103. Remnants of Malice (4)
The second clue.
I’m not sure about Flora, but I have a vague idea.
This place is perfect for setting Karsein up.
Whether it’s framing him, embarrassing him, or making him an object of ridicule, there are all sorts of ways to torment him, just like Flora did in the duchy.
That also means that Karsein could be isolated in this place, among the nobles.
In other words, it’s possible that Karsein has been here before.
That’s what I assumed.
“Yes. That was a possibility up until now. Not anymore.”
From the moment I saw this brightly shining object, it was no longer an assumption.
It’s a certainty.
Karsein has been here before.
With someone else, just like today.
“Let’s see what that Flora wench has done this time.”
-Ting!
▶ You have obtained Flora’s Handkerchief Memorial! ◀
***
-Clang!
A fork and dish clattered to the floor.
They belonged to a boy who was now covering his eyes tightly.
The boy, who had just been eating the food on his plate, was choking, having dropped his utensils.
The loud noise drew the nobles’ attention.
But Karsein didn’t care about those gazes.
-Hey, Karsein. You don’t look so good. Why don’t you visit Viscount Gelgeten?
-Viscount Gelgeten…?
-Yeah. Most of the food that comes from Viscount Gelgeten’s territory and the surrounding area is top-notch. I hear there’s a chef there who’s well-known in the culinary world, so you should go get some healthy food.
A few hours ago.
That’s what Claire had said.
Under the pretense of taking care of his health, he had been told to return, but on the other hand, he had also been given the suggestion to make some connections with other nobles, asking if he didn’t have any friends around him.
However, the moment he returned to take care of his health, there was once again something other than food placed before Karsein’s eyes.
There was only one reason for that…
“Flora… you…!”
With eyes full of a sense of betrayal, he looked at his younger sister who was sitting opposite him.
The blonde girl then covered her smiling mouth with her hand and changed her expression entirely.
“Oh my. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
A gaze filled with worry.
However, there was something else hidden within that worry.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that it contained a devilish smile.
“Excuse me, Prince Karsein? Even so, dropping your utensils like that isn’t befitting of a noble’s humility, is it?”
“Oh dear. Even so, your table manners are a little…”
“Please understand. Karsein’s health has been very poor lately.”
Flora said that Karsein’s health had been getting worse lately, and that this wasn’t the first or second time something like this had happened.
“It pains me. So, could you please be a little understanding?”
“So that’s what happened.”
“My, what a broad mind you have.”
She even went so far as to act out a performance of shedding tears, saying that her heart ached for her older brother.
It was the appearance of a younger sister who was undoubtedly worried about her older brother.
However, the nobles who were sitting at the same table knew what kind of signal this was.
That’s why they didn’t scold Karsein for his mistake, just as Flora intended and as she had told them to do.
They simply ordered for new utensils to be brought.
New utensils soon appeared.
At the same time, the plates were also taken away and replaced with new ones that were filled with food. The plates were larger and contained more food than before.
It was food that looked appetizing even from a glance, and healthy food that would greatly increase a person’s recovery power.
“You have to eat properly. Your little sister told you to take care of your health, didn’t she?”
Flora narrowed her eyes prettily as she handed him the new utensils.
“The sight of a younger sister thinking of her older brother is truly beautiful.”
“Indeed. Who could possibly match the kindness of Lady Flora’s heart?”
“The viscount’s chef of Gelgeten will be very pleased.”
The nobles chuckled and chimed in one by one to Flora’s words.
He was cornered.
Karsein found himself in a position where he couldn’t leave this place.
He had to pick up his utensils.
He had to cut that food and put it in his mouth.
He had to chew it and swallow it.
Even though he knew that all of those dishes were covered in Kelvia berries.
He couldn’t complain.
As long as he didn’t empty the contents of that plate, he would once again become the fool who had caused an accident outside.
He would get scolded by Claire.
Arina will scold me.
Isabella…
“Ugh…!”
Kelvia allergy causes an adverse reaction.
Carsein couldn’t help but frown.
“Why do you look like that? Don’t tell me… does it taste bad?”
“Oh my. This is the dish of Marquis Gelgeten that gourmets praise. That can’t be!”
“Don’t eat it all by yourself. Savor it slowly. That’s what we are doing.”
Again, the utensils are picked up.
As if nothing is wrong, they are put into his mouth.
It must be chewed carefully.
It had to be swallowed with difficulty.
Even though he had noticed that the nobles were enjoying his suffering.
And…
“Eat a lot, Carsein.”
Even though he had noticed Flora’s malice as she piled her own food onto his plate.
Not a single word could be said.
“Here’s a handkerchief! Eat while wiping your mouth.”
A handkerchief. It was her intention not to allow him to even let it drip down the left side where it wouldn’t be seen.
At that moment, Carsein hated Flora like crazy.
From Noble mtl dot com
No one here knew that he had a Kelvia allergy. If only she hadn’t come, normal food would have definitely come out.
However, Flora had followed him.
The nightmare at the ducal family’s restaurant had come back to life here.
Flora’s breath had gotten into it.
Flora’s malice had gotten into that food.
All the nobles present had noticed it.
He couldn’t shout.
He couldn’t get angry.
He couldn’t put up any resistance.
The most he could do was clench his fists around the handkerchief.
That was all he could do, send a silent roar towards the handkerchief.
In excruciating pain.
Carsein had to silently chew and swallow the food without saying anything.
***
There was nothing else to the story.
After throwing the handkerchief into the trash can, Carsein got into the ducal carriage in pain and immediately went back.
After returning, as soon as Claire said that he had eaten well, his heart jumped out of his chest and began to pound.
-Never, never again will I go out with Flora! Never!!
And the guy ended up being scolded by all three of them.
Just like he always was.
The light from the handkerchief disappeared, and soon, the status window popped up as it returned to its original place.
▶ The memorial has ended! ◀
“Ugh, after doing something like this, you brought Carsein back here?”
Oh, how absurd.
I still can’t forget the glimmer in Carsein’s eyes when he was finally able to eat proper food.
And I can’t forget the pathetic look on Carsein’s face as he was forced to stuff food into his mouth while being overwhelmed by betrayal and frustration.
And yet, Flora Bagran brought Carsein back here again.
“She really is something else.”
Besides, this memorial has once again filled me with a disgusting past.
I, too, had been utterly humiliated in front of the friends of that third-born daughter.
That’s why I was able to regain my composure quickly.
-Ting!
▶ Episode III. Remnants of Malice in progress! ◀
▶ It has been revealed that you are threatening Carsein in the villa! ◀
▶ The player will be notified of the success or failure results according to the achievement rate. ◀
[ Success: Arina’s intimacy will increase slightly. ]
[ Failure: You will suffer from a status ailment and be bedridden for a day, and a curfew will be imposed on you. ]
A curfew.
Why does this fit so well again?
Was it when I started working part-time?
I soon ended up with a curfew.
It was because of that third-born. She kept telling our eldest about how I was coming home late, and so, along with a scolding about why I was worrying my younger sister so much, a curfew was born.
Because of her, a significant portion of the money I could earn from my part-time job was cut. Not only that, but my own actions were restricted, and I was even dragged to unwanted places and mocked.
That’s why.
I think my current situation is probably not much different from my situation back then.
Since I was asked by Arina to take care of Flora, it wouldn’t be strange at all if a curfew was imposed here too if I were to get on Flora’s bad side. Even if it’s not necessarily through the game system.
“Even if I end up bedridden with a fever because of my allergy to Kelvia, a curfew would be dangerous.”
There are ways to get around spatial restrictions to some extent, but there is no answer when it comes to time. It was a restriction that I absolutely could not afford to have.
“Whew.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
I close my eyes tightly.
I quickly organize the information.
What this episode requires is to figure out how to avoid the nobles’ plan against Carsein. Also, the achievement rate will be filled depending on how well I avoid it.
I am in the villa of Viscount Gelgeton, who had served food filled with Kelvia berries.
In the past, Carsein had already been exposed to the nobles about his allergy to Kelvia. By Flora.
So, what about now?
It goes without saying that there has been no contact from the nobles or their companions.
This tea party is an event to make fun of me, who is allergic to Kelvia, after all.
The reason why they have been quiet until now has become clear.
The nobles in the villa will inevitably want to enjoy the sight of Carsein suffering after he eats the food.
And.
The same goes for another person.
Carsein was just dragged back to the place where the remnants of malice remained.
That’s the reality.
“That’s right. This is the reality. Arina. You want me to take care of my younger sister? Isn’t that girl harassing me so terribly?”
What nonsense.
I have no intention of just taking it.
I felt the cold blood flowing and picked up Flora’s handkerchief.
Then I left the empty room and asked the servant right away.
“Hey, you. Do you know when the tea party starts?”
“It should be in about 15 minutes.”
“15 minutes, huh.”
I remembered that before leaving the Duke’s estate, Tasha had mentioned that it would be better for me to know a little about the Gelgetten estate.
-The Gelgetten estate is located very close to the village to supply fresh ingredients.
It takes about 3 minutes by horse.
She said there would be plenty of time.
“Then I’ll be out for a while.”
I had enough time to prepare.