I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 143

Chapter 143: A Reversal of Roles (1)

I breathed in the fresh spring air, basking in the warm sunlight. Food filled my plate, and laughter filled my ears.

And...

-Click.

Unlike last time, this year's family portrait captured all five of them, their smiles bright, their expressions genuine.

The Bagrand Duchy's spring outing was a success.

“But… Carsein…”

Flora, clutching the framed portrait, felt a wave of unease despite the sense of relief that washed over her.

She had been observing him, and he had been distant, his demeanor cold and detached, throughout the entire outing.

It worried her.

She had been cruel to him in the past, rejecting him, refusing to acknowledge him as her brother.

She had thrown tantrums, refusing to participate in family events.

She had even explicitly stated her opposition to the family portrait.

And yet, Carsein had acted as if nothing had happened.

He had obeyed their mother's every command, participating in every activity, from the picnic to the meals, the meetings with the other nobles, and even the dreaded portrait session.

It was as if the past didn’t exist.

And that bothered Flora.

She had seen it, time and time again.

He had endured countless injustices without a single complaint.

He had been denied basic necessities, and yet he never expressed any resentment.

He had accepted the deep, unmistakable scars she had inflicted, never once holding her accountable.

Was he truly okay?

Could she believe that he had simply… forgotten?

No.

“…I have to know.”

Did he truly not remember? Or was he pretending?

She had to find out.

She would visit him, ask him about that day, gauge his reaction.

And she had the perfect excuse.

This book.

She grabbed a thick textbook and rushed towards Carsein’s room, her heart pounding.

Camilla opened the door a moment later, her expression neutral, her gaze polite but distant.

Carsein was sitting at his desk, his pen moving rapidly across the page.

“What is it?”

His abrupt question startled Flora, and she held out the book, her voice barely a whisper.

“I… I need help… with my studies…”

She had hoped that asking for help with a problem would allow her to talk to him, to spend some time with him.

Carsein sighed, but he gestured towards a small round table, inviting her to sit.

He didn’t say anything, but his actions were an agreement to help.

He began explaining the concepts, solving the problems one by one, but Flora was too busy observing him, trying to gauge his mood, his reaction.

And then, gathering her courage, she asked,

“Um… this isn’t about the problem… but can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Sister Claire said that Mother wanted to cancel the portrait session and go back to the Duchy, but… you insisted on staying? ”

“So what.”

“I-I was just curious! You… you were hurt when you came back… I thought maybe you were… upset…”

Her words were clumsy, but she had conveyed her message.

She waited for his answer, her heart pounding.

Would he reveal his true feelings? Would he acknowledge the pain she had caused him?

“Is that why you’re here? To pry into my personal life?”

His tone was dismissive, as if he didn't care.

“Why would I be upset? It was those idiots who started the fight. They were the ones who got hurt, not me.”

“You… You beat them up?”

“I told you it wasn’t my blood. Well, I did get punched in the face, but as you can see, I’m fine now.”

…What?

He wasn’t upset about that day?

He was dismissing it, as if it were a trivial matter.

‘He’s… He’s okay?’

He wasn’t bringing it up, he wasn't holding it against her. He wasn’t mentioning their fight, her childish behavior, her insistence on having the portraits painted.

It was as if… he didn’t care.

“Focus. You’re not paying attention.”

“I-I know!”

“You’re making the same mistakes, even after I explained the formulas.”

His words, his reprimand, brought a wave of relief.

He wasn’t pretending.

He simply didn’t care.

“Then… explain it again?”

She wanted to spend more time with him, to learn, to connect.

“….”

And outside the door…

Claire, listening to their conversation, closed her eyes, her heart aching.

The Turmus Flower fragment she clutched in her hand was a reminder of that day, of her mistake.

‘He knew, and he… pretended…’

It had all been a lie.

His acceptance, his willingness to participate in the outing, his indifference to their past actions…

It was all a facade.

A wave of guilt washed over her, a suffocating feeling of unease.

-Ding!

▶ Affinity Increased. ◀

[ Current Affinity: 80% ]

▶ Claire’s Affinity has reached 80%. ◀

▶ Hidden Episode: Unfading Discomfort conditions met. ◀

▶ Activating Hidden Episode! ◀

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

“I… I didn’t… I didn’t do anything for you…”

Claire, her lips trembling, turned away, unable to face him.

***

▶ Sub-Episode: Flora’s Studies (2) cleared. ◀

“So it’s a recurring sub-episode…”

The notification surprised me, but the (2) in the title explained everything.

Sub-episodes usually had a significant impact on the main storyline, so they were typically one-time events.

But there were exceptions.

Just like the recurring monster subjugation sub-episode in Lusmire, there were sub-episodes that could be triggered multiple times.

“But what triggered it?”

I needed to know the cause before I could disable it.

But I had no idea what had activated this unfamiliar, recurring sub-episode.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. She doesn't even seem to be paying attention anyway.”

In the game, there was a recurring sub-episode that involved defeating monsters in Lusmire.

This was nothing compared to that. It wasn’t dangerous, and I could just pretend to tutor her.

It was a minor inconvenience, easily ignored.

There were more pressing matters to attend to.

『I received your message, Young Master, but I’d like to meet at a different location. 』

I sat in the carriage, examining the letter from Tasha, the acting steward of Lusmire, and the map she had included.

“Tasha knows about my situation. And yet, she’s asking me to meet her… here?”

The location marked on the map wasn’t Lusmire.

It was Shatrain.

Tasha had never betrayed Carsein in any of my playthroughs.

I had only learned about her loyalty, her unwavering dedication to him after he had saved her life, but…

Her insistence on meeting in Shatrain meant something was wrong.

And there was another strange request.

“Driver, wait here. Don’t leave this area until I return. Understood?”

“Yes, Young Master.”

She had asked me to conceal the Duchy carriage and to wear a hood, to hide my face.

I had to see this for myself.

I followed Tasha’s map, arriving at the designated location.

‘This is it… but where’s Tasha?’

I didn’t see her anywhere.

Instead, there was a carriage surrounded by a group of people, their voices loud and angry.

“You little thieves! I’ll catch you this time!”

“Don’t let them escape!”

“Run!!!”

Several children were running away from the carriage, carrying stolen goods, while a group of adults chased after them, their shouts echoing through the forest.

But…

‘Something’s wrong.’

They weren't trying very hard.

The adults, unable to catch the agile children, gave up, returning to the carriage, their expressions a strange mix of anger and… sadness?

And then, they said the most absurd thing.

“…That should be enough for them, right?”

“Don’t worry, they’ll be fine.”

“I can’t believe this happened… It breaks my heart.”

The carriage was a merchant’s cart, used for trade and transport.

It was a Lusmire carriage, carrying goods to other territories, following a route I had established.

And they had been robbed, their merchandise stolen. And yet, they were talking about the thieves being “fed” and assuring each other that “everything would be fine”?

This didn’t make sense.

“Is this what you wanted to show me, Tasha?”

I turned around, my voice cold, as I sensed her presence behind me.

She didn’t deny it.

“…Yes, Young Master.”

-Ding!

▶ Detected strange behavior from the Lusmire villagers. How will you respond?

[ 1. What is the meaning of this, Tasha? ]

[ 2. Capture those children and punish them. Deduct the value of the stolen goods from their wages. ]

[ 3. So they’re stealing from Shatrain. I understand your compassion, but this is unacceptable. Capture those children and make an example of them. ]

[ 4. So you wanted to show me this. I understand. I’ll inform the Duchy. ]

…

…

Another set of unfamiliar choices.

Well, it wasn't surprising. This was a serious matter, a clear breach of trust.

The Lusmire villagers were giving away goods without my permission, incurring a financial loss that would be reflected in the ledgers.

There were several options for dealing with this, all straightforward and logical.

I could question them, demand an explanation.

I could punish those responsible, both the children and the adults.

I could even involve the Duchy, using their authority to resolve this.

I had the advantage, the power to control this situation.

But…

Tasha had deliberately brought me here, to witness this. There had to be a reason.

The tears in the adults' eyes…

The grime on the children’s hands…

It was a genuine display of grief, of desperation.

-Ding!

▶ Sub-Episode: A Reversal of Roles (1) activated. ◀

‘Another recurring sub-episode…’

This was another piece of the puzzle.

This wasn't a one-time event.

It was a pattern, a recurring theme.

And if that was the case…

My response had to be realistic and grounded.

[ 7. Tell me everything, Tasha. I need to know the details. ] ☑

“I won’t ask you who’s responsible. But, tell me everything, Tasha. I need to know the details.”

I would hear her out.

I had to understand the situation before I could make a decision.

***

‘As expected.’

Tasha smiled faintly, relieved by his response.

He prioritized understanding, seeking information before passing judgment.

And she was ready. She had braced herself for this, for the risk, for the consequences.

He might seem ruthless, but she knew him.

He was a kind, compassionate man.

“In the past, when Lusmire was struggling, when we were on the verge of starvation… we received help from Shatrain.”

This was a confession she couldn't make to anyone else, a truth she couldn't reveal to another lord.

But Carsein…

She trusted him.

-Ding!

▶ Tasha’s Affinity increased! ◀

[ Affinity: 60% → 65% ]

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