episode_0087

“Black, black…”

Flora arrived at the Duke’s house after being seen off by Camilla.

I don’t even know how many tears flowed from my eyes as I walked to the Duke’s house.

But her blue eyes still filled with tears.

Just like then, this time too.

I couldn’t do anything.

I was kicked out before I could say anything.

That fact was so heartbreaking.

“Flora? Where have you been and are you coming now?”

“Little sister…”

“Did you cry? Why are my eyes like this…”

As soon as she heard that she had cried, Flora swallowed her breath without realizing it.

‘Ooh, you can’t cry. If I cry again…!’

Karsein may be misunderstood.

When that thought occurred to her, Flora quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve.

“What happened? Tell your sister.”

“Hmm? Oh no! Nothing happened─”

At that moment, a corner of Flora’s heart sank as she was about to say that nothing had happened.

If you say nothing happens like this.

It’s the same as back then, right?

“Flora? Flora!”

“…”

What is the difference between that and tricking Karssein and hiding it?

It’s the same.

Just because we pass it off as nothing happened doesn’t mean the fact goes away.

Always hiding. Conceal it. I tricked you.

You can’t go over things like this again.

okay. You have to say it.

Even if you risk getting scolded, you have to say it directly.

“Flora? Why are you doing that?”

The person in front of me is not Arina.

‘The eldest sister scolded Karsein at the time, saying he did something wrong, but…’

Wouldn’t it be different if it were a younger sister?

Flora swallowed.

I don’t want to get scolded. However, you should be scolded.

Because I did something bad.

Because I did something I shouldn’t have done.

Because I even lied.

I couldn’t hide this any longer.

“…Claire’s sister. I have something to say.”

“Yes. Tell everything to your little sister. I will listen to everything.”

Sniff.

“I… have done bad things to Karssein.”

“What?”

“In the past… I sprinkled salt on the rice. I’m the one who deliberately stuck needles in my clothes or put sand in my drinking water jug.”

“…!”

“I told Emma and made the maids do it… I even lied and insisted that it was Karssein’s fault…”

On that spot, Flora sobbed and revealed all of her mistakes.

I put every word into my mouth.

Everything I’ve done to Karssein so far.

“…”

Claire, who was shocked, slightly opened her mouth.

I know that Karssein’s unfair harassment continued in the Duke’s house, but the culprit was never caught.

I vaguely thought it was a collaboration between Theo Ramstair and Emma Urnen, and I thought it would be right to vent my anger by handing them the heaviest sentence possible.

But did you say that it is dark under the lamp?

If this series of events, woven like a thread, passes through the bead called Flora, something like that could happen in some way.

Claire felt frustrated because she could not have imagined that the culprit could be her younger brother.

“Sigh, sister. It’s my fault. It was all my fault.”

There was no need to ask if you really did that.

The youngest, who seems like he would never do that, is directly admitting his mistake.

“Follow me. Flora.”

Claire had to lower her voice and express her anger for now.

To the whimpering youngest child. To the youngest child whom I had never laid a hand on.

It was heartbreaking, but it was right to give him a sharp reprimand.

Claire, who brought Flora to her room, ordered Heron to prepare an item.

Before long, the old butler came carrying a cane at Claire’s command.

“Stretch out your hand. Flora.”

“Inhale, inhale…”

Even though she knew she would be hit, Flora obediently held out her hand.

-Poof! Cheap!

As you can guess from the sound, there was no addition or subtraction to the whip Claire swung.

Flora’s palms also turned red.

The crying sound echoes again.

“…suck. Hmm.”

But don’t take it out.

No matter how many times the whip left red marks on the youngest child’s delicate palms, Flora never said it hurt.

Because the truly sick person would be separate.

The cane was swung several times.

Surprisingly, the sisters didn’t say anything.

By the time Flora’s palms were filled with stick marks.

Heron came in and spoke quietly.

“Miss Claire. I think it would be best to stop now.”

The whip struck in the air stops.

“…”

Only then did Claire realize that Flora’s palm was about to bleed.

“Unni…”

“…tell me.”

“What should I do…? I keep getting kicked out by Karssein. Breath…! What should I say…?”

Even Claire couldn’t answer that question.

Karssein was scarred by her as well.

***

The first main episode of Chapter 2 begins with a sub-episode.

Since Karssein must obtain the authority to participate in the Eastern Noble Council, the branch greatly differs depending on the level of achievement of this sub-episode.

I chose Ruthmire Territory for several reasons, and now I had to save it through thorough research to clear this episode.

however…

Just looking at the details of Camilla’s investigation, it was unusual.

The answers to all the choices I saw while playing the game were all written here. I was able to know exactly what was a dead flag and which one was the best decision to make.

“…If this happens, there is only one thing left.”

As I turn my head, I see the stats I couldn’t raise further due to lack of time.

“I have to train hard starting tomorrow.”

okay. What I needed right away to clear the Ruthmeyer episode was training.

I thought I should go to sleep soon.

“…I was like this without even washing up yet?”

Now I see that the night is deep.

It was time to go to bed.

As I was studying with less sleep, I never thought I would have noticed the passage of time.

▶Abnormal condition: fatigue, lack of sleep◀

The status window also speaks.

You’re tired. Lie down and sleep quickly.

Otherwise, a penalty will be imposed. Called.

“In real life, I didn’t pay any attention to it… but I might have to be a little more careful here.”

If you fall down at a critical time due to a penalty like this, it will be a big problem.

***

“Her Majesty Princess Arcien eats it!”

The sitting nobles all stand up and bow.

The princess, who maintained a noble elegance with flowing silver hair, sat down in her seat looking a little tired.

“Your complexion looks bad today. Her Royal Highness.”

“If you need an elixir, it can be found in our family─”

“The quality of the herbs collected at our estate this time is good. Boil it as a decoction and drink it─”

This is why he looked tired.

As if he didn’t want to hear such flattery, Arsien struck the hammer and hung up.

“Has everyone gathered?”

“Yes. Her Royal Highness Princess Arcien.”

As Arcien glanced around and checked the seats, a minister answered in the affirmative.

As the minister said, there are no empty seats.

So once again, the tiredness deepens.

“Then, from now on, we will hear additional proposals from the Eastern Noble Council.”

This is the place to announce the adjustment plan for this Eastern Noble Conference.

Eastern Council of Nobles.

For the nobles, it was a testing ground given by the imperial family, but if you think about it a little differently, if you passed the test well, it was like receiving a certificate showing that you successfully completed the imperial exam.

“Charge. First of all, may I ask why you prevented the heads of the family from attending?”

“Hmm. That’s because I feel like it’s damaging the essence of this noble meeting.”

“What do you mean by essence?”

“You too, think carefully. At the Eastern Noble Meeting held every year, each family participated and had some who showed good results. However, most of them were family heads. Isn’t that right?”

“Umm…”

“Now that I think about it…”

“Of course, there were some families that were not like that. In some cases, like the two sisters of the Duke of Bagland, they came forward in person. However, if this is the case every year, we end up only seeing the capabilities of the family heads. Do you think this will change as time passes?”

That it will never change. Arsien decided that there would be no change in the empire.

“So, I am ordering your children to prove their capabilities. There must be someone who just wants to live comfortably under their parents.”

“However, Your Highness. Young Yeong-sik, it is too difficult to ask this to the young ladies─”

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of withdrawing this. These are the people who must one day rise to the position of head of the family, and then to the position of hostess. Since they are nobles who will become the pillars of the empire in the future, they deserve to be tested.”

The nobles fell silent at Arsien’s resoluteness.

“Of course, you don’t have to worry. The evaluation method will remain the same. Fairer, more equal. And it will be possible to evaluate more rigorously.”

Arsien recommended that since this Eastern Noble Meeting was mainly about evaluating those who will lead the future of the empire, the contents this time would not even be leaked to the outside world.

Because always fighting for the same position and ranking is meaningless.

Several conversations took place when asked whether other adjustments were needed.

The entire framework of the Eastern Noble Assembly was created here.

At this time.

A man raised his hand.

“By the way, Your Highness Arsien. There is one problem, isn’t there?”

“What is it? Count Retelvik.”

“I don’t think anyone who doesn’t even have the qualifications to be a noble should participate.”

Arcien’s eyes twitched.

Those who are not qualified. It is clear who this refers to.

“Is there really a need to give participation rights to someone who once caused a stir and led to the worst situation?”

“Count. Please refrain from speaking.”

“Is it because the Duchess is listening? Then we need to be even more certain. Is there any guarantee that the same thing won’t happen this time?”

Other nobles also nodded at Count Retelvik’s words.

Not only are there those who try to stop Bagland’s dictatorship, but even neutral nobles and imperial ministers agree on this point. Even Bagland’s vassals had nothing to say about the count’s point.

The situation that arose when the production rate of major specialties plummeted in the Chatrene territory and the anger of the people of the territory soared, still remains as a great stain on Bagland and, beyond that, as a shame for the nobility.

“The downfall of the Chatrene estate, which Lady Arina and Lady Claire could not cover despite their efforts, is a great shame even for nobles. Something like this should not happen twice.”

Isabella could not stand it anymore and intervened.

“So what you want to say is to strip my son, Karssein Bagland, of his authority?”

“Of course, I think that should be the case. Duchess.”

“Count!”

Isabella momentarily frowned and shouted.

Her lips trembled, feeling as if she had been insulted.

“Like that. You can’t be cool with Duchess Isabella. Even if you are a child, isn’t it still the empire’s business? My arms are bent too far inward.”

“That is correct.”

“Isn’t that a valid argument?”

“Carcein Bagland is not the right person for that meeting.”

Other nobles also began to agree with this.

If things continued like this, Karssein’s authority might have been taken away.

Right then.

“Well. Rather, I am of the opinion that Karssein Bagland should be brought in.”

Arsien, no one else, supported Carcein.

“Your charge?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Carcein Bagland is just a person who is impatient and lacks knowledge.”

“In what areas can he stand out as he has not been taught by nobles since childhood?”

“To be honest, I didn’t see any potential. I think everyone will agree.”

Despite the remarks of the nobles who came close to protesting, Arsien did not give up his argument.

“Is impatient. lack of knowledge I didn’t receive any lessons from nobles. They say things like that, but the person who showed the biggest change is actually Karssein Bagland.”

“What showed the biggest change?”

“Have you forgotten the trial that took place at the Duke’s Office?”

At that moment, the image of the idiot Karsein was erased from the nobles who attended the court meeting, and the judge’s Karsein came to mind.

“Clearly, Karssein Bagland’s chances of winning in that trial were infinitely low. After bringing up not only my past behavior but also past events, the feeling of defeat became even stronger. But what was the result?”

“…”

The ministers were all silent.

The result of the trial was an overwhelming victory for Karssein, who completely escaped the false accusations he had been accused of with excellent arguments without any unnecessary elements and reasonable grounds to support them.

“ In addition, in some ways, the decision to rescue the captured hostage without provoking the criminal who had disappeared was the most correct one. Considering that Theo Ramstair, who took his sister hostage, was a trainee knight, it would seem that he was equipped with military force. You can already see that he has changed significantly from the past. Rather, it means that he has become a more noteworthy person.”

Can we really conclude that such a person has absolutely no potential?

Through that incident, Munmu Karsein has already proven that he stands out on both fronts.

“The adjustment plan ends like this. Everyone, stop being biased.”

Arsien said so and ended the coordination meeting.

The household heads and ministers left one by one.

When they left, Isabella immediately thanked Arsien.

“No. Shouldn’t we waste the opportunity of someone who might become a valuable talent for this country in the future?”

“…A valuable talent?”

“Yes. I definitely saw potential in Prince Karssein. Not only in that trial, I’ve seen it before.”

Snowflake Festival. Arsien recalled with a grin the events of that day that Isabella had not seen during the imperial audience.

But that smile didn’t last long.

‘I’ve taken care of it, but I don’t know what will happen to Count Retelvik’s side. Confucius. ‘You’ll have to prepare well.’

This Eastern Noble Meeting had a somewhat eerie vibe.