Chapter Seventy-five: The Ehlertt Family’s Secret Meeting (Julius’s POV)
“—We will not involve Karen in conspiracies around our family. Is that settled, Julius?”
“Yes, Brother. Thank you for cooperating, Sieg.”
“I also agree with not involving Sister Karen, so please don’t worry, Uncle Julius.”
Julius smiled wryly at Sieg’s mature response, which matched their narrative.
A short while ago, he had passed Karen coming out of Helfried’s office. Karen must have received a plausible explanation from Helfried regarding the final investigation results of the poison circulating in the territory. The investigation yielded no culprit—perhaps there was never one to begin with. It was an inconclusive result.
But the truth was different. No conclusive evidence had been found. Yet the Ehlertt family was almost certain that Earl Brahm’s faction was behind spreading the poison. With Karen’s help and her wealth of unusual knowledge, it would likely be easier to find evidence.
“I thought we should tell her, but since I’ve entrusted the matter of Karen to you, Julius…”
“Even if we want to bring Karen into our family’s interests, I believe it shouldn’t be in a way that entangles her in the conspiracies.”
“Is that for Karen’s sake? Or for the earldom?”
“Isn’t it for the earldom sake?”
Sieg blinked in confusion at Helfried’s question to Julius.
“Isn’t the point of keeping Sister Karen at a distance so she won’t have unpleasant experiences and drift away, allowing us to bring her in more smoothly?”
“Your reasoning is valid, Sieg. But Julius seems to think differently, right?”
At Helfried’s words, Sieg turned his round eyes toward Julius. Julius responded with a smile:
“Karen is an alchemist. She has devoted her life to alchemy. I think hindering that would be a poor strategy. If we interfere with her aspirations, she might distance herself from our family entirely.”
“That sounds noble and all, but that’s not the real reason, is it?”
Prompted by Helfried, Julius was compelled to reveal his true feelings behind the pretense—for the sake of his nephew’s growth into a true nobleman.
“…Karen was crying.”
Julius spoke carefully, with a wry smile, as if savoring his own words.
“Karen and I attended a tea party with Princess Waltride. When Karen saw Her Highness, healed from her Bloodline Blessing, she was crying…”
When Waltride made her entrance, Karen had covered her face and wept. Was it from a sense of accomplishment, seeing the results of her work? The image of Karen wiping away her tears and lifting her face, that proud expression when she saw the sighing young ladies, remained seared into Julius’s mind.
“I can’t forget Karen’s face when she witnessed the results of her work as an alchemist. I felt strongly reminded that I mustn’t interfere with her…”
“Because Sister Karen will eventually become a great alchemist?”
“That’s not it, Sieg.”
As Julius hesitated over his own words, Helfried butted in.
“Even if Karen never becomes a great alchemist, you would still feel you shouldn’t interfere. More precisely, you don’t want to interfere… isn’t that right, Julius?”
“I suppose… that’s true.”
Bewildered by this realization, Julius stammered. Sieg seemed puzzled, not quite understanding.
“Well, regardless of your true feelings, your reasoning is sound. So we’ll keep Karen out of our internal strife. Sieg, learn to have plausible pretenses to achieve your true desires. For now, your personal wishes and noble justice may rarely conflict, but prepare for when they eventually do.”
“In such cases, shouldn’t I suppress my desires and act for the justice of nobility?”
Having been bedridden for so long, the innocent Sieg was still unaware that noble justice had once conflicted with his own survival. So that Sieg would be prepared when he learned this, Helfried imparted wisdom beyond the conventional noble principles taught by tutors—wisdom for survival.
“Everyone lives to fulfill their own desires. No one can live for duty or justice alone—much less risk their life for it. That’s why people separate their true feelings from what they say. Remember that.”
“…I see, so that’s how it is.”
Eventually, Earl Brahm’s faction would undoubtedly try to feed Sieg unnecessary truths. Julius hoped that when that time came, Helfried’s true feelings—his wish to save Sieg’s life above all else—would serve as a shield protecting Sieg’s heart.
“However, if Karen chooses to involve herself, that’s a different matter, Julius.”
“Pardon?”
The conversation suddenly returned to Julius, leaving him confused.
“What exactly are we talking about?”
“I prioritize the earldom interests over Karen’s. If Karen voluntarily involves herself in our affairs, I won’t stop her but will welcome her gladly. Remember that.”
Why would Helfried specifically mention this? Now that he thought about it, when passing Karen earlier, though Julius had been looking at her, their eyes strangely never met. Not just then—recently, their eyes had rarely met at all.
“…Karen just visited you, Brother, right? What did you discuss? Wasn’t it about the final investigation results of the poison?”
“We discussed that, yes.”
“What else?”
“That’s a secret.”
After saying this, Helfried covered his face, his shoulders shaking. Surprisingly, Helfried seemed to be laughing. Thinking it might not be a significant secret if he was laughing about it, Julius and Sieg exchanged glances, tilting their heads in confusion.
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