The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 264



264. July 1st (4)

A heavy silence settled over the venue.

It had certainly been a cheerful atmosphere.

The warmth and affection of family gifts being presented to the birthday girl flowed through the air.

Yet that hair tie had soured everything.

“What on earth is going on here?”

“I don’t know. I can’t make sense of this situation at all…”

“Goodness. How are we supposed to interpret this…?”

The nobles were unable to contain their confusion, murmuring about what had just happened.

At that moment.

Someone shouted out immediately.

“To think that’s a birthday gift. Isn’t that absurd?”

It was none other than a retainer of the Duke of Bagrand.

Marquess Magnuel.

The situation might feel a bit peculiar.

After all, it’s none other than Marquis Magnuell, a vassal of the Duke of Bagrand, who seems to be attacking Carseine.

Does that mean the marquis has betrayed the Duke of Bagrand? Not at all. Marquis Magnuell, as a vassal of the Duke, was indeed a loyal figure to the house.

However, even within noble families, support can be divided. The Duke of Bagrand was no exception.

Marquis Magnuell chuckled to himself.

‘This is perfect. I’ve been quite annoyed by their recent movements.’

At the symposium, it seemed he was struggling with the territory of Chatrain, which he had chosen, but contrary to expectations, he successfully restored the territory.

He even managed to identify those responsible for the ruin of Chatrain and had distanced himself enough to warrant a new rank.

Moreover, during the martial arts tournament, he was rumored to be the first participant to secure a spot in the arena.

Thanks to that, Arina’s position was gradually becoming unstable.

If those who claimed he was showing the qualities of a perfect heir gained strength, it would become quite troublesome.

What was merely a rumor about his qualifications as an heir could take on a solid form, leading to the emergence of competitors.

However, if they were to give him this opening, he would be most grateful.

He couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.

“That hair tie is one that the princess often wears. The mere fact that you brought it feels quite strange, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed!”

“Just as the marquis said!”

At that, a few nobles began to defend him from various corners.

“To say you brought an old one as a birthday gift is absurd. But bringing it means there must be another meaning behind it, right? For instance…”

A sly smile crept across his lips.

“Perhaps it’s because you couldn’t prepare a birthday gift.”

“…!”

At those words, Flora flinched.

‘As expected. It seems the sudden departure that day was due to the youngest lady’s gift, wasn’t it?’

If that weren’t the case, there would be no reason for the other side to react.

Feeling certain that he had bitten into a satisfying bait, Claire, who had been sitting right next to him, suddenly stood up, slamming her hand on the table.

– Bang!

“Marquis. You seem to be speaking rather recklessly.”

“Lady Claire. Even so, this is a reasonable assumption. There is already a precedent, isn’t there?”

“Even if there is a precedent, it’s the same! Must you make such assumptions in a place like this?”

Claire, trying to cover that remark and steer the atmosphere back.

She attempts to manage the situation before the Marquis’s claims can slip out any further.

However, they did not back down.

“Then, if Lord Karsein can show that a real gift exists, it will be resolved.”

“You…!”

“Moreover, isn’t it quite strange? How could the personal belongings of Princess Arina be in the hands of Prince Karsein?”

“If you claim to have brought the same item, wouldn’t it be reasonable to suspect?”

“Who knows? In the rush to steal away, it might have been a mistake that ruined the hair tie.”

“Ha. Hey. You all, enough already!”

Under Claire’s pressure, Marquis Magnuelle steps forward again.

“It is none other than the birthday party of the eldest daughter of the Duke of Bagrand, Princess Arina. What does it mean if you couldn’t even prepare a gift on such an important day?”

The Marquis continues, his expression one of feigned sorrow.

“That would mean you can’t even step into the line of succession for the dukedom. It simply wouldn’t fit within the activities of noble society.”

As the Marquis adds some embellishments, the nobles sharing the same thought chime in, “Indeed, indeed!”

“I too hope this speculation is wrong, Prince Karsein. So, I kindly ask you to stop the mischievous antics and present the real birthday gift.”

As the Marquis’s polite request concludes, all eyes turn to one person.

Due to that remark, Karsein found himself in a position where he had to respond.

‘Now, how will he answer?’

Whether he slips while trying to hold onto his qualifications as a successor.

Whether he frames it as having ruined the birthday gift or as theft.

There are many ways.

He could easily shatter the current image.

The Marquis waited for Karsein’s response, a haughty smile on his face.

“Ah, you’ve seen it exactly. That’s right. I have prepared a gift separately.”

Karsein pulled something from his inner pocket.

That must be the gift for Arina.

However, it was a rather shabby gift for a present.

There was no outer wrapping at all.

The dangling hair tie should have been presented wrapped, allowing the recipient to unwrap it first.

That basic etiquette had been completely shattered.

Of course, there could be an excuse.

If only they had put in the effort to attach a mark or logo in the way common folks do.

But that wasn’t the case either. The hair tie dangling from their hand was clearly a mass-produced item. It was something that had seen no alterations since its purchase.

In short, it was a gift that involved neither money nor care.

This was at a level that couldn’t even be considered a gift.

“Hmph. So that’s how it is.”

With this, I could properly seize Karsein’s qualifications as a successor.

Yet, something about their reaction was strange.

“Yes. Well. A successor position is absolutely not suited for someone like me. Every word you’ve said is entirely correct.”

Even though it must have been a moment that shattered the image they had built up until now.

Karsein appeared oddly calm and seemed at ease.

In fact.

“I apologize for causing a mess at the birthday party. Someone like me should really step back, right?”

They were smiling.

*

I had worried that if any issues arose at the birthday party, it would be a problem.

‘But that didn’t happen.’

Starting with Marquis Magnuell, the other retainers pointed out my actions, making it easier to navigate the situation.

Having done this much, there was no reason for me to remain at the party.

I would no longer be a guest at this party, but merely an intruder.

“Wait, Karsein!”

“Ka, Karsein…”

Claire and Flora were calling out to me, but I lightly ignored them and passed by the two.

Before long, a status window appeared.

-Ding!

▶Episode III. You have cleared Arina’s birthday.◀

▶The attention of the nobles is too high!◀

▶Due to the excessively high attention, rewards will be offset, and corresponding penalties will be imposed.◀

[ The intimacy of family members will decrease in proportion to the attention level. ]

[ Reputation rank in the Huanglong Martial Arts Tournament field will decrease. ]

[ The intimacy of the few nobles declines. ]

…

…

As expected.

I cleared the episode, but instead of rewards, I was met with all sorts of penalties.

Naturally, I hadn’t taken any actions to raise my intimacy.

Nor had I taken the proper means to clear the episode correctly.

Rather, I had come close to ruining Arina’s birthday party, dousing it with cold water and turning it into the worst birthday ever.

The same goes for the nobles.

Arina is a symbol of this generation among the nobles.

Undoubtedly, in this situation, their intimacy would drop as a consequence of my actions. After all, I had ruined their birthday party.

Yet, amidst all this decline in reputation, not a single line appeared.

“Just as I thought.”

A dead flag.

The greatest cost of ruining the birthday party has not been displayed.

At Arina’s birthday, despite having lowered her intimacy the most, the dead flag does not show.

This can only mean one thing.

“Looks like you really enjoyed the fact that I lack the qualities of a successor, huh?”

Arina herself is satisfied with this situation.

Even if all the other guests harbor discontent.

Even if they are disappointed by the contrast to what they saw at the symposium and the martial arts tournament.

Even if even her family tilts their heads in confusion.

You alone must be content.

Because I, on the other hand, have sunk to the very bottom.

That’s why the dead flag doesn’t appear.

This episode is all about catering to Arina’s mood.

“Ha. Just for that kind of thing. Hahaha!”

It’s funny.

That such feelings could exist for someone like me.

Having everything, yet harboring such feelings for me, who is infinitely distant.

A chilling cold enveloped me from head to toe.

It seems my mind is finally clearing up.

As expected.

I need to escape this household at the earliest opportunity.

“Lord Carsein? The birthday celebration for Miss Arina should still be ongoing…”

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes, yes.”

I replied briefly to the puzzled coachman, and without any further questions, he took hold of the reins.

The price for ruining Arina Bagrand’s birthday party will come at a steep cost.

My noble points must have taken a significant hit.

But I can handle that much.

This is likely the most ideal way to clear Chapter 3.

“I’ll sink to the very bottom if that’s what you want.”

*

Heron swallowed his breath.

‘My lord. What on earth are you thinking?’

A broken hair tie? That’s not a gift.

The new hair tie brought over is also not a gift.

Hadn’t I already prepared a present? I personally took charge of that, not someone else.

Yet, with such a sudden action, Heron was completely at a loss.

“What on earth is going on…”

“Have you two not heard anything?”

“…I don’t know. I don’t know anything.”

“That can’t be…”

Sheyden cast a desperate glance at Flora.

Flora shook her head in response.

Claire, startled by Carsein’s sudden behavior.

Claire, who flinched when the topic of her own birthday came up.

Heron and Sheyden, following along without any understanding.

Everyone was engulfed in confusion.

But in the midst of this confusion.

Someone is running, lifting the hem of their dress.

-Pat pat!

“Lady Harnié?”

“Miss!”

I knew it was urgent.

Karsein had gone alone to the birthday party early in the morning, so it wouldn’t be strange if something happened.

In fact, it had been the same when his other family members celebrated their birthdays.

He had deliberately avoided the gathering.

He had left, acting in ways that would intentionally hurt him.

So there was no guarantee he wouldn’t do the same this time. Just like always, he might commit the same act and respond with a blank expression, saying, “Why would I get hurt?”

So, I had to intervene beforehand.

I should have quickly taken my place to prevent the incident from happening.

I should have rushed to his side and protected him as his fiancée.

But.

It was already too late.

The incident had already broken out.

Karsein surely knew how important his eldest sister’s birthday was.

He was a thoroughly calculating person.

He was someone who could easily foresee what losses he might incur here.

In a place filled with nobles, he might have sought to gain an advantage by making acquaintances.

Yet, his thoughts and actions had occurred in stark contrast.

That meant there was some kind of problem.

Right here, at this birthday party.

-There’s nothing to be so afraid of, you see. Ah, perhaps it’s better this way.

‘Surely…’

The incomprehensible conclusion weighed on my mind.

That it’s better this way… does that mean he had been planning something?

There had always been considerable friction with the family, but today felt particularly unsettling.

‘Please, let it not be too far gone…!’

Intuitively, Harni realized she couldn’t leave Karsein behind and ran out.

– Heeheehee!

“Karsein!”

The carriage was already far ahead.

Even if she jumped on a carriage right now, if it veered off onto a side road, she wouldn’t know where it would lead.

“To call the carriage I came in…”

No, that would take too long.

In that moment.

She spotted a lone horse standing before her.

Yes. I have to ride this horse and follow…!

– Whoosh!

“Lady Harni!”

“Sir Radiel?”

“Get on. Quickly!”

There was no time to be bewildered.

She had to grab the knight’s hand and mount the horse.

“Do you know where he went?”

“…No. He just left on his own…”

“I suppose we have no choice but to search everywhere he might go.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find him, even if it takes until dawn.”

At this very moment.

If she left Karsein alone, he would truly fall apart.

‘I hope I can find him before it’s too late…!’

She no longer wanted to watch the man she cared for fall to ruin.

*

The dark night had arrived.

The birthday party was likely winding down.

In the meantime.

Karsein had also come to a conclusion.

“I’m sorry, Willard.”

The promise not to yield to the other seemed impossible to keep.

– Ding!

▶ Special conditions for Episode III have been met. ◀

[ 1. Decrease intimacy at Arina’s birthday party. ]

[ 2. Regardless of other characters’ intimacy, reduce Arina’s intimacy to the maximum. ]

[ 3. Upon exiting the birthday party, grant Arina what she desires. ]

▶ Hidden episode. Cleared the repeating July 1st. ◀

▶ Perfect clear acknowledged. ◀

▶ Arina’s emotions have been revealed. ◀

[ Arina Vagrand ]

[ Inferiority Complex: 80% ]

▶ Rewards will be distributed. ◀

■ Rewards

[ All dead flags that can be received from Arina will be nullified each time you lose your qualifications as a successor. ]