Chapter 237

‘…What did I just hear?’

“Are you feeling better?”

Normally, it should have been completely different.

Since Chapter 1, things have calmed down a bit, but Flora usually yells at this time.

So, I should roughly accept her anger and send her away…

‘Her affinity has already gone up?’

[Flora Bargrand]

[Affinity: 68%]

Seeing that no other color was painted on it, it doesn’t seem like there’s an event going on like before.

What in the world is this?

I’m extremely confused.

Still, I need to answer. I chose one option.

[3. It’s fine to just go back. I don’t even want to be here.]

“It’s fine if you don’t worry about it. Just go back. There’s no reason for you to come find me, right?”

I raised the tone a bit, so what?

This little girl wouldn’t want to be in this ward, and she wouldn’t have any reason to come find me either.

If there’s some system in place for that, I can cut it off from my side.

“Oh. You don’t really need a guardian.”

-Scratch.

“…?!”

“Karsein?”

“As you can see, my fiancée is helping out very well.”

After all, you don’t want to visit me anyway.

After all, you don’t have any reason to come.

After all, my fiancée is acting as a guardian, so there’s no problem.

With this, I’ve completed the three conditions to push Flora away when we meet.

She’ll probably leave in a huff soon.

I turned my head without thinking much.

But, it seems that was my misunderstanding.

“…There is.”

“What?”

“There is a reason to come!”

*Whiz!*

Something flew from her small hand.

It wasn’t hard to catch since it lacked force.

…This is, that thing again?

◆Kelvia Allergy Relief

[Flora made Kelvia Allergy Relief. It reduces the effects of the allergy.]

The item Flora intended to give me when she came to my room.

She explained that there’s a custom of giving gifts to the top scorer of the Symposium, and that’s why she gave me this as a gift to use.

Flora looked at me with eyes that said she wouldn’t leave if I didn’t take it.

“…Did she come just to give me this?”

But why, as she approaches step by step.

*Tch.*

What’s this?

Why is she grabbing my arm?

With a puzzled look, I stared at Flora, but she didn’t care about me at all.

“Karsein is from the Bargrand Duke’s House!”

“Yes, yes?”

“We’re family!”

She yelled at Harnier with her sword drawn.

…What is this all about?

It doesn’t make any sense.

‘Did Harnier do something wrong?’

Thinking so, I looked at Harnier, but she shook her head, saying she didn’t know either.

*Ding!*

▶Flora’s affinity has increased.◀

[Current level: 70%]

Damn it.

Why is she doing this?

What is she doing?

***

Afterwards, Flora growled at Harnier.

Not only that, she rambled on incomprehensible words, grabbed my arm, and clung to me.

To the growling Flora, I said,

“If you have complaints, take it out on me, why blame my innocent fiancée?”

Logically, if there were complaints, they would be directed at me.

I didn’t understand why the arrow was pointed at Harnier, but it didn’t seem right to vent on an innocent person.

That’s why I said that…

“You’re from the Bargrand Duke’s House! You idiot!”

“What?”

“Ugh…! I hate you. I really hate you!”

Flora shouted angrily and left the ward.

Then, she paused for a moment, looked at me, and pointed at the medicine bottle.

“Take your medicine! Idiot Karsein!”

“…”

*Ka-chunk. Taptaptap.*

“Really. What does it mean that I’m from the Bargrand Duke’s House?”

I couldn’t understand at all. This little girl.

I didn’t want to listen to meaningless stuff, but since she left like that, it’s probably for the best.

▶Condition achieved.◀

[Conversed with Flora Bargrand 1/1]

There was no problem with the episode itself.

◆Kelvia Allergy Relief

[Flora’s Kelvia Allergy Relief. It reduces the effects.]

“…I guess I should put this in a drawer later.”

I might as well bring Harnier who was kicked out or bring back Dike.

“Hmm?”

“Dike?”

Oh, right. People could come from the territory too.

This guest should be fine.

“I happened to overhear. Don’t mind it. I won’t say anything.”

“Yes. Sorry.”

Dike scratched his cheek and stared intently where Flora ran off, then he said to me.

“Such childish tantrums are just cute.”

“What?”

“Just a piece of advice from someone who has a younger sister.”

What is Dike talking about now?

Well, since he has a younger sister and similar experiences, I can guess.

Thinking that, I turned my head slightly.

‘Is that considered a tantrum?’

Looking at where Flora had passed, I recalled the events in the ward.

And immediately denied it.

‘That’s nonsense.’

What? A tantrum?

From this little girl?

Really. Just because she’s feeling bad, throwing a fit is called a tantrum?

“Dike. You’re overestimating Flora. That’s not a tantrum.”

“My Lord. But…”

“Look, when you risked your life to get Shatren strawberries for your younger sister, it shows you have a good relationship. I don’t have that.”

In fact, it’s the worst.

I patted Dike’s shoulder and told him to wait for a moment, then went to fetch Harnier.

“Mm…”

Dike scratched his head again.

He muttered something definite to himself.

***

Soon, visitors started coming to my ward again.

Starting with Dike and Frict, the guards brought food from Shatren and Rusmaier territories, and gifts for the top scorer of the Symposium were piled up in one corner of the ward.

Of course, family members were included.

“At first, I was so worried… Now that you’re awake, I feel relieved.”

Duchess Isabella, the matriarch, came to visit and said she hoped I would recover quickly.

“When you return to the Duke’s Mansion, there’s something I need to tell you. I’ll wait until you’re fully recovered.”

The eldest daughter, Arina, said she had something to tell me and wanted to wait.

Since the condition for conversing with family members during the episode is simply whether or not a conversation takes place, this wasn’t difficult.

There was nothing particularly to be cautious about here.

By choosing the available options and not going against the mood, this episode could be cleared in just one day.

However.

I still haven’t cleared this episode yet.

▶CHAPTER 3 – Episode I. Visits from family members are ongoing.◀

▶Meet all members of the Bargrand Duke’s House.◀

[Isabella Bargrand 1/1]

[Arina Bargrand 1/1]

[Claire Bargrand 0/1]

[Flora Bargrand 1/1]

Only one person remains.

Because there is still one person needed to clear the episode.

Claire was the easiest person to meet during the family visit episodes.

As usual,

“Why do you always get hurt and cause a fuss?!”

She rushed over and stuffed a cushion into Karsein’s hands.

But Claire hasn’t shown up yet.

Even though it’s past noon and evening is approaching, Claire hasn’t come to visit the ward.

*Tap tap.*

I tapped my index finger on the table, and Harnier casually asked,

“Are you waiting for Claire Young Lady?”

How did she know?

There’s only one person left. Claire.

I nodded lightly.

“She might be busy. Claire’s boutique is quite popular, so maybe meeting tomorrow would be better?”

“Hmm…”

I glanced at the progress bar.

There’s no deadline or timer indicating when I must clear the episode.

‘It means I just need to clear it. There’s no rush.’

Right. I was thinking too narrowly.

I don’t need to wait this long just to meet Claire.

“Shall we eat dinner?”

“Yes. I haven’t eaten properly since this morning…”

Suddenly, Harnier stopped speaking and turned around.

Why? Then, footsteps approached.

The sound of high-heeled shoes echoed in the hallway.

Judging by the sound, they weren’t men’s shoes.

They were getting closer to the ward, and judging by the sound, they belonged to a woman.

*Ding!*

▶Claire has come for a visit.◀

“Looks like we’ll have to delay dinner.”

Harnier smiled.

Right. There’s only one person left. Claire.

I nodded, and the designated guardian went ahead to open the door and welcome Claire.

A brief greeting was added, saying I was awake. I thought she would enter soon.

“Excuse me… Young Lady Harnier. Could you hold on a moment?”

“Yes? Eh?”

“Could you come this way…”

But Harnier’s figure disappeared through the open ward door.

It seemed as if she was being pulled away.

Due to this, while I could hear her voice, I couldn’t hear the conversation.

She moved far enough away that I couldn’t hear, and a few exchanges began.

If I could extend my senses with mana, I could have heard them.

‘Well, considering my current state…’

I had no choice but to wait. I wasn’t particularly eager to eavesdrop on Harnier’s conversation.

Then, the footsteps drew closer again.

“Karsein. The young lady wants to talk to you alone.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Could you step out for a moment? Hehe.”

No, why are you leaving with such a smile?

*Tap.*

Ah, the door closed.

“…”

There are only you and Claire in this ward.

An awkward atmosphere quickly enveloped us.

Claire lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.

“Sigh. Probably just some nagging.”

That’s why I feel a bit nervous, thinking something might happen.

“No, after all, no dead flags appeared during the visits.”

Strictly speaking, I’ve never experienced a dead flag at this timing, but as long as I’m not insane, I wouldn’t make such a wrong choice.

I calmly asked Claire,

“If you came to give a gift, can you just put it down and leave? You’d be wasting your time here, right?”

The top scorer of the Symposium gifts were common among the nobility and the entire family. Starting with this could help wrap up the conversation nicely.

But, it didn’t go as I expected.

▶Options disappear.◀

‘…What?’

Why did the options disappear?

While I was lost in thought,

Suddenly, Claire raised her head abruptly.

*Thud!*

She stepped toward me and gave me a light smack on the head.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“What? Just leave after giving a gift? Wasting your time? This!”

No, what’s wrong with this woman?

Suddenly, a headlock?

“Are you? Your sister is worried and came to see you, and you can only say this?”

“Chk! This crazy woman is really pushing it!”

“Crazy woman? Crazy woman? You deserve it! No way!”

“No, hey! Claire! I’m a patient…”

“Yk!”

As I got hit by Claire,

A system message popped up in front of my eyes.

‘Is this the condition to clear?’

▶CHAPTER 3 – Episode I. Visited family members have been met.◀

▶Met all members of the Bargrand Duke’s House.◀

[Isabella Bargrand 1/1]

[Arina Bargrand 1/1]

[Claire Bargrand 1/1]

[Flora Bargrand 1/1]

▶Hidden Episode. Cleared the minor commotion in the ward.◀

▶Additional rewards follow.◀

[???]

Damn. Not only Flora, but what’s up with today’s situation?

I can’t understand a thing.

But…

Something about Claire felt different.

I could tell.

***

Another day passed as I welcomed guests in the ward.

Today started like yesterday.

In the morning, Duke House’s personal doctor, Sheiden, came to examine Karsein.

Seeing this, Harnier swallowed her saliva and remembered Mina’s words.

“Miss. When your fiancé recovers and comes out, you should surprise him with a gift! That way, the emotion will double!”

Unable to decide what kind of gift to give due to owing a lot to Karsein, she consulted Mina, who seized the opportunity and said she must repay the debt firmly.

Saying that old-fashioned gifts won’t do, she insisted that a “real gift” is necessary to repay the debt.

When Harnier found out what the real gift was, she was shocked.

“How can you give such a thing…!”

“Well, it’s natural for engaged couples to do this! Anyway, stick close during the visit period. You absolutely must!”

How can she give such a thing as a gift?

My face still feels hot.

At that moment, Sheiden finished the examination and stated that Karsein could start activities again.

“Hmm. You can start activities now.”

“Already?”

“Yes. Surprisingly, the wound healed much faster than expected. It might be due to how well you maintained your body.”

“Is that so? So, I’m fine now?”

Though my heart isn’t settled regarding what gift to give, it’s too late to turn back now.

Harnier, suppressing her embarrassment, spoke to Karsein.

“Um, Karsein.”

“Yes?”

“Read this.”

The time was drawing near.

“The academic notification is already received… Wait, all participants of the Symposium are required to attend?”