I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Pulled Chapter (2)

-Scrape, scrape.
The familiar sound of a knife against a cutting board reached his ears. Soon, a plate of neatly sliced apples, each bite-sized, was placed before him.
‘She even shaped a few into bunnies.’
This noble lady, diligently preparing snacks for him, was quite skilled.
‘Camilla’s an exception; most nobles wouldn’t even know how to hold a knife.’
“You said you needed tutoring. Isn’t a book enough?”
Harnie complained, popping a slice of apple into her mouth.
“If a book was enough, I wouldn’t be asking you for help.”
“Hmph. You’re unbelievable.”
“What’s so unbelievable?”
“Do you even know how many questions I’ve received from you?”
“Why would I keep track…”
-Crunch.
Harnie shoved a slice of apple into my mouth, effectively silencing me.
“I can count them on one hand. If you haven’t even asked five questions, why do you need my help?”
“Th-That few?”
“Of course! Any noble would tell you the same. It takes more than an hour to grasp the concepts on this page. If you haven’t even asked five questions, what’s the point of having me here?”
Apparently, she found it disheartening that I could understand her lessons so quickly, without needing much explanation.
‘Hmm… Is it really that surprising? For a high school senior preparing for college entrance exams, this isn’t exactly rocket science.’
I finished chewing the apple, pondering her words.
“Well… At least it gives me a break from dealing with those vultures at the Marquisate. I should be going now.”
“Why leave?”
“Excuse me?”
“You said they were giving you a hard time. Why not stay here? You have a valid excuse.”
“Well, I…”
Her purple eyes darted back and forth, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face.
“No one would question your decision to stay and care for your injured fiancé, wouldn’t they?”
“…”
“We can use each other, you know? I’m using my injured fiancé as an excuse to avoid meeting the Duchess.”
It seemed she didn’t have a pressing reason to return; she was considering my offer.
“I’ll send a letter to the Marquisate, explaining that you’ll be staying another day to tend to your fiancé. They won’t object.”
Harnie sighed, surrendering to the inevitable, and settled back into her chair.
Then, she looked at me, her voice hesitant.
“So… may I ask for a favor?”
Her shy demeanor, the way she fidgeted nervously, tempted me to tease her.
“Of course. But there will be a price. Right here, right now.”
“A price?”
I stabbed a slice of apple with my fork.
And then… I shoved it into her mouth.
“Mmph?”
“That’s not fair! You can’t silence me with apples! You eat one too!”
To be honest, she had caught me off guard, and the apple had nearly hit the back of my throat. I was slightly startled, and a flicker of mischief ignited within me.
But I wouldn’t actually try to choke her, of course.
“…”
However, she didn’t react.
She simply sat there, her head bowed, her silence unnerving.
I had been careful not to shove it in too forcefully… Had I actually hurt her?
“Are… Are you alright?”
I asked, scratching the back of my neck, my voice laced with concern.
She looked up, her eyes wide, her body trembling.
“Do… Do you even…!”
“Huh…?”
“Wha…?”
I sensed danger.
She was serious. Her hand was raised, her expression furious.
‘Is she going to… hit me…?’
Wait, I didn't do anything wrong!
I had to defend myself!
“D-Did I… Did I do something wrong…?”
“You’re asking me that now?!”
“…Yes?”
I honestly had no idea what I had done to upset her.
Feeding her an apple with a fork wasn’t that big of a deal… Or was it?
‘What if… What if Harnie has some sort of weird thing about being fed apples…?’
She took a step closer, her anger palpable.
“You… You wouldn’t understand. You… You’ve always been like this.”
She raised her hand again.
“Perhaps… Perhaps you should just accept your punishment.”
That smile… Others would probably melt at the sight of it, but all I saw was murderous intent.
I instinctively backed away, a sense of foreboding washing over me.
I was trapped against the wall, the bed blocking my escape.
I made one last attempt at a defense, my voice weak and pleading.
“Lady Harnie? I’m… I’m still injured…”
“No, you’re not. You’re perfectly healthy. Look at you, moving around like that.”
“My stomach’s empty, I feel dizzy…”
“You ate an apple. You’re not on an empty stomach. You’ll be fine.”
“I feel weak… I could collapse…”
“No, you look very energetic, Young Master Carsein.”
Damn it! It wasn’t working…
I was screwed.
I knew, deep down, that I was about to experience a repeat of a past trauma.
“Not once… But twice… Twice!”
Oh well. Time to embrace the pain.
Experience had taught me that accepting the inevitable often resulted in less suffering.
-Slap!
“Gah!”
The backhand spike landed with fiery precision, sending a wave of pain through my back.

***

As the searing pain subsided, Camilla arrived with my meal.
“Y-Young Master? Is… Is everything alright?”
Harnie quickly intercepted her question, her voice calm and steady.
“Everything’s fine.”
“E-Excuse me…?”
“Everything’s perfectly fine.”
Camilla hesitated, her gaze shifting between Harnie and me. Why was Harnie answering my questions?
But I couldn’t say anything.
Harnie’s glare, sharp and menacing, silenced me.
‘I wanted to ask Camilla what was going on… But…’
She was making it very clear that any attempt to expose her would result in further punishment.
‘I… I’m sweating…’
“E-Everything’s fine,” I stammered.
“But Young Master, your complexion…”
“Oh, my complexion! It’s fine! I just woke up… Ha… Haha!”
“E-Excuse me…?”
Camilla tilted her head, her gaze skeptical.
“Your complexion seemed fine when you woke up…”
“Ah, that’s because… I’m hungry!”
“….”
You’re making no sense!
Her unspoken words hung heavy in the air.
I know, Camilla. I know it’s suspicious.
But I have no choice.
If I say anything… If I reveal the truth… Harnie will brand me with another fiery handprint.
“A-Ahaha! I’m starving! Let’s eat, shall we?”
I know you’re suspicious, Camilla!
But if I get hit again, I won't be able to enjoy this meal!
Please… Don’t ask.
I sent her a silent plea, hoping she would take the hint.
Camilla, after a brief, scrutinizing glance, turned away and began setting the table.
Harnie’s glare softened, the tension easing.
‘I… I survived…’
I breathed a sigh of relief, settling into my chair at the table.
The meal wasn’t extravagant, a simple yet nourishing spread.
It was a reminder that despite my privileged upbringing, my reality was far from luxurious.
Camilla, in that regard, was different from Claire.
‘She prepared everything I like… And it’s easy to digest…’
And as if anticipating my dietary restrictions, she had prepared a separate plate with small portions of each dish, each one tested with an indicator to confirm the absence of Kelbia fruit.
She wasn’t simply diligent; she was observant, attentive.
She understood Carsein better than anyone else in this family.
She had even prepared a separate meal for Harnie, packaged in a portable kit.
‘She’ll be a valuable asset in this chapter.’
Camilla, a maid, had access to information and areas that others didn’t. Her position was perfect.
“I’ll take my leave now. Please enjoy your meal.”
“Wait, Camilla.”
“Young Master?”
I rose from my seat, retrieving a letter and a map.
The letter was addressed to the Theresia Marquisate, a message I had written in Harnie’s presence.
“This is for the Marquisate. I need you to deliver it to Mother and… gauge the situation.”
“As you wish, Young Master.”
I needed information, a sense of how far Episode 2 had progressed.
The status window remained silent, offering no guidance. Camilla, in this instance, was my most reliable source of information.
She bowed her head and quickly departed, returning moments later with a tray of drinks, her movements swift and discreet, her eyes alert for any signs of suspicion.
“What did you find out?” I asked, my voice low.
“Well…”
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
“It seems you’ll be attending the Eastern Nobles’ Conference… once you’ve recovered.”
“…Mother said that herself?”
“Yes, young master.”
That explained Camilla’s careful phrasing.
Isabella had been direct, her intentions clear.
The Eastern Nobles’ Conference… That meant the branching path hadn’t been chosen yet.
I still had time to make a decision.
“Anything else?”
“She also mentioned replacing the portrait in the central hallway.”
“The central hallway…?”
Harnie’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise.
The portrait in the central hallway was a family portrait.
And Carsein… was the only one missing from that picture.
‘How transparent.’
Fine. Let them replace it.
It was their manor; they could do whatever they wanted with it.
‘My priority is figuring out where Episode 2 will begin.’
I pushed back my chair, retrieving a piece of paper and a map.
I quickly sketched a route on the map, marking a specific location before handing it to Camilla.
And then, I gathered the remaining funds from Emma’s embezzled stash and pressed them into her hand.
“Go to this location and… handle the task outlined on this note. Don’t worry about the cost; use whatever you need.”
“…Young Master…”
Camilla glanced at Harnie, her gaze hesitant.
Sharp as ever. She was probably worried that Harnie, my fiancée, might overhear this sensitive information and use it against me.
“I see… So this is Camilla… I understand why you wanted me here, Carsein.”
Harnie seemed to relax, her initial suspicion replaced by a calm understanding.
“Don’t worry, Camilla. This engagement… It’s a contractual agreement, sealed with an Oath Orb.”
“A contractual… engagement?”
“Yes. We’re helping each other achieve our goals. You don’t need to be concerned.”
“Lady Harnie is correct, Camilla.”
I nodded in confirmation, easing Camilla’s anxieties.
She apologized for her initial suspicion, her demeanor respectful, her understanding of noble etiquette impeccable. Harnie, sensing her sincerity, smiled reassuringly, urging her to relax.
A few more words were exchanged before Camilla, dismissed with a gentle nod, left the room.
Harnie, her smile widening, turned to me.
“It’s refreshing, isn’t it? That level of vigilance… And her manners… Impeccable for a maid.”
“Camilla was a noble, once.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes. She gave up her title to care for her mother, who suffers from Mana Panic Disorder.”
“I see. That explains her grace.”
She nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I didn’t catch her words.
But her expression seemed… brighter, somehow.
Whatever she was thinking, I doubted it involved further punishment.

***

Night had fallen.
Harnie, enjoying a brief respite from the stifling atmosphere of the Marquisate, found herself reconsidering her aversion to shared meals.
While dinner had consisted mostly of polite conversation and mundane topics, it had reassured her of one thing:
She had made the right decision by entering into this contractual engagement.
‘Do you know, Carsein? That look in her eyes… It’s rare.’
Camilla’s gaze was still etched in her memory.
The suspicion, the vigilance, the fear that her master’s secrets might be exposed… It wasn’t simply the loyalty of a servant; it was something deeper.
‘Loyalty born from gratitude. You must have shown her incredible kindness.’
For Camilla, Carsein wasn’t just a master; he was a savior, someone who had changed her life.
She was lucky.
He was a good person.
She wanted to go back in time, to reassure her past self, to tell her that her worries, her fears, were unfounded.
“Well, I suppose I should repay the favor.”
Settling into the guest room Heron had prepared, Harnie picked up a pen and began writing a letter.
[ To Mina, ]
[ I apologize for the sudden request, but could you do me a favor? ]
[ I need you to investigate the Shatrain Estate… ]
…
…