I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 142

Chapter 142: The Broken Picture Frame (3)

When Isabella asked if she could come in, Camilla immediately turned to me for permission. I nodded, accepting her request.

“One moment, please."

“I'll wait.”

Camilla had already organized the Lusmire documents, and I quickly rearranged the remaining papers on my desk, concealing them from view.

When I signaled that I was ready, Camilla opened the door.

As always, she was an efficient and capable maid.

She had cleared the documents from the room, but she had subtly rearranged the other objects, creating the illusion that she had simply been cleaning. And she had even managed to buy me some time with her meticulousness and her calm, unhurried movements.

Isabella, entering the room, didn’t suspect a thing.

While she settled in, I pretended to organize the remaining documents, using the extra time to think.

If anyone was going to visit me, it should have been yesterday.

And the most likely candidates were Arina or Claire.

But their visits had been disrupted.

▶ Due to the Perfect Clear reward, Isabella, instead of Arina or Claire, has arrived. ◀

This unexpected visit from Isabella was a direct result of the Perfect Clear.

“I'll excuse myself now, Young Master."

“Thank you, Camilla.”

Camilla left, closing the door behind her, and I was alone with Isabella.

She sipped her tea, the fragrant brew prepared by Camilla, before speaking, her voice soft and apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Carsein. You can blame me for this.”

Blame her? Why?

She should have been asking about the fight, about the incident with the nobles.

Claire, with her knowledge of Turmus Flowers, had probably intervened, deflecting the blame and preventing any serious repercussions.

But this… this was unexpected.

“What do you mean?”

I had to hear her out before I could understand.

She took my hand in hers, her gaze filled with regret.

“It’s my fault. I brought you here, oblivious to your pain… I haven’t changed, have I? I’m still hurting you, just like I did back then.”

And then, she handed me something.

My heart sank.

I knew exactly what it was.

‘…This is pointless.’

It was the broken picture frame from the Memorial.

How had she gotten this?

I had told Heron to dispose of it. And yet, it had been repaired, the torn pieces carefully reassembled, and returned to me.

Heron must have told her.

Just like in the Memorial, just like in Carsein’s memories.

“I… I treated you differently from my other children. I had these… preconceived notions, these prejudices, and… that’s why this happened. So, we’ve decided to… cancel the family portrait. I don’t want to hurt you again.”

Cancel the portrait? Because she didn’t want to hurt me?

Bile rose in my throat, a bitter taste filling my mouth.

I could have endured her concern, her guilt.

I could have played along, accepted her apology, and waited for this episode to run its course.

But…

Seeing her, trying so hard to appease me, to make amends for her past mistakes, reminded me of someone else. Someone who had tried to protect me, to shield me from the world, with good intentions, but had only made things worse.

I couldn't take it.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“…What?”

“Why would you ruin this day because of me? Just proceed with the portrait session.”

It wasn’t a big deal.

It was just a family portrait.

A picture with me in it.

I didn’t need her to make a fuss, to go out of her way to accommodate me.

I didn’t want this day, this carefully planned outing, to be ruined because of me, just like that other time.

“Let’s proceed with the portrait session, as planned.”

“But… what about you…?”

“I don’t remember those old memories. I have no idea what you’re talking about. It happened a long time ago. Why would I let it ruin this opportunity? It’s a beautiful day, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom…”

“…”

“I’ll be blunt. I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me. I’m fine with having my portrait painted. Ruining this beautiful day, because of some vague memory I don’t even remember, that’s what would bother me.”

Isabella hesitated, her brow furrowed in thought, and then she asked,

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

“Yes.”

I had never wanted her sympathy or her pity.

It was repulsive, a reminder of everything I despised.

“I’ll buy a new outfit. Just proceed with the portrait session as planned.”

So, let them have their way.

Let them fulfill their desires.

Their happiness, their approval… It meant nothing to me.

And then, she smiled, a faint, sad smile, as she took my hands in hers.

“You’ve grown into a fine young man, Carsein.”

She apologized for her past mistakes, for her negligence, even though I claimed to have no memory of those events.

And she thanked me.

I suppressed a bitter laugh, repeating the words silently, over and over again,

‘There’s no need to apologize. There’s no need to thank me, Duchess.’

These memories, this guilt…

They would fade.

Just like they always had.

-Ding!

▶ Hidden conditions for Episode IV met! ◀

▶ Hidden Episode: A New Portrait completed! ◀

▶ Granting confirmed reward! ◀

■ Reward

▶ Isabella’s Affinity has increased.

[ Current Affinity: 65% → 68% ]

▶ The nobles who were targeting Carsein have backed down, reducing the Danger Zone level of the cherry blossom outing area.

[ Danger Level changed: Danger → Warning ]

…

…

The other rewards flashed before my eyes, but I ignored them, my attention focused on a single, overwhelming feeling of relief. The bile in my throat had subsided, replaced by a sense of victory.

***

The portrait session, which should have been cancelled, proceeded as planned, thanks to my insistence.

The Duchy sprang into action.

At dinner, Claire and Flora were surprised to hear that the portrait session was back on. Arina, who I had expected to be furious, was strangely quiet, as if Isabella had managed to pacify her.

The day passed quickly.

Claire, unable to bear the thought of me wearing my stained, damaged clothes, prepared a new outfit.

Flora was unusually quiet, her gaze filled with a mixture of guilt and anxiety whenever she looked at me.

Arina, on the other hand, glared at me, her disapproval evident.

The next day, we gathered for the portrait session, posing as the painter instructed.

It felt like a typical family photo, but unlike those other times, I didn’t cause any trouble or ruin the mood.

The other family members didn't criticize or scold me.

Only Heron and Shaiden watched, their faces filled with concern.

The rest of the day was filled with a whirlwind of activities.

Meetings with other nobles, potential allies and rivals in the upcoming Eastern Nobles’ Conference.

Feasts, cherry blossom viewing, leisurely walks… The typical events of the Spring Outing episode.

I spent half the day trailing behind the Bagrand family, enduring their company, and the other half locked in my hotel room, buried in paperwork.

The days passed quickly.

And so…

The day before the Eastern Nobles’ Conference arrived.

“Hang these portraits here.”

“Yes, My Lady!”

The Duchy servants, following Isabella’s instructions, bustled around, replacing the old portraits with new ones.

I glanced around, and saw the large family portrait, the one they had captured earlier, hanging in the main hall.

And all the other walls, every single frame, held a new portrait. Even the expensive paintings had been replaced.

It was absurd. Seeing my face everywhere I looked…

“So you didn’t ruin the outing after all. You didn’t throw a tantrum this time, Carsein.”

Arina, approaching me, her voice laced with a hint of amusement, interrupted my thoughts.

Of course, she would find a reason to criticize me.

“You managed to appease Mother, so I’ll let this slide. But if you disgrace the Duchy again, I will revoke your authority, even if it’s the day before the symposium.”

She pointed a finger at me, her warning clear.

“Heh.”

“Are you laughing at me?”

“No, I’m just realizing… that the symposium hasn't started yet.”

She always knew how to get under my skin, to remind me of the precariousness of my situation.

She was helpful, in a way.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. I wouldn’t want to ruin everything.”

And then, I delivered a blow of my own.

“But have you heard? Hemnon was disowned by the Modric family.”

“Disowned? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard? Heh, heh.”

Arina’s brow furrowed, her annoyance evident.

“Don’t change the subject. You’re being reprimanded, Carsein. For potentially jeopardizing the Duchy’s reputation.”

“Heh, hahaha!”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

The laughter, bubbling up inside me, burst forth, uncontrollable, unstoppable.

Yes, this was irrelevant. I didn’t belong here, not really.

“You’re right. It’s irrelevant. I’m not worthy of the Bagrand name, after all. Just like Hemnon said.”

“What?!”

The coldness, the icy detachment, spread through me, chasing away the last vestiges of warmth.

I fought back the laughter, the urge to scream, and retreated to my room.

There was a small change.

“Heron and Shaiden… Always meddling…”

A framed portrait rested on my desk.

The family portrait, captured under a clear blue sky, amidst a flurry of pink cherry blossom petals. Their smiles were bright, their faces filled with joy.

“No… wait a minute…”

I removed the back of the frame and pulled out one of the portraits.

The smaller one.

The one with my face.

“This is better. This is how it should be.”

I wasn’t a part of their family.

This division, this separation…

It was for the best.

For them.

And for me.

-Rip. Rip.

My face, torn from the portrait, disappeared into the trash bin.

***

Meanwhile, in a dark, dank basement…

Someone stirred.

“When is this pig going to wake up?”

“Ugh… hmm…?”

“Oh, finally decided to join us?”

“Who… Who are you…? And why am I tied up?!”

Hemnon, his vision blurry, blinked rapidly, trying to focus. He realized he was tied to a chair, his limbs bound tightly.

“Untie me! I am Hemnon Modric, of the esteemed Modric family! How dare you…”

A fist slammed into his stomach, cutting off his words.

The pain, sharp and debilitating, doubled him over.

“This idiot… he ruined my plan. I’m so angry.”

“Cough… Cough! What… What are you talking about?!”

A hand, cold and strong, gripped his jaw, forcing him to look up.

Hemnon, his eyes widening as he met the man’s cold, menacing gaze, froze.

Fear, cold and paralyzing, silenced him.

“W-Why… Why are you doing this?”

“You ruined my plan. You were supposed to make sure Carsein was blamed, punished, confined to the Duchy. But somehow… that fool Pollux became his ally. You messed up.”

He didn't understand what the man was talking about, but those eyes, those cold, calculating eyes, filled him with a single, overwhelming emotion.

Terror.

“P-Please, untie me! I… I’ll compensate you! Just tell me what I did wrong! Please, I’ll…”

“Compensate me? You were supposed to be the compensation, you idiot!”

-Thud!

“Aaaaargh!!!”

Unlike the pathetic squeals of a pig, his scream, raw and primal, echoed through the basement.

A deep gash, inflicted with a single, swift motion, appeared on his thigh, blood staining the floor.

And ironically, it was only then, as the pain ripped through him, that he understood.

“Y-You… You’re… the one…?”

It all made sense now.

His sudden disownment, his abduction, his current predicament…

Fear, cold and paralyzing, gripped his heart.

“I-I’m sorry! I know what you asked me to do! I was supposed to make sure Carsein was blamed, punished, confined to the Duchy! But somehow, that… that fool Pollux became his ally! I didn’t anticipate that…!”

“You talk too much, you pig. You failed. You couldn’t even ruin that worthless territory, Lusmire. Pathetic.”

“B-But…”

“Was it really that difficult? You were supposed to exploit their weaknesses, to take their land, to drive them into poverty! You were the one who insisted on taking on this task, claiming it would be easy! And yet you failed?”

He was right. Anyone could have done it, but Hemnon, blinded by greed, had volunteered.

And now, he had been captured, his failure exposed.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Count Modric is unaware of this arrangement, so your disownment… it’s permanent. Disposing of you will be easy.”

“D-Dispose of… me?!”

Disposal meant death.

Those who failed were always eliminated. There were no exceptions.

Panic surged through him, and he struggled against his bonds, pleading for his life.

“Please, give me another chance! He’ll be participating in the Eastern Nobles’ Conference! I know about Lusmire… I can help! I can sow discord, create chaos, turn them against each other…”

“Ugh, shut up. You’re annoying.”

“Gah…!”

The man, his voice laced with disgust, signaled to one of his men.

A gag was shoved into Hemnon’s mouth, silencing him.

“Make sure it’s clean. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mmm! Mmm! Mmmmph! Mmmph!”

And then, the name Hemnon Modric, ceased to exist.

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