I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 132

Chapter 132: Spring Outing (2)

My original plan was to stay in Lusmire as long as possible before returning to the Duchy.

The nobles were trying to seize control of the tunnel, and the trade agreement with the Ipheros Marquisate was still a concern.

I had even considered visiting Shatrain, to gather more information about the situation there.

But there was another reason for my extended stay in Lusmire.

The moment the next episode started, my freedom would be restricted.

The second penalty.

While the first penalty was triggered by the first family member I encountered upon returning, the second penalty was always associated with Claire.

And that penalty involved her choosing the date for the spring outing, forcing Carsein to follow their schedule, just like at the Snowflake Festival.

‘But, Claire is letting me choose the date?’

Considering the penalties associated with the Return Event, it didn’t make sense. But there were no penalty notifications in the status window.

I had simply completed a sub-episode.

‘…Is it because of her affinity?’

That was the only explanation.

Her affinity.

It had jumped to 78% yesterday. And then there was the tear stains on her cheek, her strange behavior…

And that wasn’t all.

There were no penalties.

[ Arina Bagrand ]

[ Affinity: 32% ]

[ Isabella Bagrand ]

[ Affinity: 65% ]

Even the other family members’ affinity had increased.

Arina’s had risen by a significant 10%.

The absence of penalties meant they were overlooking my mistakes, forgiving my actions.

Well, it worked in my favor.

I wasn’t foolish enough to pass up this opportunity.

“I’d like to leave two days from now.”

Once they started dragging me around, I wouldn't have any free time, unlike the Snowflake Festival.

Their itinerary was packed - the portrait session, an audience with the Imperial Family, meetings with other nobles… There wouldn’t be a single moment to myself.

So I had today and tomorrow.

I needed to gather information about Shatrain and Lilpet, to prepare for the Eastern Nobles' Conference.

“Two days from now… Hmm.”

“Shouldn’t we leave sooner? Everyone’s going to flock to see the cherry blossoms. It’ll be crowded.”

“If we go now, we’ll only see buds. The cherry blossoms haven’t fully bloomed yet.”

“What?”

“Cherry blossoms tend to bloom all at once. The peak season is actually a little later, so it’s better to wait a day or two.”

“…”

“…”

Arina and Isabella stared at me, their eyes wide with surprise.

What? Did I say something wrong?

“To think he’d know that…”

“Carsein, did you always like cherry blossoms this much?”

Right, they were nobles.

They saw cherry blossom viewing as a form of entertainment, a leisurely activity. They didn’t need to plan their schedules around peak bloom like commoners.

I hadn’t intended to impress them, but it seemed like my knowledge had successfully diverted their attention.

“Well, I used to be a commoner.”

Arina’s brow furrowed, and Isabella sighed.

As expected.

“Alright, two days from now it is. Just pack your things.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Isabella quickly ended the conversation, and Arina nodded in agreement.

Our conversation was over.

-Ding!

▶ Sub-Episode: Return Date concluded. ◀

▶ The main episode will now commence, based on the chosen date. ◀

▶ Episode IV: Spring Outing has begun. ◀

The planned route was secured.

And I had even earned some extra time. A satisfying outcome.

But…

There was one thing I still didn't understand.

“Why did you say that? You ruined the mood.”

Arina, her brow furrowed, stopped me as we left the office.

“It was the truth.”

“Carsein.”

“I used to be a commoner, so I know these things. There’s no point in lying.”

“Haa…”

She sighed, massaging her temples.

“Don’t cause any trouble at the Conference. I won’t tolerate it.”

She glared at me one last time before walking away.

“Oh, and Flora has been studying hard lately.”

“So?”

“She’s been asking for your help, like earlier.”

What? But I didn't want to…

-Ding!

▶ Sub-Episode: Flora’s Studies activated. ◀

‘What?’

Seriously? A sub-episode triggered by this?

“You don’t have any other responsibilities, do you? Mother, Claire, and I are all busy. And Flora wants to study, so it’s better for her to have a tutor she’s comfortable with, don’t you think?”

“….”

“Anyway, just help her. And try to make up for your behavior at the tea party. I’ll overlook your transgressions if you do a good job.”

Her footsteps echoed through the hallway, her words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

How could this be so similar to my past?

-Everyone’s busy, but you have nothing to do. You were probably wandering around all this time because you had so much free time. So tutor your younger sister.

My family, back then, had said the same thing, insisting I had too much free time. They had forced me to tutor my youngest sister.

And now, I was being told to do the same.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

But I wouldn’t make the same mistake as before.

I wouldn't try to change her. I would simply go through the motions, fulfilling my obligation as a tutor.

***

Flora, the girl who had insisted on bringing Carsein to the tea party, was now diligently studying. She had opened a textbook, something she usually avoided, and a large, empty space had appeared in the Duchy.

An empty seat at the dining table.

One less blanket to wash.

One less meal to prepare.

One less set of footsteps echoing through the halls.

Since realizing that Carsein’s presence had vanished from the Duchy, Flora found herself gazing at the front door, a strange sense of anticipation mixed with anxiety welling up inside her.

What if he didn’t come back?

What if he was so angry, so hurt, that he had decided to leave?

She shook her head, trying to banish those thoughts, but the anxiety lingered.

“….”

The memory of that day, the day he had left the tea party, still made her heart race.

She tried to push it away, to focus on the task at hand.

She sat down at her desk and opened her textbook.

“At least… he came back… that’s all that matters.”

He might still be angry.

Claire had brought him back from Lusmire, but the reason he had left, the reason he had been hurt, was because of her.

She might know the truth now, thanks to Princess Arsienne, but that didn’t change the fact that he had been subjected to their cruelty.

Even though he had recovered, he had said it himself.

He stayed out because he was annoyed.

Because he was upset.

Because of her.

And his words were true.

The Kelbia seeds she had planted, her thoughtless actions, her malicious intent, still haunted him.

-Scratch, scratch.

So she had to study.

She had to learn, to grow, to understand, so she could minimize his pain.

To earn Shaiden’s approval, to be allowed to study medicine, to learn how to create potions, to heal…

She had to master this subject, this dreadful, hated math, so she could remove those invisible thorns, those Kelbia seeds that clung to him.

So she could create a potion, a remedy, that would neutralize the reaction, the pain, the moment he encountered those insidious fruits.

But…

A wave of sadness washed over her.

The math problem Carsein had helped her solve mocked her from the page.

“…I miss him, teaching me.”

She had dropped her book, and as she had scrambled to pick it up, she had blurted out a request, asking him to help her with a problem.

She had realized her mistake and tried to retract it, but, surprisingly, he had agreed, patiently explaining the solution.

The satisfaction of solving the problem had been fleeting, overshadowed by the warmth that had bloomed in her chest as she listened to his voice, the feeling of a younger sister being guided by her older brother.

She had dared to hope, to believe that maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t angry anymore.

“Should I… ask him again?”

She whispered, lost in thought, when a knock at the door startled her.

She stood up and opened the door a crack.

“Who…?”

The words died on her lips as her fingers loosened their grip on the doorknob, a wave of disbelief washing over her.

“C-Carsein…? What are you…”

He was here.

The Carsein who had helped her with her studies was standing right there, his expression unreadable.

She stepped aside, allowing him to enter, her heart pounding.

He closed the door, picked up a pen, and then folded a piece of scrap paper, following the lines carefully, creating a perfect cube.

“If you don’t understand a shape, try folding it yourself. These two points, here and here… Connect them with a line, and you get the longest diagonal across two side faces. 3D is different from 2D.”

“Ah…!”

The solution to the problem that had been stumping her became clear.

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, and asked,

“Are you… going to tutor me?”

“Yes.”

“Why…?”

“That’s none of your business. I’ll help you with your math studies for an hour or two each day.”

He was going to tutor her?

For one or two hours every day?

A smile bloomed on Flora’s face, her heart soaring.

She didn’t know why he was here, but his willingness to help with her studies meant, maybe, he wasn’t angry anymore.

‘No, that’s not it!’

I have to study hard.

Yes, that’s right!

-Ding!

[ Please, ■■■ me, ■■■■■. ]

[ Guilt: 85% ]

***

“…”

Harnie’s gaze drifted away, her focus fading once again.

She was lost in thought, her eyes fixed on some distant point in space.

‘She’s doing it again.’

Mina, observing her mistress, sighed inwardly.

She had lost count of how many times this had happened today.

Harnie had been like this ever since she returned from Lusmire.

Mina, growing impatient, stood up and walked towards her desk.

“My… Lady?”

“Eeeek!”

Harnie jumped, her shriek loud enough to startle the sparrows perched outside the window.

“W-What? Mina, why did you…”

“You’re daydreaming again, My Lady! You haven’t even looked at those reports! We have so much work to do!”

“Oh… right.”

Harnie, blinking rapidly, ran a hand through her hair.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“I’m not… surprised…”

“You’re thinking about something. You’ve been like this ever since you returned from Lusmire. Did something happen there?”

-Thump!

“N-Nothing happened! Nothing at all!”

Mina stared at her, a knowing smile on her face.

‘Heehee, our Lady has changed, hasn't she?’

Her ears were red, a bright, unmistakable flush.

And it wasn’t just her ears. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her eyes darted around, unable to meet Mina’s gaze.

Her exaggerated reaction meant that something had definitely happened in Lusmire.

Mina’s intuition, honed through years of observing Harnie, told her everything.

She decided to tease her, to see how she would react.

“Did Young Master Carsein, offer you his shoulder again? Heehee.”

“M-Mina! What… What shoulder…!”

“It’s nice to have someone to lean on, especially during winter. They say you get lonely when your side is cold, and body heat is surprisingly effective. Trust me, My Lady.”

She had said it half-jokingly, remembering how they had leaned against each other in the carriage.

She had wanted to see how Harnie would react, to gauge their progress…

“W-Warm? It wasn’t warm at all! And I wasn’t cold! And we didn’t… touch…!!”

“Aah! My Lady! You can’t hit me with a cushion! That’s cheating!”

But her reaction was even more exaggerated than before.

Had they hugged?

Next Chapter

Index

Previous Chapter