episode_0042

“Karceine has returned?”

“Yes. I just received a message from the mansion side. The young master has returned safely…”

“I see. Everyone went through a lot.”

“Ariana, Miss!”

Upon hearing the news, Ariana immediately turned her horse towards the mansion.

She had given rough instructions to the knights, but she had to return immediately.

It was late.

Even after searching for a long time and not seeing him, the moment came back as vivid as ever.

How could she forget?

Her younger brother lying on the street, bruised and battered, yet smiling because he had managed to protect one of her gifts, was more shocking than she could imagine.

It was a foolish and reckless act.

Karceine had lain bedridden for days, consumed by foolish thoughts of how nice it would be to go somewhere without knowing how harsh the outside world could be.

His appearance, like a thorn in her side, still haunted her occasionally.

Every time she saw what he had preserved from the bandits and ruffians.

Every time she saw the hair tie he had obtained for his older sister, who looked good with a ponytail.

“…Sigh. Let’s calm down, Ariana Vagrand. That was the foolish past me.”

She said to calm herself down, but Ariana couldn’t easily calm herself and tightened the reins even more roughly.

Arriving hastily at the mansion, Ariana headed straight to Karceine’s room.

However, when she finally arrived in front of Karceine’s room.

Ariana couldn’t bring herself to knock on the door, even though she had heard from the servants that Karceine was in there.

“…”

Would running to the night market now and buying something Karceine would like help ease her mood?

Would telling him that she had dealt with the thugs who had trampled Karceine that day make her feel relieved?

Or should she offer a bigger reward to forget about the past events?

Countless choices crossed Ariana’s mind.

But she didn’t know.

Whether Karceine wanted any of this.

All Ariana knew was that Karceine wanted to give her the hair tie, as a memory of when she was left behind at 17 and returned beaten up.

It was like a birthday gift.

She didn’t know anything else.

What he liked. What he disliked.

What interested him or what his hobbies were. What his tastes were.

She had never asked about these things before.

But… there was one thing.

If there was one thing Ariana knew about Karceine.

“He liked going to the misty yard… But this is not a matter to decide lightly.”

Stepping back one step at a time in Karceine’s room, Ariana lightly touched her forehead.

Karceine had caused a big problem in the past at the misty yard.

It was such a big problem that it harmed not only Duke Vagrand’s family but also the heirs of other families entrusted here.

So it was right that this was not a matter to be decided lightly.

Because making hasty judgments could lead to even greater harm.

However.

The weight of the decision leans more towards Karceine’s interest than the harm.

As she continued her thoughts, she suddenly remembered what she had heard from her mother.

-Hehe. That child has grown up too.

She mulled over those words she heard on the festival street several times.

Grown up.

Perhaps that statement was true.

If Claire’s words were correct, there was also a commotion at today’s meeting, but he handled it well.

Karceine had matured much more compared to the past.

He forgave Camilla generously and instead of getting angry or raising his voice abruptly, he took enough time to think. Even during the Kelbia allergy incident, if he had been the same as before, he would have overturned the table, but he held back.

“Yes. Karceine has… become that much more dignified.”

He knows how to endure even when he feels bad.

He doesn’t show reckless behavior like before.

So.

The younger brother, who had become more refined, seemed fine stepping into the forbidden area of the training ground that had been designated until now.

Perhaps this incident could be… easily forgotten in an adult-like manner.

“The hair tie…”

Ariana gazes at the hair tie and then raises her hand.

Hearing that Karsain returned safely, she hurriedly ran over, her damp red hair in disarray.

Her hands touched the messy hair.

-Swish.

As the tie came loose from the disheveled hair, a stream of reddish hair flowed down.

And then, she tied it back up.

She had kept the item that reflected her aversion to that moment for a while, not wanting to recall it.

Karsain showed a relieved expression, handing over a gift, even though it left only past wounds on his younger sister, this hair tie that once pained one side of her chest.

She tied it back into a ponytail on her head.

To show the dignity and lineage of the family, flamboyance is preferred.

However, she felt that a simple hair tie would suffice.

It was a hair tie given directly by her younger brother, not anyone else.

Ariana, who quite liked the new hair tie, often touched it with her hand.

And then, with a sudden realization, she quickly changed her steps.

Hurrying through the stairs and corridors, Ariana arrived at her room and immediately began searching through documents.

“…It should be enough as a birthday gift.”

[ Prohibition order for entry into Karsain Vagrand’s training ground ]

After confirming the title of the document, Ariana took out another piece of paper and elegantly wielded a pen.

***

When she opened her eyes, the sun was already up.

It seems like a day has passed… Perhaps she had intended to rest briefly after entering the room and ended up falling asleep.

“Well, that’s understandable.”

Karsain’s poor stamina played a part, but it was mainly due to Episode IV. She had been busy with the Snowflake Festival schedule.

Nevertheless, she needed to get up quickly.

“I need to go to Ariana to obtain permission to use the training ground.”

She hadn’t met Ariana yesterday due to oversleeping the whole day.

But she thought it would be fine. Ariana would understand; a day wouldn’t make much difference.

And in reality, even in the game, delaying a day didn’t change much. Maybe starting with slightly lower stats if anything?

In other words, if she prepared now and went to see Ariana, it should be fine.

“First, since I just slept all day yesterday, I should wash up…”

She was thinking this when –

Knock, knock.

“Milord, it’s Heron. I have something important to convey and have come to you.”

Heron had come.

Not sure what it was about, but since it was Heron, there shouldn’t be any major issues. I let him into the room.

Heron respectfully bowed and then handed me something.

“Milord, this.”

“A letter?”

“No, it’s something sent by Lady Ariana.”

“Ariana?”

I immediately turned my head to look.

Was there a sudden development where Ariana was sending me something?

“No, that’s not the case. At least not at the current point after finishing Episode IV.”

Rather than sending something, I understood that there was no mention of it until the next episode.

I felt like I should open it to find out.

I promptly unfolded the contents of the box to check.

“What is this…?”

This isn’t supposed to be here right now?

As I pondered, a status window appeared before my eyes.

-Ding!

▶ The danger level of a specific area has changed!

[ Location: Training Ground ]

[ Danger Level: Normal ]

This message wasn’t supposed to appear now.

Currently, I was supposed to visit Ariana or Isabella to assert my right to use the training ground, choose options, and receive rewards.

Yes, that’s right. What Ariana sent me was a certificate announcing the lifting of the ban on entering the training ground.

“What’s going on? How did this happen?”

Even after reading the two words together, I couldn’t immediately grasp what had unfolded.

However, as I tried to fit the puzzle pieces together little by little, a vague guess came to mind.

“If you try to resolve it by saying she is the daughter of that mother, it does make sense.”

Isabella had promised to get a birthday present right away, but was there any way to stop Arina from doing so?

A million thanks.

It was obvious that the power of the Viscount Bagrande would be respected.

In this way, it could also be said that it brought about results beyond the choices.

I am currently in a state where I have deeply stabbed a dagger into Arina with yesterday’s hidden episode, “Perilous Stone Tower.”

If you are trying to compensate for something.

If there is a tendency to always compensate with money like the author did with her mother whenever a problem arises.

If my reality’s eldest daughter, who has shown such a tendency intensely, is no different from Arina.

All puzzles are easily solved.

“That’s what it is.”

“Young master?”

I never expected to feel nauseous like this from the morning.

“Perhaps, do you have any problems?”

“No. No problems.”

However, in this situation, that wouldn’t be too bad.

No matter how it turns out, it’s not a bad thing.

This way, there is no need to go looking for Arina or Isabella.

When considering the risk and return between Arina and Isabella, the calculation of which side is better also ceases.

Moreover, since that area has completely changed from a danger zone to a normal zone without caution or warning signs. From my perspective, it’s actually a big advantage.

“But, I don’t like this kind of thing.”

Since it made me feel uneasy from the morning, now it’s my turn to make these family members feel uneasy.

There might be some use for deciding the branch of Episode V.

There is a high possibility that Claire hasn’t heard this news yet.

As for Flora… there’s no need to touch it right now.

Whether it goes this way or that, Arina seemed to be the perfect fit.

“Heron. I’m sorry to bother you from the morning, but it seems I have a task for you.”

“If I receive an order as your steward, I will gladly do it.”

Heron accepted the task willingly, saying he could be ordered as much as needed.

“Really? Then let me tell you.”

I smirked as I conveyed the task to Heron.

Although Heron’s expression turned to shock upon hearing it, he did not refuse the order.

***

Viscount Bagrande.

Just hearing the name makes one clench their teeth in the Empire.

The pinnacle of clearly noble families that no one under the royal family can reach.

Among the nobles, the most esteemed and undoubtedly the highest-ranking noble.

That is Bagrande.

Those below are merely servants of the master, but the stronger the status and power of the master they serve, the more likely they are to take pride in it.

Emma stood in the position of a lady-in-waiting at the prestigious Bagrande estate.

Every day was enjoyable.

Even when faced with difficult and arduous tasks, if she could serve proud masters, she didn’t feel any fatigue.

Among the ladies-in-waiting of this empire, she had the qualifications to walk with her head held high.

However.

Her days were currently unbearable.

She received scolding from the proud second young lady.

Even receiving a warning not to lay a hand on that creature.

“It’s all because of those commoners!”

She bowed her head twice to the lowly creature in humiliation. But even that wasn’t enough to deter the second young lady.

The noble Bagrande was being tainted by that wretch.

She had to do something about it.

“Miss Flora. It’s Emma. May I come in?”

“Yes. Come in.”

As Emma entered the room, Flora was hugging a teddy bear large enough to cover her body.

“I’ve never seen something like that in Miss’s room before…?”

When Emma tilted her head in confusion, Flora proudly explained.

“This. I got it as a prize during the Snowflake Festival. It’s not easy to get something like this.”

“Did you really like it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. Did you receive gifts from the older sisters?”

“Uh…”

Flora interrupted her words.

“I didn’t receive it from the sisters.”

“Then, what about the madam?”

Hesitant.

“Karsein got it for me.”

“Really?”

“He clearly dislikes me… Why did he get this for me?”

At that moment, Emma’s mind flashed.

‘This is it,’ she thought.

Due to Claire’s stern warning, Emma couldn’t directly harm Karsein. But there was a way. Emma had a powerful ally.

The third young lady. Flora Vagrand.

“Oh my. That guy is targeting our Flora again…!”

Intentionally distorting her expression, Emma appealed to Flora.

“What are you talking about?”

“Miss, he might have some ulterior motive. You’ve seen it many times. There was a time when even the madam couldn’t move against him.”

“Then… could it be this?”

Flora, looking at the teddy bear, began to suspect.

Emma’s mouth twitched outside of Flora’s view.

“…I’ll check it out myself.”

“Should I come with you?”

“No. I can meet him alone.”

“Okay then. Please be careful.”

“Sure.”

With a disappointed look hidden, Flora opened the door and left Emma behind.

“It was all a lie. Our family members again…”

Sighing.

The sense of betrayal felt by the blonde girl clenched her fists.

Just a while ago, Flora had been happily hugging the teddy bear, but now she was heading towards Karsein’s room.

“────.”

“────.”

Suddenly, voices of maids could be heard nearby.

It was the maids’ multipurpose room near Karsein’s room.

Upon hearing Karsein’s name, Flora instinctively turned her ear in that direction.

“As the young master is asleep, entrust it to you. It’s an important item, so deliver it when the young master wakes up.”

─Yes, steward.

“The storage location… since it’s a document, the second compartment on the front should be good. Don’t forget to deliver it.”

It was a conversation between Heron and the maids.

An important item? Suspicious indeed.

Flora pretended to be busy in a nearby room, waiting for the right moment when Heron and the maids left.

After Heron delivered the message, the maids soon left as they went to do laundry.

Taking advantage of this timing, Flora sneaked into the empty maids’ multipurpose room.

And then.

Seeing what the important item was, Flora realized Emma’s words were not wrong.

“So that’s it. Were you trying to win the favor of the eldest sister?”

Flora’s hand trembled.

It was a document releasing the prohibition order with Arina’s handwriting and seal allowing the use of ceremonial weapons.

In the end, it was a purposeful action.

Thinking with the document in hand, Flora decided she would tear the teddy bear to pieces before Karsein’s room.

“No, this comes first before the teddy bear.”

Rip- Rip-

The document was torn into pieces so neatly that it was hard to piece back together or read the sentences.

Collecting the torn pieces in a basket, Flora left the multipurpose room and headed somewhere.

One piece fell under the corridor unnoticed by Flora.

An old man who observed this muttered as he picked up the torn piece.

“Everything has happened according to the young master’s will.”

Initially shocked by the strange command, Heron now fully understood the whole picture.

However, his heart was uneasy.

Undoubtedly, this method would bring significant shock to the other families.

If this fact spread among the maids within the mansion, Karsein’s standing would improve even more.

Yet, he was still uneasy.

“Is the young master… not afraid of getting hurt?”

An eighteen-year-old boy faced all sorts of storms head-on.

However, trying to aggravate those wounds with one’s own hands rather than someone else’s was truly embarrassing.