The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 289



Chapter 289. The Prophet of Wederos (8)

Suddenly, the startled Arina blinked her eyes.

She was momentarily flustered, but soon calmed her racing heart.

“Flora. You shouldn’t take sides in this. You must distinguish between public and private matters.”

The sounds of conflict echoed, and from the moment Carsein stood there, Arina had already reached her conclusion.

Yes. Honestly, isn’t it all too obvious?

Given the circumstances, who could be the one at fault?

‘It must be that wretch, who can’t shake off the habit of throwing punches wherever he goes.’

It was clear that Carsein, the very embodiment of a rogue, had stirred up trouble once more.

Though I hadn’t witnessed the entire scene due to my late arrival, the overall conversation had given me a sense of the situation.

—

Arina poured her heart into explaining once more to Flora.

“If it were my brother who was beaten for no reason, I would have stepped in. It’s the same for that knight, right? Hm?”

Lowering herself, Arina gently stroked Flora’s hair.

“Flora, you should go back first. I’ll sort everything out and come back.”

With such words, the clever youngest should have understood.

No matter how young she was, she was different from Karsein.

But then.

“No!”

Contrary to expectations, Flora shouted again, her voice sharp.

“Karsein… he didn’t do anything wrong. He was just beaten without reason…! It’s you who misunderstood!”

“…”

“On the surface, it looks like they were hitting each other… but that’s not it. It was him who tried to use mana first and attack at the end!”

From noble mtl dot com

Seeing Flora’s desperate plea, Arina instinctively shut her eyes tight.

‘Flora never acts this stubbornly. If she wants something, she usually just pouts to me, Claire, or Mother.’

Yet, for Flora to throw such a tantrum…

“Karsein. You’d better answer me honestly.”

Her gaze sharpened, piercing through to Karsein.

Those icy eyes glimmered with intensity.

“What did you say to Flora?”

“Elder sister!”

“If you’ve dragged Flora into the mess you created just to use her for your lies, I won’t forgive you.”

In that moment, Flora felt her breath catch in her throat.

‘What… what does that even mean? Elder sister!’

The lies were being spun by the other party.

Karsein had only been beaten without reason.

He was merely a victim.

If such words were spoken… it would mean Karsein was using me to lie instead…

“Oh. You caught me.”

What…?

“Yeah. That’s right. I was going to lie. I even made Flora say those things.”

“No, no…! Cough! Cough, cough!”

In place of a voice that wouldn’t come, Flora shook her head in desperation.

What is that sound?

You’ve never done this. You didn’t ask me for anything!

‘But… what if you say something like that? Then, then it really means you…!’

In that moment.

Flora caught a glimpse of Karsein’s face.

On his face… was that chilling smile she had seen before.

*

“Whether it’s a reprimand or whatever, you decide for yourself.”

“…What did you say?”

“You’re not going to listen to me anyway, right?”

With those words, Karsein tossed something to Arina as he left.

It was none other than the glove worn by the brother of the opposing knight.

“A glove…? This isn’t Karsein’s.”

“Th-that’s it! I was the one who initially requested the duel.”

“You requested a duel?”

“Yes! I thought… since my brother was a knight, I should follow along…”

“That story. Let’s hear it in detail.”

The brother of the knight, feeling a chill, stepped forward to explain, and from that moment, the conversation began to twist in a strange direction.

“So what you’re saying is this? Your brother also sought Karsein for guidance, but Karsein responded too excessively?”

“Y-yes. Otherwise, why would my glove be in the hands of that man? Ha, haha…”

“…That guy. He doesn’t know how to control his strength at all. No matter how much it’s a duel, he should maintain a line with someone weaker than him.”

“Exactly! Anyway, that…! There was a misunderstanding. My brother only saw that I was hurt. Right, brother?”

“Y-yeah! That’s right. Ahem. After my brother got hurt, I got angry for no reason…”

Still feeling something was off, Arina looked at the two and the glove, continuing with a few more questions.

Then, eventually, the notion of mutual fault arose.

This incident clearly had Karsein as the victim, yet—

Unable to hold back, Flora shouted again in a fractured voice.

“I told you it’s a lie!”

“…”

“Why won’t you believe me? Those people, they’re both lying. They’re the ones who tormented and hurt Karsein!”

“Flora. As I said before, you must distinguish between public and private matters.”

As Arina sighed and repeated the same words, something surged within Flora, a hot wave of emotion rising up.

“I hate you, big sister! I don’t want to see you ever again!”

The sister she had once followed so devotedly.

It was the moment she felt the deepest loathing in the world.

Sobbing, Flora left the room, unable to contain her fury.

The guilt gnawed at her, bitter and sharp, for she had been the one to frame Karsein, the one who spun lies with ease.

Before Flora, someone approached.

“Flora? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Another family member, her pink hair neatly arranged, came to her side.

No, she was the only one with whom Flora could bare her heart in this moment.

“Little sister. Please help me…”

Tears streamed down her face as Flora pleaded with Claire.

*

Claire calmly soothed Flora, allowing her to cry until the storm within began to settle.

Once Flora seemed somewhat composed, Claire cautiously inquired about what had transpired.

“I see. So, your sister accused Karsein…”

She grasped the situation, piecing together the fragments of the tale.

Karsein had been unilaterally beaten by that knight.

Just as she had come to confront the injustice, Arina had appeared.

Under normal circumstances, she would have been compelled to deliver justice with Arina’s support, but…

Instead, it seemed as if Arina had waited for the moment to escalate the wrong and shroud the truth.

Even if Claire had found herself in the same situation, she might have cried out just like Flora.

‘Sister… Yes, it was strange back then.’

It was clear that suspicion should have fallen on the other party, not Karsein.

Even if one were to admit their own faults, there were oddities that needed to be acknowledged and examined.

Yet, in that moment, the pursuit of Karsein’s supposed wrongs nearly buried the truth itself.

Perhaps, this matter is no different.

It was clear that Flora had no intention of listening to Carsein’s words.

Claire, struggling to suppress something boiling within her, let out a deep sigh and asked,

“Flora. Can I speak a bit coldly?”

Flora, momentarily taken aback, nodded her head.

“I can’t understand why Carsein did such a thing. But merely repeating that the other side is at fault will only poison the well. It seems you assume, as you think, that your sister is in the right against Carsein.”

“Then what should we do…?”

“We need to find evidence. That Carsein was wronged unilaterally.”

“Evidence…?”

“Yes. You must coldly uncover with your own hands that Carsein did nothing wrong.”

I know it’s a tall order.

There’s no way a fourteen-year-old girl could easily pinpoint anything.

Even Claire had to send several people to dig into the identities of those who hurled insults at Harnié within the council.

But even the smallest clue would suffice.

To clear Carsein’s name, I had to grasp at least that.

“Anything small will do. Just try to think of something—”

“…Elder sister. I think I know.”

“Hmm?”

Though still puzzled, Claire tilted her head in curiosity.

But soon, she too caught on.

Flora was currently learning medicine and pharmacology from Sheiden.

If Flora, who had to uncover the minor signs among countless diseases, had discovered something…

It would be undeniable evidence.

“Shall we go catch the culprits?”

“Yes!”

It was time for the truth that Carsein had concealed to be revealed.

– Ding!

▶ Claire harbors resentment towards Arina. ◀

▶ Flora harbors resentment towards Arina. ◀

▶ You have satisfied the perfect clear conditions for Episode VI. ＜The Price of the One Who Stands on High＞. ◀

*

“I wish we could just let this slide, given that both sides share the blame. You’d agree, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Thanks to Lady Arina for lending us her wisdom on this matter.”

The brothers responded quickly and with utmost respect.

Yet their true feelings were different. While Arina was away handling the incident, the two brothers whispered to each other.

“Tsk. Brother. It’s a shame, but that Karsein still has to cover our medical expenses, right?”

“Exactly. The lady said so herself. She’ll make Karsein pay directly.”

“Brother, shouldn’t we charge a bit more then? This feels like we’re losing out somehow.”

“Goodness, you’re feeling quite entitled, aren’t you? That money could easily be spent at the casino! Besides, considering we almost got caught earlier because of Lady Flora, it’s best we pull out now, you fool!”

The two were barely managing to keep their crumbling family estate afloat.

They had to repay their debts somehow, and for that, they had to be content with earning a quick fortune at the casino.

“Let’s make our escape soon. Got it?”

“Yeah. Brother.”

But at that moment.

An unexpected turn of events unfolded.

—Whoosh!

“Ugh, what?!”

“Fire magic…?!”

“Where do you think you’re running off to, you b*stards?”

Claire seized the two brothers with a fierce grip.

Then, using binding magic, she restrained their bodies.

“Claire. What are you doing?”

“…Sister.”

“Let them go. I don’t know what you heard from Karsein, but it’s all over now.”

That would be Arina’s conclusion.

So, Claire responded bluntly.

“You’re the one who needs to see clearly. Is this really Karsein’s fault?”

“Claire. Even you…!”

“Flora! Hurry and check.”

“Hi, hiii?!”

“C-Cleaire, my lady?”

“Y-yes!”

Flora began to assess the wounds of the two.

Her lively eyes missed not even the smallest speck.

“Just as I thought, you came to torment Carsein…!”

The time for proof had begun.

*

Before long, the results were in.

The verdict was not mutual fault, but rather a one-sided assault. And it was Carsein who had been the victim.

The blood scattered here and there from the fight belonged solely to the two of them.

Using magic tools to analyze the blood and the amount of bleeding from the one who had stiffened first revealed that Carsein had indeed been the one subjected to a one-sided beating.

“Since Flora says so, I can’t just let it slide. If you were beaten for several minutes without a fight, that just means you were venting your anger, doesn’t it?”

“C-Cleaire, my lady!”

“Now, I see a mere knight of the Hanmi family trying to crawl up to the Duke of Bagrand’s house. Did you think we looked utterly foolish?”

“P-Please, my lady! I was wrong! Just this once, just this once, spare me…!”

“Take him away! Tell my mother that I will never agree to a settlement!”

““Yes!””

Now, the names of the two brothers’ family might be erased from existence.

The brothers were dragged away by soldiers, leaving only the three sisters of the Duke of Bagrand in this place.

With vacant eyes, Arina remained silent for a while.

To her, Cleaire posed another blunt question.

“Why do you hate Carsein so much, sister?”

“…What?”

“I’ve come to know for sure through this incident. Even when you confirmed that someone had been released to hear Carsein slandering his fiancée, you always jump to the conclusion that Carsein must be at fault whenever something happens. Am I wrong?”

“…”

“And about those gloves. They actually belonged to Carsein long ago. You thought he was wearing them because they didn’t fit him, but in truth, he had one taken from him.”

At those words, Arina’s heart sank.

“I… I don’t understand anymore. I don’t know why you’re like this. Why you hate Carsein so much. He’s the one who saved our family, so is it right to hate him to that extent?”

-Softly, softly.

“Or is there another reason to hate?”

As Claire turned away, her voice lingered in the air, tinged with disbelief, before she departed.

Flora, too, cast a lingering glance at Arina, then took her sister’s hand and followed her out.

Now, she was left alone.

The prince’s words replayed in her mind once more.

—My sister, feeling inferior?

“I… truly…”

—Ding!

▶ Episode VI. The Price of Standing on High Peaks has been cleared. ◀

▶ All conditions met; a perfect clear has been achieved. ◀

▶ This reward will remain unknown to the player! ◀

■ Reward

[ No medical fees will be incurred. ]

[ Due to a proper capture, all penalties are restored, and free action time is significantly increased. ]

[ Arina’s character-specific hidden episode has been automatically cleared. ]

▶ Due to the clearing of the exclusive episode, Arina Vagrand’s intimacy setting has been altered. ◀

[ Inferiority → ??? ]

[ Current value: 80% ]

▶ This is the reward for a perfect clear! ◀

[ Harnié Teresia will soon learn your secret. ]

*

“…”

In the stillness of the place, Veneris gazed into the void.

In truth, he was not staring into emptiness.

He was precisely observing something.

—Ding!

“For the next prophecy… is it over there?”

Prophecy?

Such a thing does not truly exist.

What the Empire calls prophecy is merely the content of a status window.