I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 149

Chapter 149: A Significant Intersection (5)

“…”

Minutes passed since Carsein left the terrace.

Harnie sat motionless, her gaze unfocused, lost in thought.

They had returned, her body lifted effortlessly into his arms, and she had been confused at first. But then, he had removed her shoe, his gaze fixed on her injured ankle.

The tight shoe.

The bandaged wound.

He had sensed it, somehow.

She had thought she was hiding it well.

She hadn't shown any sign of pain, her voice hadn't wavered, and he couldn’t have possibly known about the shoes.

Her only mistake had been that stumble during the climax of the dance…

But, was that really all it took?

“No, that’s impossible.”

Considering the difficulty of the dance, it was surprising she hadn't made any other mistakes.

The music, the rapid tempo, the complex steps, it was all designed to disrupt their rhythm, to create chaos.

And they hadn’t even practiced that much.

Carsein might have been a quick learner, but they were still relatively unfamiliar with each other's movements. It wouldn’t have been strange for her to stumble, to miss a step.

But…

He had seen through it all, deduced her injury based on a single misstep?

No, it wasn’t just the stumble.

Then… what was it?

How had he noticed?

She couldn’t understand.

And…

His words, spoken softly, echoed in her mind.

-Even if you weren’t my fiancée, I wouldn’t let you suffer like this. Not again.

“Why… Why would he say that?”

They were just…

She tried to push the thought away, but it lingered, a persistent echo accompanied by the sound of a heart pounding, a rhythm she couldn’t ignore.

And then…

A knock at the door startled her.

-Knock, knock.

“Lady Harnie, I’m Radiel Gruppein, a knight from the Bagrand Duchy. I’m here on Young Master Carsein’s orders. May I enter?”

“…Carsein’s orders?”

“Yes, he asked me to escort you, to ensure your safety.”

Escort her?

Harnie, repeating the word, ignored the sudden flutter in her chest, and granted Radiel entry.

The knight entered the terrace, carrying a pair of shoes.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, the Young Master asked me to get these for you. He made sure to find out your size.”

-Thump!

Another heart pounding.

***

I knew it was a foolish, reckless move.

What good would it do, confronting Lady Helly? Warning her wouldn’t change anything, and delivering those shoes… it would only bring more trouble.

Arina, Claire, and Isabella would lecture me, scold me for my impulsiveness. And if the game system decided to intervene, even the bonuses from the Emergency Mission might be nullified.

It was a guaranteed loss.

But I couldn't just let it go.

“She stooped to such a petty, cruel tactic.”

The shoes were clearly too small.

How much pain had she endured, dancing in those shoes?

But Harnie hadn’t complained, not once.

She hadn’t shown any sign of pain, hadn’t even hinted at the reason behind her discomfort.

No, she had actively tried to hide it.

I had been suspicious at first, noticing a slight tremor in her movements during the dance. But her expression had remained unchanged, masking her pain.

But as the dance progressed, as the tension rose, I had noticed the subtle flinch, the slight trembling, the way she shifted her weight to avoid putting pressure on her injured ankle.

She had been enduring it.

And why?

Because she didn’t want to cause a scene.

Because she knew that speaking out, that revealing her predicament, would only make things worse.

Because she knew there was no one to help her.

So she had endured the pain, clenched her jaw, and forced herself to dance.

Because the pain was temporary.

“…She’s a fool.”

My hand tightened around the shoes.

Ironically, it was a situation similar to mine, but this…

This was different.

This was bullying.

A deliberate act of cruelty, orchestrated by Lady Helly and her cronies.

And in a situation like this, silence was poison.

“Harnie, silence won’t solve the problem.”

I knew this. I had been there.

I had endured worse, far worse, in that hellhole they called school.

She had to fight back, to stand up for herself, to show them she wasn’t a helpless victim.

She had to break their power, their control, by revealing her own strength, her own will.

“Camilla.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“If someone receives a gift, a pair of shoes, that don’t fit… how can they express their displeasure? What kind of message would it send?”

Camilla hesitated, her gaze fixed on the shoes, before responding.

“It would be seen as a sign of disrespect, Young Master. Perhaps even… contempt.”

“That’s not enough.”

“What?”

“Contempt? No, I’m asking if there’s a way to retaliate. To make it clear that this was a deliberate act of aggression.”

I had to make them pay.

Words weren’t enough. I needed to send a message, a clear, unmistakable display of power, an act of retaliation that would leave a lasting impression.

Camilla, understanding my intentions, pointed at the shoes.

“Usually, when someone receives a gift they dislike, they… destroy it and send it back. But… she’s already worn them, hasn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“Then, how about this?”

She glanced around, making sure no one was listening, and leaned closer, whispering in my ear.

“This is a tactic commonly used by nobles, so there’s no chance of it backfiring.”

“Hmm, really?”

It was a brilliant idea.

But it would take time.

“Don’t worry, Young Master. All the ladies who attended this party had to register their names. I can easily identify her and deliver your message.”

She wouldn't have any trouble. She was a former noble after all.

“Thank you, Camilla. I’ll leave this to you.”

“It will be my pleasure, Young Master.”

Now, all I had to do was prepare for Lady Helly’s reaction.

***

Meanwhile, Lady Helly, her plans in ruins, paced back and forth across her dressing room, her brow furrowed in frustration.

‘What… What went wrong?’

She had claimed to have a fiancé, and that was a lie they could easily expose.

But the dance…

How could a commoner, someone who wasn’t even familiar with basic etiquette, master such a complex dance?

It was absurd. Ballroom dancing was a refined art form, a display of elegance and sophistication that required years of training.

It was impossible to master in such a short time. And even if he had attempted to learn it on his own…

He had never danced with a partner before.

That’s why she had been so confident.

‘But, how is he so good?! There were no mistakes!’

Carsein, who was supposed to be a laughingstock, had danced flawlessly, his movements synchronized with Harnie’s, transforming their lie into a believable truth.

She had handpicked the other couples, the most talented, the most critical, to highlight Harnie’s inadequacy, to expose her deception.

But…

The dance they had performed had been filled with intricate steps and complex maneuvers.

And despite the challenging music, the rapid tempo and unpredictable rhythm changes, they had danced flawlessly.

It was already unbelievable, but…

How had she managed to pull it off in those shoes? In those ill-fitting shoes that were clearly too small?

“What’s going on?!”

-Rattle.

She slammed her fist on the table, sending the teacup rattling.

And then…

-Knock, knock.

Someone was knocking at the door.

She quickly composed herself, adjusting her clothes, smoothing out the creases, and clearing her throat, masking her anger and frustration.

“Who is it?”

“Carsein Bagrand.”

“…!”

Her heart skipped a beat.

He was the one who had danced with Harnie. Why was he here?

As Harnie Theresia’s fiancé, he had no reason to visit her.

‘No, wait…’

His presence here was strange, wasn’t it?

‘Maybe… he doesn’t know about their relationship?’

That was a more plausible explanation.

It wasn’t as if engaged couples shared every single detail of their lives.

And Harnie was under pressure from the Theresia Marquisate. And Carsein, as everyone knew, wasn’t a true noble. He was a commoner, an outsider.

This…

This could be an opportunity.

Lady Helly decided to open the door.

“Come in—“

She froze.

Carsein, dressed to the nines, stood before her, his gaze unwavering.

Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

“Is there something on my face?”

“N-No, it’s just… ”

She stammered, averting her gaze, her cheeks flushing.

‘He’s… handsome.’

His once scrawny frame was now lean and muscular.

His suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and his new height.

And his face…

She couldn’t help but stare.

“Ah, greetings. And you are…? H-Hel… something?”

He didn’t know her name.

It was an insult, a blatant disregard for her status as a noble lady.

But…

She had to maintain her composure.

‘So you’re pretending not to know me, are you?’

Harnie hadn’t told him.

This… This could be her chance to sow discord, to drive a wedge between them.

“It’s Helly.”

“Ah, my apologies. I tend to… forget those who aren’t important to me.”

“It’s quite alright. But, I enjoyed your dance earlier. You handled that difficult routine with such grace.”

She smiled, her eyes sparkling.

She had made a decision.

She would steal him away from Harnie.

“And after witnessing such a performance, I felt compelled to prepare a small gift.”

It wasn’t the gift’s original purpose, but it was a perfect excuse.

She handed him a box.

“This is unexpected. I also have a gift for you, Lady Helly.”

“…What?”

“I’ve heard you’re a talented dancer. I wasn’t able to witness it myself this time, but I hope you’ll grace us with a performance next time.”

The gift, he explained, was a pair of shoes.

‘This is… too easy!’

She could barely contain her excitement.

Not only did he know about her dancing, but he had even brought her a gift. This exchange, this public display of appreciation, would be undeniable proof of their connection, a perfect tool to fuel the rumors and drive a wedge between him and Harnie.

“Wonderful! The ball isn’t over yet, so perhaps we could dance later, wearing these shoes? Let’s try them on, shall we?”

She smiled, opening the box.

If she could spread the word, announce their upcoming dance, Harnie would be ruined.

But…

“…!”

The moment she opened the box, her smile vanished, her face stiffening.

“Why aren’t you trying them on?”

Her smile, replaced by a look of confusion, faltered.

Carsein, on the other hand, smirked, his eyes cold and calculating.

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