The Damn Family Is Back Again

175. Divergent Approaches (7)

The temporary lord and noble undergoing the trial ascends the podium.

A magical engraving stone hovers in the center, pointing to the territory.

Nobles gathered from each province take turns stepping up to the podium to explain how they governed their respective territories, the changes they brought about, and how much life has improved for the imperial citizens and the territory.

It was the usual sight during the symposium period.

-Step, step.

The last person ascended the podium.

“Keke.”

“Ho-ho.”

A tittering sound began to spread stealthily. Behind, the laughter of the nobles could be heard, prompting Prince Florence, the judge, to frown and bang his gavel.

The voices quieted down again, but the reason they mocked the last presenter was simple.

Who wouldn’t know?

The damp hair still retaining a hint of blue.

The eyes, shallowly tinged with the color of the inner walls.

The boy, tall as a beanpole, trying to hide his frail, emaciated body in his clothes.

The current plight of Karsein, the adopted son of Bargrand and the stain of the nobility, was said to be dire.

Even after acquiring the Chatren estate, once called the land of abundance born from strawberries and grapes.

Karsein swallowed hard and continued to explain the estate’s situation using a magical device to display the map.

The estate report was not long.

There wasn’t much to report, for it was not particularly favorable.

“Hmm. Is that all?”

“…Yes, Your Highness Florence.”

As Karsein nonchalantly finished the Chatren estate report, Prince Florence closed his eyes with a look of regret.

‘…This is troublesome.’

From noble mtl dot come

Florence fiddled with the three chess pieces he had already used, swallowing his sigh as he opened his eyes.

Why had he refused that offer?

Such questions incessantly plagued Florence.

How much time had passed? The first week had flown by, and they were now at the tail end of the symposium, beyond the mid-term evaluation period.

Yet, Karsein had still not achieved any notable results. No, perhaps it wasn’t about achieving results, but rather about damage control.

Rumors alone suggested that the production of Chatren’s specialties had worsened, and indeed, the reports showed no progress since the incident occurred.

The incident had happened too suddenly, and the news had spread too quickly to handle. Florence himself had never dreamed that such an event could occur in Chatren.

What would happen now?

Even if Florence were to pass over this matter moderately, the upcoming defense time would likely result in the nobles giving him a downgraded rating.

To make matters worse, this week’s meeting was the last. Next week, instead of reports like today, it would be time for the final tally, so it was necessary to conduct a defense time before the judging began.

Certainly, it could have been used.

He had been warned beforehand that it might not be a good idea to use it.

However, Karsein had flatly rejected this suggestion during his meeting with Florence.

“Your Highness Florence, I should not accept that privilege.”

No matter how much he was persuaded or dissuaded, he never wavered in his resolve.

He had granted the request, thinking there must be some reason… but as you can see, this was the result.

““Puhahahahaha!!””

As the last man to take the stage spoke, many nobles burst out laughing, prompting Florence to call for decorum once again, hammering the gavel.

As a judge, he had to remain neutral, and this was all he could do.

The defense time was disastrous.

There were those who held their bellies in laughter at the pathetic report, those who enjoyed tormenting the temporary lord by chewing over the poor information and harvest, and those whose sole purpose was to drive down the score with pure criticism.

The nobles made painfully sharp critiques and malicious questions, but Karsein did not respond to any of it.

Even refusing the intrusion of family members who could have helped.

“Let’s end the defense time here.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Florence significantly shortened the time, intending to end it early for mental reasons, even though it was clear that the score would suffer.

Only then could Karsein overcome the great crisis known as defense time and step down from the podium.

However, there was still one more immense trial left for this boy.

“Idiot.”

“Pfft. Meeeh~long.”

Claire clicked her tongue and turned away, while Flora teased with a smug expression, sticking out her tongue.

It would have been fortunate if they had just turned away like those two.

-Click, clack.

Following the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, someone filled with rage was coming closer, her red ponytail fluttering.

The flickering eyes in front of him were, as expected, filled with anger.

“Come with me right now.”

Without a chance to respond, the pressure bore down.

Karsein did not run away but followed Arina, who was walking towards the blind spot of the conference hall.

-Slap!

A cheek was whipped in an unseen place.

The mana-infused touch burst the delicate mucous membrane inside the mouth in two places. Not only that, but the lips visible on the outside were also torn, and the blood flowed clearly.

Arina glared with icy eyes, scolding him.

“You’ve caused an unimaginable disaster. I never thought you could shatter the domain of Chatren in just a few weeks like that. Lacking ability? Yes, I can understand that. But what is this overstepping action? Rejecting the privilege?”

“…”

“You better open that mouth quickly.”

Arina demanded an answer with a threatening tone.

Karsein, who might have shrunk back, retorted with a clear light in his eyes.

“Because I must reject it.”

“What?”

“The moment I accept that privilege, Chatren will truly be ruined.”

“Ha. I’m astounded. Your petty stubbornness has now blemished the Bagrand Duchy. If you knew you lacked ability, you should have at least accepted the help of our family.”

“That would truly be the ruin of Chatren. It would be the blemish of the Duchy.”

Arina took a heavy breath and swept her palm down her face.

Then, once again, she swung her hand, now charged with mana, at Karsein without holding back.

──!

It wasn’t just a stronger level than before.

It was a ferocity that should be described as murderous.

Such a sound spread.

“I told you to know your place, Karsein.”

“…That’s!”

“I asked His Highness Florence to bring it directly. This is the report and plan you wrote. Yes, it was quite a sight. You did nothing for the domain but rummage through books and texts. And you call that saving the domain? Who here do you think would believe such a thing?”

No one would believe it.

Karsein knew that himself.

It was indeed nonsensical.

“You’re just ruining the domain. With your meager knowledge, you’ll only destroy Chatren. Instead of being stubborn with your insufficient ability to govern the domain, you should be watching, listening, learning, and studying beside me or Claire. Why can’t you accept that?”

Maybe that was right.

Yet, Karsein did not back down, wiping away the blood that flowed.

‘The moment I step back… Chatren will truly be finished!’

Even if he was silent for now, this was the answer he had found.

Unaware of such determination.

Arina handed over a plan.

-Clack!

I’ve reviewed the report you deemed foolish and organized my thoughts. Even if it’s to extinguish a pressing fire, proceed with this plan. The rest of the responsibility will be questioned by the ducal house.”

Then, with a voice that settled into a menacing threat, he continued.

“If you tarnish the Bagrand ducal house even once more, no matter what mother says, I will personally cast you out with my own hands.”

“…!”

He wasn’t just foolishly living his life.

He had learned well.

What kind of society the nobility was.

How precarious his position was in this ruthless society.

For a commoner, no, a lowborn, who was luckily accepted as a member of the noble Bagrand ducal house…

The moment he was cast out, what would happen to him was beyond imagination.

It was certainly something to fear.

He wanted to scream like he used to, asking how could they say such harsh words, questioning if they even considered him family.

-Click, clack.

But. Karsein, clutching the plan he hadn’t read past the first sentence, shouted once more.

“I was not wrong.”

[ Using the privilege of the Bagrand ducal house to minimize damage from Arina’s territory─── ]

-Creak. Creak.

Soon, Arina’s plan was torn to pieces, finding its way into the trash can.

“This matter must never spread outside.”

***

▶The Torn Plan Memorial has ended.◀

▶A 10-second timer is set, and movement is possible after the time has passed.◀

“…Damn it.”

Clearly, he thought the choices that appeared would just be helpful.

But after watching the entire memorial, curses naturally spilled out.

Yes. I was like that once too.

I don’t know why I forgot, but this memorial vividly reminded me of that time.

-As the volume increases, of course, the solubility changes. To adjust the concentration, you have to do it this way.

He had made choices that seemed to others as if he was ruining things, enduring all sorts of insults for those dirty memories.

And back then, the eldest had come to him.

-Minhyuk Kim. Didn’t I tell you not to overstep?

Overstepping?

Instead of being stubborn, you should watch, listen, learn, and grow, right?

To acknowledge that you lack the ability?

“How can you be no different from her.”

Blood, again chillingly soaks through my body.

This icy cold blood spreads throughout my body, and even this momentarily distracted mind quickly returns to its senses.

-Ding!

▶The timer has ended!◀

▶Please choose an option.◀

▶We recommend Arina to return to the Bagrand Ducal House. How will you respond?

Return home?

What a joke.

[ 3. I don’t deserve to return to the Ducal House right now. ]☑

“I don’t think I deserve to return.”

“Ha. What nonsense are you going to spout now?”

“When did you threaten to throw me out of the Ducal House if I pulled this kind of stunt again? Why not just consider it done?”

The same fury was not frosted over in those blue eyes.

“What on earth are you talking about, Karsein?”

Yes. That’s the kind of person you are.

Someone who can’t even remember their own words.

A hollow laugh came out involuntarily.

“I really don’t understand why the lady wants to take someone as insignificant as me back to the Bagrand Ducal House.”

Then, a question covered Arina’s blue eyes, and the same fury that was there before began to frost over.