The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 304



304. As if it never existed (1)

I thought it would be enough to just close my eyes.

I thought I wouldn’t fall asleep if I waited with concentration.

Sleep is something that can be easily controlled. I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult for me, who could live with just a few hours of sleep.

But.

-Bzzzz.

—

—

Unlike usual, the cold sensation on my forehead from the bed made me frown.

With the glaring sunlight adding to it, I could no longer deny it.

I had clearly fallen into a deep sleep again.

I had thought it was unlikely, but here I was, deeply asleep once more.

This time, Harunie might scold me severely for not waking up properly.

But when I finally opened my eyes, Harunie was already nowhere to be found.

“…”

There was no weight of her head on my arm.

The pleasant scent that used to waft from beside me was gone.

The warmth that used to heat the inside of the blanket from her skin was no longer there.

All she left behind in this room was a single letter.

The letter began with an apology for leaving with just a letter. Well… there was no need to apologize.

“If she had to change her plans and move quickly, it was understandable.”

The Marquis had been reported by Harunie for his shady business dealings, and the territory he ruled was filled with voices of resentment against him.

Given that she had taken on this burden, it was only natural for her to be busy.

The territory needed to be managed.

She had to leverage the support of the residents who would come out favorably and extend that influence to the family itself.

She would be busy for a long time, turning the hearts of the remaining retainers, dismantling Belian’s faction, and establishing herself not as a merchant but as the head of the family.

“Yes. She will be busy. That person too.”

So, I must do my part as well.

-Ding!

▶Episode X. Recording the funds spent on Isabella’s birthday.◀

▶This is a level 5 condition. The amount of funds required has increased!◀

▶You must possess 2.88 billion Pesel.◀

[ You had about 92%, but 2% was deducted due to expenses. ]

The money spent on Isabella’s birthday celebration.

Additional costs to increase the family’s satisfaction.

A considerable amount of money was spent on managing the intimacy and reputation of various guests.

This affected the escape date, but it was somewhat expected.

I quickly calculated in my head.

—

—

The expenses that have gone out so far.

The net profit I will gain from the territory.

And the handling costs of some episodes that hinder me.

When all considerations are applied…

The escape date once again approached my reality.

“…It’s strange. It matches exactly to this day.”

How could I forget this day?

It’s the day I left that house.

The day I was freed from that hellish household.

But I must not let my guard down.

I have only gotten closer to preparing for the escape, not succeeded in escaping yet.

“And there are still episodes left. I remember the limit was until XII, so I have to quickly fill that money within it.”

There is only one step left.

I must not let everything fall apart with just that one step remaining.

And.

I will walk out of here proudly on my own feet.

From noble mtl dot com

Just like that time.

*

After Isabella’s birthday banquet.

A week has passed.

No one even questioned the birthday banquet that ended without any trouble.

The reputation among the nobles for having a good heart for my mother was well received.

The servants were not burdened much, so there was a favorable opinion within the duchy.

It goes without saying for the vassals, and even the family members were proud of the matter.

“Did Lady Claire not help with the birthday banquet?”

“Of course not. She handled everything so well on her own. I had nothing to help with.”

Claire proudly spread that fact in the social circles.

She said she didn’t help.

Boasting about a younger sibling at this age. One might hear that it’s a foolish act for a sister, but it was truly worth it.

The preparation and progress of Carsein’s banquet, the schedule arrangement, and time distribution were close to perfect.

—

—

‘Would it have turned out like this if I had done it?’

Isn’t this obviously a proud boast about a younger sibling?

Clare thought so and added a more cheerful tone to her voice.

But this boast brought not satisfaction, but rather doubt to Clare.

“It’s true that the young master has become humble.”

“Such humility must have naturally led other family members to roll up their sleeves to help.”

“Indeed, if Lady Clare hadn’t helped, would Lady Arina have helped?”

“Probably, right? There’s no way the placement of furniture and lighting could be that meticulous.”

“…”

“The patterns with appropriately matched hues and saturation, and the decorations placed in the right spots to match the background. These are typically the roles of the mistress. How many noble young men these days learn architectural styles and decoration placement? Hoho.”

“Exactly!”

For a moment, Clare, whose words were cut off, thought to herself, “…Huh?”

Right. There’s no way they would learn such things.

Common sense dictates.

Architectural styles. The placement of various decorations.

Decorations with appropriate hues and brightness for the background.

As the lady added at the end, these were typically the roles of the mistress.

But, did the eldest sister really help Carsein?

That’s not all.

‘Those styles… they were all expensive.’

Since it was the birthday banquet of the Duchess of Bagrand, using poor quality items could have made it the worst birthday banquet ever.

Of course, Carsein would know this much.

So he must have chosen all high-quality, expensive items.

But the cost?

Is Carsein, who only runs two estates, bearing all the costs?

“…”

A bad sense of incongruity began to be felt.

Meanwhile.

On the other side, there is also a sister boasting about her brother.

“Carsein prepared everything. Isn’t he amazing?”

—

—

“Oh my.”

“That’s really amazing.”

“But wouldn’t you have needed Lady Flora’s help for something like this?”

A girl of Flora’s age said as she picked up a tablecloth for plating.

“You wouldn’t know that this tablecloth made of special fabric is in vogue.”

“…Huh?”

“And these plates too! When a small amount of mana is infused into the two items, they glow and create a beautiful harmony. You wouldn’t know about this kind of thing.”

“The same goes for these cookies. They have been in trend since this year, or more precisely, about three months ago. But since the two older sisters don’t like snacks very much, you would have definitely needed Lady Flora’s help to suit our tastes.”

As soon as she heard those words, Flora couldn’t help but stiffen.

Especially when the speculation arose that her sisters might have helped.

“But… aren’t those things quite expensive?”

“I saw lots of delicious cookies and pies piled up…”

“Wouldn’t everyone have contributed funds to help? It would have cost quite a bit. The young master’s money alone wouldn’t have been enough.”

“Ah, I see. That makes sense.”

“The most likely one to have helped would be Lady Arina.”

Could it be true?

Did the eldest sister lend money to Carsein?

Various conversations continued, but Flora could hardly join in.

Eventually, the conversation between the young ladies of the two age groups in the salon came to an end.

When she returned to the entrance, saying she had to go immediately, Claire and Flora fell silent as soon as they faced each other.

“…”

“…”

The two sisters stared at each other in silence.

Claire cautiously opened the conversation first.

“Sister… I didn’t help Carsein. Not at all.”

“…Me neither. It must have cost a lot to take care of people my age too.”

“Mom wouldn’t have helped… right?”

“Yeah. We all agreed to keep that a secret.”

“Sigh… Damn.”

Although they didn’t bring up the details, they vaguely guessed that they were thinking the same thing.

—

—

In response to the question of how Carsein prepared for the birthday banquet.

If he prepared the birthday banquet alone without the help of the three sisters or the Duke’s family in the current situation, that would be…

Flora, who had started to tremble with anxiety, clasped her hands and asked.

“Hey, fiancée! Wasn’t it the fiancée who helped?”

“…That’s impossible, Flora.”

“Why! Even on the day, she was with Carsein. She could have taught him!”

“Even if Lady Harnié taught him, she couldn’t have told him everything. You know that well.”

Flora bowed her head.

She knew it too.

If she were a lady with culture and elegance, the possibility certainly existed. If she were in a position to visit Carsein early and teach him as his fiancée, the possibility would be even higher.

But it wasn’t something that could be solved just by teaching.

“The parts involving the Duke’s family’s confidential matters or the secrets that the guests didn’t mention one by one, he had to figure out himself, right…?”

“Yes. Besides, things like trends, fashion, and tastes, he had to learn on his own. And… there’s still the biggest hurdle left.”

“Money…”

“Yes. That. To avoid being noticed by mother in the Duke’s family, he had no choice but to use his own money.”

She was just starting to establish her position in the Marquis’s family, and she was shoveling out the mess left by the previous Marquis. She didn’t have that kind of money.

“Ho, maybe… could it be that the eldest sister helped?”

“…Sister?”

“She could have helped. The eldest sister also made the promise together.”

Indeed, the promise was made by the three of them.

They all wanted Carsein to at least show his face at home.

Except for the mother who hid this fact, the only person who could help Carsein was Arina.

Various confidential matters.

Trends and fashion.

Even the private funds gathered through business.

She was the only person who could meet any condition.

If that were true, it could be seen as the most ideal scenario.

Enough to put aside any worries.

But.

Is that really the case?

—

—

-Press.

“Let’s go back, Flora.”

“Big sister…?”

“I think it’s faster to ask Carsein directly. Don’t you think so?”

“Y-Yes!”

No matter which way they went, in the end, there was only one thing the two sisters could do.

There was no other choice but to ask Carsein.

If they had spent all their money and time preparing for the birthday banquet, they had to apologize properly for this matter.

They had to take full responsibility.

“Go straight to the Duke’s house!”

“Hurry, as fast as you can!”

Fortunately, Carsein is staying at the Duke’s house today.

Urging the coachman, the two sisters hurried back to the Duke’s house where Carsein was.

*

At the same time.

The two sisters were not the only ones who had doubts about the birthday banquet.

This was a promise among three people.

It was a secret known only to the three sisters.

“The birthday banquet for our mother was nearly perfect. There was nothing to criticize. So, I have one question for you, Carsein.”

Therefore, Arina, who had the same doubts as the two, came to ask Carsein a step ahead of them.

“Even if you received help from someone, that wouldn’t be strange. But, I want to ask if it was from our mother.”

Arina had already hinted to Carsein once.

She mentioned that it was okay to receive help from other family members, including Heron, Shaiden, and the main retainers of the Duke’s house, as well as the designated vassals.

But not from their mother.

She had told him never to ask for help from Isabella.

Because it would be meaningless.

This birthday banquet was a day for their mother.

Carsein answered expressionlessly.

“No. Claire and Flora taught me well.”

A lie without a single mistake.

—

—