Chapter 176

“Whatever is with that manner of speaking? Carsein.”

The same question, but an entirely different tone.

Just now, it was a lamentation towards his immature younger sister, but this time, it was a question filled with clear authority.

But he doesn’t step back.

Rather, that’s what he wanted.

“What you’re pointing out, I don’t understand. The etiquette I learned from books is like this.”

“Haaa…”

Ariana’s eyes narrow.

The blue irises shine with the light of anger.

“To use such titles and polite language among family members. Did you eat something wrong? Why are you suddenly spouting such nonsense today?”

“Would it be normal for a mere lord of Rusmaier to not know his place and call the first princess of the House of Bargrand by such a title?”

“Carsein.”

“If my understanding of etiquette is wrong, please tell me. I know there are famous etiquette books that should be thoroughly read among the nobles.”

Ariana’s eyes start to twitch.

“This kind of childish games continue. When we return to the House of Bargrand, should I burn that incorrect etiquette book in your room first? Family members distinguish titles and respect, do they really need to follow such etiquette?”

– *Paper rustling*

“Time is precious, so quickly write this cooperation agreement. Don’t be stubborn. If you try to play the same trick again, I won’t stay silent then.”

A single sheet of paper pushed forward once again.

Ironically, even though it contained specific plans, Ariana didn’t notice it at all.

*Ding!*

▶ Continuous choices appear. How will Ariana react to the document?

Here come the choices.

I already knew the answer would be obvious.

But I didn’t quite understand why.

There were plenty of ways to refuse, so I wondered why such a method was necessary.

To put it bluntly, I simply chose that option because I thought it must be the right answer.

But now I think I understand the reason.

Through repeated retries, watching the same scene and lines unfold, I realized that choice was the perfect one.

Just as shown in the torn memorial of the plan,

This choice was the most fitting line for Carsein.

[1. I don’t want to be a burden to the House of Bargrand.] ☑

Adding a bit of MSG to that line.

“Such a stubborn blockhead.”

Her voice, more hostile now, spat insults in my direction.

“The House of Bargrand isn’t even mine, how could I possibly be a burden? That’s absurd.”

“Haaa! Even after warning you, you’re still playing these cheap tricks…”

That’s it.

Unlike before, her eyes were completely covered in fury, almost blinding.

Unable to hold back any longer, her hand rises.

A better result, the best way to crumple up the plan.

‘All you have to do is slap my cheek again with that crooked eye, just like you did to that eldest daughter.’

Internally and externally, there’s no problem.

Even if my HP drops a bit now, it wouldn’t matter much.

With this choice made correctly, the pain is fleeting. I’m used to such pain.

Coldly, colder.

All I need to do is maintain my composure.

But when I secretly sneered and wished for Ariana’s hand to sting my cheek, it stopped just short.

“Whatever is this in the conference hall, Princess?”

“Florence, Your Highness.”

Ariana’s hand, charged with mana…

Florence, the second prince. He held onto it.

‘Hmm, this scene feels off somehow.’

Yes, there was a precedent.

Not in Carsein’s memory, but in mine.

*Ding!*

▶ Successfully triggered a result beyond the choices. ◀

▶ The second prince, Florence, witnesses this situation. ◀

■ Reward

[You won’t receive a penalty for the choice!]

…Oh. Here she is again, the vice president.

***

Seeing Florence, Ariana glanced around and, realizing she hadn’t been caught yet, retracted her mana.

“I apologize. I acted recklessly in front of His Highness.”

“…”

Ariana, stepping back, bowed politely.

Florence sighed faintly as he watched her.

Then, he glanced at Carsein and shook his head.

“Carsein, go back.”

“…Your Highness, respectfully, this is a family matter. If you’re worried about causing a disturbance, we can handle it by changing seats.”

“Ariana, Princess.”

“There needs to be a proper punishment for Carsein’s lack of manners. This has nothing to do with the Symposium results.”

“Haaah.”

This time, she let out a sigh.

“Since we’re on the topic, let’s ask. Carsein, tell me what happened between the two of you here.”

“It’s merely that I refused the cooperation agreement.”

“Cooperation agreement?”

“Yes. It shouldn’t be accepted.”

“That’s not true!”

Carsein’s immediate response prompted Ariana to interject.

“It was a family cooperation agreement, so—”

“Princess, I’m asking Carsein.”

“…”

“Carsein, continue.”

“As the lord of Rusmaier, I have the authority to attend the Symposium. However, this agreement would impose an unwanted burden on the House of Bargrand, making it more akin to parasitism than cooperation.”

Carsein, you…

Her blue eyes glinted fiercely, as if she wanted to say those words.

Florence, who had examined the agreement, folded the document neatly.

“I see. A cooperation agreement cannot proceed if one side refuses. You may go back.”

“Thank you.”

Carsein left the conference hall without looking back.

Seeing Carsein leave, Ariana, who was full of complaints, immediately asked Florence.

“Why did Your Highness accept that stubbornness?”

“Haa. Princess, why can’t you remember?”

“Remember what?”

Florence sighed and rubbed his face.

“Come along. Since I was in charge then, I’ll explain directly.”

*Ding!*

▶ Affinity with the target has increased! ◀

[Florence Queren Peselros]

[Current value: 20%]

***

After seeing Carsein off, the two walked for quite a distance.

Along the way, Ariana suggested they could stop here, but Florence replied tersely, saying he wanted no trouble and to follow him.

Thus, Ariana followed Florence into the innermost reception room.

“Tea? Do you need any?”

“No, thank you. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“Urgent, huh? I chose this room because it’s the least noisy. I don’t want things to get too loud.”

The one who caused the commotion was that foolish child.

It kept nagging at her mind.

“…Judging by your expression, you’re still blaming Carsein.”

Florence hit the nail on the head.

Ariana raised her head proudly and answered without hesitation.

“Isn’t that the truth? Xatren is falling apart, and he’s doing everything to bring scandal.”

“Princess.”

“Let me emphasize again. This isn’t about blame; it’s a fact. Carsein, with his inadequate capabilities, is trying to lead Xatren arrogantly without knowing his own place.”

Ruining things, and ruining them again.

Causing accidents, and not fixing them at all.

That foolish arrogance.

This incident could only be seen that way.

“Fortunately, since he’s family, we can handle it this way. That fool doesn’t consider the efforts of me and other family members at all and acts recklessly.”

Then, Florence asked without pause.

“So, are you saying you want to kick him out of the family?”

“What? What do you mean…”

“You told Carsein, who called himself family, that you’d kick him out of the House of Bargrand, didn’t you?”

Ariana’s shoulders trembled.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you even remember? In the conference hall, even during the Symposium, it was during that incident.”

“…”

She doesn’t remember.

She can’t recall.

Was there such a thing?

“Haaa.”

Florence took a sip of tea with a pained expression.

Then, he began reciting Ariana’s words.

“I organized the report and said we need to proceed according to this agreement to extinguish the urgent fire. The remaining responsibility lies with the House of Bargrand.”

Florence continued.

“Once more, if you taint the House of Bargrand again, I’ll throw you out myself, regardless of what mother says.”

At that moment, Ariana’s expression turned stiff.

“Could it be… Did I really say such a thing?”

“Yes. Just like today. After slapping him with a mana-charged hand, I said that. And another thing.”

*Swish.*

“Back then, you also presented this cooperation agreement.”

“…”

“Doesn’t it ring a bell?”

A sense of panic appeared as she vaguely remembered the past.

“Because you were trying to protect your younger sister who was a family member. Are you still claiming it’s because she’s family even after doing the same thing to her?”

“Your Highness, that was… an impulsive mistake. Not my true intention!”

“Even if that wasn’t your true intention, how do you think Carsein would feel?”

“Y-yes…?”

“Can you really believe Princess wouldn’t think she might be kicked out of the House of Bargrand?”

As she pondered Florence’s words and tried to empathize with Carsein’s position, she felt suffocated.

*Didn’t you say if I do something like this again, you’ll kick me out of the House of Bargrand? Just treat it as if you’ve already done it.*

He already knew, which is why he said it.

“Princess’s inability to remember means this. Despite that, you repeated the same mistake with Carsein.”

*Pong.*

“Disappointing.”

With his final word, Florence placed ice in Ariana’s teacup and left.

This was a signal for her to cool her head, in the context of noble etiquette.

“…such a mistake.”

She truly needed to cool down.

She had given Carsein the same result again, just like before.

Vaguely remembering Carsein’s appearance in front of the snow tower during the festival, she couldn’t help but feel that leaving him outside was… an absolute taboo, whether it was a simple threat or blackmail.

“…”

*Pop!*

Seeing the wine bottle, Ariana immediately uncorked it.

Pouring herself a glass of wine.

For now, she wanted to forget.

Forget her foolish actions.

*Ding!*

▶ Affinity with Ariana has increased. ◀

[Ariana Bargrand]

[Affinity change: 45% → 49%]

***

“Haaa.”

Florence, sighing as he left the conference hall, glanced at Ariana’s reception room and shook his head.

“It seems I’ve burdened you too much.”

If he was from the Kingdom of Wederos, he wouldn’t be different.

That was the thought behind the proposal, but he hadn’t considered his family situation enough.

Perhaps he’ll need to take action when the time comes.

With a heavy heart, Florence stepped out of the conference hall.

Now, he wanted to cool off with some fresh air outside.

“…you?”

At that moment, Carsein was right in front of him.

The very Carsein he had tried to separate from Ariana.

“Why are you here…? Ah.”

Florence, who had spoken without thinking, finally understood.

“Because Your Highness summoned me.”

He had inadvertently shown a signal of noble etiquette to Carsein.

Therefore, there’s nothing strange about it.

That signal meant Carsein should stay as he had something else to discuss later.

“Ha, this. I underestimated him again.”

Although Carsein seemed clumsy with etiquette, perhaps it wasn’t clumsiness after all.

Florence handed Carsein something with a mix of anticipation. It was the real gift hidden within the supposed gift he had intended to give earlier.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to give this.”

“This… is the internal map of Xatren. It seems slightly off, doesn’t it?”

“Correct. I suspect it was made by another noble faction.”

As expected, such expectations never miss their mark.

“…Could it be? Was it the Waglew Faction that interfered with our Xatren?”

The words he intended to convey by showing the map of Xatren vanished instantly.

Oddly enough, Florence didn’t find it unpleasant.

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