I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Family (23)

“Aaah! Fire!”

“Lady Claire! What are you doing?!”

That hair clip was practically a part of Claire.

The hair clip Carsein had given her was cheap, insignificant, and held little monetary value. It wasn't made of rare jewels or expertly crafted.

It was, plainly, a trinket. There were countless items far more valuable and beautiful.

People had questioned her attachment to it time and time again.

She could replace it with something far better, anywhere. The hair clips lying around the manor were adorned with precious jewels and pearls. If those didn't suit her fancy, she could easily buy something more extravagant.

She could even have one custom-made, or choose something from her own boutique.

But anyone who dared to suggest such a thing in front of Claire would face her wrath.

“Protecting that commoner… why?! He’s nothing but street trash! He doesn’t deserve your protection!”

“Why are you doing this, My Lady? Explain yourself… Gah!”

“Lady Claire, what is the meaning of this?!”

It wasn't cheap.

It was priceless.

Rare? It was one of a kind.

It might have looked like a trinket from a market stall, but its significance far outweighed any material value.

It was a gift from her family.

A gift from her new younger brother.

There was nothing else like it in the world.

What more could she possibly want?

“Lady Claire has been deceived by that commoner’s sweet words! She’s clearly not in her right mind! Subdue her!”

Not in her right mind? Hah!

Yes, she had heard it all before.

She wore it everywhere, all the time, except when she slept. She didn’t care what others said. She even spent a fortune having it carefully preserved, fearing it might break.

She had always intended to return it to Carsein when he inevitably returned to the manor.

To erase all traces of him, to subtly convey that he no longer belonged here.

To remove the scent of his presence from her room, to draw a line, to show that he was never truly a part of this family.

The hair clip, too, had to go.

If that was what Carsein wanted.

So she had returned it.

With a heavy heart, accepting the severed family ties, she had handed him the hair clip, the object that had become a part of her.

-This is for you, Sister Claire.

It was a gift from her family.

A gift from her younger brother.

Therefore, now that he was no longer family, it shouldn't remain with her.

But…

““Argh!””

Carsein hadn't erased its meaning.

-You look better with it.

The meaning of family.

The meaning of a gift from a younger brother.

And… he had given it a new meaning.

‘You idiot…'

Why didn’t he just yell at her?

Why didn’t he take this opportunity to get even with her for everything she had done?

He should have dropped the hair clip and crushed it under his foot.

That would have been justified.

He should have taken his revenge!

But why…

-Thank you for helping me, Claire.

…was he forgiving her?

Why was he forgiving her, the one who had tormented him, the one who had failed to treat him like family, the one who had failed as an older sister?

You idiot.

-Tears.

Tears streamed down her face.

Tears of regret, longing, and remorse.

If only she had realized sooner.

If only she had cared more.

Maybe then, they could have been a real family.

She could have been a real older sister to him.

Instead of realizing it too late, like the idiot she was.

“Damn it…!”

““Argh!””

Idiot.

It was a self-deprecating insult.

Directed at her ignorant, clumsy, impulsive past self.

“Gasp…!”

She was hyperventilating, the overuse of magic taking its toll.

She was running out of mana, her body drained from protecting him.

Her vision blurred.

“No… I… I have to hold on…”

She had to hold on, to buy him more time to escape.

But her body wouldn’t cooperate.

-Collapse.

***

I had done something stupid again.

I should have just taken the jade and left.

I should have just taken what I needed and walked away.

No, I should have yelled at her, let out all my pent-up frustration.

I should have crushed the hair clip in front of her, revealing my true feelings.

That would have been justified.

Even I, with the same memories, would have understood.

But I couldn’t.

Now that I knew Claire had been helping me…

I had escaped countless dangers thanks to her.

Radiel and Mark’s timely appearance.

The orders they had received, leading us to the Bagrand territory.

The path to the manor, conveniently cleared.

The safe passage through the tomb.

I couldn't have overcome those dangers alone.

But I had made it safely into the Duchy.

Thanks to her clearing the way, I had been able to achieve my objectives and reach the designated locations.

At the most critical moments, when the risks were highest…

Claire’s hand had guided me, allowing me to complete my mission.

And…

▶ Pursuit event intensity decreasing. ◀

▶ Pursuit time increasing. The event may be deactivated after a certain period. ◀

The status window made it clear. She had even protected me directly, buying me time.

I couldn’t help but feel her sincerity.

Thinking back, Claire had always been like this.

She wasn’t particularly deep, but she had never intended to harm me.

She might have acted impulsively, causing trouble, but she never meant to hurt me directly.

Even if her actions had negative consequences.

Even if they indirectly led to my suffering.

There was no malice in her heart.

The proof was in her actions. When my innocence was proven, she ruthlessly crushed those who had wronged me.

When she realized she had made a mistake, she would get frustrated and scratch her head, but she never blamed me. She would simply say she had avenged me.

And she would occasionally ask for my opinion.

After making a mistake, she would try her best not to repeat it.

I was finally starting to understand the extent of her actions.

After realizing I could only eat bland porridge due to my injuries, she had instructed the chef to avoid preparing greasy food for me.

The bathtub, which had previously been filled with cold water, was now filled with hot water thanks to the maids she had instructed.

The sand-filled kettle, the suspicious objects in my room… she had removed everything that could potentially harm me, creating a safe environment.

She had warned the chef to be extremely careful with Kelbia berries.

She had prepared my clothes and kept a close watch on the maids, ensuring no one harmed me. That was why Camilla had become the prime suspect.

She had ruthlessly retaliated against those who had wronged me.

She had told me to ask for her help if I ever needed it.

Yes, it was ignorance.

Lack of experience, a different perspective…

Her clumsiness stemmed from her inexperience, amplified by her impulsive and hot-headed nature.

But she never made the same mistake twice.

After realizing the consequences of her actions, she became more cautious.

She asked for my opinion.

She asked what was wrong.

She started to consider the cause and effect, the context of the situation.

-You should go now. I’ll buy you as much time as I can. I should at least act like a proper older sister and protect my younger brother, right? And…

She had taken my side, protected me…

-…I’m sorry, Carsein. For always being a burden. Take care of yourself.

…and apologized.

She regretted her past actions.

Tears of genuine remorse streamed down her face.

…Seeing her like this, I was reminded of my second sister, Eunhye.

This game mirrored my reality in unsettling ways.

No, it was practically identical. Claire and Eunhye were like two peas in a pod.

Yes, it had been the same in my past life.

Thinking back, there had been no malice in Claire, just as there was none in Eunhye.

She had simply acted out of ignorance and impulsiveness, making mistakes.

And those mistakes had, coincidentally, hindered me.

Eunhye had never intended to hinder me either.

-You’re finally here? I told you to hurry.

Her nagging about my tardiness was actually a warning that company's work schedule had changed, and he might be home early, risking my exposure.

She had probably known about my part-time job all along.

-*I can make you clothes, so why are you wearing that?

She had been annoyed that I was spending my hard-earned money on clothes when she could have made them for me.

She had known about my part-time job, but she had kept it a secret, and her frustration stemmed from her inability to help me openly.

-With me around, who would dare to touch you? Do you know who we are?

She hadn’t been wasting my time after school. She had been checking if I was being bullied, ready to intervene.

I hadn’t realized it at the time, but after that, the bullies had either switched classes, stopped bothering me, or even transferred schools.

…Eunhye had taken care of them.

And…

-Hey, are you okay?! I went to the doctor who diagnosed you. He said it was because of me! Because of that crazy stalker! Are… are you hurt? Are you sure you’re okay?

She had been genuinely worried when she learned about the stalker. At the time, I had just been annoyed by her fussing.

I was finally starting to see things clearly.

Then… what had my second sister wanted?

…Ah. I think I understood.

Eunhye had never forgotten to call herself my older sister, and she had always addressed me as her younger brother, even when I spoke informally.

She might have had a temper, but she cared about me.

-*Hey, you’re younger than me, so stop speaking informally. Call me “noona,” okay?

She had wanted to call me her family.

She had wanted to treat me like her younger brother.

She had wanted me to call her “noona.”

‘…I’m glad.’

I was glad I had returned the hair clip and said those words.

After Flora, Isabella, and now Claire…

I had done something foolish three times in a row, but my blood didn't run cold.

***

The prolonged battle had consumed a significant amount of time.

Arina, leading her forces, finally arrived at the manor.

The situation was quickly resolved.

With Claire’s collapse, the only resistance crumbled.

Carlton and the First Knight Division were exhausted.

Claire, who had collapsed from overusing her magic, slowly opened her eyes.

“Ugh…”

“Lady Claire.”

“What’s… the situation…?”

“…I apologize.”

Carlton’s apology told her everything.

Knowing that an entire division was on Carsein's side had given her hope, but it wasn't enough.

“My Lady, look.”

“…”

Supported by Carlton, Claire glared at Arina.

“Sigh.”

The crimson ponytail swayed as she approached.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips.

“Why did you do that, Claire?”

“…”

“He betrayed us. He used us and then ran away. He never considered us family.”

“Ha.”

Claire scoffed.

“Look who’s talking. Did you ever consider Carsein family?”

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