The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

106 – A Long-Held Wish (03)

107.

Knock knock.

A lavish and extravagant room.

At the sound of someone knocking, the old man in the room turned his head.

“Head Merchant. The ones you spoke of have returned.”

“Hmm. Let them in.”

The old man, Flaber Lyle, chuckled softly.

It seemed like a kind smile, but those who knew Flaber Lyle even slightly would have been disturbed by it.

“They were going to be caught eventually. Why struggle so much? Tch, tch…”

Clink.

Flaber Lyle, having set down an ornate cup that looked fit for the Imperial Palace, donned an equally extravagant robe.

Just to catch one little brat, he’d summoned everyone, except for his ‘children’ who were away on other missions.

He even needed the protection of the contracted mercenaries.

“Hmm… What should I do with this impudent little brat…”

Flaber Lyle, clad in his similarly lavish robe, chuckled and left the room.

Despite his tone of consideration, Flaber’s smile resembled that of a child who had found an amusing toy.

*

The grand and magnificent Flache family mansion.

Among them, the first thing you see after entering through the main gate is the communal corridor.

It’s not inherently a place of special meaning.

Simply vast, a means to flaunt the grandeur of the Flache family.

It’s even rarer for people to gather in the communal corridor.

But now.

That rare thing has happened in the communal corridor.

From the family’s retainers to the vassals, of course.

The servants and maids, the mercenaries contracted by the Lyle Trading Company.

Even the lady of the Flache family, and the head of the Lyle Trading Company, everyone has gathered.

The reason, of course, lies with the two people kneeling in the communal corridor.

No one knows who the boy is.

But the other one, there’s not a single person in the Flache family who doesn’t know her.

Laris Flache.

The daughter who carries the Flache name, restrained and kneeling.

It was a sight akin to a criminal, something impossible to simply pass by.

Even the Lyle Trading Company, who usually micromanages the family to an excessive degree, left it alone and watched this time.

For them, whose only ‘exciting’ events are someone falling while cleaning, this was a stimulating event they couldn’t pass up.

Thud. Thud.

And the central staircase of the communal corridor.

Someone with dignified steps was descending the stairs.

“You’ve arrived, Lord.”

“…This is the urgent matter, Father-in-law?”

“Indeed. It’s urgent. Especially for the Lord, who must look after the family.”

As Dime Flache, the head of the Flache family, set foot in the communal corridor.

Plaver spoke as if he had been waiting.

“Lord. What decides the prestige of the family?”

“…Practicality and power. And history.”

“That’s right. Flache is a member of the great five houses. It must lack nothing.”

Words he’d heard to the point of exhaustion.

Since marrying the youngest daughter of the Lyle Trading Company, Dime Flache had been hearing those words to the point of exhaustion.

Especially Plaver Lyle’s obsession with legitimacy wasn’t normal.

Dyme knew it well, and so he tried to get to the point quickly.

That Flavre Lyle, that everyone in the family was out like this, meant it was serious.

But it was so sudden that even he, the head of the family, was unaware.

Dyme Plache let out a silent sigh and asked,

“Who is it? Who angered my father-in-law?”

“Tsk tsk…”

Dyme Plache couldn’t afford to displease Flavre Lyle.

He had to agree with most of what he said, and Flavre Lyle knew the value of Dyme Plache quite well.

And he never crossed the line.

But that fact, more than anything, was an obstruction to Dyme Plache.

Was this incident one of those things?

He followed Flavre’s silent gesture, shifting his gaze, and Dyme Plache saw two young people.

A boy and a girl.

They were young.

As young as his own daughter…

“…Laris?”

“Father.”

The girl Dyme was facing was his own daughter, Laris.

“It’s a truly heartbreaking thing. Head of the family.”

“…Why you…”

“You seem curious about the reason.”

When everyone’s eyes were on Dyme, Laris, and Flavre.

Kalen stared intently at Flavre.

“Head of the family. Do you remember that I forbade the funeral for your ex-wife?”

“Why are you bringing that up now…”

“It’s because your daughter was trying to pull that off.”

“…”

“For the family to prosper, history is necessary. A lineage passed down from long ago, that’s what gives power to a name, and establishes authority.”

Flavre walked slowly along the corridor.

As if telling the people who had gathered to look, as if asking them if they agreed.

“The Head of House’s former wife was a slave.”

“Father-in-law, we agreed not to talk about that…!”

“The situation has changed, Head of House. That slave’s daughter is trying to drag the Plache name through the mud.”

It wasn’t publicly known.

The Rile Merchant Guild had been made to keep quiet about it.

So, it was something that was gradually being forgotten.

That was now beginning to be layered back onto the name of Plache.

“Laris headed to Latia Falls to hold her mother’s funeral. Not only did she attempt what I forbade, she went to such a dangerous place without even informing me. I had you bring her back, didn’t I, Nadil?”

“…Yes, Guild Master.”

“This is a clear act of disrespect towards the family, Head of House. What young lady of any house would secretly try to do something the family has forbidden? Especially a place as utterly dangerous as Latia Falls… tsk tsk.”

To Kallen, it was like watching a play.

Not a third-rate play, but a first-rate one that garnered everyone’s agreement.

It was so natural, so valid.

Kallen moved only his eyes to look around, and he saw the servants and maids nodding their heads.

Indeed, so this is it.

Now, he could be sure of what kind of person Flaver was.

“This is a disciplinary matter for a reckless child who has forgotten her family’s manners. No, ‘discipline’ is not the right word. Repeating something that she has already been warned about several times means she has no intention of reflecting.”

“Father-in…”

“Head of House. I propose something right here. Punish this beast who has disobeyed family rules and forgotten kindness. So…”

Flaver grinned, looking at Laris.

The slight sneer that only Kallen, who was staring directly at Flaver, could see, was the sneer of someone who was certain of victory.

“Stripping her of her name would be appropriate.”

“Father-in-law…!”

“Why, do you think it’s too much? I told you, Head of House, that I’ve warned her several times. The family’s daughter has broken rules that even those who do not bear the Plache name follow. How can we not apply the family’s standards to such a person?”

Flaver shook his head in an exaggerated manner.

Then he walked towards Kallen and Laris.

“Tell me yourself. Is there anything wrong with what I’ve said?”

“…”

“There wouldn’t be. Since she knew it was forbidden, she wouldn’t have informed me, would she.”

Flaver shook his head, looking at Laris.

When I felt it was enough, I turned my gaze to Kallen.

“Bringing in even outsiders, those who nobody knows… I can’t sit idly by any longer. It seems banishment from the family won’t be enough. Head of the house.”

Kallen was still staring intently at Flaver.

Flaver twitched an eyebrow as if displeased, but soon turned back to face Daim Plache.

Kallen, too, averted his gaze from Flaver.

Judging Flaver is sufficient at this point.

The next stage depends on the head of the Plache family.

A play unfolding, interlocking like a well-crafted, first-rate performance.

Flaver questioned Daim.

Kallen looked at Daim.

“Impose severe punishment.”

“…”

Everyone held their breath.

The retainers, realizing the gravity of the situation, didn’t dare even exhale.

Even the maids who were softly whispering had shut their mouths.

They too vaguely knew.

The Lyle Merchant Guild didn’t look kindly upon Miss Laris.

But isn’t this too much?

They understood that Miss Laris had committed a great wrong, but to punish her, on top of expelling her from the family, was a different matter entirely.

The corridor became so quiet.

Daim quietly stared at Flaver before closing his eyes.

“…Laris Plache.”

“…Yes.”

Laris, who hadn’t responded to Flaver’s words, answered when Daim asked.

That too was at Kallen’s urging, though those present didn’t know it.

“Do you admit your fault?”

“…I admit to breaking the rules. But Father… do you really… really think I’m wrong?”

“…”

“I only wanted to bury… my beloved mother’s belongings. Is that… such a great sin…?”

Even questioning in return.

Kalen focused on Dime Place.

A story unfolding like a play, interlocking pieces.

The crossroads of that choice, it solely rested with Dime.

Dime Place closed his eyes silently.

He didn’t speak for a long while, contemplating what Laris had said.

Plavor seemed displeased with the sight, but didn’t urge him on.

Dime Place remained lost in thought for a long time.

His heavily clouded, grayish-white eyes, trembled aimlessly and then turned towards Laris.

“I speak as the head of the Place family. Your offenses, repeatedly breaking the family rules and damaging its reputation, have gone beyond all bounds. I shall reclaim the Place surname.”

“…Head of the family. The punishment…”

“Father-in-law. From the moment the family name is reclaimed, no further authority rests with me.”

A sentence had been passed.

The head of the Place family reclaimed the surname of the Place daughter.

It was such a monumental event that it didn’t quite register.

But as those who realized the gravity of it emerged, even with bated breaths, the atmosphere began to stir.

Plavor clicked his tongue, as if Dime’s words were not quite to his liking, but he did not oppose the decision.

“Let’s talk after this. Head of the family.”

“…I understand.”

Kalen, who had been watching Dime, nodded indifferently.

Turning his head to the side, he saw Laris, her head bowed low, trembling slightly.

This was the final confirmation.

Kalen blinked a few times, and then opened his mouth.

“Are you serious?”

A space where everyone was holding their breath.

In that moment when the family’s daughter was being disowned, no one dared to utter a word.

Kalen’s voice rang out clearly through the entire corridor.

No one had expected it.

And that is why it sounded so distinct and foreign.

Even Dime and Plavor stared wide-eyed towards the direction of the voice.

There, a boy who had risen to his feet at some point was staring back at them.

A boy with eyes the color of ink.

Flavier had once regarded the boy with a wary eye, but after being dragged to Nadil, he hadn’t given him much thought.

And now, that very boy.

For some reason, he’s free of his restraints, standing and speaking.

“…How did you break the restraints… no, more importantly. What did you say?”

“If it’s true.”

“…Hah. Hahaha. Hahahaha.”

Kalen spoke while looking at Daim, but it was Flavier who reacted.

He laughed as if dumbfounded, then approached Kalen.

“Hahaha!!”

Flavier laughed, but he wasn’t laughing.

His unsettling eyes were locked on Kalen.

“This kind of disrespect is a first. Did your parents not teach you basic manners? To act like that in the position of a criminal…”

Flavier glared at Kalen and was about to berate him.

It was then.

Screech…

As it was an unusual occurrence.

Everyone in the manor had gathered in the communal hall.

Not only had the Lyle Merchant Company not stopped them, but they’d even encouraged it, in a way.

Therefore, there shouldn’t be anyone to open the front gate of the manor right now.

Yet, strangely, the sight of the front gate opening came into Flavier’s vision as he stared at Kalen.

“I’m truly disappointed, Daim.”

The woman who entered was beautiful.

Beautiful enough to make one curious about how she looked when she was younger.

Hair and eyes of pale grayish-white.

And among those gathered in the communal hall, the one who recognized the woman immediately was.

“…Bel…vit…?”

Only one person.

The head of the Platchet family.

And Daim, who immediately recognized Belvit, let out a voice laced with disbelief.

The word ‘spilled’ would fit, because Dime’s voice wasn’t something he consciously made.

His dead wife had returned to life—who could understand the disjunction?

Dime stared blankly at Velvet.

Velvet, watching Dime, closed her eyes, her lips trembling.

“I’m… I’m truly disappointed… Even after hearing it from Laris, I didn’t lose all hope…”

“…”

“You forgot the promise I made when I left. Dime.”

The gears of this intertwined play were turning towards the end.