I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Belated Birthday Gift (2)

Another weapon, following the Kelbia allergy.

The handkerchief had its intended effect.

Isabella's eyes widened as they fell upon the bloodstained cloth. Her hardening expression shifted to surprise, then to confusion.

“This handkerchief…”

The blood was clearly from Carsein's still-unhealed cheek, evidence of a meeting with the handkerchief's owner.

“You asked why I was late. I met Lady Harnie on the balcony. And the wound from earlier reopened, so I borrowed her handkerchief.”

“…I see.”

“But this doesn’t explain why I was late, does it?”

Nod.

Of course not.

That's why I had prepared something else.

“So I have a question. Have I received any letters recently?”

“No, you haven’t.”

“What if those letters existed, but they were intercepted? What would you do?”

“…What?”

This wasn’t a regular weapon.

It was a bomb.

“Lady Harnie was wondering why I hadn’t responded to her letters. She sent me numerous letters, but I never received a single one. Where do you think those letters went?”

Clatter.

Isabella’s teacup tilted, spilling its contents onto the table.

Her eyes widened, the gravity of the situation finally sinking in.

“What are you talking about? Explain yourself.”

The bomb had worked perfectly.

“She said she sent me over twenty letters last month. Not a single one reached me, so she came here to ask me directly.”

“Twenty…? That’s impossible. Who in the duchy would dare to tamper with your letters…?”

“To be honest, I don’t even remember the last time I received a letter. I’m simply trying to get to the bottom of this.”

I had addressed all three accusations.

The lateness, the inappropriate attire, the lies… I had cleared my name with a single move.

Her criticisms about my behavior as a noble, as a member of the Bagrand duchy, were now meaningless.

It didn’t matter if my explanation contained a few white lies.

“I’ll summon Heron and have him investigate.”

I countered again, seeing the doubt in Isabella’s eyes.

“No. There’s no need.”

“Carsein?”

“Just consider it my fault. If I’m being suspected like this, I must have been treated that way all along.”

“What are you talking about? I understand you’re upset, but you need to be careful with your words, Carsein.”

“I’ll be going now. I don’t want to continue this conversation.”

I didn’t want to hear her apologize. It wouldn’t, it shouldn’t happen.

And even if she did apologize, do you think he would appreciate it?

I could guarantee he would find it repulsive.

So I stood up abruptly, not giving her a chance to speak, and headed for the door.

And just then…

An object on the shelf started to glow.

‘A Memorial for this branch?’

Whatever it was…

I might as well take a look.

I touched the letter, and my vision went white.

‘What? There’s no change?’

Then, I noticed something.

Arina was sitting beside Isabella.

It was Isabella’s office.

The Memorial was showing me a scene from the past in this very room.

They were having a simple conversation.

“We can’t just leave Carsein as he is, Mother.”

The meaning was clear from a single line. It was about Carsein’s constant troublemaking.

But the next line was something I had never expected.

The Memorial ended, returning me to the present.

‘Damn it.’

A curse escaped my lips.

She wasn’t just indifferent.

Isabella’s hand reached for my shoulder.

“Carsein, sit down for a moment. That attitude—“

—Slap.

I swatted her hand away.

“You…!”

I could imagine the expression on my face.

I had to get out of here, before she saw it.

I had to stay calm, collected, even with the words burning in my throat.

But a single sentence escaped my lips.

“No one will fault me for having a tryst with my fiancée.”

***

The door to the office, slammed shut in anger, soon opened again, and then again, as time passed.

“I have the information you requested.”

“Tell me what you found.”

“Well…”

Heron, hesitant about how to deliver the news, handed Isabella the report.

“The numbers didn’t match. There were no problems with the letters addressed to the ladies or yourself, but…”

“Carsein’s… the numbers were off?”

Nod.

“It seems some of his letters were intercepted or discarded by the servants. The young master hasn't received any letters himself.”

“The timeframe… when did this start?”

“Based on a brief overview, it seems to have been going on for several months. And if we expand the scope, it might even go back years.”

“Ha… Why does this keep happening… I had hoped it was a lie.”

Isabella sighed deeply, pressing her hand to her forehead.

“I’ve already ordered a full investigation. However, I’ve also hired external investigators, just in case our own staff tries to cover things up.”

“Thank you.”

Heron, watching Isabella lament, spoke up,

“Madam, if you’ll allow me to be frank, this is not something you should hope is a lie.”

“Heron?”

“You’ve been neglecting the young master. As I’ve said before, you’ve built a wall between yourself and Carsein.”

“Why are you bringing this up now?”

“This isn’t the first time, is it?”

She had made the same mistake before, ignoring his Kelbia allergy.

Why was Carsein late?

Why had he lied, and why was he wearing a servant’s uniform?

She had never asked him.

It was no different from the breakfast incident.

If she had just asked him… if she had just checked if something was wrong…

But she hadn’t.

She was still blinded by prejudice.

Heron had to break through that wall of prejudice.

Before things escalated beyond control.

“I understand. You’re saying I should conduct a thorough investigation and clear Carsein’s name.”

“No, madam.”

“Then… should I reward him?”

Heron shook his head.

“You should have apologized, madam.”

“Apologized?”

“If your other daughters were in the same situation, would you have summoned them and scolded them like you did the young master?”

“Of course. I would have sternly pointed out their mistakes as well.”

“Madam…”

Heron, his face etched with sadness, picked up an old calendar and opened it. It was Isabella’s calendar from last year.

He pointed to a specific date and asked,

“Do you remember what this day is?”

The date Heron was pointing at was circled, but there was nothing written.

Isabella tilted her head, confused, and Heron showed her the current calendar.

“You still don’t recognize it, madam?”

His voice was stern now, a reprimand from a loyal servant to the acting head of the duchy.

Heron, the Bagrand family’s most devoted servant, wouldn’t normally speak to her like this.

Isabella stared at the two calendars, her eyes shifting back and forth, and then she covered her mouth with her hands.

“Do you understand now, madam? This is what I meant when I said that he hadn't received the same love as your other daughters, that there was a wall between you. You don’t see him as your son, not like the others.”

The clearly marked circle, drawn with the pen reserved for important dates, and the inscription “Claire’s Birthday, January 1st.”

The faint circle, drawn with a different pen, and the empty space next to December 31st.

The contrast was stark.

She had claimed that she treated him the same, but her actions betrayed her true feelings. Heron had pointed out the discrepancy.

“Did I… do that…?”

Isabella’s eyes widened in realization.

If her daughters had been in the same situation, she would have asked. She would have asked why, she would have asked what had happened.

But because it was Carsein…

Because he was a child she had taken in, not her own flesh and blood…

Because she only felt a twinge of guilt, not true affection…

She had already judged him.

“Heron, where is Carsein right now… Oh.”

Carsein’s words, spoken before he left the room, echoed in her mind.

He had said he didn’t want to talk anymore, that he was upset.

“…”

She had no choice but to pick up her pen.

Heron, watching her, sighed inwardly.

It would be difficult for them to reconcile.

***

‘Damn it, I shouldn’t have seen that…’

I returned to my room and immediately headed for the bathroom, needing to cool down. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to suppress the anger boiling inside me.

As the water washed away the heat, my mind slowly cleared.

That last comment had been a mistake.

“Ugh, why did I say that? Just because I saw that scene about the arranged marriage?”

The scene in the Memorial had shown Isabella and Arina discussing Carsein's constant troublemaking. They had even considered arranging a marriage for him, as a last resort.

And I had reacted impulsively.

I had told her I was having a tryst with my fiancée.

The damage was done.

“Ha… Calm down. It’s almost time to get ready.”

Harnie had sent a letter through Camilla, requesting a meeting today. I had to get ready.

I finished washing my face and called for Camilla.

“You called, Master?”

Camilla entered cautiously, glancing at the laundry basket, wondering if I was holding a rag again.

Above her head…

[Camilla]
[Affinity: 17%]

Her affinity, after three days, had risen significantly, exceeding 15%.

‘…Why is it so high?’

I had been leaving her with nothing to do to manage the death trigger, but could that really increase her affinity this much?

I didn’t know. Whatever.

“Stop fussing. I won’t do that anymore, so don’t come so early.”

“But…”

“I said I wouldn’t. Do you want me to say it a third time?”

“N-no, Master! I understand. I’ll be careful.”

It was annoying to see her constantly checking my every move, trying to find something to do. It would be easier to just give her tasks.

“Anyway, Camilla, I need you to get ready for an outing.”

“An outing, Master?”

The time for the first meeting had arrived. A natural encounter was the perfect way to start this fake engagement.

“I have to meet someone. She’s a noble, from a prestigious family.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll inform the coachman.”

As Camilla turned to leave…

“Butler Heron?”

“Excuse me, Master.”

Heron bowed respectfully.

He was accompanied by a group of maids and servants.

I felt a surge of nausea.

‘Damn it.’

Isabella had remembered.

Carsein's birthday.

It might have been a miracle that she had remembered at all, but I wish she hadn’t.

It reminded me of my own mother, belatedly realizing her mistake and trying to make amends.

No, it wasn’t even an apology.

“The Duchess said she would grant you any wish. If you want a birthday party, she’ll arrange it. If you want clothes, she’ll summon a famous boutique. And if you want jewelry, she’ll call a jeweler.”

She wasn’t even here in person; she was sending others to deliver her message.

She was trying to assuage her guilt by throwing money at me.

A birthday party? A boutique? A jeweler?

I didn’t need any of it. It was ridiculous, the way she was projecting her daughters’ tastes onto Carsein without even trying to understand him.

How could she be so similar to my own mother, down to the last detail?

It was pointless.

Even if she realized her mistake and tried to apologize, it wouldn’t change anything.

However…

—Ding!

▶You have received a birthday gift! How will you respond?◀

As expected.

The choice wouldn't let me off that easily.

So, I made a decision.

“Forget about all that. I’ll just take these. But hey, I heard the maids and servants are really busy these days, right?”

“…Yes, there's a lot going on at the moment.”

“Then they deserve a bonus, don’t you think?”

I wouldn’t accept everything.

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