episode_0176

“What kind of speech habit is that? Carcein.”

Same question, but completely different voice.

If earlier it was a question of lamentation toward an immature younger brother, this time it was a question clearly filled with intimidation.

But I don’t back down.

Rather, that’s what I wanted.

“I don’t know what you are pointing out. This is the etiquette I learned from books.”

“Ha…”

Arina’s eyes narrow.

A look of anger is shining brightly in the blue eyes.

“I will use those titles and honorifics among my family members. Did you eat the wrong food? Why are you talking nonsense like this today?”

“Do you mean to say that it is normal for a mere lord of Rusmire to give such a title to the eldest princess of the Duke of Bagland without knowing how high it is?”

“Carcein.”

“Please tell me if the etiquette I learned is wrong. I know that it is a famous book of etiquette that must be read carefully among the books of etiquette known among nobles.”

Arina’s eyes begin to twitch.

“You keep playing pranks like this. When I return to the Duke’s house, do I have to burn that erroneous book of etiquette in your room? Who among family members distinguishes titles and honorifics like that and maintains etiquette?”

-Charak!

“It’s a waste of time, so hurry up and fill out this collaboration agreement. Don’t be stubborn. If you try to pull the same prank again, I won’t stay still.”

Just like back then, a single document was held out in front.

Funny enough, Arina seemed completely oblivious to the fact that he was holding out the document containing the specific plan.

-Tiring!

▶This is a continuous option. How will they react to Arina’s dossier?

The options that follow.

Anyway, I clearly know the correct answer here.

However, I didn’t know why that was the correct answer.

There are plenty of ways to refuse. I even wondered if I should even use this method.

To put it bluntly, I just assumed that this was the right answer and chose that option.

But now I think I know why.

The choice that I had seen over and over again through retrying the same scene, the same dialogue, and the same development was the perfect answer.

Just as shown in the torn plan memorial.

This choice was the line that best suited Karssein.

[ 1. I do not want to cause trouble to the Bagland duchy. ]☑

To that metabolism, try adding a little MSG.

“You stupid, stubborn bastard.”

In a harsher voice, she swore at me.

“I don’t belong to the Bagland duchy, so how could I dare to cause such a nuisance? That’s nonsense.”

“Ha…! Even though I warned you, you still play such a shallow prank…!”

okay. That’s it.

Unlike before, the wall’s eyes were completely covered with anger, so much so that it could almost be said that they were glowing.

The hand, unable to hold back, goes up.

More clearly, it was the best outcome that could have destroyed this plan.

‘All you have to do is hit me in the face again with those upside-down eyes. Just like that first bitch who stabbed me without hesitation.’

There are no problems either inside or outside the game.

As for HP, even if it is reduced a bit, it doesn’t mean much right now.

With this, the options are chosen correctly and the pain is only momentary. I’m used to this kind of pain.

Coldly. Colder.

I just need to maintain my senses.

However, when I laughed inside and hoped that Arina’s hand would carve a stinging pain into my cheek.

The hand stopped just before it touched my cheek.

“What is this happening in the conference hall? Princess.”

“His Majesty Florence.”

Arina’s hands were filled with mana…

2nd Prince Florence. I was captured by that man.

‘This scene. For some reason, I feel uncomfortable.’

okay. There was a time like this.

Not in Karssein’s memorial, but in my memory.

-Tiring!

▶We succeeded in bringing about a result that went beyond the options.◀

▶The 2nd Prince, Florence, witnesses this situation.◀

■Compensation

[You will no longer receive a choice penalty! ]

…under. Here again, he is the vice president.

***

At Florence’s appearance, Arina glanced around and only after realizing that she had not been discovered yet did she reap her mana.

“Sorry. I behaved carelessly in front of His Highness the Prince.”

“…”

Arina takes a step back and politely takes a bow.

Florence sighed softly as she looked at her like that.

Then, he glanced towards Carcein and shook his head.

“Carsein. You go back.”

“…Your Majesty. Sorry, but this is a family matter. If you are worried about noise, we will proceed with changing seats.”

“Princess Arina.”

“Carcein needs to be punished for his reckless actions. This will have nothing to do with the symposium results.”

“Ha.”

This time, I sighed openly.

“Now that I’m leaving, shall I ask you a question? Karsein. You say it first. What happened here between the two of you.”

“I just rejected the collaboration plan.”

“Collaboration plan?”

“Yes. I’m not supposed to receive it.”

“That’s not true!”

As Karssein gave an immediate answer, Arina suddenly intervened.

“Because it was a matter of writing a collaboration plan between family members, this was─”

“Princess. I’m asking Karssein now.”

“…!”

“Carsein. Continue.”

“As the lord of Ruthmire, I am authorized to attend the symposium. However, that plan would unilaterally cause a nuisance to the Vagrand Duke family, so it is closer to parasitism rather than collaboration.”

Carcein, you…!

Arina’s blue eyes brightened as if she wanted to say that.

Florence received the plan, checked it, and folded the documents.

“Confirmed. A collaboration plan cannot proceed if one side rejects it. It’s good to go back.”

“Thank you.”

Karssein left the conference room without even looking back.

Arina, who was dissatisfied with this result, asked Florence as soon as Carcein left the conference room.

“Why are you listening to that guy’s stubbornness? Your Majesty.”

“Ha. Princess, you really are. Why can’t I remember?”

“A memory?”

Florence sighed and wiped her face.

“Follow me. Since it was my responsibility at the time, I will let you know directly.”

-Tiring!

▶The target’s intimacy has increased!◀

[ Florence Cournen Peselos ]

[Current figure: 20%]

***

The two people who left Carcein at the conference hall were walking a fairly long distance.

On the way, Arina asked if it would be okay to do it here, but Florence only responded that it was a punishment for trying to make a fuss and told her not to say anything and follow her.

Just like that, Arina followed Florence into the innermost living room.

“What about tea? Is it necessary?”

“It is done. Rather, I would like to get to the point.”

“It’s urgent. The reason I chose this room was because it needed as little soundproofing as possible. I don’t want the commotion to get worse.”

The one who made a fuss is that idiot.

My head kept pounding.

“… Judging by the expression on his face, it looks like he’s still blaming Karssein.”

Florence hits the nail on the head.

Arina raised her head and answered confidently without any hesitation.

“Isn’t it true? The person who destroyed Shatren is doing something that will get him caught up in all kinds of gossip.”

“Princess.”

“Once again, I would like to emphasize that this is not blaming, it is a fact. This is the arrogance of Karssein, who does not even know his subject and tries to lead Shatrene with his poor capabilities.”

Screw it up, ruin it again.

Accidents happen as they happen.

The arrogance of that fool who doesn’t do anything to correct it.

This was the only way I could think of this incident.

“Because we are family, we can at least protect them, so we took this method. That idiot is behaving carelessly without any consideration for the efforts of me and other family members.”

Then Florence asked in an unbiased manner.

“So, you are telling your family that you will kick them out?”

“Yes? What is that…”

“Didn’t he say that he would kick out the Bagland duchy to Karssein, who he said was his family?”

Arina’s shoulders twitched.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t even remember? Even though it happened in this conference hall, back then, during the symposium.”

“…”

I do not know.

I don’t remember.

Did something like that happen?

“Ha.”

Florence took a sip of tea with a bitter expression.

Then, he begins to recite exactly what Arina said.

“This is what I put together after looking at that stupid report. Even if the fire is urgent, we have to put it out, so proceed according to this plan. The remaining responsibility lies with the Duke family.”

Florence continues as if this is not the end.

“If you disgrace the Duke of Bagland one more time, no matter what my mother says, I will kick you out of the duchy with my own hands.”

At that moment, Arina’s expression began to harden.

“Surely… I said that?”

“Okay. Just like today. I said that after hitting Karssein on the cheek with a hand filled with mana. And one more thing.”

-Sigh.

“You presented this collaboration plan back then too.”

“…!”

“Now, do you remember anything?”

A look of embarrassment appeared as vague memories of the past came to mind.

“Did you say he was the younger brother you tried to protect because he was family? Even though you did the same thing to your younger brother, you still claim it’s because you’re family?”

“Charge. That was… a mistake made out of anger and not being able to control my emotions. It’s not my true intention…!”

“Even if it wasn’t your true intention, what would Karssein think?”

“Yes…?”

“Do you really think you didn’t think that you might be kicked out of the duchy as the princess said?”

As I pondered over Florence’s words and tried to represent Carcein’s position, I quickly became out of breath.

-When did you say that if I do something like this again, you will kick me out of the duchy? You just kicked them out, right?

Karssein already knew, so he said that.

“This is what the princess meant by not remembering. In such a situation, the princess did the same thing to Karssein as she did in the past.”

-Pong.

“Disappointed.”

With one last word, Florence put ice in Arina’s teacup and left.

This meant to cool off a bit among the noble manners.

“…such a mistake.”

I really might need to cool my head.

For Karssein, I ended up giving the same result as before.

I vaguely remember the image of Karsein I saw in front of the stone tower during the Snow Festival.

Throwing that child out… whether it was a simple threat or a threat, it was something that should never be said.

“…”

-Pop!

Arina caught sight of the bottle and immediately opened it.

The wine glass is filling up one after another.

I want to forget about it for now.

Myself for committing such a foolish act.

-Tiring!

▶Arina’s intimacy has increased.◀

[Arina Bagland]

[Numerical change: 45%→49%]

***

“Ha.”

Florence sighed and left the conference room, glanced at the living room where Arina was, and shook her head.

“It seems I have committed too great a sin against you.”

Wouldn’t it be different if he was from the Kingdom of Wederos?

It was suggested with that in mind… but not considering his family situation too much became a huge problem.

When the time comes, I might have to use my hands.

Florence leaves the conference hall with a heavy heart.

Now I’m trying to relieve some of this weight by taking in the cool outside air.

“…are you?”

at that time. Karssein was right in front of me.

The Karssein who tried to separate him from Arina.

“Why are you here…? Ah.”

Florence, who asked without realizing it, only then noticed.

“Well, didn’t His Highness call you?”

He had inadvertently shown Carcein a signal that was in line with noble etiquette.

So there is nothing strange.

The signal, which was only visible to Karsein, meant that he should remain because he had something to say later.

‘Ha, this. ‘I underestimated you again.’

Karsein was thought to be poor at etiquette, but… it occurred to him that maybe that wasn’t the case.

Florence handed Carcein an item with some anticipation. It was a real gift hidden in what I was trying to tell you earlier by calling it a gift.

“Well, it’s not a big deal. I just wanted to convey this.”

“This is… Shatrene’s internal evangelism. It seems a little wrong, right?”

“That’s right. I am guessing that it was created by another noble faction.”

also. These expectations are not misplaced.

“…No way. Are you saying that the Waglu faction was tampering with our chatelaine?”

The words I wanted to convey while evangelizing the Shatren Territory were quickly caught by Karssein and disappeared.

Strangely enough, Florence didn’t feel that bad.