I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Led by the Heart (2)

Harnie’s eyes widened at the mention of another deal.

“In this situation?”

“There’s nothing strange about it. You pointed out a flaw in my plan.”

“…”

“I’m not going to ask for anything unreasonable. Just… forget about it.”

There was no point in explaining.

To tell her that he was trying to avoid his family…

That he was aware of their surveillance and had deliberately distanced himself…

That he was using the remaining time to clear his head…

It wouldn’t change anything.

But Harnie seemed determined.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“You said we were in this together. I appreciate you helping me, but this is different.”

“You need to know my situation, is that it?”

“Yes. And I might be able to help you, just like you helped me.”

As partners bound by a contract, it wasn’t unreasonable for them to help each other achieve their goals.

But there were limits.

“I don’t think that’s a wise decision.”

“I know. We have a contractual engagement, so we should focus on our mutual benefits.”

“You understand that, and yet you’re making this proposition?”

Harnie smiled faintly.

“I want to follow my heart. Just like you helped me, I want to help you.”

“…”

She smiled again, her beauty captivating.

“If you’re uncomfortable with that, think of it as a deal. Like you said, we’re in this together.”

His own words, used to persuade her, were now being used against him.

He couldn’t argue.

But more than that…

He wasn’t used to receiving help.

“This isn’t the place for this conversation. Let’s go inside the carriage.”

Harnie gestured towards her carriage.

It was getting late.

Time to return to the duchy.

“Alright.”

But his time with his fiancée wasn’t over yet.

***

He escorted her to the carriage, the etiquette now ingrained in his movements, then joined her inside.

The carriage set off, and Harnie spoke first.

“Tell me. Why were you there?”

“Hmm… Can I have some time to think?”

“Sure. We have plenty of time until we reach the mansion.”

He didn’t need much time.

Just a few moments to switch gears, to transition from the festival atmosphere back to reality.

Ten seconds.

That was enough.

“As you might have guessed, I wasn’t at the festival for enjoyment. That’s why I was walking in the opposite direction.”

Harnie nodded.

“As you know, I’m not a true Bagrand. I’m not even an illegitimate child. I was brought in from outside. So my position in the duchy is… precarious.”

“…You mean…”

She seemed to understand.

“You remember the reason for this engagement, right?”

“Yes… But…”

Her eyes widened, fixed on him.

She was confused, but she also seemed to have an inkling of the truth.

“To escape the Bagrand duchy. It sounds absurd, doesn't it? Why would someone willingly leave the most prestigious family in the empire, a family with more power and wealth than anyone else besides the Imperial family? Especially someone who was once a commoner, a nobody from the slums? They would call me crazy.”

That was the logical, the normal way of thinking.

But…

“But because I’m a commoner who became a noble, because I received undeserved privileges, because I dared to climb a mountain I shouldn’t have… I’m now subjected to more contempt and ridicule than anyone else in the empire.”

He was constantly watched.

His every action was scrutinized, questioned, restricted.

False rumors spread like wildfire.

“There’s no point in protesting. My family doesn’t even trust me. They suspect me, they blame me. The prejudice is so deeply rooted that it’s spread beyond the nobles, even within the duchy.”

“The duchy… So you’re saying that your family…!”

Harnie’s eyes filled with sympathy.

He didn’t need to explain any further.

“This is the price I pay for receiving something I don’t deserve. I’m not treated like family in the Bagrand duchy.”

His family had become his enemies.

His worst enemies.

That’s why he had accepted this one-year engagement.

To escape the Bagrand family.

To shed this unwanted status and build a life for himself.

That was the reason behind this contract.

Harnie was silent for a moment.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could help you, but… if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do.”

“You’re wrong. There are many things you can do to help me.”

“Really?”

She didn’t seem convinced.

He smiled faintly and made a few requests.

Harnie listened, her expression still puzzled.

“Is that a problem?”

“It’s not a problem, but… Are you sure that’s all you need?”

“Yes.”

He was sure.

Those things would be useful.

—Neigh!

The carriage stopped.

The coachman announced their arrival at the Theresia Marquisate, and Harnie prepared to disembark.

He escorted her, the etiquette now second nature, and she pouted.

“You’re no fun to teach. I usually enjoy scolding my students when they make mistakes. It’s a good stress reliever.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. You’re saying I’ve learned well.”

“You still have a lot to learn. Be prepared. I’m a strict teacher, so I won’t go easy on you.”

“Hmm, then I need to study. I guess I’ll have to read that book again…”

“Throw it away! Just throw it away!”

***

He returned to the duchy after escorting her to her mansion.

‘We talked longer than I expected.’

He had to waste time to take advantage of the scene skip.

If he returned too late, the conversations with the other characters would be shortened, or he might not even encounter them at all.

It was better for Carsein to avoid them as much as possible. It would give him more control over the situation.

But he had to arrive during a specific time frame.

If he was too late, he would encounter his family again.

He would have returned before the fireworks started, before the night market became crowded.

It was late, so he had to make sure he encountered at least one person before entering the mansion.

‘There she is.’

He saw pink waves of hair through a window.

Claire.

‘Well, this is better than the others.’

She was easier to deal with than Flora, Arina, or Isabella.

“We’ve arrived, Young Master Carsein.”

The coachman from the Theresia Marquisate informed him of their arrival.

He stepped out of the carriage and pulled out the money he had borrowed from Harnie.

“Here. Take this as a tip.”

“No, young master. I can’t accept a tip. I’m just doing my job.”

“You drove me to the Marquisate and back, even at this late hour. You deserve to be compensated. And besides, I have to consider my reputation.”

“Young Master…”

The coachman accepted the money with a grateful bow.

The carriage departed.

Claire, who had been watching, must have seen everything. He had maintained the Bagrand family’s dignity.

He had minimized the chances of being criticized.

She would surely scold him for returning so late, but at least she couldn’t fault him for this. He could handle the rest.

“Carsein!”

Claire shouted his name, then hurried down the stairs. She examined him from head to toe.

“You’re… not hurt. Good.”

“Why are you doing this? It’s creepy.”

He pushed her away, and her pink bangs fluttered.

Then she pinched his cheek.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Creepy? You think it’s creepy? Really? After what you did?”

It didn’t hurt, but it was annoying.

He pushed her hand away.

“You’re the one who’s creepy! You’re touching me, staring at me… Isn’t that creepy? Think about what you usually do.”

“You little…!”

She pinched his side.

Ugh, she was just like her older sister, annoying and infuriating.

He wriggled away, and Claire finally let go. Her mood seemed to have improved.

“Just come home earlier next time! Do you have to stay out so late? I almost called the knights to search for you.”

“Why would you do that?”

He answered curtly, and Claire glared at him.

“Because I was worried, of course.”

—Ding!

[1. (Scoff) Worried? You’re kidding, right?]
[2. (Answer indifferently) Yeah, sorry I was late. Satisfied? I’m tired, so I’m going to bed.]
[3. (Flip her off) Fuck off. You were just watching me.]
[4. (Look away) I was just upset. That’s all.]

The choices appeared.

Claire continued, her eyes still sharp.

“I remember what happened that time. You came home all bruised and battered, clinging to Mother. It’s only natural for me to be worried.”

She sounded almost nostalgic. It seemed like the spicy fish cakes had messed with her head.

He tried to distract her, but…

“You were sick for days after that. You even caught a cold from being out in the snow for so long. That’s why I checked on you.”

Unlike Arina, who had forgotten, Claire seemed to remember that Snowflake Festival.

He would have normally chosen option 2, to avoid provoking her.

But now…

He could probably get away with option 4.

“I was just upset. That’s all.”

Claire was silent for a moment, then mumbled,

“…Yeah, it’s understandable. It’s our fault.”

“Did Arina tell you?”

—Nod.

“She told Mother everything when we got back, after searching for you with the knights. Mother already knew.”

He didn't need to deny it.

He was in control of the situation now.

“She apologized and begged Mother not to punish you. I did too… I feel bad. She’s probably still looking for you.”

“Looking for me?”

“She was devastated when you came home all bruised and beaten. She kept drinking, clutching that hair tie you gave her.”

“…”

“I thought it might happen again. It was dark, so I sent the knights to look for you. You wouldn't be so nonchalant if you saw her face back then.”

Claire told him what had happened while he was gone.

“So don’t be upset. Don’t lock yourself in your room for days like last time. We won’t say anything if you want to go out… like today, with your fiancée. Arina talked to Mother, and your house arrest is lifted.”

Claire’s words were unexpectedly kind.

It was because of that incident.

But…

‘You would have still worried. Claire.’

He preferred indifference.

He swallowed his words and glanced at the status window.

It didn’t appear.

There should have been a choice at this point.

Claire’s words were different, and he should have been able to choose whether or not to stay in his room.

The game was changing.

And it was working in his favor.

His eyes were drawn to the affinity box.

[Claire Bagrand]
[Affinity: 27%]

‘…Is that why?’

Isabella’s affinity, which had been increasing since the start of the game, was initially at 30%.

And Claire’s affinity, which had been steadily rising, was almost at the same level.

It seemed like affinity was influencing the story.

As he was staring at her affinity box, something fell from the sky.

Small, white flakes.

“And Carsein, you… Oh, never mind. That’s not something I should bring up. Anyway, let’s go inside. It’s snowing. Don’t catch a cold.”

Claire, changing her mind, urged him to go inside.

Unlike the game’s storyline, he followed her without any problems.

“But Carsein, haven’t you forgotten something?”

“Forgotten something?”

“There’s something… something important.”

What? What was it?

Had he forgotten something in this route?

‘…I don’t think so.’

—Slap!

“Ouch!”

Claire slapped his back.

Ugh, she hit him right where Harnie had kicked him!

“Ugh, this is what I get for expecting anything from you! Just go and spend time with your fiancée!”

She stomped away, her mood souring.

He didn’t understand why she was upset.

“What was that all about…”

He had a feeling…

That second-born children always had these kinds of personalities.