I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Broken Wings (6)

“...”

Today was supposed to be different. It was supposed to be a day for lighthearted laughter with the other young ladies, sipping hot cocoa in the greenhouse while reminiscing about the Snowflake Festival.

Instead, Flora found herself dressed for the outdoors, walking with a purpose.

It was the fourth day of Carsein’s probationary period. As she walked, she recalled the scene she had witnessed from her hiding spot near the training ground's wash area.

“So, I’m confiscating this, got it? Consider it me turning a blind eye to your cheating.”

Bruce’s voice echoed in Flora’s mind, stopping her in her tracks.

“No matter how you look at it, that was something she gave him… something he was forced to give up, wasn't it?”

But why didn't he say anything? It was his belonging, yet he hadn't even gotten angry?

“I don't understand. Why? It’s not like what Sir Theo said…"

Confusion clouded Flora’s thoughts. Just then, she noticed someone approaching the entrance of the training ground and quickly ducked behind a wall.

“Carefully, you hear me? If even one piece breaks, you’re done for!”

Peeking out cautiously, Flora spotted Claire, fists clenched as she barked orders at the servants who followed behind.

‘Right. Today’s the day Second Sister visits.’

Tomorrow would probably be her turn. She didn’t need to put herself through this turmoil. Tomorrow, she could witness it all with her own eyes.

And yet… a strange tightness constricted Flora’s chest as she watched her older sister.

Why? Every time she saw Claire bring Carsein something, she had been enraged. She hated it. Every time, she had devised ways to torment Carsein, to make him suffer. And his suffering had brought her twisted satisfaction.

But now, instead of that possessive rage, all she felt was unease and a suffocating pressure.

It wasn’t jealousy over whatever her sister was giving Carsein. It wasn’t fear of losing her family.

This strange, indescribable feeling… She couldn’t put it into words. The only certainty was the unsettling question that echoed within her as she watched Claire approach the training grounds.

Why? Why, why, why? Sir Theo himself had reassured her that her actions weren't wrong. So why did she feel this way?

She was back to square one. She didn’t understand. She didn’t understand any of it.

A gnawing feeling of wrongness, a sense that she had made a mistake, took root within her. Unable to shake off the unsettling urge to see Carsein for herself, Flora skirted around the training ground, avoiding Claire’s notice as she slipped in through a side entrance.

***

The morning of the fifth day arrived, bright and crisp. Claire, fully prepared, stood at the edge of the training ground, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the knights as they completed their morning run.

“Oof! H-hey?!”

“Claire Bagrand…? Why would you use Gris Magic on my comrade…?”

“Don’t play dumb. Did you think I wouldn’t see that? You deliberately bumped into Carsein!”

She had spotted him. And her promise to make him pay? She hadn’t been joking.

“How dare you lay a hand on my brother. Get up, you!”

“Y-yes, Lady Claire!”

Gripping the offending knight by the collar, Claire was ready to drag him to the Captain and have him expelled on the spot.

“Cadet Theo Ramstear, at your service, Lady Claire. May I have a word?”

A seemingly polite voice interrupted her.

“What is it?”

“Such incidents are common during morning drills, Lady Claire. Overtaking maneuvers can get a little… physical.”

“So? Are you saying this… this worm didn’t target Carsein?”

Theo flinched at the venomous tone in Claire’s voice.

“You see… Yesterday, my sister mentioned that Carsein had… acted out? Something about insubordination?”

“Y-yes… about that…”

“I know. It was all fabricated. But what this… this scum just did to Carsein? That’s actual insubordination. A measly knight deliberately targeting the Duchess' son?”

Caught completely off guard, Theo swallowed nervously.

“Lady Claire, with all due respect, within the training grounds, we follow the rules of the training grounds. And Carsein… is currently just a trainee.”

“And?”

“Consider it a small initiation ritual for the new recruits. It's not intended as outright violence, more of a tradition to help them adapt.”

Sensing a slight shift in Claire's demeanor, Theo saw an opportunity, his lies flowing smoothly.

“Even without the ritual, young Master Carsein’s… lack of stamina puts him at a disadvantage. He inevitably slows down the other knights. It wouldn’t be fair to exclude him completely, would it?”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Claire released her grip on the knight’s collar. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, her expression shifting from fury to something akin to amusement. Her gaze, however, now fixated on Theo, held a different kind of intensity.

“So, you’re saying I should just stand by and watch as Carsein gets trampled day after day? All in the name of this… ‘tradition’?”

“What?! No, no, of course not!”

“That’s exactly what you’re implying. By the rules of this training ground, Carsein is just a trainee, and since he’s so slow, getting knocked around is just part of the process. Isn’t that right?”

Theo had tried to justify the incident as a simple training ground matter, but the icy glint in Claire’s eyes could have melted steel. Thoroughly intimidated, Theo had no choice but to back down.

“That… that was my subordinate, Lady Claire. I… I will personally discipline him for his actions. Please, allow me to handle this matter internally.”

Finally, Theo yielded, bowing his head in submission. Claire stared at him for a moment, a sharp click of her tongue the only sound that broke the tension.

But a simple reprimand wouldn’t suffice.

“Fine. But he’s being reassigned. Today.”

“E-excuse me?”

“You said it yourself: it’s just something that happens during overtaking drills. And those drills happen every single day. So why not make everyone's lives easier and transfer him to another squadron?”

“Lady Claire, reassigning a knight to another squadron is not a decision taken lightly…”

“This… this insect is the one who screwed up. Or what? You want me to have him expelled entirely? There’s a whole line of aspiring knights who would kill for his place. Besides, isn't it about time you get rid of these barbaric traditions?”

She had to make sure he wouldn't be a problem again. Banishing him to another squadron, as if sending him into exile, was the only way to satisfy Claire.

“How about we assign him to the Second Squadron for the remainder of Master Carsein’s probationary period? Just three more days.”

“Yes. Do that.”

Theo winced internally as he thought of his favorite subordinate, but he knew there was no other option if he wanted to appease the furious Lady Claire.

‘Idiots. What did they expect?’

Thanks to Claire’s intervention, the rest of the morning drills proceeded in an almost unnerving silence. No one dared step out of line with the Duke’s daughter watching their every move.

The drills concluded, and Carsein, once again, lay sprawled on the ground, drenched in sweat. Claire approached him and crouched down.

“This happens every day?”

“Yeah.”

“So they give you a hard time every single day?”

Carsein let out a sigh and took a long drink of water.

“Didn't Arina tell you? I said if you get involved, they’ll just make my life even more miserable.”

“That’s not why I stepped in.”

“What?”

“Those knights have some nasty habits, and I simply corrected them. I wasn’t taking your side.”

Claire feigned ignorance. Carsein let out a humorless laugh; she wasn’t wrong.

She hadn’t intervened to offer him any special treatment. She had simply taken issue with the knights’ behavior. If anyone questioned her actions, they wouldn’t get far. She was the Duke's daughter, putting those arrogant knights in their place.

“Here, wear this. Seriously, how can you be so inflexible?”

“What now?”

“It’s customary in the Empire for families of new recruits to provide training attire.”

“Didn’t Arina tell you?”

“And these designs are from my own boutique, therefore perfectly acceptable?”

Carsein decided to be blunt.

“I said your meddling was a hindrance. Stop doing it.”

***

He thought he was probably being too direct. He could have simply told her it was unnecessary, like he had with Arina. But unlike his eldest sister, Claire rarely listened the first time.

So, he had to spell it out for her. Her involvement was a hindrance. She was a hindrance.

Of course, it helped that they had an audience.

“...”

Claire’s hand slowly rose. The height difference between them wasn’t much, so he saw it coming, but he wouldn’t flinch away. He had provoked her; he was prepared for the consequences.

But… instead of the anticipated sting, there was nothing.

“My, my, telling your own sister that her gift is a hindrance. If you’re going to complain, come to me directly next time. Though, it shouldn’t be a problem now; I had a word with the Vice-Captain.”

With that, Claire simply flicked his forehead with a finger.

‘What is she doing?’

He had deliberately provoked her, expecting a physical reprisal. Her usual hot-headedness wasn’t that different from the Claire he used to know. He had figured even if it hurt his pride, it would be enough to drive her away.

Yet, Claire hadn't laid a finger on him, hadn’t even cursed at him.

“Fine, I’ll leave you to it, since it's such a bother. By the way, does it still hurt? Where I hit you before?”

“…That was ages ago. You think it still hurts?”

“Well, unlike me, Sister probably hit you out of genuine hatred. And she isn’t exactly known for her self-control when she's angry.”

Claire seemed surprised by his nonchalant response and scratched her cheek.

“I, for one, always showed restraint. Even when I was furious. After all, it would really hurt if I hit you with all my strength.”

“…”

If you say so. He wanted to say it out loud, but he bit back the words.

Claire frowned and pinched his cheek, pulling it slightly.

“What are you doing?”

“Ugh, you don’t need to know all the details! Just make sure you actually wear what I brought you!”

With a final huff, Claire turned and walked away, reminding him that she would be watching to make sure he wore the training clothes.

“…What was that all about?”

He had assumed she would storm off, but to retreat so calmly? He hadn’t expected that. As he stared at the exquisitely crafted training attire, a sense of bewilderment washed over him.

[ Claire Bagrand ]

[ Affinity: 32% ]

Looking up, he saw that Claire's affinity had surpassed 30%.

‘Good. She wasn’t the problem to begin with.’

[ Flora Bagrand ]

[ Affinity: 7% ]

This. This was the real issue. He glanced in the direction of a certain young lady who he knew was watching him from the shadows. It was time.

▶Would you like to place the item in your pouch?◀

[ 1. Yes. ]

[ 2. No. ]

Without hesitation, he selected "Yes." Then, he casually tossed the pouch in a spot where it was sure to be noticed.

***

This unsettling feeling had to be because of Carsein. Hidden from view in the secluded rear pathway of the training grounds, Flora peeked her head out, her eyes searching for Carsein among the sprinting knights.

But… had she been mistaken? She didn’t feel any different. Seeing Carsein with her own eyes did nothing to alleviate the suffocating pressure in her chest.

Then…

Thud!

‘What…?’

Carsein was jolted sideways, his side colliding with another knight's arm. The oppressive feeling in Flora’s chest intensified.

What followed was a blur. Claire unleashed a burst of magic, sending the knight sprawling. The heated exchange with Theo. The knight who had targeted Carsein narrowly avoided expulsion, merely demoted and reassigned…

And Carsein. He had outright rejected Claire’s kindness.

The pressure in her chest became unbearable. Flora, gasping for breath, retreated back into the shadows, clutching at her chest.

“Ha… ha…”

She crouched down, her small frame shaking. An unsettling sense of déjà vu washed over her.

This was… just like back at the manor. The location might be different, but the cause and effect were the same.

Replace the maids with knights. Replace relentless torment with calculated sabotage and targeted “accidents.” The result was the same.

For Flora, who had orchestrated countless instances of misery for Carsein, this wasn’t unfamiliar territory.

Could it be…?

‘No. No! That’s impossible!!’

Flora shook her head fiercely, denying the thought that dared to surface.

‘I… I didn’t tell them to do this. I might have done things back home, but I had nothing to do with what happened here!’

Just as she convinced herself, she heard it.

Rip! Rrrrip!

The sound of tearing fabric. Judging by the sound, it had to be one of the pouches the knights used.

But why was that sound coming from so close by?

“Damn it. Because of that little peasant, I have to…”

The frustrated muttering continued for a bit longer before fading away as the owner of the voice retreated further into the pathway.

Holding her breath, Flora cautiously approached the source of the sound. And there it was.

“…”

A ripped pouch lay discarded on the ground, its contents spilling out. There was no need to check who it belonged to.

Inside, amidst the scattered belongings, lay the two tubes of ointment she had gifted Carsein.

The uncomfortable feeling in Flora’s chest swelled like an overinflated balloon.

Ding!