87. Shatran’s Humiliation (1)
“Sob, sob…”
Flora, who had been escorted to the Duchy by Camilla, had arrived.
As she walked to the Duchy, it was possible that a few tears had fallen from her eyes.
However, her blue eyes were still filled with tears.
Just like that time.
This time too.
She couldn’t do anything.
She was kicked out before she could even speak.
That fact was too painful.
“Flora? Where did you go? Why are you only coming back now?”
“Big Sister…”
“Did you cry? Why are your eyes…?”
As soon as she heard the words “you cried,” Flora gasped without realizing it.
‘N, no, I can’t cry. If I cry again…!’
Karsein might misunderstand.
With that thought, Flora quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve.
“What happened? Tell me, Sister.”
“Huh? Ah, no! Nothing─”
In an instant, the corner of Flora’s heart, which had been about to say that nothing had happened, sank.
If I just say that nothing happened.
Wouldn’t it be the same as that time?
“Flora? Flora!”
“…”
How is that any different from deceiving Karsein and hiding it from him?
It’s the same.
Just because she said nothing happened doesn’t mean it would make the fact disappear.
She had always hidden it. Concealed it. Deceived him.
She couldn’t just let it slide by again like this.
Yes. She had to tell him.
She had to tell him directly, even if it meant getting scolded.
“Flora? Why are you acting like this!”
Fortunately, the person in front of her now was not Sister Arina.
‘Big Sister scolded Karsein for being wrong that time, but…’
If it were my little sister, wouldn’t it be different?
Flora swallowed hard.
She didn’t want to get scolded. However, she had to be scolded.
Because she did something bad.
Because she did something she shouldn’t have done.
Because she even lied.
She couldn’t hide it anymore.
“…Sister Claire. I have something to say.”
“Yes. Tell me everything, my little sister. I’ll listen to everything.”
Sniff.
“I… I’ve been doing bad things to Carsein.”
“What?”
“In the past… I added salt to his food. I intentionally stabbed his clothes with needles and put sand in his water pitcher.”
“…!”
“I even told Emma to have the maids do it… I even lied and blamed Carsein…”
Flora sobbed and confessed all her wrongdoings on the spot.
She confessed everything without missing a single thing.
Everything that she had done to Carsein until now.
“…”
Claire couldn’t hide her shock and opened her mouth slightly.
She knew that Carsein had been unfairly harassed in the ducal family, but she couldn’t catch the culprit.
She vaguely thought that it was the work of Theo Ramshire and Emma Urnen, and she thought it was right to punish them severely and vent her anger.
But it was like the saying, ‘the darkest place is under the lamp.’
If this series of events, which were as intertwined as thread, had passed through the medium called Flora, it was possible for things to happen in such a way.
Claire’s chest felt heavy because she had never imagined that the culprit would be her own sister.
“Sigh, Sister. I was wrong. It was all my fault.”
She didn’t need to ask if it was really her.
Because her youngest sister, who seemed like she would never do such a thing, was admitting her fault herself.
“Follow me. Flora.”
Claire had to lower her voice and get angry, just for now.
At her youngest sister who was sobbing. At her youngest sister whom she had never laid a hand on.
It was right to give her a painful rebuke, even if it made her heart ache.
Claire took Flora to her room and ordered Heron to prepare something.
Soon, the old butler brought a whip as Claire had ordered.
“Hold out your hand. Flora.”
“Sigh, sigh…”
Even though she knew that it would hurt, Flora obediently held out her hand.
-Swish! Crack!
As one could guess from the sound, there was no mercy in the whip Claire swung.
Flora’s palm also turned red.
The sound of crying echoes again.
“…Sniff. Hmph.”
But she doesn’t pull away.
Even though the whip had already left several red marks on the young, frail palm, Flora never uttered a word of pain.
Because the one who was truly hurting was someone else.
The whip struck several more times.
Surprisingly, her sister said nothing.
When the whip marks were finally engraved on Flora’s palm,
Heiron came in and spoke softly.
“Lady Claire, I think it would be best to stop now.”
The whip that had been lashing down from mid-air stopped.
“…”
Only then did Claire realize that Flora’s palm was on the verge of turning purple.
“Sister…”
“…Speak.”
“What should I do…? Carsein keeps chasing me away. Sniff…! What should I say…?”
Even Claire couldn’t bring herself to answer that question.
After all, she was the one who had wounded Carsein.
***
Chapter 2’s first main episode begins with a sub-episode.
Since Carsein needs to obtain the authority to participate in the Eastern Nobles’ Assembly, the achievement of this sub-episode will greatly affect the branching paths.
I chose the Rusmeyer territory for several reasons, and now I had to meticulously investigate it in order to clear this episode.
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However…
Even just looking at the information Camilla had investigated was extraordinary.
The answers to the choices I had seen while playing the game were all written here. I could see without fail what the death flags were and what choices would lead to the best outcome.
“…That leaves only one thing.”
I turned my head slightly and saw the stats that I hadn’t been able to raise due to lack of time.
“I guess I’ll have to train hard starting tomorrow.”
That’s right. In order to clear the Rusmeyer episode, what I needed most right now was training.
I was about to go to bed, but…
“…I’m still up and haven’t even washed yet?”
I realized that it was already late at night.
It was also time for me to go to bed.
I had been studying while cutting down on sleep, so I guess I didn’t realize how time was passing with this body.
▶Abnormal Status: Fatigue, Sleep Deprivation◀
Even the status window is telling me,
You’re tired. Go to bed and sleep right now.
If you don’t, there will be a penalty.
“I didn’t care about it in reality, but… I guess I need to be a little more careful here.”
If I were to collapse at an important moment due to a penalty, it would be a disaster.
***
“Her Imperial Highness, Princess Archien, enters!”
All the nobles who were seated rose in unison to pay their respects.
The princess, her silver hair flowing behind her, carried herself with an air of dignified elegance as she took her seat, looking somewhat weary.
“Your complexion seems rather pale today, Your Highness.”
“If you are in need of any healing elixirs, our family─”
“The medicinal herbs we recently harvested from our territory are of the finest quality. We could prepare a decoction─”
That was the reason for her weary expression.
As if she were tired of hearing such flattery, Archien banged her gavel.
“Has everyone gathered?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness, Princess Archien.”
Archien glanced around, checking the seats, and one of the ministers replied affirmatively.
As the minister had said, there were no empty seats.
And so, her weary expression deepened.
“Then I shall begin the additional proposals for the Eastern Nobles’ Conference.”
This was the place where the adjustment proposals for the Eastern Nobles’ Conference would be announced.
The Eastern Nobles’ Conference.
For the nobles, it was a testing ground set by the Imperial Family, but if you looked at it from a different perspective, it was no different from receiving proof of having passed the Imperial Family’s test if you managed to overcome the challenges.
“Your Highness, first of all, may I ask why you have prohibited the participation of the heads of each family?”
“Hmm. I felt that it would harm the essence of this Nobles’ Conference.”
“What do you mean by essence?”
“Think about it carefully. At the Eastern Nobles’ Conference held every year, there were those who participated from each family and showed good results. However, most of them were the heads of each family. Isn’t that right?”
“Hmm…”
“Come to think of it…”
“Of course, there were families that were not like that. Like the two sisters from the Vagrant Duke’s family who participated directly. But if this continues every year, we will end up seeing only the capabilities of the heads of each family. Do you really think that will change over time?”
Archien was certain that it would never change. That no change would come to the empire.
“That’s why I am ordering you to have your children prove their capabilities. There must be some who are just living comfortably under the protection of their parents.”
“But, Your Highness. Asking such young ladies and young masters to─”
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of withdrawing this. They are the ones who will one day take the place of the head of the family and the place of the mistress of the house. As nobles who will become the pillars of the empire in the future, it is only right that they be tested.”
The nobles closed their mouths at Archien’s firmness.
“Of course, you don’t have to worry. The evaluation method will remain the same. It will be more fair, more equal, and more rigorous.”
Archien had advised them that since the main purpose of this Eastern Nobles’ Conference was to evaluate those who would lead the future of the empire, the contents of this conference would not be leaked outside.
Because the same old power struggles and battles for rank were meaningless.
There were a few more discussions about whether any other adjustments were needed.
The general framework of the Eastern Nobles’ Conference had been established here.
At that moment.
A man raised his hand.
“But Your Highness Archien, isn’t there one problem?”
“What is it, Count Letelvic?”
“I believe that those who do not even qualify as nobles should not be allowed to participate.”
Arcien’s eyes twitched.
An unqualified person. It was clear who this was referring to.
“Is it really necessary to allow someone who once caused a disturbance and led to the worst possible outcome to participate?”
“Count, choose your words carefully.”
“Is it because the Duchess is listening? Then I must make it even clearer. What guarantee is there that the same thing won’t happen again?”
The other nobles nodded in agreement with Count Letelwick’s words.
It wasn’t just those who were determined to prevent Vagrant’s tyranny; even the neutral nobles and the Imperial Ministers agreed on this point. Even Vagrant’s vassals had no response to the Count’s criticism.
The incident in Shatran territory, where the production of key local products plummeted, causing the territory’s people to become enraged and revolt, was still a major blot on Vagrant’s reputation, and by extension, a disgrace to the nobility.
“The fall of Shatran territory, which even Lady Arina and Lady Claire were unable to prevent, is a great shame to us as nobles. Such a thing must never happen again.”
Isabella could no longer hold back and interjected.
“So what you’re saying is that you want my son, Carsein Vagrant, to be stripped of his authority?”
“I believe that is the natural course of action, Duchess.”
“Count!”
Isabella shouted, her brow furrowed for a moment.
She looked as if she had been insulted, her lips trembling.
“My, Duchess Isabella, you seem to be losing your composure. No matter how much he is your child, this concerns the Empire. You are being overly protective.”
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t that a valid argument?”
“Carsein Vagrant is not fit to participate in the meeting.”
The other nobles began to agree.
At this rate, Carsein’s authority might be taken away without question.
Just then.
“Well, I, for one, believe that Carsein Vagrant should be included.”
None other than Arcien had come to Carsein’s defense.
“Your Majesty?”
“What do you mean?”
“Carsein Vagrant may be hasty and lacking in knowledge.”
“What good can come from him, who has never received the education of a noble since childhood?”
“To be honest, I haven’t seen any potential in him. I believe you all agree.”
Despite the nobles’ statements, which were close to protests, Arcien did not waver in his claim.
“Hasty. Lacking in knowledge. Never received the education of a noble. You may say such things, but the one who has truly shown the greatest change is none other than Carsein Vagrant.”
“Shown the greatest change, you say?”
“Have you forgotten the trial held at the Duke’s residence?”
At that moment, the nobles attending the court meeting recalled not the foolish Carsein, but Carsein in the courtroom.
“Surely, Carsein Vagrant had no chance of winning that trial. Not only his recent conduct but also past incidents were brought up, making his defeat seem inevitable. But what was the outcome?”
“…”
The ministers all fell silent.
The outcome of that trial was a resounding victory for Carsein, who had completely cleared his name of the false accusations against him with his excellent arguments and sound evidence.
“Not only that, but his judgment in apprehending the culprit without provoking them and rescuing the captured hostage was arguably the most correct. Considering that Theo Ramsdale, who held his sister hostage, was a squire, he must also possess force. It is clear that he has already changed significantly from his past self. Rather, I would say that he has become someone worthy of attention.”
Could such a person really be said to have no potential at all?
With that incident, Munmu Karsein has proven himself to be a double-edged sword.
“That is how the adjustment ends. Let us all put away our biased views.”
Archian said so, ending the adjustment meeting.
The family heads and ministers left one by one.
As they left, Isabella expressed her gratitude to Archian right away.
“No. We shouldn’t waste the opportunity of someone who might become a great talent of this country.”
“… A great talent?”
“Yes. I definitely saw potential in Lord Karsein. Not only in that trial, but I have seen it before.”
The Snow Blossom Festival. Archian recalled that day when Isabella hadn’t been able to see it during the Imperial Audience, and smiled faintly.
However, that smile didn’t last long.
‘It has been dealt with, but I don’t know how Count Letelvik will react. My Lord. You must be thoroughly prepared.’
This Eastern nobles’ meeting had an eerie atmosphere.