Chapter 2: The Carriage Journey with the Exiled Marquise 2
It was exactly one week before Erika Solntsalri was sentenced to Exile that my old man, his face stiff, suddenly declared my Disownment.
During the short spring break before the final one year of the academy began, on the very first day, I was told to leave the house. I stared up at the ceiling and thought for a moment.
The house would likely be inherited by my older brother, the eldest son. Fortunately, he’s healthy, recognized more for his studies than martial prowess, and serves in the royal palace. He probably won’t die easily.
Furthermore, there’s also my younger brother in case the worst happens.
I see. The house will probably be fine even without me.
“Alright, old man. I’ll leave.”
What’s regrettable is that I won’t be able to attend the academy anymore. I could have at least kept watching that profile for another one year.
I pictured Erika Solntsalri’s profile behind my eyelids and felt disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to see it anymore.
“No, no, wait, wait! You agreed too readily, my son! It’s strange for me to say this, having rushed and skipped the explanation, but please show a little more attachment to the house.”
Just when I’d cleanly resigned myself to my fate, the old man frantically told me to wait.
“It’s not exactly a grand house worth getting attached to, you know.”
“It’s a distinguished viscount house with history, at least! You’ll incur the wrath of our ancestors, you foolish son!”
Is it really okay for him to say ‘history, at least’ himself? While thinking this, I was urged to sit, so I sat down on the sofa.
My old man, sitting across the table, scanned the room as if searching for someone hiding, even though it was his own room, before looking at me.
His face was stiff, and if I knew him correctly, that was the face he made when suppressing intense anger.
…Hmm? I wondered what I could have possibly done to make the old man wear such an expression.
Certainly, I wouldn’t call myself a serious noble.
After all, taking advantage of the fact that there’s a proper heir, I’m the kind of guy who keeps his enrollment at the academy while moonlighting as an adventurer.
Considering the reason the academy was founded, that’s hardly something commendable. And to be honest, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the main reason I attend the academy is to gaze at Erika Solntsalri’s profile.
Naturally, my grades are about as low as a crawling earthworm.
…Hmm, maybe getting disowned is only natural for me, huh?
As I was pondering the reasons for my Disownment like this, the old man slowly opened his mouth.
When Erika Solntsalri’s name came out of the old man’s mouth, my heart wasn’t calm, wondering if my own unbefitting feelings of love had been exposed.
But after hearing what he said next, I found myself clenching my back teeth.
What the hell is that? That was my reaction.
Erika Solntsalri hasn’t done anything wrong!
The high nobles and the Royal Family wanted to get closer to the Maiden of Light, so they tried to eliminate the completely innocent Erika Solntsalri. In the end, their scheme was exploited by someone, leading to the major blunder of having no choice but to sentence the daughter of the Prime Minister, a pillar of the state, to Exile.
The ones at fault are the high nobles and the Royal Family.
To put it more bluntly, it’s the fault of the prince, who was head over heels for the Maiden of Light, eyes spinning and Flowers blooming in his head.
If the prince had been sensible, the Royal Family wouldn’t have gone along with the scheme. And if that were the case, no one would have plotted to use the Prime Minister’s daughter to create bad blood between the Royal Family and the Prime Minister.
To think that because of these idiots, that Erika Solntsalri, whose brilliant future was promised, will have her future closed off… it makes me want to scream in anger.
As I clenched my back teeth tightly to endure my anger, the old man’s expression softened slightly, and he sighed.
“Well, I understand that anger, my son.”
The old man offered a somewhat tired smile.
“Now, about the matter of having you leave the house…”
“Right, old man. What does the story you just told have to do with me?”
I feel nothing but anger about what happened to Erika Solntsalri, but I don’t understand why it came up in the explanation for my Disownment.
As I watched the old man’s face, waiting for him to continue…
“I want you to be exiled along with Lady Erika.”
“…Huh?”
An outrageous statement flew from the old man’s mouth.
“…Huh?”
I asked again.
Erika Solntsalri’s current position is quite delicate.
The reason for her Exile is that she was accused by the Church of plotting to assassinate the Maiden of Light.
If this had been the result of a political struggle at court, even if sentenced to Exile, she probably could have lived as a noble in one of the Marquis House’s residences in foreign countries, and returning home would likely have been easy if circumstances changed.
However, the party that accused her is the Church. Naturally, for the Church, the value of the Maiden of Light, beloved by God, surpasses even that of the king.
Legally, within the kingdom, merely planning the assassination of the Maiden of Light warrants the death penalty, no other options.
As a result of being framed by an unusually large-scale and elaborate plot, it’s now difficult to even claim it was a lie.
In fact, managing to negotiate with the Church for Exile instead is practically a miracle.
During those negotiations, the kingdom promised the Church the revocation of Erika Solntsalri’s Nobility Status.
With this, the Prime Minister, at least publicly, can no longer continuously support his exiled daughter.
For the Prime Minister, the situation is infuriating, but his daughter’s life is irreplaceable.
He apparently accepted it, his face bright red with anger.
There’s now serious bad blood between the Royal Family and the Prime Minister.
I don’t know who did it, but one can only say they played their hand well.
But that’s not the only problem.
The truth is, regarding this whole series of events, neither Erika Solntsalri nor the Maiden of Light herself have been informed about any of it, even now.
The reason is simple: consideration for the Lady Maiden of Light’s feelings.
Although their reasons differ, both the Royal Family, the high nobles, and the Church have kept this assassination plot completely hidden from the Maiden of Light.
The initial plan was to wrap everything up during the spring break, and the Maiden of Light was supposed to part ways with Erika Solntsalri without ever being told the reason.
Therefore, neither Erika Solntsalri nor the Maiden of Light currently knows the situation they are in.
The Royal Family, fearing that their relationship with the Prime Minister would become irreparable if his daughter were executed, desperately managed to negotiate for Exile, but a major problem remained.
How should they explain it to the Lady Maiden of Light?
They certainly couldn’t be foolishly honest and say, “Your best friend plotted your assassination, so we have exiled her.”
Because whether she believed it or doubted it, the outcome was uncertain.
If the Maiden’s heart becomes clouded, the kingdom itself could falter.
And so, the solution concocted to solve this problem… was me.
My bad, that wasn’t quite right.
Basically, those idiots came up with this story:
Erika Solntsalri fell in love with someone below her station, married him without permission, and decided to elope.
Therefore, Lady Maiden of Light, please rest your heart easy and pray for her future and happiness. That’s the gist of it.
And so, the one chosen to be that partner… was me, Shin Longdagger.