Chapter 29

This time too, Carsein’s mistake was none.

The reason for going out was so justified, it should have been enough, but even that wasn’t satisfactory.

But he let slip words that shouldn’t be spoken.

“Why so many accidents lately? It’s valid to raise an issue. This is your karma.”

So many accidents he had caused,

So much valid reason there was,

In a situation that would make anyone suspicious, don’t respond.

Stupidly, he responded exactly like that instead.

It was a faux pas,

A foolish judgment, and a clear mistake.

Even with the previous case of Kelbia Allergy, he knew rash judgments were a no-go, yet he made a huge mistake.

If this was all, Carsein might have been merely sad,

But he did something worse.

It wouldn’t end at being sad,

No, it left a wound,

A deep, ugly wound, a heart-wrenching injury.

‘It’s not too late…!’

Claire barged into the mansion quickly after giving a stern warning to Emma.

Birthday present? She would make it grander, compensating for the forgotten time.

She planned to make up for it by throwing a more lavish party than her family could.

Though late, she would do everything as a sister could.

Until Carsein was satisfied.

*Knock knock.*

“Carsein. You’re not still asleep, right? Can you open the door for a moment?”

Thinking of countless chances, Claire knocked on Carsein’s door.

Carsein’s voice didn’t come from inside the room. Not even a twitch. Claire started knocking harder.

“Open the door. I know you’re upset. So, let me see your face. Okay?”

Yet, the room stayed silent.

*Bam Bam!*

Impatient, Claire began pounding harder on the door.

“Carsein! Can you at least open the door?”

After several such calls, finally, the door opened.

Claire thought they could finally talk, but it was Camila, Carsein’s maid, who appeared.

With a polite bow, Camila relayed Carsein’s message.

“The young master does not wish to speak. Miss Claire.”

“What…?”

“He also said you would understand the reason better.”

She thought about what she would say once inside.

She promised herself she wouldn’t doubt if anything was needed.

She wanted to forget today’s memory, planning to propose the most joyful birthday party on their desired day.

But Camila’s words instantly cooled Claire’s excitement.

She had nothing to say.

To a firm dismissal, a refusal to converse.

Claire timidly asked Camila, who delivered Carsein’s message.

“…Was he really angry?”

Like Camila said, she knew the reason best herself.

Already wounded, the lack of attention on her birthday and receiving no gift, even doubting his permission to go out, a mere trivial gift.

From the very family who should celebrate her birthday.

Camila didn’t answer. Or perhaps, couldn’t. The irritation was obvious.

“I get it. I’ll go back now.”

Rarely, Claire’s shoulders slumped that day.

*Beep beep!*

***

“Phew.”

Isabella held her throbbing forehead in her hand as she sighed in her office.

For her children’s comfortable life,

To live in wealth and abundance, she always hurried her pen.

But nothing seemed to work out.

As the head of the Duke’s house, there was far too much she had to do.

*Slide.*

“…”

*Tap.*

Isabella placed her pen on the table. As if she couldn’t grasp it, she stared blankly at the sofa.

Every day, Carsein would appear at this time. Always saying he had something to say, he’d use morning greetings as an excuse to visit.

She always thought she had to listen to this child’s complaints.

She treated it as part of her routine, trying not to worry too much.

But when the spot was empty, a strange sense of emptiness filled her.

“I won’t visit for morning greetings anymore.”

One day, he had said he wouldn’t visit for morning greetings anymore.

She didn’t take it seriously.

She thought it was a lie, or if not, he’d find other reasons to visit.

She expected him to visit every day like before.

However, unlike her expectations, Carsein truly didn’t visit. For days, he didn’t visit for morning greetings.

Even though she believed he would visit because of his Kelbia Allergy, Carsein never came to meet Isabella.

*Slide.*

“Why aren’t you coming, Carsein?”

Isabella rubbed the December 31st date on last year’s calendar, feeling her insides ache.

Yes.

The reason she put down her pen was Carsein.

Not only did she miss his birthday, but even after giving a gift, she felt uneasy.

She wanted to give a generous gift, but…

“The young master doesn’t want any more birthday presents.”

Heron replied when she gave the gift, advising her not to bring up that day again.

Then, she could only wait.

Wait until Carsein came on his own.

Even if she dismissed past incidents, she was sure he would visit this time. But… Carsein didn’t show up as Isabella expected.

Three days since he went out.

“Anyway, since there’s talk about the fiancée, we should call him for a conversation.”

Even if things weren’t getting done, she couldn’t leave Carsein alone.

Whether it was about meeting his fiancée or about the birthday gift, she had to arrange something.

Breakfast time.

That would be perfect to call Carsein.

Isabella reached for the bell to call Heron.

“Mom. Can I come in now?”

Her hand stopped. That voice belonged to her second daughter, Claire.

“Come in.”

The door opened lightly.

But Claire’s expression didn’t look light at all. Isabella immediately asked her.

“What happened? Why are you here at this hour?”

“Um. Well… Mom, I made a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Yeah. A big one…”

The second daughter, who was stalling, seemed to have sorted out her tangled thoughts and hesitantly brought up the matter.

“Isn’t Carsein not coming out for three days because I forgot his birthday and doubted his going out…?”

“…So,”

Claire, stretching out her words, rubbed the back of her neck.

“In fact, there’s nothing. Even if he went out, there was no news. So, it’s about Carsein’s going out… Can’t you tell your sister to set it free?”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I made a mistake and I can’t think of how to fix it. That’s why I came to ask for help.”

Hearing Claire’s request for help, Isabella fell silent.

When the talk about Carsein’s birthday came up, she froze too. She wasn’t in a position to help.

“I’m sorry. I only realized Carsein’s birthday late, so it’s hard for me to help.”

“Mom too?”

*Nod.*

She had also realized the birthday late.

She intended to give a gift but was criticized for not doing it properly by Heron.

Neither side had a strong stance.

But Isabella found Claire’s suggestion of lifting the ban on Carsein’s going out tempting.

“Can you call Ariana and Flora first?”

It had been a long time since they had a family meeting.

***

“We heard you called us,”

Ariana and Flora entered the office together. From the term “family meeting,” Ariana’s expression wasn’t good from the start.

Sitting on the sofa, she asked bluntly.

“Looks like Carsein did something again.”

When family meetings like this were held, they usually discussed Carsein’s problems.

It was predictable.

“Carsein is the reason I called you, but it’s not because he did something wrong.”

“What do you mean, Mother?”

Claire scratched her cheek awkwardly, and Flora’s expression soured when Carsein’s name was mentioned. In that atmosphere, Isabella brought up today’s topic.

“I want to lift the ban on Carsein’s going out.”

“What?!”

“Wha… Ma?”

Ariana and Flora were shocked.

The two protested.

“It’s not possible, Mother. Letting Carsein cause trouble outside is unacceptable!”

“That’s right, Mom! He even threatened me with something scary he brought back from outside!”

“I was worried yesterday too. Do you know how much I searched around because he went out?”

It wasn’t the first time. It was natural for them to be sensitive to Carsein’s going out.

But they couldn’t just keep blocking him. Isabella added a reasonable reason. Though it stung, she had to say it herself.

“His birthday present.”

“What?”

“That outing was approved by me as a birthday present for Carsein.”

An awkward silence filled the meeting room.

Isabella broke the silence.

“On December 31st. I completely forgot. That was Carsein’s birthday. So, I allowed the outing.”

“…”

“Arina, Flora. What gifts did you give Carsein for his birthday?”

At her words, the two remained silent.

They hadn’t known when his birthday was, let alone given him a gift.

Claire seized the opportunity and spoke cautiously.

“Actually, it was just a trip out yesterday. It’s kind of vague to call it a birthday present. So, I think… we should lift the ban. Since nothing happened anyway.”

“I agree.”

With Isabella’s agreement,

Only one step remained to lift the ban.

“But Arina and Flora, I know what you both think. But Carsein plans not to accept any gifts. So, this is all we can do.”

“…Sigh.”

Arina sighed deeply.

This move was like putting a fish in front of a cat.

If they freed Carsein, he might cause accidents all over the empire.

But since she had made a mistake too, she couldn’t deny it. Moreover, he played a trick by refusing gifts, leaving her with no other options.

Eventually, Arina chose to agree on a compromise.

“Then, let’s do it this way. We need to confirm if he has the right character to lift the ban. We’ll decide based on our observations.”

“Based on our observations?”

“Yes. Coincidentally, preparations are underway on the royal side. You know about that best, Claire.”

“Oh, you mean the Snow Flower Festival.”

Unlike other seasons where festivals are frequent, winter makes people less active due to its coldness.

But when snow falls, children laugh and play joyfully. Despite the cold, they smile and throw snowballs at each other.

Recognizing this, the emperor designated a festival period to create bustling streets even in winter, calling it the Snow Flower Festival.

A yearly event designed to watch children play outdoors during the snowy season starting early January.

“This year’s Snow Flower Festival will be especially grand. With the abundant autumn last year, there will be a lot more people. Nobles are already gathering snow.”

“…Among so many people, will Carsein cause trouble? Is that the test?”

“Yes. Lifting the ban then won’t be too late.”

There won’t be a better compromise.

Isabella agreed with Arina’s opinion and decided to prepare a family festival.

Meanwhile,

Carsein, who hadn’t come out for three days, was looking at his status window.

▶Episode IV. The Snow Flower Festival begins!◀

▶Spend a normal festival with your family!◀

[If cleared, Arina’s ban will be completely lifted!]

“Finally.”