I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 255

Chapter 255: Golden Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (3)

The day before the martial arts tournament began, Isabella, remembering the incident at the social gathering, fanned the flames of her displeasure.

She hadn't forgotten what Carsein had endured.

"I-I will properly apologize to… to Carsein himself. Not only for the slander against his fiancée, but also for what happened last year…! I'll return everything, including the clothing expenses and what I demanded… N-no…! I’ll compensate double, twice the amount! So please…!”

The terrified young lord, his face still swollen and bruised, struggled to speak, desperately pleading for leniency.

But Isabella wasn’t about to stop.

“Is that all my son’s suffering is worth?”

“M-My Lady…!”

“That’s not nearly enough. I’ll adjust the price.”

-Tap.

Isabella wrote down the amount she wanted.

“Th-that’s impossible! Five times the amount, just for those injuries?! This is…!”

-Tap.

“I’m adding the cost of insulting his fiancée, Lady Harnie, and upsetting Carsein.”

“Duchess!”

-Scribble.

“My son’s hands were quite bruised. I’ll need compensation for that as well.”

-Scribble, scribble.

“Something similar happened last year as well, didn’t it? My son’s clothes, torn by tailor’s shears, were made by my second daughter. I’m adding the cost of disrespecting her efforts.”

“W-wait a minute… My Lady!”

-Scribble, scribble.

“The cost of treating his injuries wasn’t insignificant either. This time, you even forced Carsein to bow his head. Yes, I can imagine the effort it took to bend his pride. I’ll add that to the cost as well.”

-Tap.

“And I’ll add a little extra for wasting my time.”

“P-please, wait…! I’ll pay! I’ll pay everything you ask!”

The amount was staggering.

Twelve times the original amount. It was an outrageous demand.

But this wasn’t a negotiation.

It was a one-sided threat, and the price could increase further at any moment.

There was no telling what else she might add to the list.

The man, trembling, dropped to his knees, his head bowed, despite the exorbitant sum he would have to pay.

“I’ll pay! Please… just this once… please forgive me!”

The one who had insulted Carsein and his fiancée had quickly caved.

No, more accurately, he had to cave.

He was facing the Bagrand Duchy, the pinnacle of the Empire’s nobility.

And he was facing the head of the family.

Defying Isabella, the Duchess of Bagrand, was suicidal.

The price of crossing the Bagrands was steep.

To cover the rapidly increasing costs, the family had to relinquish one of their main sources of income, a sap extraction facility.

Isabella, receiving the deed of transfer, smiled in satisfaction as she examined it.

‘This will be quite useful for him.’

She had heard that Lusmire imported sap from external sources.

And Shatrain, specializing in agriculture, could certainly make use of the nutrient-rich sap.

With a cheerful heart, Isabella headed towards Carsein’s lodgings.

He wasn’t there yet.

He was likely still at the tournament, or perhaps spending time with his fiancée.

Considering their close relationship, it might take some time.

She left a message with Camilla, saying she would wait for him in another room.

But even after a long wait, Carsein didn't return.

“…”

-Thud.

Isabella finally closed the book.

The sun was setting, and she glanced at the clock. While she had expected him to be late, this was excessive.

It was already late at night.

The moon had replaced the sun, accompanied by a scattering of stars.

“…I wanted to give this to him personally, but…”

She couldn’t wait any longer.

She had duties to attend to as the head of the Duchy.

With a sigh of regret, Isabella placed two envelopes on the table and turned to leave.

Just then,

-Tap, tap.

“I apologize for being late.”

Footsteps approached, followed by an apology.

There was no need to ask who it was.

No mother would mistake her son’s voice.

“There’s no need to apologize. It’s alright.”

Isabella smiled warmly and welcomed her son.

***

-Clink.

“I apologize, I wasn’t prepared, so this is all I have. Please wait a moment.”

“No, there’s no need for you to prepare anything. Don’t trouble yourself.”

Carsein tried to treat his mother, his guest, with utmost courtesy, preparing tea for her, but Isabella quickly stopped him.

“I just wanted to have a quick chat. There’s no need for tea or refreshments.”

“…”

Carsein put down the kettle and returned to the sofa.

Her revenge was complete.

All that remained was to give him the two gifts.

Knowing her son must be tired after a long day, Isabella went straight to the point.

-Slide.

“Here, Carsein.”

“What is this?”

“Those who insulted your fiancée, and tried to frame you, have paid the price.”

Carsein took the envelope and examined its contents.

“This is…”

Inside the envelope was the deed of transfer for the sap extraction facility she had acquired from the offending family.

“They did something similar last year as well. So I took twice as much this time, the entire facility. This compensation rightfully belongs to you.”

-I heard Shatrain suffered significant damage because of the Waglu faction. I’ve included some funds to help with the restoration. And a generous allowance for you, to spend as you wish.

-I don’t need it.

That day, Isabella hadn’t been able to give anything to Carsein.

She had been upset by his refusal, but now, she had another chance.

She continued,

“Next time something like this happens, tell me. I’ll bring down the full weight of the Bagrand name on anyone who dares to harm my son.”

But Carsein sighed, placing the deed back in the envelope.

“Please take it back.”

“…Carsein?”

“I don’t need it.”

He used the same words as before, making Isabella’s heart sink.

“You don’t need it? Carsein, for you, with two territories under your management, this sap extraction facility—”

“I don’t need it. No, I shouldn’t take it.”

“…What?”

“I caused a commotion. I broke a promise. I lied. I don’t deserve any compensation.”

“What are you talking about?!”

Isabella exclaimed in frustration.

“Claire investigated thoroughly. We even found the tailor’s shears with your blood on them. With all the evidence, how can you say you’re at fault?!”

He was the victim.

She should have protected him. It was her failure to act that had led to this.

Therefore, he deserved compensation.

However,

“I lied about finding a sponsor. And my actions were unbecoming of a Bagrand. Just because the truth came out later doesn't excuse my behavior.”

“Carsein, you’re my son. A member of the Bagrand Duchy.”

“Yes. And that’s precisely why I should have acted more rationally, separating personal feelings from official matters. Just like Arina said, I disgraced the family name.”

Carsein listed all his supposed wrongdoings, refusing to accept the compensation.

“Haven't I caused enough trouble for the Bagrand Duchy? This shouldn’t be given to me as compensation. It belongs to the Duchy.”

“How could you…”

Isabella murmured, her voice filled with disbelief.

“…Alright. I respect your decision.”

Once again, she couldn’t give him anything.

She had been waiting for this moment, but she hadn’t been able to give him anything.

Seeing his resolute refusal, she had no choice but to back down.

She couldn’t force him to accept it.

Even so, her disappointment lingered, and she asked one more time,

“…Won’t you at least accept a small allowance?”

“I don’t need it. I have income from my territories.”

He rejected that as well.

Their conversation didn’t last much longer.

When Carsein offered to escort her back, saying it was getting late, Isabella was startled and quickly declined, hurrying out of the room with the two envelopes.

Even so, her feet felt heavy, her heart filled with regret.

She looked back at Carsein’s lodgings several times as she left.

“It’s truly disheartening. As a mother, to be unable to give anything to my own son.”

A sharp pang of sadness pierced her heart.

Whenever she had given something to her other children, their joyful smiles had filled her with happiness. There was no greater joy for a parent.

But never before had she felt such a strong desire to care for her child.

“…I wish… I wish I could see him smile like that, too.”

She had never seen such an expression from him.

He always pushed away her attempts to give him anything.

Isabella sighed, rubbing her chest, and turned to leave.

There would be other opportunities.

There would be plenty of chances to care for her son.

-Ding!

▶ This text will not be displayed to the player. ◀

▶ The conditions for unlocking Isabella’s Hidden Episode have been met. ◀

[ 1. All support funds from the Bagrand Duchy are used solely for territorial development. ]☑

[ 2. Refusal of rewards from Isabella 3 or more times. ]☑

[ 3. Isabella’s affinity level reaches 80%. ]☑

[ 4. Isabella feels guilty, recalling her past mental illness. ]☑

▶ Isabella’s Hidden Episode: <Miraculously Cured Mental Illness> will begin automatically. ◀

***

-Ding!

▶ Event completed. ◀

▶ The conversation with Isabella has ended successfully, and the penalty has been nullified. ◀

After Isabella left, I finally relaxed, confirming that the event for the first day of the martial arts tournament, the family visit, was complete.

The choices hadn’t been difficult.

They had been as I expected, and I had been able to handle Isabella’s visit without issue.

It was just bad luck that Claire had found the shears I had dropped, leading to the investigation.

However, rather than feeling angry or frustrated, I felt cold.

“Hah.”

How could they be so similar?

Both of them, my adoptive mothers, were the same.

“Calling me their son, now, after all this time…”

It was laughable.

A true comedy.

Well, at least it had cleared my head.

My blood ran cold.

“I was never your son. And I never will be.”

Not Carsein in this world.

Nor Kim Min-hyeok in my past life.

I was never their son.

Just an outsider, picked up from somewhere else.

So just wait until I leave this house.

That would be the greatest gift I could give them.

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