The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 296



296. The Explicit Target (2)

-Crack.

—

—

Startled by the sound of movement, a bird hastily flaps its wings and takes off.

The blonde girl who startled the bird stepped out onto the veranda.

It was a darkening night. Her sisters or mother might still be awake, but it was time for this girl to be in dreamland.

If a passing maid saw her, she would be horrified and urge her to go inside because it was cold.

The butler, as well as the guards on duty, would say the same if they saw her.

If her two sisters or mother saw her, they would sternly point out that she shouldn’t be awake at this hour and scold her.

But Flora came out again today, holding a lantern in her nightgown, waiting. Even if someone caught her and scolded her.

“…”

The main gate was silent.

There were no traces of wheel marks.

“Today too… he didn’t come back?”

It wasn’t just a matter of today or tomorrow.

Not yesterday, not the day before, not three days ago.

And even ten days ago, he hadn’t crossed the mansion’s main gate, just like today.

Time had passed, and it had already been almost fifteen days since he last showed up at the duke’s mansion.

She knew.

Why Carsein hadn’t returned.

Because she was the last person to see Carsein, she had a vague idea of the reason.

So her lips pouted involuntarily.

“But this is too much! Why is he so late!”

It wouldn’t be a lie to say she was upset.

It wouldn’t be a lie to say she was a bit jealous either.

“Ugh! We are here too, the family is worried too. Is he just sticking to his fiancée?!”

The fiancée was just a fiancée, not even family.

The real family was us, who had spent years together.

Would it hurt to recuperate at the duke’s mansion for a while?

“Fine! Live with your fiancée forever! Don’t even come near our house, just live there! Hmph!”

I worried for nothing!

He’ll be fine, sticking to his fiancée and getting treated well!

With that, Flora gripped the lantern tightly and turned back to her room, fuming.

—

—

…I should have done that.

“…”

A few steps taken, but the footsteps inevitably stopped again.

Soon, the gaze was fixed in the direction of the front gate.

I said that, but the worry did not cease.

I don’t want to see Carsein getting hurt anymore.

Just like in that dream, bleeding, becoming a mess, and collapsing was something I absolutely refused to see.

So it bothers me.

“That wound… you haven’t applied the medicine yet.”

The wound caused by the soaring flames would have been treated by his fiancée, Harnie.

However, besides that, Carsein still has wounds.

The ambush of the beasts that occurred during the after-party.

On that day, Carsein fought with the beasts and was injured enough to have blood on his clothes.

Probably, that wound still remains until now.

The concentration of magic was quite thick, so it took time to neutralize, and judging by the amount of bleeding, it can be guessed that the wound was quite deep.

So even now, he should be applying the medicine.

…Strangely, the unique scent of that medicine was not present. The scent that Flora had personally added during the mixing.

I checked several times until we parted, but that scent was not there.

This kind of thing, you can’t just mistake and overlook it.

“No way…”

Right?

Brother. You did apply the medicine on time, right?

-Ding!

▶Hidden Episode. You have cleared the unused ointment.◀

▶Flora Bagrande’s intimacy has reached 100%.◀

[ The reward for 100% intimacy will be given at a specific time. ]

[ Condition: ??? After ]

*

Today is the day of an important meeting.

A schedule was set for the duke and his retainers to request and repair agendas through communication.

—

—

As expected, eyes began to dart around the conference room.

“Hey. Is something going on with the Duke’s family?”

“How would I know.”

“What about you? You’ve been there to report, haven’t you? Don’t you know anything?”

“Even if you ask like that… well…”

Even when they whispered or signaled as if asking if anyone knew, they could only respond that they didn’t know.

All the family members of the Duke’s house who attended the meeting knew.

They knew where their questions were directed.

It was the seat where Carsein should be.

The seat was currently vacant.

That one vacant seat had been empty for over fifteen days.

Carsein’s seat was always empty, and it was empty this time as well.

“I guess I’ll have to gloss over it.”

Isabella sighed.

“Everyone seems to have arrived, so let’s start the meeting.”

“Yes, Duchess.”

Today’s meeting time was particularly advanced.

The meeting began.

Arguments and rebuttals followed.

Time passed, and even as the end of the long discussion approached, the empty seat remained unfilled.

“Then let’s proceed with the amendments to the third proposal for the founding festival. Any objections?”

“No, Duchess.”

“Since a conclusion has been reached, I will adjourn the meeting.”

With Isabella’s declaration, the meeting ended.

At that moment, one of the retainers, who had been watching carefully, cleared his throat and cautiously asked.

“Duchess Isabella, may I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Well… may I ask why the young master did not attend this meeting?”

As one person started, other retainers followed suit.

“Isn’t it a bit strange? After all, the young master is also a member of the Bagrande Duke’s family.”

—

—

“Hmm. I agree as well. The frequency of causing problems has decreased compared to the past… You are quite qualified, aren’t you?”

“Even if that’s not the case, you might be able to provide a more concrete and good answer to the current issues.”

In the end, that question popped out.

First, Isabella answers calmly.

“Carsein is currently resting. I ordered him to do so.”

“Resting, huh. Hmm…”

As expected, it was an insufficient answer.

As if that alone wasn’t enough, the retainers reacted as if they wanted a more convincing answer.

Isabella pondered while moving her lips, but someone spoke up clearly.

“Look, I understand your concerns. If you force him to come, it will cause trouble.”

“Lady Claire. What do you mean by that?”

“You can’t force someone who is injured to come, can you? Isn’t that right?”

“What, the young master is injured?”

“Oh, how could that be…”

“Hmm. If he’s injured, that could be the case.”

As they heard he was injured, the atmosphere of understanding started to form a little.

However, that alone wouldn’t solve the issue.

“But, if he is injured to the extent that he can’t attend this meeting, is it serious?”

“How badly is he injured that he can’t even attend this meeting…”

“It’s hard to believe.”

“Hey.”

“Lady Claire, please understand. Given his past record of feigning illness, we need to know.”

Not all the retainers were favorable towards Carsein.

There were still a few who viewed Carsein unfavorably.

However.

Someone with considerable credibility in this place dispelled that concern.

“Feigning illness. No.”

“Lady Flora…?”

“I personally examined him and prescribed the treatment. If you still say it’s feigning illness, are you saying I lied?”

“N-no! How could we say such a thing to Lady Flora… Ahem.”

—

—

From noble mtl dot com

Flora pressured the middle-aged retainer with a fierce gaze.

No matter how young, Bagrand was still Bagrand.

“Watch your mouth. I’m saying this because I was the last one to see Karsein.”

“Oh… ahem… I didn’t know that. I’m sorry.”

The one who had been aggressive towards Karsein hastily swallowed his words.

“I understand that the young master is unwell. However, the problem is still unresolved.”

“You’re right. What’s ahead is none other than the Founding Festival.”

“The Founding Festival is not an event one can miss just because they’re sick.”

Even those who had been defending Karsein clicked their tongues at the previous rude remark but agreed on this point.

“If he misses such an event… the royal family will not look kindly upon it.”

“In fact, isn’t young master Karsein the most suitable person for such an event?”

“I agree. The young master is the one who brought brilliant light to the empire this year.”

It is the commemorative day of the founding of the Peselos Empire.

It is also a historic day that the current royal family made the empire what it is today.

No noble misses this day.

But for the only duke’s family in the empire to have an absentee, is that even conceivable?

It was a serious matter that could potentially lower the royal family’s opinion of the duke’s family.

Moreover, there are several reasons why Karsein must attend the Founding Festival.

The royal family takes this opportunity to honor the most influential figures in the empire.

Based on these grounds, the retainers’ remarks were all pointed and to the point.

‘But to force a child who is resting due to an accident to attend…’

That was… quite unappealing.

As the child’s mother.

“I understand your opinions on the importance of the Founding Festival. However, the relationship between the Bagrand ducal family and the royal family is not that fragile.”

“Madam…!”

“I will personally go to the royal family to seek their understanding, so do not worry. The meeting is adjourned.”

Just as Isabella made her decision and was about to declare the meeting adjourned again.

Someone suddenly interrupted with a sharp voice.

“He should be fully recovered by now, Mother.”

“…Arina!”

—

—

“Hasn’t it already been fifteen days? By now, I should be rolling around with my fiancée in the estate.”

Isabella glared with wide eyes.

The retainers were agitated, confused by what they were hearing.

“Call him back now, Mother. We cannot let our alliance with the royal family be jeopardized for such a trivial reason. Otherwise…”

-Thunk.

“I will bring him back myself.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Someone immediately responded to Arina’s words and entered the conference room.

“Oh…?”

“A national foundation festival, you say? Should we be indulging in such things? I’ve just finished my recovery, so there’s no need to worry.”

The retainers’ long-held concerns vanished in an instant.

*

-Ding!

▶ Episode VIII. The blatant goal is in progress. ◀

▶ You have interrupted the conference and alleviated concerns. ◀

▶ The retainers’ affinity has slightly increased. ◀

A message appeared, indicating that the first trap had been overcome.

After clearing the family trip episode, free action time is given, and just like before, you can extend that time.

However, if you don’t return to the duchy and stay idle, you might end up in trouble.

This was especially true when events related to the national foundation festival arose.

Although I managed to show a composed appearance to the retainers and resolve the issue…

“I heard you were injured, but it doesn’t seem to be that serious.”

“That’s a relief. You should be the one receiving an award at the national foundation festival. Hahaha!”

“Ahem. So, do you have any other plans? Please give us a hint.”

These reactions, which I couldn’t see in the skipped scenes, had to be dealt with one by one.

I handled the retainers with appropriate conversations.

There were no choices to make, so there was no problem. It seemed that as long as I didn’t offend those in opposition, everything would be fine.

Then, I suddenly realized something.

‘…Wait. I can start preparing for this now, can’t I?’

The events that would unfold in Episode VIII.

—

—

There was no better timing to prepare for it.

“Hmm. It’s not exactly a hint, but I do have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“How about taking some self-defense items with you?”

That would make me feel more at ease.