I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 304

Chapter 304: As If It Never Happened (1)

I had thought I could stay awake, if I just focused.

That I could resist sleep.

Sleep was something I could usually control. I could function on just a few hours of sleep. It shouldn’t have been difficult.

But…

-Shiver.

The cool sensation against my forehead, the unfamiliar feeling of lying in a bed…

And the warm sunlight on my face…

I couldn’t deny it any longer.

I had fallen asleep. Again.

I had hoped I wouldn't, but I had drifted off.

Harnie would probably be furious.

But when I opened my eyes, she was gone.

“…”

The weight of her head on my arm, the sweet scent of her hair, the warmth of her body against mine…

All gone.

The only thing she had left behind was a letter.

It began with an apology for leaving without saying goodbye. Well, there was no need to apologize.

“She must be busy, now that she’s changed her plans.”

The Marquis had been arrested for his illegal activities, thanks to Harnie’s report, and the territories he had mismanaged were now demanding justice.

It was only natural for her to be busy.

She had to manage the territories,

And consolidate her power within the Marquisate, earning the support of the people and the remaining vassals, dismantling Belian’s faction, and establishing herself as the rightful heir.

“Right. She must be busy.”

So I had to do my part as well.

-Ding!

▶ Recording expenses for Episode X: Isabella’s Birthday. ◀

▶ Stage 5 requirement: The required amount of funds has increased. ◀

▶ Acquire 288,000,000 Pesel. ◀

[You currently possess approximately 92% of the target amount, but 2% has been deducted due to expenses.]

The cost of Isabella’s birthday banquet.

The additional expenses incurred to increase the family's satisfaction.

The cost of managing my reputation and affinity with the guests.

It had been a substantial amount.

While it had pushed back my escape date, it wasn't unexpected.

I quickly recalculated.

My projected expenses.

The net profit from my territories.

And the cost of dealing with the remaining episodes.

Taking all of that into account…

The escape date once again coincided with a date from my past life.

“…It’s strange. How it always lines up with that day.”

How could I forget?

The day I had left that house.

The day I had escaped that hell.

But I couldn’t be complacent.

I was close, but I hadn’t escaped yet.

“And there are still episodes left. I remember the limit being Episode XII, so I have to earn enough money before then.”

I was one step away.

And I couldn’t afford to fail now, not when I was so close.

And…

I would leave this place, on my own terms.

Just like that time.

***

A week had passed since Isabella’s birthday banquet.

The event, having concluded without incident, hadn’t caused any further problems.

He had earned praise from the nobles for his thoughtfulness and dedication to his mother.

And he hadn’t burdened the servants, earning their favor as well.

The vassals, of course, were pleased, and even his family was proud of him.

“You’re saying you didn’t help with the banquet, Lady Claire?”

“That’s right. He handled everything himself. I didn’t have to do anything.”

Claire proudly relayed this information to the social circles.

She hadn't helped at all.

Praising her younger brother like this, it might seem like she was being a doting sister, but it was true.

Carsein’s preparations for the banquet, the organization, the schedule, the timing, everything had been flawless.

‘Even I couldn’t have done it that well…’

It was only natural for her to be proud.

Claire’s voice was filled with a cheerful enthusiasm.

But her pride was mixed with a subtle sense of unease.

“The Young Master has become quite humble.”

“That humility must have inspired the other family members to offer their assistance.”

“If Lady Claire hadn’t helped, then perhaps Lady Arina did?”

“I suppose that’s possible. The arrangement of the furniture and lighting was quite intricate.”

“…”

“The color scheme, the patterns, the decorations, they were all perfectly placed. That’s usually the role of the hostess. How many young lords these days would even know about interior design and architectural styles? Ho ho.”

“Exactly!”

Claire’s cheerful chatter abruptly stopped. “…Wait a minute,” she thought.

Right. He wouldn’t know about those things.

Logically.

Architectural styles, interior design, color palettes, lighting…

As that noblewoman had said, those were usually the domain of the hostess.

But had Arina really helped Carsein?

And that wasn’t all.

‘Those decorations… they were all quite expensive…’

It was the Duchess of Bagrand’s birthday banquet. Using cheap, low-quality items would have been a disaster.

Carsein would have known that, of course.

So he had used expensive, high-quality materials.

But the cost?

Had Carsein, who was only managing two territories, covered all the expenses himself?

“…”

A sense of unease began to creep into her heart.

Meanwhile,

Another sister was also praising her brother.

“Carsein prepared everything. Isn’t he amazing?”

“Oh my.”

“He’s truly remarkable.”

“But surely he must have received help from Lady Flora?”

A young noblewoman, about Flora’s age, picked up a tablecloth and said,

“He wouldn’t know that this type of fabric is currently in fashion.”

“…What?”

“And these plates! If you infuse them with a small amount of mana, they glow, creating a beautiful effect. He wouldn’t know about that.”

“And the desserts! They’ve been popular since… well, about three months ago. But since your older sisters aren’t fond of sweets, he must have consulted with Lady Flora to choose something we would enjoy.”

Flora froze.

And the speculation about her sisters having helped only deepened her unease.

“But… those are quite expensive, aren’t they?”

“I saw a lot of delicious cakes and pies…”

“Perhaps they all pooled their resources. It must have cost a fortune. The young master couldn't have afforded it all on his own.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

“Lady Arina must have been the biggest contributor.”

Had her eldest sister really given Carsein money?

The conversation continued, but Flora couldn’t focus.

As the young noblewomen left the salon, Claire and Flora, meeting at the entrance, fell silent.

“…”

“…”

They exchanged glances, then Claire cautiously spoke.

“I… didn’t help Carsein. Not at all.”

“…Me neither. And catering to all those guests must have been expensive.”

“Mother wouldn’t have helped… right?”

“No. We agreed to keep it a secret.”

“Hah… Damn it.”

While they hadn’t discussed the details, they both understood.

They had reached the same conclusion.

If Carsein had prepared that entire banquet by himself, without any help from his sisters or the Duchy…

Flora’s hands trembled as she asked, her voice filled with a growing sense of dread,

“Did… did his fiancée help him?”

“…That’s impossible, Flora.”

“Why?! She was with him that day! She could have taught him!”

“Even if Lady Harnie taught him, she couldn’t have taught him everything.”

Flora looked down, her heart sinking.

She knew.

While it was possible that Harnie, with her knowledge of etiquette and social graces, could have helped him, she couldn't have done it all alone. She could have taught him the basics, but…

It wasn’t just about knowledge and etiquette.

“He would have had to figure out the Duchy’s secrets, the unspoken rules… on his own… wouldn’t he?”

“Yes. And the trends, the fashions, the preferences of the guests… he would have had to learn those himself. And there’s another, even bigger, obstacle.”

“Money…”

“Right. He would have had to use his own money, to avoid being noticed by Mother.”

Harnie, who was still struggling to establish herself within the Theresia Marquisate, dealing with the aftermath of her father’s actions, wouldn’t have that kind of money.

“C-could it be… that Sister helped him?”

“…Sister?”

“She could have. She promised to help as well.”

It was true. All three of them had made a promise.

They had all wanted Carsein to spend more time with the family.

And aside from their mother, who had kept it a secret, the only person who could have helped Carsein was Arina.

The Duchy’s secrets.

The latest trends and fashions.

The personal funds she had accumulated through her business ventures.

She met all the criteria.

If that was true, then it was the ideal scenario.

There was nothing to worry about.

But…

Was it really true?

-Clench.

“Let’s go back, Flora.”

“Claire…?”

“We should ask Carsein directly. Don’t you think?”

“Y-yes!”

The two sisters had only one option.

They had to ask Carsein.

If he had truly prepared that entire banquet by himself, sacrificing his time and money…

They had to apologize.

They had to tell him that it was their fault.

“Take us back to the Duchy! Now!”

“Hurry! As fast as you can!”

Thankfully, Carsein was at the Duchy today.

They urged the coachman to hurry, eager to return.

***

Meanwhile,

The two sisters weren’t the only ones who were puzzled by the birthday banquet.

It had been a promise between the three of them.

A secret only they shared.

“Mother’s birthday banquet was flawless. There wasn’t a single thing out of place. So I have to ask, Carsein,”

Arina, having arrived before her sisters, confronted Carsein directly.

“While it’s not unusual to receive assistance, I want to know if you received help from Mother.”

She had made it clear to Carsein before.

That he could ask for help from anyone, even Heron, Shaiden, the other members of the household staff, and the designated vassals.

But not from their mother.

Not from Isabella.

After all, it was her birthday.

Carsein’s reply was immediate, his face impassive.

“No. Claire and Flora helped me.”

A blatant lie.

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