I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: The House of Ipheros (2)

Nobles.

Commoners revered them, envied them, even dreamed of becoming one. They were born into privilege, blessed with prestigious bloodlines, or so people said.

And it wasn't entirely untrue. To be born the child of a renowned general, a legendary hero, or a brilliant mage who unlocked the secrets of the universe, was a true blessing.

But not all nobles were blessed.

At least, that's what Harnie would have said.

“You can never do anything right!”

That was the phrase Harnie heard constantly from her father, the Marquis.

She was always lacking, always insufficient, always a potential stain on their family’s honor.

From a young age, his verbal abuse had become a constant soundtrack to her life.

“Remember this, Harnie. Even though you’re not my legitimate daughter, I took you in because I saw potential. Prove your worth. At the very least, don’t be a burden to Belian.”

Harnie could only lower her head and apologize, her heart sinking with each admonishment.

As a child, she had believed it was her fault.

Constantly compared to other noble ladies, told she was inferior, she had convinced herself that she was truly lacking.

She was a bastard, an illegitimate child.

She had to compensate for her shortcomings.

The different treatment she received from her family didn't bother her.

She believed she was the problem.

So, she studied harder.

She craved recognition, validation.

She wanted to be praised, just like Belian.

Years passed, and she finally achieved something that truly benefitted her family, contributing to their rise from a County to a Marquisate.

Harnie was certain she would finally earn her father's approval.

No, she was confident.

She had done something praiseworthy.

Surely he would acknowledge her efforts, even offer a single word of encouragement.

But…

“Don’t let this go to your head, Harnie. You were simply lucky. Belian would have accomplished this years ago!”

His words were cold and dismissive, followed by another round of unreasonable criticism.

Was she still not good enough?

Was he still not satisfied?

No, that wasn’t it.

One day, rummaging through the trash in the Marquisate, she stumbled upon a discarded exam paper.

Harnie recognized it instantly.

It belonged to Belian Theresia, her elder brother.

“Ha… Haha…”

Two realizations struck her, forcing a bitter laugh from her lips.

First, the exam paper was riddled with mistakes, his score abysmal compared to hers.

Second, Belian had been praised for his efforts.

The blatant disparity was laughable.

And it all boiled down to one thing.

Legitimacy.

Even within the nobility, a clear line separated those who were entitled to everything and those who were not.

Harnie, heartbroken but resolute, finally accepted the harsh truth.

She didn’t belong here.

She wasn’t a true daughter of the Marquisate. She was just a tool, a bastard to be used and discarded.

She had never been considered family.

From that day forward, she stopped trying to please her father or contribute to the Marquisate.

Her performance declined.

The tasks she was assigned were left unfinished.

Her lack of effort didn't go unnoticed, and her father, with the Eastern Nobles’ Conference approaching, ordered her to attend a certain gathering.

“Didn’t I tell you? Your accomplishments are nothing but mere luck. Go to this gathering and learn something. Don’t embarrass the Marquisate at the Conference!”

That was why she was here.

Don't tarnish our reputation.

We’ll offer you some support, so show us what you’re capable of. Make yourself useful.

That was the message he was trying to convey.

“Now that Lady Harnie has arrived, shall we begin?”

-Yes!

The conversation flowed effortlessly after the initial pleasantries.

“What are your thoughts on this year’s Conference? It’s a bit unusual compared to last year, isn't it?”

As expected, the main topic was the Eastern Nobles’ Conference.

With the conference looming, and the Imperial Family’s scrutiny on their minds, it was the natural subject for their discussion.

But despite the upcoming test, the young ladies seemed unconcerned.

“Ah, you mean us being unable rely on our family heads this time?”

“I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

“Me neither. It’s a bit overblown, if you ask me. We’ve all learned a lot.”

“We’ve all been educated as nobles. We’ll be fine.”

They brushed it off with lighthearted laughter and unwavering confidence.

The topic quickly faded, replaced by another.

“Speaking of which, having a fiancé during these times must be helpful, don’t you think?”

“Of course. It’s a huge advantage.”

“Especially this year.”

A fiancé, a romantic partner…

That was indeed a valuable asset, offering support and guidance.

But they weren’t discussing this topic out of genuine curiosity.

“What about you, Lady Harnie? I heard this year’s Conference is going to be tough for those who can’t rely on their families. Having a supportive fiancé is crucial. But yours… well, he’s not exactly known for his competence, is he?”

There it was. The true purpose of their conversation.

The accomplice chimed in, fanning the flames.

“Oh my, why wouldn’t he be supportive? Is he that indifferent? I thought you two were quite close at that party.”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. They have a very strong relationship.”

“Then why…?”

A sly smile spread across her lips.

“It’s no secret that your fiancé, Young Master Carsein, is… well, not exactly known for his success in managing territories.”

A sharp jab, delivered with a sweet smile.

Lady Helly, as if waiting for her cue, added fuel to the fire.

“Indeed. She needs someone else to rely on. Maybe one of the other Bagrand sisters, but not him. Not the one known as the disgrace of Shatrain.”

“Getting involved with him might even be detrimental. Who knows what kind of disaster he might create?”

“I was even worried for her, so I asked the Duchy if Carsein would be allowed to participate in the Conference. They flatly refused.”

“It’s safe to say that he can’t get involved, wouldn’t you agree?”

Led by Lady Helly, they began dissecting Carsein’s flaws, their words dripping with malice.

“She chose the wrong partner, didn't she?”

“I doubt she can handle this alone. I heard she hasn’t been performing well in her current role either.”

“Don’t worry, Lady Harnie. We can introduce you to someone better. It’s not like he’s the only man in the world.”

“And I heard the Marquis isn’t too fond of Carsein. This could be the perfect opportunity to break off the engagement.”

Harnie’s jaw clenched.

‘So that was his plan…’

The Marquis wasn’t simply sending her here to waste her time. He was using this gathering to orchestrate a break-up, to push her into ending the engagement.

She couldn’t let them win.

‘I can’t just deny it. That would only hurt Carsein… I have to handle this myself and minimize the damage.’

As she prepared to defend herself…

“Are you sure about that? About the Marquis’ disapproval?”

“Who... who are you to interrupt our… Gasp!”

“We haven’t officially called off the engagement. Harnie and I are still together. So why haven’t I heard anything about this?”

Carsein appeared, his timing impeccable.

***

-Click.

An extra chair was pulled up to the round table.

A new participant joined the conversation.

The target of their gossip had arrived.

“Mind if I join you? I might not have received a formal invitation, but it seems like this is the perfect place for me.”

“B-But…”

“Is there a problem?”

What else could they say?

They had claimed to have invited him, so they couldn’t turn him away.

They had no choice but to accept his presence.

He sat down, crossing his legs.

“Now, where were we? Ah, yes. You were saying I would be more of a hindrance than a help to Harnie, and she should handle everything herself.”

“…!”

The young ladies gasped, their eyes wide with shock.

He had heard everything.

“That wasn't all, was it? You said I was a bad investment, that Harnie wouldn't be able to handle the Conference alone, that she should find someone else, that there were plenty of other men out there, and that this was the perfect excuse to break off the engagement. Amusing, isn't it?”

Carsein switched his crossed legs, his gaze settling on Harnie.

A small smile played on his lips as he asked,

“Harnie, what do you think? Am I such a terrible fiancé?”

It was a clear invitation to join the conversation.

With his support and a chance to speak her mind, Harnie felt a sense of relief.

“No.”

“Do you think I will be a detriment to your performance at the Conference?”

“Absolutely not. I know you’re a man of integrity.”

“Do you regret our engagement?”

“I have no regrets, even without the Bagrand name. And I never intended to rely on anyone else to succeed.”

“What about my lack of experience? Wouldn’t that reflect poorly on you?”

“My fiancé's experience, or lack thereof, is irrelevant. All nobles will be judged fairly by the Imperial Family. Besides, you never know what someone is truly capable of until they're tested.”

They answered each question flawlessly, their responses perfectly synchronized.

Their words, carefully chosen, highlighted their strengths while deflecting any criticism.

As their conversation continued, the nobles’ expressions darkened.

“So… it seems like these were all lies and exaggerated rumors?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

Harnie replied with a sweet smile.

-Bang!

Carsein slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing across the room.

“It seems like Lady Harnie has no intention of ending our engagement. And the Marquisate hasn’t sent us any official notice of annulment. Yet here you are, spreading malicious rumors and attempting to slander us? Isn't that right, Lady Helly?”

“S-Slander?! How dare you!”

“We would never! ”

“Really? Then what were you doing? What gives you the right to interfere in the relationship between the Bagrand Duchy and another family?”

“We were just… concerned for Lady Harnie…”

Harnie stepped forward and retorted firmly.

“Why are you concerned for me? You’re all facing the same test. Who was it that suggested I find a new fiancé, without even knowing how you would perform at the Conference?”

“You’re not only slandering the Bagrand Duchy, you’re practically insulting us.”

The young ladies, caught red-handed, stammered, trying to salvage the situation.

The conversation was no longer about Harnie. It was about their engagement, about the Bagrand Duchy.

“If I hear anything like this again, I’ll be forced to suspect the person who organized this gathering. Isn’t that right, Lady Helly?”

“…!”

Carsein stood up and walked over to Harnie, taking her hand, creating the image of a loving couple.

“Let’s go. I can’t believe they were saying such things to you. I’m so sorry I haven’t been more attentive.”

Harnie’s hand trembled in his, her heart pounding.

‘What are you doing?’

‘J-Just be quiet.’

She had no idea where these words were coming from, these cheesy lines.

But she knew this was their chance to escape.

“We’ll excuse ourselves now. I need to spend some time with my… suspiciously incompetent fiancé.”

They left the cafe, hand in hand, their departure a carefully crafted performance of young love.

-Grind.

One of the ladies gritted her teeth, her anger barely contained.

***

-Ding!

▶ Successfully dispelled the rumors.◀

▶ Reputation score increased.◀

[ Reputation at ???: +30 ]

‘…I just went in there to vent my frustration…’

He wasn’t sure what he had accomplished, but it seemed like a positive outcome.

They had walked far enough from the cafe. It was time to break the silence.

“It seems like everything worked out.”

“W-What? Oh, yes.”

“Perhaps you could… elaborate.”

Harnie let out a deep sigh.

“It seems my father is trying to force me to end our engagement. He can’t openly break off the engagement with the Bagrand Duchy, but if he can highlight your weaknesses, he can use it as an excuse to annul the agreement.”

“Hmm, so that’s why they were suggesting you find a new fiancé. That was his plan all along.”

“But are you okay? What if the Duchy finds out…?”

“It’s fine. I’m not going back anytime soon.”

“What?!”

Harnie’s eyes widened, shocked.

“A-Are you sure that’s a good idea? It’s your family…”

“They’ll just yell at me. I don't see the point in going back and facing their wrath.”

It wasn’t about right or wrong.

It was about avoiding unnecessary conflict.

“…You’re right. It’s just pointless to subject yourself to negativity.”

Yes, there was no reason to go back and listen to their complaints.

“Carsein, where are you staying?”

“What?”

“You said you’re not going back to the Duchy. You must have somewhere to stay.”

Well, that was true, but…

“…Why are you asking?”

Harnie smiled.

“I’m coming with you.”