episode_0035

“It started with the chairman. He suspected I would cause trouble no matter what I did. But during the festival, not a single snowflake fell? What else could it be if not surveillance?”

How could that be.

Ariana’s mouth fell open involuntarily.

The decision to issue an outing ban through this festival.

It was a conclusion from a family meeting, simply aimed at confirming whether he had the personality for it.

Her head buzzed at the word “surveillance.”

Ariana quickly tried to explain.

“Karceine. You know as well as I do, it wasn’t just once or twice. This suspicion is because of your record.”

“Well, I guess so. From your perspective, whether I’d cause trouble or not was the most important thing. Not whether I’d enjoy this festival.”

“Don’t make such leaps. I genuinely want you to enjoy the festival…!”

I don’t want to hear any explanations.

Karceine cut off Ariana’s words like a knife.

“It wasn’t fun being surveilled like that, was it? I’ll let you off now.”

“Karceine!”

Thud!

Ariana tried to grab Karceine’s wrist, but her hand was roughly pushed away.

“We’ll keep the person you’re surveilling locked in the room, so go and enjoy yourself to your heart’s content and come back.”

Ariana, who couldn’t bring herself to reach out again, clenched her fist and trembled.

Somehow, she realized she was in the position of being surveilled, and couldn’t criticize his arrogant attitude.

Ariana took out her last resort to hold onto Karceine.

“Do you know how much Mother was looking forward to this day?”

A festival where the entire family gathers without exception.

Isabella earnestly wished for that.

“You’ve turned down the festival many times because of one person. You stayed at the mansion so that person wouldn’t be lonely.”

So, if you feel even a little guilty.

If you don’t want to hurt Mother’s feelings.

You won’t ruin a family festival like this.

“Just endure a little longer. Even if you’re feeling upset, I’ll give you more than enough reason to be. Today, I’ll try to match Mother’s mood for you.”

Family ties.

That was Ariana’s last resort to hold onto Karceine.

“Damn.”

However, Karsein turned his head with a sneer, continuing on his way without even looking back at the woman who was walking beside him.

She wanted to stop him, laden with vulgar language, but this time she couldn’t do it. It was none other than Arina herself who had tried to evaluate Karsein through this seemingly surveillance-like act.

While Arina was distressed, Isabella returned from her errands with her two daughters.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sister? What’s the matter?”

In the gloomy atmosphere, Isabella looked around with worried eyes. Karsein was not there.

“He said he’d take care of some business and come back. Don’t worry.”

It couldn’t be helped. She couldn’t burden her mother with worries. For now, it was a priority to bring Karsein back without deceiving her mother.

Fortunately, Karsein’s dark blue hair had disappeared from Arina’s sight, giving her a clue as to which direction he might have gone. If she ran after him now, she could easily catch him.

But then, suddenly, a crowd rushed from one side of the street.

“Fire!!”

Boom!

In front of the Snowflake Festival, fierce flames shot up.

***

The sudden outbreak of fire during the festival caused chaos.

Arina immediately shouted at the confused citizens in the street.

“Get a hold of yourselves! Are you all going to run around in confusion and end up burning to death?!”

With that one remark, the bewildered citizens recognized her.

“That emblem, it’s the Bagrand crest, isn’t it?”

“Bagrand… so she’s Lady Arina Bagrand?”

“She’s alive! She’s alive!!”

“Lady! Give us orders!”

Not only the citizens but also the stationed soldiers were looking for someone to give them orders amidst the chaos.

Upon closer inspection, they realized it wasn’t just Arina alone; the entire Bagrand family was present. They cheered and quickly asked for orders.

“Everyone, form up and move out in an orderly manner! Give the left side near the flames to the soldiers and move to the right!”

“Yes!”

With the command, the soldiers and citizens no longer hesitated and moved with clarity. It was truly a scene where one could feel the power of Bagrand’s rule.

The crowded crowd had been cleared, and now it was time to suppress the flames.

“First, we need to block the spread of the fire in consideration of its direction. Does anyone know where the source of the fire is?”

“We do.”

Three soldiers raised their hands from the back.

It was evident from their charred uniforms that they were most likely the first to discover the fire.

“The flames didn’t originate from one place. They erupted simultaneously from several locations.”

“Simultaneously?”

“I was working in the west. This friend here was working in the opposite direction, towards the banquet hall, so in the east.”

“Even the isolated south, where I was stationed, was engulfed by the fire at once. That’s why only this place, the north, wasn’t swept away by the flames.”

Ariana narrowed her eyes at this. Claire also seemed concerned and immediately asked Ariana.

“Sister, could this be…?”

“Yes. It’s similar to the method we saw during the snowflake festival two years ago.”

Such an incident had occurred two years ago as well.

The snowflake festival was an annual event hosted by the royal family. The possibility was substantial.

“Do you happen to remember the color of the flames?”

“They were blue.”

“You too?”

“What we saw was also blue.”

“As expected. It’s not your typical fire.”

With conviction, Ariana immediately spoke to Isabella.

“Mother, Claire and I will extinguish the fire. Can you calm the citizens in the meantime?”

“Is it similar to what happened back then?”

“Yes. The witnesses’ statements are matching.”

“Very well. Do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

Ariana commanded the soldiers and passed through the path where the reluctant smoke was rising. As the two daughters took action, Isabella drew attention from those around her.

“Pay attention! This fire is merely meant to cause chaos; it cannot directly harm human bodies.”

The citizens were puzzled.

“Lady Isabella?”

“What do you mean? Fire doesn’t harm humans.”

“Two years ago, a similar incident occurred. At the time, no one knew, but the investigation revealed that those flames were fake, ignited through magic stones.”

At the mention of fake flames, the citizens began to murmur.

Isabella pointed to a house with her finger, and soon citizens were able to break free from fear as they realized the truth about the fake flames that only burned magical substances.

“Is this happening again?”

The festival was created not just to understand the people’s sentiment due to the absence of a winter festival but also to wish for last year’s harvest and this year’s prosperity.

However, there were those who opposed the injection of political elements into the festival, and unknowingly, they raised their voices in protest. This was just another dilemma; it would be difficult to catch the culprit.

“Mom, does that mean we can keep watching the festival? It won’t end like it did then, right?”

“Yes. If your sisters stop complaining, you can play more.”

Isabella gently comforted Flora, who was worried the festival might stop.

A moment later, the flames at three locations went out.

Upon returning after resolving the fake flames, Arena and Claire were praised by the Duke of Vagrand.

But.

Only one person.

During the blaze, they had forgotten something.

“Wait, where is Karsain?”

At Isabella’s question, the two noblewomen finally realized.

It was fine to excuse themselves for going to the bathroom, but that wouldn’t take long. By now, the fire should have been contained.

Even Isabella subconsciously sensed that Arena’s lie could be noticed.

“Release the family’s knights immediately!”

The fire was contained, but a bigger one had ignited elsewhere.

***

▶CHAPTER 1 – Episode IV. Snowflake Festival Clear!◀

▶The family successfully passed the snowflake festival without any issues.◀

▶Successfully brought about results beyond the choices made.◀

…

…

Quite heartwarming news appeared successively on the status screen.

Episode clear.

Festival passed without any problems.

Results beyond the choices made.

Even if such things appeared on the status screen…

The past keeps coming back to my mind, burying this joy in an instant.

“Why does this keep coming back?”

I was angry.

Not at Karsein, but at myself.

When did I escape from that house I never wanted to return to? Why does that time come back to me?

My body left that place, but it seems I couldn’t shake off this trivial thing.

“Damn it.”

-Thud.

An irritated kick hit the fragile oak barrel. It tumbled and scattered the remaining wine inside.

Just that made my breath rough and harsh.

“It can’t be.”

I tried to kick the next barrel, but soon realized it was pointless and stopped.

Yeah. These emotions are unnecessary.

It’s just a fleeting sentiment, a strange empathy that Karsein might have harbored expectations if he were here, but now that memory means nothing.

Even if I recalled how my excitement at the amusement park was abruptly shattered, it doesn’t matter now.

No matter how similar the situation, it’s not me.

It’s just a background for shaping a character in a game.

…That’s how it should be.

“Poor kid.”

Unconsciously, I spat out those words.

After that, I aimlessly walked and walked again.

I don’t know which way the carriage was.

I walked without knowing where I was until this memory faded a little in my mind.

Then suddenly, a bright light caught my eye.

In this darkening street, such brightness could only be artificial.

But even brighter than that artificial light, a now somewhat familiar object came into view.

A memorial.

It was an object made from Karsein’s past.

“A stone tower… is it?”

Carefully stacked stones stood without toppling over.

It seemed like they would collapse if touched wrong.

What more is there to ponder?

Reaching out, I faced its real past.

In the fleeting place, it still illuminated a snowflake festival.

And in the sky, something cold and white was falling.

It was snow.