I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 129

Chapter 129: The Indigo Potion (6)

When Arsienne reappeared, seeking her out specifically, Claire had a hunch.

This was about Carsein.

They had already spoken about him earlier, and even if Arsienne hadn't brought it up then, she always seemed to defend Carsein, shielding him from criticism and judgment.

-Shouldn't we find out what happened first?

-Claire, calm down. Your voice is too loud.

-Don’t be too harsh on Carsein. He’s your brother.

She had always intervened, offering words of caution and urging them to be more understanding.

So Claire had expected the same this time.

She had braced herself for another lecture about taking better care of her younger brother.

But…

Arsienne’s words were sharp, a direct attack.

“Shatrain wasn’t ruined because of Carsein, Claire. It was because of you.”

Claire stared at her, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Shatrain… ruined because of her?

“Arsienne, that doesn't make sense. How could Shatrain, a territory managed by Carsein, be ruined because of me?”

It was absurd.

Back then, Shatrain had been a prosperous territory, its fertile lands producing two highly sought-after specialties.

The decline in harvest, the deterioration of their specialties, had nothing to do with her.

She wasn’t responsible.

Not at all.

If anyone was to blame, it was Carsein.

But Arsienne didn’t back down.

“Alright, let’s approach this from a different angle.”

“What?”

Arsienne raised her hand, extending a single finger.

“I started our conversation at the dining table by discussing the situation at the Ipheros Marquisate. I shared the good news about the new supply of building materials and the discovery of a new construction technique that would strengthen their defenses.”

Claire’s eyes narrowed.

She remembered the conversation.

Arsienne extended a second finger.

“Your sister questioned the feasibility of transporting such a large quantity of materials in such a short time, and I revealed another development. The removal of a major obstacle to trade - Mount Waglu. I explained how someone had carved a tunnel through the mountain, creating a passage to the other side. I even showed them the updated map and mentioned the new trade route to the West.”

A third finger extended.

“And finally, I connected those two incidents, highlighting the timing and suggesting that the same person was responsible for both.”

And then, Arsienne had seamlessly woven in the third incident.

Carsein’s mistreatment at the Gelgenton villa.

“Why are you bringing that up?! It’s completely irrelevant!”

Claire couldn't help but snap, her frustration growing.

Even though it was Arsienne, she couldn’t just sit there and listen to these accusations.

…Or maybe.

It wasn't just about the accusations.

Maybe it was the feeling of unease, the growing sense of discomfort that was fueling her anger.

“Let me ask you this.”

Arsienne folded down her fourth finger.

This was a different approach.

“Claire, you focused on Carsein’s injuries and learned about his visit to Count Lilpet’s estate. You immediately informed Isabella and Arina, telling them that he had gone to the West without permission and come back bruised and sick. Did you ever ask Carsein why he went to the West?”

“…!”

She hadn’t.

Silence.

Arsienne folded down her third finger.

“And then, you retaliated against Count Lilpet, making sure he wouldn’t be able to trade with the Duchy anymore. You did that because you learned about their agreement, didn’t you? Did you even try to find out why Carsein made that deal?”

She hadn’t.

Another stretch of silence.

Arsienne’s index finger, the last one extended, folded down.

“And Shatrain… it was completely ruined. The production of their two specialties dwindled, and with Lilpet turning his back on them, Carsein couldn’t trade with any other nobles. He became known as the Disgrace of Shatrain, and you blamed him. Even though you knew everything. Do you still not understand?”

“….”

Claire bit her lip, unable to speak.

It wasn’t because she didn’t understand.

It was because she did.

Lusmire. Shatrain.

Ipheros. Lilpet.

Lusmire, transformed into a thriving trade hub thanks to the tunnel and the discovery of a new construction method.

Shatrain, ruined, its reputation tarnished, its lord labeled a failure.

The past and present were drastically different.

No, more than different, they were complete opposites.

Even Arsienne’s actions, compared to her own…

“Are you saying… It’s… It’s my fault…?”

Her voice trembled as she spoke, the realization hitting her like a physical blow.

She understood what Arsienne was trying to say, the accusations hidden within her questions.

“Yes, you already know, don’t you?”

Her old friend’s words, spoken softly, confirmed her fears.

“Carsein wanted to change the composition of the soil in Shatrain using the properties of Lohea seeds, which absorb and release mana. That’s why he went to the West, to Count Lilpet’s estate.”

“…And the trade agreement?”

Her carefully styled pink hair fell loose, framing her face.

“Only Count Lilpet could cultivate Lohea seeds. No one else knew how. They were the only ones who could help.”

She bit her lip, hard, drawing blood.

“I… I just thought… Every time he interacted with nobles, something bad happened. So I… I tried to protect him…”

“Claire.”

Arsienne shook her head, taking Claire’s hand in hers, her voice gentle but firm.

“That’s where you went wrong. Remember what I told you, back at the Snowflake Festival?”

“….”

“You should have trusted him. You should have asked him, instead of assuming the worst. You should have questioned your own biases, your preconceived notions, instead of blaming him without understanding the situation.”

She had doubted him.

She hadn’t trusted her own brother.

“You focused on the negatives. Carsein was willing to use those rotten seeds, to try and prove himself, and yet…”

She had highlighted his flaws, obscuring his good intentions.

Her anger, her impulsiveness, her inability to see past her own biases.

Had prevented her from seeing the truth.

Carsein’s intentions, his goals, his struggles.

She hadn’t even tried to understand.

Arsienne’s words hit her like a physical blow.

She, Claire Bagrand, was the one who had branded Carsein the Disgrace of Shatrain.

-Drip.

A single tear slid down her cheek, landing on the floor with a soft thud.

“If you had just questioned yourself, if you had just tried to understand, Shatrain wouldn’t have been ruined. That’s the difference between the two incidents.”

Arsienne, offering her final piece of advice, left the room, giving Claire time to process everything.

And as she left…

-Clatter.

A hairpin, loosely secured in Claire’s pink hair, fell to the floor.

***

When they welcomed their new brother…

She hadn’t been happy.

He was a stranger.

An orphan from the slums.

Karn, her real brother, the one who had disappeared with their father, had been replaced by this boy, a boy who looked nothing like him.

It had been illogical, absurd even, to accept him into their family.

And then, her older sister, Arina, had been slapped by their mother for speaking out against him.

It was his fault.

Their first encounter had been a disaster.

And things hadn’t improved.

He had yelled at Flora.

He had lost his temper at a maid.

He had even blamed others for his own mistakes.

It was infuriating.

Who was he to act like he belonged?

She had reprimanded him, but…

-Claire! How could you do that to your brother?!

Her mother had scolded her, her voice filled with anger and disappointment.

She had been lectured, punished for her actions.

No matter how much she disliked him, her mother always defended him.

He was her son, she had said. He was Karn. She had refused to see him as anything else, ignoring his flaws and protecting him from any criticism.

Why did this stranger, this outsider, have to be a part of their family?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

And then, her mother had recovered.

But on that day, the day they had all been waiting for, he had caused another incident, another problem. And her mother, finally seeing him clearly, had given him a name.

Carsein.

Things didn't improve immediately.

He was still their brother, after all.

But, she wasn’t as harsh anymore.

She had accepted him, in a way.

She was more careful, more controlled. She no longer used magic, no longer hit him as hard.

Watching her sister scold him, her voice sharp and unforgiving, made her uncomfortable.

And seeing him come home bruised and beaten, his body bearing the marks of the nobles’ cruelty, made her heart ache.

She didn't want him to get hurt.

She had to protect him from those nobles, even if it meant resorting to anger and aggression.

She lectured him, scolded him, hoping he would learn, hoping he would change.

Even when he argued.

Even when he defied her.

He was her brother.

She didn't want to see him hurt.

So when he had returned from his secret journey to the West, his body covered in wounds, she had snapped.

He had been trying to make a deal with Count Lilpet, and she, in a moment of anger, had severed all ties with the family, ensuring they wouldn’t be able to interact with him again.

She had thought she was protecting him.

…But.

Her actions had backfired.

She had been protecting him from the wrong enemy.

She should have asked him, instead of assuming the worst. She should have listened, instead of jumping to conclusions. She should have tried to understand his reasons, his motives, instead of focusing on his supposed flaws.

The unsettling feeling in her chest, the weight of her guilt, finally made sense.

Arsienne had highlighted his accomplishments, his good intentions.

And Claire, had done nothing but criticize and condemn.

The contrast was stark and painful.

-Drip. Drip.

Tears fell, landing on the hairpin she clutched in her hand.

Her gaze fell on it, and Carsein’s voice, his words spoken as he had given her the hairpin, echoed in her mind.

-I only got Arina a present last time. This is for you, Claire.

Her jaw clenched, her teeth grinding together.

He had returned with his body covered in wounds, just to get this tiny hairpin.

And she had scolded him.

She had told him to stay home, to avoid getting hurt.

She had sighed and turned away when he had been reprimanded, never once offering him any support.

She hadn’t even tried to understand his actions, his intentions.

And she had dared to be happy, to accept his gift?

She was a fool.

A selfish, thoughtless fool.

She wasn’t his sister. She was an obstacle, a hindrance to his happiness.

In the silence of the room, she cursed herself, her words laced with self-loathing and regret.

But…

“…Car… sein…”

She clutched the hairpin, her fingers tightening around the delicate object.

-Ding!

▶ Hidden Episode: The One Who Needs to Change cleared! ◀

▶ Claire’s Affinity increased! ◀

[ Affinity: 67% → 75% ]

▶ A specific character’s affinity has exceeded 70%! ◀

▶ The player has achieved a level of affinity impossible to achieve in this branch! ◀

▶ Achieved an unexpected outcome. Receiving additional reward! ◀

■ Reward

▶ This information will remain hidden from the player.

[ You will receive assistance from Claire in the next episode branch. ]

[ Claire’s exclusive episode unlocked. ]

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