Kays Translations

Chapter 49: Boldly, Without Hesitation

The estate in Kaupstat kept the viscount’s residence and the domain’s administration strictly separate. The viscount’s grounds included the main house, a secondary wing, and a reception pavilion; the domain government buildings — the administrative hall and the military offices — had their own guest lodgings for visitors.

Passing through the viscount’s main gate and walking straight ahead, the main house stood before you, and from it paths forked to the left and right.

To the right was the reception pavilion; to the left, the annex. If you walked through the space between the main house and the annex, the path would bring you around to the rear of the main building.

Behind the main house were the Kaupels family storehouses and several service buildings. In my childhood there had been a small house there where we used to live.

The Kaupels called it “the hut,” but I remember it as a modest, proper one-story cottage: two ten‑tatami rooms and a dining kitchen. Small, yes, but a real house nevertheless.

I let the butler lead the way while I took in my surroundings, letting the layout of the viscount’s estate settle back into my memory.

“You and your mother are really shameless, aren’t you?” someone said.

“Thank you?” I replied.

Being told I resembled my mother was flattering — but that tone went a little far.

All I had done was speak loudly enough for the people nearby to hear and ask Vessel-san to tell the sentry, “The son of Viscount Kaupels house’s eldest daughter, Arthur, is here. If you have no intention of blocking their reunion, I request you send someone to receive us at once.”

If, after such a public announcement, they refused to admit us, everyone who overheard it would think Viscount Kaupels had heartlessly turned his grandson away. Nobles cared about appearances; I’d gambled on that having some effect.

While Vessel and I spoke, the butler guided us to the annex.

The annex was three storeys tall. On the first floor there was a large dance hall where many gatherings and events were usually held.

As I was looking up at the building, Ditnell emerged from the annex entrance.

“I can understand reject goods and slaves, but why are you here, Vessel Vanni?” he snapped.

“Tine asked me to come. I didn’t have the right to refuse,” Vessel answered.

“Heh. Serves you right,” Ditnell said.

On paper Vessel outranked Ditnell, but old incidents tied Vessel’s hands — he couldn’t press the Kaupels family aggressively because of what had happened.

“All right, then. Why have you come? My sister said she would leave you with the Baron Merlot family, didn’t she?” Ditnell cut their conversation short and addressed me.

“He took me in — until Vessel showed up,” I said.

“…So from now on that man is your guardian?” Ditnell asked, eyeing Vessel suspiciously. But my only true guardian was my mother.

“That’s not it,” I said. “But before I explain, please let me see my mother.”

“No. Father is questioning her now. We can’t let you meet her — not even as her child.”

The viscount was questioning her. I had expected it might be to extract technical details about the glass business, but Ditnell’s phrasing — that he was “questioning her” — landed differently.

“What kind of questioning?” I demanded. “Wasn’t Mother brought here to revoke the letter of disinheritance?”

“That’s a different matter. Your sister is suspected of betraying the Kaupels family.”

“—What? Betrayal? Why would she be accused of that?!” I blurted. The word had not been in my expectations; I had not imagined the summons could be on grounds of treachery.

Under the kingdom’s laws, the crime of treachery covered “unjustly betraying an affiliated organization.” That could include withholding information that would benefit the family. Put alongside the matter of the glass enterprise, the reason for the summons began to align.

If that was the case, the situation could be dangerously sticky.

Mother could not speak about the glass technology; she could not, therefore, say where any leak had come from. The viscount, for his part, might be unable to find conclusive evidence that she was guilty. Mother could not produce evidence of her innocence because she could not speak of the technical details. In such circumstances, clearing her name would be extremely difficult.

“…I understand the situation. Let me see the viscount. I will speak,” I said.

“You?” Ditnell asked, surprised.

“I’ll clear the accusation of betrayal. In any case, Mother is bound by a restriction magic and cannot speak of the glass information.”

“Restriction magic… Very well. I’ll make arrangements for you to speak with my father.”

“Thank you.”

Laying your hand on your cards so openly isn’t always the best tactic, but once I let them know Mother was under a binding enchantment, they should realize interrogating her was pointless.

Ditnell left the escorting butler in charge of us and went inside the annex alone. The butler led Vessel and me into the annex reception room.

The parlor was about twenty tatami in size. At the far end there was a kind of scullery where two maids were preparing tea.

Vessel and I sat on a sofa; Stefana and Rugena stood behind us.

At present, I was the only one who could possibly clear Mother of the accusation.

But I couldn’t do it without revealing something of myself. I would need to disclose at least part of my own situation if I was to offer convincing proof.

After a while, the family head, Bosman Kaupels, entered the parlor accompanied by Ditnell.

He must have been close to fifty, I thought; his frame was slim and his height about six feet. His eyes were narrow and blue, and his blonde hair was smoothed back behind his head, making him look younger than his years.

“Long time, Vessel,” he said.

“It’s been a while, Viscount Kaupels,” Vessel replied.

“I don’t intend to dredge up past matters now, but why are you involved in this?” the viscount asked.

“Consider it atonement to Martine-san,” Vessel answered.

When Vessel had disappeared after the engagement was dissolved, the Vanni border marquis family paid compensation and settled the matter. But that didn’t erase the debt to my mother; Vessel had agreed personally to help her.

“Very well. This concerns the inner affairs of my house. I must ask the others to leave,” the viscount said.

“However, I am accompanying Arthur as his guardian; I request to remain present,” Vessel protested.

“You know that is impossible,” Bosman said.

Even if Vessel claimed to be acting as my guardian, he was not my legal protector. If the viscount called that interference in domestic affairs, they could insist he leave and we’d have no recourse.

“Vessel, it’s alright. They’ll look after me,” I said.

I glanced back at the two of them; they both gave a reassuring nod with slight smiles.

I wasn’t that worried. At this point, I was the only one who knew the crucial information; they couldn’t execute me outright. And if they tried to detain me, doing so with Vessel nearby would be difficult as well.

So Vessel and the maids stayed in the next room while the discussion began.

If I showed weakness during the questioning, they would take advantage. No traces of haste or fear on my face — I would play it brazen.

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