Chapter 82

My hand slammed down roughly on the table, causing the chuckling fools to shut their mouths instantly, turning into a group of silent, cowering mice.

What’s this about someone else’s first date? Someone else’s date location? Someone else’s date course?

Yes, they surely thought that their own rules could be applied as much as they wanted.

It’s laughable, isn’t it? My meeting with Harnier from the House of Teresia should follow your rules when I belong to the House of Bargrand.

However, the enforceability of these rules is limited within the scope of nobility.

If you invoke the name of a house, especially a duke’s house, the enforceability crumbles away too easily.

Beyond mere criticism and advice, deceit and humiliation.

Their actions can be interpreted entirely differently from my perspective.

“Why have all of you become mute? You were all talking as if you knew better than me and Harnier.”

“…”

The nobles at this gathering had no choice but to remain silent under the pressure of invoking the name of a house, particularly a duke’s house.

This kind of thing needs to be handled properly.

“Hey you over there.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Tell me, who made up that rotten rule? I want to grab them right here and ask the same question.”

“That’s…”

A man who had plastered makeup all over his face stumbled backward in panic.

He seemed to have a relatively loud voice among them, and I guessed correctly.

In such a situation, one would usually sell out another person, especially if they were of higher status.

But this man didn’t utter anyone’s name.

That means…

This guy must be the one who made up that rule.

I openly told him:

“Speak up. Who said we have to follow that boring date course? If the House of Bargrand and the House of Teresia were to follow it, wouldn’t they need to know how great a date course it is?”

Then Harnier jumped in.

“Carsein. The person you’re holding is the one who made up this rule.”

“H-Harnier Young Lady!”

“Oh? Really?”

“Yes. Every time they recommend the same scenery as romantic, listen to the same opera at the extreme ends, and walk across a ridiculous bridge to do a boring campfire during the first date, they claim it’s common sense.”

Perfect timing.

By pointing out the flaws in this known route piece by piece, I could align our date course with theirs.

“Truly pointless. Should I really go on a first date with Harnier using that kind of route? Rather than wasting time, it would be more fun to see foreign delicacies at the festival street.”

“I also hate those cheesy campfires. It would be much prettier to watch colorful snowflakes explode in the sky.”

“If we were to walk that old bridge, it would be better to get a prize at the festival street and make my beautiful appearance shine.”

“That old-fashioned opera is so outdated! No matter what they say about culture…”

From then on, Harnier and I mercilessly shattered that rule.

Sometimes, she would signal me to stop because she found it too cringy, which added some fun to the teasing.

So.

To summarize:

“Tsk. Never mention such trashy routes again.”

Because of my words, the noble couples couldn’t even make a peep and had to lower their tails.

***

Covered with slick and oily remarks, I left, finding some solace in seeing the rotten faces of the nobles.

Of course, there was a problem.

“Guh…”

My fiancée also showed similar symptoms due to splash damage.

“Carsein. I still feel like my hands and feet are shrinking because of you. Where did you learn something like this…?”

“…Not learned.”

“Well, that’s true. This kind of thing, nobody could teach, right? Then did you read some weird book? Some strange etiquette book…”

Hey, fiancée. Is that how you talk to your fiancé?

Seeing her eyes, Harnier cleared her throat.

“Anyway, thank you for helping. Thanks to you… We won’t have to worry about that group anymore.”

Harnier had always been lying about having a fiancé, to repel men and avoid being sold off in a strategic marriage.

Although she could ward off men by showing tokens of affection, when the social circle relentlessly probed and demanded answers about the relationship, she found herself cornered.

She called it old-fashioned, but it truly was an outdated rule.

“The harassment will end today. Since it’s known that I have a fiancé.”

Grunting, she stretched.

Even her voice sounded refreshed.

“Now I really need to pay back the favor. Can we settle it in the carriage?”

Reaching out her hand, Harnier suggested going back to the carriage.

I immediately agreed and took her hand.

“I’ll take you.”

***

Just like when we arrived at the party hall, the carriage didn’t run wild thanks to Telumos’ lungs.

The sub episode played out correctly, and the three men listened and cleaned up after my words.

The coachman also recovered from his injury nearby and managed to hold the reins without issue.

All results matched the game’s pace.

My guess that the episode would be moved up was spot-on.

This makes what I need to prepare much clearer.

I intended to make a request to Harnier, but I decided against it.

“…”

Harnier was exhausted, nodding off while looking at documents.

She tried to stay awake, rubbing her eyes, but it didn’t last long.

Her eyes closed, and her violet irises were hidden behind heavy eyelids.

Gradually, she lost balance and started to fall forward.

“Oh dear.”

I had worked hard to keep the sub episode intact so she wouldn’t bang her head on the floor.

She murmured “Ugh…” but thankfully didn’t wake up.

Looking at Harnier, who looked sleepy despite spending a day at the Duke’s mansion after leaving the Marquis mansion, it seemed she hadn’t slept enough. She mentioned having work to do, so she must have been pushing herself.

It’s clear she was struggling.

Still, she held onto the documents tightly even though she was so tired.

‘I used to sneakily cut down on sleep to study and escape that place.’

Even though it wasn’t a life-or-death situation, I understood her mindset.

But what now?

I couldn’t leave her like this. But there’s nothing to prop her up with…

There was no choice.

I moved closer to Harnier and slightly opened the window to communicate with the coachman.

“Coachman. Lower your voice and listen. We’ll change our route.”

“Where to, sir?”

“The destination remains the same, but let’s take a roundabout through the crowded streets of the capital and go slowly.”

“Eh… Young Master. That might delay our return. Are you sure?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just slow down on purpose.”

The coachman nodded and slowed down as instructed.

As the carriage slowed, I carefully moved Harnier’s head to lean on my side.

Unintentionally, I pulled her shoulder, but let’s consider this unavoidable contact.

It’s not comfortable, but given she needs something to rest against, this is the best option.

Then, jokingly, I complained:

“What if an unfamiliar man sees you sleeping like this? Tsk.”

Of course, it was just a joke.

The remaining issue was the document.

If I could just remove this document, I could probably sleep well for an hour or two before reaching the Marquis mansion.

—

The report on the Shatren Territory contained various information including terrain and production data.

Surprisingly, the name of the territory felt familiar to me.

[Shatren Territory Report]

Harnier had yawned earlier, saying she had work to do.

This document was what she had been holding all day in the carriage, except when entering the party hall.

She had been organizing it until just before she fell asleep.

—

As the sun set,

Though the weather had warmed up enough that morning to prevent visible breath, it cooled down again in the evening.

Despite this, a young girl came out of the mansion.

Staring blankly at the main gate of the Duke’s mansion, she stood there, watching as the moon rose.

A family member, worried, brought a fur coat and draped it over her shoulders.

“What are you doing here, still? Flora.”

“Big sister Arina.”

The little sister’s head turned towards the eldest sister’s touch, but soon her gaze returned to the main gate.

Arina sighed and took Flora’s hand.

“Flora. Even though winter is ending, it’s still cold. Let’s go inside and wait. Okay?”

“…It’s fine.”

“If you stand here the whole time, your legs will hurt.”

“They won’t. Big sister, I’m fine.”

Sighing heavily, Arina finally gave in.

Flora had been lingering here since noon.

She stared blankly at the same spot. When maids suggested she come inside, she didn’t budge. During meal times, she only went to the dining room briefly, but kept her head turned towards the main gate.

The cause was one person.

Carsein.

‘It’s never happened before. What did he say to make Flora react this way…’

According to reports, before Carsein went out, Flora visited his room and had a conversation with him.

Though she didn’t hear the details, she knew that this incident occurred after their conversation.

‘I can’t ignore it any longer.’

It’s gone too far.

With determination, Arina headed back to the mansion.

“…”

While Arina turned around,

Flora continued staring at the main gate.

“Don’t be in pain… Carsein…”

It was nothing serious.

Stopping the bleeding for a few minutes would be enough; no need for ointment.

Some might even laugh, calling it an overreaction.

But every time she saw the red liquid, Flora couldn’t calm down.

—

The sun was setting.

Although it had warmed up enough during the day to prevent visible breath, it cooled down again in the evening.

Despite this, a young girl came out of the mansion.

Staring blankly at the main gate of the Duke’s mansion, she stood there, watching as the moon rose.

A family member, worried, brought a fur coat and draped it over her shoulders.

“What are you doing here, still? Flora.”

“Big sister Arina.”

The little sister’s head turned towards the eldest sister’s touch, but soon her gaze returned to the main gate.

Arina sighed and took Flora’s hand.

“Flora. Even though winter is ending, it’s still cold. Let’s go inside and wait. Okay?”

“…It’s fine.”

“If you stand here the whole time, your legs will hurt.”

“They won’t. Big sister, I’m fine.”

Sighing heavily, Arina finally gave in.

Flora had been lingering here since noon.

She stared blankly at the same spot. When maids suggested she come inside, she didn’t budge. During meal times, she only went to the dining room briefly, but kept her head turned towards the main gate.

The cause was one person.

Carsein.

‘It’s never happened before. What did he say to make Flora react this way…’

According to reports, before Carsein went out, Flora visited his room and had a conversation with him.

Though she didn’t hear the details, she knew that this incident occurred after their conversation.

‘I can’t ignore it any longer.’

It’s gone too far.

With determination, Arina headed back to the mansion.