Chapter 16

Claire and then Arina, Isabella’s eyes popped open.

—

Sheiden wouldn’t take sides with Carsein in this kind of situation. Arina immediately asked for a reason.

“What do you mean by that, Sheiden? You’re saying there are foods he can’t eat?”

“Do you happen to know about Kelbia Allergy?”

All three shook their heads. Only one person flinched and shuddered slightly.

But Sheiden didn’t notice and proceeded as if he expected it, “Indeed, as I thought.”

“There’s a small amount of poison in Kelbia Fruit. It generally doesn’t harm humans, but for those showing symptoms of an allergy, it’s different.”

“Allergy…?”

“Surely, you don’t mean Carsein has that Kelbia Allergy?”

“Yes.”

Upon Sheiden’s confirmation, the Duke’s family members couldn’t stop staring at the dining table.

Carsein had already left, not touching any food except for the roasted turkey in the center.

Claire recalled Carsein tearing into the meat and trembled as she asked, “W-What are the symptoms? Carsein ate the meat!”

“The severity varies, but it could be as mild as rejecting the taste or smell of the fruit. But in severe cases, they can distinguish between food containing the fruit and those that don’t.”

Carsein deliberately avoided eating.

He could tell. It was clear enough.

“But that’s for levels 1-3. If he’s at level 4, the most vulnerable…”

Gulp.

“Even a slight intake could cause toxic effects, making him bedridden for days if not neutralized.”

“Wh-What?!”

“What did you say…?”

“Luckily, the meat you ate had the fruit only as seasoning, so you only had the inside part. Even so, the smell would have caused strong aversion.”

Why didn’t he eat the food?

Because he could tell the fruit was involved due to his allergy.

Why did he tear into the meat with his hands?

To avoid the seasoned skin and eat only the flesh.

Why didn’t he apologize for doing wrong?

Because he wasn’t wrong. It was clearly not his fault.

The food was poison to Carsein.

This dining table was nothing but poison to him.

—

It’s so unfair. I just came to eat, why am I getting hit for it?

Better to get sick from a cold. At least I wouldn’t get hit, and I’d still get proper meals.

Sorry for being so low-class. Maybe it’s better if I’m not seen during the coming-of-age ceremony.

I’ll be the first to go if you find me ugly. Enjoy your meal.

Carsein’s voice echoed through the dining hall before he left.

It’s like he’s telling us not to eat while inviting us. To stand there like a screen while others eat. Or worse, considering the condition of his allergy.

—

“I felt last time too, the malice towards the young master is excessive. I urge you to investigate the servants. Goodbye.”

When Sheiden left, a long silence filled the dining hall. The maids were already dismissed, leaving only the four family members.

“How could such a thing happen…”

Bang!

Isabella slammed her hand on the table, her rare fierce look showing.

“Who would dare do such a petty thing in the House of Bargrand?!”

Her voice full of resentment filled the room. While she wasn’t blaming her daughters, this was no trivial matter.

“Arina, gather all the staff immediately! Now!”

“Mother! Calm down!”

“Calm down? After seeing this? When it’s obvious they don’t want us to eat?”

“I understand. But punishing everyone won’t catch the culprit. Innocent people might suffer.”

“Carsein… Ah, ah…”

“Mother!”

“Mom!”

Isabella stumbled, collapsing. Claire and Arina helped her sit down.

“You should rest, Mother. I’ll investigate with Claire.”

“I’ll catch them. Just rest, okay?”

“How could such a shameful and despicable act happen in the House of Bargrand…”

Isabella couldn’t contain her anger for a long time. Only after her daughters calmed her down did she leave.

—

But in the chaos of the dining hall,

One person couldn’t hide their anxiety.

‘What should I do…?’

Carsein’s gaze, as if he knew everything, still haunted her. No, it felt like he really did know.

‘I didn’t do it this time…!’

Click, clack.

The little girl’s thumb nail snapped.

—

Click.

“Young Master? You’re already here… Oh no!”

Camila jumped in surprise, turning around.

But it wasn’t just the loud noise that startled her.

“Goodness… Young Master! What happened…?”

The clothes prepared for the banquet were in disarray. They were meticulously cleaned and prepared in the early morning, but now…

And he didn’t seem to have eaten. One cheek was scratched sharply, blood flowing down and staining the white fabric on his shoulder.

“Camila.”

“Oh, yes. Yes, Young Master…”

Camila hesitated, answering late to her master’s call.

“I went to answer Mother’s call, dressed up in the clothes you prepared, and went to eat. Then what happened?”

“No, I…”

“Then my appearance like this must be from something that happened at the dinner table, right?”

Camila nodded silently.

Carsein began recounting what happened at the dinner table.

“When I answered Mother’s call, I saw something funny in the dining hall. How did only the foods I can’t eat end up on the table?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Kelbia Allergy. That’s why I couldn’t eat properly. That’s why I look like this.”

“…”

Camila’s heart sank at those two words.

She knew well, having been ordered to torment her master frequently.

Kelbia Fruit. To Carsein, it was the devil’s fruit.

“They put food I can’t eat on the table and told me to eat. How could I not be angry?”

Camila couldn’t speak.

She used to be a noble and had experienced similar things.

Inviting someone to a dinner table and creating a situation where they can’t eat is blatant malice.

That time was only for the other four people, excluding Carsein.

“So that’s it. Not only Lady, but also the young ladies present couldn’t notice…”

Carsein’s actions subtly revealed his stance, making Camila bow her head.

“I got angry and tried to avoid eating the Kelbia fruit by tearing into the meat. Then Claire slapped my cheek. See?”

Carsein pointed at his bleeding cheek. Camila, who was dizzy, quickly brought something to wipe the blood.

Then he chuckled bitterly.

“Now you see? Camila. Filthy, uncultured, low-class. That’s exactly where I stand.”

A straightforward statement anyone could interpret.

Thanks to your unnecessary interference, I ended up like this. So don’t move unilaterally anymore.

That was a warning.

At the same time, acknowledging his position meant he wouldn’t be recognized as a noble.

In other words, Carsein was subtly hinting he wasn’t fit for the coming-of-age ceremony.

There was nothing to say. As his personal maid, she had led him into this situation.

Though she wanted to help with his injuries, the atmosphere suggested otherwise. The best she could do was keep silent about the coming-of-age ceremony.

With a bitter expression, Camila left Carsein’s room.

—

“Wait, Camila, I have one more question.”

Before she turned around, he asked,

“How much would the breakfast banquet of the House of Bargrand cost in money?”

—

After Camila left, I naturally took off the ruined clothes and headed to the bathroom.

Using the still warm water in the bathtub, I wiped away the blood that was still flowing, and a sharp pain came.

Still, it wasn’t a loss. Getting slapped once might have given me a chance to avoid the coming-of-age ceremony.

Being slapped is just a matter of brushing it off.

‘The second sister really got her way…’

It felt strangely familiar. Like I had experienced something similar before.

On the second sister’s birthday, when she turned twenty in the Korean calendar, I had gotten slapped by Carsein too.

‘Especially on the second sister’s birthday…’

The number next to the name in the status window had changed.

‘It seems almost nothing has changed.’

Likely, the family doesn’t know anything.

I checked the mirror to see my face had lost some color and quickly left the bathroom to change clothes. Sitting briefly at the table, I reflected on what had happened in the dining hall.

“At least I got a chance. But how will it turn out?”

His actions aimed for three things simultaneously.

It pressured someone who had focused solely on tormenting Carsein.

It restrained the movements of all the servants, including the head maid.

Finally, it sabotaged the coming-of-age ceremony by ruining the clothes.

Honestly, I’m not sure which will work. This is something that can only be determined by observing the outcome, and it’s a scene not present in the game.

Still, I can expect that this incident will make people hesitate to treat me carelessly for a while.

One person will realize their plan failed and grind their teeth in frustration. That’s enough.

“First, the pressing issue is Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony… Hmm.”

Carsein always has to follow the episode and choose one option to force a reaction.

As far as I know, this episode has never disappeared. Though many episodes have come before it, none have been skipped.

How do I deal with this?

That was my biggest worry.

Just then,

The status window lit up.

Ding!

<<Hidden Episode Cleared!>>

<<Episode III. Found a hidden episode within Claire's coming-of-age ceremony!>>

‘A hidden episode?’

<<Player-unaware settings!>>

<<Providing appropriate explanations through analysis!>>

…

…

<<Analysis Complete!>>

*Hidden Episode

[Unlike main or sub episodes, these are hidden episodes that require specific conditions to unlock!]

[Mainly behind-the-scenes stories, post-stories, and backgrounds that support the continuity of the main episode!]

I thought Memorials had a similar function, but looking at the description, they seemed different.

‘Memorials aren’t considered episodes. They’re just data bundles to help clear episodes.’

I can’t interfere with past events. That’s the limit of Memorials. But this is mentioned as an episode. Important to note.

Why did this pop up?

The knocking sound outside seemed to provide the answer.

Tap tap.

“Who is it?”

No response to the question. The knocking continued, but the force grew weaker.

‘Could it be… this is a sudden Dead Flag?’

Yeah, just ignore it.

If I don’t open the door, they’ll just leave…

<<Forced Event Occurring!>>

<<Open the door and talk to the character!>>

Damn it.

The status window even appeared here?

Trying to ignore it didn’t work. There’s no other way but to open the door.

Reluctantly, I opened the door.

The visitor standing in front of me was quite short.

I had to tilt my head down to look at them.

“Why are you here?”

“I have something to say.”