episode_0072

“Wasn’t Karsein supposed to come with you?”

Isabella greeted Arina, who returned from outside, with a worried voice.

“They said they have postponed training at the training grounds.”

“There’s a lot to talk about. Couldn’t you bring them back?”

“It seems like that would be difficult. Mother. It seems like they are very angry because of this trial.”

“…I see.”

Isabella sighed deeply, looking despondent.

She decided not to bring up Flora until Karsein’s mood had improved.

When the time comes, she will have to ask then.

“What about Claire?”

“She said she’s going to raise the punishment for the guys who harassed Karsein when he was very angry.”

“That’s like Claire.”

“But, Arina.”

Isabella called out to Arina in a low voice.

“You also… didn’t hear anything, did you?”

Arina fell silent.

She was too overwhelmed to even follow the details of the trial.

Emma’s request to expel Karsein from the ducal estate.

The false accusation against Theo Ramstair, who took on the request.

The incident of the raid on the Shafel Forest by the Radial.

The ban on Karsein at the training grounds and Emma’s embezzlement.

Karsein’s bad reputation mentioned in the background of this incident.

Even though she tried to follow, she couldn’t keep up.

The presence of this huge shadow hidden beneath the silence was an indescribable shock.

“Yes. You must have felt the same… I’m sorry for asking for no reason.”

Afterward, Isabella, like Arina, decided to give Karsein some time.

“Of course, all the servants at the ducal estate will have to be replaced.”

There is a list, but there must be more.

If Claire uses the same method, she can pick out the servants who harassed Karsein for a bribe from Emma.

The knights are the same.

Those who were working with Theo Ramstair at the watermill have all been arrested, but there are still quite a few knights left.

There should be no remnants of Emma at the ducal estate. And the righteous ones who wanted to clear Karsein’s name will have to be rewarded separately.

“There is a lot to do in many ways.”

Arina moved to her study and started investigating with a pen in hand.

The pen that Arina had been playing with stops, making a scratching sound.

The time has darkened imperceptibly.

The sun has completely set, and the bright full moon is shining with a cold light.

Arina paused for a moment.

“…Has so much time passed?”

She had no idea how time flew by during the continuous work of erasing the ducal estate’s past.

Arina muttered as she looked at the clock.

“It’s about time to call him.”

Karsein still has time after finishing the postponed training at the training grounds.

He will return to the ducal estate to talk with his family, ask for more details about the incident like Claire did, and try to increase their punishment.

It is also important to resolve the misunderstanding with Flora.

Arina pushed in her chair and stood up, putting on her coat to go outside.

That’s when it happened.

“Miss Arina, are you here by any chance?”

The urgent voice of a maid was heard.

When she opened the door, a flustered new maid was visible. She was the new maid assigned to Flora.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well…”

The maid’s words made Arina move urgently as well.

***

“Um, can I help with that? I know the housemaids the best since I’m the third daughter.”

The third daughter spoke hesitantly, as if trying to act innocent.

The housemaid who had been caught sneaking my allowance ended up being caught first and came to confess, and this was what she had to say.

The reason the housemaid resorted to such actions was because of her.

“Kim Min-hyuk, don’t you hate it when your workload increases? Just send a maid over and I won’t─”

Stop talking nonsense and shut up. You brat.

I probably said that, cutting off the third one’s words.

But that naive brat accused me of cursing at her and tattled. The eldest was scolding me today for stealing my allowance.

Damn, I hated it.

No matter how much I spoke, they never listened to my opinions.

So I had to hide the fact that the third one was causing trouble.

Even if my body couldn’t handle it and I had to be taken to the emergency room.

“…Ha. What the hell. What kind of dream is this again.”

As I opened my eyes, curses came out first.

Why are those damn memories from the past coming back?

I keep getting annoyed because of those girls who tormented me even in my dreams.

But for some reason, even after waking up from the dream, those memories come back a little more.

“After that…”

The maid had a legal trial at that time. She cried and begged, saying she was wrong for stealing the money I had set up as a trap and had to return all the money she had stolen, including her salary.

But it wasn’t enough for me.

Just like Emma, who never bowed down to Carsein until the end, I kneeled before the eldest and the stepmother.

If we delve into the story after the incident, the maid turned out to be an older sister of a student at the school I attended, and when this fact spread at school, she and her younger sister left the area.

The younger sister was forced to transfer schools, and the maid sister struggled to find a job after the trial.

Considering that the younger sister was a girl who would sneakily steal food from my lunch tray with a curl in her bangs, well, it was a good thing.

At first glance, it seems like a big change, but the biggest change was me.

“I started working part-time from then on.”

Considering that I didn’t have an allowance anyway, I started putting all the money that was taken from me by the maid in a drawer.

After being robbed, I realized that the money I received from them was not mine.

My mindset was firmly set on pushing away any help from them and using the money until I could escape.

Even though the first part-time job was difficult.

Even though I collapsed after coming back from the emergency room and slept all day.

Even though I had no time to rest day and night while balancing my studies.

“Come to think of it, the third one caught me collapsing in front of him not long after I started working part-time.”

Yeah. That was definitely strange.

The brat’s expression at that time…

-Thump thump thump!

“Carsein, are you in there?”

It was Arina.

It’s not the time to dwell on the past anymore.

I didn’t want to open the door.

So I didn’t open it and spoke in that state.

“What’s the matter?”

“Didn’t Flora come looking for you here?”

“Why would she come here?”

Nonsense.

By now, she must have run to Isabella, claiming she was the only one who could help and cursing me.

Arina denied my sarcasm and continued.

“No. Flora has been feeling guilty towards you since then. I told you after the trial. The youngest was trying to help you in any way she could. So it makes sense that she went to look for you!”

“What nonsense…”

-Ding!

At that moment, the status window forcibly opened.

“Really, she didn’t go outside to meet you…?”

Amid Arina’s worried voice, the floating status window…

My eyes were filled with doubt.

▶Error Occurred!◀

▶It is not the appropriate time to intervene in this branch.◀

▶Alternative decision in progress…◀

…

…

“What the hell is this!”

I cursed internally at the familiar window that appeared.

Episode VI ends by definitively resolving Emma and Theo’s trial.

In a way, it was the easiest for me, and as long as I was well-prepared, there were no major variables in this game.

This window, it’s not going to disappear!

▶Confirmation that Episode VI has not ended!◀

▶Confirmation of meeting the conditions for the hidden episode!◀

▶Clear conditions for Episode VI are changing.◀

▶Two episodes will be merged!◀

▶Results being derived…◀

“I clearly finished it. I remember the alarm sound at that time…!”

…No. Wait.

“Did I… did I check that?”

I didn’t check.

In my tired mind, I chose to get caught up in the royal court, depleting the intimacy of my family members.

Just like with Radiel, if there was no mention of Episode VI being cleared?

“If you don’t know, then where is Flora…!”

As Ariana’s question about Flora’s whereabouts arose,

▶Episode VI. The Disappearance is in progress!◀

▶This episode is both a hidden episode and a main episode!◀

▶Find Flora.◀

[ Time Limit: 30 minutes ]

[ Failure to find Flora within the time limit will result in death! ]

[ If time runs out, the episode will automatically fail, resulting in death! ]

I realized that it was not the time to sleep anymore.

I opened the door in a hurry.

“Tell me in detail. When, where, what was Flora doing!”

***

▶Find Flora.◀

[ Time Limit: 25 minutes 31 seconds ]

[ Failure to find Flora within the time limit will result in death! ]

[ If time runs out, the episode will automatically fail, resulting in death! ]

I have no idea.

This kind of development has never happened before.

I have never encountered, heard of, or experienced this.

But if I just stand here blankly, I will die.

As much as I dislike that brat, I have no choice but to find her now.

“Harnier!”

“Karceine?”

“Have you seen a blonde brat up to my waist around here?”

“No. There was no one like that…”

Jegiral. Ariana’s orders were to search for people, but it seemed unlikely that it would be resolved within the remaining time.

The problem is that there are no clues.

No one has seen Flora since the trial ended, which was holding me back.

“Oh, wait. If you’re talking about Flora… I think I saw her briefly…”

“…!”

“Where was it? I think I saw her leaving the courtroom…”

Harnier was deeply lost in thought.

I waited patiently, taking slow deep breaths.

“Over there. She went in that direction.”

Harnier pointed with her finger.

That direction… towards the sponsor’s area?

“To be precise, it wasn’t when she entered the courtroom. I briefly saw her while I was wandering around the noble’s area, and that’s when I happened to spot her.”

That means…

“It’s highly likely that what Harnier saw was the last appearance of Flora.”

I got the only clue.

I immediately ran in that direction.

Inside the sponsor area. If there are traces of Flora among the blooming flowers, I have to find them.

Where are you. Where are you.

Where and what on earth happened!

“Wait! C-Can you come with me…?”

“Harnier? Why are you following me?”

“I felt a faint scent as soon as I entered here.”

“A scent?”

“I’m not sure, but it smells like a sleeping potion. And the jewel on my clothes is reacting, so it must be certain.”

“A sleeping potion… could it be.”

Harnier narrowed her eyes.

“Kidnapping. There’s a high possibility that it was a well-planned attempt.”

-Ding!

▶Clue Found!◀

◆Subtle sedative scent in the sponsor’s room

Flora was drugged by someone with a sedative and kidnapped.

That’s the main point.

Harnie, confirming the fact that the gem was emitting light, spoke about the type of sedative.

“This sedative is usually applied to a handkerchief. It’s so potent that it shouldn’t be ingested, so it’s meant for single use only.”

“So, that means they couldn’t use the sedative too strongly, indicating a lack of proper equipment. Is that correct?”

“That’s right. They must have struggled for at least a few seconds.”

“Then there might be traces left here.”

They immediately began to carefully search the area near the sponsor.

And.

They found it.

-Ding!

▶Clue Found!◀

◆Orange scarf

A clue left by the culprit.

“A scarf… not something young girls would use.”

“…Yes.”

I know this too.

It’s not for women, but for men. It’s the type of scarf mainly received as a gift by young girls.

This allows us to identify the culprit.

He wasn’t afraid.

He was just waiting for the perfect opportunity.

-Swish.

“It’s… not blood splattered, but dripping down the body.”

▶Clue Found!◀

◆Droplets of blood

[ Location: Sponsor ]

He avoided the stigma of the judgment’s prison.

Heading to the Tulea Mines the next day, not the same day.

Therefore, he believed there was no turning back and focused on fulfilling one last wish.

Yes. It can be summarized in one sentence.

The reason for kidnapping Flora.

-Ding!

▶Choose what the culprit wants!

[ 1. Revenge against Karsein Vagrant. ]

[ 2. Flora’s ──── ]

[ 3. Vagrant Marquis’s ──── ]

…

…

It’s none other than revenge against me.

***

-Thud. Thud.

The sound of water can be heard.

Drop by drop. It sounded like it was falling from somewhere.

Strangely, the sound of water was unpleasant to hear, as if it would furrow one’s brow.

Even the faint smell of iron made the nose tingle, making the eyelids heavy and forcing them to open.

And so, Flora opened her eyes.

She couldn’t do anything.

Her arms were tightly bound to a hard wooden chair.

Shackles were attached, and her legs were securely tied with ropes.

Her pupils, wandering in the darkness, could only capture the approaching figure in the darkness.

A man’s voice sent shivers down her spine.

“Are you awake, miss.”

“…!”

Even though she couldn’t see, she knew.

She remembered what had happened.

Theo Ramstair.

The one who kidnapped her from the sponsor was calling her name.