SPMB - Special Side Story 14

The revelers of Addis

<Ell Andoit, the mistress of Kalen Addis, found murdered>

<Who is the corporation?>

<It is confirmed that Ell Andoit's last movements were with Kalen Addis>

<What happens to a son who is not recognized?>

<The Endless Corruption of Kalen Addis!>

“Lord Kalen.”

Kalen put down the newspaper. Secretary Rodrik was standing with a nervous look on his face.

“What’s going on?”

“Chloe has come to visit.”

"Chloe? My mother?"

"Yes."

“What is going on with Viscountess Linz?”

Chloe Linz was his mother's new name.

After divorcing his father, she remarried at the speed of light to a young man.

After that, they lost all contact until now...

“Well, yes. Not bad.”

Why did she come here at a time like this? Kalen was curious about the reason.

“Take her inside."

***

“Kalen, what on earth are you doing like this?”

Chloe shouted as soon as she saw Kalen.

“Please come to your senses. How on earth did this happen!”

As soon as they reunited after several years, she started nagging him. Kalen frowned, then smiled.

“It’s been a while. Viscountess Linz, how is your husband?”

Chloe froze at those words and spread her shoulders, pretending not to hear anything.

“Kalen, I am the one who gave birth to you. Don’t forget that.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Even though we grew apart, I was worried about you all day and night, and I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I came to see you. Because of those vulgar newspaper articles...”

Chloe's eyes filled with tears.

“Why did this happen, Kalen?”

"..."

“Why are you so broken? Huh?”

Why is everyone saying things like that?

Kalen thought with a bored expression. The newspaper, Rodrick, the retainers, and even his mother. Everyone is talking about him being corrupt.

He couldn't understand why they were criticizing Kalen Addis and asking how he had fallen to this point.

The tasks and duties he had previously handled, he was still carrying out thoroughly. Perfectly, without any gaps or flaws.

If a monster appeared, he went there to catch it, and in rare cases, if the remnants of the Black Apostle appeared, he went there to kill them. Recently, the empire's first railway project was also being promoted smoothly.

'But what are you pointing out that has changed so much?'

The only thing that has changed is that he has fallen in love with one woman.

Why are they making such a fuss about it being such a big change?

“I know everything.”

Chloe's eyes suddenly became sinister.

“Is it because of Kanna?”

"..."

“Don’t even think about deceiving your mother. Did that girl, Kanna Addis, seduce you?”

“Oh my God, Mother. Sister Kanna and I are brother and sister. How can you say such blasphemous words?”

Kalen, who had grown tired of dealing with her, responded roughly as if reading an etiquette book. Then Chloe burst out laughing as if she was shocked.

“There is a rumor going around. That the Addis brothers are losing their senses because of their snake-like sister!”

“I can’t believe you believe such a hideous rumor. It seems like my mother’s ears have become thin after you started life with a man who is around your son’s age.”

Then Chloe's face turned red.

“Don’t fool me! You’ve been broken ever since she came back! Kanna Adis, ever since she came back to Addis Mansion!”

Kalen's head was already hurting from the crackling sound. 

“Mother. I heard that the Viscount Linz enjoys luxury. So, I decided to stop giving you money. Do you by any chance need money?” 

“What, what?”

“Would you like me to give you money?”

Chloe's hands then began to tremble in humiliation.

“Who do you think is doing this because they don’t have money?!”

“Ah, that’s right. I heard that my father gave my mother a considerable amount of property as a gift at the beginning of your marriage.”

."... Yes. He did. You know it well. Alessandro Addis gave me a lot when we got married. In return for raising Kanna."

Kalen raised an eyebrow at hearing this for the first time. It's the reward for raising Kanna. Did his mother ever raise her?

“Kalen, do you know Largos Addis?”

“Yes. Isn’t him my late uncle?”

“I was originally his fiancee. Although Largos died and I became married to your father, it was Largos who was originally supposed to be my husband.”

“So.”

“You look like Largos, Kalen.”

Chloe stared piercingly into Kalen's face.

“Largos was prosperous like you. But after meeting a woman, he was completely ruined. Do you know how it ended? He was murdered by that woman.” 

As if recalling a moment from the past, Chloe's mouth twisted. 

“Largos was poisoned by the woman he had been hanging for so long.” 

It was his first time hearing this. Largos Addis, he can't believe his uncle had such pure love.

“That’s a great ending.”

"...What?"

“That’s wonderful, Mom. I bet my uncle was quite happy when he died.”

Kallen laughed. He meant it.

“To die at the hands of the woman you love. No death could be more romantic than that.”

Chloe looked at Kalen in shock at those words. Then she asked,

“Kalen, have you out of your mind?”

“Is that so true? Doesn’t everyone die someday anyway? They die of old age, sickness, or being stabbed to death on the streets. In the case of Addis, there are an overwhelming number of people killed by stabbings.”

Kalen heard that his grandfather also died on the street while fighting the Black Apostle.

In fact, most of Addis' endings were like that. No, most powerful swordsmen eventually died that way.

After winning all your life, the moment you lose for the first time, just once, in that moment. You went straight to death. 

“I would be happier to die at the hands of Kanna than to die in vain like that. It's the same."

Chloe's complexion turned pale. It was like watching a terrible nightmare. 

“...Kanna Addis, she took the souls of my sons and left them behind.”

Kalen shrugged. Because his sister indeed took out his soul. 

“You need to get away from Kanna, Kalen. Without her, you can never live fully again!"

“I don’t want to be perfect.”

"What?"

“If being with her means ruining myself, I prefer that.”

Kalen laughed quietly.

“Mother. I want to be broken.”

Finally, Chloe seemed completely speechless.

Kalen thought he had done everything with this. It's like life's final courtesy to the woman who gave birth to him.

“Well then, Viscountess Chloe Linz, please stay at your wits’ end and then go back. There is no need to inform me when you leave.”

***

Kalen Addis murdered Ell Andoit.

On the day the article appeared in the newspapers, Addis' vassals took unusual action.

“Your Excellency the Duke. We, the Calvin family, have served the Addis family for over 500 years. Please consider this as advice and listen to it.”

This was the first time he went to the head of the family and complained.

It seemed that the discontent that had been building up through articles ridiculing Addis had finally exploded.

“Now the Addis family has no successor!”

“But even the heir who appeared miraculously is facing a threat to his life.”

“The woman believed to be the child’s mother was murdered. This is impossible!”

And Count Calvin, representing the vassals, approached with a stern face.

“Please confirm.”

He handed out the documents.

“I saw Sir Kalen leaving the mansion holding a woman believed to be Miss Ell Andoit. Some people witness it."

"..."

“Some people witnessed that she was taken to a mansion on the riverside.”

Orsini didn't even check the documents. It's probably true anyway.

“If we leave Lord Kalen like this, even Julian’s life will be in danger.”

“Please acknowledge and protect Julian!”

Orsini looked at his retainers with his hands clasped. Suddenly, in his mind, the conversation with Rodrick passed by.

“Lord Kalen has purchased the island.”

"Island?"

“Yes. It’s an uninhabited island. It looks like he’ll be using it for a similar purpose to when he imprisoned Lady Kanna a few years ago.”

Kalen bought the island.

After failing like that back then.

He also said he bought the island through his secretary.

That bastard, again?

“Did you call me?”

At that time, the door opened and Kalen came in. Then the vassals fell silent.

“Kalen, look at this.”

Orsini threw the document at his brother. Fluttering, white documents were scattered.

“This is an affidavit from those who witnessed you taking Ell Andoit out.”

"..."

“I heard that Ell Andoit was with you on her last known journey before she died. Is that true?”

Kalen didn't bother to pick up the documents and check them.

"Yes."

Because Kalen had no intention of denying it.

“It’s true that I took her out of the Addis mansion and had some alone time. Oh, it’s a shame she died.”

“Did you kill him?”

“Would you believe me if I said no?”

“...I guess I’ll have to bring in a lawyer from Addis and sort out the family register.”

Orsini Addis declared sharply.

“Kalen Addis is expelled from the Addis family.”

At that moment, the room was shaken. The vassals looked at the Duke in astonishment.

“Why are you surprised? Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Your Excellency! That, that!”

“Let’s kick out the vulgar Kalen Addis and accept the young and promising kid Addis. Isn’t that it?”

When Orsini made a sarcastic comment, Count Calvin was shocked. 

“That’s not what I meant! Sir, you are expelling Sir Kalen!”

“Please think again! Sir Kalen has contributed greatly to the Addis family!”

Orsini laughed at his vassals. He guess they never thought he would do this. They look surprised.

“Is that so?”

But Kalen was actually upset. 

“Go ahead. It worked out well. You’re not here anyway, so there’s no reason to stay any longer.”

Kalen turned around. The sight of him trotting out looked so carefree that the retainers opened their mouths as if they couldn't believe it.

“No! Your Excellency the Duke, please reconsider!”

“You are expelling Sir Kalen! This is impossible!”

But Orsini's face was as hard as steel.

“I’ll say it again. Kalen Addis is expelled. All authority as the second son of the Addis family is revoked, and all titles, properties, and territories given to him are recovered.”

The voice he spoke calmly was so calm that it sounded cruel.

“There is no one named Kalen in the Addis family anymore.”

As he hoped.

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