Chapter 199

“Ouch! Those words from Carsein were as sharp as thorns, leaving a cold chill in their wake.”

“Flora’s soft skin stood on end, even though it was spring.”

“Without saying a word, she watched him leave.”

“Flora froze in place.”

“Oh my. Just like that, he’s gone? On someone’s birthday?”

“That’s going too far. Even if you don’t care about status, you should at least properly celebrate your family’s birthday.”

“I thought he was talking about a birthday present. Could he really be skipping out on giving one?”

“It sure looks like it.”

But right after Carsein left, the nobles started gossiping, and Flora snapped back to reality.

“No… If I cry here, it will become real.”

This isn’t just anger. People would point fingers at him as a commoner, and she could be mocked for failing her family, especially her eldest sister or mother, who might give harsher punishments.

She had to defend him so he wouldn’t be pointed at.

Flora locked away the tears and turned towards the audience.

But she had no idea how to defend him.

“What should I say?”

Should she say there was a reason he left? But it’s his birthday party. What reason could there be?

Saying he already got his congratulations wouldn’t work either. Leaving early from a birthday party contradicts claiming he received birthday wishes.

And what about the birthday present? He didn’t bring one. This would only increase suspicion that he didn’t give a gift, further incriminating him.

“How can I do this?”

Flora didn’t know. She knew nothing.

Because she lacked the knowledge to prevent repeating the past.

As she trembled in fear,

A pink-haired vision blocked her view.

“Is it really okay for everyone to speak so freely?”

“…Little sister?”

“Carsein didn’t receive any criticism from Princess Arshien or Prince Florence at the Symposium. That’s how hard he worked. Is it really so wrong to say he’s tired and wants to go home?”

The nobles, who were about to gossip about Carsein, fell silent.

Flora, whose face was hidden by the nobles, looked up at Claire, who nodded.

“Right. I need to follow him. To see him off!”

To show that Carsein had permission to leave, she needed to follow him, demonstrating that the birthday party participant allowed it.

“I’ll be right back, everyone!”

With force, she replied and then to Claire,

“Thanks, little sister.”

Leaving behind a thank you, she stepped forward.

Tap tap tap.

Flora ran, clutching her dress.

This chance given by her little sister had created a moment for her to express her true feelings to Carsein.

For the incident in the past and all her previous mistakes.

***

An old story.

I’ve been there too.

Stupidly, I once tried to get gifts for the family, thinking maybe it could make us closer.

But when I came to my senses, I found myself being ridiculed at the third sibling’s birthday party in a travel destination.

Though it seemed different, it was almost the same.

Being robbed of time at a birthday party was something Carsein and I shared.

Bringing a birthday gift never satisfied the youngest; it only led to my destruction and eventual absence from the party.

Finding fault was nearly impossible.

Every situation, every detail of Carsein’s two childhood birthdays and mine in reality mirrored each other.

Including the resolution.

The only difference was that Flora couldn’t frame me twice like the third sibling did.

So now, I felt relieved.

At first, seeing the memorial made me feel like I was looking at a foolish past self, but quickly drawing a line and leaving the party hall left me feeling liberated.

What if relations with family worsened? It was inevitable.

My mind raced, my cold blood propelling my thoughts into action.

Yes, I must escape as quickly as possible. I can’t stay here.

I need to minimize the time spent here and escape outside.

For that, I need to take control of Shatren, just like I once worked part-time jobs to make money, not just in Rusmaier but also in Shatren.

Just as I was about to move,

I felt a presence behind me, enveloping my body.

Could it be one of the family members?

“Carsein.”

Hearing the voice, I knew.

It wasn’t one of those family members. It was Harnier, my fiancée.

“I saw everything.”

What?

“At this birthday party, what you went through. So…”

Harnier whispered, hugging me from behind.

“Why are you so calm?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I saw everything. Everything you did… Why are you so calm? You should be heartbroken. You should be indignant. It’s not right to remain calm. You should be crying out in anguish.”

– Squeeze.

“Why are you so nonchalant?”

She asked, squeezing me tighter, pleading.

Why am I nonchalant?

Isn’t it obvious?

“Because I’m truly not bothered, that’s why I look like this.”

Harnier’s grip loosened.

Turning around, she looked panicked, or rather, something was clearly wrong.

I couldn’t understand.

What’s wrong?

“Oh my. You… have always been like this…”

Her hands rose. Unlike the others, they weren’t aggressive.

With a tender gaze, she caressed my cheek.

“I’ve had similar experiences. Being a nuisance at a family member’s birthday. The contemptuous looks that come with it. It’s painful, and it hurts. It should hurt!”

“I’m not hurt. My heart isn’t pained.”

Pain?

What kind of pain is this?

“Getting hit by family is daily. If it hurt this much, I would have collapsed long ago.”

Hearing this, Harnier shouted.

“So you can’t even feel pain! You’re getting used to something you shouldn’t be getting used to. Do you get it?”

“…”

I don’t get it.

I don’t understand.

There’s nothing wrong with getting used to it.

– Push.

Harnier suddenly lifted herself onto tiptoe, pulling my head down.

Her warm flesh pressed against me, covering my entire field of vision.

A strange sense of warmth began to replace the coldness.

“Harnier? What…”

“Pain… Don’t hold it in. This isn’t something you should endure.”

It’s okay to say you’re uncomfortable. It’s okay to say you’re struggling. You shouldn’t hold it in; you should express it properly.

Harnier continued with her incomprehensible words.

I still don’t understand.

Even though I know she wouldn’t joke about this, I truly don’t understand.

I can’t comprehend what she’s talking about.

Even after repeatedly thinking about it until she released me,

I couldn’t understand.

Why should I feel hurt?

There are much harder things than that.

Why should I feel pain?

I’ve experienced much more severe pain.

I don’t get it.

***

“…”

He found him.

Carsein was easily spotted after running.

Carsein was just a short distance from the mansion.

But he couldn’t talk to him.

It wasn’t because he lacked courage.

It wasn’t because he didn’t want to admit his mistake.

It wasn’t because he wanted to avoid reality.

It was because he couldn’t move or speak seeing Carsein held by his fiancée.

And again, he remembered.

The voice from when he was carried by his little sister.

“We shouldn’t do that. Flora.”

“That might only make Carsein suffer more.”

He had to agree.

His actions only created rumors against Carsein. No events proved his innocence. And it remains the same now.

But…

If Harnier were here, she might cover his wounds.

Even if they were grotesquely disfigured, if she warmly embraced him like this woman, it would be fine.

My sister was like that too.

She said to take a step back.

-Tap tap.

After watching them for a moment, Flora turned and walked away.

Once back, she acted as if nothing happened and cleaned up the mess.

Thanks to her little sister, misunderstandings were cleared up.

The finger-pointing and accusations towards Carsein stopped immediately, allowing the party to continue.

But Flora couldn’t enjoy the party anymore.

Her forced smile reached its limit. She complained of fatigue and left, heading to a secluded place.

Just as she thought she was alone,

Knock knock.

She turned her head, hoping it might be someone.

It was Claire, her little sister, who had helped her.

“Gasp.”

Tears welled up immediately.

“Flora.”

“Little sister…”

If it were anyone else, she might have asked them to leave.

But not Claire.

“Did you find out anything about the theft of Carsein’s belongings?”

She tried to act casual but had one question.

It was about the stolen personal items of Carsein.

She had hesitated to ask Ariana, her eldest sister, but decided against it.

Claire responded by handing over an item.

“…This was found in Carsein’s room. Flora.”

“This is…”

It was a crushed doll.

“More precisely, it was in the closet. Given its condition, it might have been intended as a gift for your previous birthday.”

“Gasp!”

A footprint was visible in the middle.

The size told her who had stepped on it.

Yes.

This is a gift.

One Carsein intended to give to someone.

She was certain about who the recipient was.

This party hall had been the site of her own birthday parties in the past.

Then… did I sell the gift meant for someone, laugh at them, and frame them?

“Sob…!”

Claire, who could vaguely guess from Flora’s sniffles, silently hugged her small body.

Feeling the embrace of the only person who understood her, Flora finally broke down in tears.

“I did it again… I did something wrong… Sniff… I sold Carsein’s belongings in secret before. That’s why…!”

As if encouraging her to continue, Claire gently stroked Flora’s back.

From her younger sister’s mouth, the same words repeated endlessly.

“I did something wrong… I did bad things… I kept hurting Carsein…”

Wrong. Bad. Hurting Carsein.

Those repeated words were all of that sort.

Not a single word was omitted, as she confessed to her past sins.

-Ding!

[Condition met: Flora discovers Carsein’s gift hidden in the closet.]

[Due to additional conditions met, changes occur.]

[Successfully triggered results beyond choices!]

[Attention reduced to 0%.]

[Achievement level set to 100%.]

[Penalties based on attention removed.]

[Unjust accusations lifted, increasing affinity with certain characters.]