NOVEL NEXT chapter 16
16 – 16. Claire’s Coming of Age Ceremony (6)
Following Claire, Arina and Isabella’s eyes widened.
Shayden would never take Karsein’s side in such a situation. Arina immediately asked for an explanation.
“What is this nonsense, Shayden? Foods that we shouldn’t eat?”
“Do you happen to know about Kelpie allergies?”
All three of them shook their heads. Only one person, hesitantly, shrugged their shoulders.
But Shayden didn’t notice and continued, “As expected. Kelpie fruits contain a small amount of poison. Normally, it doesn’t harm the human body… but it’s a different story for patients with allergies.”
“Allergies… you say?”
“Could it be that Karsein has an allergy to Kelpie?”
“Yes.”
When Shayden confirmed, everyone in the Duke’s mansion froze at the dining table.
Karsein, who had already left, hadn’t touched any food. Except for one thing, the roasted turkey that was in the center.
Claire, recalling the image of Karsein tearing into the meat, asked with a trembling voice, “W-what are the symptoms? Karsein already ate the meat!”
“It varies depending on the severity, but it can be as mild as a slight aversion in taste or smell from the fruit itself. However, in severe cases, the symptoms are distinguishable enough to tell whether the dish contains the fruit or not.”
Karsein intentionally didn’t eat any of the food.
I was able to distinguish between them. So much so that it was reasonable to do so.
“But that’s the severity of stages 1 to 3. If you belong to stage 4, the most vulnerable stage, like a nobleman…”
Gulp.
“Even a slight intake can have a strong toxic effect. If it’s not neutralized, you’ll be groaning in bed for days.”
“What?!”
“Well, what…?”
“Fortunately, it seems that you only applied the seasoning to the meat you ate, so it only affected the surface… But even that couldn’t avoid the aroma, so you must have felt repulsed.”
Why didn’t he eat the food?
It was because he could tell that the fruit had gotten into it due to his allergy.
Why did he tear the meat apart with his hands like a beggar?
It was because he tried to eat only the flesh of the meat, avoiding the seasoning-coated peel of the Kelbia fruit.
Why didn’t he beg for forgiveness?
Well, because he didn’t do anything wrong. There was clearly no mistake to be seen.
Poison, not food.
To Karsein, this dining table was nothing but poison.
– It’s really unfair. I just ate because they told me to eat, but why do I always get blamed like this?
– I’d rather catch a cold and groan in bed. At least I didn’t do anything wrong, and the food is properly served. Don’t you think so, Claire?
– I apologize for being vulgar and dirty. Someone like me would be better off not being seen at an adult ceremony, right?
– The ones we don’t want to see will be the first to leave. Please enjoy your meal.
Finally, Karsein’s voice, which had spread through the restaurant, floated up to the surface of his consciousness.
It’s as good as inviting someone to a meal and telling them not to eat. You have to sit there like a folding screen, watching others eat. No, if you include allergies, it might be even worse.
“I felt this way last time as well, but it seems like there is an excessive ill will towards you, my lord. I urge you once again. It might be good to investigate the servants. Then.”
As Shaden closed the door and left, a long silence fell over the dining room. Since the servants had been dismissed right after the investigation, only the four family members remained.
“How… How could this happen…”
Thunk!
Isabella slammed the table with an unusual look in her eyes.
“Who. Who on earth would have done such a despicable thing in the Bagrand Duchy!!”
Her voice, filled with anger, filled the dining room. It wasn’t that she blamed her daughters for this situation, but it was not something that could be overlooked.
“Ariana. Gather all the servants immediately! Right now!”
“Mother! Please calm down!”
“Calm down? Are you telling me to calm down after seeing such an obvious intention not to even have a meal?”
“I understand. I know, Mother, but punishing all of them severely won’t catch the culprit. It could harm innocent people.”
“Carsain. Ah, ah…!”
“Mother!”
“Mother!”
Claire and Ariana held up the collapsing Isabella and sat her down in a chair.
“Mother, it would be best if you rest. Claire and I will investigate the culprit.”
“I will catch them. I will definitely catch them, so Mother, rest. Okay?”
“How… How can someone so disgraceful and despicable do such a thing in the Duchy…”
Even so, Isabella couldn’t shake off her anger for a long time. It was only after her two daughters calmed her down and offered a suitable alternative to prevent any harm to her health that Isabella finally left the room.
However, in the chaotic restaurant.
There was only one person who couldn’t hide their anxiety.
“What, what should I do…?”
I still can’t forget the look in Karsene’s eyes, as if he knew everything. No, I even felt like he really did know.
“But it’s not me this time…!”
-Clack, snap!
The thumbnail of the girl who stepped on me broke.
***
Thump.
“Young master? You’re already here… Oh my!”
Camilla, who was tidying up the bedding, turned her head in surprise.
However, the reason for her surprise was not just the loud noise.
“My, my goodness… Young master! What is this…?”
The clothes she was going to wear to the banquet were a mess. It was far from the neat appearance in the morning when she had washed herself thoroughly and finished dressing up.
Moreover, it seemed like he hadn’t had a meal at all. If I were to watch him as blood flowed from a sharp scratch on his cheek, staining the white fabric on his shoulder red, it would feel more like he had come to receive punishment.
“Camilla.”
“Oh, yes. Yes, young master…”
In response to the sudden call, Camilla replied a beat late.
“I just followed Claire’s intentions and went to have a meal at my mother’s request. I even prepared the clothes you saw when you came back. What could possibly be the problem here?”
“Oh, no…”
“Then, my situation at the funeral was purely the result of what happened at the dining table. Isn’t that right?”
Camilla nodded silently.
Upon seeing this, Carsein began to bring up what happened at the dining table.
“When I responded to Mother’s call, I saw something interesting at the restaurant. Oh boy, how is it that only the foods I can’t eat end up on my plate?”
“What are you talking about…”
“Allergies to kelbia. Because of that, I couldn’t even have a proper meal. That’s why I ended up like this.”
“…!”
Camilla’s heart shrank at those two words.
As someone who had been tormented by the mistress’s requests, she was well aware.
Kelbia fruit. For Carsein, it was known as the fruit of the devil.
“They tell you to eat the food you can’t even touch. No wonder I’m getting angry, or maybe I’m not?”
Camilla couldn’t bring herself to speak.
She had also experienced a similar situation when she was once a noble.
Inviting someone to a meal and creating a situation where they couldn’t eat was a blatant act of malice.
In other words, that time was only for the four people excluding Carsein.
“I see. Not only the lady, but any ladies at the table… they didn’t notice…”
Carsein’s gesture subtly made a claim, causing Camilla to bow her head.
“I was angry, so I did it. I somehow managed to avoid eating the kelbia fruit by tearing the meat apart and only eating the flesh inside. And then Claire slapped my cheek. See this?”
Carsein pointed to his cheek, where blood was trickling down. Camilla’s vision blurred, and she immediately brought a cloth to wipe the blood.
Upon seeing this, he let out a bitter laugh, his appearance completely disheveled.
“Now do you understand reality, Camilla? Filthy, uncultured, and base. That’s exactly where I belong.”
A blunt and straightforward expression. Anyone who hears it would be able to interpret its meaning.
Thanks to your unnecessary intervention, I’ve ended up in this state. So from now on, don’t act on your own accord like this.
That was the meaning behind the warning.
Furthermore, along with the reminder to understand reality, it implies that I will not be recognized as a noble.
In other words, Carsein was subtly hinting that he is not someone worthy of participating in the coming-of-age ceremony.
There was nothing to say, even if I had a hundred mouths. As a personal maid, it was as if I had been led to this state on purpose.
There was a desire to tend to the wounds on his face, but even that seemed to be disallowed. The only thing I could do was to limit myself to discussions about the coming-of-age ceremony.
With a bitter expression, Camilla tried to leave Carsein’s room.
But.
“Oh, Camilla, I have a question before you go.”
The question he asked before she turned around.
“If we were to convert the Duke’s morning banquet into money, how much would it be?”
It was a very strange question.
***
After Camilla left the room, I naturally discarded the clothes I had just taken off and headed to the bathroom.
As I wiped away the still-warm blood using the water from the bathtub, a sharp pain came over me.
Well, it wasn’t a loss. If getting slapped once meant the possibility of not participating in the coming-of-age ceremony, then it wasn’t a bad deal.
Once I brush off the hit, that’ll be the end of it.
“It’s strange how things turned out with that woman… really.”
It felt strangely familiar. It seemed like I had already experienced something similar before.
The second birthday, or in Korean terms, the day after midnight when you turn twenty. I had also been slapped by Carcerin on that day.
“Of all days, it had to be on the second’s birthday. And to top it off…”
The number next to the status window name had changed by one.
“Looking at it this way, there’s hardly any difference.”
It must be the same for this family, they don’t know at all.
I checked myself in the mirror to make sure I looked pale enough, then quickly left the bathroom and changed my clothes. Then, I sat down at the table for a moment and recalled what had happened in the dining room.
“Well, I did manage to seize the opportunity. I wonder how it will turn out.”
That action could be seen as aiming for three things at once.
There was pressure towards the person who had been solely focused on tormenting Carcerin.
There was also some restriction on the movements of the servants, including Hanyang.
And finally, there was a trick to ruin my clothes in order to avoid participating in Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony.
In truth, I don’t know if either of these actions will have any effect. It was even more uncertain because this scene didn’t exist in the game.
However, it’s safe to expect that for a while, they won’t dare to treat me recklessly.
One person will realize that their plan has completely failed and will be grinding their teeth in frustration. That should be enough.
“First and foremost, the most urgent matter is Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony… Hm.”
Carcerin always has to act according to the episodes and choose one of the options to react forcibly.
As far as I know, this episode has never disappeared. There have been many other episodes added to it, but it has never been left unplayed.
How should I handle this?
That was the biggest dilemma.
Right at that moment.
The status window lit up.
-Ding!
▶Hidden Episode Cleared!◀
▶Episode III. Discovered hidden episode in Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony!◀
“Hidden episode?”
▶An unrecognized setting by the player!◀
▶Providing appropriate explanation through analysis!◀
…
…
▶Analysis complete!◀
※Hidden Episode
[Unlike main or sub episodes, it is a hidden episode that can only be unlocked when specific situations and conditions are met!]
[It mainly includes behind stories, after-stories, backgrounds, etc., and supports the coherence of the main episodes!]
If that’s the case, then the memorial should have the same function, but looking at the explanations coming down, it seems not.
“The memorial is not considered an episode. It is merely a collection of information to break through the episodes.”
I can’t intervene in past events that have already happened. That’s the limit of the memorial. But it is mentioned that this is treated as an episode. It was something to be cautious about.
So why did this appear?
The question contained here seemed to be answered by the knocking sound coming from outside.
-Knock.
“Who is it?”
There was no response to the question of who it was. The knocking continued, but even that became weaker as the force behind it diminished.
“No way, is this a sudden dead flag popping up here?!”
Yeah. I can just ignore it.
If I don’t open the door, they’ll just go back…
▶A forced event is about to occur.◀
▶Open the door and talk to the character who appears!◀
Damn it.
Now even a status window pops up here?
Even if I try to ignore and pass it, I can’t avoid the forced event. Opening the door is the only option left for me.
Reluctantly, I opened the door.
The guest who came to my room was quite short.
I had to tilt my head down to look at them.
“Why did you come here?”
“Well, I have something to say.”
The one who came to find me was none other than Flora.