The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 301



301. Before He Leaves (2)

Due to Harunie’s appearance, I legally obtained some time to be away from them.

To be honest, I was bored out of my mind.

I pretended to be interested, but it was just an act. I wasn’t really interested.

There were many things to see, and many splendid things to look at, and various amusements to enjoy, but I never once managed to grasp any of them.

In the meantime, I checked the intimacy levels.

I pondered if there were any potential problems through their reactions.

And I was busy writing down the expenses I paid in my notebook.

Yet, the ironic thing was that this founding festival felt incredibly slow and long.

Time just wouldn’t pass.

Just like in reality.

…It was like that.

“The moon is really pretty tonight.”

Suddenly, it was night.

I hadn’t done anything.

I just followed Harunie around, and took care of this and that.

The only thing I remember is that Harunie clung to me more than usual.

There were a lot of embarrassing memories mixed in with her unreserved skinship.

‘…But suddenly, time has flown by like this.’

Maybe she saw my bewildered expression.

Harunie took this opportunity to play a mischievous prank.

“Hey.”

“…Huh?”

“Hehe. You let your guard down? Finally got you.”

“…”

Something sticky and sweet-smelling touched my face.

It was probably cake. Used for secretly smearing on someone’s face.

The shop that made that cake had a mission for women to smear it on a man’s face to receive a very special prize, but I blocked it every time, so Harunie had failed spectacularly.

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“Doing this won’t get you that prize again, you know?”

“That’s true, but I wanted to try it at least once.”

—

—

Harunie slightly puffed out her cheeks.

“Actually, I didn’t know what the prize would be, but I got stubborn. You never showed any gaps, so I wondered how I could squeeze in.”

“…”

That’s quite a reason.

…But, it’s a bit much to be on the receiving end like this, isn’t it?

-Swoosh.

“But in the end, I was satisfied because it was properly buried… Kyaa?!”

“Haha. You let your guard down, didn’t you?”

Yes, yes.

I can’t just keep taking it.

“You’re…! Is this a challenge?”

“Sorry, but I won’t fall for it twice.”

“Blocking is cheating! Move your hand away!”

“There’s no such rule, Harunie.”

Suddenly, a cake-smearing battle began.

…Then, suddenly, a familiar memory comes back.

-Hey! Using your hands is cheating! Move your hand away!

It’s not someone’s birthday.

It’s not even a day to commemorate anything.

But back then, I also spent time with her.

…Exactly on this date.

In the meantime, the exhausted Harunie stopped her attack, panting.

“Ugh. You didn’t let me win even once. Isn’t that too much?”

“I can’t just let you win, can I?”

“Fine. I lost, so let’s wash our hands and go.”

Hmm. I guess we should.

Looking at the clock, it’s almost midnight.

Through an agreement with her, I stopped the battle that wasn’t really a battle(?).

Roughly finished cleaning up. The cake we bought was a mess, but it couldn’t be helped since it was used like this. I also finished cleaning the cake off my hands and face.

But, there’s still one place that hasn’t been cleaned.

—

—

Really.

At times like this, you’re such a klutz.

“Harunie. Stop for a moment.”

“Yes?”

“What are you going to do if you forget this?”

-Swish.

I wiped the cake off her soft cheek and sucked my finger.

“You, you…”

Harunie suddenly looked at me with a flustered expression and then bowed her head deeply.

A foreboding feeling began to arise from her trembling shoulders. As if a spike was about to fly at my back.

…No. But you know.

I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?

I just wiped off the leftover cake.

I didn’t do anything wrong!

…Even thinking that, I’ve already resigned myself.

At times like this, it’s best to just take a hit and get it over with…

“…It would have been better if it was soaked in alcohol.”

“Sorry? I didn’t hear you, what did you just say…?”

“Oh, it’s nothing!”

“Whoa!”

I was startled by the weight of her body pressing against mine as she jumped.

“Hey, what are you doing jumping suddenly like that? It’s dangerous!”

“What’s dangerous? You caught me just fine!”

Saying that, she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Take me to the carriage like this.”

“…Ah, understood.”

It seems I won’t be getting hit after all.

I don’t know what I did wrong… but I guess this means I’m forgiven?

-Carry me over there.

That’s how it was back then for Ji-eun too.

—

—

Thus, midnight passes.

The status window popped up accordingly.

-Ding!

▶Episode IX. You have cleared the restarted Founding Festival.◀

▶You have spent enough time.◀

The episode was also cleared.

In the end, I finished this episode without even knowing the exact conditions for clearing it.

…But why?

I felt like I was missing something important.

*

Although I arrived a bit late due to repeated deliberation… I was able to gain a lot from the Founding Festival.

“…”

Harnie looked up at the sky.

Judging by the position of the moon, it must have been past midnight and approaching dawn.

Although I arrived late, I still spent a considerable amount of time at the Founding Festival.

It must have been at least half a day.

However, that time felt incredibly short.

Why does a day feel so short?

Even the time spent riding the carriage felt endlessly short.

…Yes.

It wasn’t a short time.

The reason it felt short was because the time spent with Carsein was so enjoyable and happy.

To the point where I felt regretful watching him get back into the carriage after dropping me off.

Finding joy in every little thing.

The warmth of his gentle touch left an unforgettable warmth.

This memory lingered endlessly in Harnie’s mind.

Thanks to that, endless greed began to sprout.

That greed continued to swell.

“…Is there really a need to part like this?”

The time spent with Carsein felt so short.

—

—

Even the time spent together at the founding festival passed in an instant.

Isn’t it such a waste to spend this time apart?

“It’s not like I can’t be of help to Karsein…”

Karsein is currently earning money in his territory.

To break away from the ducal family.

In that case, Harni can be of help in any way.

As a merchant, she can assist him in his work.

She can prevent him from being swindled, and she can be of definite help with any tax-related issues.

Moreover, her position as his fiancée itself is helpful. It can even prevent him from being hurt by the other sisters of the ducal family.

“Yes. There’s no need to be apart. I am his fiancée.”

She will ride the carriage and go to him.

To spend this precious time together.

However, Harni stops in her tracks at the heavy question that springs from within herself.

-If you keep liking him like this, will you be able to let him go later?

“…!”

That…

It was a question that took her breath away.

While loving a man named Karsein so much.

Can she let him go when the time comes?

Such a thing…

-If you love him endlessly, will you tell him not to go?

A sharp dagger pierces her heart.

Karsein’s goal is not to break away from the ducal family.

His goal is to return to the place he lived, to the world he lived in.

If she spends more time with him in such a situation…

There is no way she can let him go at the right time.

“It’s cruel… This is… too cruel…”

The answer has already come out.

Paradoxically, if she falls deeper for Karsein like this.

—

—

If I yearn for deeper love.

I might end up holding onto him.

I had to draw a clear line and keep it.

Even if memories remain, never to the extent of hindering his purpose.

*

After spending time with Harnié and the Founding Festival.

As I had done before, I sent a reply to my family, using the excuse of managing the territory, saying I would not return to the ducal house.

Creating a grace period.

Extending that grace period.

When I had paid the funds to extend it to the maximum.

As usual, I reached the limit.

-Ding!

▶You can no longer extend the grace period.◀

▶Episode X. Isabella’s birthday begins.◀

The birthdays of the three sisters had alternated, so it seemed like it would be the end, but the last hurdle still remained.

It was none other than the birthday of Duchess Isabella.

It was the episode that marked the end of this family’s birthday tour.

However, Isabella’s birthday is a bit different.

‘Well, it’s just a way to take away time and money anyway.’

The background of this episode is simple.

Arina, Claire, and Flora actively push this plan to bring Carsein, who rarely shows up at the ducal house.

‘In that sense… it’s not much different from reality.’

Before I left home for the last time.

I had also prepared for the birthday of the person called mother.

Anyway, the biggest event is allocated to the Founding Festival, which imposes a big penalty or hits the funds, but once you get through it safely, the rest are just minor obstacles.

So the way to clear it is also simple.

There are three main influences at the Duchess’s birthday celebration.

Flora’s intimacy.

Claire’s intimacy.

And Arina’s intimacy.

—

—

Since I had to prepare and execute everything alone, as long as I proceeded in a way that pleased those three, this episode was one of the easiest across any chapter.

Anyway, for that reason.

“Harnie. I need to visit the Duke’s house.”

I expressed my intention to return to the Duke’s house to her.

After the founding festival.

Harnie came here periodically.

Wherever she went, she stayed with me.

Even when it was time to return, she didn’t go back and stayed here.

It had already been over a month.

Honestly, I feel guilty.

She has been helping me with my work by my side, occasionally infusing mana to even prevent the Depeshan syndrome.

Continuously receiving such help made me feel sorry.

“What kind of schedule is it?”

“It’s the Duchess’s birthday. I might have to take on some tasks.”

Not just some, but all of them.

Anyway.

“Hmm… if that’s the case.”

-Clink.

“I’ll go with you. You’ve never hosted something like this, have you?”

“That’s true, but…”

“You should leave it to an expert. Don’t you think?”

It was a plain fact.

How many things have I hosted? The same goes for Carsein.

So, I had no particular rebuttal…

‘Is it just my imagination?’

She winked with fox-like eyes and lightly took my arm as she approached.

…For some reason, I felt that her skinship had become bolder than before.