Chapter 10

“From now on, I won’t be coming for morning greetings.”

The teacup Isabella was about to sip from trembled momentarily before steadying itself.

“I have nothing more to say.”

“Yes.”

Just as Carsein turned to leave the door, he turned back and answered immediately.

“I heard you were sick.”

Isabella had known about this after all.

One could argue and plead innocence, but Carsein had decided not to do so.

“It’s about that. I’m sorry. I just didn’t manage my health well.”

“…Health management?”

“It seems I ate too hastily every day. So, I won’t picky eat anymore.”

Isabella’s mouth slightly opened.

“I will take note again. Showing such a state would only lead to misunderstandings by innocent people, right?”

Carsein, having turned his back, opened the door once more.

After answering sharply, he left as if there was nothing else to say.

“… ”

After Carsein left the office, Isabella stared blankly into space for a long time.

Despite having mountains of work, her pen wouldn’t budge. This was all because of that child. Unlike usual, Carsein, who would always complain about his troubles at the Duke’s house every morning, uttered “sorry” for the first time.

When she heard the word “sorry”. When he expressed the wish to release Camila.

She doubted her ears for a moment.

She had only expected him to shout angrily, complaining why Camila should be released.

Of course, he didn’t always just scream. There were times when they exchanged a few words and ended the greeting quietly.

But from Carsein’s mouth, the word “sorry” came out first. He even expressed the wish to release Camila and admitted his fault.

This would never have happened before.

“Did he finally grow up?”

Since he was quite old, it might be possible. Or perhaps something happened that made him grow up mentally.

Either way, it looked good. The child wasn’t much younger than Claire, soon reaching adulthood.

“Coming of age… yes. That child has grown up enough.”

Isabella rang the bell to call the steward. Soon after, the old steward quickly arrived at Isabella’s office, bowing respectfully.

“What did you call me for?”

“When is the preparation for Claire’s coming-of-age celebration going smoothly?”

“The servants’ hands are quite busy, but preparations are proceeding without any issues.”

The second daughter, Claire, was approaching her nineteenth birthday. In January, the month that welcomes spring after winter, Claire was scheduled to come of age on January 1st.

“Yes. It’s progressing as planned.”

Isabella put down her teacup and took out a report.

“Heron, do you remember this day?”

“Hmm… It’s Arina’s coming-of-age day, isn’t it?”

Reading the report made Heron immediately understand Isabella’s intention.

“Do you plan to invite young master Carsein to Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony?”

Isabella nodded.

“I remember that mistress originally didn’t want to bring young master along.”

“Even now, I feel the same way.”

Indeed, during Arina’s coming-of-age ceremony, Carsein had caused a commotion.

If Carsein caused trouble or a commotion at Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony… this time, it wouldn’t end with just the Duke’s house losing face.

“But this time, I’m not sure. That’s why I want your advice.”

“If there’s anything I can help with, please tell me.”

“If I had predicted that he would throw a tantrum over releasing Camila, but… he didn’t.”

“Oh, young master Carsein…”

Like Isabella, Heron seemed quite surprised.

She had anticipated that Carsein would talk about being sick today.

But this prediction was completely off.

“He didn’t throw a tantrum but instead asked for Camila, who was falsely accused, to be released from solitary confinement. He even admitted his fault for catching a cold. And he said he won’t come for morning greetings anymore. It feels like he changed overnight. What’s going on?”

Contrary to Isabella’s words, Camila remained in solitary confinement.

Even though evidence was lacking, she was undoubtedly a prime suspect, and there was still guilt over how Carsein was treated.

Still, lying about releasing Camila was solely to see Carsein’s reaction.

In other words, from the moment Carsein came to talk about this, it was a process of claiming his right to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony.

“Young master ordered Camila to be released from solitary confinement.”

Heron’s mouth gaped open in disbelief. The steward, who maintained dignity as a deputy duke’s steward, was shaken.

But wasn’t this a natural flow?

Smiling, Heron added to the bewildered Isabella.

“As I mentioned before, young master isn’t a bad person. If treated with love like the other young ladies, this phase might have come sooner.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Honestly speaking, since mistress’s chronic illness disappeared, it felt like a wall was built. Interest waned, making it different from the affection the young ladies received.”

“Other affection? My daughters and Carsein…?”

“At least, that’s how it seemed to me. Therefore, giving him a chance is the right thing to do.”

Isabella fell into deep thought.

Without Heron’s suggestion, she would have set aside Carsein based on precedent. With more guests expected than at Arina’s coming-of-age ceremony, she wanted to isolate Carsein more safely and surely.

Based on precedent.

But Carsein was a member of the Duke’s household. Even if he wasn’t Isabella’s son, he was a fully adopted son.

Therefore, Heron believed it appropriate to give Carsein a chance.

Accepting his own faults and showing leniency by considering others’ situations.

If Carsein could show such leniency. If he really matured to this extent.

At the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony for his second sister. Even if he was called a derogatory nickname among the maids, he deserved the right to enter as a member of the Bargrand family.

Deep in thought, Isabella put the report back on her desk.

“Release Camila from solitary confinement according to Carsein’s wishes and tell her to attend the coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Then, young master might need a maid.”

“Right. Hmm… Maybe it’s best to assign Camila as his personal maid again.”

Assigning Camila as Carsein’s personal maid again involved two intentions.

Heron understood this intention instantly and followed the order.

“By the way, steward, any news from the Marquis House of Teresia?”

Turning to leave, Heron showed signs of confusion at the mention of the Marquis House of Teresia.

“The Marquis House of Teresia… no news, as far as I remember.”

“…I see.”

It seemed she thought the reason might lie with them.

“I apologize, mistress. But that’s a wrong guess.”

Isabella’s thoughts were miles away from what she was thinking.

***

With an affinity of 30%, she hoped there might be something.

But there wasn’t.

Morning greetings were the worst.

Her mood soured along with it.

Not only did it remind her of the past, but her blatant prejudice and preconceptions about Carsein were glaringly obvious, making her mood even worse.

However, she shouldn’t let emotions cloud her judgment.

“Status Window.”

Upon returning to her room, I immediately checked the status window.

▶Episode II. Cleared the maids’ complaints!◀

▶Camila is released from solitary confinement.◀

▶The maids’ complaints have subsided.◀

▶No need for morning greetings anymore.◀

“Indeed.”

I guessed she had cleared the episode when I heard voices after leaving Isabella’s room.

Firstly, the fact that Camila was released from solitary confinement and the Dead Trigger was deactivated was crucial.

Most bad endings in the early episodes were directly linked to Camila, and if she remained in solitary confinement, she would inevitably meet her end.

For instance, tomorrow morning, her body might appear.

How desperate must she have been to resort to such extreme measures? Though they didn’t speak of it, they would hold a funeral for her and seek revenge.

And Carsein… regardless of the choice he made, he would have met a tragic end.

Missing a critical timing meant it was too late. Therefore, releasing Camila from solitary confinement now was a major boon.

“But I can’t let my guard down. There must have been branches where Camila would leave the Duke’s house.”

I needed to be cautious, very cautious.

“The maids’ complaints were due to Camila. Morning greetings were part of the game’s past settings, so resolving them was a good thing. They were merely constraints anyway.”

It seemed I had successfully navigated the dangerous episode.

▶CHAPTER 1 – Episode II cleared!◀

■Rewards

[Exp 50]

[Level 1 → Level 2]

[Stats point increased by 0.05!]

This was the reward I knew from the game.

But, as I entered the game, a longer receipt seemed to arrive.

▶Successfully triggered results beyond choices.◀

▶Additional rewards granted!◀

■Additional Rewards

[Recognition +3]

[Recognition within the Duke House of Bargrand improves somewhat.]

[???]

“Results beyond choices. So, this is how Claire’s affinity increased further.”

If the game’s plot had unfolded as expected, Claire wouldn’t have noticed that I took a cold shower.

A minor change, but clearly proving that favorable outcomes were achievable.

“…But what’s with those question marks?”

Recognition was a game system that reduced Dead Flags in conversations with maids, but I had never seen something like this.

I received something, but I didn’t know what.

“Sometimes, items are given upon clearing an episode, but I don’t think I have any new items.”

The only things in my room were clothes I washed myself. Memorials weren’t possessions, so they were excluded, and status points didn’t increase like this.

There was nothing I had received.

So, what was it?

As I pondered this, a sound came from outside.

-Kong.

It sounded like someone knocking on my door.

“Someone is here?”

No. Worrying about it wouldn’t help.

Since someone was knocking on my door, I needed to listen to whatever they had to say.

“Come in.”

I fixed my gaze, waiting for the door to open.

And was shocked.

“Excuse me, young master…”

-Ding!

Before I could finish my thought, the status window lit up.

A short sentence was added to the reward window, which was previously hidden behind “???”

[Camila returns as a dedicated maid!]

And.

Looking at the status window, Camila asked me doubtfully,

“What should I do?”

Even if she asked, I had nothing to say.

My goal was to deactivate the Dead Trigger, so I hadn’t experienced a scenario where Camila returned as Carsein’s dedicated maid.

Whoever intervened and ordered Camila to become my dedicated maid couldn’t be undone.

I had to accept it.

“But this… wasn’t it a reward?”

That meant Camila becoming my dedicated maid was the reward.

“This is truly an incredible reward.”

Normally, one might think the Dead Trigger revived, but it’s the opposite. As long as Camila doesn’t return to solitary confinement, I can avoid countless bad endings.

It’s clear with just a bit of thought. Can I be absolutely certain that there’s not a single branch where Camila gets expelled from the Duke’s house?

Absolutely, I can’t.

From my experience playing this game, I can say with certainty that I can’t.

But if Camila becomes my dedicated maid? Any variables from outside are blocked. By becoming my dedicated maid, all external variables are cut off.

Thus, it’s an indisputable benefit. Even if a risk arises with a new maid, I can easily resolve it.

“Actually, this could even lead to formulating a new plan.”

Conclusion reached.

Let’s accept it.

“There’s nothing for you to do today. Come tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow… you mean it?”

“Yes. Tomorrow.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll have tasks tomorrow.