Chapter 175

-Clickety-clack.

The last person ascended the podium.

“Hehe.”

“Hoho.”

Giggling echoed. Behind him, the nobles chuckled. Prince Florence, the judge, frowned and banged his gavel.

Though the noise quieted down, their mockery was justified.

Who could miss it?

His wet, slightly blue hair.

His shallow, violet eyes.

His frail body, barely covered by his clothes, towering like a beanpole.

It was said that Carsein, the second son of House Bargrand and the bane of the nobles, found himself in the direst situation possible.

Even after acquiring the prosperous territory of Shatren, known for its strawberries and grapes.

Carsein swallowed hard before unfolding the territory map with a magical tool to continue his explanation.

The report wasn’t long. There was little to report.

“Hmm. Is that all?”

“Yes… Your Highness Florence.”

When Carsein finished reporting on Shatren, Prince Florence, with a sorrowful look, closed his eyes tightly.

“…This is awkward.”

Florence fiddled with the three chess pieces he had already used, swallowing hard before opening his eyes again.

Why did he reject that proposal?

That question never left Florence.

How much time had passed? A week had already passed, and they were nearing the end of the symposium period.

Yet, Carsein hadn’t achieved any significant results. Or rather, he hadn’t accomplished anything but damage control.

Rumors suggested the specialty production volume in Shatren had worsened. The reports showed no progress since the incident.

The incident happened too quickly, spreading rapidly, leaving Florence unaware of such an event in Shatren.

If this continues, what will happen next?

Even if Florence were to take a lenient approach to this matter, the future would still be bleak. In the defense time following the symposium, Carsein would receive low ratings from the nobles.

Worse, this week’s meeting was the last one. Next week, instead of reports, it would be the final summary. Therefore, it was crucial to have a defense time beforehand.

Certainly, it could be used.

He hinted earlier that it should be used.

But Carsein outright rejected the proposal during his meeting with Florence.

“Your Highness Florence, I cannot accept that privilege.”

Despite attempts to persuade him, Carsein remained steadfast in his decision.

Perhaps there was a reason behind it, so he reluctantly agreed. But as expected, this was the result.

“Hahaha!!”

After hearing the speech of the last person to ascend the podium, many nobles burst into laughter. Again, Florence pounded his gavel, demanding silence.

As a judge, he had to remain neutral. All he could do was this.

The defense time was a disaster.

Some laughed at the poor report, others mocked the lack of information and harvest, while some aimed to lower his score by pure criticism.

The nobles made biting remarks and threw malicious questions, but Carsein didn’t respond.

Not even when his family members tried to help.

“Defense time is over.”

Seeing this, Florence shortened the time drastically, wanting to do something, even if it meant lowering the grades. He intended to end it early due to mental reasons.

Only then could Carsein descend from the podium, having survived the major crisis.

But a great trial awaited this young man.

“Bastard.”

“Hihi. Mee-long.”

Claire clicked her tongue and turned away, while Florence stuck out his tongue, grinning.

It would have been better if they simply walked away like those two.

-Tap tap.

Quick footsteps approached. Turning, he saw someone with a blue ponytail approaching angrily.

“Come with me now.”

Before he could respond, the pressure descended.

Carsein didn’t run but followed Ariana towards a corner of the conference hall.

-Splat!

A slap struck him unseen.

The mana-infused hit burst open the delicate mucous membranes in his mouth in two places. Not only that, but his lips also tore, causing blood to flow visibly.

Ariana, raising her icy eyes, scolded him.

“What a reckless accident. I couldn’t imagine Shatren being ruined in just a few weeks. Are you lacking in ability? Fine. I understand that. But what about your audacity? Rejecting a privilege?”

“…”

“Open your mouth. It’s best to do it quickly.”

Threateningly urging Carsein to answer, Ariana.

Carsein might have flinched, but he firmly met her gaze and rebutted.

“I must refuse.”

“What?”

“If I accept that privilege, Shatren will truly fall apart.”

“Huh. How ridiculous. Thanks to your pitiful stubbornness, House Bargrand might suffer. If you knew your abilities were lacking, you should have taken the family’s power.”

“But that would be the path to ruin Shatren and House Bargrand.”

Heavy breaths filled Ariana’s lungs as she rubbed her face.

Then, she unleashed another mana-infused slap at Carsein.

Not stronger than before, but more threatening.

“This is your place, Carsein.”

“…That!”

“I asked Florence personally to get this. These are the reports and plans you wrote. Reading them, it was a mess. You didn’t make any decisions for the territory; you just read books. And you claim to save the territory? Who would believe that here?”

No one would believe it, including Carsein himself.

It was unreasonable.

“You’re destroying the territory. With your limited knowledge, you can only ruin Shatren. Instead of stubbornly claiming to rule the territory, you should observe, listen, learn, and improve under me or Claire. Why can’t you see that?”

Maybe that’s true.

Still, Carsein wiped the blood flowing down and stood firm.

“If I back down now, Shatren will truly collapse!”

Even if he remains silent now, this is the answer he found.

Unaware of this resolve,

Ariana presented a plan.

-Slap!

“I’ve organized this based on your absurd report. To put out the fire, follow this plan. The rest is House Bargrand’s responsibility.”

Then, in a lowered voice, she issued a menacing threat.

“One more mark against House Bargrand, and regardless of what mother says, I’ll kick you out myself.”

“…”

He wasn’t foolish.

He learned well.

He understood how the noble society worked.

How precarious his position was in this harsh world.

If a commoner like him, who was luckily part of House Bargrand, were to be kicked out…

What would happen next could be unimaginable.

It was certainly frightening.

Though he wanted to yell, asking why she spoke so harshly or questioning whether she considered him family.

-Tap tap.

But Carsein clenched the plan he had only read a few lines of and shouted again.

“I’m not wrong.”

[ Use the privilege of House Bargrand to minimize the damage Ariana’s territory has sustained– ]

-Zip. Zip.

Ariana’s plan was torn and thrown into the trash.

“This must never leak.”

***

▶The memorial of the torn plan has ended.◀

▶A timer of 10 seconds has been set, and movement will be possible after it ends.◀

“F*ck.”

He thought providing help through the choices would be straightforward.

But seeing the full memorial, he couldn’t help but curse.

Yeah, I once felt the same.

I don’t know why I forgot, but this memorial reminded him vividly.

-When the volume increases, the solubility naturally changes. That’s how you adjust the concentration.

He endured all kinds of insults, even from people who saw his actions as nothing but hammering, recalling that filthy memory.

Back then, Min-hyuk came to him.

“Min-hyuk. Didn’t I tell you not to act beyond your place?”

Act beyond your place?

Listen, observe, learn, and improve?

Admit your limitations?

“How can she be exactly the same as that woman?”

Cold blood ran through his body, chilling him to the bone.

For a moment, his mind felt numb, but it quickly returned to normal.

-Ding!

▶The timer is up!◀

▶Please select your response.◀

▶Ariana suggests returning to House Bargrand. How do you react?◀

Return home?

What a joke.

[3. I don’t think I deserve to return to House Bargrand right now.]

“I don’t think I deserve it.”

“Huh. What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“Didn’t you say you’d kick me out of House Bargrand if I ever did this again? Just consider me kicked out.”

His blue eyes held no anger like before.

“What are you talking about, Carsein?”

Yeah, you’re that kind of person.

Someone who can’t even remember their own words.

A bitter laugh escaped.

“I don’t understand why Princess wants to bring me, someone so insignificant, into House Bargrand.”

This caused Ariana’s blue eyes to fill with doubt, and the same anger began to form.