35 – 35. Snow Festival (6)
“It started from the chairman. He suspected that I would cause trouble no matter what I did. But during the festival, I didn’t even blink? If it’s not surveillance, then what is it?”
How could that be?
Ariana’s mouth opened involuntarily.
To use this festival as an opportunity to announce the ban on going out.
It was a conclusion reached during a family meeting, solely to confirm if they had the personality for it.
The word “surveillance” flashed in her mind.
Ariana quickly spoke.
“Karceine. You should know, it wasn’t just once or twice. This suspicion arose because of your past.”
“Well, that makes sense. From your perspective, it was most important to know whether I would cause trouble or not, rather than whether I would enjoy this festival.”
“Don’t make such assumptions. I genuinely wanted you to enjoy the festival…!”
She didn’t want to hear any explanations.
Karsein cut off Arina’s words like a knife.
“Wasn’t it boring to monitor someone like me? I’ll let you go right now.”
“Karsein!”
Crack!
Arina tried to grab Karsein’s wrist, but her hand was forcefully pushed away.
“The human you’re supposed to monitor is locked in the room, so enjoy yourselves and come back as you please.”
Arina, who couldn’t bring herself to reach out again, clenched her fist and trembled.
I can’t point out his arrogant attitude since I’ve realized that I’m the one being monitored.
Arina resorted to her last resort, grabbing Karsein.
“Do you know how much Mother was looking forward to this day?”
A festival where the whole family gathers without anyone missing.
Isabella desperately wanted that.
“Because of you, she canceled the festival multiple times. She wanted you to not feel lonely, so she stayed at the mansion.”
So, if I feel even the slightest bit of guilt.
If I don’t want to upset Mother.
I won’t ruin the family festival like this.
“Just endure a little longer. Even if you feel upset, I’ll give you more than just a scolding. Let me adjust Mother’s mood for you today.”
Family harmony.
That was Karsein’s last resort to hold on.
“Damn it.”
However, Karsein turned his head abruptly, holding back a sneeze.
Without looking back, he simply continued on his way.
I wanted to grab him, walking with vulgar language, but this time I couldn’t.
It was none other than Arina herself who was trying to evaluate Karsein with this surveillance-like behavior.
While Arina was in distress, Isabella returned with her two daughters after finishing her business.
“What’s wrong?”
“Sister? What’s the matter?”
Isabella looked around with worried eyes in the gloomy atmosphere. Karsein was not here.
“He said he would take care of some business and come back. Don’t worry.”
There was no other choice.
It was not right to burden Mother’s heart.
For now, it was a priority to deceive Mother and bring Karsein back.
Fortunately, Karsein’s dark blue hair had disappeared from Arina’s sight, so I could guess which direction he went. If I ran and caught him now, I could easily catch him.
But at that moment.
A crowd rushed from one side of the street.
“Fire!!”
Disaster!
In front of the Snowflake Festival, fierce flames burst forth.
***
The fire that broke out suddenly in the middle of the festival created a chaotic whirlpool inside the hall.
Arina shouted directly at the confused citizens on the street.
“Get a hold of yourselves! Are you all just going to panic and die?!”
With those words, the citizens who had been in disarray recognized her.
“That symbol, it’s Bagrand, right?”
“Bagrand… So that person is Lady Arina Bagrand?”
“She… She’s alive! She’s alive!!”
“My Lady! Give us your orders!”
It wasn’t just the citizens. The stationed soldiers, too, were looking for someone to give them orders amidst the chaos.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just Arina alone. The entire Bagrand dukedom was present, and they cheered and quickly asked for orders.
“Everyone, get in formation and move forward without causing chaos! Give the soldiers on the left, closest to the fire, some space and move to the right!”
“Yes!”
With one command, the soldiers and citizens no longer confused their paths and moved accordingly. It was truly a scene that embodied the power of Bagrand.
Now that the crowded masses had been organized, it was time to suppress the fire.
“First, we need to prevent the fire from spreading by considering its direction. Does anyone know where the source of the fire is?”
“W-We do.”
Three soldiers in the back raised their hands.
At a glance, it was clear that their uniforms were charred, making it highly likely that they were the first to discover the fire.
“The flames didn’t originate from one place. They erupted simultaneously from multiple locations.”
“Simultaneously?”
“I was working in the west. This friend here, on the other hand, was working in the opposite direction, towards the banquet hall, so the east.”
“On the isolated southern side, my side, the flames suddenly shot up. That’s why this place, the northern side, was not swept away by the fire.”
Ariana narrowed her eyes at those words. Claire also seemed to take this seriously and asked Ariana directly.
“Sister, could this possibly be…”
“Yes. It’s a technique similar to what we saw at the Snowflake Festival two years ago.”
There had been a similar incident two years ago.
The Snowflake Festival was an annual event organized by the royal family. The possibility was high.
“By any chance, do you remember the color of the fireworks?”
“They were blue.”
“What about you?”
From Noble mtl dot com
“What we saw was also blue.”
“As I thought. It’s not just ordinary fireworks.”
Convinced, Ariana immediately spoke to Isabella.
“Mother, Claire and I will extinguish the fire. Can you calm down the citizens in the meantime?”
“Is it the same as before?”
“Yes. The testimonies of the witnesses are consistent.”
“I see. Do as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
Ariana commanded the soldiers and passed through the path where distant smoke was rising. As the two daughters took action, Isabella attracted the attention of those around her.
“Pay attention! This fire is only meant to cause chaos; the flames cannot directly harm humans.”
The citizens were filled with doubt.
“Madam, the Marchioness?”
“What are you talking about? The fire doesn’t harm humans.”
“There was a similar incident two years ago. At that time, no one knew, but the investigation revealed that those flames were fake flames created through magic stones.”
The citizens murmured at the mention of fake flames.
Isabella pointed to a house with her finger, providing evidence. Soon, the truth about the fake flames created by magic stones, which only burned things with magical power, was revealed. Only then were the citizens able to escape from fear.
“It’s happening again.”
On the surface, the festival was created based on the excuse of having no winter festival, not only to gauge the people’s sentiment but also to pray for last year’s harvest and this year’s blessings.
However, there were quite a few people who opposed it, claiming that politically charged elements were being injected into the festival, and they unknowingly raised their voices in protest. This was just a suspicion, and it would be difficult to catch the culprit.
“Mom, then the festival… will it continue? It won’t end like last time?”
“Yes. If your sisters stop complaining, we can enjoy it for longer.”
Isabella gently stroked Flora’s back, who was worried that the festival might be canceled.
A while later, the flames in three locations went out.
Upon seeing Arina and Claire return after resolving the fake flames, they praised the Marquis of Vagrand.
But.
Only one person.
During the raging fire, they had forgotten something.
“Wait, where is Karsein?”
Only now did Isabella’s question make the two ladies realize.
It was fine to excuse him for going to the bathroom, but that wouldn’t take more than a moment. It should have been enough time for him to return, considering that the fire had been suppressed.
Even Isabella subtly sensed that there was something suspicious about Arina’s lie.
“Right now, release the knights of the family!”
The fire had been extinguished, but a bigger blaze had ignited elsewhere.
***
▶ CHAPTER 1 – Episode IV: Snow Festival Clear! ◀
▶ The family enjoyed the snow festival without any problems. ◀
▶ Successfully triggered results beyond the choices. ◀
…
…
Pleasant news continued to appear one after another in the status window.
Episode cleared.
Festival passed without any issues.
Even results beyond the choices.
Once again, satisfying things appeared before my eyes as the cornerstone for clearing the game.
But no matter how much those things appeared in the status window.
In my mind, the past keeps coming back, burying this joy in an instant.
“Why does this nonsense keep coming back?”
I was angry.
Not at Karsein, but at myself.
I escaped from that house I never wanted to return to, so why does that time keep resurfacing?
My body may have left that place, but it seems I couldn’t shake off this trivial thing after all.
“Damn it.”
-Thud.
Angrily, Aekku kicked the orc barrel. The once sturdy barrel rolled and scattered the remaining wine inside as if vomiting it out.
Just that alone made his breath quicken and become harsh.
“That can’t be true.”
With a sneer, he attempted to kick down the next orc barrel, but immediately realized it was a pointless act and stopped.
Right. Such emotions are unnecessary.
The strange empathy of thinking that if Karsein were here, he would have held a fleeting hope, is nothing more than a fleeting emotion.
Even if I recall how my excitement swelled in the amusement park and was abruptly crushed, that memory now holds no meaning.
No matter how similar the situation may be, it’s not me.
It’s just a backdrop for shaping one character in a game.
…That’s how it should be.
“Poor kid.”
Unconsciously, I blurted out those words.
After that, I walked aimlessly, and walked some more.
I don’t know which direction the carriage was in.
Until this memory fades even a little from my mind. I walked without knowing where this place was.
Then suddenly, a bright light caught my eye.
In a place that was turning into the night, such a level of brightness could only be artificial.
But even brighter than that artificial lamp, a now somewhat familiar object appeared before my eyes.
Memorial.
It was an object made from Karsein’s past.
“A stone tower… I suppose.”
The stones, stacked one by one, stand firmly without toppling over.
It feels like they could collapse if touched even slightly.
Why hesitate any longer?
Reaching out my hand, I confronted its true past.
In the flickering place, the snow festival was reflected as well.
And from the sky, something cold and pure white was falling.
It was snow.