The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 142

142. The Broken Frame (3)

As I nodded in response to Isabella’s question, Camilla immediately asked for my permission and I nodded.

“Please wait for a moment.”

“Alright.”

Camilla had organized the documents from the Rusmayear side, and I had taken care of the rest, making sure they didn’t stand out.

When everything was done, Camilla opened the door according to my instructions.

As always, Camilla was a capable maid.

She had cleaned up the room, subtly rearranging the positions of the objects to make it seem like nothing was out of place. She acted naturally, as if she were just doing her job, and even managed to buy some time.

Thanks to her, Isabella, who had just arrived, didn’t suspect a thing.

Meanwhile, I used the remaining time to organize the documents from the abandoned territory, pretending to do so.

If someone was going to find me, they should have done so yesterday.

The people who could have found me were either Arian or Claire.

But both of them were wrong.

▶As a reward for Perfect Clear, Isabella appears instead of Arian or Claire.◀

Isabella’s unexpected visit itself was the effect of Perfect Clear.

“I’ll go out for a bit, young master.”

“Alright.”

Camilla left her seat, leaving Isabella and me alone.

Isabella took a sip of the tea Camilla had brewed and let out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry. Karsein. You can blame me for this incident.”

Was she saying I could blame her for this unexpected visit?

If I thought about it normally, I would have received a report from Arian, and there would have been a fight with the nobles.

Of course, with Claire’s appearance, who knew about the Turmerus flower, there would have been a re-examination of the situation at the time, so there wouldn’t have been any changes in the Episode Clear…

But this story was news to me too.

“What’s going on?”

I had to hear the story to understand what was happening.

I asked Isabella directly.

Then, Isabella grasped my hand tightly and added,

“It’s all my fault. I didn’t even remember what happened back then, and I brought you here… I’m still the same, and I’ve ended up hurting you again.”

Along with her words, an object reached me from Isabella’s hand.

My eyes widened in shock. It was obvious who was responsible for this situation.

‘…Useless thing.’

It was a familiar object.

The broken frame from the Memorial, which I had seen before leaving the ducal mansion.

Isabella’s hand had taken that frame, which means something.

Although I had clearly instructed Heron to handle it, the crumpled part was inserted again and returned to me, which undoubtedly means Heron had brought up that story.

Just like the memories of Carcsein I had seen through the Memorial.

“‘I saw you differently from other girls, and I had such biases, so this is how things unfolded. So… this time, I’ve decided not to create a family portrait and just move on. I can’t hurt you twice, after all.'”

What am I hearing right now?

Can’t hurt twice, so this time, I won’t create a family portrait and just move on?

A sense of resentment began to rise from within.

It was tolerable until Isabella found out about the incident.

No matter how things progressed, it was a matter that could be endured. After all, it was just an episode that would unfold before the Eastern Nobles’ Conference.

But, the appearance of that person, who was reluctantly trying to accommodate me, overlapped with the one in front of me, making me feel like I was about to vomit.

Unable to hold back, I blurted out.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“…What?”

“Why ruin this good day because of that one thing? Can’t we just proceed as planned?”

Yes, thinking about it, there’s no reason to feel bad.

It’s just a family portrait, after all.

My appearance in that picture is all that matters.

There’s no need to create a situation that makes me feel bad about something like that.

Just like back then, I don’t want the family photo shoot to be ruined because of me.

“Let’s proceed with the family portrait schedule as planned.”

“What? But, then you’ll…”

“It’s an old memory. I don’t know what you’re trying to recall, but I don’t remember. It’s an old incident, so why should we let this opportunity slip away? On a day as beautiful as this, with a background as lovely as this cherry blossom scenery?”

“…”

“I’ll speak frankly. I don’t care at all. It doesn’t matter if we take the family portrait or not, and I don’t properly remember that old incident, so why should we ruin this good day because of it?”

Isabella seemed to hesitate for a moment, then asked me again.

“Really, are you okay with that?”

“Yes.”

I don’t care about such convenience.

Receiving consideration like that would only make me more annoyed.

“I’ll buy new clothes to replace the dirty ones. Please proceed with the family portrait schedule as planned.”

So, I accepted it in reverse.

I accepted what this family wanted.

I don’t care about your favors, anyway.

Then, Isabella grasped my hands tightly and smiled faintly.

“You’ve really… grown up, Carcsein.”

Isabella apologized, saying that even if I didn’t remember the incident, her mistake remained unchanged.

And she thanked me.

I forced a laugh, hiding my true feelings inside.

“There’s no need to apologize or thank me, Duchess.”

It’s not like this incident will remain in your head, anyway.

As it has been.

– Tingling!

▶The conditions hidden in Episode IV have been fulfilled.◀

▶Hidden Episode. The newly filled portrait has been cleared.◀

▶The confirmed reward will be paid!◀

■Reward

▶Isabella’s intimacy level has increased.

[ Intimacy level: 65% → 68% ]

▶The nobles threatening Carsein have retreated, and the danger level of the Eastern Cherry Blossom Outing area has decreased.

[ Danger level change: Danger → Warning ]

…

…

Other rewards have poured in, but they didn’t particularly catch my attention, which was focused on calming the stirred-up new idol.

***

After Isabella arrived, the portrait schedule that should have been suspended proceeded unchanged according to my will.

Busy preparations were made.

At the family dinner, Claire and Floro were surprised to hear Isabella’s words and immediately started drawing the portrait, while Ariana just stared blankly. That day passed quickly.

Claire prepared new clothes since she couldn’t wear the dirty ones.

Floro occasionally glanced at me, while Ariana did the same.

The next day, I followed the painter’s request and created the composition and drew the portrait.

It felt like taking a family photo, but unlike before, I didn’t ruin the shot or mess up the pose.

The other family members didn’t particularly interfere either.

Only Heron and Shayden, who were watching me, looked puzzled.

The remaining time was for the meeting with the nobles.

At the Eastern Noble Conference, I would compete and cooperate with the nobles who were like rivals.

In addition, I continued the usual in-game schedule, such as spring outings, picnics, and strolls.

Whenever the Bagrand Duchy moved, the attached time would be half a day to a whole day. Then, when I returned to the hotel, I would spend half a day to a whole day dealing with documents and pens.

My daily routine was like this for several days.

And.

When the main schedule was over, there were about two days left until the Eastern Noble Conference.

“Put these portraits up here.”

“Yes, I understand!”

The duchy’s servants, following Isabella’s instructions, were busily replacing the duchy’s paintings.

When I turned my head, I saw the large family portrait we had taken this time hanging in the main hall.

Not only that, but all the walls and frames in the duchy had new portraits hanging. Even the expensive paintings by famous artists had been replaced.

Seeing my face, which had only been reflected in mirrors, hanging everywhere, I couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly.

“I was worried about ruining this outing, but it seems I didn’t make a fool of myself this time. Carsein.”

Meanwhile, Ariana approached me.

So that’s how it is.

I wondered when this would come back to haunt me, and it seems that time is now.

“You know, Mother’s worries have been alleviated a bit. This time, I’ll let it slide. However, if you damage the reputation of the Bagrand family again, I’ll strip you of your authority without hesitation. Even if the symposium is just around the corner, I won’t tolerate it.”

Ariana wagged her finger at me, issuing a stern warning.

“Hmph.”

“Are you laughing?”

“No, I just regained my senses. Yeah, the symposium hasn’t started yet.”

It seems like she has a keen sense of intuition, always knowing when to come and correct me.

I really owe her a debt of gratitude.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be careful. I don’t want to get burned again. But, by the way, did you hear that Hemnon was excommunicated from the Modrich family a while ago?”

“Excommunicated? What’s going on?”

“Ah, I guess the news didn’t reach you? Hehe.”

From noble mtl dot com

Ariana’s expression turned sour.

“Don’t bring up irrelevant topics. You’re currently under scrutiny. And it’s related to the incident that could have harmed the family.”

“Heh, haha!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, no matter how hard I tried to hold it in.

Yeah, what’s the point of that portrait, that family photo?

“That’s right. It has nothing to do with me. I’m just a nobody who doesn’t belong in the ducal family anyway.”

“What’s wrong, Karcein? What are you trying to say?”

“I’m just speaking the truth. I’m just a worthless, low-born commoner with no dignity or honor, just like Hemnon said.”

“What?”

A chill ran down my spine, and I felt a cold sweat.

I forced myself to hold back the laughter and returned to my room.

I had just stepped out of the ducal family’s mansion.

When I entered my room, I noticed a small change.

“Heron or Shayden… Ugh, they always do useless things.”

There was a single frame on the table.

Inside, it showed a bright spring scene with the ducal family gathered under the blooming cherry blossoms.

“No, it can’t be like that, right?”

Snap.

I took out the portrait from the back of the frame and began to tear it apart with my hands.

Cleanly. Neatly.

I removed only the parts that needed to be removed.

“Yeah, this is right.”

I’m not a part of your family.

It’s only fitting that I should leave like this, for their sake and for mine.

Like the broken frame, we need to be separate from each other.

-Thud. Thud.

The torn face of Carsein was buried deep in the trash can.

***

At the same time.

Someone opened their eyes in a dark place.

“When are you going to wake up? You damn pig.”

“Uh, uh…?”

“Oh, are you finally coming to your senses?”

“What, what’s going on? Who are you… Wait, why am I tied up here!”

Hemnon, who had been awakened by the mysterious voice, realized that his body was tied to a wooden chair.

“Pu, let me go! I’m Hemnon Modrich, a proud member of the noble Modrich family! How dare you…!”

At that moment, a fist struck his chest.

Hemnon’s breath was cut off, and he couldn’t even make a sound as he bent his body.

“This idiot ruined my plan. Why am I so angry?”

“Gasp, gasp! What’s…!”

A hand emerging from the darkness grabbed Hemnon’s jaw.

What reflected in Hemnon’s eyes was a chilling gaze.

Hemnon, who should have been shouting and struggling to free himself, was instead silent, dripping with cold sweat.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“It’s because of you that Carsein’s foot keeps getting loose. Yeah? So my plan got messed up big time.”

“Plan… you mean?”

“That’s right. The plan to take him out of the ducal family. And now it’s all ruined.”

The sound was incomprehensible, but Hemnon felt only one emotion as he looked into those two eyes.

Fear.

Fear of that man.

“I, let’s start by releasing me. I don’t know what I did wrong, but I’ll make it up to you. So—”

“The compensation is for you to complete that task, you damn…!”

-Puuk!

“Kku, kkuuuaah!!!”

Unlike the previous pig-like sounds, a deep, mournful cry echoed through the underground room.

Along with the chilling voice, a faint, crimson liquid began to flow from the deep wound on his thigh.

But, ironically, it was only then that Hemnon came to his senses.

“D, you’re… you were the one, weren’t you?”

If that was the case, then it all made sense.

The sudden turmoil, and his own situation of being dragged here.

Deepening fear.

Hemnon began to plead, his voice trembling.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I know what you told me to do! It was to make Carsein somehow receive the misunderstanding of the ducal family and return to the ducal estate to receive punishment! But, somehow, the Earl of Ipeiros, Rusmaye, got involved as a collaborator. This was unexpected…!”

“Your tongue is filthy. You damn pig. In one word, you failed. You couldn’t even ruin the Rusmaye territory, a single piece of trash. Yeah?”

“That, that’s… “

“Is it that difficult? Now, we’re taking away their consciousness one by one, and slowly, we’re taking away their land. It’s a piece of cake, and you’re the one who’s supposed to be the best at it. Why can’t you do it?”

It seemed like anyone could do this job, but Hemnon took it because he coveted the land of Rusmayeur.

However, reality was different.

He had failed miserably and was dragged back here.

“What’s the big deal? Anyway, Count Modrich doesn’t know about this, and the news that you got punished will spread. It won’t be hard to handle.”

“Handle? You mean…”

The word “handle” was equivalent to a death sentence.

Those who failed their missions had always ended up like this, and no one had ever escaped this fate.

Hemnon, who was terrified, began to beg and plead.

“Just give me one more chance! This time, I’ll attend the Eastern Nobles’ Conference. I know Rusmayeur well… If I can just cause a rift from within…”

“Ugh, shut up.”

“Gah…!”

As he revealed his uneasy expression, the guard standing nearby gagged him.

“Mmph, mmph, mmph!”

“Take care of it cleanly. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Mmph, mmph, mmph! Mmph!”

From that day on, the name “Hemnon Modrich” was completely erased.