The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 151

151. The Great Intersection (7)

Helri, who had realized that all this was artificially created, immediately scowled.

The same size of shoes that didn’t fit, sent to torment Haruni.

The time I intentionally dragged out to accumulate physical and mental stress.

Feigning ignorance, pretending to make mistakes, and subtly tripping or interfering with movements to get on someone’s nerves.

And at the climax of the song, even making a scene by falling on stage and giving a spiteful finale.

It was all a planned scenario.

Just for this one moment.

Haruni seemed to have perfectly recreated and conveyed the situation I had experienced.

But would anything change just because I noticed it?

No. I’m sure nothing would.

“…I’m sorry. I was so nervous that I showed a side of myself that I shouldn’t have.”

Helly said, holding out her hand as if asking me to catch her.

‘Oh, so you’re trying to cover it up. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, don’t you?’

It’s true, that would be the best course of action. You can’t say you lack skill, and you can’t make excuses about being in a bad condition, so you have to downplay it.

But it’s clear as day to my eyes.

What’s holding you back.

I didn’t care and grabbed Helly’s hand, pulling her up.

The stage abruptly ended due to the sudden incident.

The spotlight that had been shining down on the people on stage went out.

One by one, the nobles began to descend.

As the nobles’ eyes and ears were blocked, a quiet, malicious intent crept in.

“You, do you think you can get away with this?”

As expected, people who do such dirty tricks have no brains.

At times like this, it’s better to just pretend to be angry.

“Pfft, what can you do? You’re just a clumsy idol who tripped on stage.”

“This lowly…!”

“Ah, are you okay? If this gets out, it’ll be a scandal. What if people start saying that Helly is a foul-mouthed granny?”

“Shut up. You commoner! Get on your knees and apologize… no, bow your head and beg for forgiveness. And do as I say after you leave here! If not, I’ll expose everything!”

Helly threatened me, her voice trembling with anger.

But what’s the big deal?

I’m not scared at all.

“I’m not intimidated at all?”

“What?”

“Go ahead and expose everything. I don’t care about that kind of thing.”

I have nothing to lose.

I was prepared for that kind of situation anyway.

“Hah, hah…! You must be crazy! I know everything! I’m the most important witness and victim in this incident! If everything gets exposed, do you know what will happen to you?”

Helly’s face contorted in anger as she spoke, her veins bulging.

“You deliberately wore shoes that were too small, and then you tripped on purpose and pushed me with your shoulder, and then you interfered with the next move! And finally, you made yourself fall on purpose…!”

Helly’s twisted expression suddenly froze.

‘Right. That’s impossible.’

The claim that Karsein deliberately wore shoes that were too small is impossible.

The hidden truth that Calsein had stepped on his tail.

You can’t say anything, right?

It’s all because of your carelessness.

If you point out Calsein’s mistake, it’s like denying the difficult dance he had with Harney. If you pretend you didn’t know, Harney’s dance skills will stand out even more. In the worst-case scenario, other nobles will question why you don’t think your skills are lacking.

It’s the same with intentionally stepping on and pushing him, which is an interference tactic.

Helri said something like that, and from my standpoint, it’s like saying my skills are lacking, so that’s it.

Lastly, if you bring up the small-sized shoes, the same design will definitely become a hot topic.

According to the nobles’ implicit rules, this has the possibility of revenge, so why did you ignore it? Unspoken questions will be directed at Helri. Moreover, since the opponent is Calsein, it will likely bring even greater anger.

So Helri can’t say anything.

Everything has become a trap.

But there’s one exception.

“Will you be safe if this news spreads to the Duke’s family?”

The news spreading to the Bagrand Duke’s family.

This is the exception. If it’s Calsein’s mistake, it will be exaggerated and distorted, and he will be severely punished.

But even that…

I’m not afraid.

“Go ahead and do whatever you want. That kind of thing, I’m not scared at all.”

“Huh…!”

“Why? Aren’t you scared? You’ve been scolded by your family for this kind of thing, so it’s not that scary.”

And I won’t listen to your nonsense.

Helri whispered in my ear, and eventually, his face turned bright red, leaving with the words “Just watch me” and retreating backstage.

– Tingling!

▶Eastern Noble Meeting, Symposium Rest Period Schedule Completed◀

▶Emergency Mission Completed!◀

▶Settling the Results◀

“When this window appears… Is it finally over?”

I wondered when it would appear, but since I received an emergency mission, I was able to clear it late.

“The result is… obvious.”

Since I caused a problem in the ballroom, I’ll probably get a penalty.

Ariana will come to question me about this.

Ariana will also create a choice based on the penalty.

I’ll have to bear the loss of intimacy due to the choice, and it’s also Ariana.

This is a place where nobles gather, so Ariana will come because I tarnished the Duke’s family’s reputation.

I’ll have to accept the restrictions or the decrease in intimacy.

It’s the price of prioritizing my emotions stupidly.

“It’s similar to this, isn’t it? Is it too much? This damn game.”

I scratch the back of my head and complain.

-Why… did you help me? If I do something like this, I’ll get scolded later, right?

A hazy memory from reality arises.

Yeah. I did something stupid like this back then too.

Perhaps, I took on such an extreme attitude because I saw Haruni and overlapped with someone who seemed to be in a similar situation.

Jieun, the first and last friend I had.

I was in a situation too similar to hers.

– Tingling!

▶ The danger level of the ballroom area has been changed to limited.◀

▶ The limited time has been changed to 5 minutes.◀

“… I’ll just go back too.”

If I stay here any longer, the penalty will get heavier.

It would be better to go back and stall for time while checking on Haruni’s condition.

– Thud.

“…?”

I stopped in my tracks, feeling something under my foot.

I picked it up, and it was a button.

◆ Sky-blue button

[ A button with a sky-blue background and two horse designs. ]

“What’s the point of getting an item window if I don’t know where to use it?”

I don’t know where to use it, but…

I’ll just hold onto it for now.

***

Inside the quiet terrace.

The only sound was the music from the ballroom, and it was a place of quiet stillness.

“…”

Haruni, looking down at the new shoes she had received.

From noble mtl dot com

They were different from the gift with Helri’s malice, a pair of shoes that were the right size and had a comfortable heel height.

The material looked soft, distinctly different from what Helri had given her.

As I continued to gaze at the shoes… my face naturally flushed. The memory of being brought here earlier came to mind.

“Why, why am I giving meaning to this? It’s weird… I’ve become weird too.”

I fanned myself, trying to cool down.

But I couldn’t help the thudding in my chest. Why was I doing this?

“Was it just because of the contract that you helped me…?”

Yes, that’s right.

Karstein must have had a reason to move because of this.

If it’s a deal, I can do it.

I’ll give him a suitable reward.

… Maybe that’s how it is.

But why do I think it’s not like that?

Really, did he do this because he wanted a reward?

If that’s the case…

– Thudding, thudding.

─♬

“Ah.”

The music in the ballroom had suddenly changed to party music.

It was only then that Harnie came to her senses.

“Hmm… Now that I think about it, I need to apply the ointment, but my shoes are a problem too.”

She had even prepared the ointment, but it was pointless if she didn’t apply it.

However, the issue was her outfit.

The viscount had personally chosen a maid to dress her, and while putting on the clothes, she had intentionally made the corset tighter.

It was less constricting than Helley’s high heels, but it was still uncomfortable.

If she had taken a moment to adjust her clothes, she could have applied the ointment herself, but now it was impossible.

A sudden thought occurred to her.

When Carsein returns, should I ask him to apply it for me…?

“No, no, no, no, no! What am I saying!!”

It was an absurd idea.

Why would she ask him to apply it for her!

Harnie shook her head repeatedly.

“Yes, yes. I’ll ask someone else! I don’t necessarily need Carsein’s help!”

She pushed aside that thought and immediately looked for someone else.

And then… wasn’t there a servant waiting outside, one who had been personally appointed by Carsein? Maybe that person would be okay.

-Dalkok.

The terrace door opened right then.

Harnie welcomed him.

“You’ve arrived just in time. Sir Radel. I’m a bit uncomfortable in this outfit, so could you help me apply the ointment—”

But her welcome was short-lived.

The one who entered was not Radel.

“What bad timing…!”

Harnie’s mouth froze, and she stiffened.

Of all times, she had thought of asking him for help, and now he had appeared!

“Why didn’t you apply it earlier… Was it because of the outfit?”

Carsein, who had been scratching his head, approached her.

“Let me do it. I’ll apply it for you.”

“No, no! I can do it myself!”

Harnie hastily pulled away her foot. She was so flustered that she was speaking nonsense.

“You said you were uncomfortable in your outfit just a moment ago. Was that why you couldn’t apply it?”

“That, that… “

“Just give it to me.”

“Ahh…!”

Without another thought, Carsein took the ointment from Harnie’s hand.

Before she could even react, Carsein had snatched the ointment, and Harnie’s heart was racing as she tried to catch her breath and avert her gaze.

“Ugh…!”

“You seem to be in a lot of pain.”

“No, that’s…”

It wasn’t painful at all.

It was just that the fingers stained with medicine had finally touched, that’s all.

But I couldn’t answer what to say.

I just held onto one side of my skirt and retreated backwards, that’s all.

It was suffocating, so Carsein grabbed my leg.

“Just stay still for a bit. If you don’t apply this, it’ll get worse, won’t it?”

Now, I couldn’t even run away.

I had to wait on my knees until he finished applying the medicine.

After he finished, he carefully put on a bandage.

Why was time passing so slowly? Harinee had to cover her face with both hands and close her eyes tightly.

As she buried her face in her hands, something suddenly touched her foot.

“What, what are you doing…?”

“I thought the size might not fit, so I’ll try it on. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll go get a different one.”

So he’s personally trying on the shoes to see if they fit?

You know what kind of behavior that is…!

“Ah, it looks like it’s not uncomfortable. I was worried it wouldn’t fit.”

“…”

Harinee laughed bitterly at that moment.

“That’s right. You’re not the kind of person who would do that on purpose.”

If it were other nobles, they would have intentionally approached and used deceitful tactics. Carsein didn’t seem like the type to do that.

He’s the kind of person who makes quick calculations and can turn a situation around in an instant.

But in this aspect, I didn’t know anything about him.

Even if I read etiquette books, I wouldn’t be able to understand this situation.

“Over there, Carsein.”

“Yes?”

“Can I sit here for a bit?”

Harinee patted the space beside her with her hand.

The questions she wanted to ask were overflowing.

But at this moment, those questions wouldn’t come out of her mouth.

“Thank you. For helping me.”

It was embarrassing…

She leaned against his shoulder, avoiding eye contact.

That was all she could say.

Then, he answered as if it was nothing, again.

“If something like this happens again, tell me next time. I’ll help you anytime.”

Yes. That’s why other questions weren’t necessary.

Perhaps I had anticipated this answer.

-Thud, thud.

Deep inside her chest.

A warm atmosphere spreads from that place.

With the sound of rustling, as if it might leak out.