Chapter 80
Chesha blinked for a moment.
She couldn’t believe she had heard correctly.
‘Is this some kind of scam?’
Karha locked up in jail!
Of course, the kid had a tendency to let his sword do the talking before words.
But still, to do something wrong enough to land in jail…
‘He might have.’
The events up until now flashed through her mind.
Especially the image of him charging at Count Rudin and his wife with his sword, without a second thought, came back vividly clear.
At the time, Karha had tried to be polite by using the sheathed sword instead of the blade.
But thinking about it rationally, even that was usually enough to get someone thrown in jail.
Chesha pressed her hand to her forehead.
‘He’s in jail, really in jail.’
She didn’t know what to do about this.
Kierne, Belzeon, and Issueel were all out.
At least Issueel was probably taking lessons at the Evroiel ducal residence, so she could send word to call him back.
“But why is he in jail?”
“He got into a scuffle with some mercenaries, they say. I don’t know the details myself. It happened while I wasn’t there.”
“Hmm…”
Karha, dragged to the guardhouse, had revealed his identity.
But he didn’t have any identification to prove it.
Since the Basilian count’s family had only recently started social activities, none of the guards recognized his face.
“In cases like this, the rule is for a family member or acquaintance who can verify the identity to come and take custody.”
That’s why Theo, the captain of the guards, had no choice but to come here.
It would have been simplest if Theo could vouch for Karha’s identity.
However, to prevent corruption, guards were prohibited from guaranteeing a prisoner’s identity unless they were immediate family.
So, he had devised this plan and come directly.
Since Theo was a noble, he could verify Chesha’s identity.
And then Chesha could confirm that she was Karha’s family.
“It’s a hassle, but this is the only way. I’d appreciate your cooperation.”
At the bear-like man’s solemn words, Chesha nodded seriously.
She could send word to Issueel and then head to the guardhouse with Theo first.
Chesha herself had once been caught by the guards and thrown in jail before.
Being locked alone behind those cold iron bars had been so miserable…
With no family or friends to come for her, she had really suffered.
In the end, she had no choice but to beat up all the guards and escape.
‘But that was possible because I was a reckless fairy.’
Now, Karha was a young master of the Basilian count’s family, so he couldn’t do that.
Chesha hopped down from the sofa.
Grabbing a wide-brimmed hat, she said.
“Take me to my brother.”
“Yes, if you’ll excuse me.”
Once she put on the hat, Theo lifted Chesha onto his shoulder.
“…”
Chesha stared at him with incredulous eyes.
Theo looked utterly flustered, not knowing what to do.
“Ah, is it uncomfortable? My little cousins love it when I do this…”
He explained that she was so small he was afraid of breaking her if he held her in his hands, and politely asked for understanding.
Sitting on someone else’s shoulder was a first for her.
Still, his shoulders were so broad that the ride was surprisingly comfortable.
Perched atop the bear, Chesha commanded.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
Before leaving the hotel, she asked a staff member to send word to Issueel.
Then, she stepped out onto the street with Theo.
The combination of the massive bear and the tiny baby drew stares from everyone.
Chesha pulled her hat down a bit lower.
Walking alongside him, it was clear that Theo was a properly trained knight in swordsmanship.
His steps and movements were disciplined, without any excess.
Despite his huge build, there was no sense of clumsiness, which was fascinating.
But he still looked like a bear.
The symbol of the Nemeia marquisate was a winged lion.
Just as the Basilans were often called snakes, the valiant bloodline of Nemeia was respectfully referred to as lions…
‘But no matter how you look at it, this guy is a bear.’
It was curious that the heir to the Nemeia marquisate showed not a trace of lion-like qualities.
And for the heir to a marquisate to be working at the capital’s guardhouse, no less.
He was the captain, but it still felt like a somewhat lowly position.
Usually, they’d be assigned to the imperial knights.
Or, true to the Nemeia family, sent straight to the front lines.
Theo, who fit neither, piqued her interest.
Misinterpreting her blatant staring gaze, Theo suddenly began to ramble.
“I’ve met Lord Karha once before in the east, so I recognize his face.”
The bear had been to the east.
With his innocent personality, he was the perfect type to get bitten and torn apart by the venomous Basilans, bones and all.
She wondered how he had made it back alive unscathed.
Chesha imagined placing Theo side by side with the eastern Black Forest, realized how horrendously mismatched they were, and laughed to herself.
Chatting about this and that with Theo, they soon arrived at the guardhouse building.
The guardhouse was located a bit away from the capital’s square, and it included a large jail.
“Captain, you’re ba…”
The guards who came running out at Theo’s arrival paused mid-sentence.
They gaped at the baby perched like a doll on Theo’s shoulder, then belatedly finished.
“…ck?”
“I’ve brought someone to verify the Basilian’s identity.”
At the brief explanation, the guards’ eyes widened.
They realized this was the famous ‘adopted child of the Basilian family’ that everyone in the capital knew about lately.
A crowd of burly men and women gathered around Theo.
“Wow… This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Did you buy a doll somewhere?”
To the noisy group, Chesha stated her business.
“Let my brother out.”
“…Ah.”
The guards exchanged troubled glances.
“Well… We can’t release him right away. For now, how about just meeting him…”
Seeing them all hemming and hawing, Theo furrowed his thick eyebrows firmly.
“Has something happened?”
“Yes, Captain…”
The guards let out deep sighs.
It seemed like quite a headache-inducing problem had arisen.
“How about taking the young lady to see Lord Karha first?”
They suggested letting her visit him initially.
Theo led Chesha into the inner part of the guardhouse, to the jail area.
The cells, divided into sections, already held several people.
Mostly thugs or drunks.
Karha was locked in the innermost solitary cell.
In a space filled with nothing but adults, the boy with his clear face was staring down at the straw-covered floor.
Theo set Chesha down.
“I’ll go talk with the guards for a bit.”
Chesha nodded absently and hurried over to Karha with quick steps.
Clinging to the iron bars, she called out to him.
“Brother.”
Karha, who had been idly staring at the floor, slowly lifted his gaze.
The boy’s eyes widened upon seeing Chesha.
“…Baby?”
Karha jerked his head up in surprise.
Then, fumbling on his knees, he crawled closer to the bars.
He said in disbelief.
“What? Why are you here? Don’t tell me you got caught too?”
Chesha grinned and joked.
“I came to rescue you!”
“…”
Karha, gripping the bars, pressed his lips together tightly.
His triangular-shaped pursed lips made his chin wrinkle like a walnut.
He had been stoically enduring his imprisonment, but he seemed glad that Chesha had come.
Karha let out a deep sigh and muttered.
“I might have to stay locked up for a while.”
He had thought the issue would be resolved quickly.
Chesha tilted her head.
“I got into a fight with mercenaries. Turns out they were guards for a foreign royal attending the Little Saints’ Prayer Assembly. And of all times, they clashed with me while sightseeing in the capital…”
Karha murmured gloomily.
“Right now, I’m charged with insulting royalty.”
