The Damn Family Is Back Again chapter 42

42 – 42. Faded Gift (1)

“Karceine has returned?”

“Yes. I just received a message from the mansion. The young master has returned safely…”

“I see. Everyone worked hard.”

“Ariana, my lady!”

Upon hearing the news, Ariana immediately turned her head and headed towards the mansion.

Although she gave some rough instructions to the knights, she had to go back right away.

It was late at night.

It had been so long that it seemed like it would never come back.

How could I forget?

The sight of my younger sibling, who had been beaten up on the street but managed to save just one gift, was more shocking than I could imagine.

It was a foolish and stupid act.

Karsein lay in bed for days, with the foolish thought of how nice it would be if he had gone somewhere without knowing how dangerous the outside world was.

That image still occasionally appears, like a scar.

Every time I see what’s in my pocket.

Every time I see the gift that Karsein barely saved from the beggars and wanderers.

Every time I see the hairband that was obtained for the older sister who looks good with a ponytail.

“…Sigh. Let’s calm down. Arina Bagrand. That was the foolish me from the past.”

Although I said to calm down, Arina couldn’t calm down easily and held onto the reins even tighter.

And so, Arina hurriedly arrived at the mansion.

She headed straight for Karsein’s room.

But when she finally arrived in front of Karsein’s room.

Arina couldn’t knock on the door, even though she had heard from the servants that Karsein was in this room.

“…”

If she ran to the night market right now and bought something Karsein would like, would she feel a bit better?

If she said that she had caught and punished the scoundrels who trampled on Karsein, would she feel relieved?

Or should she make a bigger repayment to forget about the past?

Countless choices cross Arina’s mind.

However, I don’t know.

Whether Karsein actually wants this.

All Arina knew was that after being abandoned by her 17-year-old self and returning from a beating, she only knew that Karsein wanted to give her a hairband.

It was just like a birthday present.

She didn’t know anything else.

What she liked. What she disliked.

What interested her. Whether she had any hobbies. What her tastes were.

She had never asked about these things.

But… there was one thing.

If there was something she knew about Karsein.

“He liked going to the training ground… He liked it so much.”

He liked it so much that he would stay there for days.

“But this… isn’t a decision to be made lightly.”

Arina took a step back in Karsein’s room and lightly touched her forehead.

In the past, Karsein had caused a major problem at the training ground.

It was such a big problem that it caused harm not only to the Bagrand dukedom, but also to other families who relied on this place.

So it was true that this was not a decision to be made lightly.

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Because it could lead to even greater damage if it caused premature judgment.

However.

The scale of the decision tilted more towards Karsein’s side than the damage.

She continued her thoughts and suddenly remembered what her mother had said.

“hehehe, that child has grown up, hasn’t she?”

She mulled over the words she had heard on the festival street a few more times.

She had grown up.

Those words might be true.

If Claire’s words were correct, there must have been some commotion at the headquarters today, but she had proven it well.

Karceine had matured much more than before.

Instead of getting angry or raising her voice like before, she took enough time to think before forgiving Camilla generously. Even during the incident with Kelvia’s allergy, she managed to keep her composure instead of flipping the table.

“Yes. Karceine has… become more dignified.”

Even if she felt bad, she knew how to endure.

She didn’t show any impulsive behavior like before.

So.

It seemed okay to let her refined younger brother step into the forbidden training ground that had been designated until now.

In the process, maybe… she could just forget and move on like an adult.

“The hairband…”

Arina glanced at the hairband and raised her hand.

When she heard that Karceine had returned home safely, she hurriedly ran over, and her wet red hair was a mess.

Arina’s hands touched the messy hair.

-Swish.

As the hairband came loose from the messy hair, the crimson strands flowed down.

And. I tie my hair again.

The object that she didn’t want to remember for a while, so she put it away, which contained her avoidance.

The gift that Karsein had handed over with a relieved expression, saying it was fortunate that she managed to keep it even at the age of 17.

This hair tie that left only past scars on her younger brother’s side, making one side of her chest ache.

I tied it back on my head and made a ponytail.

To show the dignity and prestige of the family, it’s better to be flashy.

However, I thought it would be nice to have a simple hair tie.

After all, it was a hair tie that her younger brother personally gave her, not anyone else.

Arina, who quite liked the hair tie she had changed, often touched it with her hand.

And with a start, she quickly moved her footsteps.

Passing through the stairs and corridors quickly, Arina arrived at her room and immediately started rummaging through the documents.

“…It should be enough as a birthday present.”

[ Karsein Bagrand’s Restriction Order for the Chamber of Commerce ]

Arina, after confirming the title of the document, took out another piece of paper and skillfully waved her pen.

***

When she opened her eyes, the sun was already up.

Well, it’s been a day since then… It seems that I fell asleep right after coming into the room and just stretched out.

“Well, it’s understandable.”

Karsein’s low stamina played a part, but it was probably because she was so busy performing Episode IV, the Snow Festival schedule.

Still, she had to get up quickly.

“I have to go to Arina and obtain the right to use the training ground,” he said.

Due to spending the entire day yesterday, he couldn’t meet Arina.

But it should be fine. He thinks he’ll catch up with Arina. Even if a day has passed, it won’t change much.

And in the game, there was no difference in being one day late. Even if there was a change, it would be starting with slightly lower stats, right?

In other words, if he prepares now and goes to see Arina, it will be enough.

“First, since I just slept all day yesterday, I should wash up…”

He thought.

-Knock, knock.

“My Lord, it’s Heron. I have something important to tell you, so I came to find you.”

Heron came to find him.

He didn’t know what it was about, but since the person was Heron, there shouldn’t be any major issues. So he let him into the room.

Heron respectfully bowed and then handed me something.

“My Lord, this.”

“Is it a letter?”

“No, it’s something Arina sent.”

“Arina?”

I immediately turned my head.

Was there a sudden development where Arina sent me something?

“No, that’s not possible. At least not at this point, when I’ve finished Episode IV.”

Rather than sending something, I know that there is no mention of it until the next episode.

I’m not sure what it is…

But it seemed like I should take a look.

I immediately unfolded the contents of the box to check.

“This is…?”

It’s not supposed to appear now, right?

As soon as I had the question, the status window appeared before my eyes.

-Ding!

▶The danger level of a specific area has changed!

[Zone: Yeonmu Village]

[Danger Level: Normal]

This is not the message that’s supposed to appear now.

Right now, I should be finding Arina or Isabella, asserting my right to enter Yeonmu Village, and personally choosing the options to obtain rewards.

That’s right. This must be what Arina sent me.

It was a certificate notifying the lifting of the ban on entering Yeonmu Village.

“What is this? What happened?”

Even reading the two words together, I couldn’t immediately piece together what had happened.

However, as I slowly put the pieces of the puzzle together, I had a faint guess.

“If she’s trying to solve it by considering her as both the mother and the daughter, it makes sense.”

Is there any way Arina would let Isabella get away with what she did, promising a birthday present?

Absolutely not.

It was obvious that I would envy the power of the Duke of Bargrand.

In this way, it could bring about results beyond the options.

I am currently in a state where I stabbed a deep dagger into Arina with the Hidden Episode, “Dangerous Stone Tower.”

If I were to compensate for something.

If there is always a tendency to compensate with money like the author, my mother, whenever a problem arises.

If my first sister, who has shown such a tendency in my reality, is no different from Arina.

All the puzzles fit easily.

“That’s what it means.”

“Young master?”

I never thought I would feel nauseous like this since morning.

“Um, is there any problem?”

“No, there’s no problem.”

But in this situation, that wouldn’t be so bad.

It’s not bad no matter what happens.

If things turn out like this, there would be no need to go and find Arina or Isabella.

The calculation of which one is better in terms of risk and return between Arina and Isabella is also cut off.

Moreover, since that is not a danger zone or a warning zone but completely a regular zone, it’s actually a big advantage for me.

“But, I don’t like this.”

Since it ruined my mood since morning, it’s my turn to ruin the mood of this family.

Fortunately, there are some things I can use at the stage of determining the branch of Episode V.

It was highly likely that Claire hadn’t heard the news yet.

As for Flora… well, there was no need to touch her right now.

Moro or Arina seemed to be perfect for the task.

“Heron, I’m sorry to bother you from the morning, but there’s something I need you to do.”

“If I am to receive Lord’s command as a butler, I willingly accept the task.”

Heron gladly accepted, saying that he would follow any orders.

“Really? Well then.”

I smirked and conveyed the task to Heron.

Upon hearing those words, Heron’s expression was filled with astonishment, but he did not refuse the command.

***

The Bagrand Duchy.

The name of the family that silences everyone in the Empire just by hearing it.

The pinnacle of the unmistakable nobles under the Imperial family.

The highest status among the nobles, without a doubt the best noble.

That is Bagrand.

The lower ones are nothing more than servants to the master, but the stronger the status and power of the master, the more pride they have.

Emma stood in the position of a lady-in-waiting in that Bagrand Duchy.

Every day was enjoyable.

Even if she had to endure difficult and arduous tasks, she didn’t feel any fatigue as long as she served proud masters.

Among the maids of this empire, she had the qualification to hold her head high.

However,

She was incredibly unhappy with each passing day.

She received scolding from her proud older sister.

And even received a warning not to lay a hand on that thing.

“It’s all because of those commoners!”

She bowed her head twice, feeling her pride hurt by those lowly beings. But even that wasn’t enough to completely bewitch her proud older sister.

The noble Baghrand was being tainted by that scoundrel.

She had to do something, no matter what.

“Miss Flora. It’s Emma. May I come in?”

“Yeah. Come in.”

As Flora entered the room, she was hugging a teddy bear large enough to cover her body.

“I’ve never seen something like that in Miss’s room…?”

Emma raised her eyebrows at this, and Flora proudly replied,

“This. It was a prize I won at the Snowflake Festival. It’s not something you can easily get.”

“Did you really like it that much?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good to hear. Did you receive it as a gift from your sisters?”

“Um…”

Flora interrupted her words.

“I didn’t receive it from my sisters.”

“And what about the madam?”

She trembled.

“It was Cassein who gave it to me.”

“What?”

“He clearly dislikes me… so why did he give this to me?”

In that moment, Emma’s mind flashed.

“This is it,” she thought.

Because of Claire’s stern warning, Emma couldn’t directly harm Cassein. But it didn’t mean there was no way. Emma had a powerful ally.

The third young lady. Flora Bagrand.

“Oh my. That scoundrel is after our Flora again!”

Emma deliberately distorted her expression and appealed to Flora.

“What is this nonsense?”

“Miss, that scoundrel might be harboring some ulterior motive. You’ve seen it several times. There was a time when even the madam couldn’t hide her anger.”

“Then… could it be?”

Flora’s suspicion began as she looked at the teddy bear.

Emma’s mouth, which had been covered by her hand, curled up outside of Flora’s sight.

“…I’ll check. I’ll meet him directly.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, it’s fine for me to go alone.”

“Yes, yes… Then please be careful.”

“Okay.”

Flora, hiding her disappointment, stepped aside as Emma opened the door and came out.

“It was all a lie. Our family, once again…”

Sigh.

The feeling of betrayal that the blonde girl felt settled in her fist.

Flora, who had been happily hugging her teddy bear just a moment ago, was now heading towards Carcine’s room.

“────.”

“────.”

Suddenly, the voices of the maids could be heard around her.

It was the maids’ utility room located near Carcine’s room.

Upon hearing Carcine’s name from that room, Flora instinctively turned her ear in that direction.

“Since the young master is still asleep, we’ll leave it to you. It’s an important item, so make sure to deliver it when the young master wakes up.”

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─Yes, sir.

“The storage location… As it’s a document, the second storage box in the front would be best. Don’t forget to pass on the message.”

It was a conversation between Heron and the maids.

An important item? It couldn’t help but raise suspicions.

Flora pretended to be busy with other tasks in nearby rooms, waiting for the right moment when Heron and the maids would leave.

Heron only delivered the message and left quickly, and the maids left in time to do the laundry.

Flora seized this opportunity and entered the empty maids’ utility room.

And then.

Emma had a strong feeling that what she was looking at was something important.

“Well, that’s right. You did it to win over your older sister’s favor, didn’t you?”

Flora’s hand trembled.

This document was a lifting order with Ariana’s handwriting and seal, granting permission to use the ceremonial sword.

In the end, it was an action with a purpose.

Flora thought as she held the document.

When she returned, she would tear apart the teddy bear to pieces and leave it in front of Carsein’s room, enough to harm it.

“No, this comes before the teddy bear.”

Rip, rip.

The document was torn to pieces, so much so that it was difficult to piece together, and the beautifully written sentences were unreadable.

Flora collected the torn pieces in a basket and left the utility room, heading somewhere.

One of the pieces fell under the corridor.

Flora didn’t notice it at all.

An old man who had been watching her picked up the torn piece of paper and muttered to himself.

“Everything has gone according to the young master’s will.”

Heron, who was initially shocked by the strange command, now understood the whole picture.

However, he wasn’t completely at ease.

Clearly, this method would bring a great shock to the other family members.

If this fact spread even among the maids in the mansion, Carsein’s standing would improve even more.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t completely ease his mind.

“My lord… Are you not afraid of getting hurt?”

A mere eighteen-year-old boy faced all the storms of the world head-on.

But here, to see him inflicting even more wounds upon himself, not by the hands of others but by his own, was truly disheartening.