episode_0016

Following Claire, both Arina and Isabella’s eyes widened.

Shayden wouldn’t take Karsen’s side in such a matter. Arina promptly asked for the reason.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Shayden? Food that shouldn’t be eaten?”

“Do you happen to know about Kelsia allergies?”

All three shook their heads. Only one, looking flustered, shrugged.

But Shayden, without acknowledging this, continued, “I thought as much.”

“Kelsia fruits contain a small amount of poison. Generally, they don’t harm the human body, but… it’s a different story for patients with allergies.”

“Allergies… you say?”

“Could it be that Karsen has an allergy to Kelsia?”

“Yes.”

As Shayden confirmed, the aristocrats at the table were stunned. Karsen, who had already left, hadn’t touched any food, except for the roast turkey that was at the very center.

Remembering Karsen tearing into the meat, Claire asked in a trembling voice, “W-what are the symptoms? Karsen already ate the meat!”

“The severity varies, but it could range from simply feeling aversion in taste or smell to being able to distinguish between food with the fruit and without, in severe cases.”

Karsen deliberately avoided eating the food.

He could make that distinction. That much was certain.

“But that’s for stages 1-3. If he falls into the most vulnerable stage, like the young master, stage 4…”

Gulp.

“With even a slight intake, the toxicity would have a significant effect. Without neutralization, he’d be bedridden for days.”

“What?!”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“Fortunately, it seems he only had the seasoned part of the meat, not the fruit itself, but even that couldn’t escape his aversion due to the scent.”

Why didn’t he eat?

It was because of the allergic reaction caused by the fruit entering the food.

Why did he tear the meat with his hands like a beggar?

It was because he wanted to eat only the flesh of the meat, avoiding the Kelvia fruit seasoned peel.

Why didn’t he apologize for what he did wrong?

Really, because there was nothing wrong. It couldn’t be clearly seen as a mistake.

Poison, not food.

To Carsein, this dining table existed only as poison.

– It’s really unfair. I just ate when they told me to eat, why do I get scolded like this?

– If it were like this, it would be much better to suffer from a cold. It’s not right, and the meal is served properly. Don’t you think so, Claire?

– I’m sorry for being vulgar and dirty. Someone like me would rather not be seen at an adult’s table, wouldn’t they?

– Those who don’t want to be seen leave first. Enjoy your meal.

Carsein’s voice, which had spread throughout the restaurant, saying he would go first, finally came to mind. It was no different from inviting someone to a meal and telling them not to eat. He had to stand alone like a screen while others ate. No, including the condition of allergies, it might be even worse.

“I felt it last time, but it seems that there is excessive malice towards you, sir. I urge you once again. It seems good to investigate the lower people. Well then.”

As Shaden closed the door and left, a long silence fell over the restaurant. Since the maids were left behind after the investigation, only the four families remained.

“How… how could this happen…”

Bang!

Isabella slammed the table hard, showing a rare look in her eyes.

“Who. Who on earth dared to do such a despicable thing at the Viscount’s estate!!”

Her voice, filled with anger, filled the restaurant. Blaming the daughters of this place wasn’t the case, but it wasn’t something to just overlook.

“Ariana. Gather all the servants immediately! Right now!”

“Mother! Please calm down!”

“Calm down? Do you expect me to calm down after seeing this obvious intention not to even have a meal?”

“I understand. I know. Mother, I understand your feelings, but even if we punish all of them severely, it won’t catch the culprit. It could even harm innocent people.”

“Karsein. Ah, ah…!”

“Mother!”

“Oh, mom!”

Isabella, losing strength in her legs, collapses, and Claire and Arena support her, seating her on a chair.

“It would be best for mother to rest deeply. I will investigate the culprit with Claire, so you should rest, right?”

“I will catch them. I will definitely catch them, so mom, just rest. Okay?”

“How could someone commit such a disgraceful and despicable act at the duke’s estate…!”

Despite this, Isabella struggled for quite some time. After her daughters comforted and reassured her, offering suitable alternatives to prevent straining herself, Isabella finally left her place.

However, in the now chaotic dining room, only one person couldn’t hide their anxiety.

‘What should I do…?’

The look in Karsein’s eyes, as if he knew everything, is still unforgettable. No, it felt like he might really know.

‘This time, it’s not me, it’s not me…!’

-Thud, snap!

The thumbnail of the girl standing on my foot broke.

***

Thud.

“Young master? You’re already here… Oh my!”

Camilla, tidying up the bedding, turned her head in surprise.

However, the reason for her surprise was not just the loud noise.

“My, my goodness… Young master! What in the world…?”

The clothes she was going to wear to the banquet were in disarray. It seemed far from the neat appearance she had after thoroughly washing and grooming herself multiple times since dawn.

Moreover, it didn’t seem like she had just returned from a meal. If one were to watch the blood flowing down sharply scratched cheek, staining the white fabric of her shoulder, it would feel more like she had received a punishment.

“Camilla.”

“Oh, yes. Yes, young master…”

Startled by the sudden call, Camilla responded a beat late to her master’s summons.

“I simply went to dine according to Claire’s wishes and your summons. I even made sure to show that I had prepared the clothes you saw when you arrived. What could have gone wrong here?”

“Oh, no…”

“So, the reason for my current state is entirely due to what happened at the dining table. Isn’t it?”

Camilla silently nodded her head.

Then, Karsein began to bring up the events at the dining table.

“When I responded to my mother’s call, I saw something quite amusing at the restaurant. How is it that only the foods I can’t eat end up being served? It’s absurd.”

“What are you trying to say…?”

“Kelbia allergy. Because of that, I couldn’t even have a proper meal. That’s why I look like this.”

“…!”

Camilla’s heart sank at those two words.

She, who had been commissioned to torment the mistress every time, was well aware of it.

Kelbia fruit. To Karsein, it was the devil’s fruit.

“Putting food I can’t eat on top and telling me to eat. No wonder I’d get angry, wouldn’t I?”

Camilla couldn’t bring herself to speak up.

Having once been a noble herself, she had experienced similar situations.

Inviting someone to dine and then staging a situation where they couldn’t eat was blatant malice.

In other words, that time was meant for everyone but Karsein.

“I’m furious, you know. I managed not to eat the Kelbia fruit by tearing apart the meat and just eating the flesh inside. Then Claire slapped my cheek. Look at this.”

Karsein pointed to his cheek, blood trickling down from it. Camilla, feeling dizzy, immediately fetched something to wipe the blood.

At that moment, he let out a bitter, mocking laugh, looking disheveled.

“Now do you understand reality? Camilla. Filthy, uncultured, and vulgar. That’s exactly where I belong.”

An unequivocally blunt expression. Anyone would interpret its meaning.

Thanks to your unnecessary intervention, I’ve returned in this state. So don’t act unilaterally like this in the future.

That was a warning.

Simultaneously, by emphasizing the understanding of reality, it implied that he would not be recognized as a noble.

In essence, Karsein was subtly implying that he wasn’t fit to participate in adult ceremonies.

I have no words, even if I had ten mouths. As a personal maid, it seemed that the master had intentionally led to this situation.

There was a desire to tend to the wounds on his face, but the atmosphere seemed to disallow even that. The extent of what could be done was limited to avoiding adult conversations.

With a bitter expression, Camilla attempted to leave Carsein’s room.

However,

“Wait, Camilla, I have something to ask before you go.”

Before she turned around, he asked that question.

“If today’s breakfast at the duke’s estate were to be converted into money, how much would it be?”

It was a very strange question.

***

After Camilla left the room, I instinctively discarded the clothes and headed to the bathroom. As I wiped away the still-flowing blood with the lukewarm water in the tub, a stinging pain ensued.

Well, it wasn’t a total loss. If getting slapped once meant the possibility of not participating in the adult ceremony, then it wasn’t a bad deal.

Once I get slapped, I can just brush it off.

“It’s odd how familiar this feels. Similar to when I experienced something like this before.”

The second daughter’s birthday, which in Korean tradition is the moment she turns twenty after midnight. I, just like Carsein, had been slapped by the second daughter on her birthday.

“Of all times, it had to be on the second daughter’s birthday. Moreover…”

The number next to my status name had changed.

“Looking at it this way, there’s hardly any difference.”

Likely the same. These family members have no idea at all.

I checked my complexion in the mirror, quickly dressed after confirming it was pale enough, and then briefly sat at the table, recollecting the events at the dining room.

“I’ve seized an opportunity for now. I wonder how this will turn out.”

That action aimed at three things simultaneously: pressuring someone who had solely focused on tormenting Carsein, imposing some restrictions on the movements of all the servants including the maids, and finally, employing a trick to ruin the clothes to avoid Claire’s adult ceremony.

Actually, I don’t know which side it will be effective on. This is something that can only be known after seeing the results, and it was even more so because it was a scene that didn’t exist in the game.

However, it’s okay to expect that, due to this, people won’t treat me lightly for a while.

One person will realize that their plan has completely failed and will be grinding their teeth over it. That should be enough.

“First of all, the most urgent thing is Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony… Hm.”

Carsein always had to follow the episode and choose one of the options to react forcibly.

As far as I know, this episode has never disappeared. There have been many other episodes added, but there has never been one that hasn’t been progressed.

How should I get through this?

That was the biggest concern.

Right at that moment, the status window opened.

-Ding!

▶Hidden Episode Cleared!◀

▶Episode III. Discovered the hidden episode behind Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony!◀

‘Hidden Episode?’

▶This is a setting that the player did not realize!◀

▶An appropriate explanation is provided through analysis!◀

…

…

▶Analysis Complete!◀

※Hidden Episode

[ Unlike main episodes or sub-episodes, it is a hidden episode that can only be unlocked when specific situations and conditions are satisfied! ]

[ It mainly pertains to behind-the-scenes stories, after-stories, backgrounds, etc., and supports the coherence of the main episodes! ]

If that’s the case, wouldn’t the memorial serve the same function? However, looking at the explanation coming down, it seems that’s not the case.

‘The memorial is not considered an episode. It’s just a chunk of information for breaking through episodes.’

You can’t intervene in past events that have already happened. That’s the limit of the memorial. But it’s mentioned as being treated as an episode. That was something to be cautious about.

So why did this pop up?

The questions harbored here seemed to be answered by the knocking sound coming from outside.

-Knock, knock.

“Who’s there?”

There was no answer to the question of who it was. The knocking sound continued, and even that knocking force gradually weakened.

“Could it be that a dead flag suddenly pops up here…!”

Yeah. I should just ignore it.

I won’t go back unless I open the door…

▶ Forced event is in progress. ◀

▶ Open the door and converse with the characters! ◀

Damn it.

Do my status window even pop up here?

Even if I try to ignore and move on, I can’t avoid the forced event. Besides opening that door, there’s no other way for me now.

Reluctantly, I opened the door.

The guest who came to my room was quite short.

Short enough that I had to tilt my head down to look at them.

“Why did you come here?”

“I, I have something to say.”

The one who came looking for me was none other than Flora.