Chapter 54: You are not allowed to object
"So that's how it is... I never imagined the Fisalia family carried such a burden... I admit, I previously held some... rather inappropriate prejudices against you."
"No need for concern, Second Daughter of Montelli. What's done cannot be changed. Only Fisalia themselves can ultimately rectify these matters. You needn't trouble yourself over such things."
In the hall of Porto-Veno Castle, Carlotta and Cantarella—representatives of Ragunna's two great families—sat facing each other in a less-than-equal posture, organizing and discussing the intelligence each possessed.
Only after Aeron had absorbed all of Threnodian's influence could Cantarella finally disclose the mission and truth that Fisalia bore to an outsider.
Carlotta took a sip of the tea before her. Truly worthy of Fisalia's craftsmanship—not only did it help organize one's thoughts, but it also alleviated much of the exhaustion Carlotta had accumulated from being tormented by Carnevale documents these past few days.
It seemed taking special time away from those affairs to come here wasn't a loss after all.
"Anyway... thanks to someone, Montelli can finally establish connections with Fisalia. We'll have to properly 'thank' him later."
"Indeed, and there are some other matters too... that require 'rewarding'~"
Then, both women simultaneously fell into silence.
The one who broke the silence first was Carlotta, whose composure lasted barely a second.
"Topaz, bring that guy up here!"
"Alright~"
At Carlotta's command, Ciaccona stood up and opened the door, where Zani appeared pushing a tightly bound Aeron before everyone.
"Let me go! I've bled for Fisalia! I've rendered service to Montelli! You can't treat me like this!"
"Please quiet down a bit... he's here, Second Daughter."
Zani reported to Carlotta in her usual work tone, then turned to stand with the other three women facing Aeron.
As for this situation, Aeron was completely bewildered.
What was this? Didn't Zani say she was going to eat with him? How did he end up packaged and delivered here right after sitting down???
Aeron turned to glare angrily at Zani, to which she responded with her eyes:
"This is also part of the job. I'll make it up to you afterward."
"That's not the point!"
Aeron looked at the three impressive figures and one white ahoge before him. At this moment, these women seemed more terrifying and dreadful to him than ten Leviathans!
Each of them had exceptional qualities, each possessed unique skills, their fighting spirit and techniques could astonish everyone, and their secret weapons could give you unexpected surprises!
Aeron looked at the people before him—Carlotta who was smiling but with visible frustration lines; Cantarella still sitting elegantly, amusement dancing in her watching eyes; Ciaccona looking delighted and grinning; Zani... just standing there, staring at Aeron with those red pupils, seemingly hiding something.
"Alright, Father, you'd better confess honestly, understood?"
"Then ask your question first!"
Aeron didn't understand—why was he suffering like this when he had clearly accomplished great deeds?
A strand of white hair swayed gently within his field of vision. As his gaze lowered, Aeron finally met Carlotta's eyes.
She stood with arms crossed, her face still wearing that impeccable smile, though it held no warmth whatsoever.
"Well then, let me ask you this, 'Brother' Aeron—"
Carlotta deliberately emphasized that now-empty title, her tone measured and unhurried.
"Leaving Ragunna without a single word, abandoning everyone connected to you—tell me, do you enjoy toying with others like this? Do you relish having them in the palm of your hand?"
Wait, no!
"That's not true! I didn't! Shouldn't you be directing that question to the Order?"
"Ara~ It seems you still lack some understanding of Montelli's methods, 'Brother' Aeron~"
Confidently crossing her arms, Carlotta produced a piece of paper from somewhere and unfolded it before Aeron.
"Here, why don't you read this denunciation letter addressed to yourself?"
"Hey, how did you get this?!"
"Hehe. I simply used their own tactics against them—giving them a taste of their own medicine."
Carlotta neatly folded the letter and put it away, her smile remaining proper though the warmth in her eyes diminished. "So don't try to fool me with excuses like 'the Order framed me.' I know very well you left 'voluntarily.' Now, explain."
Typical Carlotta—she'd adapted to her role as the family's representative almost immediately after assuming the position. If only she wouldn't use such skills against Aeron!
"So don't think you can brush this off with 'the Order set me up.' I know perfectly well that with your capabilities, if you truly didn't want to go, you wouldn't have obediently sent yourself away while putting on such a show in front of so many people."
Aeron was taken aback by the questioning. He had to admit he'd underestimated Carlotta in this regard.
But he still had to stand his ground, because clearly, she should be dealing with matters other than him right now.
"Because the commotion I caused earlier in Ragunna was too big! I didn't want to implicate any of you, so I—"
"So you just 'cooperated' and came here?"
Carlotta's tone softened slightly, but her expression grew more solemn.
"When faced with unexpected changes or potential danger, your first instinct wasn't to contact your nominal 'partner' but to accept this arrangement and face it alone? Aeron, do you think Montelli—or rather, do you think I, as your 'partner,' aren't worth troubling? Or that we can't help you at all?"
This was what truly angered and concerned her. When problems arose, Aeron habitually chose to bear them alone, instinctively excluding others. This feeling of being shut out discomforted her more than his unilateral actions alone.
"I..."
Now Aeron truly had no retort. He had to admit—when necessary, this second young mistress was far more troublesome than he'd anticipated.
As for the other three people present watching Carlotta's interrogation of Aeron, each naturally had their own thoughts.
"Zani, see? I told you the young mistress suits the tsundere archetype!"
"You should keep such comments to yourself..."
Zani watched Aeron being tongue-tied by Carlotta's righteous lecturing, but didn't say much. She knew Aeron wouldn't change anyway.
After finishing her scolding, Carlotta's resentment had mostly dissipated. She moved behind Aeron and proactively untied his restraints.
"Anyway, since I'm here now, I'm taking you back. There's a mess in Ragunna waiting for you to—"
Just then, a clear sound of porcelain lightly tapping against the table instantly captured everyone's attention.
"I completely understand Miss Montelli's concerns," Cantarella's voice was gentle, carrying just the right amount of apology and consideration.
"Mr. Aeron's sudden arrival indeed caused you trouble. However—"
Cantarella's tone shifted, her amethyst eyes swirling with a hint of perfectly measured distress and contemplation, "Miss Carlotta, I'm afraid Mr. Aeron cannot return to Ragunna with you just yet."
"Oh?"
Having successfully freed Aeron, Carlotta turned to look at Cantarella upon hearing her words.
"Might I ask what the Fisalia family head means...?"
"The Threnodian's influence hasn't disappeared—it's been transferred. He alone bore the Threnodian's impact on Fisalia. For his own safety, and to prevent further complications in Ragunna, I'm afraid... we still need him to stay here for a few more days."
As she spoke, Cantarella looked at Aeron with an unreadable expression.
"Furthermore... there are some matters here in Fisalia that still require his personal attention."
Listening to her words, Carlotta felt somewhat puzzled and glanced at Aeron again.
"...?"
"I don't know either."
However, Cantarella's reasoning was sound, and Carlotta couldn't find fault with it, though she couldn't explain why she felt so displeased.
Seeing that Carlotta hadn't softened her stance, Cantarella continued:
"Ragunna's long-awaited Carnevale is approaching. When facing a common enemy, it's best to exercise utmost caution in all matters."
Cantarella's explanation did help Carlotta calm down. Fisalia indeed needed more time to recover, and when dealing with the "Threnodian," no potential problem could be overlooked.
"...?"
"It shouldn't take too long—just two or three days."
"Wait, what about my opinion?"
But clearly, neither of them cared about Aeron's wishes as the person involved.
"Your opinion?"
Carlotta and Cantarella simultaneously turned their gazes toward Aeron who had interrupted.
"...I have no objections."
As Aeron's weak voice faded, the tense negotiation atmosphere in the hall seemed to be shifting toward some unspoken consensus.
Though Carlotta still felt somewhat unwilling, the two-to-three-day timeframe Cantarella proposed using "Carnevale" and "safety" as reasons was indeed difficult to refuse from a broader perspective.
"Second Young Miss."
It was then that Zani, who had been observing from the sidelines all along, spoke up.
'Well done, Zani! Come save me!'
"Before deciding where he 'must stay' and what he needs to 'handle' over the next two or three days," Zani's tone was no different from her usual work reports—steady, clear, and emotionless, "there's something I think needs to be clarified first."
She paused, her crimson eyes finally shifting to rest calmly on Aeron's face.
"You and this family head," her voice wasn't loud, yet carried clearly to everyone in the hall, "what is your relationship?"
"?"
Oh no, Zani didn't seem to be here to rescue him.
"Pfft—"
Ciaccona couldn't hold back a short gasp. Cantarella's smile deepened on the main seat, while Carlotta's expression grew subtly complex.
Carlotta looked at Aeron: Go on, I'd like to know too.
Cantarella's gaze also settled on Aeron: Speak, I'm quite eager to hear.
Excitement was written all over Ciaccona's face: Quick, tell us! I want to hear!
Zani's face remained expressionless: What, can't answer?
Aeron had never faced such a situation? His super intelligence began rapidly processing, but unfortunately couldn't find an appropriate response anywhere in his cerebral cortex.
"A-acquaintances... I guess?"
Then, he gave the worst possible answer.
The hall fell into a brief, suffocating silence.
Ciaccona was the first to break, covering her mouth as she turned away, shoulders shaking with suppressed "pfft" sounds—clearly unable to hold back.
Cantarella picked up her teacup, gently blowing on nonexistent tea foam, her amethyst eyes lowered as long lashes concealed her amusement—visibly amused by his incompetence.
Carlotta directly rolled her eyes elegantly, crossing her arms while slanting a "could you be any more pathetic?" look at Aeron.
As for Zani who asked the question, her face remained impassive, only those crimson pupils quietly watching Aeron as if saying: I'll give you a chance to rephrase that.
"No, I mean, we've been through some things together, but..." The more he explained, the worse it got, becoming utterly disastrous. Aeron felt his language centers were beginning to deteriorate.
"Mhm, acquainted, quite familiar." Zani nodded, repeating it in a flat tone. Then she turned to Carlotta, using the clear, calm tone of reporting work:
"Second Young Lady, since the situation is now basically clear—Aeron needs to temporarily remain in Fisalia to handle follow-up matters for two to three days, and he currently maintains a quite familiar relationship with the Fisalia family head."
With every word she spoke, Aeron's face darkened further. Hearing these words delivered in Zani's businesslike tone was as devastating as public execution.
"Therefore, based on the above circumstances, one solution would be—"
Before Zani could finish, Ciaccona spoke up from beside her.
"Zani and I will stay to watch him!"
Seizing the opportunity, Ciaccona fanned the flames.
"This way you don't need to worry, Miss! We'll keep a good eye on him~"
Zani didn't refute Ciaccona's addition, merely nodding calmly to Carlotta, her tone still even: "Yes. Our staying can ensure his behavioral compliance during this period and allow timely situation reports. When the time comes, we'll return to Ragunna together with him."
Carlotta's brow relaxed slightly. This was indeed a good compromise. Leaving Zani and Ciaccona behind would allow them to keep an eye on Aeron and Fisalia's side, without making it appear she completely distrusted Cantarella, while still maintaining smooth information flow.
"Lady Fisalia, would this arrangement be acceptable? Shall we let these two stay?"
Cantarella's amethyst eyes shimmered with flowing light as she nodded gracefully. "Of course. Porto-Veno Castle welcomes both of you. More people make for livelier company anyway." The curve of her lips deepened as she cast a meaningful glance toward Aeron. "In that case, I'll have to trouble you both to work hard."
"Hey wait, so what about my opinion?!"
"You don't get to have an opinion." x3
"Don't reach consensus on things like this!"
Cantarella also rose gracefully, violet eyes rippling with satisfied, unfathomable laughter. "Well then, for the next two or three days, please consider Porto-Veno Castle your temporary home. I'll give orders to prepare guest rooms for Miss Zani and Miss Ciaccona."
"Yes, in that case, we'll trouble you with the arrangements."
Zani responded to Cantarella while walking to Aeron's side. Ciaccona happily bounced to Aeron's other side, gently nudging him with her elbow. Lowering her voice to a volume only the two of them could hear, she said cheerfully:
"Hehe, Mr. Aeron, for the next few days, Zani and I will be keeping you company! Hang in there~"
Carlotta didn't quite understand what they were discussing, but she trusted both Ciaccona and Zani—surely nothing would go wrong.
Only now did Aeron realize something was amiss.
"Second young lady, save me!"
"..."
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