for the upcoming Episode VI.

After catching Emma’s maid or secretly altering the documents, I needed to gather evidence to secure additional choices.

As a result, today, I naturally left the division’s dormitory…

““Sorry! Young Master Karsen!””

As soon as I stepped out, the knights in the corridor shouted loudly.

Everyone had their heads bowed and hands behind their backs.

“Punish us for suspecting you were the culprit!”

““Punish us!””

Following Mark, everyone recited the last line loudly.

Damn, what is this?

It seemed like a group apology, but upon closer inspection, all present were full knights.

The sight was so bizarre that it momentarily dizzied me.

But amidst this, another difficult situation arose.

“Young master, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Butler Heron, carrying documents, and Sheiden, holding a medical kit.

Both bowed to me.

Even more strangely,

*Click, click.*

The sound of footsteps echoed clearly.

Matching the graceful gait, purple silk threads fluttered like waves.

Finally, the purple threads settled under the sunlight.

“Isn’t it outrageous that someone suspected the bond between the prince and me?”

Harrier smiled sweetly as she spoke.