45 – Faded Gift (4)
In Ariana’s weary mind, a certain thought suddenly came to her.
A chilling sense of cold anxiety enveloped her body, as if it had turned as cold as ice.
“No, that can’t be.”
It couldn’t have happened.
How could such a thing have occurred?
Even if the pieces don’t fit perfectly, they still seem to fit together as if they were meticulously arranged.
Yes, that can’t be true.
Ariana tried to maintain her composure, slowly exhaling the breath that was caught in her throat.
In the meantime, Claire asked.
“S-So, Heron. If what you’re saying is true… the things that were supposed to be delivered to Karsein didn’t reach her properly and were sent to my sister like that?”
“That’s correct, Miss Claire.”
“Then… those documents…!”
The torn pieces of documents in the basket in front of Ariana’s room.
If Arina’s argument was correct, Karsein should have trampled and disregarded the sincerity.
However, the truth was revealed with the appearance of a witness.
The fact that the documents were entrusted to the maids in the multipurpose room.
This one sentence completely overturned the atmosphere in the room.
“Someone… touched it. Just as Karsein said.”
As Claire said, the certificate that she ordered Heron to deliver was not delivered.
“Who. Who dared to touch the important master’s document!”
“…I apologize. It was my mistake.”
Heron bowed his head.
However, the situation became clear that someone in the multipurpose room had indeed touched it.
It was the moment when it was clear that Karsein had not torn up the document and put it in Arina’s room.
Arina’s breath was caught again.
“Now, do you have an answer?”
Karsein said, looking at Arina.
Still, there was no emotion on his face.
“I never received that document in the first place. Before tearing it up, I never received it.”
“…”
“Even if I try to speak, I’m not given a chance. I’m suspected and everything is already determined to be my fault. Isn’t it a strange feeling?”
Arina wanted to say more, but she couldn’t open her mouth, thinking about what she had just done.
“Letters disappear all the time. On my desk, the Kelpia fruit grows. I’m just an unwelcome outsider in the Duke’s house.”
“Karcein, I… “
“I wish it hadn’t happened.”
“What…?”
Karcein cut off Arina’s statement firmly.
Arina, who had been flinching, raised her head quickly.
“If only I didn’t have that document lifting the ban on the performance hall. If I didn’t have that, I wouldn’t have been suspected, right?”
As she looked at her younger sister, who blamed herself for a single document that became the starting point of suspicion, her chest sank.
Something surged up inside her.
She was the starting point of everything.
She had written it with the hope that he would like it.
She wanted to somehow deliver the missed birthday present.
She hoped that the painter, who had piled up bigger rewards while forgetting about the surveillance case of the Snowflake Festival, would loosen up.
“It’s a misunderstanding. I didn’t give it to you with those intentions.”
Yes, it’s a misunderstanding.
“I never even dreamed that one of the servants would do such a thing. I didn’t want something like this to happen.”
I didn’t intend for something like this to happen.
“I wanted to somehow… ease your feelings…”
I just wanted your feelings to be even slightly better.
Arina tried to persuade Karcein as she said that.
However, Karcein firmly cut off her words.
“Misunderstanding? Everything from the beginning to the end happened because of your intentions.”
“…!”
From Noble mtl dot com
“You can’t pick up spilled water. Arina. I have already become someone who tramples on and ignores your sincerity, even though all I did was sleep and wake up.”
A sharp dagger pierced deep into the heart.
Thinking that everything had been trampled upon, it was himself.
Seeing the torn documents and immediately disregarding and being deceived, that was also himself.
Not being able to control his anger when seeing an unfair gift and raising his hand to confront it, that was also himself.
From the starting point to the end.
Everything.
It was all made up of Arina Bagrand.
“No matter what I receive in the future. No matter what attention is focused on me. I will always be doubted and treated unfairly. Just like today.”
“The culprit is!”
Thud!
Someone right beside them slammed the table as if to stop this argument.
“We will definitely catch the culprit, whether it’s us or the nobleman. If we inform Mother of this fact, she will start an investigation for generations to come, and it won’t be overlooked like before.”
It was Claire who somehow managed to pry her lips apart, which had been tightly sealed.
“The culprit of this incident will definitely exist. Remember what you said before? During the time with Camilla, there was someone who cast a horoscope.”
Swoosh.
Karceine’s eyes shifted slightly to the side.
Two strands of blonde hair trembled ever so slightly.
Karsein shifted his gaze back to Claire and asked, “So?”
“There will be a thorough investigation. If necessary, even a purge!” she replied.
It would probably be impossible.
Among the servants, the children of the departed were also included, and the investigation alone could hurt their feelings.
Knowing that the perception within the duke’s household would be greatly affected, Karsein took out the plan he had prepared.
“No, there’s no need for that.”
“What?”
“Just let them ignore me. It’s fine like that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Starting today, my residence will be moved to the annex.”
Upon hearing these words, the three sisters were taken aback.
“What?!”
“The a-annex?!”
“…That makes no sense.”
Flora openly gasped, and Claire seemed quite surprised. Arina also wanted to express her disbelief until the end.
“But you’re the master of the duke’s household. Does it make sense to move your residence to a place for receiving guests?!”
Claire tried to stop him, taking a deep breath to calm herself.
However, Karsein pierced her with a cold expression.
“I’m the master of the duke’s household. But I can’t even be treated as the master. I can’t even be recognized as family, and I’m already being suspected.”
Karsein let out a sharp sneeze and continued speaking.
“Are you saying such stupid things even after witnessing this situation?”
The atmosphere inside the room instantly turned icy.
“It would be better if I were in the main hall, away from you and those idiots. I wouldn’t have to see despicable bastards or cause any problems. How perfect would that be?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! How can a high-ranking noble like me entertain a mere business partner in the main hall, let alone someone who isn’t even a noble?”
“Then tell me, Claire. What other option is there?”
“Well…”
“Not only does the correspondence within the duke’s household fail to be delivered properly, but even the items that should be received intact aren’t. Even though I received this scar from going through surveillance to get a birthday present. But now, it’s gone a step further, accusing me of ignoring your sincerity and deceiving you.”
No one could convince Karsein with their consecutive questions.
“It’s just like the coming-of-age ceremony. So this is the best option, for both you and me.”
He stood up from his seat and walked past his silent sisters.
The proof was done, and the solution was mentioned. There was no need to stay here.
Arina couldn’t even lift her head, and Claire reproached her past self, pressing her forehead.
And.
The last person, Flora, sitting at the end, covered her mouth, her complexion turning pale.
Seeing her, Karsein smirked.
Chills ran down Flora’s arms as their eyes met.
“Arina, didn’t you say something like that before? It was something you said when I used to get into a lot of accidents. You told me to stay quiet like a dead mouse.”
“…!”
I will leave one last word.
“As you wish. I will stay in the annex like a dead mouse.”
With the handle of the conference room in Heron’s hand, the moment the door opened, a cold wind blew into the greenhouse.
However…
Did the temperature of the greenhouse really escape outside?
Since the cold wind was still blowing fiercely, I couldn’t feel any chill.
Perhaps the coldness that was in the conference room has escaped outside.
***
Except for Heron, no one followed.
Of course, that was to be expected.
Arina looked suspicious of a sinister person.
Claire must have seen herself in that person as well.
Flora is the one who clearly caused this incident.
No one can confidently express their opinions in front of me.
So I must make full use of this advantage.
“First, let’s see the results.”
The alarm rang as soon as I left the room, but I need to find out how the incident unfolded.
▶I have proven Arina’s innocence!◀
▶The reputation within the aristocracy has improved even more!◀
▶The servants are cautious of Karsein’s actions!◀
…
…
Familiar sentences from the game caught my eye.
Among them, the most important one.
▶Exposed Flora’s lies. The sisters’ suspicions disappear.◀
▶Investigation will be carried out under Claire’s orders.◀
▶Attention! If a specific individual is falsely accused and depending on the subsequent development, the reputation may plummet to the perception stage.◀
Certainly, Flora’s transformation. And right below it was the sentence.
This should be enough.
“Heron.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“What can I do for you?”
This scene is an artificially created scene in my hands.
Therefore, I thought that I should give Heron the appropriate reward, as he is the only person who knows that fact.
Upon hearing that, Heron hesitated for a moment and cautiously opened his mouth.
“If you ask me to do something like this again, will you call me then as well?”
“Why?”
“I too am the butler of the Bagrand Duke. Shouldn’t I get rid of the musty times for the Duke?”
“Musty times, is that the right way to put it?”
“You’re not wrong. So far, I’ve just been twiddling my fingers because I couldn’t handle it.”
There was a common goal.
Heron was subtly asserting it to me.
‘Of course, that common goal must be Emma.’
But perhaps it was because he was truly a neutral character.
I don’t think he just has the intention.
“Reject it.”
“…What?”
Heron’s eyes, which I believed would be accepted without doubt, were filled with confusion.
But unlike other characters, he was not someone who would question the reason or tear it apart as a lie.
Heron left with a single word.
“I understand. If you need me again, please call me.”
It was a message, subtly left behind, that he could be used again if needed.
Watching him go further away, I quietly muttered.
“You probably won’t be called again. You’re too sharp, and you might actually hinder my work.”
He is also the butler of the Duke.
A character belonging to Bagrand, someone who should serve the Duke of Bagrand, not me.
Perhaps, there might be something unexpected until the end.
“Besides, this is my job.”
I have to solve my own problems alone.
The process of reclaiming my rights in this house and growing stronger.
The process of growing stronger and finishing all calculations before going outside.
As always, it is something I have to do myself. Without anyone’s help.
So, until I leave, you must remain unaware of this fact.
Absolutely.
***
Heron turned his body, soothing his regret.
“…Can’t the closed lord’s heart open a little more than this?”
He had finally seized an opportunity.
He thought it was a chance to erase the stalemate with the duke and turn the lord’s heart as well.
But it wasn’t so easy.
The slums and the duke’s residence.
The lord, who had endured all kinds of storms in extreme places at the age of eighteen, had changed at some point, and Heron noticed it even without trying.
He thought the lord had only survived in the slums with the toughness that had grown from the harsh environment, but soon that toughness had turned sharp even against the torment in the duke’s residence.
Heron’s intention to open the closed door even a little was so easily seen through.
“…Has he already taken root?”
Truly, it was regrettable.
There was not a single trace of emotion in the lord’s expression as he mentioned his plans.
He was turning into a person who could no longer feel pain.
Because of the experiences he had gained here.
With a heavy heart, Heron stopped in his tracks and turned his head.
He wanted to go back and persuade the prince, even now… but he knew he couldn’t, so he resumed his steps.
Thud, thud.
Just as heavy as his heart, Heron’s footsteps were heavy too.
Following the sound of his footsteps, a window appeared above his head.
Carcine might open his eyes wide in surprise if he saw it.
-Ding!
▶You have successfully triggered an outcome beyond the choices!◀
▶Heron’s intimacy will be activated!◀
[ Current intimacy level: 30% ]
On the other hand, something that was expected was happening.
The meeting room was filled with urgency as the next discussion took place.
Issues such as Carcine’s residence and the culprit of this incident were not easily resolved.
And.
-Thunk, thud!
“H-How? How can this be…?”
This time, Flora, who had truly become the culprit, was trembling and biting her nails.
Lol is everyone a m*sochist?