I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Claire’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony (3)

“Just pretend to work for 30 minutes and then leave. That way, you can avoid Claire’s suspicion.”

"What? B-but…"

"I’m sorry, but you make me incredibly uncomfortable. Don’t make me say it again.”

She knew why I felt uncomfortable.

She also knew that I had chosen the best way to avoid Claire’s suspicion.

And she knew that if she did anything else, even this would be taken away from her.

Camilla stopped talking.

“Would… would it be alright if I washed the towels you used?”

—Ding!

[1. I’d like to stuff a rag in your mouth.]
[2. If you’re going to bother me, why don’t you just leave?]
[3. Do whatever you want.]
[4. Take breaks and pace yourself. I know about your situation.]

The final choice appeared.

Once I made this choice, the story would branch out for Episode III.

However, a sentence I had always found uncomfortable in the game was staring me in the face.

I had said it myself out loud once.

How could he be so lenient to the woman who tormented him? I didn't want to choose this option.

"Do whatever you want.”

Camilla quietly washed the laundry in the bathroom. It took a long time, but it showed she was quick-witted.

She was killing time by pretending to work while also following my orders not to bother me.

When she came to collect the dishes after dinner, the anxiety in her eyes seemed to have lessened.

***

The status window remained silent until Camilla left the room.

▶CHAPTER 1 - Episode III branch point activated!◀
▶Episode III. Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony begins!◀
▶Meet Claire and talk to her!◀

“Finally.”

It was far better to jump straight to the main episode than to go through other branches. And that’s exactly what I had achieved.

I had gotten the route I wanted. Now it was time to think about the main events of the episode.

Affinity played a significant role in this game.

Reputation, as defined by the system, reflected Carsein’s standing within the duchy, altering the choices based on the level of hostility. Affinity amplified this influence, focusing it on a single target.

That's why it was always best to increase affinity whenever possible, especially with influential people in the duchy.

And now, an opportunity had presented itself. Because I had chosen the path where I didn’t accept a maid, I could increase Claire’s affinity.

But I couldn't be hasty.

My goal was to increase her affinity, but I also had to deal with the death triggers.

If I had to choose between the two, I would prioritize deactivating the death triggers, even if it meant sacrificing affinity.

I got dressed and left the room.

‘Let’s see… Claire should be in the library on the second floor right now. I just need to go there.’

But the status window disagreed.

▶Claire is currently in the kitchen!◀
▶Go to the kitchen and meet Claire.◀

“Huh? The kitchen?”

Why was she there? In this storyline, she was supposed to be reading something in the library.

…But the status window never lied about things like this.

—Ding!

▶Claire is currently in the kitchen!◀
▶Go to the kitchen and meet Claire.◀

A warning flashed as I tried to go in the opposite direction.

I wasn’t sure why, but it seemed that the main objective was still the same, to find Claire and meet her.

I followed the instructions and headed towards the kitchen.

Soon, I spotted her pink hair. Claire was staring at something in the kitchen.

—Ding!

[1. What are you doing here?]
[2. Do you think the chef can work properly with you staring at him like that?]
[3. Why are you here looking for food? Are you a pig? Well, pigs are pink too.]

‘Are they kidding me? These are the choices?’

Option 3 was a death sentence, and option 2 would probably result in a beating.

I had hoped for better choices with the 2% affinity increase, but it seemed to have made little difference.

I sighed and chose option 1.

“What are you doing here?”

“C-Carsein?”

Claire jumped and turned around.

What? I just asked what you were doing. Why were you so surprised?

“What are you doing here?”

“These are the dishes from when I was sick. I found them while cleaning.”

“Seriously? Why did you bring them yourself? You could have just asked a maid.”

“Well, it’s because of something someone said, isn’t it?”

“Hey…”

It’s because of something you said.

I gave her a knowing look, and Claire, her mouth suddenly dry, gulped down a glass of water.

“Ugh… Just forget about it, okay? I won’t tell you to order the maids to do it anymore. And…”

—Slide.

“Here’s some honey water. I watched them make it, so you can drink it without worrying.”

Claire pushed a cup towards me.

‘Wait… is she giving this to me?’

So this is why she was in the kitchen instead of the library?

—Ding!

▶Claire offers you honey water. How will you react?◀
[1. (Take the cup) Thank you. I’ll drink it.]
[2. (Flip the cup over and spill it on the floor) Now you’re doing this?]
[3. Don’t worry, I’m all better.]

This was ridiculous.

If the choice window was appearing, then it had to be real.

‘How did things get so twisted?’

I had a hunch about the right answer. If I had met her in the library, she would have given me a book to help with my cold, and accepting it would have slightly increased her affinity.

Similarly, in this scene, I had to accept her kindness. If I chose option 2 and acted like a crazy, arrogant fool, it would decrease her affinity. And option 3 was simply a missed opportunity.

“Drink it before it gets cold.”

But I prioritized managing the death triggers over increasing affinity. There was something I had to say.

[3. Don’t worry, I’m all better.]

“Don’t worry, my cold is gone. But… Do you realize that you’re only making things more difficult for me?”

“Why are you saying that? Just drink it.”

“I’m telling you to leave Camilla alone.”

At the mention of that name, the warmth in Claire’s eyes vanished, replaced by a cold stare.

“What are you talking about, Carsein? You’re the victim, and you’re telling me not to suspect the suspect?”

“She’s a suspect, as you said. Someone who is suspected of a crime, not a confirmed criminal.”

“Stop with the bullshit! She’s the most likely culprit!”

She was right.

I thought so too.

The personal maid had the easiest access to Carsein, making her the perfect candidate for tormenting him.

But I repeated my point.

“I’m saying that a suspect isn’t a criminal. She’s just someone who is suspected.”

“Are you… are you defending her? Have you gone mad?”

Of course I am. If she dies because of you, I die too. Deactivating the death trigger is more important than this stupid honey water, even if it costs me some affinity.

“Rigomos leaf extract. Rigomos sap. Those were the ingredients in the Stimulating and Awakening Potions that were in my dessert, right? You remember that, don’t you?”

“You’re right! We can’t be sure about the food, the bath water, or the water in the teapot, but this is evidence that could identify the culprit!”

“No, it’s the opposite. It proves that she’s not the culprit.”

“What?”

“How could a maid, especially one whose actions are restricted, obtain those ingredients on her own? And how could she do it without getting caught?”

Claire’s sharp gaze softened at my question.

“Shaiden wouldn’t make a wrong diagnosis. But we can’t be sure that Camilla was the mastermind. Someone else must have given her those ingredients.”

“Do you… do you know who it is? Tell me!”

“I don’t know. But how many people do you think hate me in the duchy?”

“...!!”

Claire fell silent again.

Right. There was no need to count.

It would be faster to count the people who liked me.

Time for the final blow.

“And that’s not the only reason why I’m sure Camilla isn’t the mastermind.”

“What else is there?”

“Camilla was actually a hardworking and well-respected maid. But she has a big problem.”

“…You mean she’s struggling with her mother’s medical bills?”

“Yes.”

I actually didn’t know much about Camilla’s mother. It was mentioned in another branch of the story, but I had to follow that route to get specific details. I hadn’t had the luxury to do that, as I was focused on surviving.

Her sick mother’s medical bills…

Another piece of information.

This should be enough to seal the deal.

“She was imprisoned because of me, suspected of a crime, and now she’s back as my personal maid. But if you keep pressuring her like this, even the maid I have will disappear. And if that happens, the normal meal I had today might turn back into a salty mess.”

Camilla had brought me a normal meal today. If she was really the culprit, as Claire insisted, why hadn’t she added salt to my food today?

I countered her argument, forcing her to explain, and Claire was silent, struck by my words.

She hadn’t realized that her attempt to find the culprit and punish her had actually put Carsein in danger.

I might have been lying, but it seemed like I had played my cards well.

“Claire.”

I called her name, urging her to respond, and she snapped, her face contorted in anger,

“Ugh, fine! I won’t say anything! Just be happy with that!”

“I’m telling you again. It’s unlikely that Camilla is the mastermind.”

“I said I got it! Now just drink that and go! You idiot!”

I was used to dealing with people with tempers like this. If I hadn’t set the stage properly, she would have slapped me by now, telling me to shut up.

But she was listening to me.

It was time for me to return the favor. Give and take was the best way to deal with someone like her.

—Gulp.

I drank the honey water, as she said, but I hadn’t actually selected option 1, so her affinity wouldn’t increase. But it was still a good exchange.

[A warm sip of honey water revitalizes your body.]
[Some status ailments have been recovered.]

The status window displayed the effect of the honey water, and Claire’s stern expression softened.

“Hey, finish that before you go, okay?”

“What?”

“It’s my coming-of-age ceremony. Don’t you dare skip it just because you’re ‘sick.’”

Oh, so that’s what she meant.

I had been trying to figure out how to avoid the ceremony, but now…

‘Damn it. I shouldn’t have drunk it.’

It was too late to regret it now. I knew this game all too well. Once a choice was made, it couldn’t be undone.

Claire scolded me again, her voice filled with annoyance, then left the kitchen.

As her pink hair disappeared from sight…

—Ding! The status window appeared.

‘Huh?’

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had clearly chosen option 3.

“Tsk!”

Claire, about to leave, glanced to her right and clicked her tongue. But she couldn’t see me.

The status window, which had appeared on its own, stated that I had triggered a result beyond the simple selection of choices.

I hadn’t received the reward yet, since I hadn’t cleared the episode, but…

▶You have received Claire’s favor.◀
▶You have successfully triggered a result that goes beyond the simple selection of choices.◀
▶Affinity will increase!◀

[Claire Bagrand]
[▣□□□□□□□□□]
[Affinity level: 5%]

‘I didn’t think I could get both.’

My affinity with Claire had increased, despite my initial plan to focus on deactivating the death triggers.

‘Well, I guess I just got lucky. Or maybe my past experience helped me handle this situation better? Ah, I did drink the honey water she gave me, so that might be why.’

There were many possibilities, but I didn’t know the answer. I had never experienced this in the game.

‘But I managed to catch two birds with one stone, so it’s a win.’

Claire’s footsteps faded away.

But preoccupied with the status window, I didn’t realize that there were actually two sets of footsteps.

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