The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 303



303. Before He Leaves (4)

The birthday banquet proceeded smoothly.

There were some choices and a few obstacles, but there were no significant issues.

I gathered information with the intention of preparing thoroughly.

I prepared everything to ensure that nothing would go wrong at this birthday banquet.

Time, if it was time.

Money, if it was money.

And even my stamina, if it was stamina.

I poured everything I had into it.

The information I had previously acquired distinguished between actions suitable for the birthday banquet and disruptive acts.

Knowledge related to noble society and the birthday banquet drew a line between the negative elements of taboos and the positive elements of the vassals’ satisfaction.

Additionally, based on the lines and hints I already knew, I appropriately accepted and compiled their suggestions, resulting in a state where even the satisfaction level had no blemishes.

[ Flora Bagrand ]

[ Current Satisfaction: 95% ]

[ Claire Bagrand ]

[ Current Satisfaction: 100% ]

[ Arina Bagrand ]

[ Current Satisfaction: 80% ]

‘Have I secured the line where I don’t receive a penalty?’

The exact satisfaction threshold to avoid a penalty upon clearing the episode is 80%.

Although I struggled to accommodate Arina’s picky interference, in the end, all three sisters met this threshold, so clearing the episode was just a matter of time.

—

—

However, this tedious time just doesn’t seem to pass.

“The young master has prepared such a splendid birthday banquet, so you must be at ease, madam.”

“Of course. How blessed I am to have such a son.”

“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he has perfectly assimilated into the noble society.”

How many times do I have to listen to these meaningless flattery?

Even though I’ve heard it until my ears are about to fall off, it never ends.

Moreover, the time spent with my family, including Isabella, seemed to stretch even longer.

Ridiculously, my HP was gradually decreasing each time.

Even though I hadn’t moved much, my stamina was also continuously depleting.

▶Current HP is 67%.◀

From noble mtl dot com

▶Current stamina level is 35%.◀

Why is this even causing damage?

Is it really that hard to stand all day?

I just can’t understand it.

I decided to think that Carsein’s body must be incredibly weak.

But that wasn’t what I should be wary of.

I was more concerned about whether an unfamiliar servant would appear like before.

Or whether someone among the nobles, who were giving me sharp looks, was waiting for an opportunity.

That was what bothered me more at the moment.

…Unfortunately, even though I used mana to check everything, I didn’t find anything else.

Thus, time flowed endlessly.

The duchess’s birthday banquet eventually came to an end without any particular issues.

-Ding!

▶Midnight has arrived.

▶Episode X. Isabella’s birthday has been cleared.◀

▶The satisfaction level of the three sisters has reached a sufficient level, and the clear is recognized.◀

▶There is no penalty line as the level is not below 80%.◀

The interruptions are over.

No more meaningless compliments that make my ears hurt.

No more need to respond to those tedious words while pretending to be unaffected.

—

—

With the end of the episode.

*

The birthday banquet was completely over.

With the chime of midnight, the guests began to leave all at once.

However, Isabella, who had been glancing around the banquet hall several times, finally came to find me.

The lines I already knew.

And the familiar scene unfolded.

“I’m sorry to have made you go through all this trouble, Carsein. I thought you all prepared this together…”

-Ding!

▶Isabella has belatedly realized the preparations for the birthday banquet.◀

▶A choice has appeared.◀

The end of this main episode concludes with a conversation with Isabella.

Here, Carsein gets a single chance.

An opportunity to tell the family the truth of today.

▶Will you tell Isabella that you prepared the birthday banquet alone?

[ 1. Tell her. ]

[ 2. Do not tell her. ]

If you tell the family this fact, you can get back some of the money spent on the banquet and receive an apology.

It might be surprising, but there is no penalty for telling this fact. The episode is already completed.

However, I have no intention of doing so.

-You prepared all this alone…! I’m sorry, Minhyuk. Hold on. I’ll get these kids…!

For various reasons, it was familiar.

This reaction as well.

So I do not tell this fact.

Just like that time.

“You don’t need to worry. We actually prepared it together.”

“What do you mean? Claire said you prepared everything…”

“It seems she wanted to be considerate of me. The four of us prepared it. How could I have done all this alone?”

There is no way I could have done all this alone.

Of course, I received help. That’s how it was prepared.

—

—

When I answered that way, Isabella tilted her head in confusion, lost in thought.

“Really, did the four of you do it together?”

▶This is your last chance. Tell Isabella the truth about the money you’ve spent so far─

“Yes.”

Whether the choices appeared or not.

I had no intention of getting that money back.

The same went for my desire to reveal the truth.

It was as if I was acting in a fixed pattern, just like when I wasted an entire day two weeks before the college entrance exam.

Isabella seemed to finally understand and smiled, saying she got it. Then she left with a word of thanks for my hard work.

Now, just one more section to skip the scene.

Karsein goes back to rest and faces the next day.

The reward for the busiest day spent.

A night of sleep with no one visiting.

“…”

I felt the same way.

At that time, it was best when none of my family members visited.

But perhaps they didn’t want to allow my actions.

As I washed up and sat at the table to grab the documents, I heard a knock.

-Knock, knock.

The fortunate thing was.

The owner of this knock.

“Karsein. May I come in for a moment?”

It wasn’t one of my family members.

“Come in.”

*

Harnie helped me until this late hour but didn’t leave immediately.

According to her, it was also the reward for today.

Since rest time includes sleep time, she couldn’t give it up.

Anyway.

Why did she come to see me at this hour?

—

—

That’s the point.

“…”

To begin with, she’s in her pajamas.

She’s holding the pillow she uses to sleep.

With her hair down, fully prepared for bed, it was obvious what she was going to say.

“Ahaha, I can’t sleep well. So…”

“No.”

“Huh? I haven’t said anything yet?”

“You came to ask if you could sleep with me.”

Yeah. That’s the only thing it could be.

What else could she possibly want to say to me looking like that? Cutting her off at the entrance was the right thing to do.

Then Harunie pouted.

“Why not? We’re engaged.”

“…You don’t seriously think that’s a valid argument, do you?”

“It doesn’t seem strange at all to me?”

She shamelessly replied as she climbed onto the bed.

“We’re not just engaged. We’re not in an impure relationship. Plus, I have a reason to watch over you. What’s wrong with that?”

…She must know that everything about this is wrong.

She seems determined not to give up on this.

How should I persuade her?

Just as I was pondering that for a moment, the shamelessness and cheekiness disappeared from Harunie.

“…I really can’t sleep alone.”

“…”

“No matter how much I try to close my eyes in bed, I can’t sleep. Then I remembered that I slept quite comfortably when you were around. So I came to see if I could sleep better next to you.”

I wasn’t in a position to talk.

Regardless of the reason, I too could sleep deeply next to Harunie.

‘Well… Since she came into my room like this, I wouldn’t be able to get any work done anyway.’

Besides, having an early night occasionally to recover this weak body isn’t so bad.

I put away the documents.

Turned off the lights.

—

—

I sat gently next to Harnié, who was lying in bed, wearing only the minimum clothes for sleeping.

Harnié puffed out her cheeks, seemingly dissatisfied even with this.

“What I asked for wasn’t to be put to sleep.”

-Tap tap.

“You lie down here too. I tend to get quite cold, so this body heat is just perfect for falling asleep.”

“Hmm…”

As I made a troubled face, Harnié mentioned the price with a staccato, “Prom. ise.”

Well… there was no other choice. I had to comply with her wishes.

She snuggled into my arms and smiled contentedly.

“This is nice. Warm and cozy. I should have done this sooner.”

“…Being too close might be a bit dangerous.”

“No. I’m staying like this.”

“Sigh…”

Even after that, Harnié continued to play small pranks and bring up topics of conversation.

Really, did Harnié come to me because she couldn’t sleep?

When that question arose.

I had already fallen deeply asleep.

*

“…”

It had been about 30 minutes.

Talking and playing small pranks while lying close to Karsein in the same bed.

He was now in a deep dreamland.

As always.

“Sleeping so well like this. Using the excuse of not being able to sleep.”

I felt like giving him a light tap on the head.

But now wasn’t the time for that.

I calmed my heart slightly and took in his sleeping face with my eyes.

“Saying you couldn’t sleep was actually a lie. I… just wanted to see you a bit more. I came because I wanted to be close to you, even if just a little.”

Small tears formed in her violet eyes.

“Do you know? Here, my bundle of greed exists. Just thinking about you makes my greed surge like this.”

—

—

The tiny dew that had formed gradually swells in size.

“How can such a person exist? Just thinking about it makes me happy. When I’m with you, I’m happy. When I hear your voice, my whole body tingles with excitement, and it’s really strange. But I don’t dislike this feeling.”

The swelling dew soon moistens the voice.

“But… I shouldn’t feel this way anymore. You… have to go back, don’t you?”

She embraces him with her whole body.

“I don’t want to. Of course, I don’t want to. The thought of not being able to see you anymore. So, I want to keep you here. I never want to let you go. I should have…!”

Soon, a stream of liquid flows down her cheek.

“I can’t stop you from getting what you want so much…”

Harnié lifts her bowed head.

Her upper body gradually moves upward. Her body moves until her closed eyes are at eye level.

She reaches a distance where even her breath can touch him.

“You are the first and last person to make my heart race like this. So, please allow me this much.”

She closes her eyes and kisses him.

It’s truly intense.

A kiss so sweet, a kiss she wants to continue endlessly.

The fact that she has to break it off now.

But.

After their lips part, determination fills her violet eyes.

The hands that gently cupped his face fall away.

The bodies that had been tightly pressed together, enough to transfer body heat, separate.

A single tear falls to the ground, and the bodies of the man and woman completely part.

“…I love you, Carsein.”

Harnié finally takes the heavy step she had found so hard to take, leaves a letter on the table, and departs.

▶Harnié’s synchronization rate has reached 99%.◀