Livening Up the Atmosphere for Carlotta

Montelli Manor.

Kexi still had the sweet taste of QQ Grandma's Delicious Ice Cream lingering in her mouth, and in a good mood, she stepped lightly through the door.

The lobby was brightly lit, and a large group of people stood there.

The servants, stewards, and heads of various departments stood in rows, each with their backs straight and their expressions serious.

Kexi spotted Carlotta standing on the steps at a glance.

Because she was so short, she stood on a stool so that people behind her could see her.

She was holding a list and giving a speech; her voice was clear and penetrating.

"Kexi's birthday is the day after tomorrow, and all the decorations must be finished before dark tomorrow. Flowers, lights, tableware, drinks—everything must be checked repeatedly to ensure there are no mistakes."

Kexi leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and watched silently.

Carlotta turned a page of the list and continued, "Carnival is almost here, and there's been a lot of work lately. I know everyone is working hard, but—"

"If you feel tired, go and see the farmers' market at four in the morning, and see how hard they work."

The servants below the stage nodded in agreement, their faces showing shame.

An inappropriate sound drifted in from the doorway.

"If you're tired, just rest. Why are you looking at the farmers' market? They start work at four in the morning and go back to sleep by ten. Can you compare to them?"

Upon hearing this outrageous voice, everyone turned their heads in unison.

Kexi leaned against the door frame, holding a toothpick she'd swiped from the restaurant, her expression as relaxed as if she were watching a show.

Selina stood behind him, expressionless, clearly used to it.

Carlotta's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the list, but she didn't turn around. Pretending not to hear, she continued, "Young people these days are just too lazy. They don't know that the early bird catches the worm."

"The early bird catches the worm, but the worm gets eaten by the bird, doesn't it?" Kexi said, putting a toothpick in her mouth as she slowly walked inside. "Besides, birds don't catch worms anymore; they all fly to Ragunna Square to eat high-class feed."

Someone in the audience couldn't help but let out a very soft chuckle, then quickly covered their mouth.

Carlotta took a deep breath, flipping through the list with a rustling sound, and raised her voice a few decibels. "As the saying goes, gold always shines. Your efforts will not go unrewarded by the family."

"Gold doesn't shine." Kexi walked down the steps and looked up at Carlotta. "It only reflects light. Without light, how can you tell the difference between gold and iron? Even if it did shine, if it's buried in a pit and not dug out, who can see it?"

Carlotta's lips twitched.

The veins on her hands, which were gripping the list, were bulging, but she gritted her teeth, suppressed her anger, and forced a smile.

As the saying goes, "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold." No pain, no gain; beautiful things are achieved only through hardship.

"Plum blossoms are naturally fragrant; they have nothing to do with bitter cold." Kexi shrugged, looking completely innocent. "Can't we stop forcing ourselves to endure hardship? If only by enduring the bitterest of hardships could one rise above others, then cattle and horses would be rich long ago."

The entire room was completely silent. All the servants lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly, it was hard to tell whether they were suppressing laughter or fear.

Selina took half a step back.

She had already anticipated what was going to happen next.

Carlotta finally turned around.

A smile still lingered on her face, but it was as stiff as plaster, and the veins on her forehead were throbbing visibly.

She stared at Kexi, her chest heaving twice, then took a deep breath and said, slowly and deliberately, in an extremely restrained tone, "Have you been thinking you're very funny lately?"

"It's alright," Kexi nodded modestly.

Carlotta slammed the list on the table next to her, startling the servants in the front row.

She walked down the steps, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor, approaching Kexi step by step.

She brought her face close to Kexi's, lowered her voice, and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Can you please stop embarrassing me in front of everyone? I'm still your older sister, after all."

Kexi blinked and looked at her with a look of sudden realization.

"Oh, so you're my sister." He reached out and patted Carlotta on the shoulder, his tone sincere. "I thought you were some kind of motivational calendar that had come to life."

Carlotta's expression shattered completely.

She jumped up and hit his knee.

Kexi winced in pain, her previous calm demeanor shattering instantly.

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts--"

"A motivational calendar that's come to life? Hmm?" Carlotta's smile returned, but this time it was laced with murderous intent. "Try saying that again?"

"I won't say anymore! Sis! My dear sister!" Kexi begged, clutching her knees.

"Alright, everyone disperse. Let's proceed according to plan."

After Carlotta dismissed everyone, the hall fell silent.

She turned around, crossed her arms, and stared at Kexi with an unfriendly expression.

"You're getting increasingly cheeky lately; looks like I haven't been giving you enough training."

Kexi rubbed her still aching knee and cautiously took half a step back.

He knew Carlotta all too well; that tone usually meant someone was in trouble.

Now, only he and Selina remained in the hall, leaving the pool of potential unfortunate individuals extremely limited.

"Sis, I was just trying to liven things up for you." Kexi said with a forced smile, trying to get away with it with the most innocent expression.

Carlotta wasn't having any of it. She stepped forward, jumped up, and pinched Kexi's ear.

"Live up the atmosphere? Hmm? A motivational calendar come to life? Hmm, you think you're funny?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch--My ear is going to fall off--" Kexi tilted her head and shrank down following her force, almost squatting on the ground.

Selina stood three steps away, her hands neatly folded in front of her, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her face conveying, "I didn't see anything, don't drag me into this."

Carlotta twisted for a full five seconds before letting go. She patted non-existent dust off her hands, her tone returning to its usual calm, but the murderous intent in her eyes hadn't completely dissipated.

"Alright, let's get down to business." She walked to the table, picked up a document, and glanced at it. "The guest list for the birthday banquet is almost finalized. It includes local family representatives from Ragunna, several clergy members from the Order, and some guests who have come from afar. You should have a general idea of who's coming."

Kexi rubbed her ears and mumbled an "Mmm".

"The day after tomorrow is your birthday, and also the opening day of the carnival." Carlotta closed the file, looked up at him, and said, "Ragunna will be very lively these two days, so you'd better behave yourself. Don't think I don't know what you did at the church today."

Kexi removed her hand from her ear, her expression almost transparently innocent. "I prayed fervently in the church, confessing my sins to Imperator."

Carlotta narrowed her eyes. She glanced at Selina, Selina immediately lowered her head, her ears turning red in honesty.

"Stealing a nun's stockings in a church, is that what you call devout prayer?" Carlotta's voice was as flat as an iron, but every word carried a scalding heat.

Kexi opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute it. He chose to remain strategically silent.

Carlotta snorted and didn't pursue the matter further. She knew her younger brother's character all too well; dwelling on it would only make her more angry.

She decided to change the subject.

"Many people have sent me visiting cards, saying they want to see you tomorrow morning."

"Huh? Who's there to see me?"

"You'll see when you see it," Carlotta with a mysterious smile.

"Okay, I heard Zani is injured, I'll go check on her."

Kexi pretended to slip away.

"Wait, I'll go too."