I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Spring Outing (3)

I had two days.

Flora's sudden request for tutoring had eaten into my free time, but I still had a whole day left, more than enough time to execute my plan.

I still wasn’t sure why Claire had so readily agreed to let me go, to give me this freedom without any warnings or restrictions. But with no system notifications indicating potential problems, I wasn't going to question it.

I had waited, after the tutoring session, for some kind of notification, a sudden penalty, but nothing happened.

It was an unexpected gift, a stretch of uninterrupted free time.

Two whole days.

“Still, I can’t risk using both days. There might be unforeseen complications. One day should be enough.”

My gut told me this wasn't the time to get complacent, to simply focus on the Eastern Nobles' Conference. The fact that Lusmire was now under my control didn't mean it was safe.

I needed to take precautions.

And to do that…

I needed to send someone to Lusmire.

“You summoned me, Young Master?”

Camilla, as always, bowed her head respectfully, her response prompt and obedient.

“Here.”

I handed her the temporary stewardship certificate I had prepared.

“Y-Young Master? Stewardship certificate? What’s… What’s going on?”

“It’s exactly what it says. I’ll be attending the Eastern Nobles’ Conference, so I need you to take care of Lusmire while I’m gone.”

Camilla.

She was the perfect candidate for this task.

She was a former noble, so she understood the intricacies of managing a territory.

The villagers trusted her, seeing her as my personal maid, so there wouldn't be any issues with affinity.

And she had experience, having helped manage Lusmire during my previous visit.

But instead of accepting the certificate, she took a step back, her head bowed.

“I’m sorry, Young Master, but… I can’t accept this. I shouldn’t.”

What? Why not?

“What do you mean? Did the villagers say something to you?”

“No, Young Master. They were very kind to me.”

“Then why?”

“During the Eastern Nobles' Conference, a personal maid must stay by her master’s side. Those are the rules.”

“What?”

There was no such rule! If there was, it would have been mentioned in the game…

‘…Wait. I released her from her duties back in Chapter 1.’

I had forgotten.

The Camilla standing before me wasn’t the Camilla from the game. In my previous playthrough, she hadn’t been at the Duchy during this time.

But she couldn’t refuse simply because she was my personal maid.

“Why can’t you leave my side?”

“To prevent… unfair advantages, Young Master.”

“Unfair advantages?”

“Yes. During the Eastern Nobles’ Conference, if two families collude, their scores are lowered, and the difficulty of achieving certain objectives is increased. But if servants share information, it could create loopholes and affect the rankings.”

That made sense.

It was a measure to prevent nobles from secretly forming alliances.

“So, you’re saying you can’t leave my side because of those rules?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… So I have to choose a steward from among the Duchy’s retainers…”

That wasn't a good idea.

They all despised Carsein.

I sighed, considering my options, when Camilla spoke, her voice soft.

“Um… Young Master?”

“Yes?”

“If it’s someone else… It might be possible.”

“No, I’m not sending anyone else. And besides, the villagers dislike nobles. They probably wouldn't accept another steward from the Duchy.”

Lusmire had been exploited and mistreated by nobles, their resentment ran deep.

Even if I appointed another steward, there was a good chance they would reject them.

And even if they accepted, would they be able to manage the territory effectively? They weren’t loyal to me, and the villagers might cause trouble.

That’s why Camilla was the ideal candidate.

But she was still hesitant.

“There’s someone who knows Lusmire better than I do.”

“…Who? Here in the Duchy?”

“Yes. You know her, Young Master.”

And then, she said the name I hadn’t even considered.

Tasha, the Head Maid.

‘Tasha…? Wait a minute…’

Why hadn’t I thought of her before?

Tasha and Lusmire.

It made sense. She was a former noble, a member of the Deol family, and the villagers didn’t dislike her. And she was competent, her abilities proven in my previous playthroughs.

She seemed to fit all the criteria.

But there was one problem.

“She’s the Head Maid. She has to manage the mansion while everyone’s gone, doesn’t she?”

That was her responsibility, overseeing the servants and ensuring everything ran smoothly. She was an essential member of the Duchy staff.

Camilla’s face lit up.

“It’s alright. The Head Maid isn’t the only one in charge of the mansion anymore.”

“What?”

“After Lady Claire discovered the previous Head Maid’s corruption, she implemented a new system. There are now several maids who share the responsibility.”

It seemed like they had appointed a new class of maid, one who could oversee the mansion in the Head Maid’s absence.

So, Tasha was available.

“Alright, give this to Tasha, and send this letter to the Ipheros Marquisate. And I’ll be out for the day.”

“Yes, Young Master. If the ladies or Madam ask, I’ll tell them you’re meeting with your fiancée.”

“Thanks.”

I hoped this journey would be fruitful.

***

“Mister Barak! Mister Barak!”

“Hmm? Diena?”

Diena was out of breath, her face flushed, her chest heaving.

She gulped, and then spoke, her voice trembling.

“It’s happening again! That thing…!”

Barak, understanding, let out a heavy sigh.

It had been a while since Lusmire became a bustling hub, a key location in the Empire’s trade routes.

But problems persisted.

With the increased traffic, incidents were bound to occur, but most of them were minor, easily resolved with the help of the Yaricans stationed in Lusmire, thanks to the trade agreement with the Ipheros Marquisate.

However, there was one problem they hadn’t been able to solve.

“…The same location?”

“Yes! It’s always the carriages passing through!”

Barak closed his eyes, a wave of weariness washing over him.

Diena’s distress was a testament to the frequency of these incidents.

It wasn't the first time, and they knew who was responsible.

‘We were poor once, so we know how tempting it is to borrow things from passing carriages…’

Before Carsein, their lord, had arrived, they had resorted to similar tactics.

That was why he couldn’t bring himself to report these incidents.

Diena, sensing his hesitation, asked softly,

“What are you going to do, Mister Barak? What if Lord Carsein finds out…?”

“…He’ll take immediate action, of course. He doesn’t tolerate such behavior.”

“And then…”

“They’ll be punished. He’ll probably ban them from entering Lusmire, or he’ll stop trading with them.”

His words made Diena’s heart sink.

“B-But… it’s just a few children, maybe he’ll be lenient?”

“…I doubt it. Just stay quiet, Diena. I’ll take care of this.”

“Mister Barak!”

“Diena, those people… they helped us once. We can’t betray their trust, not now. I’ll be the one punished. It’s my responsibility.”

And then…

“…I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, Barak. You’ll be punished?”

“M-Madam Tasha…!”

“Answer me, Barak. What’s going on?”

Tasha, who had just arrived in Lusmire, stood before them, her gaze sharp and unwavering.

“It’s…”

“Don’t even think about lying, Barak. I’m here on Lord Carsein’s orders.”

“…This is…!”

Tasha revealed the stewardship certificate, and Barak’s eyes widened in shock.

He closed his eyes and sighed.

‘I can’t hide this anymore.’

He had made a mistake, and he would be the one punished.

“I’ll tell you everything, Madam Tasha. But could you please send Diena away?”

“B-But Mister Barak…”

“Please, Madam. For old times’ sake…”

Barak bowed his head, pleading with her.

“Haa… Very well. Diena, you’re dismissed.”

“…!”

“You heard the lady. It’s an order.”

Diena, her lips pressed into a thin line, left the room, and Barak, resigned, spoke.

“How… how much did you hear?”

“From when Diena came running here, breathless and distraught.”

“So… from the very beginning…”

He couldn't hide it.

He had no choice but to confess.

“After the tunnel was completed, Lusmire flourished. We had access to a steady supply of food from the passing merchants, we received orders for our sculptures, and we were able to acquire building materials. The traffic increased, and… ”

“And?”

“…Certain carriages… goods went missing. Stolen.”

“So, you’re telling me there have been thefts? And you didn't report them to Lord Carsein?”

“No.”

“Haa…”

Tasha sighed, shaking her head.

“I know Young Master Carsein wouldn't tolerate such behavior, but, those people helped us. A long time ago, when we were struggling.”

“Don’t tell me those thefts are happening in…!”

“Yes, Shatrain. How could we punish them?”

“….”

Silence.

The weight of the situation, the knowledge that Tasha, who understood Lusmire’s past, was now aware of their transgressions, made the silence even heavier.

“I understand. But Barak, you’re mistaken about one thing.”

“What?”

“Young Master Carsein is not as ruthless as you think.”

She, a maid who had been shown mercy, who had been given a second chance…

She knew.

Her master would turn this into an opportunity.

***

“Hey, what are you doing?!”

“Run!”

“Get back here, you little thieves!!”

The children, having snatched what they could from the carriage, scattered, disappearing into the nearby forest.

They would regroup later, at their designated meeting spot, once they were sure they had escaped.

“Guys, we hit the jackpot! There was bread in that carriage!”

““Woohoo!””

The children's eyes lit up at the mention of bread. They were dressed in rags, their faces pale and gaunt, their stomachs growling.

“I’ll divide it evenly, so don’t worry. Got it?”

““Yes!””

The oldest boy, their leader, distributed the stolen bread among his younger siblings.

He handed the last two pieces to a girl, the youngest of the group, who stood apart from the others.

“Here, Trisha. Freshly baked bread.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Are you going to starve yourself again? You’ll collapse!”

Trisha jumped to her feet, her voice trembling with anger.

“It’s stolen! And you stole it from a carriage passing through Lusmire! Lord Carsein’s territory!”

“You…!”

He knew she was right.

It was stolen.

But his anger flared, his voice rising.

“What’s the big deal? He ruined our lives! This is nothing! It's not even enough to make up for what he did!”

“Ferdi!”

“We should steal more, sell it! It’s the only way to get back at him!”

He turned away, fuming.

‘I’m sorry, Trisha, but this is the only way.’

Shatrain had been led astray.

He, Ferdi, had to do this.

To show them, to remind them of the injustice they had suffered.

Next Chapter

Index

Previous Chapter