I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 105

Chapter 105: The Remnants of Malice (6)

“Y-You’re here… as Lady Flora’s… escort?”

“Yes.”

Phitea Gelgenton blinked rapidly, clearly flustered by his unexpected answer.

‘What is he doing?’

A troublemaker known for causing chaos.

A liar constantly embroiled in controversy.

The adopted son, and only blemish, on the Bagrand Duchy’s otherwise spotless reputation.

Those were the labels attached to Carsein Bagrand, like unshakable shadows.

Which was why he had always clung to his status in the past.

Carsein wasn't a true noble.

He was a commoner, picked up off the streets by Isabella Bagrand.

His status, his affiliation with the Duchy, was his only weapon, and he had never hesitated to wield it.

But now… he was willingly discarding it.

His noble status, his connection to the Duchy…

Watching him cast them aside and declare himself a mere escort was baffling.

A brief silence fell over the room before one of the ladies, seemingly realizing something crucial, leaned towards Phitea and whispered,

‘We have to… offer him a seat?’

Phitea nodded frantically.

She couldn't understand.

Why?

He had evaded their trap by claiming to be an escort, hence there was no need to offer him a seat.

Then, it hit her.

‘Oh my… I can’t believe I didn’t realize… If we treat him like this, we’re insulting Lady Flora and the entire Bagrand Duchy!’

Carsein was a commoner, not a true noble, so they had planned to subtly target him using tactics that would work on other nobles.

However, their scheme relied on one crucial factor.

They had to treat him as a noble, as the son of the Bagrand Duchy, at least on the surface.

They might never truly accept him as one of their own, but he was, officially, the adopted son of the Bagrands. They wouldn't dare disrespect the Duchy openly.

To do so would be a direct challenge to the Bagrand Duchy, a powerhouse even the Imperial Family wouldn't dare provoke.

But their plan had backfired spectacularly.

By declaring himself an escort, he had created a situation where he wasn't being treated as a noble, as the son of the Bagrand Duchy.

If they allowed him to remain as an escort, it would mean they didn’t consider him worthy of a seat at their table. And since Flora was the one who brought him, it would be an insult to her and the entire Bagrand Duchy.

Phitea hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.

“P-Please, stop joking, Young Master Carsein. An escort? ”

“It’s not a joke. I am Flora’s escort.”

Carsein's calm response only fueled her panic.

She had no choice.

She had to say it, even though those words felt like poison on her tongue.

“You are the esteemed son of the Bagrand Duchy, a guest of honor. We cannot treat you as a mere escort. Please, reconsider.”

Even if he was a commoner, they had to acknowledge his status.

They had to accept him as a member of the Bagrand Duchy, as the most distinguished person in the room.

Only then could they prevent him from remaining as an escort.

But Carsein didn’t budge.

He remained rooted to his spot, even though his refusal to comply would humiliate those around him.

They had walked right into his trap.

And then…

“Don’t be ridiculous!!”

A voice, filled with righteous fury, boomed across the room.

It was Flora Bagrand.

She stood up, her face flushed with anger, and the entire tea party fell silent.

She was, after all, the one most likely to be offended by the disrespect shown towards Carsein.

Phitea Gelgenton gulped, about to explain the misunderstanding.

But then…

“The seat beside me is yours, Carsein. Come sit here, not with those escorts!”

Flora’s sharp words weren’t directed at Phitea. They were aimed directly at Carsein.

In that moment, Phitea realized she had been blessed with a stroke of luck.

‘We still have a chance!’

Flora hadn’t realized the implications of her words, and she had just invited Carsein to sit at the main table.

This was their chance.

“Y-Yes, you’re right! That seat is reserved for Young Master Carsein, Lady Flora’s esteemed companion!”

She had to agree with Flora, to side with her.

“That’s right! An escort? Nonsense! Please, retract your words…!”

The other nobles, initially confused by Phitea’s sudden change in demeanor, quickly caught on. One by one, they chimed in, eager to avoid offending the Bagrand Duchy.

“As Lady Phitea said, who would dare disrespect the Bagrand Duchy? ”

“Yes, yes! Exactly!”

“We all feel the same way!”

“How could Lady Flora’s companion be a mere escort? She obviously brought Young Master Carsein with her!”

“There’s no need to guess who guest number 30 is. R-Right?”

““Of course!””

“That seat is reserved for Young Master Carsein, and no one else!”

They might have been scrambling to save face, but they had all agreed with Flora, ensuring Carsein wouldn't be treated as an escort any longer.

Thanks to her, they had successfully avoided offending the Bagrand Duchy.

“See? Everyone agrees. Now come sit down! Hurry!!”

Flora’s insistent demands, urging him to take his rightful place beside her, calmed the anxious nobles.

The awkward laughter that had filled the room was replaced by sighs of relief as Carsein finally took his seat.

He let out a small snort, his gaze sweeping across the room.

‘So they’re backing down, huh?’

They had been ready to pounce, to tear him apart, but now they were retreating, tails between their legs, unwilling to risk the wrath of Flora or the Bagrand Duchy.

Their desperate attempts to salvage the situation were almost comical.

‘Well, I didn’t expect this to be easy anyway.’

Still, if they were this afraid of him, his little act had been a success.

It seemed like he had managed to bruise their egos.

Of course, their wounded pride might fuel their desire for revenge.

But that was exactly what he wanted.

Once they lost their composure and acted rashly, they would be easy to manipulate.

“You should have just sat down from the start. Why did you have to make things so complicated?”

“I told you, I’m just here as your escort.”

“That’s not true! I didn’t bring you here as an escort! If you keep saying that, I’ll tell Big Sister!”

He would make sure Flora, the architect of this situation, understood one thing.

This entire fiasco was a direct result of her malice.

***

“Ugh…”

Claire groaned, her frustration mounting.

She paced back and forth, her steps creating a never-ending loop.

“…I shouldn’t have yelled at him like that, should I?”

Her outburst back in the conservatory kept replaying in her mind.

She had been frustrated, angry.

He could have avoided all this trouble if he had just confided in their mother. And yet, he had chosen to keep it all to himself, accepting the punishment without a word.

He had used his own money to help Lusmire, a territory struggling without any support. He had done the right thing, and yet he hadn’t even tried to defend himself when she accused him of wrongdoing.

She had been furious, and her words…

-Ugh, you stubborn idiot! Fine, do whatever you want! You’re such a moron!

Looking back, she shouldn’t have resorted to insults.

-Just ask for help! Why do you always insist on doing everything yourself? You’re so stubborn!

Her frustrated mutterings as they left the conservatory echoed in her ears.

She had said it as if she didn't care if he heard, but she knew her words would have hurt him.

“Ugh, this is all my fault!”

She ruffled her hair in frustration.

She could have handled it differently.

He might have pushed her away, but if she had tried to reason with him, to persuade him gently, she could have cleared up the misunderstanding with their mother.

No, she shouldn’t have resorted to insults in the first place.

This was all her fault.

She was always too quick to react, her words and actions often outpacing her thoughts.

And she seemed to have a particularly bad effect on Carsein.

Her repeated tugging at her hair loosened one of her hairpins.

“Whoa, that was close.”

She managed to catch it before it fell to the floor.

Relieved, she inspected the pink flower-shaped hairpin, making sure it wasn’t damaged.

“This can’t break. Not this one.”

She wouldn’t trade this hairpin for a hundred expensive hair ornaments, not even for one worn by Princess Arsienne.

This hairpin was special.

It was a gift from Carsein.

After checking it carefully, she secured it back in her hair, right where it belonged.

The act of fixing her hairpin calmed her down.

She let out a deep breath, the air ruffling her pink bangs.

“He didn’t do anything wrong. He deserves to be praised. I’m the one who messed up.”

She needed to talk to him.

He was probably in his room now. She would apologize in person.

As she turned towards Carsein’s room, she saw Arina approaching from the opposite direction.

“Claire? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I was just going to talk to Carsein.”

She couldn’t tell her the truth, so she scratched her cheek sheepishly.

Arina tilted her head, confused.

“Carsein? He’s at a tea party with Flora right now.”

“What? When did they leave?”

“A while ago. Flora insisted on taking him for some reason. I think it’s at Viscount Gelgenton’s villa. They’re allowed to bring a plus-one.”

“…Viscount Gelgenton?”

Claire froze, a memory flashing before her eyes.

‘Viscount Gelgenton… ’

A specific day, a specific incident, came to mind.

She had sent Carsein to Viscount Gelgenton’s villa before, worried about his health. He was always pale and sickly, and she had hoped a change of scenery and some healthy food would do him good.

But he had come back furious, vowing to never go out with Flora again.

And he had been reprimanded by all three sisters, including their mother, Isabella.

‘And then… he was bedridden for a whole day. I remember calling for Shaiden…’

She couldn’t say for sure if it was because of Viscount Gelgenton, but a sense of unease washed over her.

“Where’s the villa? The one hosting the tea party?”

“Hmm? You want to go too? I don't think you can get in without an invitation.”

“I’m not going to join the party. I just… I’m worried about my little brother and sister.”

“It’s a gathering of nobles. I’m sure they’ll be fine as long as Carsein doesn't cause any trouble. But… go ahead. I’ll feel better knowing you’re there.”

“Alright. I’ll be back soon.”

It might just be her imagination, but she had a bad feeling about this.

***

“The mood is a bit gloomy, don't you think? Shall we change the subject?”

“Yes, that’s a good idea!”

The nobles, now free of their worries about Carsein’s presence, were eager to steer the conversation in a different direction.

“Is that alright with you, Young Master Carsein?”

Phitea asked, her tone deceptively sweet.

“Sure.”

He agreed readily, a small smile playing on his lips.

They were probably fuming inside, plotting their revenge. He could practically see it.

But that was precisely why he wouldn't back down.

He had a plan.

“Well then, since everyone agrees, let’s move on to a new topic. What shall we discuss?”

Phitea pretended to ponder for a moment before sending a signal to her accomplice.

“We have the perfect topic right here, Lady Phitea.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“The Eastern Nobles’ Conference, of course. It’s just around the corner.”

“Oh my, you’re right.”

-Ding!

▶ Emergency Mission!◀

▶ You will be bombarded with questions regarding the Eastern Nobles’ Conference and Lusmire.◀

▶ Make the correct choices to avoid the nobles’ schemes!◀

[ Your completion rate will be determined by your ability to avoid their traps. ]

As the two ladies orchestrated the conversation, steering it towards their intended target, the expected scenario unfolded.

It was a main episode, so choices were bound to appear, but these weren’t the main event.

He had been wondering when the crucial choices would pop up, and it seemed like this was it.

‘They’re going to use this to target Lusmire, questioning my qualifications as a noble.’

He had already gleaned information from the Memorial, so he wasn’t afraid.

They had already contradicted themselves, and if they tried the same tactic again, he would be ready to exploit their weaknesses.

He crossed his arms, ready to face whatever they threw at him.

And then, the waiting room door swung open.

“Ah, my apologies. My carriage… there was a bit of a problem. Ahem.”

A man, his face beaded with sweat, entered the room, his demeanor flustered.

He coughed awkwardly, clearly aware of his tardiness.

He remembered that there was one empty seat.

His original number was 30, but someone else had been absent earlier as well. There had been two empty seats.

‘Is that… Hemnon Modric?’

-Ding!

The timing of the status window couldn’t have been more perfect.

He chuckled, reading the message.

‘So that’s what happened?’

▶ Unlocking reward for achieving a specific outcome!◀

▶ The reason for Hemnon Modric’s delayed arrival has been revealed.◀

[ Details: Hemnon, attempting to avoid paying tolls, was delayed by the residents of Lusmire and arrived late to the tea party. ]

What a delightful outcome.

The residents of Lusmire would be thrilled to hear about this.

And he wouldn't miss this opportunity.

“A noble, late for an appointment? Someone needs a lesson in etiquette.”

The room fell silent, his words cutting through the air like a cold blade.