33. The Most Uncomfortable Meal in the World (1)
BANG!
The door burst open with such force, as if it were about to fall apart.
This was the room of the head of House Cascata, a room that no one could enter without the explicit permission of the master of the house, Enrico della Cascata.
However, Karla had kicked the door open without anyone’s approval, and she entered with unmistakable irritation in her demeanor.
Seated at his desk, Enrico continued to shuffle through documents without so much as a glance at Karla. Enrico della Cascata, the head of House Cascata and Karla’s father, only tore his gaze away from the paperwork just before Karla exploded.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Hmph.”
Karla let out a hollow laugh and glared at Enrico. Their eyes locked, and like lightning sparks, an intense psychological battle ensued between them.
“…Why is that despicable trash showing up at tonight’s dinner?”
“I thought you might need some time to prepare yourself beforehand. I know you two don’t see eye to eye.”
“Who the hell doesn’t know that!”
—KU-KU-KUNG!
A surge of magic laced with electricity erupted from Karla. Of course, the study was fortified with countless barriers, so there was no chaos caused by her magical outburst. However, the guards stationed outside the office would surely be reeling from the magical storm.
“Who the hell doesn’t know that and didn’t even bother to ask for my opinion!”
“And if I had asked, would you have agreed?”
“Of course not!”
“So that’s why. Everyone knows you won’t pass the midterms anyway — even a three-year-old could figure that out. Giving you two months of pointless preparation should be enough, no?”
Enrico placed his feather pen back into the inkwell and clasped his hands together.
His gaze now fully fixed on Karla, there was not the slightest waver in Enrico’s stern eyes. “I’ve made the right decision. I haven’t made a mistake.”
“And what will you do if I pass the midterms, just to rub it in your face?”
“Do you really think you can pass the Academy’s midterms as a one-armed person, especially in the body of a girl who’s only lived in this form for a month? Don’t make me laugh.”
Karla closed her mouth, unable to counter that.
The midterms at the Imperial Central Magic Academy were infamous, especially for first years. While they claimed it was to enhance discernment and help students understand their shortcomings, it was far from an easy test.
“…I can pass.”
“Can you? Are you so confident as a man of twenty years to suddenly attempt this exam with only one arm in the body of a woman you’ve lived in for a month? It’s laughable.”
Enrico gave Karla a cold smile, one that was just as, if not more, piercing than Karla’s own glare.
“I’ve already spoken to the principal. Your partner for the midterms will be Lucas. How cooperative do you think Lucas will be with you?”
“…What do you even gain by going to all this trouble? What’s the point of doing this?”
Enrico slowly stood up.
His steps were icy.
The sound of his boots approached Karla, paused briefly, then began to circle around her.
“In our family, daughters have always been rare. That’s why we’ve struggled to expand our influence. But now, finally, we have a daughter. A daughter with such a wretched temper.”
“…Yeah, I’m nothing like mother.”
“Tch.”
A mocking sneer.
The reason behind the sneer was clear.
“Don’t you find it embarrassing to even mention your mother, Karla? If you were half as well-tempered as her… never mind. Anyway, with your terrible temper, you’ll surely dominate them once you’re married off to the House of Shaiskeil. Won’t you?”
Karla couldn’t deny it. Even Lucas, who’d been nothing but a spineless fool constantly on the receiving end of her beatings, would be no match for her. It wouldn’t be an issue at all.
“The empire rests on four pillars.”
Cascata.
Shaiskeil.
Aufstich.
Bricone.
“But four pillars are excessive. Three will suffice.”
Karla glared at Enrico once more.
The meaning behind his words was all too clear and explicit.
“Shaiskeil has been climbing far too high, Karla. Now that we have a daughter at the opportune time, how could we pass up this chance?”
“Insane…”
Karla couldn’t look away from Enrico. She understood what he had just said, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.
“That’s why. You’re going to be that cornerstone. Do you understand now? Even Fabio would understand. Go now and get yourself cleaned up properly.”
And thus, Karla had no choice but to return to her room without even a decent protest.
The moment she stepped out of the study, it seemed preparations had already begun. Warm water was being drawn into her private bath, bathing salts and fragrant oils prepared in a flurry.
“Miss, please come this way.”
The maid’s face was stiff, likely because time was short and she had to mobilize the entire staff to prepare Karla for the evening.
*
Under Enrico’s orders, Karla was forced to wait for Lucas by the mansion’s gate, dressed in a gown she had never worn before.
The dress left her feeling exposed and uncomfortable; the air flowed freely through the fabric, and the low-cut neckline made her chest feel unsettlingly bare.
Her long, black hair had been intricately braided into tiny plaits, twisted into an elaborate updo — the latest trend in the Empire, but it didn’t suit her.
From the elbow-length white gloves to the glittering jewelry around her neck and dangling earrings, everything felt foreign and irritating.
She bit back her frustration as she stood rigidly at the entrance, glaring into the distance.
The gateway opened, and the glow of enchanted stones illuminated the twilight, revealing a carriage emblazoned with the insignia of House Shaiskeil.
The carriage approached the estate at a steady, unwavering pace.
“Damn…”
Although Enrico had instructed her to smile, that was far from possible. Maintaining an expressionless face already exhausted her limits.
Karla glared at the carriage as it slowed to a halt in front of her. The moment the side door opened, and the figure inside stepped out, her eyes widened in surprise.
“…You?”
A tall, dark-haired girl.
The moment she stepped down, the girl bowed respectfully to Karla.
“Lady Cascata, it’s an honor to meet you. My name is Kiara, and I humbly carry the name Di Servitore.”
“…That name sounds familiar. No wonder.”
“Yes, my lady.”
It was Kiara.
The girl who had tried to mediate during Lucas’s conflict with Karla. A member of the Western Division, she was notably quiet and, because the Western Division had yet to interact much with Karla’s, she hadn’t noticed before.
“I’ll present my full introduction later — after Master Lucas has descended.”
Without waiting for Karla’s reply, Kiara turned around. After all, it was standard for her to prioritize Lucas’s needs.
Though perhaps impolite, Karla made no effort to object. Her frustration had already flared at the sight of Lucas’s face now emerging from the carriage.
“It’s been quite a while, Lady Cascata. I must say, this invitation for dinner was quite unexpected, but I’m thrilled.”
A smug, lazy grin spread across his face, one that only deepened Karla’s disgust.
How could such a revolting grin ever fade?
Karla felt the urge to strike Lucas the moment his face appeared. But knowing that Enrico would not let it slide, she restrained herself. Still, placating her father’s demands came first for now.
“Well then—shall we go?”
With his typical, sluggish grin, Lucas extended his hand. And Karla merely stared at it.
She knew that if she took his hand, there’d be no turning back. If she allowed him to escort her into the mansion, the servants would undoubtedly start viewing her as Lucas’s intended partner.
“…Not yet. Both you and Father clearly think I’m incapable of passing the midterms, but I won’t let that happen.”
With that, Karla turned sharply and began walking gracefully into the mansion.
Predictably, Lucas would be raging behind her, but she relished it.
His anger, frustration, and fury suited him far better than his fake smiles. Karla thought as much while continuing her steady pace.
“Feh—feisty as always. This makes things even more exciting.”
Karla exhaled sharply through her nose, closing her eyes momentarily.
What a disgusting person,
what an irritating fool.
And, ultimately, a despicable waste of a human being.
