The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 265



265. July 1st (5)

Stepping out of the party, the time spent alone was truly sweet.

No need to worry about someone else’s birthday.

No need to watch for my family’s gaze.

They might slander me, but, well, I couldn’t hear such words.

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In this quiet place, gazing at the moon as it moves forward alone, this moment felt incredibly sweet.

With the night breeze embracing my body, I could freely churn my cold, chilling thoughts.

“Inferiority complex.”

It was truly a ridiculous thing.

Wasn’t it none other than Karsein?

A Karsein who had nothing—no lineage, no bloodline—picked up from outside.

In the society of nobles, still bearing the poor label of a commoner, being pointed at as vulgar.

Even in the duke’s household, not receiving the treatment of a master, but rather being thoroughly mistreated by the maids.

To someone who possessed nothing.

To have an inferiority complex.

That image, unmistakably, overlapped with the situation of the eldest.

“Why didn’t I notice it? I’ve already had that experience in reality.”

The eldest, who had helped her mother with the company’s affairs from an early age, was likely a strong candidate to inherit that company.

She had been assisting with the company’s work since childhood.

The praise from those around her was overwhelming, and accolades followed in abundance.

Moreover, she had already taken on projects single-handedly and secured her position as a full-time employee, so the situation was not much different.

It was as if a child picked up from who knows where felt threatened by her rightful place.

So, I wouldn’t deal with this as carelessly as I did back then.

“Having gone through the same experience twice, do I really have to be held back by you again?”

Finally, this episode. No, furthermore, the method to clear the perplexing Chapter 3 had become clear, no longer bound by choices but possessing a distinct direction.

Thanks to no one other than the eldest.

-Swish.

I took out my notebook.

I crossed out all the plans I had previously written with two lines, nullifying them.

From now on, what I had to do was very simple.

I would lower every reputation there was.

I just had to become a rogue so that the qualities of a successor would never come to mind.

If I could make Arina feel no sense of crisis or inferiority, then all threats would vanish.

Of course, my noble points would diminish, and the progress of the other plan would slow down, but at least I wouldn’t hit a dead flag.

I just needed to carry on with incidents and accidents, then quietly disappear.

[ July 1 ]

Suddenly, I caught sight of the date in my notebook and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“The date is quite fantastic.”

July 1.

Arina’s birthday, and the eldest’s birthday.

I was very pleased that the starting date was so fitting.

Starting from Arina’s birthday.

Starting from the eldest’s birthday.

Let’s execute all these plans before this year is over.

-Whoosh.

“…”

The jewel of the vow in my pocket begins to emit light.

The fact that it shines like this means that the jewel’s power has imposed a certain restriction on me.

Generally, the instances in which the jewel’s power manifests are quite rare. I usually remember and keep my promise to Harnié.

But I am not in that state right now.

The current time is past midnight, racing into the dawn. Holding onto these documents means I have broken the promise I made regarding my sleep schedule.

“What’s possible with this… was the suppression of my actions.”

I must have included a clause that imposes restrictions on the other party in case I break the promise.

From Harnié’s perspective, that would be only natural.

After all, who knows what might happen? If I were to harbor ill intentions and ambush her, there would be no way to deal with it.

There are physical methods of inflicting pain to impose restrictions, as well as magical means of suppression. Commands are certainly one way, and depending on the situation, forced bindings are also possible, which is dangerous…

Yet, there has been no reaction from my body so far.

This means that the other party, who designates the intensity, has not activated that function.

“It’s just a simple light. What this reveals is… my location.”

Perhaps she will soon realize my position and come looking for me.

I decided to sit quietly and wait.

I have things to say to her as well.

*

The light of the jewel begins to fade.

The fact that this jewel, which only had the function of simple location tracking, is dimming means…

The time of waiting has come to an end.

With the help of Talphon, I had arrived in Rilpetten, and she must have had a rough idea of that, as it didn’t take long.

──────.

Let’s enhance my hearing with mana; I can hear the sound of a horse approaching from afar.

However, Harnié is not riding a horse.

That means someone else has come along with her.

– Heeheehee!

“Young Master!”

“Carsein!”

…The person who came with her is Radiel.

Then, there shouldn’t be any major issues.

With Radiel’s help, she stepped down from the carriage, gripping the hem of her elegantly arranged dress as she approached me.

What should I say as soon as she arrives?

Will she ask why I suddenly caused such a commotion?

Or will she scold me for creating a scene at a birthday party without any warning?

If not that, will she be angry that I came all the way out here and am not even resting?

…I’m not sure.

– Thud.

After separating from Radiel, she gazed at me silently for a moment, then tightly grasped my hand and asked,

“Since there’s no one else around, tell me now. What on earth happened that made you act this way? Why did you choose to hurt yourself again?”

…It was an unexpected response.

I thought she would at least be angry or scold me.

But I had a predetermined answer.

I gently released Harnie’s hand and replied,

“Because there is someone who wishes for it.”

“What?”

“Following the symposium, the martial arts tournament. Well, it has built up a good reputation in a short time. Because of that, rumors have spread. However, there are those who view this unfavorably.”

At that, a look of confusion clouded Harnie’s violet eyes, which soon widened as if she had realized something.

Yes. If you’re as clever as I think, you would have caught on.

Harnie blinked in disbelief and cautiously asked me,

“Could it be… Princess Arina?”

She would know exactly who my plan was aimed at.

She alone remembered the conversation where we discussed the heir and tried to quell the rumors.

It was none other than Harnie who had warned me to be cautious about the rumors.

There was no need to confirm it; it was enough.

“How… how could this happen…”

I didn’t need to add any further explanations.

Let’s be direct.

“So, I must say this: please do not tell me to take breaks or get sleep from now on.”

“Karsein…”

“Right now, time is more important to me than ever. I want to leave this duke’s house, minute by minute, second by second. So please, do not stop me from preparing through the night.”

“…”

If it were any other time, she would have narrowed her eyes and said no, but for now, she did not stop me.

This should be enough.

I took a slight breath and gathered the words I had been meaning to say.

“From now on, the treasure will continue to activate. Each time, I will break my promise. Regarding that, if you have any wishes, I will listen. What do you want?”

“…No. It’s fine.”

She replied sharply.

“Why you made that judgment. Why you are being chased like this. You’ve figured it out, haven’t you? If that’s the case… I can understand. I won’t stop you.”

Is this the end?

Shaking off the position of the heir without a thought would be easy.

However, unlike before, how to gather money would likely throw my calculations off quite a bit.

Since I cannot ignore that error, I must completely overturn the ongoing plans.

The management of the territory I currently hold must also change significantly, and I need to alter the target consumer base and the way I handle products.

I suppose I’ll have to sort that out while staying up all night.

There was much to do.

“Carsein.”

Just as I was about to enter the room.

Harnie’s hand grabbed my arm again.

She wasn’t squeezing tightly or trying to stop my steps.

It was just that.

I felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

“Instead, can you grant me this one request?”

“What is it?”

“Please just make sure your body… doesn’t get too hurt.”

…To say such a thing, she’s actually worried about my well-being.

But I had no confidence in keeping that promise.

“I will try my best.”

It was the part I was worried about.

After all, this woman is far too kind-hearted.

Seo Ji-eun.

Just like her.

*

Karsein is trying once again to destroy himself.

He will probably be so engrossed in work that he’ll doze off.

Forget about breaks; he’ll cut down on sleep to cling to his paperwork.

It’s such an obvious future.

Yet, Harnié could not break Karsein’s will.

‘How… could I possibly stop him?’

She wanted to escape the Theresia family more than anyone else.

She was more obsessed with money and business than anyone, even sacrificing her sleep to break through the family’s web.

To sever the chains of family, she had to be willing to make such efforts.

That’s right.

Karsein now was not much different.

She understood that feeling.

They shared the same experience.

She knew Karsein’s state of mind better than anyone.

She couldn’t stop him.

She had to respect him.

But…

She hoped he wouldn’t break.

– Knock, knock.

“If you’re hungry, just let me know! I’ll bring you something to eat!”

She couldn’t just open the door and walk in.

But she could at least not leave him alone.

“If you need anything else, just say it! It would be even better if you have some paperwork you need help with!”

She hadn’t known this before meeting Karsein, but after meeting him, she learned.

If you try to shoulder everything alone, you’re bound to fall.

People can’t be that perfect.

And so, Harnié fell too.

There were times she almost fell even harder.

—

But because she met Karsein, she was able to rise again without falling.

‘You held onto me, so this time it’s my turn to hold onto you, right?’

Prepare yourself.

I will never leave your side.

Harnie resolved to wait only for the moment when Karsein would come out. Only when she needed something.

And so, several hours passed.

The long-awaited moment had arrived.

-Click.

The door opened.

It was the moment Karsein stepped outside.

By now, he must be feeling a bit drained.

Having used his mind, he would be even more drawn in.

It was the perfect timing to offer him the sandwiches she had made, sleeves rolled up all night.

Also, it was time to give him the little cookies she had learned to make from the children of Rilpetten.

She could simply place them directly into his mouth without needing to use his hands…

“Hmm…”

Unfortunately.

Harnie couldn’t hold back her drowsiness and fell asleep.

However, it seemed her heart had reached him.

“…Sigh.”

-Swish.

With a faint sigh, he carefully lifted her up, moving her to the bed so as not to wake Harnie.

-Ding!

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*

“Phew.”

Arina, the birthday girl, sat on the sofa, pressing her forehead.

It was already dawn.

Even after tidying up the chaotic atmosphere and quickly wrapping up the original schedule, so much time had passed.

—

—

Just thinking about the day of my birthday makes my head throb.

It’s always been like this. Whenever it’s time for a birthday, especially for the family, Karsein always stirs up some nonsense and ruins the atmosphere.

But today, he did something even more irritating.

“You really haven’t changed.”

He tore open the gift I had given him in such a manner, as if to say, “Here, take this low-quality item,” and then he just walked away.

The birthday mood was instantly turned upside down.

The commotion Karsein caused spread like wildfire.

Everyone, without exception, brought up Karsein, questioning whether such a person could truly be a noble.

They even coldly declared that no matter how good he seemed until now, he lacked the qualities of a successor.

I managed to persuade and calm them down, but I couldn’t deny that it all ended on a rather sour note.

“Since you’ve acted like that, I won’t just sit back and do nothing. Karsein.”

I’ll make sure to correct that rotten mindset of his in this upcoming martial arts tournament.