Chapter 91

091.

Staring into those murky gray eyes makes it difficult to fathom their intentions.

Perhaps it’s their unapproachable appearance or the way they sit up straight, making it hard to strike up a conversation.

Inside the carriage heading toward the Plache Mansion.

Seated across, Laris Plache gazes out the window with her chin in hand, seemingly lost in thought.

Since Kalen isn’t the type to instigate noise, he quietly observes her without a word.

Amidst the heavy silence that lingers inside the carriage for quite some time, Laris finally speaks.

“…Are you not curious?”

It’s almost impossible to tell if Laris is asking a question or merely murmuring to herself, she appears so natural. However, the tone at the end of her sentence carries an unmistakable sense of inquiry.

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“That’s fine; you don’t need to be so considerate. I wondered why I wanted you here. If I were in your shoes, I’d be dying of curiosity.”

Laris had mentioned something at the banquet: that she had a reason to create a mental image at the cost of her own life.

Kalen thought it might be tied to some unspeakable “wound” in her heart. After all, anyone would be reluctant to reveal something like that. And considering Laris had a similar situation to the three young ladies Kalen had helped in creating their ideal images, he had empathized with her.

Nevertheless, curiosity doesn’t just vanish.

By making this statement, Laris must have reached a point where she’s willing to confide.

Kalen nods after collecting his thoughts.

“Will you tell me?”

“Do you want to hear it?”

“I am curious.”

“Hmm…”

Laris’s gaze remains fixed out the window.

After a while, she continues gazing at the scenery outside before speaking slowly.

*

Most of the five prominent families reside in the south, with the notable exception of the Hiart family.

The Hiart family in the north.

The Lakatus family in the southeast.

The Drannus family in the central region.

Unsurprisingly, two other major families reside in the southern and southwestern regions.

Among these, the Plache household occupies the highest rank among the southern noble families. As rulers of fertile land, in stark contrast to the relatively barren north, they are undeniably prosperous. While the Claire Empire as a whole is powerful, there’s still a slight edge in terms of wealth for the south.

The Hiart family holds the title of Duke primarily because they serve as the guardians of the northern region. Before the Drannus family reclaimed their former prestige, all four other families held the title of Marquis, except for Hiart.

Marquis versus Duke.

The Plache family might not officially be titled as such, but they are undeniably one of the wealthiest Marquis-level noble families.

Not too far ahead, an enormous mansion comes into view.

Just by looking at it, one can understand why the Plache family is so affluent.

Even knowing this, Kalen cannot see Laris as anything extraordinary.

Although the inland territory of the empire is vast, the distance between Mulrand City and here is considerable, making it impossible to travel back and forth in a day or two. Several days have already passed since he heard Laris’s words. Nonetheless, Kalen hasn’t been able to forget them yet.

This is why Kalen can’t view Laris as the daughter of such a distinguished family.

The moment she made an unimaginable statement, rather than making her appear powerful, it made her seem pitiable.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s go in.”

The carriage stops a short distance from the mansion. Rising from her seat, Laris exits, followed by Kalen.

Having visited the estates of Lakatus, Hiart, and Drannus, Kalen knows their grandeur well. But compared to those, the Plache estate feels excessively ornate. While the previous estates exuded an antique, dignified aura, the Plaches’ exude opulence and flashy elegance.

Kalen finds their taste rather unsavory.

Lost in such musings, Kalen follows Laris toward the mansion.

The distance is short, really just a stone’s throw away, so they quickly arrive.

At the iron gate’s entrance, several knights stood guard.

Walking up to the sole knight clad in an armor different in color from the others, Laris addresses him.

“Big Brother. Miss Laris.”

“…Shouldn’t I have been informed you were coming?”

“Hmm…I didn’t receive any such notice.”

“…I see. Could you open the gate, then?”

The knight hesitated for a moment before issuing an order to his subordinates. Soon enough, the massive gate opens, revealing the road leading to the mansion.

Kalen followed Laris into the estate.

Oddly enough, no one was there to welcome her.

It’s impossible that her arrival wasn’t communicated through the carriage message.

It seemed as if even the Plache family itself was unaware that Laris had returned.

It was certainly unusual.

After all, the daughter of a family returning from an absence—especially a daughter of Laris’s standing—should be greeted by multiple maids ready to serve her.

The attitude of the knight at the gate is also peculiar.

Even if the knight holds a higher rank, Laris, who bears the surname Plache, is technically the master’s daughter.

Yet, the knight’s behavior doesn’t seem to reflect respect for his master. Not only does Laris speak to him politely, but the knight outright admits he hasn’t heard anything, dismissing it rather confidently instead of apologizing.

Even though the protocol in noble households is strict, it would be customary to quickly open the gates, let alone apologize.

Being treated this way in her own family and resorting to formal speech—despite returning home having notified them—is a strange situation.

Seeing Laris’s stoic expression, however, Kalen realizes that this is not a sudden development but a long-standing occurrence. Laris has been treated this way all along, like a stranger in her own family.

Suddenly, Kalen recalls the difficult words Laris had spoken not long ago.

Her request to help bury her mother.

When you think about it, it’s an odd request.

If Laris’s mother is indeed the wife of the family head, then how can there be a request to bury her when the current lady of the Plache household is apparently still alive, according to what Blamia had mentioned earlier?

The marriage of the Plache family head to the daughter of the Lail merchant family is quite a well-known story. Their union only enhanced the family’s wealth and influence, given their already fertile lands in the south.

Now, the living family head’s wife and Laris’s request to bury her mother—coupled with the need for her “image,” as well as her nonchalant acceptance of disrespect from a mere knight—paint an increasingly complex picture.

“…”

Kalen thoughtfully follows Laris, quietly connecting the dots of her situation.

Although not fully confirmed, the emerging picture is clear.

Still, it’s hard to be certain.

Laris is a renowned academic magician in society, not on par with Serasie’s outstanding talents but certainly respected enough to carry the Plache family’s name into the future.

This suggests that Laris is the only member of her family to have officially entered society.

And so, there’s still some doubt.

“I need to find out more.”

Before entering the mansion, Kalen casually mentions this after concluding his thoughts.

Laris, about to open the door, pauses at this.

“…Yes.”

After briefly playing with the doorknob, Laris seems to understand Kalen’s meaning and nods, quietly pushing the door open herself. There are no servants or attendants present to assist. She then steps into the mansion, and Kalen follows suit.

*

“Remember the conversation we had in the carriage?

“You asked for help in burying your mother.”

“Yes. The meaning hasn’t changed. I wasn’t being indirect—I simply asked you to help me in burying my mother.”

Nobles typically value procedures above all. Rules and etiquettes are things they often treasure more than life itself.

Yet, Laris directly led Kalen to her room, bypassing all formalities, almost as if the head of the Plache family didn’t care about such things.

“Isn’t Lady Laris the second daughter of the Plache family? At least, that’s how I’ve always understood it.”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then the current lady of the Plache family is…?”

“Not my biological mother.”

The mansion, luxurious as it may be, houses a room that feels strikingly plain relative to the opulence one might expect the daughter of a duke to enjoy.

Even by noble standards, compared to lower-ranking nobles, Laris’s room seems underwhelming.

“My sister gave up our family name, and, well… now, it’s probably just me who remembers my real mother.”

At the sight of the room, Kalen understands.

Or at least, he deduces correctly to a certain extent.

“Would it be rude of me to mention that you’re quite perceptive?”

“That’s nothing new. I’ve heard it often.”

“…Hmm…”

It’s said you can read someone’s mind through their gaze.

Laris understood, by looking into Kalen’s eyes, that he had already deduced most of her circumstances.

The only things she herself had explicitly told him were her request for help in an unusual task, and, of course, her request to bury her mother.

For him to have arrived so close to the “truth” in the short journey from the carriage to her room was impressive.

Maybe it was for the best. After all, achieving her long-held wish heavily depended on his assistance.

Laris slowly approaches and sits in a chair, gesturing for Kalen to sit on the bed.

“Would you mind listening to a long story, Kalen?”

Kalen looks at her for a moment, then silently agrees and sits down on the bed.

“Yes, I can’t stand not knowing when I’m curious.”

There are no perfect noble young ladies.

Recalling the words of his master from long ago, Kalen readily decides to bear Laris’s pain with her.