72 – 72. CHAPTER 1 (6)
“You didn’t come back with Karsain?”
Isabella greeted Arina, who returned from outside, with a voice filled with concern.
“They said they had postponed training at the training grounds.”
“There’s a lot to say. Couldn’t you bring them back?”
“It seems quite difficult. Mother. It seems they are really angry because of this trial.”
“…I see.”
Isabella sighed heavily with a bitter expression.
She had refrained from asking about Flora until Karsain’s mood improved.
When the time comes, she will have to ask then when they return on their own.
“What about Claire?”
“She’s going to raise the sentence of those guys who tormented the enraged Karsain.”
“That sounds like Claire.”
“But, Arina.”
Isabella called Arina quietly.
“You… also didn’t hear anything, did you?”
…”
Arina remained silent.
Not only did she not hear anything, but following the contents of the trial was overwhelming.
Emma’s request to expel Karsain from the Marquisate.
The false accusations against Theo Ramstair, who commissioned the request.
The Shapel Forest raid incident that ensued.
The ban on Karsain from the training grounds and Emma’s embezzlement.
Karsain’s bad reputation mentioned in the context of this incident.
Even if she tried to follow, she couldn’t keep up.
The existence of this huge shadow hidden beneath the silence was an indescribable shock.
“Yeah. You must have been the same… Sorry for asking for no reason.”
Afterward, Isabella, like Arina, decided to give Karsain some time.
“Of course, all the servants at the Marquisate will have to be replaced.”
There is a list, but there will be more, won’t there?
If Claire follows the same method, she can pick out the servants who tormented Karsain for money from Emma.
The knights as well.
Those who were working at the waterway with Theo Ramstair have all been captured, but there are still quite a few knights left.
There should be no remnants of Emma left at the Marquisate. Also, the righteous individuals who wanted to clear Karsain’s name need to be rewarded separately.
“There’s so much to do in various ways.”
Arina moved to her study, holding a pen, to begin her investigation.
The pen that had been wandering aimlessly in squares stopped in Arina’s hand.
The visual landscape had turned dark imperceptibly.
The sun had completely set, and the bright full moon was shining with a chilly light.
Arina paused for a moment, setting down her pen.
“…Has so much time passed?”
She had been completely unaware of the passing time while immersed in the task of erasing the duke’s ink stains.
Arina, glancing at the clock, murmured to herself.
“It’s about time to call for him.”
There was still time left for Carsein to finish his delayed training at the military training ground.
He would return as the duke and have discussions with his family, inquire more specifically about the incident with Claire to potentially increase their sentences, and also consider submitting a report to the palace to elevate their status.
There was also the matter of resolving the entanglement with Flora, which was of utmost importance.
Arina pushed her chair in, stood up, put on her coat, and prepared to go outside.
That’s when it happened.
“Miss Arina, are you here by any chance?”
The urgent voice of a maid could be heard.
As the door opened, a flustered maid stood before her. It was the maid who had been assigned to Flora.
“What’s the matter?”
“W-well…”
The maid’s voice made Arina, too, feel a sense of urgency.
***
“Can I help with that? I know the maid best since she’s the one always around me.”
The third sibling spoke hesitantly, as if feigning innocence.
The maid who had been quietly skimming off my allowance was eventually caught, and this was what she had come to discuss first.
Ironically, it was because of her that the maid had resorted to such actions.
“Kim Minhyuk, don’t you dislike having more work? Just send the maid away and I won’t─”
Quit babbling. Shut it, you little brat.
I probably interrupted the third sibling’s words with a reprimand.
But that naive brat accused me of swearing at him and ran off. The eldest sibling ended up scolding me today for the money that had been disappearing from my allowance.
From Noble mtl dot com
I hated it.
No matter how much I spoke, they never listened to my opinions in that household.
So I had to reluctantly keep hidden the fact that the third sibling was behind such deeds.
Even if it meant keeping it a secret when I was rushed to the emergency room unable to bear it.
“Ugh… What the hell. What a nightmare again.”
As I opened my eyes, curses spilled out.
Why were those damn memories from the past resurfacing?
Even in my dreams, those women who tormented me kept bothering me.
Yet, for some reason, even after escaping the dream, those memories from back then resurfaced a bit more.
“Since then…”
The maid had faced a legal trial at that time. She cried and begged, admitting her wrongdoing for stepping into the trap I had set, having to return all the money she had stealthily taken and even her wages accumulated over time.
It wasn’t enough for me.
Just as Emma, who never lowered herself before Carsein until the end, kneeled before the eldest and the stepmother.
If we were to delve further into the aftermath of the incident, that maid turned out to be an older sister of a student from the school I attended, and once this fact spread within the school, both sisters fled the area.
The younger sister ended up transferring schools against her will, while the maid sister struggled to find a job after the trial.
Considering how the younger sister used to sneakily pick food off my tray with a curler still in her hair during lunch, well, it was a blessing in disguise.
At first glance, it seemed like a big change had occurred, but in reality, the biggest change had been in me.
“So, that’s when I started working part-time.”
I started putting all the money that had been taken from me by the housekeeper into a drawer, considering it as good as pocket money that I never had anyway.
It was only after it was taken that I truly realized. The money I received from them was not mine.
The mindset was firmly set to push away any help from them, leaving only the money that could be used for escape.
Even though the first part-time job was tough.
Even though I didn’t rest enough after coming back from the emergency room and ended up sleeping all day.
Even though I had no time to rest day and night while balancing my studies.
“Come to think of it, not long after starting the part-time job, there was a time when you collapsed in front of the third one.”
Yes. That was definitely strange.
The expression on the little kid’s face back then…
-Thump, thump, thump!
“Karcein, are you in there?”
It was Arina.
It’s not the time to dwell on the past anymore.
I didn’t want to open the door.
So, without opening it, I spoke.
“What’s the matter?”
“Didn’t Flora come here?”
“Why would she come here?”
Nonsense.
By now, she must have stormed off to Isabella, accusing her of being the one who took you away and cursing me out.
Arina denied my sarcasm and spoke.
“No. Flora has been feeling guilty towards you ever since then. I told you after the trial. The youngest was trying to help you in any way she could. So, seeing you was the main point of her visit!”
“What nonsense…”
-Ring!
At that moment, the status screen was forcibly turned on.
“Really, you didn’t go outside to meet me…?”
Among Arina’s worried voice, the floating status screen…
Made me doubt my eyes.
▶Error Occurred!◀
▶It is not the time to intervene in this branch.◀
▶Considering alternative decisions…◀
…
…
“What the hell is this!”
I cursed internally at the familiar window.
Episode VI ends by definitively resolving Emma and Theo in the trial.
In a way, for me, it was the easiest, and in the game overall, as long as you were well-prepared, there were no major variables.
This window, it won’t open!
▶Confirmed that Episode VI progress has not ended!◀
▶Confirmed that the conditions for the hidden episode have been met!◀
▶The clear conditions for Episode VI will change.◀
▶Two episodes will be merged!◀
▶Results pending…◀
“I clearly finished it. The alarm definitely went off…!”
…No. Wait.
“Did I, did I confirm that?”
I didn’t confirm it.
In a weary state of mind, I chose to be locked into the hall of family intimacy, consuming the closeness of my family.
Just like with Radiel, if Episode VI wasn’t cleared, then?
“If you don’t know either, then where is Flora…!”
As questions about Flora’s whereabouts escaped Irina’s lips,
▶Episode VI. The Disappearance Unfolds!◀
▶This episode is a hidden episode and a main episode at the same time!◀
▶Find Flora.◀
[Time Limit: 30 minutes]
[Failure to find Flora within the time limit results in death!]
[If time runs out, the episode automatically fails, resulting in death!]
I realized it was no time to sleep any longer.
I opened the door abruptly.
“Tell me in detail. When, where, what was Flora doing!”
***
▶Find Flora.◀
[Time Limit: 25 minutes 31 seconds]
[Failure to find Flora within the time limit results in death!]
[If time runs out, the episode automatically fails, resulting in death!]
I have no idea at all.
Such a development never occurred.
I have neither seen nor heard nor experienced anything like this before.
But if I stay idle, I’ll die.
As much as I dislike that brat, I have no choice but to find her now.
“Harnie!”
“Karsein?”
“Have you happened to see a blonde brat up to my waist around here?”
“No. Such a person…”
Jegiral. Under the countess’s order, Irina was searching for someone, so I had to delay, but it didn’t seem like it would be resolved within the remaining time.
The problem is the lack of any clues.
Since returning from the courtroom, no one has spotted Flora, which was weighing heavily on us.
“Oh, wait a moment. If you’re talking about Flora… I think I saw her briefly…”
“…!”
“Where was it? I’m pretty sure I saw her leaving the courtroom…”
Harnie was deeply lost in thought.
It’s best not to interrupt at times like this. I waited patiently, taking slow breaths.
“There. She went in that direction.”
Harnie pointed with her finger.
That direction… towards the sponsor’s area?
“To be precise, it wasn’t when she couldn’t enter the courtroom. While I was wandering around the countess’s mansion for a bit, I happened to stumble upon her then.”
That means…
‘There’s a high possibility that what Harnie saw was Flora’s final appearance.’
I immediately sprinted in that direction.
Inside the sponsor’s area. If there are traces of Flora among the blooming flowers, I must find anything.
Where are you? Where are you?
Where on earth did something happen!
“Oh, wait! C-Can you come with me…”
“Harnie? Why did you follow me?”
“I felt a subtle scent as soon as we entered here.”
“A scent?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but this smells like a sleeping potion. The jewels on my clothes are reacting, so it must be certain.”
“A sleeping potion… really?”
Harnie narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Kidnapping. And it seems like a considerable amount of effort was put into it.”
-Ding!
▶A clue has been found!◀
◆A faint scent of sedative lingering in the air
Flora was drugged by someone and abducted after being made to drink a sedative.
That’s the gist of it.
Having confirmed the fact that the gem was emitting light, Harney spoke about the type of sedative.
“This sedative is usually soaked in a handkerchief. It’s so potent that one shouldn’t ingest it, hence it’s meant for one-time use.”
“So, it means they couldn’t have used the sedative strongly, indicating a lack of proper equipment. Is that right?”
“Yes. At least they must have struggled for a few seconds.”
“Then there might be traces left behind here.”
They immediately began a thorough search around the sponsorship area.
And then.
They found it.
-Ding!
▶A clue has been found!◀
◆An orange scarf
A clue left by the culprit.
“A scarf… not something that young girls would use.”
“…Yes.”
I’m aware of that too.
It’s not for women, but for men. It’s the kind of scarf typically received as a gift by young girls and used. Hence, the culprit can be identified.
It wasn’t fear that drove him.
He was simply seizing an opportunity greedily.
-Swish.
“It’s… not splattered blood but seems to have dripped down the body.”
▶A clue has been found!◀
◆Droplets of blood
[Location: Sponsorship]
He avoided the stigma of being labeled a convict.
Heading towards Tulea Mine wasn’t for that day but the next.
Therefore, he had no way out and carried out only one long-awaited task.
Yes. It can be summed up in one sentence.
The reason for kidnapping Flora.
-Ding!
▶Choose what the culprit desires!
[1. Revenge against Carsein Bagrand.]
[2. Flora’s ────]
[3. Bagrand Marquis’s ────]
…
…
Nothing but revenge against me.
***
-Thud. Thud.
The sound of water is heard.
Drop by drop. It was a sound of something dripping from somewhere.
Strangely, the sound of water was unpleasant, as if it would furrow one’s brow.
Even a strange metallic scent lingering in the air made one’s eyelids heavy, forcing them to open involuntarily.
And so, Flora opened her eyes.
She couldn’t do anything.
Her arms were tightly bound to a hard wooden chair.
The shackles were on, and her legs were securely tied with ropes.
Her pupils, wandering in the darkness, could only capture the approaching figure in the darkness.
A man’s voice chillingly whispered in her ear.
“Are you awake, miss?”
“…!”
Even though she couldn’t see, she knew.
She remembered what had happened.
Theo Ramstair.
He was the one who kidnapped her from the sponsorship and called her name.