I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 308

Chapter 308: As If It Never Happened (5)

There had been countless times when she had acted rashly.

And she had learned, painfully, the consequences of her impulsiveness.

She had come to understand the impact of her misjudgments on those around her.

So, Claire had waited.

But this time, a nagging feeling wouldn’t go away.

Something was different.

This time, it felt wrong.

“Lady Claire? You’re returning to the Duchy now?”

“Yes. I left something behind.”

“Oh… Shall I pack your luggage?”

“No. I just said I left something behind. It won’t take long.”

Claire dismissed their concerns with a wave of her hand, but the servants insisted.

“You should at least make some preparations, My Lady.”

“Is it really necessary?”

“Yes. The fastest route requires crossing the Chas River Bridge, but it seems there’s been an incident.”

“Ah, so I’ll have to take a detour?”

“Yes. It will likely take at least a day.”

According to Count Ptoah, the repairs to the bridge would take some time.

And Sir Carlton had sent a message saying that the detour route was also dangerous due to recent monster sightings, so the safest path would take even longer.

Even if they traveled non-stop, it would take a full day to reach the Duchy.

“…This is going to take a while.”

Since it was a long journey, she would have to arrange for lodging along the way to avoid being stuck in the carriage.

And considering the available routes and the limited time she had for leisure, the fastest path was through Carsein’s territories.

And then…

-Pitter-patter.

“Ah.”

It started to rain.

It was a bad omen. Rain in this region meant trouble for the travelers, and she should have postponed her departure.

“Of all the… Fine. Just pack the essentials. I’ll leave tomorrow.”

So, despite returning to the Duchy, she ended up packing her luggage.

The rain continued throughout the day.

And as dawn broke, Claire, dressed and ready, emerged from her room.

Flora, still half-asleep, saw her.

“Hmm…? Claire?”

“Oh, Flora.”

“Where are you going? So early?”

Flora rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked.

While she had made excuses to the other servants, she couldn't lie to her younger sister.

They all knew about the plan, except for Carsein.

“I can’t reach Carsein, so I’m going to see him.”

“See him?”

“Yes. I need to ask him to free up some time in his schedule. He might be free now, but he could be busy later. I need to make arrangements in advance.”

Flora nodded.

But then, a question arose.

“Why don’t you just send a letter?”

“Ahaha… I tried, but he seems to be very busy.”

She didn't mention that he wasn't responding to her messages.

She didn't want to worry her.

“Anyway, I’m going to see Carsein. Go back to sleep. You must be tired.”

“Mmm… Okay. But come back quickly. We have a meeting, remember?”

Claire gently patted her head, and Flora, yawning, returned to her room.

Her luggage was packed, and Claire boarded the carriage.

“Take me to the Duchy.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

It was a simple instruction, nothing unusual.

Claire rarely gave urgent orders like this.

But today was different.

“…As quickly as possible.”

***

As the carriage sped towards the Duchy, Claire couldn’t shake off her unease.

Unable to bear it any longer, she had the servants send another message to both territories, arranging for a signal through the communication orbs.

So, even as she rode in the carriage, her gaze was fixed on the two orbs.

One for Shatrain.

And one for Lusmire.

She waited for them to light up.

But even as they approached the Duchy, the orbs remained dark.

There was still no news from Carsein, no response to her messages.

He shouldn’t be this late.

“…”

No, was that really the only problem?

Was she missing something?

The fact that Carsein, who had supposedly gone to inspect his territories, couldn't be reached, that none of the servants had seen him… wasn’t that strange?

Her unease grew.

“—My Lady.”

“…”

“Lady Claire…?”

“Huh? Oh.”

“We’ve arrived at the Duchy, My Lady. I’ve been calling your name, but…”

-Ahem.

She had been lost in thought.

But the moment she stepped out of the carriage, she looked around and noticed something was amiss.

‘…Is the Duchy always this… quiet?’

Heron, the butler, always maintained order in the manor, and with the new, competent Head Maid, it shouldn’t be any different from usual.

And yet, it was.

It felt different.

‘It’s just my imagination.’

Claire dismissed the thought, but…

“What’s that?”

Something caught her eye.

-Click.

“…”

Isabella had instructed them to display small portraits of the family throughout the manor, taken during their spring outing.

Following her wishes, the framed portraits were displayed in every room.

Claire could see the five of them, their smiles captured in that moment, wherever she went. While it had been a bit awkward at first, she had gotten used to it.

And this frame…

It contained their family portrait.

But…

Why was one of the faces cut out?

“…Hey, what’s this?”

“My Lady?”

“Who did this? Tell me, now.”

Her blood ran cold.

This… it meant that someone didn't acknowledge him as a member of the Bagrand family.

***

Claire summoned the servants, demanding to know who was responsible.

She suspected it was a deliberate act of malice, just like Emma Urnen’s schemes to torment Carsein.

But none of the servants knew anything.

“N-no one would dare to deface a portrait of the Duchy.”

“While there are those who handle the cleaning… they wouldn’t risk their lives doing something like this!”

“And to cut out Young Master Carsein’s face…! He’s always so considerate of our workload! No one would do such a thing!”

No, more accurately, there was no one who would have done such a thing.

There was no one who had been bribed, like Emma Urnen’s accomplices.

No one with such malicious intent.

And then, one of the apprentice maids spoke up, swallowing hard.

“Th-there was one person… who touched the frame…”

Claire’s blue eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them.

The apprentice maid, intimidated by her gaze, her silent demand for an answer, blurted out a name.

“Y-Young Master Carsein!”

“…What?”

“He… he touched the frame… before he left for his territorial inspection.”

Claire’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Carsein?

He had cut out his own face from the portrait?

‘That’s… that’s impossible!’

But she couldn’t voice her doubts.

Because the apprentice maid didn’t seem to be lying.

Nor did she seem to harbor any ill will towards Carsein.

So, Carsein himself had cut out his own face from the portrait?

The realization made her feel a growing sense of unease.

“M-My Lady?”

And then, behind the terrified maids,

She saw it.

A portrait.

A large portrait hung in the main hall of the Duchy.

A recent portrait, taken during their spring outing, the original, with all five family members.

But now…

“Why… why is…”

The left side of the portrait had been cleanly sliced through.

As if to erase a single person.

-If I want to go on a trip, I’ll use my own money. I don’t need an allowance, I’m earning my own money. And those rare flowers? I am curious about them. I’ll buy them myself and grow them.

‘…What?’

Carsein’s words, spoken casually at the time, now echoed in her mind, a chilling premonition washing over her.

-Why not? It’s my money.

-Besides, I don’t deserve a reward. I’ve caused the Duchy so much trouble. I shouldn’t be asking for anything.

His words, his actions, the pieces were falling into place, and Claire’s unease intensified.

The manor was too quiet.

He should be here.

It was eerily silent.

Even if the maids were on break, it shouldn't be this quiet.

Claire quickened her pace.

“L-Lady Claire?”

“What? My Lady is here… Oh my.”

“What’s the matter?”

The maids, enjoying a short break after completing their tasks, looked at her with surprise, but she ignored them.

It was illogical, but she had to check. Was Carsein with them?

‘He’s not here.’

-Slam!

Claire slammed the dining room door shut and headed towards the laundry room.

“Gasp…! L-Lady Claire!”

“M-My Lady?! W-we’re sorry! We… we just missed each other so much…!”

A pair of maids and a knight, caught in a compromising position, stammered and blushed.

‘He’s not here.’

Normally, she would scold them, but she simply turned and left, her mind elsewhere.

Carsein often read in the library.

He might be there, surrounded by books.

-Click!

Ah, right. He might be instructing the maids, after having seen that couple in the laundry room.

He could be here, despite the late hour, his sense of responsibility compelling him to act.

-Click!

Perhaps he was telling the maids to rest?

He had once been concerned about their workload and had brought them snacks. Could he be there?

-Click!

It was cold.

Perhaps he had caught a cold, and Shaiden…

She searched the manor, opening doors, her heart pounding with a growing sense of dread.

But Carsein was nowhere to be seen.

There was no trace of him.

As if he had vanished.

…No.

As if he had never existed.

Claire, denying the thought, reached her final destination.

“…”

Carsein’s room.

He should be here.

She would demand an explanation the moment she saw him.

She would try to understand, to find out what had happened.

She would be patient, she would listen.

But…

Why?

Why did she feel so uneasy?

‘No.’

He had to be here.

Perhaps he was asleep, exhausted, or perhaps he was working, attending to the needs of his territories.

‘He has to be here.’

-Click.

The door opened.

But Claire’s blue eyes,

Found no one.

“This… what is this…?”

The sight before her was indescribable.

The room was impeccably clean.

Not a speck of dust, not a single stray hair.

And everything was neatly organized.

Documents, arranged like invoices, and beside them, envelopes and pouches filled with money.

There were no personal belongings, no signs of life.

Just documents, and money.

As if he had never been here.

As if he had never existed.

“What… What is this…? Stop playing games… this isn’t…”

-Clatter!

Her legs gave way, and she collapsed, her hand accidentally knocking against the table.

Something fell to the floor, clattering against the polished wood.

A picture frame.

Unlike the one she had seen earlier, cleanly sliced through, this one had been ripped apart, the edges jagged and torn.

And a trash can, overturned, its contents spilling onto the floor.

A crumpled piece of paper.

She didn't want to believe it, but…

-Click.

The torn piece fit perfectly into the empty space in the frame.

It was Carsein’s face, the only one remaining in the Duchy.

Her heart sank.

-Yes. I’m supposed to be leaving the Duchy, anyway.

His words, the words she had tried to ignore, now pierced her heart like a dagger.

A cold wind,

A chilling premonition,

Washed over her.

“My Lady! Y-you’re bleeding! We need to…”

“…Find him.”

“W-what?”

“We have to find Carsein! Now!”

Before her only brother,

Left the Bagrand Duchy forever.

-Ding!

▶ Key Memorial: Broken Picture Frame activated. ◀

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