19 – 19. Claire’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony (9)
Why did I forget?
Now that I think about it, even in the game, there were hints.
At the venue for the coming-of-age ceremony, there was a space provided for taking a break or resting. Even though it was a party, it was a considerate place where you could take a break without getting too tired.
The terrace was the place I usually used in those moments. It was a resting place located in each corner of the large space.
Since the beginning of the coming-of-age episode, anytime and anywhere, Karsein could enter this terrace and pass the time. The reason why he could come up with a way to go unnoticed by both family members and guests while spending a long time here was because of this place.
But strangely enough, not all terraces were accessible.
[The curtains are drawn.]
There were occasionally places where this message appeared, and oddly enough, if you used the adjacent terrace without any messages popping up, you could enter without any problems.
With just the difference of curtains being drawn, why did it show such a difference? I couldn’t understand it then.
I tried to take a chance and go back in to see if there was a hidden memorial that could be helpful, but every time, that message would pop up.
After the party ended and I looked into it, the interior was not significantly different. To put it plainly, there was no visible difference.
There were no memorials or special items that I had expected to see, and even though I searched everywhere suspiciously, I gained nothing.
A place that was no different from the other terraces. In other words, because of the curtains being drawn, it became a place where Karsein couldn’t enter.
But if I had thought a little deeper about this hint.
If I had pondered why Karsein tried not to enter the terrace with the curtains drawn.
If I had realized in advance that the fact that the curtains are drawn is tantamount to a sign that someone else is using it.
Such a thing might not have happened.
“Ouch.”
The woman rubbed her forehead after colliding with it.
Unaware of the collision, I also felt pain in my forehead and aches in my lower back, just like her.
But now is not the time to cry out in pain.
“What a mistake…!”
With her purple hair and delicate eyes, the woman had a somewhat sharp impression, and her attire was elegant from top to bottom.
She seemed noble.
Someone Karsein should never encounter.
First, I have to hide my appearance.
Make sure she doesn’t recognize me.
“I apologize. I was in a hurry and became careless, causing a breach of etiquette towards Your Grace.”
Fortunately, my mind quickly turned, and I didn’t forget that I was a servant. It was also fortunate that I quickly recalled how servants should speak to nobles.
If I bow my head and cover my face, I should be able to prevent Karsein from causing any trouble or triggering any death flags.
The spilled water is inevitable.
I must find a way to smoothly pass Claire’s coming-of-age episode without causing any disturbances.
The moment Karsein has even the slightest friction with the nobles, he will be subjected to criticism from his family.
But.
I have to avoid the worst, even if I don’t know what the worst is.
It seems like this might be the worst…?
“Oh… the dress.”
The cup that collided with me had completely soaked the dress in my hand.
The cup I was holding in one hand fell and caused a mess, with real water spilling everywhere.
Just looking at that, my face turned pale and a chill ran down my spine.
Now that it’s come to this, I have to take a gamble.
“I’m truly sorry! Please let me know the amount of compensation and your family name, and I will send it as soon as the day breaks!”
She reached for a towel on the nearby shelf and once again bowed deeply.
I hate borrowing money, but I have no choice but to borrow from the aristocrat to solve this predicament.
Even though I hate it. Even though I really don’t want to borrow in such a terrible way. It’s better than dying, right?
If this doesn’t work, it’s practically a bad ending. Game over!
At that moment, the noblewoman sighed. It was such a heavy sigh that I could hear it clearly in my ear.
In that fleeting moment when I thought it was over, something soft brushed against my cheek, and a sharp pain followed.
“I only spilled water on my clothes, but why are you apologizing when you’re so badly injured?”
The handkerchief clenched in her white hand covered the open wound.
“You don’t have to go so far for something like this, Carcine.”
My heart skipped a beat.
She definitely couldn’t see my face. I knew that she hadn’t been able to confirm my face even after I fell a little while ago. That’s why I bowed my head.
But why did that name come up here?
It’s dangerous.
“You’re still the same. Really.”
In the brief moment, she recognized Carcine, who had been pretending to be a servant, without anyone noticing.
The moment I was discovered by the woman who approached me, shaking her purple hair and causing blood to flow again on my cheeks, I immediately thought it would be troublesome.
Being in the presence of someone like me, who is currently “Kim Minhyuk” and not “Karcein,” does not feel pleasant at all. That’s because I remember vaguely seeing this female character while playing the game. In other words, she is one of the characters.
But I don’t know. Even though I thought I had gathered a fair amount of information through increasing intimacy with the characters or retrying certain actions…
I still have no idea who this woman in front of me is.
After swallowing my saliva, I glanced at her.
“Oh, the water spilled. Well, it’s better this way. Karcein, since you’re here, I guess you don’t have any specific plans?”
Judging by the fact that she is speaking informally, I decided I should speak informally as well and responded with a bewildered expression.
“Yes, um, no.”
“Then stay here for a bit. Going out to get water is a total hassle. If we’re together, at least I won’t have to worry about an alibi.”
Stay here? Because the water was spilled?
And if I’m with Karcein, I won’t have to listen to nagging because there will be an alibi?
“…Well, at least two pieces of information have come to the surface.”
I really can’t figure it out.
What kind of relationship does this woman have with Karcein?
Narrowing her eyes, the woman asked bluntly.
“Why do you look like that? Don’t tell me you don’t want to be with me?”
“No, it’s not… like that.”
If I had to say, I don’t dislike it.
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If she keeps holding onto me like this, time will naturally pass, and the purpose of this episode will be achieved. Who would dislike that?
“But why do you have that expression on your face? If you don’t like it, just say it!”
I just can’t adapt to this.
The gaze that Karsene received was full of hatred, contempt, and hostility. There was no need to say anything more about those negative gazes.
But that reaction isn’t like that. Even if it’s not showing kindness, how should I react to that?
There’s no way I can adapt.
Just in case, I glanced up at the purple hair, but there was no white box.
“With no information at all, then…”
By process of elimination, all the members of the aristocracy are excluded. And also those nobles who only looked down on Karsene.
Even if I erase a considerable number of characters in one go and narrow it down, I still don’t know who she is.
She’s a character who is influenced by choices, but doesn’t have any intimacy boxes that influence choices. It’s frustrating for the player.
When I was lost in deep thoughts about who this woman could be, the conversation started again.
“I have a suggestion. Have you thought about it?”
“What kind of suggestion?”
“I sent a letter… Did it not arrive?”
In response to the curious woman’s question, I nodded without hesitation.
There’s no doubt that this is the right answer. There is no situation where a letter would reach Karsene. In the first place, all those letters are already filtered by the Duke’s household staff, who are in charge of managing them.
“That’s strange. I’m sure I even wrote your name, Harnie, and notified them properly from your servants…”
Well, it’s natural that they wouldn’t know about this household’s situation either.
It’s actually working out well for me. It’s an opportunity to learn more about this woman, and if this news spreads to the upper ranks, it might induce the servants to deliver my letters properly.
Her name is Harnier, right?
“Harnier Youngae, do you not know anything about me?”
Among the nobles, the words associated with Karsain Bagrand are so numerous that they could fill an entire sheet of paper.
Since she was also a noble, she must have heard it at least once. That was the question she was aiming for.
“I have been in so many accidents that people don’t bother sending me letters. Usually, they end up being discarded by other families. There is so much criticism, you see.”
“Oh, really? I never thought that far.”
“Now that it’s come to this, please tell me the contents of the letter directly. What was in it?”
Harnier let out a faint sigh and became very serious.
I have a suspicion that the contents are not ordinary.
“It was a request for engagement, but only for one year.”
“…What?”
But the contents were so extraordinary that it was enough to make her hesitate.
In many ways.
***
-Cough, cough!
Karsain coughed as if he was taken aback. As soon as he recited the contents of the letter, which proposed being engaged for only a year.
Why did he react like this as soon as he recited the contents? Harnier narrowed her eyes and asked.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to be engaged to me?”
Although her dress was wet, she had prepared thoroughly. Other nobles recognized her and approached her, and some of them already harbored malicious intentions.
Harnier herself took pride in her appearance.
But as soon as the engagement was announced, Carcine’s reaction was like this, so it was inevitable that his pride would be scratched a little.
“Well, I don’t think I have a face that would attract you so much. This is very rude!”
“What? No… It’s not that… Cough!”
“I’m not saying that I don’t fit Carcine’s taste. I don’t fit it either. Understand?”
After finally making a somewhat blunt remark, Harney turned her head with a huff.
Carcine finally grasped the situation and got to the point.
“So, this engagement, does it have any purpose?”
“Yes! The Master didn’t propose because he liked me rationally. It was a kind of deal!”
Harney poured out her words, even mocking with her finger, then grabbed a glass of water.
But there was no water in the spilled cup. Carcine cautiously brought a pitcher and poured water into the cup.
-Drip.
“Just in case you misunderstand, it’s not because your appearance isn’t my taste.”
“What?”
“Let’s assume that the person who came to see you suddenly proposed an engagement from the beginning. Wouldn’t you be surprised?”
“Well…”
Isn’t it normal to be surprised?
“Oh, I see. So being surprised…”
With understanding, Harney’s wounded pride was restored.
“It’s not because I dislike it, it just feels strange. If you had said from the beginning that you came to make a deal, there would have been no misunderstanding.”
Harney rolled her eyes as if she was in a dilemma, then drank the water. When the cup was placed back on the table, she kept coughing.
“Such an easy woman to understand.”
Karsein smirked and apologized.
“Well, I’m sorry. I also had a reaction that could have been misunderstood by Harnie.”
“No, well… I shouldn’t have even apologized… If you think about it, even spilling the water earlier…”
“It’s okay. Please calm down and let’s get back to the main point, shall we?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Karsein swiftly ended the conversation and brought the main topic back.
The purpose was a proposal for a one-year engagement.
In other words, a contractual engagement, a kind of deal.
This was an opportunity.
“What do you hope to gain from a one-year engagement, Harnie?”
“I don’t want anything like that.”
Harnie replied simply.
Even though it was a simple answer, it wasn’t too simple for a one-year contractual engagement. Clearly, she had no expectations despite the mention of a deal.
But upon hearing the words that followed, Karsein immediately understood.
“The engagement itself is my purpose.”