Chapter 101

Here’s the comedic anime-style English translation of the provided text:

“Ariana, the eldest sister, finished asking something from Flora. As soon as Flora left the office, she met Carsein.

Flora’s smile, which was all happy and stuff, suddenly turned into a worried frown because of some worries. She thought maybe Carsein might refuse, so she went back upstairs and peeked around nearby.

‘When will he come out…?’

It took quite a while for Carsein to come out after entering Ariana’s room.

Ariana definitely said she would talk nicely to Carsein. But if it takes this long, even Flora gets antsy.

Thinking about it, even though Ariana always said she would agree right away, this time she seemed to be thinking a bit…

‘Maybe my request was too much…?’

That shouldn’t happen.

But at the same time, Flora thought that Carsein might not even respond to the tea party invitation.

Feeling gloomy, Flora lowered her head.

Just then.

Carsein opened the door and came out.

*Click*

‘Ah!’

Flora quickly covered her mouth and hid beside the stairs.

He couldn’t have heard, right?

Probably, he didn’t hear. He didn’t hear before, so he wouldn’t now either.

‘Take a lot from your trip. If you’ve changed a bit after coming back, you can get your meeting participation rights back without any problems.’

Ariana’s voice. Flora’s ears perked up.

Since she told him to take a lot, Carsein must have agreed to go to the tea party, right?

The anxiety that Carsein might refuse vanished like a butterfly in the air.

But Flora never imagined that Carsein would come here. So when their eyes met, Flora had to tense up immediately.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Huh? Oh, um…’

What should I say?

Flora, who was dizzy, blurted out something random.

‘It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong by being here!’

‘…Huh?’

Carsein chuckled sarcastically.

Then Flora reacted like a thief who got caught stealing.

‘I could have gone up too! You were here earlier too! Is there a reason why I shouldn’t be here?’

It’s obviously a right!

Walking around in the Duke’s mansion as the youngest daughter. It’s only natural.

Flora confidently stood her ground, thinking that nothing bad would happen even if she was here.

She didn’t know that it would make her more transparent.

‘Who said that?’

‘…Huh?’

‘Why are you making such a fuss when no one said anything? Seriously.’

Carsein didn’t say anything, but Flora was making a fuss.

Seeing this situation resolve itself, Flora pouted.

‘Are you in a position to say that to me? You got an opportunity from my sister because of me. Without my request this time, you wouldn’t have gotten the right to participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting!’

‘So what? Should I thank you for it?’

‘Y-Yeah! That’s right!’

Even though she agreed, Carsein chuckled again.

‘Oh. Alright. Let’s consider it that way. When and where is this tea party?’

‘It’s at the Gelgetten baronage’s villa. The time is…’

‘About two hours from now.’

‘…How did you know?’

‘There, you. Have the carriage prepared.’

Carsein didn’t answer that question and called for his servant to prepare for going out.

Really, how did he know?

***

Two hours later.

After being carefully dressed by the maids, Flora looked just as precious as usual, the youngest daughter of the Duke House.

Too cute and pretty.

The maids clutched their chests or sighed with strange excitement.

Seeing them like this, Flora felt like nothing had really changed, and it made her feel uneasy.

‘Is Carsein getting dressed up too?’

The maids, asked ‘Your lord?’ and chuckled, saying everything was fine, easing Flora’s worry.

Even though she thought it might be possible, when she asked again, they reassured her with a warm smile, seeing the close bond between siblings.

After finishing her dressing, Flora came down.

Without needing to ask where Carsein was, he was already standing in front of the carriage.

‘Was he always like this…?’

Even leaning against the wall, his figure was tall enough that she had to look up.

Plus, he wasn’t just tall.

She thought he was skinny and not impressive, but now, looking at him, he felt different from the skinny guy he used to be.

Why has he changed so much?

Flora stared blankly at Carsein, thinking this.

‘What are you doing there?’

‘Uh, uh…’

‘If you’re ready, let’s go. It’s not like it’ll be good if we’re late.’

That’s true.

Being late isn’t good. Nobles are supposed to arrive a little early.

But… Carsein’s current appearance didn’t sit well with Flora.

‘Why are you dressed like that?’

‘What do you mean? I dressed properly.’

‘Where does this fit in! This is a place for nobles only… You need to dress up more!’

Right. Carsein is too plain.

While it’s modesty to dress simply among nobles, this is too simple.

There’s no decoration.

No symbol of nobility.

Not even the Bargrand crest on his clothes. All he has is a sword.

Flora found his outfit too plain.

‘It’s just a tea party. It’s just a gathering to drink tea. Why do I need to wear something eye-catching just because I’m a man?’

‘But… You’re also a noble…’

‘Bringing a flashy man to a gathering of noble women is like telling them to eat dirt. Right?’

Putting it off as just a tea party doesn’t work.

But this isn’t an ordinary tea party.

‘The other young ladies will bring people to talk! It’s not like you’re the only man!’

They all said they would bring someone.

So it’s not just a gathering for women.

But Carsein won’t budge.

‘Forget it. We don’t have time. Just go.’

‘…’

‘If you’re embarrassed, we can leave now. Claire is at the mansion anyway.’

‘Ah, fine! Just get in the carriage!’

Leaving because it’s embarrassing.

No way.

How hard did she work to get this chance?

For Flora, this tea party is an opportunity to properly introduce Carsein and clear his name.

Clothes don’t matter. The important thing is getting him there.

But part of her wondered if she should have said something else. Maybe he should dress up better.

Soon, the carriages arrived for them to ride in.

‘Why two carriages?’

Flora tilted her head, looking at the two carriages.

One carriage would have been enough. Why did they call two?

Carsein arranged the carriages.

Does that mean he plans to bring more people?

‘Maybe. Camila… Yeah, that makes sense.’

Sometimes, other noble families prepare separate carriages for their servants. It’s not unusual.

Carsein has been talking a lot with Camila in the office lately.

Meanwhile, Carsein walked ahead and opened the carriage door.

Realizing this was for escorting the noble lady, Flora rushed over and grabbed Carsein’s hand.

The escorting process was perfectly smooth. No, it was beyond smooth—it was perfect.

Flora, being shorter, usually gets helped by shorter servants. But Carsein’s escorting was flawless.

‘…Did you learn this because of your fiancée?’

‘Huh?’

‘About this escorting. Did you learn it because of your fiancée? You didn’t know how to do it before, right?’

‘Yeah. I learned various things.’

‘…’

Seeing him admit it so easily, Flora felt a bit down.

‘What are you doing! Finish the escorting and get in! Otherwise, we’ll be late!’

Making a pointless fuss.

With a weird, uncomfortable feeling, Flora sat in the carriage.

*Click*

The door closed silently, shut by Carsein.

Flora jumped up and opened the door again.

‘Wait a moment!’

‘Why?’

‘Why aren’t you getting in…? We’re going together.’

How can he not get in when they’re going together?

Does he plan to just pretend to go?

But Carsein spoke as if it was no big deal.

‘We’re going together, so we enter like this.’

‘Isn’t that carriage for the servants…? For Camila or something?’

‘Why would I invite Camila to a tea party you wanted to go to? Same for others.’

‘…Are you seriously saying you prepared two carriages just to go separately with me?’

No way.

He wouldn’t do something like that.

Even if he hated her, he wouldn’t split the carriages.

‘Why are you asking if you already know?’

At those cold words, Flora felt a lump in her chest.

Something blocked.

Unbearable frustration welled up.

‘Crap…!’

Watching Carsein get into the carriage behind, Flora quickly got out of her own carriage.

She ran to Carsein’s carriage door.

‘Heron! Open this door! I’m getting in this carriage too!’

‘…Understood.’

Heron opened the carriage door.

Carsein was sitting reading a book. He looked up when the door opened, but showed no sign of displeasure and turned the page.

‘I’m getting in this carriage too!’

‘Suit yourself.’

Flora shouted, but Carsein ignored her, flipping another page.

Even with Heron’s help, she still felt upset getting in.

As the carriage started moving, Carsein remained silent.

Feeling annoyed, Flora spoke first.

‘Why do we need two carriages for just one ride?! It’s just more work for the servants!’

‘Well. Nobody thinks you and I have a good relationship at the Duke House.’

‘…!’

‘Ah, a few new maids don’t know us yet. Not nobody, but a few don’t know. Even if it’s just that, having two carriages isn’t strange, right? Even if it weren’t, there are more memories of fighting than good ones, so we’d need two carriages anyway to avoid problems.’

Flora clenched her fist in denial.

It’s true.

But why does it bother her so much?

She wants to deny it. She has to deny it.

‘No! No! You’re wrong! We can just use one carriage!’

This wasn’t the point of bringing Carsein along.

This wasn’t the reason she got in the carriage with Carsein.

But with her lips pouted, she was the past Flora Bargrand.

‘Crap…! This idiot!’

The first step was already messed up.