I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 198

Chapter 198: One Step Away (14)

"Tell me more. A box? What kind of box was it?"

"Well… I'm not sure what it was for, but there were two boxes. One was filled with coins, and… the other one was empty."

"Hmm. Only those two boxes were damaged in his room? What in the… No, let's find the culprit first. Security should have been tight. Have they identified anyone?"

"I apologize. Young Master Carsein told us to take a break, so… we weren't expecting anyone to enter his room at that time…! Please forgive our negligence…!"

"...Sigh. He told you to take a break, and that's when someone broke into his room?"

Arina’s face contorted in frustration.

With that, the conditions were met.

▶ You have fulfilled all three conditions upon arriving at the party. ◀

[ 1. Lower Arina’s or Claire’s affinity twice in a row. ] ☑

[ 2. Learn about someone secretly entering Carsein's room and remain passive until a servant discovers the incident. ] ☑

[ 3. A specific item has been stolen and is no longer obtainable. ] ☑

The optimal approach to Flora’s Birthday episode was to avoid causing any trouble at the party.

Minimize the Attention Level and maximize the Completion Rate by completing Emergency Missions and utilizing event gimmicks. This would allow you to clear the episode smoothly in about a day.

But that wasn't the only way.

If you didn't want to waste time at the party, there was another option, a riskier route, that allowed you to leave early.

▶ Additional choices unlocked due to meeting the conditions. ◀

▶ These choices can be used at any time during the episode. ◀

The Stolen Gift incident.

This route required fulfilling several tricky conditions.

But after being transported into the game, it wasn’t as difficult as it seemed.

Dismissing the servants and maids, expertly avoiding the nobles who approached him, and confirming the situation from a hidden location was all easier than in the game.

Three new choices appeared after triggering the incident, granting Carsein the right to leave.

‘It’s a risky move, but I don’t have time to waste on these choices.’

I wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible.

“Carsein, was there something important in your room?”

-Ding!

▶ Choice triggered!

“Yes. Something very important.”

“…What?”

[ Solution. Flora’s birthday present was in there. ] ☑

“Flora’s birthday present was in there.”

“Birthday… present…?”

Arina narrowed her eyes, suspicious.

“Are you sure? You’re saying you left her birthday present in your room?”

-Ding!

“All the birthday presents are kept on the third floor. The servants are supposed to bring them down when it’s time. So why was your present in your room on the second floor?”

▶ Arina is suspicious. Choose an option.

[ 1. I went to get some fresh air and moved the present to my room. ]

[ 2. Do you have amnesia? Don't you remember me leaving earlier? ]

[ 3. The servants left it in my room after I told them to take a break. That’s why it was there. ]

The correct choices were 1 or 3. The only difference was the impact on the Attention Level and Completion Rate.

But I chose the additional solution.

[ Solution. You’re asking me that because you want to accuse me of not bringing a present, aren’t you? ] ☑

“You’re asking me that because you want to accuse me of not bringing a present, aren’t you?”

Arina’s eye twitched.

It was clearly a question based on suspicion, but it was a perfect opportunity for me.

This was the choice that allowed me to leave the party early, deviating from the usual route.

“I didn’t say that. Don’t overreact.”

[ Solution. If you weren’t trying to accuse me, you would have started searching for the missing present. I’d rather be called a trashy brother who didn’t even bring a gift. ] ☑

“If you weren’t trying to accuse me, you would have started searching for the missing present. I’d rather be called a trashy brother who didn’t even bring a gift.”

“Carsein, I’m warning you. Shut your mouth.”

Arina’s face turned red.

If I said anything more, her affinity would drop.

But I didn't care.

That was what I wanted.

[ Solution. I’m sorry, Flora. It seems like I’m a trashy brother who didn’t even bring you a present. ] ☑

“I’m sorry, Flora. It seems like I’m a trashy brother who didn’t even bring you a present.”

“…!”

“Carsein!”

[ Solution. (Standing up and walking towards the exit) A piece of trash like me, who doesn’t even deserve to be at this party, shouldn’t ruin everyone’s fun. So, I’ll get out of your hair. Enjoy the party. ] ☑

-Click.

“A piece of trash like me, who doesn’t even deserve to be at this party, shouldn’t ruin everyone’s fun. So, I’ll get out of your hair. Enjoy the party.”

“You little…!”

Arina shouted after me.

“What? What’s going on?”

“I heard shouting… Oh my.”

“Lady Arina and… Is that…?”

“I think I understand what’s happening…”

The nobles’ attention shifted towards us.

“Sister? What? What’s going on?”

“What happened? Why were they shouting?”

Isabella and Claire turned towards the commotion as well.

And finally…

“N-No… I… I…”

Flora, her eyes filled with tears, looked at me, unable to speak.

Everyone at the party was staring at me.

‘That’s why the Attention Level is so high.’

The choices had disappeared, but I could still say a few words. The main event was over, and it would soon transition to a skip scene.

“Don’t worry. This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

Everything Carsein had owned had been destroyed.

He would be scolded by his family for not bringing a gift.

And now, he was leaving the party.

This was what she wanted, wasn’t it?

Right, Flora?

Just like in the game, I turned and walked away without looking back.

-Ding!

▶ Triggered the Early Exit route instead of the standard route. ◀

▶ Attention Level and Completion Rate locked. ◀

[ Attention Level: 85% ]

[ Completion Rate: 60% ]

▶ Episode VII. Flora’s Birthday cleared due to exceeding 60% Completion Rate. ◀

▶ Successfully exited the party. ◀

▶ Penalty incurred due to high Attention Level. ◀

[ Penalty: The number of territories willing to trade with Shatrain has decreased. ]

This penalty meant that it would be more difficult to investigate Shatrain through trade with other territories. It was slightly troublesome.

‘But this isn’t really a penalty.’

I wasn’t following the standard route anyway.

My plan was to expose Shatrain’s problems myself, so technically, I had escaped without any real penalties.

Outside, a cool, refreshing breeze greeted me.

***

In the end, she hadn’t been able to choose a gift for Carsein.

She didn't know what he liked, what he disliked. She didn't know what would be appropriate.

She had considered asking her sisters or her mother for advice, but they didn't seem to know much about him either.

She had thought about asking Camilla, Carsein’s personal maid, but…

Camilla’s words still echoed in her mind.

-That sin cannot be forgiven. You will have to carry that burden for the rest of your life. Young Master Carsein has already shown you mercy countless times.

Camilla’s cold, indifferent response, her declaration that there was no way to atone for her actions… Flora couldn’t bring herself to ask for her help.

So, her knowledge of Carsein remained limited.

The only thing she knew for certain was that she shouldn't give him Kelbia fruit.

She had to get him something.

She carefully arranged the items she had chosen in a gift box.

It was a rather awkward assortment.

Time passed, and it was her turn to give her debutante speech.

She recited the speech her mother and Arina had prepared for her, flawlessly.

And then, a thought occurred to her.

Carsein’s reputation among the nobles was still terrible.

‘There he is.’

After her speech, Flora went looking for Carsein.

“Um… Carsein.”

“What.”

“Can you… dance with me for the first dance? I have something to tell you…”

She had thought that dancing with him, being chosen as his first dance partner, would be a way to show everyone that he was a noble, a member of the Bagrand Duchy.

And it would give her a chance to ask him about his birthday present.

She had approached him with the hope of improving his reputation, but…

“I refuse.”

He had coldly rejected her.

Carsein had then gotten into a brief argument with Arina, who had tried to persuade him to dance with Flora. He had quickly dismissed her suggestion.

She had been disappointed, but…

She still had a gift for him.

…And then,

“Someone… tampered with Carsein’s belongings? What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know the details, My Lady. But… someone entered Young Master Carsein’s room and… destroyed everything…”

“A… box… Apparently.”

“A box?”

“…?!”

She overheard a conversation between a servant and Arina.

‘A box…?’

Her heart sank.

She remembered.

It was during her birthday party last year.

Carsein had taken two boxes from under his bed.

“Well… I’m not sure what it was for, but there were two boxes. One was filled with coins…”

One box had been filled with coins.

“The other one was empty.”

The other one had been empty because she had stolen the contents and sold them.

The memory was vivid, clear.

Carsein had been frantically searching his room that day.

He had gone out, and when he returned, he had been scolded by her sisters and her mother. No, it was more than just a scolding…

-…I’m sorry. I didn’t prepare anything.

He hadn't been able to get her a birthday present, and he had been punished, confined to his room.

The pieces fit together.

The past and the present overlapped, merging into a single, terrifying image.

So… was this happening again?

“Are you sure? You’re saying you left her birthday present in your room?”

…Huh?

She realized that Carsein and Arina were arguing.

“All the birthday presents are kept on the third floor. The servants are supposed to bring them down when it’s time. So why was your present in your room on the second floor?”

Sister!

Don’t say that!

She glanced at Carsein, her heart pounding.

But it was too late.

His face, cold and impassive, sent a shiver down her spine.

“You’re asking me that because you want to accuse me of not bringing a present, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t say that. Don’t overreact.”

No, Sister!

That’s not it!

“If you weren’t trying to accuse me, you would have started searching for the missing present. I’d rather be called a trashy brother who didn’t even bring a gift.”

“Carsein, I’m warning you. Shut your mouth.”

It’s my fault!

It’s all my fault!

“I’m sorry, Flora. It seems like I’m a trashy brother who didn’t even bring you a present.”

“…!”

“Carsein!”

The past, superimposed on the present, struck her like a physical blow. Her breath hitched, her chest tightening.

-Click.

“A piece of trash like me, who doesn’t even deserve to be at this party, shouldn’t ruin everyone’s fun. So, I’ll get out of your hair. Enjoy the party.”

“You little…!”

The heavy weight in her chest plummeted, leaving a hollow ache.

She couldn't breathe.

She tried to speak, to call out to him, but…

“N-No… I… I…”

“Don’t worry. This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”

He turned and walked away, his expression unchanged.

Everything had fallen apart.

She couldn't give him the gift she’d prepared.

Her plan to share her birthday with him, to celebrate his belated birthday, had ended in disaster.

The consequences of her past actions had returned to haunt her.

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