"...Yes, this is for the best."
Kiel, with his face lowered, muttered in a voice so low it could not be heard by Inbuel, trying to convince himself of that.
After Kiel's appraisal when he was 5 years old, he had been living quite far away from home, with just a handful of servants, a lifestyle that could hardly be called that of a noble.
Eventually he was allowed to attend the Academy, and there Allen and Cecile told him what his father had done, and why he had been allowed to go to the Academy.
At first, his feelings towards his father could be summarized as 'serves you well.'
Kiel was living a terrible life, caused by his father, who was now in jail.
Duke Grandvelle had told him how his father's sins were so heavy he would never be freed.
His mother's punishment had not been as severe, but she was being confined in a prison quite a ways away from the capital.
That was where criminal female nobles were kept.
He felt like his parents had gotten what they deserved.
Eventually he became friends with Allen, went to dungeons with them, and lived together with them.
That also meant that his little sister Nina, the servants still loyal to him, and the young servants in his care had less to worry about.
Kiel had more time, Nina was starting to smile more, and somehow that reminded him of his father.
Trying to forget the faces of his parents, he started going to help the church that had supported him so much with the Academy. He wanted to heal anyone who might be suffering.
But in the end, he could erase his parents from his memories.
He fought arduously together with Allen.
He saved tens of thousands of elves in Rosenheim.
He cleared the S Rank Dungeon, something no one had done before, and rescued the Holy Land from the hands of the Evil Cult.
Many people were grateful for that, and they made him pope apprentice.
Still, his parents were still burned in his mind.
He would always remember how kind his father was, before Kiel's appraisal.
Cecile would sometimes tell stories of Allen's days as a servant, like they were heroic tales.
Sometimes he would not know how to feel when hearing that.
Eventually Doberg came to him, telling him Latash wanted to thank him.
He called with a magic device to hear the details, and an official told him that he would be regaining his title as Viscount the Carnel territory would be returned to him, and if he was satisfied with that.
Kiel almost instantly said "Please wait a moment".
His parents had flashed in his mind again.
But he could not really say that there.
There was something he had to ask first, before enquiring whether it was possible or not.
He started saying "Could you tell me more about that reward?"
The nobles also understood what Kiel wanted for his reward.
Everyone turned to look at Kiel.
Being a noble was a privileged position, so oftentimes they would overstep and commit crimes.
But it was rare for a child to fight in an attempt to clear their parents' names.
It was almost like they were witnessing a hero's tale developing.
"So you want me to forget their sins?"
Everything was coming back to Kiel like a flashback when Inbuel asked for clarification.
"Yes please, Your Majesty."
Kiel answered, verifying he had not misspoken.
But he still looked insecure, like he was not sure this was the right choice.
"Hmm."
Inbuel rested his cheek on one hand, reclining in his throne as he thought.
(I thought he had already told Inbuel about this, but he's still pretending to think about it.)
Kiel had already requested that many days before, when the joint training between Allen's Army and the Hero's Army started.
'There's something I wish to discuss.'
Kiel had asked through the magic device, requesting the favor for his parents.
Cecile did not protest or get angry, but she was quite shocked and could not say anything.
She had seen just how the former Viscount Carnel had hurt the Grandvelle family, and even her own life had been at peril at their hands once.
Thanks to Grandvelle, Carnel's actions were stopped at an attempt of raising a rebellion, and did not become a crime punishable by death.
The previous generation Viscount Carnel had used the immense wealth obtained from the mythril mines to seed an insurrection in the country.
The Demon King's Army had started attacking for a few decades too, so the royal family and other nobles did not have much funds, letting Viscount Carnel do as he wished.
Viscount Carnel was thrown in jail to be forgotten, after serving the royal family for a century.
That felt like a fair enough punishment, considering the country was busy with other wars.
When Allen heard all that, he felt like Kiel's actions so far were justified.
Allen had sometimes noticed Kiel looking worried and downcast from time to time, but he never had any proof that it was because of his parents.
Kiel had been worrying about what to do with his parents, now that he had amassed so much goodwill.
Cecile had also been aware of Kiel's worries.
That was why she refused to say anything against his idea, swallowing all her complaints.
Kiel had been trapped in the past for more than a decade now.
Allen's friends had enough experience to know it was better to not interfere with Kiel's future.
Kiel first consulted with Duke Grandvelle, and then Duke Hamilton, who was also in the palace.
Duke Hamilton seemed to think it was actually a good idea.
Grandvelle had been assaulted by Carnel in the past, which reached the royal family, which went to move and imprisoned Carnel.
The seeds of that had actually started more than a century ago, which trickled down through generations until they exploded shortly after Kiel and Cecile were born.
Nobles always valued their history, so Kiel's decision also affected both families.
Duke Grandvelle simply asked if Cecile was okay with it, then gave his approval.
"I see. Bring them in, then."
Inbuel finally gave the answer he had already decided on.
In response, a large set of double doors opened in the audience hall.
There was a lot of noise as everyone's eyes focused on the doors.
"Walk."
"Y-yes. Are…are we really being released?"
"That's still to be decided. Just shut up and walk."
"Y-yes."
A knight walked forward, pulling a rope tied to the cuffed ex-Viscount Carnel, wearing tattered clothes, into the audience hall.
His wife, wearing plain clothes and no cuffs, also entered while keeping her head down.
Both of them were brought here today.
They were dragged until they stood next to Kiel, and were pushed on their knees.
(They look pretty malnourished.)
The ex-Viscount Carnel looked almost like a different person compared to how Allen had seen him when he was still a servant.
His robust body had been reduced to skin and bones in prison, not even having enough strength to lift his cuffs.
"..."
Kiel looked silently at his parents' current appearance.
He seemed to be trying to find the answer for something in his mind.
The ex-Viscount Carnel looked around, wondering why he was in such a place when he noticed Kiel's gaze.
That blonde boy next to him looked strangely familiar, so he had to look at him better.
A faint, distant memory slowly creeped in his mind.
"Huh? Kiel? Is that you Kiel? Why do you look like this?"
He remembered a hazy memory of Kiel's face as a child.
That hairstyle, and that gaze, were both those of the child he had foregone so long ago.
"You're Kiel?"
Hearing that, Kiel's mother also reacted.
Allen felt like Kiel looked more like his mother.
"Father, Mother, it's been a long time."
They had gone in different paths when he was five, so they had not seen each other in ten years.
"Well, here they are. So what will it be? Your land and rank, or your family's pardon? Choose whichever you want."
Inbuel said that now that Kiel could see his parents, he could choose the reward he wished.
"Wh-what? What is happening here?"
"Don't speak in the king's presence!!"
"G-ghugh?! I-I'm sorry…"
The ex-Viscount Carnel was still confused, so he tried asking the king for clarification, but the Prime Minister stopped him, and the knight holding his cuffs tugged at them.
He was already exhausted mentally and physically, so he could not even groan too loudly.
Kiel's father was being restrained by a knight in front of his eyes.
His father's bones creaked, and he would die if the knight put in any more strength.
"Stop! All Heal!!"
Kiel instantly told the knight to stop, and cast his healing magic.
Golden sacred letters enveloped his father, which grew brighter before flashing brightly.
That was Kiel's most powerful healing spell, now that he was a Venerable.
"H-hiee?!"
Kiel's power left the knight dazzled, who tripped and fell back.
"Are you alright? Father!!"
"Yes, I…I'm alright, thank…you…"
Kiel's powerful magic had returned his father's vitality.
"Hahah…I see. This really was the right choice, I just had to rescue you."
Feeling relief deep inside him, Kiel knew this had been the right choice.
Knowing that there was nothing to regret about his decision, Kiel slowly gained more confidence.
(Good good.)
Allen looked at Ciel, trying to tell her this was the right decision.
"It seems you're not aware of your own child's achievements. Repeat the feats accomplished by Kiel Von Carnel, but a bit abbreviated."
It seemed they would not mention the magic Kiel had used.
"Yessir!"
And so, the Prime Minister gave an abbreviated version of Kiel's achievements.
Kiel's father just listened in silence, slightly shocked by everything he heard.
"Kiel was given the opportunity to reinstate his title and territory as Viscount Carnel as reward for his deeds, but he wished for his parents' pardon instead."
"Th-that's…"
Kiel's father looked at the cuffs on his hands, realizing what was happening.
"I'm the one in charge of leading the family now, so I'll carry everything. Please pardon my parents."
Saying that, Kiel bowed deeply again.
This time, he did not hesitate at all.
"I see, so you insist on that. Does anyone here object to his request?"
Inbuel spoke to the audience, asking if anyone opposed the idea.
Neither Duke Grandvelle or Cecile raised their voices.
"In that case, Kiel Von Carnel, your reward shall be the pardon of your parents."
Inbuel looked at the Prime Minister, essentially telling him to explain the rest.
"The king has pardoned you, but you won't be granted complete freedom. You won't be able to leave Carnel's territory. A magic ship has been prepared for you tomorrow, so board it and head there."
(So it's closer to house arrest then.)
They would not be acquitted right away.
If either of them were to get close to a magic ship and attempt to go travel somewhere, it would be Kiel's responsibility as the current head of the family.
The Prime Minister asked if Kiel agreed with those terms.
"Yes, thank you very much."
"You heard him, unshackle the prisoners. This concludes the ceremony."
The knights unshackled Kiel's parents.
Clap clap clap
As if trying to break the silence, the cardinal began clapping.
That prompted the other nobles to start clapping as well.
The nobles could respect someone who valued their parents' freedom more than a title or land.
Everyone was satisfied knowing that Kiel would also become their pope.
The claps became louder as the king and the royal family members left the audience hall.
Meanwhile the cardinal walked up to Kiel.
"I expected no less from you, Kiel. This isn't something the average person can do. We will watch over your parents, so please don't refrain from continuing your divine path in life."
Elmea's Church would watch over his parents, so Kiel would not feel encumbered by them.
"Thank you very much. I don't know how far I would've made it without your help."
"Not at all, this is the least we can do to thank you for letting our late pope rest in peace. I'll be taking my leave then."
Saying that, the cardinal left as well.
"Can you stand? Father."
"Y-yes."
They would be going back to the waiting room.
Allen's group also followed behind them.
"Was that really for the best?"
Shea was part of royalty, so she looked somewhat unsure as she watched Kiel support his father on his shoulder.
"Well, at the very least this is one thing I know was no mistake."
(Oh, she's probably thinking about her brother.)
Allen felt like he finally understood why Shea had looked so conflicted for a while now.
Seeing Kiel, she was rethinking what she had to do with her own family.
They slowly headed to the waiting room where everyone else was.
"F-Father!!"
The moment the door was opened, Kiel's sister Nina jumped into their father's arms.
"O-ohh, Nina, you've grown a lot too."
Nina had grown a lot in the four years they had been apart.
"Ahhh, Father, Fatherrrr!!"
Nine exclaimed as she buried her face on her father's ragged and stinky clothes.
Then he finally noticed Kiel's gaze on them.
"Ki-Kiel… I…I…"
He hugged Nina, everything finally starting to feel real to him.
"You don't have to say anything. I still have things to do, so please take care of home and Nina."
Kiel no longer doubted himself, and said there was nothing to apologize for as a tear rolled down his cheek.
(So Kiel was saved in a way too. He's matured a bit more.)
Allen thought that now that Kiel's parents were safe, Kiel could now live his own life.
"Ah, okay. Wait? Are you going somewhere?"
Kiel's father was still struggling to keep up with everything that happened, so he thought they would all go back to their home, but Kiel was not going with them.
That reminded him of the cardinal, and how he mentioned some divine path of life.
"Yes, your son, Kiel Von Carnel, still has comrades and duties to fulfill."
"I-I see. Sorry, I think I misunderstood."
Kiel's refusal to hear an apology earlier only made his father realize his mistakes even more.
He had abandoned Kiel more than a decade ago, and Kiel being his saving grace made him regret everything even more.
"Alright, so you can use this room freely until tomorrow. Maybe it's best if you stay here for the day too, Kiel. And maybe try to take a bath soon too."
(Alright, this is one matter taken care of. Inbuel seemed rather careless though, I guess that's not really surprising. At least Kiel is learning.)
After Cecile's abduction, and the fallout that followed, only Inbuel remained unpunished.
That was all far in the past now though.
Kiel had shown plenty of maturity, even in front of the king.
Thinking that, Allen looked around at his family in the room.
Since they were all together for once, it was a good opportunity to talk.
Dogora was awkwardly telling his parents how he had become a baron.
Everyone slowly began talking, eventually getting quite lively until the food they asked for was brought.
Kiel's father also went to take a bath and get a change of clothes, since his current rags were smelly.
After that they all ate as a family.
Meanwhile Shea was constantly looking at Kiel.
"What's wrong? Did Kiel remind you of your brother?"
(They're brother and sister too after all.)
According to Shea, Bek had an enormous list of achievements to his name.
He had already saved Albahar once, and was considered a living legend.
Seeing Kiel struggle for his family, and watching him happy together with Nina, made Shea think back to her own family.
Seeing how Kiel had become the next head of the Carnel family, bringing it back after it almost vanished, Shea was starting to question her own actions.
"I'm beastmen royalty, I have a duty. I'll defeat Bek."
The waiting room was so lively and filled with voices that Shea's words were drowned out.
She just continued wondering how the next time she met Bek would go.
