I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Chapter 2 - Episode V (1)

The penalty messages for causing trouble at the party appeared as expected.

That meant Arina's next line should be…

“Why did you cause a scene at the party, Carsein?”

A reprimand, a scolding, directed at the troublemaker who had disrupted the peace.

The game’s dialogue might vary slightly, but the core message remained the same.

‘But… this is different.’

Something was missing.

The question, while relevant, didn’t feel right. It wasn't the kind of question she would ask in this situation.

And the choices…

▶ You must answer Arina’s question. How will you respond?

[ 1. (Feigning ignorance) What scene? ]

[ 2. (Sarcastically) You already know. What’s the point of asking? You’re here to scold me, aren’t you? ]

[ 3. (Standing tall, shoulders squared) I didn’t do anything wrong. ]

‘These choices are useless.’

I usually chose option 2.

It would trigger a second set of choices, allowing me to deflect the blame and endure the inevitable drop in affinity.

But something about this bothered me.

Minor variations in dialogue weren't unusual, but this was a significant change.

‘This has to be a variable. The game’s messing with me.’

Even the smallest action could alter the game’s script, triggering unforeseen consequences.

Dialogue was no exception, but when the core message was missing, I couldn’t risk choosing a predetermined response.

There might be hidden information, a new development, that had altered the original storyline.

I needed to gather information, to understand the situation.

“What scene?” I asked, my voice flat, my expression neutral.

The keywords were party, commotion, and Carsein.

Arina was here because she had heard about a disturbance I had caused, but this was a chance to gather information, even if it meant enduring a penalty.

Arina hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, her voice laced with disappointment.

“You… You’re acting like this is nothing…!”

No, that wasn't the answer I was looking for.

She had responded, but it wasn't enough.

Tell me more. Explain yourself. What did you hear? How did you interpret it?

I needed her to elaborate, to trigger the choices, to reveal her true intentions.

And to do that, I had to offer her something. A bait.

“It was my fault. Go ahead, scold me. Yell at me. I won't say anything.”

Accepting the inevitable punishment, enduring her wrath, was a familiar experience.

This submissive response, this display of weakness, would surely prompt her to explain her reasons for seeking me out.

I remained silent, waiting for her response.

Arina’s brow twitched, her annoyance evident.

“I don’t understand why you think I’m here to scold you.”

“…What?”

“Let me correct you. I’m not here to reprimand you. I’m here for a different reason.”

A different reason?

I had confronted Lady Helly, and somehow, that news had reached Arina.

But she wasn’t here to scold me?

“What are you talking about?”

“…Tsk, so it was their decision, after all. ”

She sighed, shaking her head.

“After you finished your second dance, Lady Helly approached me and accused you of deliberately humiliating her on the dance floor.”

That was expected.

Any noble, especially Helly, would twist the narrative to their advantage, using it as an excuse to punish me.

But her next words were unexpected.

“I was initially skeptical, assuming it was just another conflict with some nobles. But then I spoke with them, and I realized the situation was different.”

“Spoke with… who?”

“Your personal maid, Camilla, and the knight you brought with you, Sir Radiel.”

…So that’s what she meant by “their decision.”

Camilla and Radiel had intervened.

Arina recounted what they had told her, their explanation of my orders.

“I was going to question you, to punish you if those accusations were true. But their testimonies… they painted a different picture. It seems like Lady Helly was the one lying. You acted appropriately, you defended the Bagrand name. That’s why I’m not here to scold you.”

Technically, I deserved to be punished, but it seemed like their testimonies had influenced the choices, altering the outcome.

“Then why are you here?”

“To remind you… that you are a Bagrand.”

“What?”

“Lady Helly tried to deceive you, to take advantage of your supposed weakness. You don't have to hesitate to use the Duchy’s influence, Carsein.”

Use the Duchy’s influence?

Did she mean…

“You can use our family name, our authority, to protect yourself, Carsein. Don’t hesitate to retaliate. Don’t be so… passive.”

I had never heard those words before.

No, it was more than that.

She had explicitly forbidden me from doing so in the past.

Arina Bagrand, the one who had insisted I was an outsider, unworthy of the Bagrand name, who had warned me against tarnishing the Duchy’s reputation, was now giving me permission to use their influence?

“Are you… Are you afraid of reclaiming your authority? If so, you can always hand it over to me. I’ll handle it myself, the Bagrand way.”

Her words, her willingness to intervene on my behalf, were astounding.

-Ding!

‘…A choice, even in this situation.’

It wasn’t a penalty, but I had to respond.

And there were no difficult choices, no traps.

[ 5. Alright. ] ☑

“Alright.”

“Haa, let me make this clear, Carsein. I believe in rewards and punishments. I’m not here to scold you. I’m here to praise you, to return your authority. Your actions were befitting a true noble.”

“I heard you.”

I ended the conversation, keeping my response short and simple, and Arina, after a brief lecture, left the room.

Rewards and punishments?

Praising me and returning my authority?

Befitting a true noble?

‘Don’t make me laugh.’

Even if this happened again, I wouldn't rely on the Bagrands.

And I would never, ever ask Arina for help.

-Ding!

▶ Hidden Episode: A Noble’s Demeanor cleared. ◀

▶ You are now allowed to use the Bagrand name freely. ◀

▶ You can use the Duchy’s influence without incurring penalties. ◀

A status window appeared as she walked away, her footsteps echoing through the hallway.

The penalty choices were gone, replaced by a Hidden Episode completion notification.

This game was unpredictable.

“It doesn't matter. I’m not going to ask for their help anyway.”

I would repay my debts, earn my freedom, and escape.

On my own.

[ Arina Bagrand ]

[ Affinity Change: 32% → 42% ]

***

Snap. Snap.

The villagers pulled weeds from the dry, cracked soil, their movements weary, their faces etched with worry.

The plants, their roots withered and brittle, crumbled in their hands.

The farmer shook his head, his voice filled with despair.

“…It’s no use. Another failed harvest.”

“The other crops are the same. No improvement.”

“Same here.”

“Nothing’s growing.”

The other farmers echoed his sentiment, their heads bowed, their voices heavy with disappointment.

“Damn it! What’s wrong with this land?!”

But there were no answers.

They didn't know, despite having lived here for generations.

“…Let’s just give up. There’s no point in planting any more crops. We’re just wasting time and effort.”

“Village Head…”

“You all know, don’t you? Shatrain will never recover. It’s too far gone.”

The Village Head’s words, laced with grief, silenced them.

He was right. Shatrain would never be the same.

They would never again experience the prosperity of the past, the days when their specialties, the Shatrain strawberries and the Shatrain grapes, were prized throughout the Empire.

Anger, a burning resentment, began to simmer.

“It’s all because of that… that boy!”

“Yes, it’s Carsein’s fault! Our crops started dying after he arrived!”

“He brought nothing but misfortune! We could have fixed this, if only he had left us alone!”

“If only he hadn't been our temporary lord!”

The blight had started after his arrival, after he had been appointed their temporary lord.

They cursed him, their voices filled with venom, their words laced with hatred.

Their land, their livelihood, had been destroyed by an outsider, a fake Bagrand.

“…The Eastern Nobles’ Conference is starting soon, isn’t it?”

“Yes, tomorrow, I believe.”

“I heard it’s related to… territory management!”

““Village Head!””

He nodded, acknowledging their unspoken question.

“Shatrain is… one of the territories participating in the symposium.”

“Oh…”

“Please… Please let us have a competent lord this time.”

“Yes! Someone who can restore our land!”

“Anyone but Carsein!”

“The Duchy is still providing us with financial support, so we can… we can find other work. We can still use this land.”

They prayed, hoping for a new lord, a competent one, someone who could save them from this despair.

But…

Trisha, listening to their conversation, bit her lip, her heart sinking.

‘They’re all fools! Blind fools!’

They didn’t understand.

They didn’t know how hard he had tried!

Shatrain wasn’t ruined because of Carsein.

He had tried to save them, to heal their land.

He had worked tirelessly, his hands covered in dirt, his heart filled with a genuine desire to help.

‘Please… Please help us, Young Master.’

She prayed, a silent plea, hoping that he, unlike the others, would choose to stay.

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