The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 302



302. Before He Leaves (3)

From the moment I returned to the Duke’s house.

I went to find the three sisters according to the episode’s progression.

—

—

A mundane conversation continues.

The dialogue unfolds as expected, and the reactions are just as familiar.

And then.

“So, I’m leaving everything to you. It’s a surprise event for Mother.”

With that line, the episode ignites the beacon of its beginning.

“Then I’ll go prepare.”

“Let me know if it’s too hard!”

“I can help too!”

…Well.

I don’t plan on borrowing your hands even if it gets tough.

As the door clicks shut.

The status window pops up.

-Ding!

▶Episode X. Isabella’s Birthday is in progress.◀

▶You must take charge of all preparations for Isabella’s birthday banquet.◀

▶For this episode, the satisfaction UI will appear instead of the intimacy UI.◀

※Satisfaction System

[ This is the satisfaction level for the Duchess’s birthday banquet. ]

[ It measures how much satisfaction was felt throughout the day of the banquet, and the increase in satisfaction varies for each character. ]

[ However, previous intimacy levels do not affect it. ]

▶Clear the episode by filling each of the three sisters’ satisfaction levels to at least 50%.◀

It’s written in a long-winded manner, but it’s roughly like this.

During the Founding Festival, you were assigned specific tasks, but this time, the player has to handle all the tasks.

Greeting guests, preparing food, arranging the lighting and table settings, organizing the guestbook, and dozens of other tasks all had to be done by my own hands.

If you thoroughly prepare the birthday banquet and fill it with a rich composition, the satisfaction levels of the three sisters will rise. If you end the day past midnight with their satisfaction levels above 50%, the episode is cleared. It’s fairly simple.

‘Well, there’s one catchphrase, though.’

It says above 50%, but that’s just the condition to clear the episode.

To avoid penalties, you have to raise that limit to 80%.

In other words, you need to fill an additional 30% to clear it.

Looking at the enormous amount of tasks, you might wonder if it’s even possible to clear…

—

—

Unfortunately, this was the easiest episode among all the ones I’ve seen so far, with no other factors involved except that the intimacy built up until now was useless.

‘And it’s familiar. I’ve done this before.’

Whether by chance or not, I didn’t care anymore, but today was also the birthday of the woman who adopted me.

From noble mtl dot com

November 1st. On this day, I was told by my family to prepare my mother’s birthday alone. It was a day when the college entrance exam was less than two weeks away.

Yeah.

I had already experienced it in reality.

The thought of having to do the same thing as back then might make me feel dirty.

But now, I didn’t feel much about it.

This would be the last time for this kind of thing.

*

Preparing for the birthday banquet was not difficult.

Although I didn’t know anything about the culture of the nobles or the unique styles of noble society, there was someone helping me this time as well, so I was well aware of the essential and cautionary points.

Thanks to that, I could easily avoid most of the traps.

The family was the same.

There was nothing they could pick on.

Flora, who would usually find fault with the schedule, seemed pleased, saying she had enough time to play. Claire meticulously inspected the interior, costumes, and venue composition and gave her approval.

I wondered what kind of fault Arina would find.

But she remained silent, perhaps because there was nothing to criticize.

I granted all their wishes.

I tried to accommodate their requests as much as possible.

As I adjusted and stored everything to suit the tastes of the three sisters, their satisfaction already exceeded 80%.

Although I suffered some losses as I spent my own money, I had already passed all the dangerous issues.

…But.

It seemed like something else had become dangerous.

“Um… Harni.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to feed me like that. I can eat by myself…”

She pouted her cheeks.

“No. Today, we agreed to do as I say, right?”

“…That’s true, but.”

—

—

“Then just quietly eat what I’m feeding you.”

Ugh…

I can’t say anything.

Harnie asked me to allocate a day of rest in return for helping me.

For whatever reason, it’s enough to grant her request.

She helped me navigate through dangerous situations with the three sisters and provided the necessary information.

But…

The eyes around us are the problem.

“That guy…!”

“He said he was preparing for the birthday banquet, but he’s just flirting! Tsk!”

“Did we come to see the Duchess or to watch that guy flaunt his relationship?”

…Damn.

This is unfair.

‘I didn’t mean to do this either, you b*stards!’

I thought I could just get some help with the birthday banquet and be moderately monitored during my break time!

Did you think I’d do something to provoke you like this?!

-Crunch.

…But on the other hand, I think I understand why they’re acting like that.

The cause lies with Harnie.

‘Well, if she dresses up like this, it’s impossible not to look.’

Harnie was already a person who attracted attention with her beauty.

Wasn’t there a precedent where she was called a gold digger by some ill-natured young ladies because she was so pretty?

But if she dresses up like this, it’s not strange for people to talk.

““Jealous b*stards…!””

…It felt like I could hear growling from behind.

Even after that, Harnie didn’t leave my side.

Unlike usual, she wrapped her arm around mine, making much more skin contact.

Not just skin, but the soft sensation of her arm was fully touching mine, and I occasionally flinched at the softness.

This was the same during the banquet schedule.

Unlike her usual preference for light and elegant dances, she danced more closely and passionately.

—

—

Even when she greeted the guests, she clung tightly to my arm, sometimes even resting her head on my shoulder.

Wherever we went.

Whoever saw us.

She didn’t care at all.

I wasn’t sure if she wanted to show off that she was my fiancée in front of everyone, but I decided to go along with her for now, thinking she must have her reasons.

“Sigh. I’m really tired.”

“You should have taken a break.”

“Why would I take a break? You’re the one who’s been working the hardest.”

She lightly poked my cheek with her index finger.

But there was no strength in her hand.

It was understandable.

Considering all the places we had been and the people we had met.

“I’ve arranged a place for you to rest with Camilla. You should take a short nap.”

“…”

“It’s really fine.”

She seemed hesitant to leave me alone, but eventually, she sighed and agreed.

“I’ll be back in just 20 minutes.”

“Okay.”

“If you happen to run into my family during that time…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I’ll handle it well, as always.

After all, this is the last time.

“Alright. Hang in there a little longer, okay?”

She smiled and gave me a light kiss before heading to the lounge.

“…She’s doing it again.”

My hand instinctively went to the cheek where her lips had touched.

This kind of thing was really awkward.

I should turn my attention back to the banquet hall.

Isabella’s birthday banquet was not over yet.

—

—

If you show a careless attitude, satisfaction is likely to drop, so you should pay attention and finish it properly.

“The remaining ones are the northeastern nobles… hmm?”

Just as I was about to turn around, recalling the precautions Harnié had emphasized.

Suddenly, a servant caught my eye.

On the surface, it looked like he was clearing away an empty wine glass, but…

‘Was there such a servant here?’

No. At least not in my memory.

The selection of servants was the most important thing I had to pay attention to at the banquet.

‘Besides, the way he’s going… it would be faster to go down the opposite side, wouldn’t it?’

I had also planned the servants’ routes.

If fatigue increases, problems can arise, so I made comfortable routes with care, and yet he chose to take a roundabout way?

Something feels off.

Especially since this path leads to Harnié’s resting room.

I imbue my shoes with mana to silence my steps.

To minimize noise, I erase the friction of each step with mana.

I followed the servant with suspicion.

*

“Huah.”

As soon as I sat on the bed, a sense of comfort enveloped me.

After standing for a long time, sitting on a soft bed felt like paradise.

Harnié let out a deep sigh.

“I shouldn’t be getting tired already.”

I knew it would be tough because it was the Duchess’s birthday banquet.

It was the work of the Bagland Duke’s family, so it was obvious that guests would flock in.

But I couldn’t help feeling that I had gotten tired too quickly.

“…I should have built up my stamina more in advance.”

If I had, I wouldn’t have needed to make time to rest like this.

I could have stuck to Karsein with a lively appearance.

There wouldn’t have been any gaps.

So even this time I’m resting now feels like a waste.

—

—

I wanted to stay close to Karsein for a little longer, but I hated having to waste this sweet time because of my lack of stamina.

Biting her lips tightly, she endured the overwhelming emotions.

“I’ll just rest a bit and then go back up.”

As she made that resolution, a stranger visited Harnié in the lounge.

“Excuse me, Lady Harnié. I have something to deliver to you, even during your rest.”

“Deliver?”

“Lord Karsein sent this for his resting fiancée.”

A small medicine bottle came out of the well-packaged box.

“It’s said to be an elixir that works well for a tired body. Seeing that he ordered it to be sent directly, he must be worried.”

“…”

It was a joy to hear that Karsein had sent it.

It was even more joyful to think that he sent it thinking of her.

However.

There was something unsettling about it.

‘Karsein sent an elixir?’

There are a few types of elixirs known to be effective, but Karsein doesn’t particularly like such things.

Because the elixir itself is a substance that completely contradicts Karsein’s nature.

The diseases Helketa I and Helketa II are typical examples.

Among the elixirs, it was said that they could cure these two diseases, but in reality, there were not many cases.

On the other hand, the medicines made from Shatren strawberries and Shatren grapes, which can only be found in the Shatren territory, have been improved by Karsein and are still distributed in pharmacies.

Thorough analysis. Constant research. The existence of elixirs, backed by formulas and complex statistics with reasonable grounds, is close to garbage in his value system.

‘…That means.’

What does it mean to bring this?

What purpose does this person have?

Harnié also had a hunch.

“Can you give it to me? I’ll take it right away.”

“Here it is, my lady.”

-Pop.

Harnié pretended to drink while holding the bottle.

At the moment the servant grinned.

—

—

-Splash!

The liquid, not a single drop of which entered his mouth, was sprayed directly into the servant’s eyes.

A gap created so easily. Harnié quickly prepared to cast the spell she had ready.

However, the servant, noticing this, put a strange capsule into his mouth.

“No way…!”

His body swelled up in an instant.

It seemed to be the fuse for a self-destruct spell.

Harnié had no choice but to use the protective talisman.

But there was no need for that.

──!

“What, what… How did the spell… Gah!”

“Are you alright, Harnié?”

“Ka, Karsein…”

The self-destruct spell was shattered by Karsein’s sword.

However, this was a disaster.

Karsein had arrived just in time.

*

Some time later.

After finishing the investigation of the servant, I went to see Harnié.

“As a result of the investigation, it turns out that the servant was not from the Duke’s house as we suspected.”

“…”

“So let me ask you, Harnié. Why exactly were you being threatened like this?”

This was clearly an attempt at murder.

Seeing that they even attempted self-destruction, it was obvious that Harnié was being targeted.

Harnié hesitated, then finally opened her mouth.

“Maybe… it’s because I changed my plan.”

“You changed your plan?”

“Originally, I was aiming to escape from the Marquis of Theresia… but not anymore.”

Instead of escaping from the Marquis, she planned to swallow the Marquis whole.

That’s how Harnié explained the cause.

—

—

“But you don’t have to worry that much. The Marquis is already confined to the imperial palace, and there aren’t many remnants left. I could handle it alone just now, you know?”

“…Harnie.”

“I told you there’s nothing to worry about. There’s really nothing more.”

Explaining the state of the Marquis of Theresia, it is said that although Belian remains, the eldest son is such a fool that no one follows him.

“If that’s the case, then there shouldn’t be any problem…”

“Since I’ve fully recovered, let’s go. It wouldn’t be good if word got out that there was a commotion here, right?”

“…Understood for now.”

Thinking back to when Harnie was suddenly targeted before, it still bothers me.

Somehow, it feels like that’s not all there is to it.