Chapter 43

Torn pieces of paper were carried in a basket by Flora as she walked towards Ariana’s room.

Flora peeked her face out cautiously beside a pillar.

Although Ariana’s room was right in front of her, Flora had to carefully look around before placing the basket next to Ariana’s door.

“If there’s no one around, this should be fine.”

After confirming that there was no one watching, she placed the basket.

“If the door opens, this will be the first thing seen.”

With a sly smile, Flora knocked on Ariana’s door.

-Dong Dong!

“Come in.”

The voice came from inside the room, but no one entered.

Ariana, puzzled, opened the door.

“Hmm?”

There was no one at the door. The person who knocked had already left long ago.

But seeing a suspicious basket, Ariana immediately picked it up to check.

“What is this doing here in front of my room—”

The cloth covering the basket was lifted, and pieces of torn paper began to appear.

Familiar handwriting and familiar material.

And clearly split in half, her own seal was revealed.

“—”

A dark cloud passed over Ariana’s face.

“Gotcha!”

Flora, who hid after knocking on Ariana’s door, smirked as she watched Ariana from a safe distance.

It was obvious who did this.

If a document, especially an important certificate with the head of the family’s seal, was found in pieces like this, Carsein would definitely get mad.

As expected, Flora saw the blue eyes of the one examining the torn papers flare up with anger, and soon Ariana gathered a handful of the pieces.

Flora, expecting this reaction from Ariana and imagining Carsein’s future, followed silently.

***

-Ting!

-Your Affinity with Ariana has decreased!-

[Current Value: 15%]

“It happened.”

She had been waiting for this message.

Even though Heron took care of it, she thought it wouldn’t happen because of the high variability.

“Since the drop is 5%, it must have been confirmed. Other than that…”

-Your Threat Level in a specific area has changed!-

[Area: Training Hall]

[Threat Level: Normal → Dangerous]

The threat level in the training hall changed.

Just having the proof of lifting the ban on the items seemed to have made such a big difference.

If this goes away and things go wrong, the threat level would reset.

“But I’m not sad about it.”

If she hadn’t done this, she could have easily come and gone to the training hall.

“I’ll never accept such hypocrisy, Ariana.”

When I planned to leave and become independent from that house,

In the first year, they would send me something saying I did well. It was so disgusting.

So, I didn’t accept it.

I didn’t accept anything, and put them neatly in the room.

Even if they were wrapped, I didn’t open the wrapping and just put them in boxes, and I never showed them using it.

Because I wanted to be independent.

I wanted to escape without being caught by any of those family members.

This mindset hasn’t changed even now that Carsein has taken over.

Even though the game’s plot might drastically change and unexpected variables might appear, I don’t want help from these people.

Probably, Carsein thinks the same way too.

-Ting!

-CHAPTER 1 – Episode V branching begins.-

-Time limit given!-

-Complete the branching within the time limit!-

The awaited message appeared and a timer started ticking.

If I mess up, it could lead to a bad ending.

I need to act within the set time and decide the branching of the episode.

“Time to go.”

I was already prepared to leave the room and knew where I was going. I also had a plan for dealing with what was coming.

I confidently opened the door.

The maids were peeking around, looking nervous.

These maids are from the multi-purpose room near Carsein’s room.

They are nervous because they couldn’t carry out Heron’s instructions.

Everything seems to be going smoothly.

-Ting!

-The maids are tense.-

-How will you react to the item that needs to be delivered to Carsein?-

[1. “Do you have something for me?”]

[2. “You. Come here.”]

[3. “You all look guilty. Like something that needs to be delivered to me is missing.”]

[4. “Ignore them and walk past.”]

Why do the choices always have to be like this?

Even though I’ve raised my affinity with the sub-episodes, the choices don’t change.

So, I had to modify the content of the choices.

“There, you. You’re the maid who will take care of me while Camila is away?”

“Yes, yes…”

-Ting!

A second choice appeared immediately.

-Shall I collect the item entrusted to the maids?-

[1. Collect it.]

[2. Don’t collect it.]

There’s no way there’s anything to collect.

If I fall for it and go into the multi-purpose room, it will lead to a bad ending.

“Do you have something to ask for?”

“Yes. One thing.”

Although it hasn’t arrived yet, someone will soon be coming to my room, or rather, two people.

“I’m going to visit Mother. If anyone is looking for me, tell them that.”

I told the maid to inform her of Carsein’s whereabouts.

The maid, sweating coldly, agreed to do so.

After finishing the delivery to the maid, I headed straight upstairs.

Soon, Isabella’s office appeared.

Without hesitation, I knocked on the door, and it quickly opened.

“Come in.”

Isabella opened the door herself as usual.

Nothing much had changed.

As always, Isabella was busy with work, and I had just interrupted her.

Like when I came for morning greetings.

I remembered how I sat on the sofa and mindlessly looked at documents, waiting for her to ask what business I had.

If it was something urgent, it was better to get it over with quickly.

Otherwise, it would waste her time and disrupt her work.

So, I spoke before Isabella could.

“I came for a purpose.”

“Purpose?”

As Isabella asked, my status window popped up.

-Ting!

[1. Write me a permit for the training hall.]

[2. Write me a permit for managing the Shatren territory.]

[3. Write me a permit for attending the martial arts tournament.]

Three branches appeared.

Among these, the one I needed was obviously the first.

“Write me a permit for the training hall.”

Isabella fell silent for a moment, then said to wait a bit.

Unlike before, she didn’t make me wait long on the sofa.

She brought out some documents, wrote the permit in front of me, and handed it over.

“This matter is actually under Ariana’s jurisdiction. But I’ll talk to her and get the ban lifted.”

“Understood.”

After completing my business, I got up from the sofa holding the permit.

Then, Isabella grabbed my hand.

“Hold on. Wait a moment, Carsein.”

“Why?”

“…That’s all?”

“Yes.”

What more could I ask for?

I just wanted to get this permit and leave as soon as possible.

Because once the guest arrives, the branch of the episode will be determined.

“Didn’t you want to talk about the festival?”

Isabella asked, looking at me with trembling eyes.

“Do we need to bring it up here?”

“Need to? What are you talking about, Carsein?”

“Interrupting your work.”

“Need to? Of course we do!”

Isabella got angry.

“I heard everything from your sisters. You were suspected at the hall. You felt like you were being watched and couldn’t enjoy it. You didn’t even get your birthday present. And…”

Isabella struggled to continue.

“And you remember the memory of Ariana doing something terrible back then.”

Even though she said she didn’t need to bring it up, Isabella continued.

“I know you have a lot to say. Carsein. So, pour it out. I want to help you feel better.”

If I can’t speak now, it’s okay to come for morning greetings again.

If you want anything, she said she would do anything.

Seeing her reddened eyes, Isabella squeezed my hand.

It was quite a sight.

“Well, I’ll treat this permit as my birthday gift.”

“What?”

“That should cheer me up.”

“Carsein, that’s not right. Even if…”

“You’re different from the impulsive me of the past. Otherwise, do you want me to keep remembering the past forever?”

Isabella’s eyes widened.

Once, she didn’t believe me and made me prove it with Welton’s electrostatic glove.

She didn’t lift the ban immediately but reviewed it, making me feel like I was being watched during the festival.

The birthday present became useless, and it eventually led to recalling the worst memories of the past.

To make me remember all of that is harsh.

“My opinion is clear. But I won’t treat this permit as a birthday gift, Carsein.”

She added sadly, welcoming any legitimate birthday request.

Our conversation ended there.

Leaving the office, I checked the remaining time.

-Remaining time: 40 seconds.-

It was enough time to get away from here.

To recreate the scene from the game, I moved to another spot.

Soon.

The timer disappeared, and the name of the episode was written.

“Carsein. You’re here.”

And.

-Zap!

An unmistakable mark was imprinted on my cheek, signifying the completion of this episode’s goal.

***

As always, Ariana hasn’t changed.

When I feel the cold blood rush through my body, I thank this woman.

Because I can move on without being emotionally entangled.

-Ting!

-Episode V. The troublemaker of the training hall starts!-

-Affinity with Ariana has dropped!-

-Persuade Ariana!-

[Success: Affinity recovery]

[Failure: Death]

As a tingling heat spread across my cheek, the status window branched out, demanding story progression.

Though the reason for this situation differs, it felt much like the scene from the game.

Slowly.

I revealed my weapon, ready to push Ariana.

“Even if it’s disappointing, it’s still the same. You haven’t changed, Carsein.”

“Why are you so worked up?”

“Ha. Ignoring me. Your crude and dull excuses are still the same.”

Papers scattered in the air.

They looked like they couldn’t be restored to their original form.

“I fully admit my mistakes. But you betrayed my goodwill. Why, did you not even want to use the proof of lifting the ban? Are you going to lie and say you didn’t receive the training hall permit in my hand?”

Blue eyes flared dangerously.

From her erratic breathing, it was clear how angry she was.

But I wasn’t intimidated.

“You haven’t changed. Even after experiencing this several times, you still doubt me.”

“Every piece of evidence points to you. How can you say such things?”

For a moment, Ariana’s eyes twitched, but there was no change in her heart.

Thanks to that, I could use it to my advantage.

Scanning the choices, I found one that stood out.

“When did you send it?”

“What?”

“When did you send it to me?”

“In the morning. I instructed Heron to deliver it to your room.”

“Then, can I ask Heron if it reached my room?”

-Gulp.

The blonde girl peeking from the opposite staircase began to stiffen.

‘She’s scared, huh? Flora.’