The calm voice felt distant, so Carson tilted his head to the side for a moment. Even though he didn’t offer her a seat, kept her standing, and stared at her silently for a long time, she didn’t panic at all.
“You must be in a lot of pain, but you don’t limp.”
“This is bearable.”
Carson was a royal, but he wasn’t a well-bred royal. He had been to countless places and experienced everything he could. Naturally, he had been injured a lot, and he had seen people who had been injured often. The wounds he had seen on Ines were not something that a noble lady could endure in just a week.
Her body and soul seemed to belong to not one person. That was the source of the discomfort he felt.
Carson raised his tilted head back to its original position and offered her a seat. When he sat down on the sofa first and Ines faced him, the maid came and filled their glasses.
“Thank you, Emma.”
The moment Ines whispered softly, Carson’s movements to raise his glass stopped. He suddenly raised his head in surprise and saw the embarrassed face of the maid who was pouring tea.
The maid, who was called Emma, immediately fixed her expression and poured tea into her glass before stepping back.
Ines’ face, who had actually called her name, had no particular expression.
Carson, who judged that there were no ears nearby to hear, glanced at her complexion and said,
“You even know the names of all the maids in my mansion.”
Ah, she sighed briefly and immediately smiled gently. However, she was quite embarrassed inside.
Emma was the maid who had taken care of Ines when she stayed at his mansion. Although her face had gotten younger, her gentle appearance remained the same, so Ines unconsciously called her name.
At that moment, she felt warmth for the first time in a long time thanks to Emma. And she was also able to hear from Emma that Landhill had been integrated into Lesonia.
“I heard someone else calling her.”
“I see.”
Carson didn’t yet know the name of the maid who had just been called Emma. He only knew that she was a maid working in the main building. So it was hard to believe that Ines, who had only been staying in the room in the annex, had heard her name.
“I heard you called me.”
“Yes.”
Carson had not visited Ines since he had seen her in the room that day. And she had just waited for his decision without saying anything.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, that's very good. And please keep your voice down, I'm straining to hear.”
According to Noah, she had only called someone once to ask a question. It was to ask if the woman who had been locked up in the basement was still there.
She had been so badly injured that she should have asked about her own condition. However, according to the doctor, she was very insensitive to her own pain.
“Let’s do that next time we meet.”
She nodded slightly in agreement. Her faint smile was also very appropriate for the woman.
“Can I go home now?”
Since Carson couldn’t find any evidence of any suspicion last time, he couldn’t keep her here any longer. It wouldn’t make a difference even if she knew the name of the maid in his mansion that he didn’t know.
“Yes.”
“Ah...”
Carson thought she would be very happy to be going home. However, the emotion on Ines’ face was clearly frustration.
She was lost in thought, chewing and biting her poor lower lip. For a moment, Carson felt the urge to reach out and squeeze her lips away.
“First of all...”
As he relaxed his grip on the teacup and began to speak, the woman’s green eyes sparkled. That made him feel very strange.
“I think I should thank you.”
When Carson got up, Ines followed suit. He bowed slightly and showed the highest courtesy a royal could give.
“Thank you for saving the life of my only sister.”
“You must be in a lot of pain, but you don’t limp.”
“This is bearable.”
Carson was a royal, but he wasn’t a well-bred royal. He had been to countless places and experienced everything he could. Naturally, he had been injured a lot, and he had seen people who had been injured often. The wounds he had seen on Ines were not something that a noble lady could endure in just a week.
Her body and soul seemed to belong to not one person. That was the source of the discomfort he felt.
Carson raised his tilted head back to its original position and offered her a seat. When he sat down on the sofa first and Ines faced him, the maid came and filled their glasses.
“Thank you, Emma.”
The moment Ines whispered softly, Carson’s movements to raise his glass stopped. He suddenly raised his head in surprise and saw the embarrassed face of the maid who was pouring tea.
The maid, who was called Emma, immediately fixed her expression and poured tea into her glass before stepping back.
Ines’ face, who had actually called her name, had no particular expression.
Carson, who judged that there were no ears nearby to hear, glanced at her complexion and said,
“You even know the names of all the maids in my mansion.”
Ah, she sighed briefly and immediately smiled gently. However, she was quite embarrassed inside.
Emma was the maid who had taken care of Ines when she stayed at his mansion. Although her face had gotten younger, her gentle appearance remained the same, so Ines unconsciously called her name.
At that moment, she felt warmth for the first time in a long time thanks to Emma. And she was also able to hear from Emma that Landhill had been integrated into Lesonia.
“I heard someone else calling her.”
“I see.”
Carson didn’t yet know the name of the maid who had just been called Emma. He only knew that she was a maid working in the main building. So it was hard to believe that Ines, who had only been staying in the room in the annex, had heard her name.
“I heard you called me.”
“Yes.”
Carson had not visited Ines since he had seen her in the room that day. And she had just waited for his decision without saying anything.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, that's very good. And please keep your voice down, I'm straining to hear.”
According to Noah, she had only called someone once to ask a question. It was to ask if the woman who had been locked up in the basement was still there.
She had been so badly injured that she should have asked about her own condition. However, according to the doctor, she was very insensitive to her own pain.
“Let’s do that next time we meet.”
She nodded slightly in agreement. Her faint smile was also very appropriate for the woman.
“Can I go home now?”
Since Carson couldn’t find any evidence of any suspicion last time, he couldn’t keep her here any longer. It wouldn’t make a difference even if she knew the name of the maid in his mansion that he didn’t know.
“Yes.”
“Ah...”
Carson thought she would be very happy to be going home. However, the emotion on Ines’ face was clearly frustration.
She was lost in thought, chewing and biting her poor lower lip. For a moment, Carson felt the urge to reach out and squeeze her lips away.
“First of all...”
As he relaxed his grip on the teacup and began to speak, the woman’s green eyes sparkled. That made him feel very strange.
“I think I should thank you.”
When Carson got up, Ines followed suit. He bowed slightly and showed the highest courtesy a royal could give.
“Thank you for saving the life of my only sister.”
When he, a royal, bowed, Ines bowed even lower and accepted his bow.
“Glory to the Keynes Empire...”
As if there was a set order, the two sat back down.
“I’m sorry for the delay in thanking you because things haven’t been finished.”
As he finished speaking, he raised his hand, and a young man who seemed to be his aide approached him holding a document.
“I understand.”
Carson turned the document he had received from Noah around so that Ines could see it and pushed it forward.
The Keynes Empire was supposed to give a set reward to whoever saved the life of the royal family.
“As you’ll see when you read it, choose the one that you need the most...”
“I...”
But Carson's words were cut off midway by Ines. There were various rewards stipulated by law. It was a reward for saving the country in wartime, so no one made a decision right away.
"I want immunity."
Of all the rewards, immunity was the least popular.
"Immunity?"
"Yes, that's right."
Carson laughed a little out loud, dumbfounded.
What noble would want to predict the crimes he would commit in the future and seek forgiveness for it?
Nobles had immunity for most crimes. The immunity in question was the right to commit serious crimes.
If someone asked for a gem mine, they would be given one, and if someone wanted to become the lord of a local small estate, they could grant their family a fief, although the area was limited. They could build a townhouse in the system, and they could guarantee the exclusive right to supply anything to the imperial family for life.
Even if they were to propose to Carson under the pretext of that, he would have to accept the offer.
Carson leaned back, leaning forward, and crossed his legs. Even at that moment, Ines did not take her eyes off his face at all.
“What crime are you planning to commit?”
When Ines did not say anything, he extended his long arm and pointed to the document again, indicating that she should look at it carefully.
“It would be right to read it carefully first and decide. It doesn’t matter if you don’t give me an answer right away, so you can talk to your family after discussing it.”
However, she did not even pretend to read the document.
Some people wanted to receive compensation for saving the royal family from the next generation. It was only natural to make a careful decision since it was a family honor that they might gain for the rest of their lives.
“I don’t need anything else. I just need immunity.”
However, the young woman in front of him did not waver at all.
Carson was basically indifferent to others. He treated everyone politely, but if they crossed the line even a little, he would cut them off without mercy. So no matter what she wanted, it would have been right for him not to ask. However, Carson could not bear it without asking.
“Can you tell me why?”
She picked up the teacup to buy some time. Carson couldn’t take his eyes off Ines, who was moving slowly, even for a moment.
With a click, she put the teacup down and opened her mouth.
“I... I might kill someone.”
Carson had never made the mistake of revealing his true feelings to anyone in his life. But he couldn’t stop the laughter that was bursting out of him without him knowing it.
The woman was completely pink.
Her slightly raised nose and her flushed cheeks. Her fingernails, which she was holding together anxiously, were pink, and her lips, which she had been biting so hard that it was irritating him. Even the area between her eyebrows and eyes was pink.
She could kill someone...
“Who on earth are you planning to kill?”
“I’m not saying I’m going to kill anyone. But you can’t tell what’s going to happen to someone.”
Carson stared into Ines’ eyes for a moment and blinked slowly.
“Let’s do that. As Young Lady said, human affairs are unpredictable.”
Ines nodded without answering.
“But that immunity does not mean that all sins are completely forgiven.”
“I know.”
Killing someone could result in various punishments depending on the nature of the crime. So even if you received immunity, it did not mean that you could completely avoid all punishments.
“As long as I don’t go to Romfield.”
“Romfield?”
Carson furrowed his brow at the word he had never heard before.
“Oh, Romfield.”
Then he remembered the gray-white building he had seen on his way to Lesonia. Even though he had seen it from afar, its aura was so ominous that he could not help but ask what it was for.
“It’s quite a notorious place, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I heard that it’s not a place that people can endure...”
“Is that so?”
“Glory to the Keynes Empire...”
As if there was a set order, the two sat back down.
“I’m sorry for the delay in thanking you because things haven’t been finished.”
As he finished speaking, he raised his hand, and a young man who seemed to be his aide approached him holding a document.
“I understand.”
Carson turned the document he had received from Noah around so that Ines could see it and pushed it forward.
The Keynes Empire was supposed to give a set reward to whoever saved the life of the royal family.
“As you’ll see when you read it, choose the one that you need the most...”
“I...”
But Carson's words were cut off midway by Ines. There were various rewards stipulated by law. It was a reward for saving the country in wartime, so no one made a decision right away.
"I want immunity."
Of all the rewards, immunity was the least popular.
"Immunity?"
"Yes, that's right."
Carson laughed a little out loud, dumbfounded.
What noble would want to predict the crimes he would commit in the future and seek forgiveness for it?
Nobles had immunity for most crimes. The immunity in question was the right to commit serious crimes.
If someone asked for a gem mine, they would be given one, and if someone wanted to become the lord of a local small estate, they could grant their family a fief, although the area was limited. They could build a townhouse in the system, and they could guarantee the exclusive right to supply anything to the imperial family for life.
Even if they were to propose to Carson under the pretext of that, he would have to accept the offer.
Carson leaned back, leaning forward, and crossed his legs. Even at that moment, Ines did not take her eyes off his face at all.
“What crime are you planning to commit?”
When Ines did not say anything, he extended his long arm and pointed to the document again, indicating that she should look at it carefully.
“It would be right to read it carefully first and decide. It doesn’t matter if you don’t give me an answer right away, so you can talk to your family after discussing it.”
However, she did not even pretend to read the document.
Some people wanted to receive compensation for saving the royal family from the next generation. It was only natural to make a careful decision since it was a family honor that they might gain for the rest of their lives.
“I don’t need anything else. I just need immunity.”
However, the young woman in front of him did not waver at all.
Carson was basically indifferent to others. He treated everyone politely, but if they crossed the line even a little, he would cut them off without mercy. So no matter what she wanted, it would have been right for him not to ask. However, Carson could not bear it without asking.
“Can you tell me why?”
She picked up the teacup to buy some time. Carson couldn’t take his eyes off Ines, who was moving slowly, even for a moment.
With a click, she put the teacup down and opened her mouth.
“I... I might kill someone.”
Carson had never made the mistake of revealing his true feelings to anyone in his life. But he couldn’t stop the laughter that was bursting out of him without him knowing it.
The woman was completely pink.
Her slightly raised nose and her flushed cheeks. Her fingernails, which she was holding together anxiously, were pink, and her lips, which she had been biting so hard that it was irritating him. Even the area between her eyebrows and eyes was pink.
She could kill someone...
“Who on earth are you planning to kill?”
“I’m not saying I’m going to kill anyone. But you can’t tell what’s going to happen to someone.”
Carson stared into Ines’ eyes for a moment and blinked slowly.
“Let’s do that. As Young Lady said, human affairs are unpredictable.”
Ines nodded without answering.
“But that immunity does not mean that all sins are completely forgiven.”
“I know.”
Killing someone could result in various punishments depending on the nature of the crime. So even if you received immunity, it did not mean that you could completely avoid all punishments.
“As long as I don’t go to Romfield.”
“Romfield?”
Carson furrowed his brow at the word he had never heard before.
“Oh, Romfield.”
Then he remembered the gray-white building he had seen on his way to Lesonia. Even though he had seen it from afar, its aura was so ominous that he could not help but ask what it was for.
“It’s quite a notorious place, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I heard that it’s not a place that people can endure...”
“Is that so?”
“Since it’s compensation guaranteed by the Empire, of course, you can write it up in writing, right?”
It was too resolute to say that she was simply preparing for an unpredictable future. And her eyes were filled with complete confidence that he would grant her request.
As if it were a set order. Like someone asking a friend, they have known for a long time for a favor that would naturally be granted. Or like a foolish believer who blindly clings to God for an answer.
“If I commit a great sin, such as killing a person, please write down that I will not be sent to Romfield and that no harm will come to my family.”
“Of course.”
There was no reason not to grant it because it was specific. Furthermore, the system of collective punishment that held all members of the family jointly responsible for the crime committed by a member of the family had long since been abolished.
Of course, it was not possible to avoid social condemnation and the moral responsibility that came with it. So this woman was asking for protection for her family, including all of those aspects. The promise of the royal family was that heavy.
Carson ordered Noah to immediately write the documents Ines wanted.
“Um, Count.”
While waiting for the documents to be written, Ines cautiously called Carson. When he raised his eyebrows to indicate that she should speak, she cautiously began to speak.
“I would like to ask you one more favor. This is a request that I am simply making as a citizen of Landhill, regardless of the compensation I will receive. You may refuse, so please listen with an open mind.”
It was too resolute to say that she was simply preparing for an unpredictable future. And her eyes were filled with complete confidence that he would grant her request.
As if it were a set order. Like someone asking a friend, they have known for a long time for a favor that would naturally be granted. Or like a foolish believer who blindly clings to God for an answer.
“If I commit a great sin, such as killing a person, please write down that I will not be sent to Romfield and that no harm will come to my family.”
“Of course.”
There was no reason not to grant it because it was specific. Furthermore, the system of collective punishment that held all members of the family jointly responsible for the crime committed by a member of the family had long since been abolished.
Of course, it was not possible to avoid social condemnation and the moral responsibility that came with it. So this woman was asking for protection for her family, including all of those aspects. The promise of the royal family was that heavy.
Carson ordered Noah to immediately write the documents Ines wanted.
“Um, Count.”
While waiting for the documents to be written, Ines cautiously called Carson. When he raised his eyebrows to indicate that she should speak, she cautiously began to speak.
“I would like to ask you one more favor. This is a request that I am simply making as a citizen of Landhill, regardless of the compensation I will receive. You may refuse, so please listen with an open mind.”
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