She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner! - Chapter 70

“So? Have you made up with Rei-chan~?”

“Well, I suppose.”

On the night we investigated Baron Thompson, after Rei had already returned to her own room, Catherine and I shared our usual bedtime chat. Catherine was already in her bed, but I was still sitting in front of my dresser.

“Rather than saying we’ve made up… It might be more accurate to say we’ve… Shelved it.”

Just before going to investigate Baron Thompson, Rei and I decided to shelve discussions pertaining to either of our marriages.

“I think that’s just fine~ I mean, there are problems that only time can solve. Ah, Claire-chan, candy please~?”

“There you go again, saying something that seems to fit but doesn’t quite… You have to make sure to brush after, okay?”

“I know~”

I retrieved Catherine’s candy pot from her desk and took a candy from it as I always did.

“They’re almost all gone, there’s only three left in the pot.”

“They just taste that good~ It might not look like it, but I treasured eating each and every one of them~”

When I handed her the candy, Catherine happily hurled it straight into her mouth. As she did, I took the opportunity to get into bed.

“Alright, since things between you and Rei-chan seem okay for now~”

“… Are they really, I wonder…”

“Okay for now!”

“Fine, sure, so what were you going to say?”

“How did the all important investigation into corrupt nobles turn out~?”

“… Well, Baron Thompson is guilty.”

At the baron’s residence, Rei checked his ledgers against the documents that we received from Rodd-sama. When she highlighted clear contradictions, the baron himself confessed his guilt. Furthermore, Rei went on to negotiate a plea bargain, which was what brought their connection with Count Yale to light. I had no idea that Rei was so quick-witted, so all of this had been very surprising. Also when she explained it I felt as though I was so close to understanding it, but now that I looked back, I couldn’t say that I really understood what that farce about Mito K*mon was all about either.

“Right right, and then?”

In truth I intended to tell her right when we got back. But… With the news being what it was, I was having a difficult time broaching the subject. That said, another reason that it had taken until now was that Catherine hid herself while Rei and the others were still here.

“What is it~?”

“… In the documents that we seized from Baron Thompson… We found some information pertaining to Marquis Achard.”

“… Oh, what did you find~?”

Though she maintained her usual tone, I could tell. The voice I heard coming from the top bunk was very slightly trembling. I hesitated to continue, but she too was of noble descent―she should be aware of the associated responsibilities.

“Marquis Achard and Baron Barlier are both under suspicion of operating a human trafficking ring.”

“…”

The response from the upper bunk was a heavy silence.

What we seized from Baron Thompson was a letter from Baron Barlier. In the letter, Baron Barlier―Pipi’s father, Patrice-sama―instructed Baron Thompson to further reduce the volume of trades. The letter also noted that Christophe-sama was in support of this decision.

Of course, this by itself wouldn’t be enough to bring Clément-sama down. If we weren’t smart about how we went about this, it would likely end with Patrice-sama being the scapegoat and House Achard getting away clean. That said, it was more than enough as circumstantial evidence.

“My father… Do you think he’ll get arrested?”

“Human trafficking is a grave sin thatcannot be pardoned. There’s no way that we can let him get away with it. I’ll make sure to.”

“… I see.”

I could tell that Catherine rolled over to the other side of her bed. With a strong sense of shame, I continued.

“Catherine, did you know about this?”

Just what comfort could those words alone really provide. When I thought about Catherine’s circumstances, it was just all too much.

“I intend to appeal to have your sentence lightened as much as possible.”

“Don’t worry about something like that, it’s fine~”

“There’s no way that it could be fine! You haven’t done anything!”

“… Haven’t done anything… Huh~”

“… Catherine?”

Very suddenly, her tone shifted to be self deprecating. Worried, I got up from my bed to peek into the top bunk. Catherine lay with her back facing me, so I wasn’t able to read her expression.

“No… You weren’t somehow involved in the human trafficking too, were you?”

“Nope, I really wasn’t involved with any of that.”

“In that case―”

“But… In a sense, I’ve… Done something much worse.”

“Just what… Could that…?”

When I asked, Catherine rolled back over and faced me. Now that I could finally see her face, I could see she was her usual nonchalant―or rather, that she wasn’t.

“Catherine… Your face…”

“… Tahaha, pretty horrible, isn’t it~?”

“It’s so pale.”

She kept her usual tone, but it was very clear that she was forcing herself. Her face was tinted blue and her eyes kept shifting around, unable to settle. This was Catherine we were talking about, just what could have upset her to this extent―?

“Hey, Claire-chan.”

I couldn’t quite grasp the intent behind Catherine’s question.

“Don’t worry about it and just answer~”

“… Well, yes. Lots of things.”

“If you had to choose just one~?”

“I’d rather you refrain from asking something you already know the answer to.”

“… Yeah, I thought so.”

The fact that my mother parted before I had the chance to make up with her―that was my most painful regret.

“I too… Have something that I wish I could redo~”

“… And that is?”

“It’s still a secret for now~ I’ll give you a proper answer one day~”

“… Is that so.”

But why… Did she choose to bring this up now? Just what sin did she bear? Just what was it that she wanted to go back and redo?

“… I think the time has come for us to be held accountable… for a variety of things. My father, my brother… and I as well.”

“Catherine…”

“Claire-chan, don’t cut any corners with the investigation. You don’t need to make an appeal on my behalf either. Just make sure that justice is served.”

“… I understand.”

That was how I responded. No, that was the only way that I could have responded. What else could I do when Catherine looked so cornered and distressed. If I had to describe her expression in a word, she looked―pathetic. So much so that it felt as though if I had given a different answer, she could have just crumbled to dust right then and there. Despite the many years we had spent together, despite the fact that she was like a sister to me, until now, I had no idea that she had this side to her.

But… Just now, I told her just one lie. Because… There was no way that I could ever give up on her.

“Thanks~”

And with that, Catherine rolled back over to the other side of her bed. Judging by her breathing, she really had fallen asleep. Just for those last words she had spoken before doing so, it seemed that she was back to her usual self. I too returned to bed.

“…”

Surely everyone has a secret or two that they’d like to hide. That said, whatever it was that Catherine bore was clearly of a different nature and incomprehensibly heavy. That’s what I thought.

“Hey, Catherine.”

“…”

Perhaps now completely asleep, my call to the upper bunk received no response. Regardless, I continued speaking.

“I don’t know what it is that you are carrying… But can’t you share whatever that is with me?”

“…”

All I heard in response was gentle breathing that indicated she was asleep.

“This is something Rei told me. When you share your happiness it gets doubled, when you share your worries it gets halved. Whatever burden you’re carrying, won’t you share it with me?”

“…”

Perhaps to be expected, there was no response. It looks like she really had gone off to dreamland. I too could feel my sleepiness steadily take over.

“Catherine… You and I… just like… real sisters…”

My consciousness began to sink deep. As it made its way to the very bottom, the depths of sleep, these words did not reach it.

“I’ll let Rei be the one to do that. After all, I… Don’t have that right.”

Translator Note: Okay so this makes me feel super bad considering how serious the chapter was, but when I translated the last line I was definitely thinking of that Elden Ring meme, “You don’t have the right O you don’t have the right.”

Back to the chapter though, I really wonder what’s going on with Catherine. Just what is it that she did? ;~;