episode_0309

“Uh, what should I do…?”

“What can I say…”

“It turned out like this…”

The servants are sweating profusely.

They were currently at a loss as to how to respond to Claire, who had given them the strange order to suddenly find Karsane.

At first I wondered what on earth this was.

When he was asked who the son of Carcein had touched the picture frame, he was busy trying to cover it up. The portraits had been fine until recently. Who in the duke’s household would dare do such a thing?

But now they know too.

All traces are gone.

Here.

At a place called the Duke’s House.

All trace of the man named Karsain Bagrand had disappeared.

How should I report this?

No one was brave enough to report this, given the brutal reaction they had just seen.

However, reporting is not actually necessary.

Because Claire already knew.

Strangely, I felt uneasy.

An endless sense of discomfort covered my body and wouldn’t let go.

It was strange that letters were sent to the two territories where Karsane was, but they did not return.

When I came to the workshop and the lights in the communication port were not on, I felt a cold sensation.

And that’s not all.

Even when I set foot in the messy duke’s house.

In the overly quiet dukedom, it was obvious that it would not be strange for a dukedom to cause a commotion while serving its master.

Even when I searched the entire house and realized that there was no proper portrait.

Even when I heard that the person who touched the picture frame was Karsain himself.

and…

Even when there was no place left but Karcein’s room.

Claire’s discomfort was slowly spreading into anxiety.

“I searched everywhere in the dukedom, but I couldn’t find any trace of Lord Karsain. Miss Claire.”

Among the maids who were hesitating and unable to report, an old man reports in their stead. It was the attending physician Shayden. He took his place.

“…”

A great earthquake occurred in Claire’s clouded blue eyes at Shaden’s report.

No trace of it could be found.

I don’t even know where it went.

That means.

This picture frame in my hand.

It is said that the only thing that remains is Carcein’s face.

-Thump, thump.

Something drips onto the floor.

It wasn’t red. There was no way blood would flow out of the hand after the maids had hastily administered first aid.

Very transparent.

A mass of calm emotion flowed down from his eyes in drops.

‘I see.’

Now I can finally see the things around me.

The documents and divided amounts of money in the room were incomprehensible.

They were like bills and charges for things he had written.

From various tools to the amount of money needed to hire servants.

The cost of running a carriage. The cost of hiring a coachman. The cost of luxury as a nobleman.

And, all of Karsane’s clothes that he always made with care.

Not a single one was missing.

Nothing was missing from that room. And every single thing was valued.

So… you’re saying that the reason you saved money was to pay it all back?

A portion of a frame drawn diagonally.

The face of only one of the five families who were there.

That was a clear line.

As if he was never included in this family from the beginning.

If he left the Duke’s house without leaving a trace, does that mean he was never a family in the first place?

So, that’s why I left…

It was all prepared…?

Since when have I not received anything?

Solving everything on my own, and paying the price myself.

He also managed the estate to pay that money.

So you’re saying that it was all planned out according to meticulous calculations…?

-thud.

Claire’s heart sank at the eerily fitting causality.

I never wondered when it had started.

Because the cause was here.

They never treated me properly as family.

He only talked a lot, but his voice never really reached me.

no.

Rather, I didn’t want to know anything.

Always neglecting it.

Start by watching and worrying.

Even if you shiver with resentment and sorrow, they don’t believe you and just stereotype you.

In the end, he would make the misery worse by doing things like hitting on people and saying crazy things about family.

So it must have changed.

At some point, I stopped wishing for it and stopped appealing for it.

This is how I came up with this plan.

…okay.

It’s not weird at any time.

I guess you had that kind of mind from the beginning.

That’s what Karsain wanted to get out of here.

-Knock. Knock.

The only frame containing the image of Karsene, tears flow endlessly.

“You can’t even call me sister…”

I didn’t know anything.

I couldn’t even offer the helping hand I so desperately wanted.

Instead, he slapped me and verbally abused me.

After doing so many bad things.

I couldn’t even get out a single word of apology.

Can you call that a family?

Would you want to call this person your older sister?

“…Me. You’re a real piece of trash.”

I was so resentful of myself for not being able to kill my personality until the end that I was sick of it.

***

-Whew.

Where did the bright sun go, and it started to rain.

Isabella sighed, looking at the raindrops with concern.

“The rain is quite heavy. In this case… I guess it’s time to leave soon.”

“…I guess so?”

“Yes. I think it would be better to move around a bit more busily to fulfill the original schedule.”

The Duke’s stay here was not very long.

That is, when it rains, it means that a certain amount of time has passed.

“Claire is later than that. She shouldn’t be this late.”

“That’s right. We have to leave together…”

“If anything happens, please contact me.”

Flora flinched and shook her shoulders when she heard that.

That’s understandable, because unlike Flora, who had seen Claire with her own two eyes when she woke up in the morning, the other family members knew that Claire was currently on a short business trip.

This is because Flora somehow managed to cover up what she had seen in the morning.

‘But… I think it’s time to go back now.’

There are times when I am late, but I can’t help but wonder why my little sister is this late.

Besides, there are some things that bother me.

-I couldn’t reach Karsane at all, so I decided to meet him in person.

-directly?

-Yeah. I have to ask them to free up some time. Even if you have free time now, you might be busy when the time comes. I have to ask them to adjust it in advance.

-If that’s the case, why don’t you just send it by letter?

-Ahaha… I tried that too. It seems like you were really busy.

‘Little sister. I’m sure you were going to meet Karsain.’

The words themselves were meaningful.

Sometimes, my younger sister would ask me questions but I would just ignore them and let it slide.

Okay, for now.

“Mom. Big sister. Then I’ll bring little sister!”

Let’s try another lie.

If you say you’re going to see Karsane, you might get a sharp word from your strict older sister, who says you’re making people go crazy just because you asked her to clear the day.

“Flora. Do you know where Claire is?”

“Yeah. My little sister should be at the duke’s house by now.”

“Maybe it’s in the duke’s house?”

“Actually, I woke up at dawn and asked the maid who was walking with my sister where she was going.”

“Did you hear the answer that you were going to the Duke’s House there?”

“Yeah!”

“If that’s the case, then I can understand… But why on earth…?”

Since I’ve come this far, I can’t hide the fact that I’ll be at the Duke’s house.

In that case, I should hide my younger sister’s intentions as much as possible.

“I don’t know the details either. But, he said it was important.”

“It’s important.”

“If Claire has to return as a writer, it must be something very important.”

“That’s right. If you haven’t told your mother… shouldn’t we go back too?”

“But there’s no way to go back from here…”

At first, he seemed to be thinking, “Was there something like that?” as he put his finger on his chin.

But I don’t think the two of them will remember that kind of schedule. Furthermore, since the schedule is set, it’s difficult to go back right now.

Flora dug deep into this gap.

“So I’ll go alone!”

“Are you alone?”

“Yeah! My sister and mom are busy. Can’t I just go and send a letter to my little sister?”

At those words, the mother and daughter’s expressions slightly softened.

A little more. Let’s be a little more certain.

“Right now, we’re dividing up the work for the younger sisters. If one more person leaves, it’ll be even more difficult. If both of them leave, the preparations for the Karsain coming-of-age ceremony will be completely ruined?”

“That’s true, but… Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“I’d be bored without my sisters. And without my mom.”

It’s a success.

Flora answered, her hands on her hips, pretending to be slightly offended.

“I’m a year older now, too. I’m not a kid!”

“Ahaha. Really?”

“chi. How long are you going to treat me like a child?”

“Oh my. I’m sorry. Our youngest.”

Is that okay?

As if to say, Arina looks at Isabella. Isabella nods readily.

“Okay. Then Flora should meet Claire and bring her back?”

“Okay. I’ll bring it!”

With this, Claire’s true intentions were buried.

Also, a reason to go there was created.

Flora happily prepared the carriage for the Duke’s journey.

***

“I’ll send the letter quickly! Just wait a moment!”

“Okay. I’ll just go in so I don’t get rained on.”

“Yeah!”

After the greetings, the coachman takes hold of the horse’s reins.

The carriage departs with the sound of horses neighing.

Everything went according to Flora’s plan.

He hid Claire’s intentions by mixing in some lies, and even created an excuse to go to the Duke’s house himself.

Either way, it can be seen as a success.

He must be happy to be humming a tune and being praised by his little sister.

…had to be done.

“…”

Inside the quiet carriage.

In that place where only the sound of rain was contained in the falling raindrops, Flora was not smiling.

“Little sister…”

It was clearly a simple matter of meeting Carcein and coming back.

All I had to do was ask them to clear a day from their schedule.

It shouldn’t have been this late.

Seriously, if nothing happens.

“Mr. Groomsman!”

“Why are you like that?”

“Hurry up, go a little faster!”

“Yes, yes! I understand. Okay!”

Sometimes when my little sister doesn’t speak.

When you just pass it over, saying it’s nothing to worry about.

I already knew the reason.

Because it was all about Carcein.

So Flora has a vague idea.

This incident, too, must have had a big connection to Karsine.

“…No. What’s wrong?”

I shake my head in denial.

Preparations for Karsene’s coming of age ceremony are in full swing, so what could possibly happen?

“Yeah. It’ll be fine. I’m just… I’m just busy.”

Karsine spent a lot of time alone.

I wonder what my little sister would say.

If you can’t come because of nagging… Yeah. That’s not weird.

But unlike words, actions are extremely hasty.

-Clang clang clang.

A fingernail was caught between two small mouths.

Feeling anxious, I find myself chewing my fingernails again like I used to.