I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 354

Chapter 354: Family (24)

Arina sighed deeply, hearing Claire's accusation.

“I thought you had a reason for your actions. But it’s because of him again.”

Clicking her tongue in disapproval, she continued in her usual dismissive manner.

“…Tsk. Whatever. He must have filled your head with nonsense. Everyone, continue the pursuit. I’ll be right behind you.”

Some of the soldiers mounted their horses and rode out of the manor.

Claire couldn’t stop them. She knew this was as far as she could go.

But…

“Damn it!”

Claire seethed with anger.

Her eyes widened in disbelief at Arina’s words.

-Grab!

Claire grabbed Arina by the collar.

“…Lady Claire!”

“…!”

“Nonsense?! Who’s spouting nonsense here?!”

“Let go, Claire.”

Betrayed them?

Used them and ran away?

Never considered them family?

Absolutely not.

“You’re the one spouting nonsense! You issued a warrant for his arrest, a kill-on-sight order, and you dare to talk about family?! You treated him like a criminal, not family!”

-Release.

Claire’s grip loosened.

She couldn’t maintain her hold on Arina’s collar, her body still weak.

“Can you still say that after seeing this?” Arina retorted, thrusting a document towards Claire.

“…What is this?”

“Proof that he’s a criminal.”

“Carsein… a criminal?”

That was impossible. It couldn't be true.

-Flip.

Claire's eyes darted across the document.

Meanwhile, Arina continued,

“I admit, I wasn’t fond of him at first. That’s true. It was difficult for us to accept him. But as time passed, I tried my best to accept Carsein.”

-Flip.

“I gave him every opportunity. I tried to provide for him, but he just refused, acting all proud and angry. I couldn’t understand him.”

-Flip.

“He was lucky to be taken in by our family. He could have lived a peaceful, happy life. Sure, there were a few minor incidents, but anyone on the streets would envy his position. He had everything he could ever want. But now I understand why he was so dissatisfied.”

-Flip.

Reaching the final page, Arina delivered the conclusion.

“Now do you understand? He betrayed us. He used us, and he never saw us as family. He was filled with ambition, plotting to rise above his station.”

He had been incredibly fortunate to be adopted into the Bagrand family, yet he wasn't satisfied.

His boundless ambition had turned into a blade, pointed at the Bagrands.

He had discarded the family’s kindness and affection, conspiring with the Marquis of Theresia to destroy the Bagrands and claim everything for himself.

‘Surely Claire understands now.’

No further explanation was necessary.

Arina turned to leave.

“You… you know nothing about Carsein,”

“…What?”

“This is a contradiction! Everything written here contradicts Carsein’s actions!”

Claire’s voice rose in anger.

“Betrayed us? We were the ones who ostracized him, treating him like an outsider, a commoner! We never treated him like a brother! Do you know what that did to him? Do you know what he went through in this house?!”

They had forced him to turn his back on them. They had bullied him, neglected him, refused to trust him, and showered him with anger. Deprived of familial affection, he had been ostracized by the servants, completely isolated within the Duchy. It was no wonder he had left.

“Used us? What about everything in his room? Where did he get all that money? Don’t you know he risked his life fighting fires in the territory?! He earned that money with his own blood and sweat, without relying on the family’s power! And you still don’t understand, even after seeing those bills?!”

He hadn’t taken anything. He had paid for everything. He had left behind everything he had received from this family, choosing to abandon a comfortable life.

“What kind of family are we? We ignored him completely. We never listened to him. How could he possibly see us as family when he suffered so much in this house, a place that offered him nothing but material wealth? He changed because of everything he endured, because of everything we did to him!”

They had ostracized him.

They had ignored his pleas.

He hadn’t even been able to live peacefully in his own home, falsely accused and wrongly blamed.

And instead of believing him, his so-called family had gotten angry, escalated the situation, scolded him, and berated him.

Could he have possibly felt like he belonged?

He had left the Duchy because he wasn't family.

Because he had never been accepted as one of them.

They had driven him away.

And yet, they accused him of harboring such ambition?

It was absurd.

“Think again! Do you really believe he wanted to destroy our family?!”

“…Even with clear evidence, you still defend him? Fine. We’ll talk after I’ve dealt with this criminal.”

“You’ll regret this, Arina. You definitely will.”

“What?”

“You… you never cared about Carsein,”

“…!”

It was just a simple statement, but it struck a nerve.

“Can you name a single time you actually listened to Carsein, a single time you fulfilled his wishes?”

“Of course I…”

She thought it would be easy to answer.

But she couldn’t.

She searched her memories, but nothing came to mind.

What had she done for him?

Had he ever accepted anything she had offered?

His birthdays were usually overshadowed by incidents, and she hadn’t even remembered them properly.

No, there had to be something.

What about anniversaries? Or the Empire’s annual celebrations?

…

Nothing. Anniversaries and celebrations always ended with her scolding him and confining him.

After that, he was either kept away due to his past transgressions, or confined for other reasons.

Then… there were festivals.

Surely there had been times when they had celebrated together as a family…

…

Nothing.

All she could remember was the collapsing pile of rocks.

She could only recall the time she had tried to abandon Carsein at the quarry.

“I…”

She couldn’t speak.

“This is your last chance, Arina. Just rescind the order. Cancel everything and let him go. Please?”

It was their last chance.

The last chance to treat Carsein like family.

The last chance for Claire to convince Arina.

But Arina wouldn't be swayed.

No, she couldn't be swayed.

“What does any of that matter?!”

She snapped, turning away.

“Like I said, I did everything I could for him. I tried my best to accept him as my brother…”

“Lady Arina!”

A soldier approached, interrupting her.

“I apologize for the interruption, but we have an urgent report.”

“What is it?”

“There are signs of intrusion at the tomb!”

“…The tomb? My father’s tomb?”

“Yes. We found this…”

“Arina, wait! That’s…!”

“I knew it.”

Arina’s eyes blazed with fury.

The item the soldier presented was something she had personally placed in her father’s tomb.

A place no one could touch, a place no one could reach.

The only person who could have accessed it was their mother.

The fact that it was here… meant only one thing.

Arina’s momentary confusion turned into rage.

“Can you still claim Carsein has no ambition, Claire?”

The situation, piecing together like a puzzle, painted Carsein as the villain.

Claire tried one last time, but it was no use.

“He brought this upon himself.”

“He may never be able to return to this family!”

“He was the one who betrayed us first.”

“Just trust Carsein this once! Treat him like family, just this once!”

“…He’s nothing but an enemy to me now.”

“You’ll have nothing left! Carsein considered us family at first! That’s why he gave us gifts! Haven’t you received anything from your younger brother?!”

The flames of fury consumed even her memories.

“I received nothing.”

She had felt a void.

She had felt the unsettling absence of something she hadn’t even realized she had cherished.

But now… that feeling was gone.

-Ding!

▶ Cleared Hidden Episode: The Forgotten Hair Tie. ◀

▶ Arina’s danger level has been completely neutralized. No penalties will be applied during combat. ◀

[Arina Bagrand: 95%]

[It wasn’t him who ■■■■ the ■■… it was ■■.]

***

One day, two days, then three.

Claire slept for three days straight, recovering from the strain of overusing her magic.

When she finally woke and learned how long she had been asleep, she jumped out of bed, intending to rush outside, but…

She was confined.

‘It’s over…’

She had only bought him some time, but nothing had changed.

Carsein might be captured.

She had failed to convince her sister, and the future looked bleak.

But what frustrated her even more was her own helplessness.

She felt a deep sense of despair.

All she could do was bite her lip in frustration.

There was nothing she could do for Carsein.

That was what angered her the most.

As she wallowed in despair, someone came to visit.

“Lady Claire, it’s me.”

“…Heron?”

“You have a visitor.”

A visitor? Who would visit her at a time like this?

She wasn’t in the mood for any conversations.

She was about to send them away when Heron added,

“It’s someone you absolutely must see.”

…Absolutely must see?

Those words made Claire look up.

‘Heron isn’t the type to say such things lightly…'

It must be important.

“…Tell them to wait. I’ll be there shortly.”

She would find out when she met them.

The reason didn’t matter.

Claire composed herself and followed Heron.

And she was surprised by who she saw.

“Please, have a seat.”

-Click.

Heron left, closing the door behind him.

The visitor was unexpected.

“It’s been a while, Lady Claire.”

Claire looked at the formally dressed noble with a puzzled expression.

“…Why are you here, Marquis Magnuel?”

Next Chapter

Index

Previous Chapter