I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 334

Chapter 334: Family (4)

Even with Princess Arsienne’s presence, the situation was precarious.

Even with the authority of a royal, it wasn't enough.

Even with the justification of protecting Shatrain from harm, of preventing the bloodshed of Imperial citizens, of upholding a princess's duty to her people…

Stopping the advance of the pursuers was proving to be difficult.

Even if the Imperial Family intervened, the matter of the arrest warrant, issued by the Bagrand Duchy, and the rumors of treason against the Empire, wouldn't simply disappear.

She had condemned their use of force against the villagers, but if their actions were linked to a rebellion or an uprising, then suppression would be justified.

And they did have a valid reason to force their way through.

Shatrain was under the jurisdiction of the Bagrand Duchy, not the Imperial Family. And the arrest warrant, issued by the Duchy, was their primary justification.

Without a way to counter the arrest warrant, she couldn’t stall for time indefinitely. If she didn't separate her personal feelings from official matters, she would be putting herself in a difficult position.

She should have let them pass.

She should have opened the path after a token resistance.

But Shatrain remained closed, thanks to Arsienne, buying Carsein more time.

Because of a single person.

Because of a younger sister who called him “brother,” not “criminal.”

With a powerful ally by her side, Arsienne could confidently address the pursuers.

“Do you have anything else to say, Commander Pergo?”

Did he have the courage to defy a member of the Bagrand family, who was protecting this territory?

That was the unspoken challenge in her words.

“…”

Of course, he didn’t.

While they had the authority of the arrest warrant, the owner of this territory was the Bagrand Duchy. And if a Bagrand forbade their entry, they had to comply.

The pursuers reluctantly retreated.

***

Arsienne immediately began her investigation.

Shatrain, a crucial location, was now under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Family.

They had taken control of the territory, searching for any trace of Carsein.

But the investigation was taking longer than expected.

“Your Highness, are you almost finished?”

“Shatrain is larger than I anticipated.”

Commander Pergo thought, Then you shouldn’t have sent troops to Lusmire.

While there might be traces of Carsein, they wouldn't be able to find him with such a small number of soldiers.

They had already dispatched a significant portion of their forces to Lusmire to deal with the injured, and with Arsienne leading the investigation, progress was slow.

“Is something the matter, Commander?”

“…Please… hurry.”

He couldn't voice his frustration directly, so he simply urged her to speed up the search.

“Yes, I’ll hurry. However…”

Arsienne walked over to Flora and placed her hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll need some information if I want to find any clues. You’ll help me, won’t you?”

“…Okay.”

“Good. Then, Lady Flora, shall we have a chat? You’re a Bagrand, so you know Shatrain better than I do. Perhaps you can tell me where he might be hiding.”

Flora tilted her head, confused. “Um…?”

-Wink.

“…! Yes! I’ll tell you!”

Flora, understanding the unspoken signal, eagerly followed Arsienne.

Arsienne, having dismissed Commander Pergo, led Flora to a secluded location. Alone, away from prying eyes, it was time for a serious conversation.

But Flora seemed nervous.

‘Well, this is the first time she’s had a one-on-one conversation with me.’

While she had interacted with Isabella and her other sisters before, Flora hadn’t. She had always been with her sisters, or clinging to her mother.

While she was a Bagrand, and thus required to maintain a certain level of decorum, she was still a child.

“There’s no need to be nervous, My Lady.”

“Um…?”

“Your older sister is my friend. Just think of me as… an older sister from another family.”

“Ah…”

Arsienne smiled, trying to ease the tension.

After a brief silence, Flora seemed to relax. Arsienne asked,

“Do you know anything?”

Flora had appeared suddenly, interrupting the pursuers.

Which meant she had already been in Shatrain, and there was a chance she had encountered Carsein.

In other words, she was the most likely witness.

It wouldn’t be surprising if she knew something.

But Flora’s reply was disheartening.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything…”

“…I see.”

It was disappointing, but there was nothing she could do. While the two siblings seemed to have reconciled, she hadn't revealed Carsein’s whereabouts.

She was back to square one.

She had no information about Carsein.

All she knew was that the villagers were blocking the entrance, and judging from the map of Shatrain, he had likely escaped through the back.

And that worried her.

The area behind Shatrain was close to the Duchy and the surrounding urban areas.

It was the worst possible place for him to hide.

“This is bad. They’ve scattered a high concentration of Kelbia fruit in that area.”

The biggest problem was the Kelbia allergy.

The Kelbia fruit, scattered everywhere, would be a constant threat, severely restricting his movements.

And the concentration was particularly high near the Duchy, especially around Shatrain and Lusmire. He could be caught while trying to escape.

Flora’s response surprised her.

“It… should be fine…”

“What do you mean?”

“I… I made a Kelbia allergy cure and gave it to him.”

Arsienne’s eyes widened.

“Tell me more.”

***

The fact that she had created a path using the neutralizer.

That she had scattered the neutralizer throughout the area, from Illeor to Lusmire and Shatrain.

And that she had given him a cure for his allergy.

Flora’s story eased Arsienne’s worries.

The cure’s effects were semi-permanent.

It could even neutralize highly potent poisons.

And while there were certain conditions that could reverse its effects, they were rare.

It was a true cure.

‘If that’s the case…’

While it wouldn’t completely eliminate the allergy, simply reducing its severity would make a huge difference.

Carsein would be able to move more freely, no longer restricted by the Kelbia fruit.

He would have more options for hiding, and with sufficient supplies, he could even stay hidden for a longer period.

If she could just buy him some time,

If she could just keep the pursuers occupied,

If there was a safe place for him in the Empire,

Then Carsein could escape.

But that was only if everything went according to plan.

“You want to protect Carsein, don’t you? Your brother?”

“…Yes.”

“Then you have to make a choice. You, of all people.”

Arsienne’s voice was gentle, but her words were firm.

“This path… may soon be open, My Lady.”

“What? But we’re blocking them…”

“…There’s a limit to how long we can hold them off. They can’t force their way through now, because of you, because of the Bagrand Duchy. Because of you, not me. Do you understand what that means?”

“Y-you don’t mean…”

Flora gasped, as if finally understanding.

It was a difficult decision, a heavy burden to place on such a young girl.

A child, still too young to make such choices.

It was a cruel request.

That’s why she had to ask.

“Do you have the courage to be hated, My Lady?”

The courage to be hated by her own family?

Silence filled the room.

It wasn’t an easy question, a difficult decision even for an adult.

Flora, despite being a Bagrand, was still young and vulnerable, compared to her older sisters. Arsienne felt a pang of guilt, asking her to make such a sacrifice.

‘This is too much. I should withdraw the question.’

But…

Arsienne had overlooked one thing.

“I do.”

“…What?”

“If I don’t do this, Brother Carsein will be in danger.”

This girl no longer avoided reality.

She wasn't a child anymore.

“What should I do?”

She had matured, become capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, even if it meant being hated by her own family.

***

With both Arsienne and Flora refusing to allow them entry, Commander Pergo and his pursuers had no choice but to wait.

But even as time passed,

“…Your Highness, are you almost finished?”

“Be patient. I’m searching every corner. Ah, here they come.”

“Your Highness! We found something!”

“What is it?”

“A snake. A harmless one.”

“A harmless snake? How curious. Is it a local species?”

“…”

And even when they thought enough time had passed,

“Are you still not finished?”

“Just wait a little longer. Do you think the Imperial Knights have unlimited stamina?”

“Your Highness! My leg…!”

“Oh dear, it seems we have an injury. This is what happens when you’re impatient, Commander. I’ll go and take a look.”

“…”

And even when they tried to check on her progress, suspecting she might be stalling,

“Your Highness, are you—”

“I’m tired as well, you know. My shoulders ache from all this searching. I told you to wait.”

“You should rest, Your Highness.”

“I’ll give you a massage!”

“A massage, you say? Very well.”

“…”

And each time Commander Pergo approached Arsienne, he was dismissed, sent away.

Were they even searching?

Their movements were so slow, so deliberate, that he began to suspect they were stalling.

Commander Pergo and his pursuers were getting frustrated.

Their impatience, their frustration, was evident on their faces.

But then, their expressions changed, their frowns smoothing out, as if they had reached a decision.

-Click, click.

‘…I knew they would reach their limit eventually, but this is too soon.’

His fears were realized.

Arsienne’s excuses had been quite effective.

The fact that Flora was present, that a member of the Bagrand family was in Shatrain, and that she had been offended by their accusations. She had used that as an excuse to block their path.

There was no way they could force their way into Shatrain.

But it was only a matter of time before the path was opened.

The news would reach the Duchy eventually.

…Yes, the biggest problem,

Was when someone with the authority to enter Bagrand territory arrived.

A woman with red hair, tied in a ponytail, dismounted her horse and approached them.

She was Arina, and as Arsienne had expected, she demanded entry.

“I’ve heard that Carsein might have passed through here. Step aside, Your Highness.”

Arsienne glanced at her watch.

It wasn't enough time for Carsein to escape.

He needed to reach at least three or four more villages before he could safely lose the pursuers.

She had to stall for time.

“…The investigation isn’t over yet.”

“It would be much faster if we all went in together.”

“Are you suggesting that you, who threatened these villagers with violence, should be allowed to conduct the investigation? And Shatrain was once devastated by outsiders. Have you forgotten?”

“Then we’ll just send a small team. This is Bagrand territory, after all.”

So her excuses weren’t working. Arsienne sighed inwardly.

She had known this moment would come, but there was nothing she could do.

All that remained…

“Sister, I’m searching with the Princess. Just wait a little longer.”

…was to entrust it to another Bagrand.

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