I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 101

Chapter 101: The Remnants of Malice (2)

Having secured her elder sister Arina's promise, Flora bumped into Carsein as soon as she left the office. Her bright smile instantly melted into a worried frown. The thought of Carsein possibly rejecting her request gnawed at her, prompting her to sneak back and observe from the nearby staircase.

“How long is he going to be…?”

Carsein had been inside Big Sister’s office for quite a while.

Big Sister had assured her that she’d talk to him. But with each passing moment, Flora’s anxiety grew.

Come to think of it, even Big Sister, who usually agreed to everything right away, seemed to hesitate this time…

“Was it a request too far…?”

No, it couldn’t be.

But then again, Carsein might refuse the tea party invitation altogether.

Flora’s head drooped, her heart heavy with disappointment.

Just then,

Carsein emerged from the office.

-Click.

‘Gasp!’

Flora quickly covered her mouth and hid beside the staircase.

He didn’t hear, right?

He couldn’t have. It was quiet even from where she stood.

“Learn as much as you can. If you come back even slightly changed, I’ll have no choice but to reinstate your authority.”

Big Sister’s voice. Flora’s ears perked up.

Telling him to learn a lot… Did that mean Carsein agreed to attend the tea party?

Her anxieties about a possible rejection vanished like smoke at the sound of her sister’s words.

However, she hadn’t anticipated Carsein walking towards her. She froze, caught off guard, as their eyes met.

“What are you doing here?”

“Huh? Uh, I… well…”

What should she say?

Her eyes darted around as she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“W-What’s it to you if I’m here?!”

“…What?”

Carsein chuckled, as if amused by her flustered reaction.

Flora, feeling like a deer caught in headlights, doubled down.

“I can go wherever I want! You were here earlier! Is there some reason I can’t be here?”

Of course, she had every right.

She was the youngest daughter of the Duchy. Walking these halls was her prerogative.

Flora puffed out her chest, convinced there was no fault in her actions.

Unaware that her act only made her seem more suspicious.

“Did I say something?”

“…What?”

“Why are you getting all worked up? I didn’t say anything.”

Carsein hadn’t said a word, yet Flora was the one making a fuss.

Caught red-handed, she was speechless.

Frustrated, she decided to whine,

“As if you’re in any place to say anything! You got this opportunity because of me. If it wasn’t for my request, you wouldn’t even have a chance to attend the Eastern Nobles' Conference!”

“And? Am I supposed to thank you?”

“W-Well, yes!”

His chuckle echoed again at her affirmation.

“Alright, fine. Consider it a thank you. Where and when is this tea party?”

“It’s at Viscount Gelgenton’s villa. The time is...”

“Two hours from now.”

“…How did you know?”

“You there, prepare the carriage.”

Ignoring her question, he summoned a servant, announcing his intention to go out.

Seriously, how did he know?

***

Two hours later.

Dressed meticulously by the maids, Flora was the picture of a cherished daughter of the Duchy.

So cute, so beautiful.

The maids showered her with compliments, some even clutching their chests in mock swooning.

Observing their reactions, Flora was struck by a sense of familiarity, which only deepened her anxiety.

“Is, is Carsein getting ready?”

The maids, startled by her sudden question, echoed, “The Young Master?”, before chuckling and assuring her there was nothing to worry about.

Still unsure, Flora pressed further, only to be met with reassurances and warm smiles at the sight of such a close bond between siblings.

Finally ready, Flora descended the stairs.

She didn’t even need to ask where Carsein was; he was already waiting by the carriage.

‘Was Carsein… always like this?’

Even leaning against the carriage, his height forced her to look up.

And it wasn’t just his height.

She used to think his lanky frame made him look frail. But the Carsein standing before her was different from the scrawny boy she used to know.

Why did he seem so different?

Flora stared at him, baffled.

“What are you staring at?”

“H-Huh?”

“Let’s go. There’s no point in being late.”

He was right.

Being on time was crucial, especially among nobles. Arriving even slightly earlier was an unspoken rule.

However… Carsein’s current attire didn’t sit well with Flora.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

“What? I’m properly dressed.”

“No, you’re not! It’s a gathering of nobles… You have to dress more appropriately!”

She was right, in a way. His clothes were simple, too simple.

While a certain degree of modesty in attire was considered a virtue among nobles, Carsein’s outfit was beyond simple; it was plain.

No embellishments, no ornaments.

There wasn’t even a symbol representing the dignity or status befitting a noble.

His attire lacked even the Bagrand Duchy’s crest. The only thing he carried was a sword.

Flora was dissatisfied by his excessively simple attire.

“It’s just a tea party. We’re just going to drink tea and chat. What’s the point of me, a man, dressing up in fancy clothes?”

“But… You’re a noble too…”

“If they invite me to a gathering of noble ladies and expect me to stand out in flashy clothes, they’re basically telling me to get lost. Don’t you think?”

She had no retort to that.

However, this wasn’t just any tea party.

“The other young ladies are bringing their own companions! You’re not the only man who will be there!”

They were each allowed to bring a plus-one.

Which meant it wouldn’t just be a gathering of women.

But Carsein wouldn’t budge.

“Whatever. Let’s just go. We’re wasting time.”

“…”

“If you’re that embarrassed, I can always leave you here. I think Claire is still at the mansion.”

“Oh, right! I can just go by myself!”

Leaving her behind because she was embarrassed?

Unthinkable.

How hard she had worked for this opportunity…

For Flora, this tea party was a chance to introduce Carsein properly, clear his name, and change people’s perception of him.

His clothes didn’t matter. Getting him there was all that mattered.

But a small part of her couldn't help but wish he had dressed up, just a little.

Soon, the carriages they had requested arrived.

‘Why two?’

Flora tilted her head, glancing between the two carriages.

One would’ve been enough. She couldn't understand why they needed two.

Carsein was the one who made the arrangements.

Did that mean he planned on bringing other people?

‘That could be it. Camilla, perhaps…? Yes, that makes sense.’

The young ladies from other families sometimes arranged separate carriages for their attendants. It wasn’t that strange.

And Carsein had been spending a lot of time talking with Camilla in his office lately.

Meanwhile, Carsein walked up to the first carriage and opened the door.

Realizing he was about to escort her, Flora scurried forward and took his offered hand.

His escort was flawlessly smooth, perfect, even.

Flora was on the shorter side, so she often requested escorts from shorter servants to avoid any awkward height difference.

The fact that Carsein could escort her so flawlessly meant that he was attentive to such details.

“…Did your fiancée teach you that?”

“What?”

“The escorting. Did you learn it because of her? You never knew how to do that before.”

“Yeah, I learned a few things.”

“…”

His blunt admission soured her mood for some reason.

“Come on! Let’s go! We’ll be late!”

Her pointless complaints continued.

A strange, unpleasant feeling welled up inside her as she boarded the carriage.

“…?!”

The door suddenly slammed shut.

Carsein had closed it without a word.

Flora scrambled back to her feet and flung the door open.

“W-Wait a minute!”

“What?”

“Why aren’t you getting in…? We’re supposed to go together.”

Refusing to ride in the same carriage…?

Did he have second thoughts about going with her?

Panic rising, she jumped out of the carriage.

However, Carsein remained unfazed, casually stating,

“We are going together. This is how.”

“Didn’t you prepare a separate carriage for the servants…? For Camilla?”

“Why would I bring Camilla to a tea party you wanted to attend? It's the same for everyone else.”

“…Are you saying… you prepared two carriages… so we could ride separately?”

No way.

That couldn't be it.

He disliked her, that much was true, but to go as far as to…

“You already know, don’t you?”

His cold words struck her like a physical blow.

A heavy feeling, a frustrating sense of helplessness, washed over her.

“Ugh…!”

As Carsein boarded the second carriage, Flora stormed out of her own.

She marched over to Carsein’s carriage and yelled,

“Heron! Open this door! I’m riding in this one!”

“…As you wish, Lady Flora.”

Heron opened the carriage door at her command.

Carsein sat reading a book. Their eyes met as the door swung open, but his expression remained indifferent as he simply flipped the page.

“I’m riding in this carriage!”

“Do as you please.”

Flora’s defiant words were met with disinterest. Carsein didn’t even spare her a glance.

Helped by Heron, she climbed into the carriage, feeling strangely defeated.

The carriage started moving, but Carsein remained silent.

Frustrated by his indifference, Flora finally snapped,

“Why did you call for two carriages when one would have been enough?! You’re just making the servants work harder!”

“Who knows? I doubt anyone in the Duchy considers us close enough to share a carriage.”

“...!”

“Oh, right. There are a few new maids. They might not know. Or rather, only a few of them might not. It’s not strange for me to call two carriages, considering our history. We’d need two anyway to avoid any… unpleasantness.”

Flora clenched her fists, fighting back the urge to argue.

He wasn’t wrong.

But why did his words sting so much?

She wanted to deny it, no, she had to deny it.

“No! That’s not true! You’re wrong! We could have just ridden together!”

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

She hadn’t brought Carsein here to bicker like this.

She hadn’t shared a carriage with him just to end up arguing.

But with a pout on her face and frustration burning in her eyes, she was the spitting image of her old, insufferable self.

“Ugh! You… you idiot!”

This wasn’t how she planned to start their day.