Our Family Has Fallen

”I don’t know.” Margaret couldn’t help but furrow her brow; no one had ever told her about this either.

And what does carrying a weapon mean? In Bastia, people carrying weapons are seen everywhere.

”Can’t you people learn some rules?” The sheriff sighed helplessly, clearly fed up with these people.

A while back, a bunch of Romani people and those sailors came causing trouble everywhere, and he’d almost talked himself hoarse.

”In Hamlet, unless you have a permit to carry guns, it’s best to keep these things at home, and definitely don’t use them in town, because according to public safety management...”

Another sheriff simply explained the rules and handled the matter seriously, then pulled out a pen and paper, signaling, ”According to the regulations, since it’s your first time, this is just a warning. Please show me your ID—I need to register it.”

”What identification?” Margaret was even more confused, but she knew she seemed to be in trouble.

But she wasn’t the only one who was cautious. Upon hearing she didn’t even have ID, the two sheriffs became vigilant.

”It’s the piece of paper signed by the staff after you registered upon entry.”

”How did you get in without it?”

For a moment, Margaret didn’t understand what they were saying; she was just brought in directly, without any registration.

She even looked at the two with some suspicion, wondering if they were trying to solicit a bribe.

But being of noble birth, she had some experience dealing with officials. She directly pulled out the noble card.

”I was brought in by your Lord.”

As expected, this statement left the two in silence, but they weren’t foolish. Just because she said it, did it make it true?

Any evil that harms the Lord’s reputation will be punished by law!

”Then please come with us for a while; we’ll know after asking.”

Margaret didn’t even know the Lord; last night, she was so hungry her head was spinning, and it was pitch dark everywhere, barely remembering how she got in, just that she followed Laura.

She had only seen the Lord once and hadn’t even spoken, so saying that was just to stop them from pestering her.

In theory, that should work. Weren’t Bastia’s gatekeeping soldiers arrogant, bullying the civilians and trying to extort bribes from anyone with wealth?

But she had never been stopped, always traveling in the family crest-adorned carriage over the years.

Mentioning the Lord’s guest, shouldn’t they immediately apologize and leave?

Unexpectedly, the people opposite didn’t follow the routine at all; instead of a warning, it turned into being taken away for investigation.

Oh, family, who understands!

And so, Margaret was taken back to the sheriff’s side and directly into the jail.

Margaret didn’t even consider resisting, thinking there was no way she could escape once she started.

The farce finally ended when Susan came to collect her from the cell after a conversation with the sheriff.

”You can take her, but make sure to explain the rules to her. It’s not just that she wandered with a gun, but the gun was loaded. Even if there’s no harm, a gunshot means punishment for us.”

The sheriff was also somewhat scared, surprised at her boldness, carrying a loaded gun.

One must know that muskets of this era were very unstable, typically loaded only during combat. Her act seemed to invite disaster.

”Sorry for causing you trouble; it’s all because I didn’t explain it clearly to her. I’ll educate her properly when we get back.” Susan signed to retrieve the two confiscated muskets, apologizing to the sheriff the entire time.

Margaret followed behind Susan, somewhat puzzled by the scene.

As the Lord’s butler, her family’s butler was essentially the third most important person in their domain; even fief knights had to show respect.

But this butler was deferential to these sheriffs, puzzling Margaret.

Unless this Noble Lord had no real power and was merely a figurehead, which could explain why mentioning the Lord didn’t cause them to let her go but to be stricter instead.

But it shouldn’t be this way?

She had been a nobility for many years, seeing through the demeanor of subordinates clearly.

When she mentioned the Lord, it was obvious their attitudes became more serious, a respect only knights would have before her father.

”Shall we go?” Susan turned back, urging Margaret, who was in a daze.

Outside, Margaret wanted to retrieve the two guns, but Susan directly refused.

”Not until you understand Hamlet’s rules will these be returned to me for safekeeping.”

Margaret thought earlier comments were just a formality; she didn’t expect them to be serious, making her dumbfounded.

When did she endure such grievances?

Being nobility, receiving fine moral education, yet still with a temper.

She held back her frustration during the incident, exhibiting restraint, but after leaving the refugee-like extreme environment, spoke up impulsively.

”They don’t even listen to you; why do you have to listen to them?”

”They don’t need to be accountable to me; why should they listen?” Susan looked at her in confusion, ”Besides, they did nothing wrong; we were at fault, thus needing correction.”

”How was I wrong?” Margaret couldn’t hold it any longer hearing this; she felt she did nothing wrong.

Is taking a stroll a crime now?

Susan remained calm, explaining without agitation given her attitude.

”The sheriffs are responsible for public safety, facing issues seriously, reducing risks to maintain a secure environment. How were they wrong?

In contrast, you broke the rules by wandering with a gun, which was wrong. It’s your first time, ignorance is understandable, so the fault lies with me, having failed to inform you of these rules, leading to this incident.”

If Susan had blamed Margaret, she wouldn’t accept it, but taking responsibility left Margaret at a loss.

Yet, Susan continued speaking.

”The Lord entrusted me to arrange things for you, making it necessary to explain Hamlet’s rules, but seeing you tired yesterday, I thought to ensure your rest first and explain today.

Unexpectly, you were not awake when I returned, wanting you to sleep more, so I didn’t wake you. I hadn’t thought you’d wander with a gun unsupervised. It’s my oversight, thus my shared liability.”

Honesty sometimes works wonders.

Susan’s words extinguished Margaret’s anger, though she still felt a bit wronged.

Getting caught for harming others is one thing; she’d never been detained for gun possession in other places.

”But I was merely walking with a gun, doing nothing else.”

Susan laughed hearing this, countering, ”Would you like being suddenly confronted by a gun on the streets?”

”How would I do such a thing?” Margaret thought Susan implied her, instinctively defending.

”You know you won’t, but how can you ensure others won’t? Once a gun is in someone’s hand, you can’t be sure they won’t fire.

Not to mention, what if an unlucky shot goes off? Regardless of intent, harm can fall on others or even yourself.”

Margaret understood this logic; she had always enjoyed freedom; apart from her father, who dared control her?

Coming to Hamlet, she felt controlled by numerous rules.

It spurred a complaint.

”It’s not free here at all~”

”If you desire freedom to rule over others, Hamlet indeed lacks it.” Susan’s tone shifted from gentle to stern, meeting Margaret’s gaze with slight anger, ”Don’t bring outside corrupt practices to Hamlet!”