I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Chapter 2 - Episode V (7)

Shatrain.

A land blessed with fertile soil, located in the heart of the Empire.

It was known for its two specialties, the Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes, rare and delicate fruits that couldn't be cultivated anywhere else. They were prized ingredients, staples in the Empire’s finest cuisines, adding a touch of sweetness and luxury to every dish.

But those days were gone.

Shatrain, once a thriving territory, was now a barren wasteland, struck by a devastating blight that had left its fields barren and its people desperate. The Bagrand Duchy provided financial support, keeping the territory afloat, but the economy was in ruins, the people struggling to survive.

And Carsein wanted to take on this burden?

It was like choosing to fail the symposium.

“I have to stop him. I have to prevent this, no matter what…”

“Sister? What are you talking about?”

“Huh? What?”

“You just said something about stopping something…”

Flora, her brow furrowed in confusion, tilted her head, her gaze fixed on her sister.

“Did you… Did you have another fight with Carsein?”

“N-No! Of course not!”

Claire, flustered, denied it quickly.

She had just told Flora she was going to see Carsein, and her younger sister’s expression was filled with worry.

“I was just… thinking about… the dam! The people working on the dam need thicker clothes, stronger ones. I was… worried about them.”

“Hmm… Really?”

She smiled, stroking Flora’s blonde hair gently, trying to reassure her.

But her mind was racing, her thoughts consumed by Carsein, his words echoing in her mind.

-Yes, it’s the best solution.

The best solution.

Those words left a bitter taste in her mouth, a gnawing sense of unease.

-Isn't this where I belong? The one who ruined Shatrain?

-Shatrain is facing a devastating crop failure. That once prosperous land… it’s been ruined, thanks to me. Shouldn’t I be on the lowest tier?

He had claimed responsibility for Shatrain’s downfall, accepting the blame without a fight.

-The Bagrand Duchy has always achieved high scores at the symposium. You, Claire, and Flora… you all deserve to be up there. But me? I’m not like you.

-I’m the only one who failed. It’s my responsibility, not the Duchy’s. I should be down here, to avoid tarnishing the Bagrand name. That’s why I’m here as the Lord of Lusmire, not as a Bagrand. I’m accepting the consequences of my actions.

His reasoning, his justification, was his past failure.

He was different from the other Bagrands, he claimed. He was a failure, a burden.

-It’s the perfect solution, isn’t it?

He had repeated those words, explaining why it was the best possible outcome.

He wouldn't tarnish the Duchy’s reputation.

He would accept the lowest score, the punishment for his past failures.

He would suffer, he would learn from his mistakes.

And no one else, not even his sisters, would have to bear the burden of his incompetence.

And she had wanted to scream, to shake him, to make him understand…

‘How can that be the perfect solution?!’

She had always reacted poorly to his self-deprecating words, his willingness to accept blame without a fight. She had yelled at him, berated him, but now, as she remembered those moments, her heart ached.

“Claire? Claire!”

“What? Oh, Sister?”

“It’s our turn to choose our territories. What are you doing?”

Arina’s sharp voice, her impatient tone, snapped her out of her thoughts.

She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed the other nobles, those from the highest tier, being called to the stage, descending the stairs to choose their territories.

“A-Ahaha, sorry, Sister. I was just thinking…”

“Are you nervous?”

“Well, yes, a bit.”

“Come on, let’s go. Flora’s already gone, and Carsein… Well, he’ll be down there, as always.”

“…”

As they descended the stairs, Claire glanced at Carsein.

He was still seated on the lowest tier, even though it was the Bagrand Duchy’s turn. It seemed like her suspicions were confirmed. He was determined to claim Shatrain.

Even if she offered to help, to accept the penalty for collaboration, he would probably refuse, just like he had told Arina.

And that worried her.

‘I’ve been sending them supplies, so I know… Shatrain is a dangerous territory. Especially for Carsein.’

She hadn’t been able to identify the cause of the blight, but one thing was clear – the resentment towards Carsein ran deep.

The land was barren, the crops withered and dying, and while they hadn’t openly expressed their anger towards the Bagrand Duchy, the villagers were filled with despair, blaming him for their misfortune.

She had even heard rumors that they were praying he wouldn’t be appointed their lord again.

And the villagers’ opinions, their approval ratings, were factored into the final score. If Carsein chose Shatrain, one of his scores would be automatically reduced to zero.

And Shatrain’s potential for development was abysmal. It was considered even more worthless than Lusmire, and if it wasn't for the Duchy’s financial support, it would have been abandoned long ago.

Even with the bonus points, even with the adjusted scoring system, there was no chance of him achieving a high score.

And Shatrain wasn't known for its military strength, so he couldn’t rely on monster subjugation to boost his score.

Trade, tourism, resources, technology, magic, craftsmanship… Shatrain excelled in none of these areas.

It was a territory solely reliant on agriculture, and to achieve a high score, to transform that barren wasteland into a flourishing land, he would need a miracle.

‘That’s… impossible…’

The thought itself was absurd.

“Next, Claire Bagrand. Please step into the designated area and choose your territory.”

“…”

“Claire?”

“Ah, yes. Coming.”

And then… it hit her.

An idea, a solution, a way to protect Carsein.

‘There’s an order, a sequence, for choosing territories!’

The inscription stones, used to register their choices and determine their rankings based on the previous year’s performance, meant that Carsein, with his abysmal score, would be the last one to choose.

Which meant Shatrain would still be available.

No other noble would choose that cursed land.

So, the solution was simple.

If someone else claimed Shatrain before him?

If she took on that burden, shielded him from that poisoned chalice?

If she chose Shatrain, making it unavailable to him?

‘Yes, I’ll manage Shatrain.’

She stepped towards the inscription stone, her heart pounding.

The map of the Empire appeared, the territories’ boundaries clearly marked.

Shatrain, located in the heart of the Empire, bordered the Bagrand Duchy. It was next to the newly created tunnel, a stark contrast to Lusmire’s isolation.

All she had to do was touch the territory, to inscribe her name.

She took a deep breath and reached for Shatrain.

And then…

-I’m doing all of this to prepare for the Eastern Nobles’ Conference.

Carsein’s voice, his words echoing in her mind, stopped her.

“Haa…”

-Flutter.

“Claire? It seems your inscription hasn’t been registered yet.”

“I just… I need to talk to someone! Let the next person go first!”

“Claire!”

She ignored Arsienne’s calls, rushing towards a lone figure seated on the lowest tier.

“Carsein.”

***

Carsein, who had been jotting down notes in his notebook, didn't even look up as she approached.

“Are you here to lecture me? I thought it would be Arina.”

“Do you even know what’s going on in Shatrain?”

“What?”

“If you choose Shatrain, if you become their temporary lord… do you realize what will happen? They won't obey your orders.”

It was a warning, a reminder of the deep resentment that festered within that territory.

He would be met with resistance, his authority challenged at every turn.

But Carsein simply continued writing, ignoring her words.

“You came here just to tell me that? Well, let them hate me. It’s my fault. I deserve it.”

“….”

“I can’t let the Bagrand Duchy suffer because of my mistakes, can I?”

Claire was silent for a moment, and then she asked,

“The villagers might lash out. There could be riots. And you’ll be held responsible. Do you understand?”

“I’ll accept the punishment.”

“You could get hurt!”

“Claire.”

-Thud.

He closed his notebook, his gaze finally meeting hers.

“I don’t need your help.”

“…!”

“What? You think I’m going to run back to the Duchy and beg for your help? Don’t worry. I won’t.”

“You…”

“Go back. It’s almost time.”

He opened his notebook again, and Arsienne, sensing her distress, signaled for her to return to her seat.

Claire walked away, her steps heavy, her gaze lingering on Carsein for a moment. But then, she clenched her jaw and turned away.

The map of the Empire reappeared, and her finger hovered over Shatrain.

‘He doesn’t have a plan! He’s going to ruin himself! If that’s the case, then I…!’

-Shatrain wasn’t ruined because of Carsein, Claire. It was because of you.

“…What?”

-If you had just questioned yourself, if you had just tried to understand, Shatrain wouldn’t have been ruined.

“….”

Her finger, about to touch Shatrain, hesitated, and then fell away.

It was her friend’s voice. Arsienne’s voice.

Why…

Why had she forgotten?

“You idiot!”

Slap!

She slapped herself, hard, the stinging pain a reminder of her past mistakes.

And then, staring at Shatrain, she asked herself,

“Will this really solve the problem? If someone else manages Shatrain?”

No, it wouldn't.

It wouldn’t erase the past, it wouldn’t change the villagers’ opinions of Carsein.

They still blamed him, they still hated him.

And what about him?

He had worked so hard, he had taken on Lusmire, just to earn this opportunity.

Why?

Why would he want to manage Shatrain again?

Why would he choose to represent Lusmire, instead of the Bagrand Duchy?

A thought, a possibility, crossed her mind.

Maybe…

Maybe he wanted to prove them wrong. To show them that Lusmire wasn’t just a fluke, that he was capable of managing a territory.

Maybe he wanted to redeem himself, to erase the stain of “Shatrain’s Shame.”

Maybe, he wanted to prove that he wasn’t a failure.

And if that was the case…

-Tap!

[ Tarshion Territory ]

“I can’t… I can’t let him fail!”

She had to trust him.

She had to believe that he could do it.

That he could achieve the impossible, that he could revitalize Shatrain.

She had made a mistake before, allowing her anger and her prejudices to cloud her judgment.

She wouldn't repeat that mistake.

If she truly cared about Carsein, she couldn’t interfere, she couldn’t create a situation where he would be forced to rely on the Duchy, forced to repeat the mistakes of the past.

And to do that, she had to deceive her sisters.

“Sister? That took a while.”

“Yeah, were you nervous?”

“I was thinking. About how to help Carsein… I have a plan. Want to hear it?”

-Ding!

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

▶ Clear condition 1 for Claire’s exclusive Hidden Episode: Unfading Discomfort has been met. ◀

[ Condition 1: Claire will not interfere in Carsein’s chosen territory during the symposium. ☑ ]

▶ Receiving Reward. ◀

■ Reward

[ All obstacles and death flags associated with the Bagrand Duchy have been removed. ]

[ Completion Rate increase boosted by 15%! ]

[ You can now freely participate in all events, regardless of your affiliation with the Bagrand Duchy, without incurring penalties! ]

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