Morning Meal, Once Again (1)

A day had passed.

My body still felt heavy and sluggish. If my recovery speed were any faster than that, it would be strange — but how should I put it? Right now, "restless" might actually be the more accurate word to describe how my body felt.

In exchange, I'd spent most of my time cooped up in my room digging around, and I'd managed to learn quite a lot.

First, I found out exactly how far the episodes had progressed.

Once CHAPTER 1 ends, the family's affinity levels rise, and everyone connected to Emma or Theo gets hammered with retribution.

As a reward for eliminating the enemies within the duchy, all the threatening figures are cleared out.

In other words, CHAPTER 1 is, in a single phrase, the story inside the ducal house.

You could say the main progression involves clearing Karsein's name of the false accusations that arose within the ducal house and solidifying his standing there among the family.

After sharing a light meal and a conversation with Harnie, no further signs of episode branching had appeared, so I didn't feel the need to rush.

So I took my time working through it, and was able to confirm that the current situation was exactly one episode ahead of schedule.

"Hup, hup...!"

Second, the restrictions on stat growth had been loosened.

Although the gains weren't as high as actually running laps at the training grounds, simply doing light push-ups here in my room was enough to raise my stats.

Which meant that even without the training grounds, I could now build my stats through light exercise.

That said, with this restriction lifted, something a little strange had emerged.

At a glance, it seemed the only change was that the stats I'd built up at the training grounds had risen, so up to that point there appeared to be no problem whatsoever.

But when I looked a little more closely, I noticed something subtly off.

The window right beside my level — the one that displayed my available SP — had vanished.

In this game, leveling up grants SP. It's not particularly efficient, but you're given 0.05 SP, which you can spend to raise whichever stat you want. And crucially, according to the player's own will.

But I cannot use my available SP.

Not just now — never, for as long ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as this lasts. Permanently.

And that's precisely because of this window.

If you look at the bottom, the mysterious ??? stat — the one I'd once tapped without thinking, assuming it might have some kind of effect — had climbed all the way to 0.50.

It had been raised entirely on its own, without me lifting a finger, so the right conclusion was that some kind of effect had been applied to it permanently.

But the thing is, even I have no idea what that effect actually does.

'I never saw it in the game, after all.'

Anyway.

Clearing this chapter had touched off some kind of trigger, and because of that trigger — unlike the game — my stat-management restrictions were loosened. In exchange, the trade-off was that I could no longer raise stats with SP.

That about sums up the second change.

'Heading into Chapter 2 in this state, then.'

It was odd, but neither of the two changes could really be called a loss.

It wasn't as if they came with any particular benefits either, so there was no great need to revise my existing plans.

"Young Master. The Madam has requested that the family take breakfast together."

Breakfast, hm.

The words "mealtime" at this hour used to conjure up some rather unpleasant memories, but for now, going seemed like the right call.

"Tell her I'll wash up quickly and join everyone in the dining hall."

Once I finished dressing and stepped out, a woman who seemed intent on following me bowed at the waist.

Then she flashed me a warm smile and greeted me.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Young Master Karsein. I am Tasha Deol, newly arrived in service of the ducal house."

I'd naturally assumed Camilla would be waiting for me, but Tasha Deol — if that's who this was...

'The new head maid, then.'

Come to think of it, this was about the time a new head maid had arrived, wasn't it.

With Emma, the former head maid, ousted as a consequence of Chapter 1, the ducal house must have been full of vacant positions.

And the woman invited in alongside the new maids to serve as the new head maid was none other than this Tasha Deol.

Her most notable trait was that barely into Chapter 2, she would come to stand on Karsein's side...

'Wait. Why does that feel like it isn't the whole story?'

Strange as it was, I had the nagging sense I was missing something.

"Have we perhaps met somewhere before?"

"Pardon?"

"Before the ducal house, I mean. Seeing as I was a child picked up off the slums, it's possible we crossed paths at some point."

"I humbly beg your forgiveness, but this is my first time laying eyes on you, Young Master."

"Is that so?"

Hm... So she wasn't someone Karsein already knew, after all.

It was probably just me overthinking things and grasping at straws. I tried to brush it off with that thought.

"However, you have granted me a great debt of gratitude, Young Master."

Tasha answered thus, wearing a gentle, kindly smile.

"A great debt?"

"Heheh. Indeed."

Was it just my imagination?

I couldn't quite tell whether it was simply because Emma had held me in such open contempt, but Tasha's words didn't sound like a lie.

The problem was that I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

"For now, please make your way over together with Lady Harnie, your betrothed, Young Master."

"Ah — er. Right."

If only I'd seized on the fact that she knew who my fiancée was, this mystery might have been solved on the spot.

A short while later, Harnie emerged from the guest room mid-yawn.

The moment she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠realized I'd witnessed her yawning, she hastily covered her mouth, cleared her throat with a fake cough, and did her best to hide the evidence.

"G-good morning, Karsein."

"Did you not sleep well?"

"A little. It seems I had some work that needed doing."

Coming all this way and still claiming she had work to do — this woman really was relentless, I thought. It meant that even now, she'd been conducting business while dodging the Marquisate's watchful eyes.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes."

I decided, just to be safe, to remain careful not to have our engagement called into question.

I kept Tasha and the other maids trailing behind her at a suitable distance.

Whereupon Harnie asked me, her voice tinged with worry.

"Is it really all right for me to intrude on the ducal house's breakfast?"

"It's just a meal. What's the harm? Guest receptions may be rare at the Bagrand estate these days, but they did exist."

More precisely, the correct phrasing was "probably existed."

Since I don't actually know.

"Karsein, listen. You need to understand that this isn't a simple guest reception. Don't tell me you don't realize what this means?"

"...Is there some problem?"

"I thought this might happen..."

Harnie pressed a hand to her forehead, looking faintly dizzy.

"Listen carefully, Karsein. Housing your fiancée within your own ducal house is, for all intents and purposes, a declaration that you intend to visit your fiancée's family. It's a formal introduction of the two houses to one another."

Son of a—?

It meant that?

"And here I thought you'd handle everything for me..."

"No, how was I supposed to know that? I barely know noble etiquette at all."

"If you didn't know, you should have said you didn't know! Ugh, honestly!"

So that's what it meant to put up one's fiancée and send her home.

It was an awkward situation, to say the least.

Harnie and I were bound by a promised engagement, but a year from now, we wouldn't be.

Making a formal introduction between our families now, as things stood, signified an intent to carry this courtship through to its end... so I could roughly guess why she was burying her face in both hands.

"The Marquisate is already fiercely opposed to your marriage with me as it is. They're holding their tongues only because House Bagrand outclasses them — but if we were to split after this, you'd be the one in danger, you know that?"

"I'm sorry?"

Harnie cast a quick glance around, then covered the corner of her mouth with one hand and asked in a whisper pitched for my ears alone.

"You said you were going to escape the ducal house, didn't you? Once the engagement is broken and you're gone, it won't be long before I leave the Marquisate too. Because I'll have lost you. Which means it's only obvious I could be at the receiving end of the Marquis's wrath."

That was true enough.

But the reason for her distress being that...

"Harnie. Does this put you at any disadvantage?"

"Of course not. Why would I be at a disadvantage?"

Harnie tilted her head, utterly baffled.

'...Good grief. I truly don't understand this woman.'

And here I'd thought Harnie was about to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suffer some terrible loss for her troubles.

But it turned out she was making all this fuss purely out of concern for me.

Honestly, this sort of thing would never stop feeling foreign to me.

"There's no problem at all, so just go in, eat, and come back out."

"Have you made some arrangement for this?"

"Yes."

It was, in fact, quite the opposite.

What could the Theresia Marquisate possibly do to me after the engagement is broken?

Even the Bagrand ducal house won't spare me a thought by then.

If anything, those people would be too busy scheming night and day to whittle away at House Bagrand's authority.

Being the ambitious creatures they are, losing their point of contact with Harnie might enrage them enough to spark something — but from my side, they truly hold no interest whatsoever.

"More importantly, I hear you have a favor to ask of me."

"Ah — th-that? Yes! Right! There is something I'd like your help with, separately."

"...Is that so."

So she wanted help with something.

...But with what, exactly, that she's stammering like this?

I told her to speak freely.

"It's just... you're never visible in high society, you see, and now there are whispers that I've been lying about you..."

"Didn't I settle that conclusively for you at the Snowflower Festival?"

"...Do you have any idea how many days it's been since you last saw me?"

Hm. Good question. How long has it been?

Roughly six days from running Episode V at the training grounds.

Add the time spent on Episode VI — the trial, Theo Ramstair's prison break, Flora's abduction, and the resolution of the whole affair — plus the time until I woke up...

"It's been well over ten days. Leaving your fiancée alone like this — how could I not be suspected?"

"Is that so?"

"No, it's not a matter of 'is that so'... Hah. Honestly. This is the sort of thing no one can teach you."

I decided to accept it as given.

I don't really know how strict betrothal customs are in this world, but I've never once dated anyone in my life.

Maybe that's why I have no idea what an appropriate length of separation from one's lover is supposed to be, either.

'But as Harnie pointed out, leaving behind anything that invites suspicion is obviously bad for the future.'

It seemed best to quiet the murmurs from society for now.

"Even I have limits when it comes to holding down those voices alone. So at the moment, I'm in a somewhat difficult position."

"What would you have me do?"

"Would you... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be able to set aside some time today? From after the meal until evening."

"Hm. I believe that's possible. Though, that sounds suspiciously like an outing."

Whereupon Harnie heaved a deep sigh.

"I drew too much suspicion, so to avoid it, I made something of a reckless move. Which means you simply must attend a party."

"A party..."

A party meant an open, unabashed gathering of nobles.

With the scions of renowned houses all assembled, it was a venue one would normally shy away from.

'But now that Chapter 1 is cleared, paying it a visit once wouldn't be a bad idea at all.'

I could gauge how Karsein's reputation had shifted in the wake of the trial that ended in my victory within the ducal house.

I might even get an early look at the nobles I'd be facing at the Eastern Noble Conference — and if things went well, I could clear a side episode while I was at it.

Besides, it would let me move about outside the ducal house entirely legitimately.

Either way, it was an opportunity.

"Understood. Let's head to breakfast first, then."

"..."

"Harnie?"

"Y-you'd better not complain about this later! You accepted, after all."

"I'm sorry?"

"No takebacks! Hurry up, I'm starving!"

The moment I raised the question, Harnie swiftly seized my hand and began dragging me toward the dining hall.

...She'd been stammering and avoiding my gaze ever since we left the room, though.

Something isn't about to blow up, is it?

"Welcome, my dears."

"Our apologies for being late, Duchess."

"Not at all. We've only just arrived ourselves. Come, sit."

The moment we entered the dining hall, Isabella greeted us with a radiant smile.

Harnie bowed with unshakable poise, and Isabella, apparently pleased by the sight, gestured for us to take our seats.

Arina, Claire, and Flora were seated in order along the right side, which left the left side for Harnie and me.

Except—

-Pitter-patter. Floomp.-

"I'm sitting here today."

The instant she'd glanced back and forth between Harnie and me, she popped up from her seat, scampered over, and claimed my seat before I could take it.

...What on earth is going on here?