How a Two-Life Scoundrel Lives - Chapter 9

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Episode 9】

Medea was the most troublesome existence for Carlisle.

She was a fierce woman who possessed such outstanding martial prowess that she had formed a succession rivalry with Grand Duke Guntram, the family head, in her youth, and her personality was also ferociously savage.

That’s why Carlisle would become docile only in front of Medea.

No matter how much of a scoundrel he was, he couldn’t help but mind his aunt’s reactions.

The problem was that this only applied to the real Carlisle.

“You’ve come.”

When Carlisle greeted Medea with natural ease, the surrounding atmosphere instantly froze cold.

There was no way he couldn’t have heard what Medea had just said…

“You’ve cooome?”

Murderous intent flashed in Medea’s eyes.

“What did you just say?”

“You’ve come?”

“Before that.”

“I don’t really remember. Wait a moment. Maranello.”

Carlisle turned to look at Maranello.

“What did I say before that?”

“…”

Maranello was left speechless by Carlisle’s sudden bomb-passing.

Had he eaten a boiled loach or something? To think he’d slip out of this situation like this.

“The young master said. Ahem.”

Maranello brought his fist to his mouth, coughed twice, then answered with his eyes tightly closed.

“He said he’s currently busy preparing to attend the trial, so he’s terribly sorry but he’ll visit you next time.”

“That’s what he said.”

Carlisle looked back at Medea with an expression that said ‘You heard that, right?’

“How dare you!”

Medea shouted furiously.

“How dare you toy with your aunt with such nonsensical lies!”

“That’s not true though.”

“What do you mean it’s not true! Do you think my ears have already gone deaf?”

“Of course they’re fine. Maranello’s are still fine too.”

“What, what?”

“Maranello, your ears are still fine, right?”

Carlisle turned to look at Maranello again.

“Yes, young master. This old man’s hearing is still quite sharp for his age.”

Grr!

At Maranello’s response, Medea could no longer express her anger and had no choice but to swallow her fury.

Why?

Because this old butler’s authority was burdensome even for her.

Moreover, since Maranello’s loyalty was solely to Grand Duke Guntram’s Household, Medea wasn’t included.

So even though she clearly knew it wasn’t true, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and accept it.

“Fine, I understand.”

“Yes, aunt.”

“You cunning bastard.”

Medea glared at Carlisle menacingly and growled.

She had come to throw the first punch but ended up getting punched first instead, so it was natural for her insides to boil with rage.

“Well, it’s fortunate that you didn’t die and woke up.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

A bitter smile appeared on Medea’s lips.

“After the trial ends, you’ll bitterly regret having woken up.”

“That’s fine.”

Carlisle smiled brightly with clear, shining eyes.

“You little… no, wait.”

Medea was about to get angry but suddenly showed a pitying expression.

“My poor nephew. What am I to do. You still can’t grasp the situation and act so arrogantly like a reckless fool. This time even your father won’t be able to forgive…”

Carlisle didn’t respond to Medea’s sarcasm.

“Do I really have to button up my sleeve cuffs? It’s stuffy.”

“Do you intend to provoke His Grace the Grand Duke’s anger?”

“I suppose so.”

Medea’s face turned bright red.

“Fine, let’s see just how long you can act so arrogantly. By this afternoon you’ll be crying tears of blood…”

“You still haven’t left?”

“…”

“I can’t see you off. I’m a bit busy right now.”

Medea had to use all her strength to resist the urge to beat Carlisle up right then and there.

Now wasn’t the right time.

With the trial right around the corner and Maranello standing firmly there, it was no exaggeration to say there was no way to touch Carlisle.

* * *

That afternoon.

Clank clank.

Handcuffs were fastened around Carlisle’s wrists.

Until now, considering his noble status and the serious injuries he had sustained, he had been able to enjoy a comfortable life despite being a criminal.

But from this moment on, such privileges became something he couldn’t even dream of.

Just before departing for the courtroom.

“Why on earth didn’t you run away? Are you determined to die?”

Selena seemed truly angry.

“Brother, you had a chance. But why…”

Frey also reacted as if he couldn’t understand Carlisle’s choice.

“Thanks for worrying about me, but I’m fine. You don’t need to concern yourselves.”

At Carlisle’s words, Selena showed a sharp reaction.

“Who would worry about someone like you? Don’t be presumptuous and misunderstand. I’m only thinking of father and our late mother.”

“Ah.”

“What do you mean ‘ah.’ When you stand in that courtroom, beg desperately. Don’t bring ruin to our family.”

In Frey’s case, due to his personality he couldn’t say harsh words, but it was clear he shared the same thoughts as Selena.

“Apologize to father with your life. That’s the only way you’ll survive, brother.”

“Right.”

After the farewell time passed.

“The criminal Carlisle van Sigmund shall now move to the courtroom.”

Lebesk appeared with knights and escorted Carlisle to the courtroom.

Carlisle headed to the courtroom without complaint.

“My wrists are tingling? They’ll bruise.”

“Handcuffs are originally like that.”

Maranello smiled bitterly at Carlisle’s complaint.

“It seems you still haven’t come to your senses. Will you be able to remain so carefree even after the verdict is handed down?”

Carlisle let Rebesk’s whispers go in one ear and out the other.

‘You’re dead.’

‘Serves you right.’

His distant cousins, the brothers Hector and Gunter, made throat-slitting gestures at Carlisle as he passed by.

‘How excited they are.’

Carlisle passed them with an expressionless face, deliberately not reacting.

The greater the anticipation, the greater the disappointment when things don’t go as desired.

The courtroom was set up outdoors rather than indoors, right in front of the castle gates.

The reason was simple.

Carlisle’s trial was scheduled to be held publicly for the territory’s residents.

“There he comes!”

“Boooooooooo—!”

As soon as someone spotted Carlisle’s group in the distance and shouted, the territory residents gathered to watch the trial began jeering like an angry swarm of bees.

It wasn’t just jeering.

“Hey, you bastard!”

“Serves you riiiiight!”

“That’s right! If you kill someone, you should be punished!”

“You worthless piece of trash! You deserve the death penalty!”

All sorts of unspeakable curses were hurled at Carlisle.

It was a scene that clearly revealed how much resentment the people of Dekaron had built up against Carlisle, and how terrible his image was.

Carlisle’s reaction to this was…

“I’m quite popular, aren’t I.”

“Does this look like popularity to you?”

Maranello frowned as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Even curses are a form of attention.”

“Good grief.”

“At least they’re not throwing eggs. That’s good enough.”

“Aren’t you angry?”

“I consider it karma.”

“…”

Maranello closed his eyes in exasperation at Carlisle’s words, spoken as if it were someone else’s business.

Meanwhile, the curses and jeers directed at Carlisle continued, showing no signs of subsiding even after they entered the courtroom.

But that was only temporary.

“Everyone be silent! The lord of Dekaron is about to arrive!”

With Grand Duke Guntram’s appearance, the people’s curses and jeers stopped as if by magic.

Everyone held their breath and naturally knelt on one knee, preparing to greet the lord of Dekaron.

Their hatred was directed only at Carlisle; their respect for Grand Duke Guntram was absolutely unwavering.

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

Soon, knights in black armor lined up on both sides, and Grand Duke Guntram appeared.

His presence and the aura he emanated were absolutely overwhelming.

Even his footsteps seemed to carry dignity, his expression was solemn, and his gaze was as stern as frost.

Moreover, thanks to the antique and imposing cloak draped over his shoulders, his already impressive stature appeared even more massive.

Three-legged Crow Feathers said to foretell death, wolf hide said to devour gods, and Thread Spun by Fate Goddesses—a cloak of legend.

It was called the [Heart of the North], one of House Sigmund’s family treasures and a sacred artifact symbolizing the family head.

“From now on.”

Grand Duke Guntram, who had entered the courtroom, looked around at the assembled crowd and spoke.

“The trial of Carlisle van Sigmund begins.”

Thus the trial began.

* * *

The trial was very boring for Carlisle.

The rituals that preceded the actual trial, such as swearing to tell only the truth.

However, when Grand Duke Guntram began listing the criminal charges against Carlisle, the boredom vanished completely.

This trial wasn’t just about Alberto’s murder.

“The defendant Carlisle van Sigmund set fire to fields ready for harvest, bringing tears of blood to the eyes of poor farmers…”

“Assaulted a father in front of his family, causing injury…”

Grand Duke Guntram enumerated all the evil deeds and atrocities committed thus far, adding to the charges.

Theft, assault, arson, dining and dashing, drunken violence, fraud, and so on.

The only thing missing was murder, but the charges already listed were enough to warrant the death penalty.

‘He really intends to kill me.’

Carlisle realized that Grand Duke Guntram had finally sharpened his blade this time.

Unable to tolerate his second son’s misconduct any longer, he was clearly determined to end it once and for all, even if it meant shedding tears of blood.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to drag up all these past wrongs instead of just the current Alberto murder case.

While Carlisle was thinking this, the core incident of the trial came to the forefront, and soon Jeffrey took the witness stand and began spouting lies about what he had supposedly witnessed.

“Witness, testify about what happened at that time.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Befitting a spy carefully planted by hostile forces, Jeffrey’s testimony sounded quite logical and credible.

Jeffrey.

A blacksmith from the armory that produced weapons needed for war in Dekaron Territory, he disgustingly even put on an act of being terrified.

“I-I know it’s a cowardly excuse, but I was too frightened to step forward. Through this opportunity… I want to tell Alberto’s family that I’m sorry for not helping.”

“Sob, sob, sob…”

At Jeffrey’s testimony, the dead Alberto’s family wept quietly.

“Carlisle van Sigmund.”

As soon as Jeffrey’s testimony ended, Grand Duke Guntram glared at Carlisle with an expression like King Yama.

‘I-I can’t breathe.’

He felt a crushing pressure that seemed to stop his heart.

Truly befitting a strong warrior called the [Iron-Blooded Judge], it seemed possible to kill someone with presence alone.

Tremble tremble tremble!

Against his will, Carlisle’s hands shook violently.

It was an instinctive reaction.

Frankly speaking, in terms of strength difference, Carlisle would die instantly if Grand Duke Guntram so much as moved a finger.

So naturally, his body felt the fear of death and trembled like an aspen leaf.

But doesn’t the mind rule over the body?

‘If you’re going to kill me, then kill me. What’s the big deal? Can I not die twice?’

When he changed his mindset, his trembling body gradually calmed down, and soon he was able to straighten his back and maintain proper posture.

Then, one step further.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Carlisle raised his head and looked up at Grand Duke Guntram.

‘Hmm.’

A glimmer of interest appeared in Grand Duke Guntram’s eyes as he looked at Carlisle.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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