The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 335



335. Family (5)

All the cards that could be used were used.

The only thing that can stop Bagrand is Bagrand itself.

Therefore, the only person who can overcome this situation is Flora.

She is still young and lacking in many ways… but there is no choice but to trust and wait. Hopefully, Flora will persuade Arina well.

“Don’t you think it’s strange, big sister? The rumor about Brother Karsein, no matter how you look at it, doesn’t make sense.”

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“…What?”

“When Brother disappeared, a strange rumor spread just in time. No matter how you look at it, it’s artificial. There’s no time.”

Flora continued, clenching her fists.

“Big sister, you remember, right? Before Brother Karsein disappeared from the duke’s house, he was always clinging to the territory. Even so, he participated in the duke’s schedule without fail, and it took barely enough time to earn that money. Such a person, planning a rebellion against the empire?”

That could be done by the sisters.

No, even by the mother.

Flora insists that they should only gather the money piled up in that room.

“Maybe Brother was framed. So this place should not be opened to those people. This is the territory that Brother Karsein managed. If those people pass through, the traces will be erased.”

Therefore, to assert Karsein’s innocence, this place must not be given up.

Now that Rusmire has been forcibly broken through by the pursuit team and all traces have been erased. The only place where Karsein’s intention to leave can be recognized is here in Shatren.

If someone among them conspires and erases the traces, it cannot be proven that this is a false accusation, nor can evidence of innocence be found. So.

“I don’t think Brother left the duke’s house because he was a criminal, a sinner, or plotting a rebellion… I am looking for evidence of that in Shatren. Just give me a little more time. And, those people wielded swords against the residents. They must never be let in!”

The gates of Shatren must not be opened, especially to reveal the reason for leaving the Duke’s family.

This was Flora’s assertion.

‘…Impressive.’

Arsien’s lips slightly parted in surprise at the plausible argument.

I will find him too!

I can’t just sit still!

Karsein has disappeared, I can’t just wait!

If she had thrown a tantrum like that, Arina would have coldly turned her back and opened the way, but the reasoning was too clear.

The rumor that spread with the disappearance. It proved that if there was a plan at the time of leaving, a contradiction called time flexibility would arise along with the truth.

Karsein would have struggled just to gather that money, and he would have been further deprived of time by digesting the Duke’s schedule, so it would have been insufficient even if he pushed his body to the limit.

Not stopping there, she claimed it was close to a false accusation or conspiracy, and even reached a reasonable inference that the intention of leaving might be contained in this territory.

In this way, the only evidence would remain in the territory, so it would be easy to block the entry of outsiders.

While discerning the truth of the rumor, they also blocked entry to the territory, buying time.

They even justified their actions by citing their extremity.

The best, no. The best judgment.

Arsien chuckled at the wisdom that was difficult for a girl of this age to possess.

‘As expected, Bagrand is Bagrand.’

This too might be a storm stirred up by a man.

Anyway.

Worries no longer matter.

Shouldn’t they be thrown to the ground?

I was preparing in case a somewhat weak argument came out, but when I saw it, there was no need to intervene. Rather, it would have been a hindrance if I had intervened. Arsien could just wait for Arina’s reaction with peace of mind.

However.

The reaction was quite unusual.

“As expected of him. It seems certain that he passed through here.”

Arina, showing a convinced look, was sighing with her forehead in her hand instead of further restricting the entry of outsiders.

“Close the territory and discern the truth of the rumor. That’s what you heard, right?”

“Big sister…?”

“Flora. It seems you have forgotten what kind of person Karsein is. He is a very cunning guy. He could deceive someone as innocent as you.”

“What are you talking about! I’ve never been deceived…!”

“Take Flora to the Duke’s house, no, to the Shiren villa. Also, as the acting head of the Duke’s house, I command you. Shatren must open the way immediately.”

“Big sister!”

Sensing an ominous sign from Arina’s reaction, Flora tried to deny it immediately. However, Arina did not give Flora a chance to refute.

“Despite receiving the grace of the Duke’s house, he deceived the lady with his three-inch tongue. Therefore, from this moment on, Karsein Bagran is treated as a wanted criminal, not a member of the Duke’s house.”

“Big sister!”

“My lady!”

Flora and Arshien’s hearts sank.

It went beyond a regular warrant.

A wanted criminal.

It is a type of warrant used when the target must be captured by any means necessary.

Even if the wanted person resists, it allows for suppression by force, and it means there is no need to take responsibility if any harm comes to the body.

Clearly, it was an excessive punishment.

It was an order that should not be given against family.

“Big sister. Why, why…!”

“It’s something I have to do, not you. And if you open the way, we might find him faster. It’s better to open the way for those people quickly. That way, we can find Karsein even a little faster.”

“No. No, I said no!”

“Miss Flora. Please return now.”

“We will take you to the villa comfortably.”

“…! Let go of me!”

Flora, driven by anger, struggled and shouted.

“My brother might not have done anything wrong. We could investigate more. The rumors about plotting treason or forming a rebel army with the Westerners could all be false! The reason he left the Duke’s house could be a false accusation by someone else!”

“A false accusation. It’s the same old story. He hasn’t mentioned it recently, but that’s what Karsein always said. He never repented for his own mistakes.”

In the end, Flora couldn’t hold back and started to throw a tantrum.

“The false accusation is actually something I, I put on my brother! I was jealous, afraid that Karsein might take our family away, so with a bad heart, I falsely accused my brother!”

“…This won’t do. She’s completely deceived. Hey, what are you doing? Take Flora away.”

“Since childhood, I, I just bullied him…! I did it without knowing anything. My brother, my brother even saved me from Theo and Emma…!”

“Ignore what Flora is saying. She was just too naive and got deceived. Also, keep a close watch until he is caught.”

Flora’s voice fades away.

Even as she is being taken away by the family’s knights, she cries and denies it, but the only response she gets is resentment.

“Big sister, I hate you. I really hate you! I hate you more than anything in the world! If you open that door, I won’t be your sister anymore! I won’t even call you sister anymore─!!!”

At the sound of that almost desperate cry, Arina’s eyes twitched.

“Lady Flora is screaming herself hoarse over there, and yet you still intend to open this door?”

Arsien, who was blocking Arina’s way, asked one last time.

It wasn’t a joke; this was truly the last chance. The last chance to protect the family.

However, Arina answered without hesitation.

“Yes. He is now no different from a traitor to the ducal family. He has completely destroyed the family relations of the Bagrand Duchy.”

“…Ha.”

Arsien was taken aback by the lack of hesitation.

There was no way to stop her, and even if he tried, it would be useless. Still, he wanted to say what he had been holding back.

“That choice. You will regret it, Lady Arina.”

“I will not.”

“Well. We shall see. I believe you will definitely regret it.”

“Why?”

“Because you just missed your last chance.”

Indeed, it was the last chance.

Arsien stepped aside without hesitation.

“Go ahead. Do as you wish. As an outsider, I will no longer concern myself with the ducal territory.”

“Thank you for your cooperation. When I find him, I will make him kneel and apologize to Her Highness the Princess for the harm he has caused.”

The firmly closed door of Shatren opened.

The residents, seeing Arina, the acting head of the family, could do nothing but open the door.

The path that had been firmly blocked was now clear…

But something else was firmly blocked in return.

“Now I understand. Why Brother Albert said those things.”

-What Lady Arina has is an inferiority complex. The worst kind of emotion towards one’s family.

At the time, she couldn’t understand those words at all.

The one who was to inherit the Bagrand Duchy.

The one whose reputation was soaring even within the ducal family.

The one who already had everything.

She couldn’t understand why he would have an inferiority complex towards Karsein, who wanted nothing.

But seeing it in person, I could understand.

When Flora made her argument, even her sisters, let alone her mother, said that even if they saved money, there was no time to spare.

Arina Bagran’s blue eyes were clearly ablaze with a cold fire, sharpening a sword.

That was definitely, an inferiority complex.

It was the worst feeling she had shown towards her family.

Once she had that feeling, there was no turning back.

Her relationship with Karsein was over.

“But you should know that there’s one thing you’ve overlooked.”

Karsein was an astonishingly strong person.

Both in the ducal family and outside, even with the worst territory, he was strong enough to create a reversal of public opinion, both physically and mentally.

“If you were in the same situation, could you get out of it?”

Well. Those knees would collapse completely.

One way or another.

This year’s Hwangryong Martial Arts Tournament.

The final match everyone was looking forward to.

At that time, Arshien had clearly seen Karsein’s gaze.

It was definitely a gaze that said it wasn’t worth dealing with.

*

The next day.

Very, very bleak news came to Claire.

“What do you mean, go back to the ducal family!”

“I’m sorry. It’s Lady Arina’s order.”

“Huh. Why would my sister…! Isn’t finding Karsein the priority?”

“…I’m sorry, but please take a look at this.”

She couldn’t even ask for the details.

The reason was that it might interfere.

For that reason alone, Claire had to return to the ducal mansion.

As soon as she returned to the ducal family, a letter arrived for her.

『It’s a big problem. Little sister. Brother Karsein… has been designated as a wanted man…』

“…Damn it. Why, why is this happening…!”

Claire’s hand trembled.

Not long ago, Claire had been looking for Carsein, and now she couldn’t help but curse.

“A wanted notice… Is my sister really crazy?”

How could she issue a warrant that doesn’t care if her family gets hurt?

Unlike a regular warrant, a wanted notice doesn’t consider the person’s well-being.

Moreover, the target is Carsein.

He already has a truckload of enemies. Claire painfully realized that the proportion of enemies around Carsein was much higher than that of allies.

In fact, it wouldn’t matter for any reason.

Whether they hate the status of a commoner, want to tarnish the duke’s family, or simply dislike Carsein.

Once a wanted notice is issued, Carsein cannot return safely. Absolutely not. In the worst case…

He could come back as a cold corpse.

That could happen.

So Claire felt like she was going crazy.

It felt like something was going to explode inside her.

She wanted to find her sister right now, grab her by the collar, and scream at her to withdraw the wanted notice.

But she mustn’t do that.

『Be careful, little sister. Big sister… Big sister is not normal right now. I’m being forcibly dragged to the Shiren villa. If you try to help our brother, you might end up like this too…』

With their mother bedridden due to mental illness, all the power in Bagrande was concentrated in the eldest daughter.

If she went against Arina’s will… Claire, who had no power, would be quickly pushed aside.

“…Am I, once again, unable to do anything?”

Helpless.

So powerless.

Is waiting helplessly all I can do?

Even though I survived with Carsein’s help, can I only stand by and watch again?

“No. I can’t let that happen.”

– Squeeze.

Not twice, not twice.

Once is enough to be a sister who couldn’t protect her sibling.

I must remember.

Carsein surely has allies too.

Just as there were Camilla and Tasha in Ruthsmeyer, there would be people in Châtelain and other places who could help Carsein.

Is there anyone who might know?

Someone who could exert influence even in this situation?

If not, at least a place frequently visited by the Duke’s family…

“…a place frequently visited?”

Come to think of it.

Carsein often went to the training ground where the 1st Knight Division was located.

At the time, it was under the pretext of training, but…

That’s not all.

Memories from childhood.

The false accusation made at that training ground.

The connection naturally leads to the two knights who used to guard him.

– We will take charge of Lady Claire’s escort.

– Given the nature of the matter, it was deemed better to change key positions.

Coincidentally, there were two knights who did not follow Arina, claiming they would take charge of my escort.

If there were no intentions behind this, that would be even stranger.

“Yes. There are people who can help Carsein.”

Claire immediately called for them.