I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Diverging Paths (8)

“What kind of language is that, Carsein?”

The same question, but a completely different tone.

Before, it had been a sigh of exasperation, a lament directed at a troublesome younger sibling. Now, it was a command, laced with authority and a hint of menace.

But I wouldn’t back down.

This was what I wanted.

“I apologize if my words are inappropriate. This is the etiquette I learned from books.”

“Ha…”

Arina’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp and piercing.

Her blue eyes flashed with anger.

“You dare use such formal language with your family? Are you out of your mind? Why are you acting like this?”

“How can a mere lord of Lusmire use informal language with the First Daughter of the Bagrand Duchy? It would be disrespectful.”

“Carsein.”

“If my etiquette is incorrect, please enlighten me. I believe I’m following the guidelines outlined in the most respected etiquette books used by the nobility.”

Arina’s eye twitched.

“You’re still playing these games? Should I burn those outdated etiquette books in your room when we return to the Duchy? Who uses such formal language with their own family?”

-Thud.

“I don’t have time for this. Just sign the collaboration agreement. Stop being stubborn. If you try to pull this stunt again, I won’t be so lenient.”

Just like before, she placed a document on the table.

Ironically, she was presenting him with a detailed plan, a strategy for the symposium, but going off her expression… She hadn't noticed a thing.

-Ding!

▶ Consecutive choices. How will you react to Arina’s document?

The next set of choices appeared.

I knew the right answer, the optimal path.

But I hadn’t understood why it was the right answer.

There were countless ways to refuse her offer, to reject her plan. Why resort to such drastic measures?

I had simply accepted it as the correct choice, without questioning its logic.

But now, I understood.

That choice, the one I had seen countless times during my retries, the one that had always led to a successful outcome…

It was the perfect answer.

The Torn Plan Memorial had shown me the truth.

That choice, that specific line, was the most fitting response for Carsein.

[ 1. I don’t want to burden the Bagrand Duchy. ] ☑

And I would add a little something extra.

“You stubborn fool.”

Her voice, harsher now, laced with anger, was directed at me.

“I’m not even a member of the Bagrand Duchy anymore. How can I possibly burden you with my problems? It’s absurd.”

“Ha…! I warned you! And you’re still playing these games?!”

Yes. That’s it.

Her blue eyes, unlike before, were filled with pure, unadulterated rage.

Her hand, clenched into a fist, rose.

This was the perfect outcome. This would ruin her plan, her carefully crafted strategy.

‘Go ahead, slap me. Just like that bitch, my eldest sister, who never hesitated to use violence.’

There were no penalties, no negative consequences.

Even the temporary loss of HP was insignificant.

This would ensure I chose the right option. And the pain was fleeting, a momentary discomfort. I was used to it.

Cold. Colder.

I had to maintain my composure, my rationality.

But as I braced myself for the impact, a smirk playing on my lips…

Her hand stopped inches from my face.

“What do you think you’re doing, Lady Arina?”

“Your Highness.”

Arina’s hand, charged with mana, was caught…

By Second Prince Florence.

‘This scene… something feels off.’

This had happened before.

Not in Carsein’s memories, but in mine.

-Ding!

▶ You have achieved an outcome beyond the given choices. ◀

▶ Second Prince Florence witnesses the scene. ◀

■ Reward

[ You will not incur any choice penalties! ]

…Ha. The Vice President, again.

***

Arina, startled by Florence’s sudden appearance, quickly withdrew her mana, glancing around to make sure no one else had witnessed the scene.

“I apologize for my behavior, Your Highness. I lost my composure.”

“…”

She bowed her head respectfully.

Florence sighed inwardly, watching her.

And then, his gaze shifted to Carsein, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He shook his head.

“Carsein, you may leave.”

“…Your Highness, this is a family matter. If you’re concerned about the commotion, we can simply move to a different location.”

“Lady Arina.”

“Carsein’s behavior was unacceptable, and he needs to be punished. This has nothing to do with the symposium.”

“Sigh.”

This time, he didn’t bother suppressing his sigh.

“Then let’s hear it from Carsein himself. Tell me, what happened between you two?”

“I simply refused to sign the collaboration agreement.”

“Collaboration agreement?”

“Yes. I couldn’t accept it.”

“That’s not true!”

Arina interrupted, her voice sharp and accusatory.

“We were simply drafting a collaboration agreement between family members, and—”

“Lady Arina, I’m asking Carsein.”

“…!”

“Continue, Carsein.”

“I’m participating in this symposium as the Lord of Lusmire. That agreement would have been a burden on the Bagrand Duchy, a parasitic relationship, not a collaboration.”

Carsein, you…！

Arina’s eyes blazed with fury.

Florence, after examining the agreement, carefully folded it.

“I understand. A collaboration agreement cannot be enforced if one party refuses. You may leave, Carsein.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Carsein, without a backward glance, left the conference hall.

Arina, frustrated by his departure, turned to Florence, her voice filled with indignation.

“Why did you allow him to leave, Your Highness? He’s being unreasonable!”

“Sigh. Lady Arina, why can’t you remember?”

“Remember what?”

Florence sighed, rubbing his face wearily.

“Come with me. I was in charge of this matter back then, so I’ll explain it to you myself.”

-Ding!

▶ Target’s Affinity increased! ◀

[ Florence Qurnen Pesselus ]

[ Current Affinity: 20% ]

***

They walked for quite a while, leaving the conference hall behind.

Arina suggested discussing the matter elsewhere, but Florence insisted on reaching their destination, reminding her that she had been the one who had caused the commotion in the first place.

And so, Arina followed Florence to a private reception room, located deep within the conference hall.

“Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you. I’d prefer to get straight to the point.”

“You’re always in such a hurry. I chose this room for its soundproofing. I don't want this conversation to be overheard.”

It was Carsein who had caused the commotion.

Her head throbbed, a dull ache behind her eyes.

“…Judging by your expression, you’re still blaming Carsein.”

Florence’s words hit a nerve.

Arina, her chin held high, met his gaze, her voice firm.

“It’s not blame, it’s the truth. He ruined Shatrain, and now he’s causing even more trouble.”

“Lady Arina.”

“I’m simply stating the facts. He’s incompetent, and yet he insists on leading Shatrain. It’s arrogance, pure and simple.”

He had ruined Shatrain.

He had caused countless problems.

He had refused to take responsibility for his actions.

She couldn’t see it any other way.

“We’re only trying to help him because he’s family. He’s being reckless, completely disregarding our efforts.”

Florence, his voice flat, asked,

“Are you saying you want to disown him?”

“What? No, of course not…”

“You threatened to expel him from the Bagrand Duchy, didn’t you?”

Arina flinched.

“What are you talking about?”

“You don’t even remember? It happened right here, in this conference hall, during the last symposium.”

“…”

She didn’t know.

She couldn’t remember.

Had she really said that?

“Sigh.”

Florence sighed, taking a sip of his tea.

And then, he repeated her words, her threats, verbatim.

“‘I’ve revised your pathetic plan. Implement these changes, and we’ll handle the rest. The Duchy will take responsibility.’”

He continued, his voice mimicking her tone, her anger.

“‘If you dare tarnish the Bagrand Duchy’s reputation again, I won’t hesitate to expel you, no matter what Mother says.’”

Arina’s expression hardened, her face paling.

“Did… Did I really say that?”

“Yes. You slapped Carsein, just like you did today, and then you said those words. And there’s one more thing.”

-Slide.

“You presented him with a collaboration agreement, just like this one.”

“…!”

“Does that jog your memory?”

The memories, faint and fragmented, began to resurface, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her.

“You said you were trying to protect him because he was family. And yet, you did the same thing to him again?”

“Your Highness, that was… a mistake! I lost control of my emotions! I didn’t mean it…!”

“It might not have been your intention, but how do you think Carsein felt?”

“What…?”

“Do you really think he didn’t believe you? That he didn’t think you would actually expel him?”

Florence’s words hit her like a physical blow.

-You said you would expel me if I caused any more trouble. Just consider me expelled.

He had said those words because he believed her.

“You didn’t remember your own words, your own threats. And yet, you did the same thing to him again.”

-Plop.

“I’m disappointed.”

With those final words, Florence dropped an ice cube into her teacup and left the room.

It was a subtle message, a noble custom, telling her to cool down, to clear her head.

“…I made a mistake.”

She needed to cool down.

She had done it again. She had hurt Carsein, just like she had done in the past.

She remembered his face, his expression at the Snowflake Festival, the day she had threatened to leave him behind.

Those words, those threats… she shouldn’t have said them.

“…”

-Pop.

She opened a bottle of wine, pouring the crimson liquid into her glass.

She wanted to forget.

To erase this memory, this mistake.

-Ding!

▶ Arina’s Affinity increased. ◀

[ Arina Bagrand ]

[ Affinity Change: 45% → 49% ]

***

“Sigh.”

Florence, leaving the conference hall, glanced back at the reception room where he had left Arina. He shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.

“I’ve burdened you with a heavy sin.”

He had thought that Carsein, being from the Wederos Kingdom, would be different.

He had hoped that Carsein's unique background, his experiences, would allow him to see through the nobles’ schemes, to understand the true purpose of the symposium.

But he hadn't considered Carsein's family situation, the emotional baggage he carried.

He might have to intervene, eventually.

With a heavy heart, he stepped out of the conference hall, seeking solace in the fresh air.

“…You?”

And then, he saw him.

Carsein.

The one he had tried to separate from Arina.

“Why are you here…? Ah.”

He had asked the question without thinking, but then he realized…

“You’re here because I summoned you, aren’t you?”

He had unintentionally used a noble custom, a subtle signal, to summon Carsein.

It wasn't a conscious decision, but Carsein, with his sharp eyes, had noticed.

‘…I underestimated him again.’

He had assumed Carsein was unfamiliar with noble customs, but, perhaps he had been wrong.

Florence, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes, handed Carsein a small object. It was the real gift, the one hidden within the object he had previously offered as a present.

“It’s nothing special. I just wanted to give you this.”

“This is a map of Shatrain’s internal structure. It seems a bit inaccurate.”

“Indeed. I believe it was created by a rival noble faction.”

As expected, Carsein had seen through his charade.

“…Are you saying… the Waglu faction is interfering with Shatrain?”

The message he had tried to convey, the warning hidden within the map, had been instantly deciphered.

But strangely, Florence wasn't disappointed.

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