86. Not a Request, But to Do It Myself (2)
From head to toe. Cold blood circulated slowly.
This sensation, which was so cold that I couldn’t even feel the cold night wind, made the strings of my reason stronger.
I had seen an unpleasant past, but I was able to quickly refresh my memory of what I had to do myself, with a renewed sense of alertness.
Yes. I have to escape.
I have to escape from this game.
I have to escape from my damn family.
I only need to know those two facts.
Returning to my quarters at the training ground, I immediately sat down on a chair and looked through the Shatran territory report that Harni had given me.
“It’s written in quite a lot of detail. I didn’t think they would have put several years’ worth of data into it like this, summarizing it on a monthly and yearly basis.”
With this much, the margin of error would be small. It would be easy to see how much the growth rate had declined, and I would have noticed what parts of the territory were having problems.
And Harni had pointed it out exactly.
[ Chateau Strawberry Productivity ] [ Chateau Grape Productivity ]
[ Chateau Strawberry Sales ] [ Chateau Grape Sales ]
In the past, data related to the two crops that could be called the specialties of the Chateau territory were meticulously organized.
“Okay. This is done.”
It’s better to learn about other detailed things by entering the territory rather than learning about them here.
As you proceed with Chapter 2, you will inevitably proceed with the main episode, and it is inevitable that Karsein will set foot in the Chateau territory.
And I don’t intend to avoid this development either.
What I get from solving this episode is none other than money, which is the most important thing for escape.
It seems simple, but it’s quite important.
If I solve the Chateau territory problem, I will also have private property. It will be possible to pay off the money I received from the Duke’s family.
In other words, before leaving the family, it means that I can cleanly cut off an important element that can be caught by them.
Putting aside the Chateau territory report, I took out a book that Heron gave me, saying to read it when I was bored.
In fact, it’s not something to read when you’re bored, as it’s a book about farming methods related to the territory.
It’s right to think that he foresaw the work of the Eastern Aristocratic Assembly and gave it to me.
“And Heron wouldn’t have just given me a book.”
Swish.
“As expected.”
Between the pages of the book where the bookmark was not inserted, a small piece of paper stuck in the front of the suit appeared.
[ According to the official document delivered by Her Highness Princess Arcien to each family, the power of the heads of household will be completely cut off at this Eastern Aristocratic Assembly. Please be careful. Master. ]
“Hmm… Is that what happened?”
Depending on which branch you take, the Eastern Aristocratic Assembly is divided into three routes when participating.
The first is to attend with the head of the household and take the exam with all the members of the Duke’s family.
The second is to attend with the head of the household, but each child receives advice and takes the exam separately.
The third is to not even allow the head of the household to attend and have the children take the exam alone.
In the first case, Karsein will not be able to make any remarks and will be eliminated, and in the second case, he will be able to receive advice from Isabella.
However, judging from the note Heron sent, it seems that he took the third route.
Isabella cannot attend or give advice. So Karsein must somehow obtain the right to participate that Ariadna took away from him and solve it.
Originally, it could be seen as the most difficult route because you cannot receive any help, but I thought this was rather better.
“Anyway, it’s better to solve it alone. I’ve already received the main episode, and if I move alone and get it myself, I can’t say anything.”
Not to ask for help, but to do it yourself.
That was my current motto.
-Knock, knock.
“Master. It’s Camilla. Is it okay to come in?”
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Camilla greeted me and took off her hood to reveal her face.
Perhaps, since I asked her to investigate the Chateau territory, she might have brought information related to it.
However, since there was a special report that Harni investigated, it was no different than making Camilla run around in vain.
I will listen to everything she has to say, and it would be good to apologize for what happened.
However, Camilla was hesitating.
“Is there a problem?”
“No? Ah… There’s no issue with what Master said.”
“Then why are you acting like that?”
“That’s…”
Camilla kept glancing back.
As if there was something behind the closed door.
When I looked that way, I could see the corner of a blonde head of hair through the slightly open door.
Judging by the way Camilla was acting, she seemed to be aware that someone was peeking through the crack in the door.
‘I thought so.’
I thought I was being followed, but that wasn’t it. It seems that Flora had followed me here and had no choice but to hide.
Camilla’s judgment wasn’t wrong. If she were to be seen here, news of what I was doing would spread, and that’s why she rolled her eyes to get my attention.
“Go out for a moment. I’ll take care of this.”
“Yes, Master.”
After sending Camilla out, I stood in front of my room and spoke to Flora, who was hiding behind the door.
“What is it this time?”
A few strands of blonde hair that she hadn’t been able to hide twitched.
***
Flora hesitated and opened the door, revealing herself.
I had asked her directly what the matter was, so I thought she would pretend not to know or hide.
But this time, she didn’t hide it and asked me.
“…Um, may I come in for a moment?”
To be honest, I’m not particularly happy to see this child right now…
But I can probably guess why she came to find me.
Because she had heard what Arina had said.
“Come in.”
First, I told her to come in.
I had been lowering my level of intimacy with Arina, and it felt bad to lower it again, but I also had something to say.
Flora glanced around the room and looked flustered when she couldn’t find a place to sit. Then she listened to me when I told her to sit on the bed and sat down obediently.
I figured it would be a waste of time to ask Flora why she had come, so I decided to get straight to the point.
“Did you come here because Arina took away my authority to participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Conference?”
“Huh? Y, y, yes… I, I came to talk about that.”
Flora swallowed hard and spoke for the first time.
“Is it true that you won’t participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Conference, like my sister said… or not?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
The child suddenly shouted in anger.
“If you’re not doing it because I woke you up, I can tell my sister!”
Flora got off the bed and spoke again.
“If I waited there and this happened… I can tell my sister! I haven’t told Mom yet, but if I tell her…!”
I will probably be able to get back my authority to participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Conference. That’s what she wants to say.
She’s very persistent.
This little rascal is just like my third sister.
I cut her off firmly.
“Just don’t do it? You’re only a hindrance.”
“What…?”
“You said the same thing before. That I was only a hindrance. Don’t you remember?”
I was about to tell her myself if she didn’t remember.
Flora recalled the incident at the courtroom reflexively and flared up again.
“I know! Because of Emma and Theo… I, I’m not pretty enough. But this time, I won’t lie or blame you. This time… this time for real…”
From Noble mtl dot com
She clutched the hem of her skirt with both hands.
She insists that this time is different.
So I had no choice but to be even more blunt.
“I don’t need it.”
“…”
Flora, who had been holding her breath after hearing those words, suddenly lowered her head and asked in a tearful voice.
“Sob, then what are you going to do! Are you just going to stay in the dukedom like this, sob, not participating in the aristocratic assembly?!”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t participate.”
“What?”
The silver dewdrop that had been growling and glaring fell to the floor with a thud.
“I’ll tell you again. I have no intention of getting my participation rights back by receiving your help every step of the way. That’s something I have to do on my own.”
“But…! If I help you, it’ll be easier to go!”
As if she had found hope in the fact that I wasn’t going to skip the assembly, Flora retorted that she would be able to help again.
“Well. When I think about it, that would actually be the harder path.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“You know it too. Wouldn’t Arina ask me? If I had instigated Flora.”
“…!”
“If that happens, I’ll be criticized again. As a piece of trash who used my younger sister to get my participation rights.”
An easy path was often a poison.
The moment I borrow my family’s power to regain the authority that Arina had taken away from me, a death flag will rise in my choices.
Rather than that, I might as well choose the long way around.
“…”
A fierce wave was rising in Flora’s blue eyes.
I don’t know what’s going through her little head.
But I don’t intend to waste any more time on Flora.
“Camilla.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Escort Flora back to the mansion.”
As Camilla accepted the order, Flora bit her lip and sobbed.
“You’re participating in the assembly… right?”
“Camilla.”
“My lady. Please stop now.”
“Just answer me this one thing for sure. Then… I’ll go back quietly.”
With tears welling up in her eyes, she asked as if she had to hear this one thing.
Well. I guess I can tell you this much.
“I will participate.”
“…I understand.”
Flora turns around, looking timid. Camilla bows her head slightly and follows her out of the room to see her off.
The door closes.
There were no more sounds of sobbing.
***
A little while later, Camilla came to me after seeing Flora off.
“Did you see Flora off alright?”
“Yes. My Lord. The Lady went back without saying anything. And she had a message for you, My Lord. Would it be alright if I delivered it?”
“What is it?”
“She said not to say anything and to just make sure to attend the meeting. She made me promise that one more time.”
“She asks about the most useless things.”
If I don’t participate, it’s a bad ending, so do you think I’d be crazy enough to back out?
Well, at least it seems like there won’t be any problems because of Flora.
She said she’d keep her mouth shut, so there’s no need to try to talk her out of it. It’s a good thing for me.
So then, what’s next?
▶Episode I. The Isolation of Rusmeyer is underway!◀
▶Influence the Rusmeyer territory in any way possible!◀
It was time to solve this episode.
“Here you go, My Lord.”
Camilla handed me a report.
It was a report summarizing the movements of the residents of Shatran territory that had been investigated over the past few days, but unfortunately, Harni was faster on the uptake, so I stopped the investigation halfway through and gave the next order.
That was the Rusmeyer territory report.
‘But why is there so much of it…’
It’s quite thick.
Did they find more than when they investigated the Shatran territory in that short amount of time?
It was noticeably more, even considering the fact that they had made a quick turnaround.
I haven’t read all of the contents, but it seems to be quite thorough.
“I didn’t want you to misunderstand, so I should say that this wasn’t a rough investigation. There were just some things that I already knew.”
“What do you mean?”
Camilla replied with a faint smile.
“I believe I am rather familiar with the Rusmeyer territory.”
“Familiar?”
“That isolated territory is one that none of the surrounding families want to take responsibility for. And yet they try to collect tolls, and this time they even carried out an act of terrorism? Led by that guy named Kiyan.”
I was surprised.
It was as if she had been at that party.
Camilla was accurately describing that scene that I had witnessed.
Something like this… you can only know if you meet the person concerned and talk to them directly.
“Wait, if it’s Rusmeier… Camilla. Don’t tell me…!”
“Of course. My Lord is quick to notice.”
Camilla smiled in affirmation, as if to say that my guess was correct.
“Since Rusmeier was a place that the Deols used to manage, I knew a lot about it.”
Goodness.
This really is the easy way out.