Chapter 75

After two days had passed since that huge incident occurred.

Unlike Theo Lamstair who was foaming at the mouth and passed out in the cabin amidst the bloodstorm, or Carsein who collapsed after getting cut all over his body, Flora could return most intact.

Upon returning to the Duke’s Mansion, she found herself in a situation where she would receive her family’s full attention.

Her younger sister being kidnapped and returned should have filled her two older sisters and mother with worry and love.

But things were different now.

If it were before, Flora would have been so happy reclaiming her family from Carsein. Yet now, her mind was even more tangled.

She was also overwhelmed with worry.

Carsein hadn’t woken up for two days.

…

Today too, Flora stood in front of Carsein’s room.

She couldn’t even remember what the doctor said.

I hope he wakes up today. I hope his eyes open today.

That’s all she could think about now.

-Knock knock.

With a glimmer of hope, she knocked on the door.

Silence.

No sound came back.

Flora’s hope that Carsein might be awake right now crumbled there.

‘Today too… I have to go back like this…?’

Mom. Eldest Sister. Youngest Sister.

They all told her to not worry too much about Carsein’s slight illness and to just wait a bit longer.

They said Carsein would wake up perfectly fine soon.

And that she should rest and look refreshed after the shock.

These were the words Flora heard right after waking up and rushing to Carsein’s room.

With her lips tightly shut, Flora ignored her family’s words and reached for the doorknob.

‘I can’t stay here anymore!’

She knew Carsein was sick and couldn’t get up.

So, she didn’t plan to go back like yesterday.

-Creak.

In this quiet time, Carsein’s door opened.

As she entered, tense, she saw Carsein again for the first time.

He was still…

Eyes closed.

Afraid someone might see, she quickly closed the door and rushed to Carsein’s bed with quick steps.

Up close, Carsein looked exactly as he did in that dream.

-Sob sob.

She tried to hold back her tears.

But she couldn’t. Tears welled up naturally.

“Are you unable to get up because you’re in pain?”

Flora, taking something from her pocket, stretched her hand towards the bed and grabbed Carsein’s hand.

She placed an item into his rough, hard, wounded hand.

She had given him this before.

But now, its meaning had changed a lot.

“Here, take this. Don’t be in pain, okay…”

Flora, sobbing as she lay on the bed, holding Carsein’s hand tightly.

It was definitely an ointment.

“Don’t be in pain,”

She wanted him not to be in pain, not to pretend, but to use this to be free from pain.

That’s why she gave it to Carsein’s hand.

The ointment kept slipping out of Carsein’s weak grip. Flora kept placing it back on his palm, as if it kept falling off, as if Carsein was rejecting it.

Again, teardrops like chicken droppings fell.

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake. Please don’t be in pain…”

Sniffle.

“I lied, and I got you in trouble. That’s why, please don’t be in pain…”

Sniffle.

“I won’t do it again. Please don’t be in pain…”

Please don’t leave me.

Please wake up.

Please don’t disappear like this.

Flora cried silently into Carsein’s blanket, sobbing and muttering.

After a while of crying, the ointment finally stopped on Carsein’s palm.

***

All servants of the Duke’s House were replaced.

Emma, who embezzled money meant for Carsein, used it to take control of the Duke’s servants. Only a few witnesses who testified and those proven innocent through investigation were spared; the rest were punished harshly and expelled.

During the trial, Camila, who had just returned from a one-week vacation, handed evidence to other servants and requested their testimony against Emma.

“…Guess it’s my turn.”

Camila wasn’t any different from the others.

Even though it was for money, she committed a great sin against Carsein, which couldn’t be forgiven.

Thus, she had no regrets.

Not when her life was on the line.

Not when she received Spruce Root to cure her mother’s illness.

Not when she had a chance to atone by providing crucial evidence against Emma.

There was plenty of generosity.

Though she felt sad for not being able to repay his kindness properly, a sinner is a sinner.

Camila was now heading towards Carsein’s room to meet her master one last time before confessing her own crimes committed under Emma’s influence.

-If Lord Carsein wakes up, he’ll do so by the third day.

Doctor Sheiden mentioned that while the injuries weren’t serious, Carsein was very tired and would sleep for a day or two.

And today was the third day.

The moment for Carsein to wake up had come.

“This will be my last duty as a maid.”

Sheiden added that even though it was the third day, Carsein would likely wake up late in the afternoon rather than early morning.

That’s why Camila came a bit earlier.

To clean this room one last time before leaving.

-Creak.

Rude, but she decided to enter without permission today.

Carefully. More carefully.

She planned to start cleaning quickly without disturbing Lord Carsein’s deep sleep.

But there was already a guest here.

“…Just…”

“Miss Flora…?”

Flora, the youngest lady who despised Carsein so much, was sleeping uncomfortably on the bed.

Or rather, to be more accurate:

She was exhausted from crying and had fallen asleep.

…

What should I do?

Camila found herself in a difficult situation.

She didn’t know how Carsein was doing, but starting to clean would surely wake Flora up.

“What should I do…?”

As Camila struggled with indecision, Flora murmured.

“…Just…”

“Guh…”

Unexpectedly, Carsein woke up.

“Who’s there?”

He couldn’t see clearly yet, but…

Since he woke up, there was nothing to do.

“Camila, sir. I was planning to clean before you woke up, but… I’m sorry for the rudeness.”

“…Vacation ended, huh. Got it.”

“Yes, sir.”

She bowed her head immediately.

Though she didn’t intend to, she had no choice but to report it truthfully now.

“In fact, I didn’t return after finishing a week’s vacation.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard from other maids that something happened at the Duke’s Mansion. It seemed like Lord Carsein might be framed, so I hurried back.”

Carsein sighed faintly.

“So that’s why the testimonies from those servants came up in court. It was you, Camila.”

“…Yes, sir.”

There was nothing surprising about it.

Camila nodded affirmatively to Carsein’s sharp question.

“What did you do?”

“After visiting the Knight Order, I spied on Emma whenever I could.”

“Spying?”

“I, too, shamefully, met Emma at secret places while receiving money from her. After eliminating places she usually went to, a list emerged.”

“Hmm. That must have been quite dangerous. So, that’s how you swayed the servants’ hearts.”

Carsein nodded in understanding.

“But why did you come today?”

“…That’s because I have something important to tell you—”

“Camila. Are you going to confess now, saying you were helped by Miss Emma?”

She paused to choose her words, but the lord had already figured it out.

“Regardless of any circumstances, the fact remains that you hurt me. You’ll probably mention your contact with Emma and talk about past events, right?”

It was as if he read her mind.

“Y-Yes.”

Camila could only nod.

“Just stay silent.”

“Sir, but…”

“If your opinion reaches Arina or Claire, or even Mother, I’ll be called in. Since I, who proved Emma’s guilt, personally took you as my personal maid.”

Of course.

Claire would surely scold me even more for not dismissing such a person until now.

“I hate unnecessary trouble. So, don’t do anything foolish.”

“…Understood, sir.”

Even though he warned her, Camila still looked pained.

Carsein, who stopped Camila from confessing her contact with Emma, immediately changed the subject.

“Camila, how long have I been lying here?”

“Since you fell and lay down on this bed, it’s been three days…”

She gasped.

As if she forgot such an important fact, Camila covered her mouth in panic.

“I-I’ll go fetch some food right away.”

“No, that can wait. Rather…”

Carsein raised his body with a sour expression and looked down at the bottom of the bed.

Pointing at Flora, who was sleeping on the bed, Carsein asked.

“Is she the one you brought?”

“No, Miss Flora is…”

“Then, what about this ointment in my hand?”

“…I didn’t notice it. I just wanted to quietly clean and leave…”

“Hah. That’s it, huh.”

Sighing deeply, Carsein handed the ointment to Camila.

“Put it in a drawer with similar ointments. It’s not needed.”

Then, he asked her to bring food.

And, casually added, if Claire or Arina appeared, to bring Flora along.

At that moment, the expression on Lord Carsein’s face was truly chilling.

Compared to Flora, who had cried herself to sleep, drenching the bed sheets.

***

A little later.

Claire and Arina arrived together and came to take Flora, who had fallen asleep crying in my room.

“She fell asleep here…”

“We intended to wake her up when you did.”

With the help of maids and attendants, Flora was carried out quickly.

But the two of them hadn’t left yet.

-Ding!

Because the choices were still displayed.

“Since you’ve seen everything, could you both leave now?”

“Hey, that’s harsh. At least say something about how I feel…”

“How do you feel? A mess. I just woke up after three days, and I’m a mess. Plus, I need to eat soon.”

I replied indifferently and turned my back on the two of them.

This choice wasn’t particularly significant.

It was about whether to manage affinity or action power during the game, and choosing to meet Isabella would increase affinity.

The downside was that it would just drain stamina.

Since I had just woken up and Carsein’s body wasn’t in good shape, it was better to eat quickly, wash up, and go to sleep.

Affinity wouldn’t rise much anyway.

I was prepared for a scolding from Claire.

But surprisingly, Claire left the room without any complaints.

“When you recover, we’ll talk then.”

Arina echoed the same sentiment.

Normally, in the game story, both would make complaints.

“That makes sense. I understand now.”

[Arina Bargrand]

[Affinity Level: 26%]

[Claire Bargrand]

[Affinity Level: 37%]

The conclusion was that their affinity levels had increased compared to before.

But there was another reason they were still lingering.

“Camila told me that she has something urgent to discuss with you.”

“Yes, Harnier.”

It seemed like the right timing for a private conversation with Harnier.

Chapter 2 had already been moved forward.

Chapter 1’s content had already included elements of Chapter 2, and the worst-case scenario was unfolding, making it hard to relax.

This might mean that the gap between Chapter 1 and 2 was shorter than expected.

I needed to prepare for potential accidents.

“I need lessons. In the territory.”

***

Whoosh!

The report was instantly consumed by the flames in the fireplace.

The man holding the report laughed bitterly.

“Exactly how do you screw up so badly? To be chased out for failing to evict even one commoner from the Duke’s House?”

Wasn’t the housekeeper supposed to be knowledgeable about the Duke’s House? How could such a person fail to evict a mere nobody from outside, even though they were treated like a child?

Moreover, he had provided information about the Duke’s House, making it easy to seize control and exploit its weaknesses to push Carsein out.

Not only that, but hearing that he was thoroughly stripped in the trial made it even more incomprehensible.

“Nothing else? Did they run off with money?”

“He died.”

“What? Died?”

“He tried to bribe Carsein with money to get rid of him easily, but ended up getting burned. The name was Theo Lamstair. A worthless fellow.”

“…That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“What a mess. Died? By the knight he bribed with money? Wow, I knew she was greedy for money, but I never imagined she’d be this low.”

He sighed dismally.

“Whatever. Still, I have plenty of options.”

He hadn’t expected the beggar he met by chance to cause problems when entering the Duke’s House, but pulling him out shouldn’t be difficult.

Surely, the beggar, having endured abuse, would be filled with rage.

According to Emma, he had been framed with false accusations and treated like family.

So, he was looking forward to it.

“Aaah, I can’t wait to meet him. Carsein Bargrand.”

He looked forward to the scene where that anger would be directed toward the Empire and the Bargrand Duke’s House.

The thrilling scene of aiming a sword at his own family.