Chapter 193
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Isn't It 'Common Sense' for Family to Come to the Invitation Event? (2)
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"Haa... haa... Damn you, Carnea."
This place was way too damn big.
I wiped the sweat dripping down my forehead with my shirt.
Even running full tilt from one end of the academy to the other had left me breathless, and I'd barely made it near the main gate.
"...It's not bullshit after all."
Just as the students had been chattering about, there was a massive black carriage parked at the gate—nearly twice the size of the others.
I'd wondered if it might belong to some other family, but the Calliope banner fluttered proudly atop the roof.
With Father and Big Brother not attending an event like the invitation ceremony, it had to be Garcia or Raykal riding in it.
'No, probably both...'
A headache throbbed deep in my skull.
Much as I hated to admit it, the odds of both showing up were high.
If only one came, the other would pull out all the stops to sabotage it.
I let out a sigh and squeezed through the crowd of onlookers to inspect the carriage.
'Please, let nothing have happened...'
I could forgive them sneaking into Carnea without a single letter—as long as they'd arrived without incident.
That's how desperate I was right now.
'No signs of an accident... Was I wrong?'
Fortunately, the carriage looked spotless, with no traces of any mishap.
Still, to be thorough, I circled it, checking every inch, when a gruff-voiced man stepped in front of me.
"Hey, you! Can't you see this banner? Who the hell do you think you are, pawing at the Calliope family's carriage like—huh? Y-Young Master? S-Sorry! I must've lost my mind for a second. Please, forgive my rudeness..."
The coachman, who'd started barking at me, recognized my face and bowed so low his head nearly scraped the ground.
I patted his shoulder and asked,
"It's fine. More importantly, any accidents on the way?"
"...Pardon? Accidents? I'm not sure what you mean."
"I mean, did anything happen on the road here?"
The coachman looked puzzled at my out-of-left-field question but quickly composed himself and answered.
"Hahaha, no need to worry. Nothing happened. And even if something did, the carriage itself would be fine. It's got all sorts of protective enchantments etched into it, worth every penny."
I'd only asked out of fear that a carriage crash might spark the civil war, but the coachman misinterpreted it and chuckled heartily.
"...You're not lying, are you?"
Even with a hint of intimidation in my tone, he nodded without hesitation.
"Of course not. Why would I ever lie to you, Young Master? If you don't believe me, ask the escorts outside."
Only then did I relax, exhaling a long sigh of relief.
"...Phew, good to hear. Sorry for grilling you like that."
"Not at all. It just shows how much you care about your family. Heh. If my daughter treated me half as well, I'd die happy."
"I'm sure she treasures you deep down."
"Heh, one can hope. Ah, the entry procedures are done, so we'll head inside shortly."
Tap tap—
As I listened to the coachman's idle chatter, a knock came from inside the carriage.
"Whoops, Madam's calling. Wait just a moment, Young Master. I'll be right back."
The coachman hopped down nimbly, stood before the door, and began conversing with someone inside.
"Yes, we'll be entering soon. Pardon? The Young Master? No, not at all. Understood. I'll bring him right away."
Finishing up, the coachman approached me cautiously, scratching the back of his head.
"Um... Young Master. Madam wants you to come inside the carriage for a bit..."
"This is too much! He didn't come back in the end!"
"Bianca."
In Lucia's room, Bianca thrashed under the covers, kicking the bed.
"Yeah! I kinda expected it! Whenever things get good with that jerk, something always interferes! But I thought today would be different!"
"Bianca."
"What! Why is it always me!! Can't I get some lovey-dovey time too!!"
"Bianca!"
"You think it's too much too, right?!!"
No matter how many times Lucia called her name, Bianca ignored her.
Finally raising her voice, Lucia pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head.
"Bianca. I can't fathom why you'd come to my room to complain about this. Just tell a friend. Or do you not have any?"
"...Urk...!"
Bianca's face twisted as if struck right in the heart.
Just as Lucia said, Bianca had zero friends.
Unlike Vivian, who was bullied by others, Bianca was the type who shoved everyone else away.
"...Wh-who said that?!! I have friends too!!"
"Really? Then name three."
"...Ugh.... W-well... There's Lilith, and Vivian, and... y-you could kinda count as a fr... friend? Sorta?"
Even as she spoke, Bianca's face flushed red, her voice shrinking.
Lucia shook her head in disbelief.
"Even generously accepting Lilith and me, you're including your little sister too...? What shallow relationships, befitting your chest size."
"Damn it! I tell you and you just bitch!! You'll shut up once it happens to you tomorrow!!"
Lucia snorted derisively at Bianca's outburst.
"Hmph. If Master steps away during our date, he'll have his reasons. Or do you think he ran off because you bored him?"
"Wh-who said that! Ughhh!!! Fine! I won't talk to you anymore!!"
"How grateful I am. It'd be even better if you stopped starting now. I'm quite busy planning tomorrow's date with Master."
With that, Lucia picked up her pen to jot notes, signaling the end of the conversation.
"Lady Lucia!!!"
"...N-no... not me! I didn't call!"
"I know. Bianca. Who said otherwise?"
"B-big trouble, Lady Lucia!!"
It was Marjan who burst in, panting as if she'd sprinted here—uncharacteristic for her.
"B-big... haa... big trouble..."
"Marjan, calm down and tell me. What's the big trouble?"
"Haa... yes... whew... A-a carriage from the Calliopes has arrived!!"
At Marjan's words, Lucia narrowed her eyes and clicked her tongue.
No need to guess who was inside.
"...Tch. Garcia and Raykal must've been in quite the hurry to come all this way themselves."
"What! Eugene's mom and sister are here? Wh-what do I do? I'm not ready to face them yet..."
"No need to prepare."
Bianca scowled at Lucia's words, crossing her arms and snapping back.
"Oh, so you're not worried, huh? Must be nice being born into a good family!"
"No, that's not it. No matter what we do, they won't accept us anyway, so no point wasting time."
"What? If Ursula's next head isn't good enough, whose is?"
Despite her constant grumbling and picking fights, Bianca acknowledged Lucia's talents.
Lucia could've married into the Calliopes or made Eugene her consort, and they'd welcome her with open arms.
"No one's. They're blinded by jealousy—rational judgment's impossible."
"Jealousy...?"
Bianca looked baffled by Lucia's answer.
"Yes, jealousy. Nothing special. Even you would be jealous if you married Master and me, no?"
Bianca briefly imagined that future and pouted.
"...Probably."
"Exactly the same."
"But they're family. What kind of jealousy is that from family?"
"...If they were a normal family."
Lucia smirked slyly, and Bianca tilted her head.
"If not a normal family, then what? Don't tell me you're saying she's not her real mom? That's not exactly rare..."
Halfway through, a thought flashed through Bianca's mind.
"Hey, no way... right?"
"...Who knows."
"Say it's not! No matter how much of a playboy he is, he wouldn't touch family!"
"...Is that so? To extend 'forbidden love' even to family... I knew it, but Master's charm knows no bounds."
Marjan shuddered at "forbidden love," but no one had time to glance her way.
"He's insane!! I knew he was loose with women, but family?!"
"There are circumstances. You know, but don't go blabbing."
"I won't!! But still! This is too far!"
As Bianca stomped around, Lucia turned serious and asked,
"So what? Are you giving up on Master, Bianca? Do as you like. I won't abandon him no matter what he does."
Lucia's cold words sobered Bianca a bit, her tone calming.
"...I can't either. But we need an explanation at least."
Bianca was shocked, but her feelings for Eugene hadn't changed.
"Handle that yourself. Right now, we need to pry Master back from those two wildcats."
"...Do we have to go that far? He'll leave when the invitation ends anyway. Just endure a few days..."
"They'll stick to him the whole time. ...I won't let them ruin my final break."
Lucia closed her eyes briefly, then declared,
"So first, let's make it crystal clear who's superior as a woman."