The Damn Family Is Back Again

391. The Time Ahead (4)

“It’s been a while, young master.”

“Shayden? What brings you here, out of the blue?”

The Ducal family’s physician had come to find me, unprompted. I hadn’t called for him… had I?

“It has been decreed that I am to monitor your condition, young master. I was informed that Master Karsein would be well aware of the reason, but perhaps not?”

“…That I would be aware?”

Ah.

That must be it, then.

It seems a judgment was made that Flora, for certain reasons (?), should not come here.

Well, that makes sense, I suppose.

She’s still young; such sights are… hm. Even just covering her eyes implies a good deal.

In any case, Shayden’s here in place of Flora, who should have been the one checking on my state in this sickroom.

“Are you alright? I heard the one who performed the surgery should be the first to examine the patient.”

“In principle, yes, for patients who have undergone high-risk surgery, the surgeon should be the first to check their condition. However, in this instance, it was deemed unnecessary.”

Shayden continued, unfolding a medical chart.

“Heh heh. With surgical records as meticulously detailed as these, even this old man can certainly manage a light examination.”

True to his word, a hefty stack of records lay before him.

The surgeon’s name: Flora Bagrand.

And the patient’s name: Karsein Bagrand.

Every ten minutes, without fail, entries were recorded…

‘…Pi-ra.’

Flora hated it so much, and yet, blood was splattered everywhere.

“If you wish, I can summon Miss Flora immediately. I can fetch her within moments if you command it.”

“…It’s fine. It’s not as if I distrust your abilities.”

“Still, Miss Flora’s skills likely surpass my own by now.”

“Seeing as I’m up and moving, it can’t be *that* bad. If worse comes to worst, we can call her then. Calling her now would just be bothersome, which I dislike.”

“Very well, um… let’s see. To conduct the examination, may I ask that you remove the bandages and show me the wound?”

After I unwrapped the bandages, Shayden proceeded to sigh, deeply and repeatedly.

…Well, I must be quite badly injured indeed.

Beside one wound was another. A new scar, etched before the previous one had even healed. And, scattered across my body, the evidence of recklessly pushing my body beyond its limits.

Having finished his examination, Shadeen offered his diagnosis.

“At one point, you were in such peril you brushed against the other side, but since passing that crisis, you seem to be quite normal. With a good recovery, you should be able to return to your everyday life soon enough.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

“No need to call for Miss Flora after all, I see. Heh heh.”

Shadeen chuckled with satisfaction.

At least that was fortunate. Apparently, there was nothing truly wrong with my body.

“However, my lord, concerning the mark on your back, it doesn’t appear to be very old…”

“…My back?”

“Yes. This, uh, handprint-like impression, you see.”

“Ah, that. Ha. Haha…”

…Right. Come to think of it, there was that too.

The heat hadn’t fully dissipated from my back even now.

Harnier’s back spike, perfectly shaped like a handprint.

That reddish palm mark was probably the most recent injury (?).

“Well… I don’t know the specifics, but you are alright, aren’t you?”

“Y-yeah, yeah. No need to worry. Ha… Haha.”

I answered with a hollow laugh.

Shadeen, without another word, reapplied the medicine and started to change the bandages.

“All done. Are there any areas where you feel discomfort?”

I rotated my arms a few times and replied that I felt fine.

Shadeen showed a faint smile, inclined his head once, and turned to leave.

Just as he was about to exit through the door.

“Hah, hah…!”

“Hmm. Judging by the way he’s leaving, the treatment is finished, I presume?”

An unexpected guest arrived.

Shadeen, who was already halfway out the door, jumped in surprise and bowed deeply.

…Well, who could blame him.

“Y-Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”

The person who had flung the door open was none other than the Crown Prince, Albert.

“Ugh…”

“Why the sigh to start? We have a guest.”

“…Does Your Highness truly think a sigh *wouldn’t* escape me?”

“That’s rather unfair. I did come with the intention of visiting the sick, you know.”

Alberte casually dangles the gift he holds in one hand.

*He came as a guest, that’s the line…*

‘As if.’

From the glint in his eyes to every deliberate gesture, he undoubtedly has an agenda.

“Oh, dear, oh, dear. It seems Vagrand has always been rather dreadful at hospitality. Is that the expression one offers to a visitor bearing gifts and concern?”

“Ugh…”

Another deep sigh.

The conversation hasn’t even properly begun, and already, I feel a pounding headache brewing.

No, I can’t let this continue.

I need to initiate the conversation first.

“So, to what do I owe this visit?”

“…”

The Crown Prince’s previously jovial expression shifted, growing markedly serious.

“First, this entire affair has been laid bare, thanks to your efforts. The Yggdrasil Project, no less, where a Primordial Seed is implanted within humans, grown to maturity, its essence then propagated to others, placing them all under Yggdrasil’s dominion. Awareness of the Yggdrasil Project has spread far and wide across the Empire. The truth is known by all now.”

Monstrous beings wearing human faces. Tree-kin.

The Primordial Seed, incubated within the Tree-kin, spreading as if by contagion.

The catastrophe brought about by the seeding, the World Tree, Yggdrasil, nourished by its growth.

The plot to cultivate them, to threaten the Empire and to first swallow Vagrand whole. The Yggdrasil Project.

And…

That abomination, Velian Theresia.

Alberte mentioned every single element of what I already knew, leaving not a single detail out.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you should know what’s transpired since. The state of the front lines, the Imperial Army, news from the western territories, not to mention information within and beyond the Empire; you have none of it, do you?”

“I don’t particularly─”

…Wait.

That’s not quite right.

“Perhaps, do you know how long I was unconscious?”

“Hah. Now we can finally have a proper conversation.”

Albert was quick to mention the time elapsed since I had collapsed, ticking it off with his fingers.

Two days?

…No.

He wouldn’t wear such a grave face for that little time.

“Two weeks, perhaps?”

“Indeed. You’ve been asleep for a full two weeks.”

A staggering two weeks had passed while I lay unconscious.

Between the surgery and the recovery, I had spent quite a long time simply healing.

“Well then, shall we get to it?”

There’s no reason to simply report again that the Yggdrasil Project has ended.

Right. I possess absolutely no information right now.

Apart from stopping the Yggdrasil Project and eliminating Belian Theresia, I had no idea what movements were afoot within the Empire.

“Yes.”

I nodded, signaling my readiness to hear the state of the Empire from the Crown Prince.

…Though, the more I hear, the stranger it becomes.

The Imperial troops headed to the front lines were kept from ambushing the Western Army I had led, with the Crown Prince’s own forces holding them back.

Within the Empire, the Westerners, who might have caused friction, apparently cooperated well within their tribes to repel the Treant Menace.

And Arcien defended Arcien.

Florence defended Florence.

After defending Vagrand and the key strongholds, preventing the spread of the Treant Menace, the Yggdrasil Project supposedly crumbled completely.

“If it was going to be like this…”

“If it was going to be like this, there was no need to bother mentioning it. That’s what you’re thinking, correct?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t deny it.

I truly believed there was no reason to report this.

However.

There was one matter left, an item that required my input without fail.

The Crown Prince’s reason for seeking me out was surely focused on this issue as well.

“The Peselos Empire only evaded utter annihilation because the Duke ran ragged, bringing in Westerners and safeguarding Bagrand. It was an affair that could have swallowed the entire empire whole, so it’s etched deep in the minds of both the high nobles and the common folk. Aye. That’s precisely the problem.”

…True enough.

It’s plain as day to anyone with half a wit.

“No one now dares insult or slander the Duke. Most who might have been foolish enough are long silenced, rendered mute by their own stupidity, or simply… dead. One or the other. But everyone remembers a certain past event. Surely the Duke understands by now?”

“…Yes.”

A past everyone remembers.

Because that past has been so utterly inverted, this matter has returned to my hands.

I sighed briefly, offering my interpretation of the Crown Prince’s intent.

“You mean the punishment of Arina Bagrand is under deliberation.”

“…Aye.”

To the hero who saved the empire.

To the man lauded by the multitudes.

To the paragon who burned himself away, personally cleaving Yggdrasil.

The empire remembers the stark past where he was framed, a warrant issued, and a bounty placed on his head for his elimination.

Now that the Yggdrasil Project is concluded, this has resurfaced.

Thus.

Her fate must be debated.

So, Albert has come to me.

“You intend to entrust Arina’s disposition to me. Is that what you’re saying?”

The Crown Prince nodded solemnly.

This… I need to hear.

In many ways.

“What is the reaction among the nobility?”

“The nobles are resisting harsh penalties, claiming it could undermine their own authority. They argue that inflicting such a sentence on a grand noble like Bagrand is unprecedented.”

“But there’s a considerable opposition, it seems?”

“Indeed. Grave crime is grave crime, even for a Bagrand. There’s a fair amount of talk saying that her actions as representative were excessive. Most of it comes from Bagrand retainers.”

“…Have you heard Bagrand’s position?”

“They wish to disassociate themselves from this matter. One claims to no longer want to call her ‘sister,’ another says it’s Bagrand’s karma. And the last one… insists that the decision be yours alone.”

In order, Flora, Isabella, and Claire, then.

Figures.

“Just in case you were wondering, the Imperial Court has accepted proposal number three. The Imperial Family will endeavor to fulfill your wishes to the letter. No matter how much the nobles object, they will execute your intentions.”

Perhaps this time, I could truly make it happen.

Perhaps I could direct the point of that blade away from my own hands, and allow the Imperial Family to resolve things instead.

…Perhaps I could unleash the emotions that had been building up all this time, emotions I had never once been able to express.

But…

I already knew the answer.

“I will issue a punishment.”

“I see. And how will you proceed?”

“Arina Bagrand is deemed to lack the ability to lead the Dukedom as its heir. Therefore, she will permanently forfeit the right to assume the position of head of the family, and any authority to interfere in affairs will require the current head’s approval.”

“…”

The Crown Prince chuckled, glancing at me.

“May I continue?”

“Go on.”

“Not only has she shown a lack of ability, but she has also cast a significant stain on Bagrand’s honor. Accordingly, as a punishment befitting her actions, she will either serve 36 months of confinement within the territory or 12 months of service on the battlefield───”

In reality, the sentence itself is merely a formality.

Arina had already transferred all her rights to Claire, though that information had not been leaked externally, so there was not much to which this could be applied.

Even so, as a show of action, a sufficient penalty has been imposed on the noble, so it will certainly be a compromise.

“That is all.”

Finishing my words, the Crown Prince shook his head, as if at a loss.

“Truly. Does that brain of yours function this well in all areas?”

“I am not certain what you mean.”

“So cunning. Well… I understand perfectly. I’ll have it amended and relay it to the ministers.”

Presumably, it will be handled well.

What happens after that, I cannot know.

“Then I will take my leave… Hm?”

“…?”

Albert suddenly stopped walking.

“Ho. Right. I almost forgot about this.”

“Yes?”

The Crown Prince turned his head back again.

…But why that peculiar expression?

“Do you know? Since word spread that you saved the Empire, your stock amongst the nobles has risen to astounding heights.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come now. Think it over. To have such a title attached to you, as a prospective husband, as a possible son-in-law—for a noble, it’s the highest honour, wouldn’t you say? Haha.”

“No. So you’re saying there are a lot of people eyeing me as a husband, as a son-in-law?”

“Precisely. Beautiful young ladies are already burning with desire, I’d wager. If there’s a family you’ve taken a liking to, a young lady you desire, let me know. The Imperial Family will prepare a grand wedding as compensation, I assure you.”

I wondered what he was going on about.

Best to nip this sort of thing in the bud.

“It’s unnecessary. My heart is already full with just one person. That will never change, it will never be different. I cannot live without that person.”

-Thump!

A loud noise echoed from somewhere.

“Heh. Hehehe.”

“…?”

“Ah. I’m being hurried along. I must be off before the ministers start to fuss again.”

Alberte smiled with a gratified expression and left the room.

…What was that about, really?