I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: A Tiny Crack

After the successful execution of his plan, Flora returned empty-handed, and the initial crisis of Episode V was averted.

He sat down at his desk and picked up a pen.

He needed to inform his contacts.

“Moving to the annex shouldn't be a problem, but… what if I receive a letter from Harnie while I’m at the training grounds?”

Sending letters wasn’t an issue.

The maids would be extra cautious with his belongings now, especially after today’s incident.

But it would be troublesome if he received a message from Harnie while he was at the training grounds.

“I'll have to focus on deactivating the death triggers as soon as I enter the training grounds. If I'm not careful…”

He would die, of course.

Just like he had triggered a bad ending in Episode III by not attending Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony, he would die in Episode V if he didn't enter the training grounds.

There was a time limit.

But there was a difference between Episode III and this one.

▶Episode V. Troublemaker at the Training Grounds in progress!◀

“I didn’t notice this in the game, but… it seems like the timing is different this time.”

He had discovered something peculiar while examining the status window.

The most troublesome aspect of this game was its forced actions.

He had to choose from the given choices, perform specific actions to determine the branching paths, and follow the episode's storyline.

These forced actions often led to unavoidable death triggers or death flags.

Episode III, Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony, was a prime example.

The timer had started right away.

The choice to attend Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony was always present, and the status window would direct him to specific locations.

He had to attend the ceremony.

He couldn't avoid it, even if he tried to hide.

But what about now?

There were no instructions.

He wasn’t being forced to go to the training grounds.

It meant that the episode was in progress, but he didn’t have to start it immediately.

He had been granted a rare opportunity to act freely.

“Then…”

He could use this time to his advantage.

He started writing.

“I’ll tell Harnie that I have a prior engagement… And then there’s Camilla.”

He had to inform Camilla, who was on a week-long vacation, about his plans.

“She’s a sensible girl, so she wouldn’t panic, but… It’s better to keep her in the loop. The duchy is already suspicious of her, so it’s best if she stays quiet.”

He nodded to himself and continued writing.

He finished the letters.

He couldn't send them through the maids right now, so he would give them to Heron.

“Hmm… What to do with the remaining time…”

He still had some time to act freely.

He had to be careful not to trigger the “poor health” death ending, but his stats were still high enough to last for a day.

“Then it’s obvious what I have to do.”

He got dressed and left his room. The maids flinched, their eyes filled with anxiety.

‘Claire really gave them a hard time.’

—Ding!

Even the choice window appeared, confirming the severity of the situation.

‘She doesn’t know how to hold back.’

He sighed inwardly, then chose to remain silent, the third option.

He didn’t want to risk lowering his reputation by scolding them. And besides, he wasn't interested in their reactions.

He ignored their anxious gazes and continued on his way, until…

▶You have entered a danger zone!◀
[Staying in this area for too long could result in penalties.]
[Do you wish to enter?]

He had arrived at a restricted area.

He checked his surroundings, making sure no one was watching.

The servants were avoiding him, afraid of triggering his anger.

He entered the danger zone.

▶Entering the Detention Area!◀
[Time Limit: 40 seconds]

A timer appeared, counting down the seconds.

40 seconds was enough. He wasn't planning on staying long.

“Who…? Is that you, Lady Flora?”

A woman, locked in a cell, looked up as he approached.

“It seems you were expecting Flora. I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“…!”

Her eyes widened as she recognized him.

Yes, he had come to see Emma.

“May I ask why you’ve come?”

Emma, though trying to maintain her composure, was clearly eager to speak.

He wanted to provoke her.

“Your back still seems stiff, Emma.”

“…!”

Emma gritted her teeth.

“Do you expect me to greet you? I’m locked up in this cell because of you, young master.”

So she wouldn't greet him because she was unjustly imprisoned?

He had expected this reaction.

“Heh.”

“…Are you mocking me?!”

“No, I’m laughing because it’s amusing.”

He laughed openly, and Emma’s eyes turned red.

“You tried to frame me, and now Lady Claire has thrown me in this cell!”

“Frame you? You were imprisoned because of your actions.”

“That’s absurd! My advice was sound! You’ve caused so much trouble, so it’s only natural for Lady Claire to be cautious about your outings!”

Emma shouted, her voice laced with anger.

Time for a counterattack.

“Cautious? You were already guilty of something else.”

“Hmph! Don’t spout such nonsense—”

“There have been rumors of embezzlement in the duchy.”

Emma’s eyebrows twitched.

“It’s absurd. Rumors of someone embezzling money from the Duke’s estate surface, and it just so happens that you come into a large sum of money at that time?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I heard you bought some expensive clothes recently. Suspicious, isn’t it?”

“Hmph. It has nothing to do with you. It seems you really hate me, young master, enough to make up stories like this.”

She claimed she had bought the clothes with the money she had earned as head maid.

That she had done it to maintain the dignity of the Bagrand family.

Time for another attack.

He threw out a bait.

“Really? I also heard that some of the knights suddenly replaced their entire equipment. Another coincidence, is that it?”

“Yes. They must have worked hard and saved their money. What does that have to do with me?”

She wasn’t falling for it.

But he could force her hand.

“Bullshit. Don’t you think I know you’re taking my monthly allowance and using it to supplement their salaries?”

“That’s Lady Arina’s responsibility.”

“Managing the funds is Arina’s job, but keeping records and allocating funds is the head maid’s duty. You could easily manipulate the records.”

“What are you…”

“Last month, when the estate funds were running low… There were discrepancies in the ledger, weren't there?”

Emma’s confident demeanor vanished.

‘She took the bait.’

Her expression betrayed her guilt.

“Don’t spout nonsense! My records are impeccable!”

Her records might be clean.

She could easily turn this around and make it seem like he was delusional.

But Emma was trapped in solitary confinement.

She couldn’t verify her claims.

This was enough.

[Time remaining: 10 seconds]

He was running out of time.

He left her with one last taunt.

“We’ll see if your records are clean when the truth is revealed, won’t we?”

“Don’t bluff! What truth are you talking about?!”

[Leaving the danger zone!]

He didn't see her face as he left, but he could imagine her reaction.

She was panicking.

His confident performance, even if it was just a bluff, had shaken her.

Uncertainty was a powerful weapon.

‘Let that fear consume you, Emma.’

Her anxiety would soon lead to mistakes, her actions revealing the truth.

He just had to wait.

***

‘Hmm?’

Carsein returned to his room, intending to start packing for his move to the annex.

But Heron was waiting for him, accompanied by other servants.

Heron dismissed the servants.

“What’s going on?”

“Young Master, you requested to move to the annex… but it seems your request has been denied.”

“Denied?”

“…Yes. Lady Claire objected, saying it was unacceptable.”

Heron explained that the annex was unsuitable for living, lacking servants, furniture, and basic necessities.

‘They deliberately emptied it.’

He scoffed, pretending not to care.

“It doesn’t matter. I can carry my own belongings. And I just need a place to sleep.”

“But, young master…”

“Tell her I can clean and do my own laundry. It’s not a problem.”

He wouldn't be deterred by such a trivial inconvenience.

Heron sighed.

“You still won’t be able to stay there, young master.”

“Why not?”

“Lady Claire has sealed the annex, saying she won’t be receiving any guests for a while.”

“What the…”

She had thrown a fit about him moving to the annex, and now she was deliberately preventing him from doing so?

“She said you could use the training grounds, but she wouldn’t allow you to stay in the annex, saying it was inappropriate for a member of the family to live there.”

“So… She ordered them to nail it shut?”

The servants seemed to have just finished their task.

“Umm… Young Master, perhaps you should reconsider your request to move to the annex.”

Heron was sweating, clearly uncomfortable.

It seemed like I couldn't use the annex after all.

“Ha… fine. Just go.”

“Aren’t you going to the training grounds?”

“I’ll go tomorrow.”

I needed to come up with a new plan.

‘It’s not that difficult. I just need to leave another message for Arina at the training grounds.’

I would have to spend another day at the mansion.

***

Night fell.

Soft footsteps echoed through the silent cell.

“Who’s there?”

Emma asked reflexively.

“…It’s me, Emma.”

“Lady Flora?”

Emma's face lit up as she saw her beloved youngest mistress.

“You shouldn’t be here, my lady! You’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m fine. I’m bundled up.”

“But still… Don’t worry about me, my lady. You should go back to your room.”

She said that, but she was overjoyed.

Flora was her savior, the one who could alleviate her anxiety.

Flora offered her some delicious-looking desserts, and they exchanged pleasantries.

Then, Flora asked,

“…Nanny, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, my lady.”

Emma smiled brightly, swallowing a bite of dessert.

Flora hesitated, then asked, her voice filled with uncertainty,

“Everything I’ve done… It was for our family, right?”

“What?”

“The things I did… to Carsein.”

Emma’s eyes widened.

“Of course, my lady! That filthy peasant is a threat to the Bagrand family!”

She had always said that.

“What does he want? He wants to use his dirty little hands to destroy the duchy! Just like other commoners!”

He’s a threat to the family.

He’s trying to taint the family.

He’s trying to bring down the family.

“He’s a curse! He’s trying to steal Young Master Karn’s place and take over the duchy for his own selfish gain! No, he’s a demon!”

A demon who is trying to steal their place, to destroy their family.

That’s what Nanny Emma had always said.

“…So it’s true? Carsein is… a bad person because he’s from outside? Because he’s from the slums?”

“Yes! Don’t let him deceive you, Lady Flora! His words are nothing but lies, deceptions, sweet nothings! Remember that.”

Emma reassured her, and Flora nodded.

“Yes, don’t worry.”

She wouldn’t be deceived by his lies.

She wouldn’t be swayed by his sweet talk.

But…

The doubt remained.

‘Are my actions really justified? Carsein… he doesn't seem to want anything from us…’

She couldn’t bring herself to ask Emma that question.