The Damn Family Is Back Again

407. An Unsettled Relationship (2)

In the end, he had returned to the ducal residence.

A place he thought he would never enter again.

But unlike then, he had a clear purpose.

‘You’ve come.’

Sensing movement, Carsein turned his gaze towards the door.

With a click, the door opened, and the three women entered from outside the drawing room.

No wonder. He thought he sensed more than one presence. All three of them had come.

Seated on the sofa, Carsein spoke softly.

“It’s been a while. Flora, Claire, and… Mother.”

“…!”

“Why those looks?”

Karsein asked, a puzzled expression on his face as the three women stared back, visibly shocked. Claire, after a moment’s hesitation, answered.

“…Well, we didn’t expect you to call us that.”

“What?”

“We thought you’d be formal, treating us like strangers. Drawing a line, perhaps even addressing me with ‘milady’ or you would call her ‘Duchess’ as a cold greeting.”

At that, the other two women lowered their heads.

“…It may be late, but we knew you were drawing a line somewhere along the road. That you were trying to distance yourself, to get away. So…we were ready to accept it as our just desserts.”

Claire’s words rang true. They couldn’t bring themselves to look up.

It wouldn’t have been surprising to be addressed with icy formality.

Coming here, they were, to some extent, bracing for precisely that kind of cutting remark.

“But… seeing you act like this, still like before, it feels a little… awkward.”

Claire scratched her cheek self-consciously, avoiding his gaze.

“In the past, I would have. Surely.”

“Huh?”

“Definitely would have. Back then, I would have said family was meaningless and chosen to live alone, severing all ties like that. That’s what I wanted, yes? But, I don’t anymore.”

“Don’t…? “

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve changed. Unlike those times when you only turned your back on me, the Duchy helped me when I needed it most. That’s why Harnié and I are still alive.”

“…!”

“…You helped because you were family, right? At this point, I don’t think we are an easily disposable tie.”

In that instant, something surged within the hearts of the three women.

A debt that could absolutely not be erased with such a small remark.

A story that could definitively not be casually glossed over in this way, either.

What’s more, family. Even if they were, this superficial tie could be severed by Karsein’s hand at any time.

But Karsein hadn’t done that.

He had directly mentioned the word family, completely sweeping away the clouds that had been swirling in their minds.

“Ugh, really. This conversation ends here. I didn’t come all this way just to rehash this.”

Karsein shook his head, looking exasperated.

Then, Harnié let out a giggle, seizing the opportunity.

“Hehe. Do you get embarrassed by things like this too?”

“Embarrassed? What’s there to be embarrassed about.”

“Oh my. You’re blushing. You are.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Harnié cut off the conversation at the perfect moment.

Even if it was hard to see, the message has been conveyed a long time ago.

*Thank you, Karsein.*

*…Thank you, Brother.*

“Truly, I thank you, Karsein.”

Within their hearts, the three women offered boundless gratitude to Karsein for forgiving them.

“So, you two didn’t come all the way here for a date, did you?”

“They look good together, why do you ask?”

“If your purpose is to just be lovey-dovey, you’ve come to the wrong place. You should be off by yourselves.”

“I think it’s fun, though? Hehe.”

“Oh my. It’s your fault, Karsein.”

“How is this my fault again?”

“You could just admit you’re embarrassed. Wouldn’t that be right?”

“If I’m not embarrassed, why would I say I am…”

The heavy atmosphere dissipates.

The shift in focus to the affectionate pair brightened the previously stifling air.

“More importantly, shouldn’t we get to the point? Karsein.”

“Mm.”

At the mention of the real issue, Harnie rose from the sofa.

“Then, I’ll excuse myself for a moment? Our conversation might not progress with an outsider present.”

“Yes. I’ll find you later.”

Harnie, quick to understand, headed out.

This was, after all, a matter concerning the Bagrand Dukedom, and she had no place interfering.

‘Still, I managed to lighten the mood, at least.’

The rest, Karsein would surely handle on his own, so she left the reception room without another thought.

“U-um! Excuse me!”

Just then, someone gently tugged at the hem of Harnie’s dress.

“I… I want to go with you, too.”

“Lady Flora?”

“I wouldn’t understand what anyone is saying even if I stayed here. I’d rather spend that time having fun with Lady Harnie.”

“I can certainly keep you company for a while… but, madam, is that alright?”

“It’s fine.”

Isabella nodded, as if practically urging Harnie to take Flora with her.

‘But this…’

Was this truly only Isabella’s intention?

Perhaps it wasn’t quite that simple.

“Shall we go, then?”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

*

Leaving the reception room, Harnie walked down the corridor, lost in thought.

“Excuse me, what is that mark there?”

“Pardon? What mark?”

“There. The one you can see a little bit on your shoulder. It looks like a bite?”

“Ah, ahaha! T-this?!”

When had her clothes become so disarrayed? Harnie hastily straightened herself, concealing the lingering traces of the passionate night.

“Oh, it’s, it’s nothing! Really, nothing at all. I got bitten by some strange insect…”

“Uhm… is that so? Those marks don’t quite look like insect bites…”

The deeper Flora’s suspicions grew, the more Harnie flinched, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

“Don’t you worry about a thing from now on! Brother will only look at you, Lady Harnie.”

“Ye, yes?”

“So many women were clinging to my brother that I had to take matters into my own hands. Honestly! Those who aren’t even fit to be with my brother. Humph! Only you, Lady Harnie, can be my future sister-in-law!”

Flora proceeded to explain, detail by detail, everything she had done, as if recounting heroic deeds.

Harnie felt a creeping dread of the aftermath from these tales of valor, rattled off like boasts.

Perhaps… an even wilder rumor than Mina had described would begin to circulate.

“Um… so, is it alright if I call you ‘sister-in-law’?”

“Sister-in-law…?”

“You’re going to marry Karsein, aren’t you? No, it’s practically a marriage already. So it’s okay if I call you ‘sister-in-law,’ right?”

“Uh, u-huh. Yes. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with. Ha, haha.”

“Thank you! Sister-in-law. Heehee.”

At this point, she wondered if she was reaching a state of zen-like acceptance.

She was grateful for the evident effort Flora had put in, but… she couldn’t shake the feeling of being drained.

‘But at least, I don’t have to look back.’

She wouldn’t have to worry too much about the conversation that would take place in the drawing room.

She had already set the mood, and she knew that no impasse or problem will rise.

The conversation should focus on the future and the plans for living together.

It will probably be a long story.

Still, this more or less puts an end to the work with the Duke’s family.

‘However…’

She was still bothered by this.

Flora, with her neatly braided hair, was now holding Harnie’s hand tightly as they left the room, giving the distinct impression they had done so on purpose.

‘I have to ask her, after all.’

Walking, they entered an empty room.

Since they were alone, it seemed like a good opportunity.

“Do you know this board game? It’s recently become popular…”

“You came out here on purpose, didn’t you? Lady Flora?”

“Pardon?”

“You intentionally left that room. As if you felt you shouldn’t be there.”

“…”

Flora didn’t deny it.

“Yes. That’s right. I practically dragged you out of there.”

“I thought so. But, why would you say that…?”

“Because being there… feels like an interference…”

“Interference?”

“I… I’m stubborn, don’t know much, and if I hear something I don’t like, I tend to avoid it.”

“…Ah.”

“If things go like the old days… I might just pester Brother. I might cling to him, begging him not to leave…”

Only then did Harnie realize why Flora had left the drawing room, and she sighed.

“So… that’s why I’m not going to see Brother until he leaves the Estate. Because I can’t grab him… Heuk. I can’t chain his ankles like I did back then…”

Before she knew it, tears were welling in the young girl’s eyes.

Harnie knew about Flora’s stubborn streak from Carsein.

How self-centered she was, how she’d shriek at the top of her lungs if she didn’t get her way, how she’d just deny reality like she was turning away.

‘To leave the room so as not to reveal that part of herself…’

But, that was a story of the past.

“You can let go of the idea of never seeing Carsein again, Lady Flora.”

“N-ne…?”

“You should come visit sometime. It’s not like Carsein wants to cut ties completely, is it?”

“But… once Brother leaves the Duchy, we’ll be cut off…”

“Lady. Carsein leaving the Duchy doesn’t mean he’ll never see you again. He didn’t draw a line saying you weren’t family just now, either.”

Harnie gently stroked Flora’s hair.

“I think it’d be alright to visit once a month or so.”

A faint. A very faint glimmer of hope flickered in her tear-filled eyes.

“R-really…?”

“Of course. Shouldn’t family be the first to have a housewarming party? And he needs to get check-ups from the doctor from time to time. And this is a secret, but… Carsein said something like this, too.”

Harnie whispered something in her ear.

And Flora, upon hearing those words…

“Heuk, heeuk. Hwaaang.”

Finally burst into tears, burying herself in Harnie’s embrace.

*

Not long after Flora and Harnie left, Claire threw a fastball.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you? The Duchy.”

Things are moving along faster than I thought.

I replied blandly.

“…Yes.”

“I had a feeling you would. Well… in some ways, it would be stranger if you stayed.”

“Now that your body’s healed, there’s no need for you to stay at the Duchy.”

Claire gave a wry smile as she picked up her teacup.

A hint of regret lingered in that wry smile.

Isabella was the same.

I knew it would happen, but there was a feeling that she felt a touch sad about it.

“When will you be leaving? I need to pull some strings regarding passage through the territory.”

“Probably starting preparations tomorrow. I received a fief this time, so I’ll be able to live there.”

“Then we should prepare your luggage beforehand. Please, take whatever you need from the Duchy.”

“…As long as it’s not too much.”

“Heh heh. I’ll have to think about that. Let’s see, the timing…”

Still, they didn’t try to stop me.

They were busy smoothing out my itinerary, ensuring my passage to the estate wouldn’t be troubled.

I decided to help out a little.

Either way, they were fussing over me to help *me*.

“…Hmm? Wait a tick. You haven’t marked this wrong, have you?”

“Nothing wrong here?”

“What…? Ha, really.”

“…Hmm.”

Claire wore a completely puzzled expression.

Isabella, likewise, seemed utterly bewildered.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Of course something’s wrong! Taking this much baggage is practically akin to moving an entire rural village.”

“…? Wasn’t the estate I received about that size?”

“What. You mean you don’t know? What kind of land your territory is?”

“The Imperial Palace should have explained everything sufficiently…”

…Truth be told, I didn’t know.

Because I’d tuned it all out with a bored expression back then.

“Haa. Mother, this one won’t do. We absolutely can’t send her like this. Right?”

“Indeed. I’m of the same mind.”

“What is it? What’s the problem?”

Claire drew in a sharp breath, then explained the issue.

“From here to here. This is the size of the estate you’re to receive.”

“…Excuse me?”

Honorifics spilled from my mouth without me even realizing it.

What kind of nonsense is this, goddamn.