I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 102

Chapter 102: The Remnants of Malice (3)

Silence descended upon the carriage.

Flora attempted to strike up a conversation several times, but her efforts were met with Carsein’s curt replies, effectively killing the mood.

Each time a potential topic arose, he would shoot it down with indifference. She wanted to yell at him to make an effort, but she knew better than to do that now.

And so, silence reigned.

The heavy silence continued to dominate the atmosphere until the carriage finally came to a halt. They had arrived at the villa.

Which meant they hadn’t spoken a single word to each other throughout the entire journey.

The knights stationed outside bowed their heads as the two disembarked.

Who would dare question the occupants of a carriage bearing the Bagrand Duchy crest? Such formalities weren’t necessary.

However, Carsein met their gazes directly.

‘As expected.’

It was exactly as he predicted. Even in their greeting, they treated him and Flora differently.

And their eyes… They were only focused on one person. Flora, oblivious, remained unaware of the subtle shift in their demeanor.

He knew exactly what their eyes held – disdain, barely concealed.

That was precisely why he remained silent, observing their every move.

“Please proceed to the second floor, left wing.”

One of the knights stepped forward, explaining their instructions clearly and politely.

Flora, pleased by their courteous guidance, simply nodded and headed towards the villa entrance.

But her steps faltered.

“This tea party is for those who passed the Eastern Nobles’ Conference preliminary exams… Huh?”

The grand mirror in the lobby only reflected her own image.

Carsein was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did he go?”

She looked around, but he was gone.

Turning back towards the carriage, she finally spotted his familiar black hair.

He hadn't moved an inch since they disembarked. Leaning against the carriage, he was scribbling something in his notebook, his thoughts unreadable.

Flora marched over to him and demanded,

“What are you doing? The tea party is on the second floor. Don’t tell me you forgot!”

“No, I heard them.”

“Then what are you doing out here? Are you planning on leaving after dropping me off?”

At her prodding, Carsein finally closed his notebook and replied,

“I’m just here as your escort. Why would I go in there?”

“…What?”

Flora’s eyes widened.

“Why else would I bring my sword? I’m here as an escort. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to be present at the same table as my mistress.”

“Since when was I your mistress! I never…!”

Before Flora could finish her protest, Carsein turned to the knight guarding the entrance and asked,

“Excuse me, did the host of this tea party grant permission for uninvited guests to enter?”

“P-Pardon? Well…”

“Does that mean something dangerous is going to happen inside, requiring me to escort her personally?”

“…”

The knights exchanged bewildered glances, unable to answer his questions.

Under normal circumstances, they would have denied him entry. They wouldn't want someone like him, a commoner, participating in a prestigious gathering hosted by a viscount.

However, Flora was right there.

They couldn't possibly say such a thing with her standing right there, eyes blazing.

Denying him entry would be like questioning her judgment in bringing him along.

The knights remained silent, caught in a dilemma.

Flora, witnessing their hesitation, erupted.

“No one said he couldn’t come in! Why are you making a fuss?!”

Her voice rose in anger, leaving no room for further objections.

She couldn’t think of another way.

If they didn’t let him in, he really would turn around and leave.

Even if she had to acknowledge him as her escort, she had to get him inside that villa.

“He has an invitation. He's my plus-one. You can't stop us!”

“Y-Yes, of course. Please, right this way…!”

The knight gulped, immediately relenting.

“And what about the rule against bringing in escorts?!”

“Lady Phitea only specified that each guest could bring a plus-one. She didn’t specify any restrictions.”

“See? There’s no rule against bringing escorts!”

Meeting Carsein’s gaze directly, Flora reiterated her point.

“He's my escort! He has to follow me! It’s not like he’s an uninvited guest!”

Carsein let out a small chuckle.

Flora, caught up in her anger, didn’t seem to notice the growing number of curious eyes on them.

Some had just arrived.

Some were watching with amusement from the balcony.

Some were peering through windows, smirks playing on their lips.

Not all of them, but most of the guests in the vicinity were now aware of their presence.

‘I have a feeling I know why they invited me here.’

He had a hunch that while Flora might have been the one to suggest bringing him along, the nobles had orchestrated this situation, ensuring his presence here.

Whatever transpired at the previous tea party… this felt like a very deliberate setup.

Not that it bothered him. This only played in his favor.

Turning to the fuming Flora, he replied with an unbothered smile,

“You’re sure you want me to tag along?”

“What?”

With that, he walked straight into the villa.

“H-Hey, wait!”

Fearful that he might disappear again, Flora scrambled after him. Seeing him enter without another word, she finally relaxed.

However…

Carsein had no intention of letting this opportunity slip.

Not a chance.

***

Inside the villa, the judgmental stares vanished.

The tea party hadn’t officially begun, so guests were mingling, exchanging greetings with acquaintances. Their plus-ones were escorted to separate waiting rooms.

“Wait here. I’ll come get you when it’s time.”

With those parting words, Flora disappeared into the crowd.

Her designated seat at the tea party was right beside the host – a testament to the unwavering influence of the Bagrand Duchy.

‘I should get ready as well.’

▶ Episode III. The Remnants of Malice is in progress!◀

As expected of a main episode, a choice popped up the moment he stepped inside the villa.

It was a simple choice, prompting him to react to the knights' discriminatory behavior.

They had been polite to Flora, but treated him with the same cold indifference Emma had shown him, even refusing to address him properly.

One of the options presented was:

[ 1. Hey, you lot. You address Flora with respect, but you can't even get my name right? ]

To call them out on their blatant disrespect.

A trap, of course.

While they might have recognized him, taking the bait would only open a can of worms.

There was nothing inherently wrong with demanding proper respect, but this wasn’t the Duchy. This was a gathering of nobles, which meant he was surrounded by enemies.

And he was alone.

Hadn’t he learned his lesson at the Duchy? Engaging in a battle of public opinion against a united front was a losing battle.

If those nobles decided to band together and turn the narrative against him, he would be the one facing the consequences.

Besides, technically, the knights hadn’t done anything wrong. They were simply carrying out their duty of granting entry to invited guests. They hadn't insulted him or picked a fight.

It was a mild form of disrespect, easily brushed aside. If he made a big deal out of it, he would be the one who looked bad. Those knights could easily turn the tables and play the victim, just like Flora did earlier.

After all, he wasn’t exactly a public figure. They could easily claim they didn’t recognize him because of his clothes. His simple attire would only make their claims more believable.

Furthermore, no one had disclosed who they were bringing as their plus-ones beforehand. Those knights could easily claim they didn’t know he was Carsein.

In short, it was a situation best left ignored.

‘Well, I can't expect those nobles to treat me with respect anyway. This was bound to happen.’

He might have used the "escort" excuse to get past them, but he doubted that would be the end of it.

‘Which means… I need to find out what’s really going on here.’

▶ This area is a Restricted Zone!◀

[ Staying here for too long may result in penalties. ]

[ Do you wish to enter? ]

Of course, he did.

[ Time Limit: 10 Minutes ]

The timer started ticking down the moment he stepped inside without hesitation.

He had no idea what to expect.

No clues, no leads.

Which meant he had to rely on his instincts.

‘There’s one thing I’m sure of. Those knights didn't recognize me immediately.’

He had been watching their eyes, and he was certain they had hesitated for a brief moment, trying to place him. It didn't take them long to realize who he was, but that brief pause was crucial.

Why didn’t they recognize him right away?

He needed to find the answer within this villa.

The choices he was presented with were always influenced by the episode’s events, which meant this mansion held a clue.

Unlike the pixelated world of his past life, this one required him to physically search for clues, rummaging through drawers and peeking into every nook and cranny.

And his efforts were rewarded.

“…There you are.”

▶ You discovered an item discarded inside the trash can!◀