Chapter 45

Arina’s mind suddenly conjured up a hypothesis as she weakly responded.

A chill ran through her body, making her feel as cold as ice.

“No.”

That couldn’t be possible.

How could such a thing happen?

Even if everything lined up perfectly, it felt too neatly arranged, like it was fabricated.

Yes, that couldn’t be possible.

Arina tried to regain her composure by slowly exhaling the breath that had been caught in her throat.

During this time, Claire asked:

“So, Hiron, if what you say is true… shouldn’t the items originally intended for Carsein have been properly delivered, instead they were sent to my elder sister?”

“Yes, Miss Claire.”

“Then… those documents!”

The torn pieces of documents in the basket placed outside Arina’s room.

If Arina’s claim was correct, Carsein should have deliberately disrespected and ignored them.

However, with the appearance of a witness, the truth was revealed here.

They were entrusted to the maids in the utility room.

This single sentence completely flipped the atmosphere in the room.

“Somebody… touched them. Just as Carsein said.”

As Claire said, the certificate ordered to be delivered by Hiron was not delivered.

“Who? Who tampered with the important master’s documents!”

“…I apologize. It’s my fault.”

Hiron lowered his head.

Only, it became clear that someone in the utility room had tampered with them.

It was certain that Carsein did not tear the documents and put them in Arina’s room.

Arina’s breath was once again cut off.

“Now, do we have an answer?”

Carsein glared at Arina as he spoke.

Still, there was no emotion on his face.

“I never received those documents. Not even before they were torn.”

“…”

“Even if I wanted to talk, I wasn’t given a chance. Suspicion came first, and whatever happened, it was already decided to be my fault. Isn’t that strange?”

Arina wanted to say something, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak, thinking about what she had done.

“Letters disappear every day. My tray has Kelbia fruit from the Duke’s House. I’m just an unwelcome outsider to them.”

“Carsein, I…”

“It would have been better if I didn’t exist.”

“…What?”

Carsein firmly interrupted Arina’s statement.

Arina, who was trembling, raised her head.

“The release certificate for the training hall ban. If that was the only thing missing, wouldn’t I have been suspected less?”

Seeing her younger sister blaming a single document for being the starting point of suspicion with a cold expression, Arina felt a heavy weight in her chest.

Something surged inside her.

She was the origin of everything.

She wrote it with the hope of liking it.

She wanted to somehow deliver the missed birthday present.

She hoped that forgetting the surveillance incident during the Snow Festival would ease the growing anger, allowing her to receive a greater reward.

“It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t give it to you with such feelings.”

Yes, it’s a misunderstanding.

“I couldn’t have imagined that one of the servants would do such a thing. I didn’t want this to happen.”

She didn’t want this to happen.

“I just wanted your mood… to be a little better.”

Arina tried to persuade Carsein, saying so.

But Carsein firmly cut her off.

“A misunderstanding? Everything started because of your intentions from beginning to end.”

“…”

“You can’t scoop up spilled water. Arina, even though I just slept and woke up without doing anything, I became the one who trampled on your goodwill and ignored it.”

A sharp dagger pierced deep into her heart.

She thought everything had been trampled on.

She immediately dismissed it as deceit when she saw the torn documents.

She lost control of her anger and went to raise her hand against the unjust gift.

From the starting point to the endpoint, it was all done by Arina Bargrand.

“Regardless of what I receive or where my interest lies, I will always be suspected and denied. Just like today.”

“The criminal!”

Bang!

Someone nearby slammed the table hard, trying to stop this claim.

“We will definitely catch the criminal, either us or the Duke’s House. If we inform mother, she will start an investigation and not let it slide like before.”

Claire managed to open her tightly closed lips.

“There must be a criminal in this case. Remember when you said there was a mastermind behind Camila’s incident?”

Carsein’s eyes flickered slightly.

Two strands of blonde hair trembled.

Turning his gaze back to Claire, Carsein asked:

“So?”

“There will be a large-scale investigation. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll investigate thoroughly!”

Probably, it will be impossible.

There is a possibility that the servants include vassals’ children, and the investigation itself could cause discomfort.

Knowing that this could cause another fall in recognition within the Duke’s Mansion, Carsein brought out a prepared strategy.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“…What?”

“Just let it be ignored. If that’s okay.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll move to the side mansion.”

When the three sisters heard this, their eyes widened.

“Gulp!”

“Side mansion?!”

“…That makes no sense.”

Flora openly choked, Claire looked quite surprised, and Arina also looked surprised, wanting to say it was unacceptable.

“You’re also the master of the Duke’s House. Moving your residence to a guest area, does that make sense?!”

Claire tried to stop him, catching her breath.

But Carsein stabbed right to the core with a chilly expression.

“The master of the Duke’s House. Me, who isn’t even treated as a master, and who isn’t recognized as family and is immediately suspected—”

Carsein snorted contemptuously and continued speaking.

“Can such a foolish statement come out even seeing this situation?”

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.

“It would be better for me to stay in the side mansion. Neither you nor the servants will see the unpleasant people, and there won’t be any problems. How perfect is that?”

“Don’t say nonsense! How can a high-ranking noble accommodate a mere guest, a mere trading partner, in a side mansion…!”

“Then tell me, Claire. What method is there?”

“That’s…”

“In the Duke’s House, letters and items meant to be delivered aren’t even properly received. Even the prize obtained despite the surveillance on my birthday gift. Yet, I’m suspected and beaten for ignoring the goodwill and deceiving them, is that right?”

Despite the series of questions, no one could persuade Carsein.

“It’s the same as during the coming-of-age ceremony. This is the best for both you and me.”

He left his seat, passing through the silent sisters.

With proof presented and a solution mentioned, there was no longer a need to stay here.

Arina couldn’t lift her head, while Claire blamed the past Arina as she pressed her forehead, watching Carsein’s continuous questioning.

And finally,

Flora, sitting at the end, had a pale face as she covered her mouth with a shawl.

Seeing this, Carsein smirked.

When their eyes met, Flora felt goosebumps on her arms.

“Remember when you used to say that, Arina? You said it when I kept causing accidents. You told me to be quiet like a dead mouse.”

“…”

Leaving one last remark,

“I’ll stay in the side mansion quietly as you wish.”

The door handle in Hiron’s hand opened, and a sudden cold wind entered the greenhouse.

However…

Was the temperature of the greenhouse really leaking out?

The cold wind was still blowing fiercely, so she couldn’t feel the cold.

Maybe it was the chilly air from the meeting room that leaked out to the outside.

***

No one followed Hiron out except him.

Of course, that would be the case.

Arina suspected the wrong person.

Claire saw herself in that sight.

Flora openly created this incident.

None of them could confidently express their opinions in front of me.

So, I must use this advantage wisely.

‘Let’s see the results first.’

The alarm rang as soon as I left the room, but I need to know how the events unfolded.

▶Proved Arina’s innocence!◀

▶Improved reputation within the Duke’s House!◀

▶Servants become more cautious of Carsein’s actions!◀

…

…

Among the familiar sentences, the most important was:

▶Exposed Flora’s lie. Suspicion among the sisters is gone.◀

▶Investigation begins under Claire’s order.◀

▶Caution! A specific individual may be falsely accused, leading to a drop in reputation if mismanaged.◀

The significant change was Flora’s. And the sentence right below it.

This was enough.

“Hiron.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“What should I do for you?”

This scene was artificially created by me.

Therefore, thinking Hiron was the only one aware of this fact, I believed he deserved a suitable reward.

Hiron hesitated for a moment and cautiously spoke.

“If you ask me to do something like this again, will you call me again?”

“Why?”

“I am also the steward of the Bargrand House. Don’t we need to clean up the old times in the house?”

“Cleaning up old times. Is that the right way to put it?”

“It’s not entirely incorrect. All along, I’ve just been fidgeting with my fingers unable to deal with it.”

We have a common goal.

Hiron was implicitly asserting this to me.

‘That common goal must be Emma.’

But perhaps he is an absolute neutral figure.

The thought that it might be simply his intention alone didn’t seem to fit.

“Rejected.”

“…Excuse me?”

Hiron’s eyes, which were filled with disbelief, turned to confusion.

But compared to other characters, he wasn’t the type to question or falsely tear apart reasons.

Hiron left with one sentence.

“I understand. If I am needed again, please call me.”

He subtly left a message that he could be used again.

Watching him leave, I whispered quietly.

“I doubt I’ll need to call you. You’re too sharp; you might interfere with my plans.”

He is also the steward of the Duke’s House.

A member of the Bargrand family, he serves the Duke’s House, not me.

There’s no point in speculating “what if.”

“Besides, this is my own matter.”

I must solve this matter myself.

It’s the process of reclaiming my rights and gaining strength in this household.

It’s the process of gaining strength and resolving all calculations before leaving.

Just like always, I must do it myself without relying on anyone else.

Until I leave, you must remain unaware of this fact.

Absolutely.

***

Hiron turned around, trying to soothe his disappointment.

“…Such a closed-minded Young Master won’t open up with just this much.”

He finally had a chance.

Cleaning the old times in the Duke’s House and turning the Young Master’s heart around seemed like a chance.

But it wasn’t easy.

Born and raised in the slums and then in the Duke’s House, he had faced all sorts of storms since he was eighteen.

He had noticed the change in him after he grew strong to survive the harsh environment of the slums, only to find that sharpness had mixed with his toughness in resisting the hardships of the Duke’s House.

Hiron’s attempt to open the door slightly was easily seen through.

“…It seems the roots have already taken hold.”

Indeed, it was regrettable.

There was no trace of any emotion on the Young Master’s face as he spoke of his plans.

He was becoming a human who no longer felt pain.

Because of the experiences he had here.

“…”

Carrying a heavy heart, Hiron stopped and turned his head.

Even though he wanted to turn back and persuade the Young Master, he knew he couldn’t.

Tak, tak.

His footsteps were as heavy as his heart.

Following the sound of his steps, a shadow appeared above his head.

Carsein might have widened his eyes if he saw it.

-Ding!

▶Successfully triggered a result beyond the choice!◀

▶Hiron’s affinity has been activated!◀

[Current Affinity Level: 30%]

Meanwhile, the expected outcome was unfolding in the meeting room.

The topics of Carsein’s residence and the criminal in this incident didn’t easily fade away.

And.

-Thud, thud!

‘How, why didn’t I…!’

Flora, who had truly become the culprit, was shaking and biting her nails.