episode_0304

I thought that if I just closed my eyes, it would be fine.

I thought that if I waited with concentration, I wouldn’t fall asleep.

Since sleep is something that can be easily controlled, I thought it wouldn’t be that difficult for me, who could survive on just a few hours of sleep.

however.

-Tsk tsk.

A frown that naturally arises due to the numb feeling on the forehead while lying in bed, unlike usual.

Adding to this the hot glare of the sunlight, it was now impossible to deny it.

Also, it was clear that he was in a deep sleep.

I thought it was a no-no, but I fell into a deep sleep again.

This time, Harnie might grow up straight and get punished severely.

But when I opened my eyes, Harnie was already gone.

“…”

There is no strength in the head to press down on the arm.

I can’t even smell the nice scent that used to come from right next to me.

I couldn’t even feel the other body heat that was transmitted from my skin and warming the inside of the blanket.

All she left in this room was a single letter.

The beginning contained a sentence apologizing for leaving behind only a letter. Well… there wasn’t really anything to be sorry about.

“If you need to move quickly as you have changed your plans, then that is understandable.”

The Marquis was reported to Harnier for his stinking business, and the territory ruled by the Marquis is pouring out complaints to him from all over, to the point where it is not surprising that such behavior is happening.

Since I had decided to carry it, it was natural that I would be busy.

The territory must be managed as a territory.

By relying on the power of the friendly residents, we must extend that influence to the clan itself.

It will be a very busy time until he changes the minds of the remaining vassals, disintegrates Belian’s faction, and establishes himself as a lord rather than a merchant.

“Yeah. He’ll be busy. And that guy too.”

So I guess I should do my part too.

-Tiring!

▶Episode X. Record the funds consumed while clearing Isabella’s Birthday.◀

▶This is a 5-step condition. The amount of funds you need to hold has increased!◀

▶Own 288 million Pesels in reserve funds◀

[ We had about 92%, but 2% was deducted as consumption costs. ]

The money spent on Isabella’s birthday banquet.

Additional costs to increase family satisfaction.

It took quite a bit of money to manage the intimacy and reputation of each guest.

It did affect the escape date, but it was somewhat expected.

Think quickly and calculate.

Expenses that will be incurred during the period.

The net profit I will receive from the estate.

And the cost of dealing with some episodes that bother me.

Let’s apply all the considerations…

The escape date was once again looming over me.

“…How strange. It’s just right for this day.”

How can I forget this day?

The day I left that house.

The day I was liberated from that hellish house.

Still, you must not let your guard down.

I’m still close to preparing to escape, but I haven’t yet succeeded in escaping.

“And there are still episodes left. I remember the limit was XII, so I have to fill up all that money quickly.”

There is only one step left.

There should be no need for everything to be ruined in vain, leaving just that one step behind.

and.

I will walk out of here on my own two feet.

Just like that time.

***

After Isabella’s birthday banquet.

A week has passed.

There was no one who questioned the birthday party that ended without any incident.

He was known for his great kindness to his mother, and he gained a reputation among the nobles.

Since he did not impose too much of a burden on his servants, there was a favorable public opinion within the duke’s household.

It went without saying to the deceased, and even to the immediate family, the agenda was a source of pride.

“Young Lady Claire didn’t help at that birthday party?”

“Of course. He did it so well on his own. I couldn’t help him.”

Claire proudly spread the word to society.

He said he didn’t help.

At this age, you’re bragging about your younger sibling. You might have heard people say, “Where can you find an older sister who does such a shameless thing?” but it really was worth it.

Because Karsain’s banquet preparation and execution, scheduling, and time allocation were close to perfection.

‘Even if I did it, it wouldn’t have turned out like this, right?’

Isn’t this something that makes you feel good about bragging about your younger sibling?

Claire thought about it and her tone became even more cheerful.

But this boast brought Claire more questions than satisfaction.

“It is true that Confucius became humble.”

“With such humility, other families would naturally roll up their sleeves to help.”

“If Claire Youngae hadn’t helped, would Princess Arina have helped?”

“I guess so. The positioning of furniture and lighting can’t be that delicate.”

“…”

“The pattern that matches the color saturation appropriately, and the decorations that match the background are placed in the right places. These are the roles of the hostesses. How many noble Yeong-siks do you know these days who learn architectural styles and decoration layouts? Haha.”

“That’s right!”

Claire, whose words were cut off in an instant, thought to herself. “…Huh? ”

Yeah. There’s no way you can learn something like that.

Common sense.

Architectural style. Layout of various decorations.

Decorations with appropriate saturation and brightness against the background.

As Young-ae added at the end, this was usually the role of the hostesses.

But did the older sister really help Karcein?

And that’s not all.

‘Those forms… were all expensive.’

If you write something bad for the birthday banquet of the Duchess of Bagrand, it may be remembered for a long time as the worst birthday banquet ever.

Of course, Carcein would know this much too.

So, they would have chosen to use only expensive, high-quality items.

But what about the cost?

Are you saying that Karsain, who only runs two estates, is going to bear all the burden?

“…”

I started to feel a strange sense of discomfort.

Meanwhile,

On the other side, there is also a sister who brags about her older brother.

“All prepared by Karcein. Isn’t it great?”

“Oh my god.”

“That’s really great.”

“But wouldn’t you have gotten help from Flora Youngae for this?”

A girl of Flora’s age said, picking up a tablecloth for plating.

“You probably don’t know that this tablecloth made of special fabric is trendy.”

“…Huh?”

“And these plates too! If you inject a small amount of mana into both items, they will glow and create a beautiful harmony. You wouldn’t know that.”

“These snacks are the same. They were popular this year, or rather, about three months ago. However, my two older sisters don’t like snacks very much, so Flora Youngae’s help was definitely needed to make them to our taste.”

Flora couldn’t help but stiffen as soon as she heard those words.

Even more so when it was assumed that my sisters might have helped me.

“But… aren’t they quite expensive?”

“I saw a lot of delicious cookies and pies…”

“Wouldn’t everyone have helped by contributing funds? It costs quite a lot of money. Confucius’s money alone wouldn’t have been enough.”

“Aha. I guess so?”

“Among them, the most powerful one would be Princess Arina.”

Is that really true?

Did your older sister lend money to Karsain?

After that, various conversations took place, but Flora was unable to join in the conversation.

Eventually, the conversation between the two young ladies in the salon comes to an end.

When I returned to the entrance, saying that I had to go right away, Claire and Flora fell silent as soon as they saw each other.

“…”

“…”

Two sisters looked at each other in silence.

Claire cautiously initiates the conversation.

“Sister… didn’t help Karcein. Nothing.”

“…Me too. It must have cost a lot of money to take care of people my age.”

“There’s no way Mom would have helped… right?”

“Yeah. We were all supposed to keep that a secret.”

“Sigh…shit.”

Although I didn’t go into detail, I vaguely guessed that they were thinking the same thing and reached a conclusion.

To the question of how Carcein prepared the birthday banquet.

In the current situation, if you were to prepare the birthday party alone without the help of the three sisters or the Duke’s family, then…

Flora, who was beginning to tremble with anxiety, asked, folding her hands together.

“Hey, fiancee! Isn’t that the person called fiancee who helped you?”

“…That’s impossible, Flora.”

“Why! You were with Karsin that day. You could teach me!”

“Even if Youngae taught you, you can’t tell her everything. You know that too.”

Flora bows her head.

She knows too.

If she is educated and refined, then there is definitely a possibility. If she is the fiancee who can come to Karsain early and teach him, then the possibility increases even more.

However, this is not something that can be solved simply by teaching.

“You have to find out the parts that contain the author’s confidential information or the secrets that the guests don’t mention on their own…?”

“Yeah. Besides, you have to learn things like trends, fashion, and tastes on your own. And… there’s one more big wall left.”

“Money…”

“Yeah. That. If you don’t want to get noticed by your mother at the Duke’s house, you have no choice but to spend your own money.”

She was only now beginning to reveal her position in the Marquis’ household, and she was cleaning up the previous Marquis’s mess with a shovel, so there was no way she could have that much money.

“Ho, by any chance… Then maybe your older sister helped you?”

“…Sister?”

“I could have helped you. My older sister also promised.”

Sure enough, the promise was made by three people.

Because everyone had the same wish that Karsine would show his face at least in the house.

Aside from his mother, who hid this fact from him, the only person who could help Karsane was Arina.

All confidential information.

Leading and trendy.

Even the personal expenses that were saved for business.

A person who can meet any conditions.

If that is true, then it can be seen as having flowed in the most ideal direction.

Enough to let go of your worries.

however.

Is that really true?

-Keep going.

“Let’s go back. Flora.”

“Little sister…?”

“I think it would be faster to ask Carcein directly. Right?”

“Ugh, ugh!”

Whichever way they go, there is only one thing the two sisters can do.

There was no other option but to ask Carcein.

If you had spent all your money and time preparing that birthday party, you should have apologized for it.

They say it’s all their fault.

“Go straight to the workshop!”

“Hurry up, go as fast as you can!”

Fortunately, Karsine is staying at the duke’s house today.

Urging the coachman, the two sisters quickly return to the duke’s house where Carcein is.

***

Same time.

The sisters weren’t the only ones questioning the birthday party.

This is a promise between three people.

It was a secret known only to the three sisters.

“My mother’s birthday party was near perfect. There was nothing to find fault with. So I have a question for you. Karsain.”

So, Arina, who had the same question to Karsain, came to him one step ahead of the other two and asked him.

“It’s not strange if you received help from someone. However, I want to ask if it was your mother.”

Arina had already made a promise to Karsain once.

He mentioned that it was okay to receive help from other families, as well as the main members of the duke’s family, including Heron and Shayden, and the vassals on the designated list.

But only to my mother.

I told you never to ask Isabella for help.

Because that doesn’t make any sense.

This birthday party was for mothers.

Karsine responds to this expressionlessly.

“No. Claire and Flora taught me well.”

A lie without a single word wrong.