The Damn Family Is Back Again

176. Diverging Methods (8)

“What kind of habit is that, Karsein?”

The same interrogative, but a completely different voice.

If before it was a lament towards a foolish younger sibling, now it was a question filled with unmistakable intimidation.

But I won’t back down.

After all, that’s what I hoped for.

“I fail to see what you’re pointing out. The etiquette I learned from books is just this.”

“Sigh…”

Arina’s eyes narrow.

A bright hue of anger unfolds in her blue irises.

“Using such titles and honorifics among family. Did you eat something wrong? Why are you spouting such nonsense today?”

“How could a mere lord of the Rusmeyer domain be so oblivious to his station and address the eldest lady of the Bagrand ducal family with such titles?”

“Karsein.”

“If the etiquette I’ve learned is wrong, please enlighten me. It’s known among the nobility as a renowned etiquette book that must be read thoroughly.”

Arina’s eyes begin to twitch.

“Continuing with such childish pranks. When we return to the ducal house, should I burn that incorrect book of etiquette from your room first? Who among families distinguishes titles and honorifics with such etiquette?”

-Clack!

“Don’t waste time, just draft this collaboration agreement. Don’t be stubborn. If you try the same trick again, I won’t stand idly by.”

A document is pushed forward, just like before.

Ironically, despite the specific plan detailed in the document, Arina seems completely oblivious.

-Ding!

▶It’s a continuous choice. How will you respond to Arina’s document?

The following choices appear.

I already know the correct answer here.

But I didn’t quite understand why it was the right one.

There could be any number of ways to refuse. Did it really have to be this way?

To be honest, I just thought, ‘This must be the right answer,’ and chose it without much thought.

But now, I think I understand the reason.

The choice I’ve seen over and over again through retries, the same scene, the same dialogue, the same development, was the perfect answer.

Just as shown in the torn plan memorial.

The choice was the most fitting line for Karsein.

[ 1. I don’t want to be a nuisance to the Bagrand ducal family. ]☑

To that line, I add a bit of MSG.

“This stubborn, foolish child.”

With a more menacing voice, she cursed at me.

“I’m not even part of the Bagrand ducal family, how could I dare be such a nuisance? It’s nonsensical.”

Sigh…! Despite my warning, you still engage in such vulgar pranks…!”

Yes, that’s exactly it.

Unlike before, his eyes were completely covered in rage, blazing with a fury that could be mistaken for inner light.

At last, unable to contain himself, his hand rose.

A more certain outcome, one that could completely ruin this proposal.

‘You just need to slap my cheek again with those flipped eyes, just like the first time you hit me without hesitation.’

There’s no problem, not in the game, nor outside.

Even if HP is reduced right now, it doesn’t mean much.

With this, the choices are clearly made, and the pain is but a moment. I’m accustomed to such agony.

Colder. Even colder.

I just need to maintain my rationality.

From noble mtl dot come

However, when I secretly wished for Arina’s hand to etch a sharp pain on my cheek,

Her hand stopped just before touching my cheek.

“What is this behavior in the council chamber, lady?”

“Your Highness, Florence.”

Arina’s mana-charged hand…

Was caught by the Second Prince Florence.

‘This scene. There’s a sense of dissonance.’

Yes, there was such a time.

Not in Karsein’s memorial, but in my own memory.

-Ding!

▶You have successfully caused an outcome beyond the choices.◀

▶Second Prince, Florence witnesses this situation.◀

■Reward

[ You will not receive a choice penalty! ]

…Sigh. To think I’m the vice president here.

***

With Florence’s arrival, Arina glanced around and only after realizing she hadn’t been caught did she withdraw her mana.

“I apologize for my rash actions before His Highness.”

“…”

Ariana stepped back, bowing respectfully.

Florence sighed lightly as she watched her.

Then, she glanced briefly at Karsein and shook her head slowly.

“Karsein. You may leave.”

“…Your Highness. With all due respect, this is a family matter. If it’s the disturbance you’re worried about, we can move to another location.”

“Lady Ariana.”

“There’s certainly a need to punish Karsein for his disrespectful behavior. This has nothing to do with the symposium scores.”

“Haah.”

This time, he let out a long, open sigh.

“Well then, let’s ask. Karsein. You tell me first. What happened here between you two.”

“It was merely about a collaboration proposal that I rejected.”

“A collaboration proposal?”

“Yes. It’s something I shouldn’t accept.”

“That’s not true!”

As Karsein gave his immediate response, Ariana interjected abruptly.

“It was a family collaboration proposal, so it’s—”

“Lady. I am asking Karsein.”

“…!”

“Karsein. Continue.”

“I am the lord of Ruthsmire, entitled to attend the symposium. However, this proposal would unilaterally inconvenience the House of Bagrand, so it’s more akin to parasitism than collaboration.”

Karsein, you…!

Ariana’s blue eyes blazed with the desire to speak out.

After reviewing the proposal, Florence carefully folded the document.

“I see. The collaboration proposal cannot proceed if one side refuses. You may go.”

“Thank you.”

Karsein left the conference room without looking back.

Filled with dissatisfaction at the outcome, Ariana immediately questioned Florence once Karsein had left.

“Why do you indulge that man’s stubbornness, Your Highness?”

“Haah. Lady, you really are. Why can’t you remember?”

“Remember what?”

Florence sighed and brushed her face with her hand.

“Follow me. Since I was in charge back then, I’ll tell you myself.”

-Ding!

▶Affinity with the target has increased!◀

[Florence Curnen Fesselos]

[Current Value: 20%]

***

After sending Karsein away from the conference room, the two walked a considerable distance on foot.

Arina asked if they could do it here by now, but Florence only replied to follow without fuss, saying it was a punishment for causing a disturbance.

Thus, Arina followed Florence into the innermost reception room.

“Tea? Do you need it?”

“No, thank you. I’d rather we get straight to the point.”

“You’re in a hurry. I chose this room because it needs to be as soundproof as possible. I don’t want any commotion either.”

The commotion was caused by that foolish son.

Her head kept throbbing.

“…Looking at your expression, it seems you’re still blaming Karsein.”

Florence hit the nail on the head.

Without any hesitation, Arina lifted her head and answered proudly.

“Isn’t it the truth? The very person who ruined Chatren is now caught up in all sorts of scandals.”

“Lady.”

“Let me emphasize once again, this is not about blaming, it’s the fact. It’s Karsein’s arrogance, trying to lead Chatren with his inadequate capabilities, not knowing his place.”

Ruining, and ruining again.

Causing one problem after another.

That fool’s arrogance, never cleaning up his messes.

That’s the only way she could think of this situation.

“It’s because he’s family that I can even consider covering for him. That fool is acting recklessly, not considering the efforts of me or the other family members.”

Then Florence asked with her straightforward manner.

“So, are you saying you want to cast him out of the family?”

“What? What do you mean…”

“You said yourself that Karsein is family, didn’t you say you wanted to throw him out of the Bagrand ducal house?”

Arina’s shoulders flinched.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Do you not even remember? In this very conference room, it happened during the symposium back then.”

“…”

I don’t know.

I can’t remember.

Was there such an incident?

“Sigh.”

With a bitter expression, Florence took a sip of her tea.

And then, she began to recite the words Arina had said.

“That foolish report you were looking at, I’ve sorted it out. Put out the urgent fires first, follow this proposal. The rest of the responsibility will be on the duchy to ask.”

Florence continued as if it wasn’t the end.

“If you smear the Vagrant duchy’s name even once more, no matter what mother says, I’ll personally throw you out of the duchy.”

At that moment, Arina’s expression began to harden.

“Surely… you’re not saying I said those things?”

“Yes. Just like that, like today. After striking Karsein with a mana-infused hand, you said those words. And one more thing.”

-Swish.

“You pushed forward this collaboration proposal back then too.”

“!”

“Now, do you remember?”

A hint of panic surfaced as faint memories of the past began to emerge.

“Was it the brother you tried to cover for because he was family? Are you claiming it’s because he’s family after committing the same act against him?”

“Your Highness. That was… a mistake made in a moment of anger. It wasn’t my true intention…!”

“Even if it wasn’t your true intention, what do you think Karsein would feel?”

“Um…?”

“Do you really think he never considered that he might be driven out of the duchy, just as the lady said?”

As Florence chewed over her words, trying to see it from Karsein’s perspective, she quickly felt suffocated.

-When did you tell me that if I did something like this again, you’d drive me out of the duchy? Might as well consider it done?

Karsein must have known, that’s why he said it.

“The lady claims not to remember. In such a case, the lady has indeed committed the same act against Karsein as in the past.”

-Thud.

“What a disappointment.”

With those final words, Florence dropped ice into Arina’s teacup and left her seat.

It was a noble’s way of saying, “Cool your head.”

“…Such a mistake.”

She really might need to cool her head.

After all, she had given Karsein the same result once again.

She vaguely remembered Karsein’s figure in front of the stone tower during the Snowflake Festival.

To cast him out… It was a threat, a blackmail that should never have been uttered.

“…”

-Pop!

Spotting a bottle of liquor, Arina quickly uncorked it.

Glug-glug-glug-glug, the wine glass filled.

She wanted to forget for now.

Forget her own foolish actions.

-Ding!

▶Arina’s affinity has increased.◀

[ Arina Vagrand ]

[ Affinity Change: 45%→49% ]

***

“Sigh.”

Stepping out of the conference room, Florence glanced at the drawing room where Arina was and shook her head.

“It seems I’ve committed too great a sin against you.”

Perhaps it would have been different with someone from the Kingdom of Wederos.

That was the thought behind her suggestion… But she had failed to consider his family situation, and that was a grave mistake.

When the time comes, she might have to take action.

Florence stepped out of the conference room with a heavy heart.

For now, she sought to ease this burden with the cool outside air.

“…You?”

Just then, there was Karsein, right before her eyes.

The Karsein who had tried to separate himself from Arina.

“Why are you here…? Ah.”

Florence, who had asked without thinking, finally realized.

“His Highness called for me, did he not?”

He had inadvertently shown Karsein the signal according to noble etiquette.

So, there was nothing strange about it.

The signal that was meant only for Karsein implied that there was something to discuss afterward, asking him to stay.

‘Ha, this. I underestimated him again.’

Karsein, whom I thought was clumsy with etiquette… perhaps he wasn’t clumsy at all.

With a bit of anticipation, Florence handed Karsein an item. It was the real gift hidden within what was previously referred to as a present.

“It’s nothing serious. I just wanted to give this to you.”

“This is… an internal map of Chatren. It seems a bit off, doesn’t it?”

“Correct. That’s because it was presumably made by a different noble faction.”

As expected. Such expectations do not go astray.

“…Could it be. The Waglu faction has been meddling with our Chatren?”

The message Florence wanted to convey with the map of the Chatren territory was quickly grasped and then vanished before Karsein.

Strangely, Florence didn’t feel too bad about it.