The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 11

“…You really abandoned your status? Seriously?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why?”

Why? Because it was never truly mine to begin with. But before I could answer, Camille spoke again.

“You are the only heir to the Count of Lavant. Does it make sense to abandon your status?”

“I am not the only heir. I am the second son. Besides, the next Count has already been decided.”

“How can he be the heir? You’re the son of my aunt, aren’t you?”

This time, his voice grew sharp, genuinely angry.

In the Empire, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is strictly upheld along with the criterion for succession. Though there are siblings of the same age in the Lavant family, I was the only child born to my mother, the Countess. Therefore, Camille could not accept that someone other than me was designated as the next Count.

“On the records, Dewey is also listed as my mother’s son.”

“That’s not what I meant! I am saying that you are the rightful heir to Lavant!”

“I cannot be the heir. Plus, I have flaws.”

“What flaws? Are you talking about the absurd claims from the Lavant family? That you have mental issues or a chronic illness? That your body is too weak to be qualified? Those are all lies. Sei, how can you go along with such baseless claims?”

“…It is true that I left to recuperate.”

“That’s because that family didn’t take proper care of you! Do you think I don’t know anything? I heard it all! When Aunt passed away, you were in a state of malnutrition!”

“…”

“They heartlessly left my ailing Aunt in the annex and only hurriedly moved her to the main house when they knew she was about to die, fearing grandfather’s visit! You were also neglected until then! No wonder I thought you were too skinny when I first met you.”

Camille clenched his fists and ground his teeth. As far as I know, the Count of Lavant faced no repercussions for those actions. But Camille might not allow them to remain unscathed after inheriting the family.

“I understand that you hate the name Lavant. I hate it too, so I can only imagine how you feel. But abandoning your status is unacceptable. Who benefits from such an act? Instead, drive them all out and become the Count of Lavant yourself. That would be the true revenge, and I will help you.”

“That’s not why I gave it up.”

“Then what’s the reason?”

Facing me directly, Camille’s clear and straightforward eyes momentarily left me speechless. It was difficult to predict what emotions would manifest in those eyes once the truth was revealed.

Camille was a good person. He did not treat people carelessly, strived to live righteously, and possessed a kind and gentle nature. However, he was also a noble. That’s why I couldn’t explain it fully three years ago.

“…If I had known you would come all the way here, I would’ve just told you then.”

“What? Sei, what did you just say?”

Camille knit his brows at my muttered words. After capturing his perplexed expression for a moment, I smiled. It felt like the right time to put an end to this foolish attachment.

“I regret to inform you that this is a waste of time. I am not the rightful heir of Lavant.”

“What? What are you talking about? If a legitimate child like you is not the rightful heir, then who on earth could be?”

“I’m not a legitimate child.”

“I really can’t understand you… What?”

Camille, who had been raising his voice in frustration, widened his eyes. I calmly met his bewildered gaze.

“I hesitated to reveal the family’s disgrace, but it seems the time has come for you to know the truth, Lord Camille. I am not the legitimate child of the Count of Lavant. To be precise, I have no relation to that family at all.”

“What?!”

“The late Countess conceived me before her marriage to the Count of Lavant. She then passed me off as his son after the wedding. Is that answer sufficient?”

During her youthful days, my mother fell deeply in love with a wandering mercenary she met at a festival. When the Duke of Rouster later discovered this, he forcefully separated them, but by then, a new life had already been conceived.

To cover up the scandal, the Duke of Rouster hastily arranged a marriage for his daughter. The chosen groom was a young count from a newly risen noble family with little established foundation. Even if suspicions about the child’s bloodline arose, they picked a family where it wouldn’t cause significant issues.

He arranged for his daughter and the Count to meet at a banquet, making it seem as if they had spent a drunken night together. He then pressured the Count to take responsibility for the resulting child. For the Count of Lavant, who had already promised marriage to another, it was a devastating blow.

In the end, the Count took responsibility for his supposed mistake, but he could never bring himself to love the wife and child that resulted from it. It was an ordinary and somewhat pitiful story.

“How could this…”

Camille couldn’t hide the turmoil in his eyes. The way he looked at me changed slightly. Although I had expected it, it still hurt a bit. I bowed my head respectfully, hiding my feelings.

“As time passed, the guilt became unbearable. That’s why I left without a word three years ago. I’m sorry for deceiving you all this while, Lord Camille. If you wish to hold me accountable, I will accept it.”

“How could such…”

Swallowing his groans, Camille looked utterly confused. His entire perception of the world had been upended.

Roil might dislike nobles for their arrogance, but they have their own struggles. They care deeply about their reputation to justify their haughty lives. The higher their status, the more they adhere strictly to social norms and etiquette. For someone like Camille, who embodied noble ideals, accepting such hidden truths would be incredibly challenging.

“It must be difficult to even look at my face right now. I will take my leave.”

“…”

Camille remained rooted to the spot, not moving an inch as if nailed there, even as I walked away. I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard he resigned from the Security Department today. It wouldn’t matter if he treated me as a stranger starting tomorrow. But the irritation towards the one who orchestrated and passively watched this unfold remained.

‘The tendency to see things through to the end hasn’t changed, has it, Duke of Rouster.’

I irritably loosened my constricting cravat.

* * *

Apparently, both I and the Duke of Rouster underestimated Camille too much. The reason why this thought, which I had pondered before, resurfaced was because of the silver-haired man smiling brightly in front of me.

“Officer Sei, how do you do this?”

I paused, looking at Camille who spoke to me in such a friendly and casual manner. Seeing him come to work was expected (unlike Adol, who did not show up), but this development was beyond what I had anticipated.

“Officer Sei?”

His innocent blinking eyes showed his confusion. I sighed, wondering what he was thinking.

“…You should add a footnote and send it to the archives. And you can just call me Sei; no need for honorifics.”

“I’ll do that if you call me comfortably as well, Officer Sei.”

“…Could you repeat that?”

“It’s strange for only one of us to speak informally when we’re the same age, right? It shouldn’t be difficult. We spoke casually before.”

Staring at him in disbelief, Camille smiled brightly. Roil, sitting next to me, widened his eyes in surprise. Is this some new form of harassment? I seriously contemplated it.

“Then just do as you feel comfortable.”

Whether it was a joke or not, ignoring antics is always the best strategy. When I turned my focus back to work, a look of surprise appeared on Camille’s face.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“Oh, well, how do I get to the archives?”

“Have you not familiarized yourself with the office layout yet? Who is your supervisor… Ah, the Department Head took charge of your training, right? Has he not arrived yet? Then someone else will have to give you the basic orientation…”

“Officer Sei, can’t you do it?”

“I have too much assigned work to manage that. Roil, could you show the new recruit the way to the archives? Please handle the basic orientation until the Department Head arrives.”

“Yes, Officer.”

Nodding readily, Roil stood up from his seat. Following after him, Camille’s figure somehow looked like a drenched mouse, pitiful in a way. But his antics didn’t stop there.

“Officer Sei, would you like some coffee?”

“Officer Sei, did you see the small cloud outside that looks like a wing?”

“Officer Sei, I heard you’re staying in the dormitory? I’m interested in it too, can I ask you a few questions?”

“Officer Sei!”

Hearing “Officer Sei, ” all day long made my head throb. At first, people watched with fascination, but later they gave me sympathetic looks. I even got advice that if I had done something wrong, I should quickly seek forgiveness.

“Officer Sei, let’s leave work together.”

Camille even followed me on my way out. By this point, I had become immune and let his words go in one ear and out the other. Despite the constant chatter behind me about the long summer days and tomorrow’s hot weather, I pretended not to hear it.

“Oh, did you know a new pastry shop opened on Soleng Street? Would you like to check it out with me? Officer Sei, even if you’re not usually interested in food, you do have a secret sweet tooth.”

But this was where my patience snapped. I stopped and turned to see Camille smiling calmly.

“…Lord Camille, what exactly are you doing?”

“Finally, you’re looking at me properly.”

“….”

“Did you know you barely made eye contact with me all day?”

That was my attempt to make it less uncomfortable for him to see my face. The fact that he, knowing this, was acting so nonchalantly was exasperating.