episode_0045

Suddenly, a thought came to Arina’s mind, who answered weakly.

A cold sense of unease enveloped her body as if icy chill ran through her.

“No way.”

It couldn’t be.

How could such a thing have happened?

Even if things seemed to fit together, they didn’t quite match up perfectly as if they were fabricated.

Yeah. It couldn’t be like that.

Arina tried to calm herself down, exhaling slowly to maintain composure.

In the meantime, Claire asked,

“S-So Heron, if what you say is true… those items that were supposed to be delivered to Carsein weren’t properly delivered and were sent to my sister like that?”

“That’s correct, Miss Claire.”

“Then… those documents…!”

Torn pieces of documents inside the basket in front of Arina’s room.

According to Arina’s claim, Carsein should have trampled on them and disregarded them.

However, with the appearance of a witness, the truth was revealed here.

Handing over the documents to the maids in the multipurpose room.

This single statement completely changed the atmosphere in the room.

“Someone… touched them. Just as Carsein said.”

As Claire pointed out, the certificate that was supposed to be delivered through Heron was not delivered.

“Who… dared to touch important master’s documents!”

“…I apologize. It was my mistake.”

Heron bowed his head.

However, it became clear that someone in the multipurpose room had indeed touched them.

The moment when it was certain that Carsein did not tear up those documents and place them in Arina’s room had arrived.

Arina’s breath caught in her throat once again.

“Is there an answer now?”

Carsein looked at Arina and spoke.

Still, there was no emotion on his face.

“I never received those documents in the first place. Before tearing them up, I never even received them.”

“…”

“They don’t even give me a chance to speak. Suspicion comes first, everything I do is already considered wrong. Isn’t this feeling strange?”

Arina wanted to say more, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak considering what she had just done.

“It’s common for servants to disappear. On my table, Kelbia fruits grow. I’m just an unwanted outsider in the noble’s house.”

“Carsein, I…”

“You shouldn’t have existed in the first place.”

“…What?”

Carsein cut off Arina’s statement decisively.

Arina, who was trembling, raised her head slightly.

“If only that document lifting the ban on the summoning ritual wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have been suspected, right?”

Watching her younger sister blame a single document that became the starting point of suspicion with a cold face, a heavy feeling settled in one side of her chest.

Something welled up inside her.

She was the starting point of everything.

She wrote with the hope that he would like it.

She wanted to somehow deliver the missed birthday gift.

She hoped that her anger, which had piled up by receiving larger rewards while forgetting about the surveillance order of the Snowflake Festival, would be released.

“It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t give it to you with that intention.”

Yeah. It’s a misunderstanding.

“I never dreamt that someone among the servants would do such a thing. I didn’t wish for this to happen.”

I didn’t intend for this to happen.

“I wanted to somehow ease your feelings…”

It was a feeling that wanted even a little bit of your feelings to be relieved.

Arina tried to persuade Carsein by saying so.

However, Carsein firmly cut off her words.

“A misunderstanding? Everything from start to finish happened because of your intentions.”

“!”

“Spilt water cannot be gathered again. Arina. I’ve become the one who tramples on your sincerity and ignores it by doing nothing but sleeping and waking up.”

A sharp dagger pierced deep into her chest.

Thinking that everything had been trampled on, it was herself.

Ignoring the torn documents, feeling deceived was also herself.

Seeing an unfair gift, unable to control her anger and raising her hand, that was also herself.

From the starting point to the destination.

All of it.

It was made up of Arina Bagrand.

“No matter what you receive in the future. No matter where your interest lies. I will always be suspected and treated unfairly. Just like today.”

“The culprit is!”

Bang!

As if someone next to them was trying to stop this claim, they slammed the table loudly.

“The culprit will be caught by us, or rather by the Marquis for sure. If we inform Mother of this fact, she will start a thorough investigation through generations, and it won’t just be overlooked as before.”

It was Claire who somehow managed to detach her tightly pressed lips.

“The culprit of this incident will surely exist. You said that before, right? With Camilla, there was someone who gave a prophecy.”

Swish.

Karceine’s eyes glanced towards the end.

Two strands of blonde hair were trembling slightly.

Karceine, shifting her gaze back to Claire, asked.

“So?”

“A thorough investigation will be conducted. If not, we’ll even resort to torture!”

It would probably be impossible.

Among the servants were the children of the gods, and just the investigation alone could lead to hurt feelings.

Knowing that the perception within the Marquis would be shaken again, Karceine took out the measures she had prepared.

“No. There’s no need for that.”

“…What?”

“Better to just leave it ignored. That should be fine.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“Starting today, my residence will be moved to the annex.”

At those words, the three sisters blinked their eyes.

“Wha- Annex?!”

“…That makes no sense.”

Flora openly gasped, and Claire seemed quite surprised. Arina also wanted to continue saying that it was unacceptable.

“You are also the owner of the Marquis. Does it make sense to move your residence to a place for receiving guests?!”

Claire tried to stop her, but Karceine pierced her with a cold face.

“I am the owner of the Marquis. Am I not even treated as an owner? Not even recognized as family and immediately suspected? Am I?”

Karceine continued, sniffling and speaking.

“After seeing this situation, are such stupid words still coming out?”

The room froze instantly.

“It would be better for everyone if I were in the annex. Without seeing unpleasant people. Without causing problems. How perfect is that?”

“Nonsense! How can a high noble, not even a guest of honor but a mere trading partner, be received in the annex?!”

“Then tell me, Claire. What other way is there?”

“That’s…”

“Not even receiving letters properly within the Marquis, not even receiving items that should be delivered correctly. Even though you were surveilled for your birthday gift and reluctantly handed it over to gain favor. But then, taking it a step further, I am suspected of ignoring that sincerity and being deceived?”

No one could persuade Karceine against the barrage of questions.

“It’s just like the coming-of-age ceremony. So this is the best. For you, for me.”

Standing up from her seat, she walked past the silent sisters.

With the evidence presented and a solution mentioned, there was no need to stay here.

Arina couldn’t even lift her head, and under Karceine’s relentless questioning, Claire reproached her past self, touching her forehead.

And.

In the very last row.

Flora, with a pale face, clenched her lips tightly with a shawl.

Seeing her, Karceine chuckled.

Chills ran down her arms as she met Flora’s eyes.

“Ari, didn’t you say something like that before? It was something I said a lot when I was so busy. I told you to stay still like a dead mouse.”

“…!”

He leaves with one last word.

“As you wish. I’ll keep quiet in the annex like a dead mouse.”

As Heron opened the door handle of the conference room, a momentary cold breeze seeped into the greenhouse.

However…

Did the cold air really escape from the greenhouse?

The cold wind was still blowing fiercely, so I couldn’t feel the chill.

Perhaps the outside wind was even warmer.

Maybe the coldness that was in the conference room had escaped outside.

***

Except for Heron, no one followed.

Naturally, that would be the case.

Ari suspected everyone.

Claire must have seen herself in that light.

Flora is the clear culprit behind this incident.

No one can confidently voice their opinions in front of me.

So, this merit must be utilized effectively.

“Let’s see the results first.”

The alarm went off as soon as I left the room, but I needed to know how things had unfolded.

▶ Ari has been proven innocent! ◀

▶ The reputation within the Marquisate improves! ◀

▶ Servants are cautious of Carcyn’s actions! ◀

…

…

Familiar sentences from the game caught my eye.

Among them, the most important one.

▶ Exposed Flora’s lies. Sisters’ suspicions disappear. ◀

▶ Investigation will proceed under Claire’s command. ◀

▶ Caution! If a specific individual is falsely accused, depending on the follow-up, reputation may plummet to the perception stage. ◀

Flora’s change was undoubtedly significant.

“That should be enough.”

“Heron.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“What can I do for you?”

This scene was artificially created by me.

Therefore, knowing this fact, I felt Heron, the only one aware, deserved an appropriate response.

Heron hesitated unexpectedly and then spoke cautiously.

“If you ever need me to do such a thing again, would you call me then?”

“Why?”

“I am also a servant of the Bargrand Marquisate. Shouldn’t we eliminate any lingering dirt around the Marquisate?”

“Lingering dirt. Is that the right way to put it?”

“It’s not entirely wrong. I’ve only been idly standing by because I couldn’t handle it until now.”

There is a common goal.

Heron subtly implied this to me.

‘That common goal must obviously be Emma.’

But could he truly remain neutral?

I don’t think he simply has those intentions.

“Rejected.”

“…Yes?”

Heron’s eyes, which I believed would accept without suspicion, filled with confusion.

However, unlike with other characters, he did not ask for reasons or try to pry into it as a lie.

After leaving a word, Heron turned and left immediately.

“Understood. If you need me for anything else, please call me.”

It was a subtle message that he could be used again if needed.

Watching him move away, I whispered quietly.

“You probably won’t be called again. You’re too sharp; you might actually hinder my work.”

He is also a servant of the Marquisate.

Belonging to Bargrand, he is the one who should serve the Marquisate, not me.

Who knows, there might be something until the end.

“Moreover, this is my job.”

I must resolve my affairs alone.

The process of reclaiming my rights and strengthening myself in this house.

The process of gaining strength, finishing all calculations, and leaving this place.

As always, it is something I must do on my own, without anyone’s help.

So until I leave, you must remain unaware of this fact.

Absolutely.

***

Heron turned away, soothing his regret.

“The closed young master’s heart doesn’t open at this level.”

He seized the opportunity.

He thought erasing the time spent in the mansion and turning the young master’s heart would be a chance.

However, it wasn’t easy.

The slums and the mansion.

The young master, who faced all kinds of storms in extreme places at the age of eighteen, changed at some point, noticing even that change.

Growing up in the slums to survive the harsh environment, only resilience sustained him, but resisting the torment in the mansion, his resilience even sharpened.

Heron’s intention to slightly open the closed door was easily seen through.

“…Have I already lost my roots?”

Truly regrettable.

In the young master’s expression as he planned, no emotion was evident.

He was becoming a person who could no longer feel pain.

Because of the experiences gained here.

“…”

With a heavy heart, Heron stopped and turned his head.

Even now, he wanted to go back and persuade the young master… but he knew he couldn’t and took another step.

Thud, thud.

As heavy as his heart had become, Heron’s steps were heavy too.

Following the sound of footsteps, a window appeared above his head.

Karceine might not have known to widen his eyes if he saw it.

-Ding!

▶Successfully triggered results beyond the options!◀

▶Heron’s intimacy is activated!◀

[Current intimacy level: 30%]

Meanwhile, on the other side, what was expected was happening in full force.

Breaking the silence in the conference room, urgent discussions were taking place.

Issues such as Karceine’s whereabouts and the culprit of this incident were not easily resolved once they were brought up for discussion.

And.

-Thud, thud!

“What, how? How can this be happening…!”

This time, Flora, who had truly become the culprit, was trembling, biting her nails.