Chapter 97

Sure, here is your comedic anime-style translation:

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“Geez, the ground was all dug up.”

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It was deep enough for a piece of paper to be buried.

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Even though no one would do such a thing near the sponsor, Carsein was dead serious.

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He said useless things should be buried and got his hands full of dirt.

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But when he was about to bury it, his hand stopped at the last moment.

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Maybe if I show this, I won’t get scolded but instead receive warm warmth like my sisters?

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This much should be enough for me to be recognized, right?

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No, even if not recognized, surely I can get at least a tiny bit of praise, right?

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That’s why,

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For a fleeting moment, because of that weak heart, Carsein’s hand stopped in mid-air.

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He did quite a bit.

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No, not quite a bit, but he worked really hard, wanting to be recognized like his sisters.

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This is a clear proof he earned by himself, despite being discriminated against by a lousy teacher during class.

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How much hope he had when he saw the perfect score report from studying difficult subjects beyond his age.

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So, if he really put the crumpled paper into this hole, he knew he couldn’t take it back.

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He clenched his lips tightly while pondering.

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Thus, Carsein was caught on the scene.

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“Carsein? What are you doing here right now…”

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“…”

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The fierce voice of the eldest sister.

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Carsein immediately lowered his arm and turned around.

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He clenched his fist.

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Because of his clenched fist, the identity of the paper he held wasn’t revealed, but Arina didn’t even notice.

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“You. Doing something like this at mother’s sponsorship?”

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Yes.

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Arina wasn’t looking at what Carsein was holding.

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It was the land ruined by Carsein at mother’s sponsorship.

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She narrowed her eyes fiercely.

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“Sister? Why are you like this?”

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“Eldest Sister? What happened?”

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When the two sisters heard Arina’s voice, they came out.

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And she shouted as if to make them hear.

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“Carsein messed up mother’s sponsorship. Why would he ruin such a well-maintained garden?”

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“Seriously. Did he vent his anger here again?”

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Claire frowned deeply and looked at Carsein as if he was a troublemaker.

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Arina sighed deeply, and Flora was smiling sarcastically with her crescent eyes folded.

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Claire took action first.

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She poked Carsein’s forehead with her index finger and asked sharply.

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“Hey, don’t you know what a sponsorship is? It’s where the gardener doesn’t even touch. Mother does it herself since she likes gardening. But why would you do something like this?”

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“As Claire said. You can’t pretend you don’t know. Carsein.”

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“…”

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“…”

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Carsein’s fist tightened more.

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His pale skin showed more anger.

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He must have been filled with expectations.

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He thought showing this would gain recognition and praise.

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Instead, he was being scolded like this, so his empty heart filled with tears.

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Therefore, his anger faded away.

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Why did he come here, why did he do this, and if not, is there any excuse?

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The sisters pushed Carsein hard.

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They criticized his dirty hands for being un-noble and pointed out his reckless behavior, telling him to stop whatever he was planning.

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Until Isabella saw the scene before watering the indoor garden.

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Even if Isabella saw the scene, nothing changed.

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“…What happened, Carsein?”

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The dry question from the Duchess.

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Hearing that, Carsein was sure.

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The conclusion was made.

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Never should you expect anything.

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Never should you think about being recognized.

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Praise? What nonsense. It’s better to give up early.

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Everything must be thrown away.

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To Carsein Bargrand. No, to Carsein.

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The sunlight of the Duke’s house will never shine.

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*Thud.*

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The crumpled report card fell accurately into the hole.

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That was the conclusion the boy reached from the sponsorship.

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*Ping!*

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*The crumpled report card memorial has ended!*

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The pitiful image of Carsein in the sponsorship disappeared, and light enveloped the surroundings, returning to reality.

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Nothing much changed in this sponsorship, whether then or now.

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The bright sunlight in the indoor garden and the corner where the shadows gathered due to the wall. This sponsorship was clearly divided into light and dark.

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Looking at the memorial and Carsein in the shadowy area, I couldn’t help but recall another unpleasant past.

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“Damn it.”

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Carsein was an idiot.

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He held onto that report card hoping to show it to these rotten family members and gain recognition, hoping to receive undeserved praise.

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Yet, ironically, I too was an idiot for saying such things.

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I too had hopes.

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I had foolish hopes of being recognized.

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I once hoped to receive worthless and hollow praise.

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I wanted to suppress the spirit of the third sister who always annoyed me.

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I wanted to brag to the second sister who never liked anything that I’m better than her.

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I wanted to prove to the eldest sister who treated me like a burden that I’m not like that.

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And.

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I once wanted to boast to my mother, who became normal after my arrival, about how I got the top rank in a mock exam at a prestigious school.

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I was so excited thinking about showing her the report card.

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I had some hope seeing their different reactions.

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Isn’t that a stupid idea even now?

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But, maybe because of that? A cold chill starts to run through my body.

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Even though I didn’t experience it myself, the nauseating feeling of experiencing it twice from just a past event makes my head feel cold.

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Only then could I finally calm down.

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*Ping!*

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*Time will flow again in 5 seconds!*

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A timer appeared.

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It says time will flow again in 5 seconds.

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Yeah. Let’s proceed properly in the next episode.

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I agree.

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The future me would tell the present me to proceed properly in the episodes rather than babbling nonsense about the past.

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*Memorial effect has ended!*

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*Complete the choices!*

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My stiff body started moving again.

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This report card, which was like the light and darkness of the Duke’s house to Carsein… I should take it myself. At least I should take it and get rid of it.

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Shaking off some dust, I carefully folded the crumpled report card and put it in my pocket before entering the indoor garden.

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There, Isabella was watering with a sprayer just like in the memorial.

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“I heard you called me.”

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“…You came.”

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I spoke plainly, and Isabella’s gaze turned towards me.

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At the same time, my eyes turned to her affinity box.

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[Isabella Bargrand]

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[Affinity: 58%]

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Last time, Isabella’s affinity was 50%.

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I don’t know why it increased, but seeing it rose to 58%, she seems unlikely to say much to Carsein.

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“No way. I bet she definitely won’t.”

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Isabella’s gaze stared at me intently.

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It’s not a look of expectation.

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It’s not a look of approval.

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Praise? Not likely.

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She is going to scold me.

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“Though I know you were upset, Carsein, this time I have to scold you properly.”

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As expected.

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My prediction didn’t go wrong.

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Spending money as soon as you get it. That’s really a bad expense. Right?

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She probably called me just to say that.

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“Please continue.”

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I answered plainly.

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No matter what she says, I won’t refute.

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Even if there might be room for leniency if I argue that I didn’t do anything to deserve being scolded.

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***

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After all the servants and knights of the Duke’s house were replaced, Carsein received the allowance he hadn’t gotten due to Emma’s embezzlement in one lump sum.

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At the same time, he paid more attention to financial management.

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To prevent the same incident from happening again, he managed it more thoroughly and meticulously.

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Due to this, Carsein knew how much he spent recently.

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A considerable amount of money was given in one lump sum, and a corresponding amount of money flowed out of the Duke’s house. And it was in Carsein’s name.

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Isabella noticed this and called Carsein here to talk.

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She didn’t mean to let him use it recklessly, so she needed to point it out a bit strictly.

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“Though I know you were upset, Carsein, this time I have to scold you properly.”

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As soon as Carsein arrived, Isabella started with that, warning him of the coming scolding.

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But unlike before, she shouldn’t blame Carsein for everything.

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There was a bad precedent. She didn’t want to make Carsein feel bad like that again.

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So, she planned to wait a bit.

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She wanted to hear how Carsein spent the money after he finished thinking about it.

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However.

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“Please continue.”

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Carsein answered calmly instead of giving reasons.

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“…Don’t you have anything to say first?”

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Isabella asked again, her lips twitching.

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“Yes.”

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Carsein answered positively again.

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As if he was honestly admitting to spending the money recklessly.

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“If he honestly admits it, there’s nothing else I can do.”

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Then, she needs to scold him strictly.

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As a noble, a member of the Bargrand family, and even as a former lord who ruled a territory.

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“Carsein. Do you know where your allowance comes from?”

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“No, I don’t really know.”

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“Then, remember this. Your allowance comes from the territories and retainers governed by the Bargrand Duke’s house. Especially from the residents of the territory, whose blood and sweat support our peaceful life.”

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Putting the sprayer aside, Isabella continued speaking.

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“It might seem like just an allowance to you, but for them, it’s money that allows them to live comfortably for months, even years. Wasting such money on mere luxury is a shameful act.”

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“…”

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“Though I won’t say anything if you’re using it to maintain some dignity, excessive luxury is the most disgraceful action for a noble. Reflect on it, and reflect again. Next time, never do such a thing, and embrace the loyalty of the people.”

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Carsein should understand this much.

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Isabella plans to stop scolding here.

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She won’t ask where he spent the large sum of money. He hasn’t denied that he did something wrong.

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So, it’s time to reach out.

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If she has whipped him, it’s time to offer him a carrot.

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Calling Carsein was also to return his participation rights in the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting.

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Isabella approached Carsein and stretched out her hand.

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She planned to soothe him by stroking his head and then bring up the story of the Shatren Territory.

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But Carsein pushed away her hand.

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“I understand well.”

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Isabella opened her eyes wide in surprise.

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