episode_0019

Why did I forget about it?

Thinking back now, even in the game, there were hints given.

At the adult ceremony venue, there was a space provided for taking a short break or resting. Although it was called a ceremony, it was a considerate place where you could take a breather without getting too tired from continuous revelry.

The terrace was the place mainly used for such occasions. It was a resting place located at the corner of the large hall.

Since the beginning of the adult ceremony episode, anytime and anywhere, Carcyn could enter this terrace to pass the time. The reason he could come up with ways to not be noticed by family members and guests while spending a long time here was because of the existence of this place.

Strangely, not all terraces could be used.

[ Curtains are drawn. ]

There were occasionally places where this message was visible, and strangely, if you used the adjacent terrace without any message, no message would appear when entering.

With just the difference of having drawn curtains, why did this discrepancy occur? At that time, I couldn’t understand.

I wondered if there might be a hidden memorial that could be helpful, so I tried to sneak a peek again, but each time, that message popped up.

After the ceremony ended and I looked into it, the interior was not significantly different. To put it plainly, it would be right to say that no differences were visible.

There were no signs of the expected memorial or special items, and even after searching everywhere without giving up my suspicions, there was no gain.

A place not much different from the same terrace. In other words, simply because the curtains were drawn, it meant that Carcyn couldn’t enter.

However, if I had thought a little more deeply about this hint,

If Carcyn had pondered why he didn’t want to enter the terrace with drawn curtains,

Realizing that the drawn curtains meant that someone else was using it, it might not have happened.

“Ouch.”

He rubbed his forehead where he bumped into the woman.

I, too, was in the same situation, unaware, and my forehead hurt, and like her, my rear end also hurt.

However, it’s not the time to cry out in pain.

‘What a mistake…!’

With her purple hair and lovely eyes, the elegant lady had a sharp impression. Her attire was luxurious, indicating nobility. She was someone Karceine should never encounter.

First, I need to conceal my appearance.

Make sure she doesn’t recognize me.

“I apologize. Due to my haste, I have committed a breach of etiquette towards Your Grace.”

Thankfully, I didn’t forget that I was a servant, thanks to my quick thinking. It was also a great relief that I hastily recalled how servants address nobles.

If I bow my head and cover my face, I should be able to prevent Karceine from causing any disturbance or triggering a death flag.

It’s inevitable that spilled water cannot be helped.

No matter what, I must smoothly navigate Claire’s coming-of-age episode without causing any commotion.

The moment there is even a slight friction with the nobles, Karceine will be subject to criticism from any family member.

But.

I had to avoid the worst-case scenario at all costs.

This seems like the worst-case scenario…?

“Oh… the dress.”

As I collided with her, the cup in her hand spilled onto the dress.

The cup in her hand fell, leading to a real disaster as the water spilled.

Just looking at it makes my head go blank and shivers run down my spine.

Now that things have come to this, I have to throw the dice and take my chances.

“I am truly sorry! Please let me know the amount for compensation and your family name, and I will send it over as soon as the day breaks!”

I took out a towel from the nearby shelf and once again deeply bowed my head.

I’d rather die than borrow money, but I have no choice but to somehow resolve this crisis by borrowing from the Marquis.

Even though I hate it. I really, really don’t want to borrow, but dying would be worse, right?

If this doesn’t work out, it’s practically a direct route to a bad ending. Game over!

At that, the noblewoman let out a sigh. It was such a heavy sigh that I could hear it clearly in my ear.

At the moment when I thought it was all over. Something soft brushed against my cheek, and a sharp pain of uncertainty followed.

“I’m the one who spilled water on your clothes, yet you’re the one injured and apologizing?”

A white handkerchief held in a hand gently covered the open wound.

“You don’t need to bend over backward for this kind of thing, Karsein.”

My heart sank for a moment.

Clearly, she couldn’t have seen my face. She hadn’t checked on me since I stumbled earlier. That’s why I had kept my head down.

But why did that name come up here?

It’s dangerous.

“You’re still the same. Really.”

In just a brief moment, this woman, disguised as a servant, noticed Karsein’s true identity that no one else had.

***

The moment the woman with purple hair approached, shaking her head, and revealed my true identity by touching the cheek where blood began to flow again.

The first thought that came to mind was that this would be a headache.

There’s no way being found out by her feels pleasant to me right now. It’s not ‘Kim Minhyuk’, but ‘Karsein’ that I am.

Vaguely, I remember seeing this female character while playing the game. That means she’s one of the characters.

But I don’t know. Despite raising familiarity through various characters and retried skills, I still can’t figure out who this woman in front of me is.

After swallowing my saliva, I glanced at her.

“Spilled water, huh? It might be better that way. Karsein, if you were here, you didn’t have any specific plans, right?”

Seeing her use informal language, I awkwardly responded, feeling like I should do the same.

“…Uh, yeah.”

“Then stay here for a bit. It’s annoying to dry my clothes. If you’re here with me, I won’t get nagged about having an alibi.”

Stay here? Annoyed about drying clothes? Having an alibi with Karsein to avoid nagging?

“Well, two pieces of information popped up, but I still have no idea.”

This woman is somehow connected to Karceine. The woman asked sharply, narrowing her eyes, “Why the expression? Do you dislike being with me?” “No, it’s not that.” If I had to be specific, I don’t dislike it. If she continues to detain me like this, time will naturally pass, achieving the goal of this episode. Why is your expression like that? If you dislike it, just say so! But I’m not accustomed to that. Karceine’s gaze was undeniably negative—disgust, disdain, enmity. But her response isn’t like that. Even if she doesn’t show kindness, how should I react? There’s no way to adapt. I glanced above her purple hair, but there was no white box. ‘Without any information, it’s impossible…’ By process of elimination, excluding all characters from the novelist to the nobles who only saw Karceine, significant characters are wiped out, yet I still don’t know who she is. A character without intimacy boxes influencing or being influenced by choices. It’s frustrating for players. Lost in deep thought about who this woman might be, the conversation resumed. “I have a proposal. Have you considered it?” “What proposal?” “I sent a letter… Did it not arrive?” I nodded abruptly. Since Karceine wouldn’t receive letters, they were already filtered by the novelist and managed by the servants. “Strange. My name, Harnier, was clearly attached, and I received confirmation from your servants…” Well, they wouldn’t know the situation here. It’s fortunate for me. It’s a chance to learn more about this woman, and if news spreads upstairs, it might prompt the servants to deliver my letters properly.

Is this woman’s name Harney?

“Does Lady Harnier not know anything about me?”

Among the nobles, there are so many things that come to mind when you hear the name Carsein Bagrand that they could fill a whole sheet of paper.

She was a noble herself, so she must have heard it at least once. That was the question she aimed for.

“It’s because I’ve been in so many accidents. There’s no chance that a letter would reach me. It often ends up being discarded by other families. It’s filled with criticism.”

“Oh, really? I hadn’t thought that far.”

“Since it’s like this, why don’t you tell me the contents of the letter yourself? What was it about?”

After exhaling a light sigh, Harney became very serious.

It seems like it must be something quite serious.

*Cough, cough!*

Carsein coughed as if flustered. As soon as the content of the letter proposing an engagement for just one year was mentioned.

Why is he reacting like this as soon as the content is mentioned? Harney asked, narrowing her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Do you dislike the proposal of being engaged to me?”

It’s wet from the water now, but she had prepared thoroughly. Other English people recognized her and approached her, and some of them already harbored malicious intentions.

Harney took pride in her appearance.

But with Carsein’s reaction as soon as the engagement was mentioned, her pride couldn’t help but be scratched a little.

“I don’t think I have the kind of appearance that would attract you, right? This is extremely rude!”

“No? That’s not… *cough*!”

“I guess I’m not to your taste, Master Carsein? Even I? I’m not to your liking. Got it?”

After making a somewhat blunt remark, Harney turned her head sharply.

Only then did Carsein grasp the situation and hit the nail on the head.

“So, that engagement, it serves some purpose, doesn’t it?”

“Right! Confucius didn’t propose it because he liked you rationally, but rather came to make a deal!” Harnie poured out her cool words while wagging her finger, then thirstily grabbed a cup. But there was no water in the poured-out cup. Carsein brought a carefully placed pitcher and poured water into the cup.

“Drip.”

“Just in case you misunderstand, it’s not because your appearance isn’t my taste.”

“What?”

“Let’s assume someone who came to see you suddenly proposed engagement. Wouldn’t that be surprising?”

“Well… Is it normal to be surprised?”

‘Oh, I see. It’s normal to be surprised…’ With understanding, Harnie’s wounded pride was restored.

“It’s not because I dislike it, but it feels strange, doesn’t it? If you had said from the beginning that you came for a deal, there wouldn’t have been any misunderstanding.”

Harnie looked perplexed, rolled her eyes, and swallowed the water. When the cup was back on the table, she kept clearing her throat.

“Easy to read, indeed.” Carsein chuckled and apologized. “Well, I’m sorry. I also reacted in a way that might have caused misunderstanding.”

“No, well… Even if you apologize… If you think about it, even spilling the water earlier…”

“It’s okay. Let’s calm down and get back to the point, shall we?”

“Y-yes.”

Carsein quickly wrapped up the conversation and brought the main topic back up.

The purpose behind the one-year engagement proposal. So, it was a contractual engagement, some kind of deal. This was an opportunity.

“What do you want to gain from the one-year engagement, Harnie?”

“I don’t want anything like that.”

Harnie replied simply. It was too simple of an answer. Despite mentioning a deal, she seemed to want very little from a one-year contractual engagement.

However, upon hearing her additional words, Carsein immediately understood.

“The engagement itself is my purpose.”