Mod7 Translations

I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 24

Added 2024-07-20 22:24:00 +0000 UTC

Chapter 24: Belated Birthday Gift (3)

The maids and servants, bringing in the gifts, wore disgusted expressions.

They couldn’t believe that so much money had been spent on gifts for that beggar, not even for the ladies.

They resented, even envied, that these precious items were meant for someone from the streets.

Their eyes seemed to speak volumes.

This, too, was a repetition of an unpleasant experience.

Some of my classmates in school were children of employees from my mother's company, and I would always receive birthday gifts from them, out of obligation.

It was the same feeling, making my response even clearer.

If I accepted these gifts, my standing would plummet.

They didn't want me to have these precious items, no matter what.

So this was the only solution.

“You, there.”

“Y-yes?”

“Come in and take one thing each from the boxes.”

The servants, both male and female, looked bewildered.

They couldn't understand why I was giving away the gifts.

But I saw several of them eyeing the items with greed.

The gifts were valuable enough to satisfy any commoner's desires if they sold even one of them.

‘Of course, they wouldn’t dare move. Not with the butler standing there.’

If Heron reprimanded them for taking the young master's birthday gifts, they would be in trouble.

So I added another line.

“These are gifts from your master, a token of appreciation for your hard work. Are you going to refuse?”

Even with Heron present, my orders, Carsein Bagrand’s orders, took precedence over the butler's. This gave them justification for accepting the gifts.

The servants, emboldened, started to enter the room and claim their prizes, their faces lit up with delight.

▶You have successfully triggered a result that goes beyond the simple selection of choices.◀

■Reward
[Awareness +15]
[Your reputation within the Bagrand duchy has improved.]
[The affinity of the maids and servants who received the gifts has greatly increased!]
[Value: 7%]

‘This isn’t bad. I don’t need these things anyway.’

Even though they hated Carsein, this would make it easier to identify those I could interact with and trigger side episodes.

But Heron seemed troubled.

“What’s wrong? These are my gifts, and I’m giving them to my servants. Is that wrong?”

“Not at all, Master. It’s your wish.”

His poker face was impeccable.

But I knew. These weren’t actually gifts from Isabella.

Isabella, so indifferent to Carsein, wouldn't have suddenly thought of sending him birthday gifts.

She was still blinded by prejudice, her suspicion unwavering.

Just like in the game’s storyline…

These gifts were from Heron.

“Has everyone taken something?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Then everyone except for Camilla and Heron can leave. I have something to discuss.”

The servants, clutching their gifts, happily left the room.

Silence filled the air.

Heron seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

So I had to take the initiative.

“You still have something to say to me, don’t you, Heron?”

“…”

“I know you were going to bring it up if I didn’t. Don’t worry about Camilla.”

Heron glanced at Camilla, and she lowered her head, a sign of silence.

Now that Heron was ready to speak freely, I voiced my thoughts.

“You’re here to tell me not to dress like this again, right? That it’s unbecoming of a noble, a Bagrand.”

“That’s not true, Master. The Duchess…”

“What? The only real birthday gift was that blank check and your message that she would grant me any wish. Am I wrong?”

“…”

Heron, his face grim, remained silent.

In the game, after the incident with the servant’s uniform at Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony, Isabella sent Carsein new clothes.

It was one of the storylines in the game, a belated attempt to make up for forgetting his birthday.

But it was never a pleasant experience for Carsein, not in the game, not in real life.

“You’re cruel, you know. Telling Mother about my birthday like that.”

This wasn’t a loving gift from a mother who cared about her son.

It was a guilt-ridden offering, sent because she had been reminded of her negligence by her butler.

So these gifts were essentially from Heron.

“I apologize. But I hoped it would cheer you up, even if it was just a little…”

“Heron.”

It was a pathetic excuse.

No matter how he tried to sugarcoat it, no matter how much he apologized…

The fact remained that Isabella was indifferent to Carsein.

“If you want to cheer me up, don’t say anything next time. The same goes for today.”

This would ensure that I wouldn’t have to see Isabella for a while.

I was about to dismiss Heron.

“I, a mere butler, cannot fathom your feelings, Master. But please, grant me a moment of your time.”

—Ding!

▶Hidden Episode. Clumsy Expression begins!◀

“It’s true that the Duchess sees you differently from her daughters. But she has realized her mistake, and she’s just… clumsy at expressing her feelings.”

He placed his hand on his chest.

“I, Heron, have served the Duchess in this mansion for 40 years. So I know how awkward she can be. Please give her some time, Master. This clumsy expression of her feelings will one day turn into genuine affection.”

Heron, bowing his head, pulled out a small envelope from his pocket.

“Please accept this, even if you don’t want to. Please accept the Duchess’s feelings. Grant her another chance, I beg you, just like you did before.”

▶How will you respond to Heron’s request?◀
[1. I don’t need it. Take it all away. And don’t do this again.]
[2. Alright.]
[3. I never wanted any of this.]

A new set of choices had appeared.

Honestly, I wanted to choose option 1 or 3. A belated birthday gift couldn't possibly contain any genuine affection, especially not when it was sent only because someone reminded her.

But realistically, this was Heron’s request, not Isabella’s.

[2. Alright.]

“Ha… Fine. And lift your head.”

He was so polite, so sincere in his apology. He was even willing to lower his head, despite his position as the butler of the Bagrand duchy.

I couldn’t deny that he wasn’t at fault. Heron was just the butler, and unlike the other characters, he had never harmed Carsein. He was one of the few truly innocent characters.

I could have been harsh and refused… But I didn’t like seeing an innocent person bow his head.

And perhaps… this choice was for the best.

“There’s no need to point out her awkwardness. Again, I’m not asking for any of this.”

“Master, but…”

“I’m saying, don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to take out my anger on you. I’m just… not ready to forgive her.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll keep that in mind. And thank you.”

Heron, relieved that I had at least accepted the gift, straightened his back.

“So, is this all?”

“Yes, Master. If you accept these clothes and this… the Duchess will be grateful.”

Heron handed me a blank check.

In other words, money.

He was telling me to spend it freely.

‘Money…’

Carsein wasn’t the type to indulge in luxury, but it could be useful for me.

“Can I go to the bank right now and cash this check?”

“Of course, Master. With the Bagrand name, you could buy an entire mine.”

“Then send someone to cash this check and bring me the money.”

“Yes, Master. This amount… Master?”

Heron looked troubled as he saw the amount I had written.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, Master. I’ll bring it right away.”

He had no choice. It would be a disaster for him if I refused, offended by the meager amount.

Heron bowed respectfully and left.

***

▶Hidden Episode. Clumsy Expression cleared!◀
▶Reward granted!◀

The episode clear message appeared as soon as Heron left. The reward was a few pieces of clothing, the amount of money I had requested, and three question marks, the same as before.

Those would be revealed later.

For now, I had to deal with the task at hand.

“Camilla, how much money do I have right now?”

“W-well…”

Camilla struggled to answer.

“Just be honest. I have a meeting soon.”

“Yes, Master. Well… to be honest…”

Camilla’s explanation of my financial situation was grim.

The only decent clothes I had were the ones I had worn to the ceremony, and I needed the birthday gifts to be presentable for my meeting with Harnie.

‘It’s a good thing I accepted.’

It was better to have this than to show up looking like a pauper for a meeting with my fiancée.

“Get ready for another outing, Camilla.”

“Yes, Master.”

Now, all that was left was to meet Harnie.

***

Heron, returning from the bank, stared at the cash in his hand, bewildered.

The blank check could have been used to withdraw a fortune, even just for a day. The Duchess had authorized it.

But the amount Carsein had requested… it was meager.

‘…Only 1500 Pessel?’

That was the amount in his hand, the amount Carsein had ordered him to withdraw. It wasn’t a small amount for a commoner, but it was still ridiculously low.

He had expected Carsein to withdraw enough to fill a treasure chest with gold coins…

Heron, clutching the envelope filled with a paltry sum, decided to give up on understanding and knocked on the door.

“Master, I have the cash you requested.”

“Alright, give it here.”

Camilla opened the door, and Heron handed him the envelope. Carsein took it, his expression indifferent, and proceeded to get ready.

Heron, still confused, lingered in the room, then spoke up,

“Excuse me, Master Carsein. May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Is this… is this truly the amount you wanted?”

“I don’t need a lot of money to meet my fiancée. Why, is that strange?”

“I thought… perhaps you might want to take more. It is a meeting with your fiancée…”

Carsein, adjusting his shirt, chuckled.

“Heron, do you remember what Flora said to me the first time I arrived at the duchy?”

“Miss Flora… she said that you, Master Carsein, weren’t like Master Karn…”

Heron, remembering that day, the day Carsein had first arrived at the duchy, realized his mistake and stopped himself.

“Yes, she said I looked nothing like Karn, that I was just a beggar from the streets. And everyone in the duchy heard it.”

“…! Master, that’s…!”

“I know. That’s just how she is. But the important thing isn’t her reaction, but the others’.”

Heron felt a shiver run down his spine.

“I didn’t give away those gifts for nothing.”

It wasn’t just Flora who had said that, who had called him a beggar from the streets.

Everyone else had thought the same, even if they hadn’t said it out loud.

They all agreed: This boy is not a true young master of the duchy.

At that moment, Carsein had become a lowly beggar, not a young master.

Everyone in the duchy had become his enemy.

“I made a powerful enemy. No matter what my intentions were, no matter how I acted, everything I did would be seen negatively. And it’s still the same now. What would happen if I accepted that birthday gift?”

He knew everything.

He had been watching, observing every look, every action directed at him.

“Do you understand now, Heron?”

“…Yes, Master. I understand perfectly.”

He understood.

Even if he accepted the blank check and received everything he wanted, Carsein wouldn't be free from the duchy's judgment.

Even if it was a legitimate reward, a birthday gift, he was still seen as a filthy beggar from the slums, unworthy of such generosity.

That’s why he had drawn a line. He had accepted a meager sum of money and ensured that his actions wouldn’t offend them.

‘You’ve changed so much, Master.’

Calm and collected.

Without a trace of anger.

He had made Heron bow his head, forcing him to confront his own inaction and sense of guilt.