The Damn Family Is Back Again

21 – 21. Claire’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony (11)

They should have asked Carcine about this in the first place.

Where on earth has he been and what has he been doing until now?

You’re also a member of the Bagrand family. Why did you absentmindedly leave the gathering on the family’s birthday, causing both the atmosphere and the family’s reputation to plummet?

They should have interrogated and questioned him thoroughly.

But it wasn’t the right atmosphere to continue the conversation with Carcine.

──♬

The beautiful melody of the piano, accompanied by the faint violin playing in the background. From the moment the banquet hall filled with music, the time for conversation disappeared.

“Claire.”

“…”

There might be a lot I want to say, but Ariana shook her head coolly, as if to say it’s not the time for that.

Now is the time for Claire to start dancing first. At the same time, as the top-ranking noble in Vagrant, she must set an example.

There was no time to scold Carsein.

Claire, with a bitter expression, somehow suppressed the urge to glare at me.

“Would you like to dance a song, Claire?”

“…Yes.”

And then, as if announcing the start of the formal ball with the partner who became her first dance partner, she begins.

It looks perfect on the surface. However, her gaze sometimes changed when her eyes flickered towards Carsein.

“It seems to have come out at the right timing.”

Carsein was satisfied as he looked at the status screen with no reaction. Just the fact that Claire didn’t rush towards me in anger would have triggered many dead triggers at once.

He also skillfully avoided the gazes of the nobles. Since Claire’s first dance naturally attracted attention, she didn’t even glance at Carsein.

Thanks to that, the picture of being chased away by the nobles disappeared, and he was able to completely eliminate another burden of danger.

However, he hadn’t completely overcome the crisis yet. Even if all the other triggers were turned off, one death flag remained.

“For this unfortunate behavior, I need an explanation, or rather, an excuse. Carsein.”

In the midst of this, there was one person who was fixated on Carsein.

With blue eyes that seemed like lasers would come out, contrasting with her red hair. Ariana shot him a cold gaze.

Ariana said she wanted to hear an excuse, not an explanation.

This was clearly Carsein’s fault. He may be severely scolded for not even showing up at Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony.

“Well, what can I do? I can only respond appropriately.”

Carsein asked indifferently.

“Should we move to another place first? It doesn’t seem like we can talk here.”

When Claire gestured with her eyes, Arina did not deny it. Aware of her surroundings, she only left the message to follow.

Arina’s box with 2% intimacy began to sparkle.

***

CHAPTER 1 – Episode III, which can be considered the biggest branch in the game: Claire’s Coming of Age.

This episode is peculiar in that no matter what you do, you cannot avoid encountering all the characters.

I don’t know why, but it seemed to be regulated by the system.

In other episodes, there are clearly choices that belong to the correct answer, so if you try multiple times, you can enter the proper branch.

However, in this episode, there was no correct answer at all. Either you confront the nobles filled with gray boxes representing negative intimacy beyond the white box, or you meet Isabella or the three sisters of the duke’s family after the accident. No exceptions.

Therefore, there was only one way. I had no choice but to choose the option with the least risk.

Confronting the nobles easily distorts the side that caused the disturbance. Of course, I shouldn’t choose that.

Even if I explain it clearly to Claire, it’s useless. The intimacy will drop to a negative value and our relationship will become more strained, so that’s not an option.

Then what about Flora? You might think it’s okay since I found her weakness this time. But that’s not possible either.

If I go along with the time to confront Flora, I will end up facing not one, but two people.

“Sister, I saw you! You were intentionally hiding, right?!”

If it’s that girl who lies passively, I can easily cover up my mistakes and eliminate any weaknesses.

“Flora is in a set with Claire again. It’s a one-way ticket to a bad ending.”

Next is Isabella.

If Isabella, who is still in the 30% range of intimacy, listens to what Carsein says, it might be okay, but…

“I can’t rely on sobriety this time. The promise with Harnier has been broken.”

If I choose Isabella to reduce the risk, there is an option that stands out, admitting my mistake and asking for leniency.

Since I had some kind of plan, leniency was no longer a safe option.

And so, just like in the game, I ended up facing Arina, whom I judged to be the least risky.

As I followed Arina, a place for rest appeared. Right now, it was just the two of us.

As soon as I entered the room, she ordered the maids to close the door, and with a cold gaze, she asked me.

“First, explain your appearance.”

It had begun.

It was a question no different from the others.

-Ding!

[1. What’s wrong? Did I forget what happened to my clothes this morning?]

[2. I got beaten up, so I dressed casually too. Why, don’t you like it?]

…

…

The options began to appear. I calmly responded.

First, let’s stretch.

“What are you talking about?”

Arina furrowed her brow.

“Don’t you know why you’re asking? You’re a member of the aristocracy, and my brother, why are you dressed as a servant?”

Of course, that’s how it would come out.

“Because my clothes got dirty in the morning? There was someone in the aristocracy who could make clothes right away. Even if it’s not laundry, I could have made new clothes since I’ll be staying for a day.”

“Why shouldn’t I wear it?”

“Carsine, stop playing around. If you had just asked anyone to make you new clothes, there wouldn’t have been a problem. But because of your pride, you come to a gathering of nobles wearing such clothes?!”

The pressure in his voice was palpable.

Given the seriousness of the issue involving family and lineage, it seemed like they were ready to strike back if necessary.

And now, the perfect timing for the choice had come.

…

…

[5. What difference does it make to wear new clothes?]

“What difference does it make to wear new clothes?”

“Carsine, separate personal matters. This is a social event with the family name attached. This is a public matter, my duty as the Duke of Bargrand.”

“So, what difference does it make to wear new clothes? I just followed the words I heard before. It was a warning I heard from Arina Bargrand.”

“A warning?”

Arina seemed completely puzzled.

She said it herself, she confronted Carsine so aggressively, and now she doesn’t know?

It wasn’t my business, but if it were Carsine, his voice might have already risen a few times. In fact, the choices came out that way.

The dialogue that questions how she can say that she doesn’t know after saying it herself.

An expression that laughs loudly as if it’s absurd.

A description of trembling while going to the grave.

Whatever it was, they were things that made Carsine feel unjust. At the same time, having observed the situation through the memorial, I strangely empathized and felt more cold-headed than angry.

Perhaps that’s why I was able to maintain an even more objective tone.

[4. I’m not even a sibling or a family member.]

“Three years ago, you said the same thing. That I’m not even a sibling or a family member.”

“…What?”

“Don’t even call me ‘nuna’. I remember every single letter you said. But now, you want me to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony? Then I’ll have to call you ‘nuna’ once? Regardless of which one of us becomes that person.”

“If it was three years ago… it was my coming-of-age ceremony. Wasn’t it the day you caused the accident?”

“Yeah. Yeah. I caused the accident. On the day of someone else’s coming-of-age ceremony, I hit one of the other young adults and completely ruined the atmosphere. I tarnished the family’s reputation. I ruined the family’s coming-of-age ceremony. I even made a scene, shouting that I was unfairly treated.”

She knows very well that she doesn’t need to point out who that someone is.

I responded, showing even more confidently by tugging on my shoulder twice.

“That’s why this outfit is perfect, isn’t it? If they mistake me for a servant, it won’t cause any trouble. The nobles won’t say anything, and at the same time, they won’t call me ‘nuna’ either. I won’t shout that I’m unfairly treated by the majority. How great is that? The only flaw of the family has disappeared.”

“Well… I mean…”

“I tried my best not to ruin Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony. I even called for Heron to avoid encountering the nobles as much as possible. I did everything you wanted, and now this is going to cause a fuss?”

Her intimidating blue gaze softened in an instant.

At the same time, a heavy silence filled the air. These few seconds felt like minutes.

I didn’t know what Arina was thinking in the silence. And in the game, this scene was the final one. Which means there was no more dialogue.

I don’t know how Arina’s expression looked under her bangs, but I turned around as originally planned and ended this conversation by opening the door to the lounge.

“Is it very unfair? I only did what you told me to do. Arina Bagrand.”

-Thump, thud.

Before long, the information that I cleared Episode III appeared before my eyes.

▶Episode III. Claire’s Coming-of-Age Episode Cleared!◀

▶You will receive a reward!◀

■ Reward

[ Exp 50 ]

[ Lv. 2 -＞ Lv. 3 ]

[ You receive 0.05 stat points! ]

[ Arina’s affinity increases! ]

[ Affinity level: 6% ]

The desired clear window appeared.

I managed to handle the branching of the incident well, and despite the risks, I didn’t suffer any losses.

Since I cleared the episode and the affinity increased steadily, it should naturally be a situation where I feel good about it.

“Damn it. I feel really disgusted.”

My mood doesn’t improve.

The memories of ‘Kim Minhyuk’ keep popping up.

“Family birthdays. Yeah, well. I won’t forget. Seeing how well I take care of it.”

Karsain might have been jealous for years. A day when numerous guests are invited to a luxurious venue to receive blessings.

Maybe something like that won’t happen to me. But since it’s family, maybe someday I’ll be in that position too.

I was hoping for that kind of picture.

…There was a time when I did too.

So you guys never noticed, even after years. Even if you feel uncomfortable at some point, you wouldn’t go ask someone else about it.

And you’ll just forget about it without even thinking about finding out the answer.

It was a predictable future. After all, they were never family.

“Cake… Yeah. Well, let’s take it.”

I neatly cut and wrapped the cake that customers hadn’t touched much and took it away.

It’s a stupid idea, and I know it myself. On such an important day, I’m wasting the remaining time of the day indulging in my own thoughts.

But even though I know it’s a foolish action, I can’t help it.

What can I do about the feeling that seems to be looking at my situation?

I might have had a small hope that even in the mind of a foreigner like me, I would be remembered. I might have been engaging in futile emotional consumption, thinking that it would make me feel a little less lonely.

***

Even after Karsein left, Arina stayed in the break room for a long time, with a strange expression on her face.

“He remembered everything that happened three years ago.”

It was a day not much different from today. It was my birthday, and it was also an adult ceremony where noble guests and customers gathered to congratulate me.

After Karsein knocked down one nobleman, chaos ensued, and the chaos spread all the way to the banquet, making the atmosphere greatly distorted.

However, strangely enough, Arina doesn’t remember what happened back then.

The fact that Karsein had an accident. The fact that the worst incident that ruined the adult ceremony occurred. Other than these two, she doesn’t remember how the day went.

“Did I say such a thing?”

Also, the things she said to Karsein.

Arina murmured with a faint sigh, as if resigning herself.

“No, it’s not necessarily true.”

It could be that Karsein, as usual, lied.

There’s no need to go to someone who remembers that time and directly interrogate them… There’s no need to recall the memories of the ruined adult ceremony.

What about today?

There was nothing happening. Unlike my coming-of-age ceremony, my younger sister Claire’s ceremony went smoothly without any disturbance.

“Well, I’ll admit that you tried your best in your own way. I guess I can just let this incident slide.”

Although Carseine came to the banquet hall in an unsightly outfit and it disgusted me, there is room for consideration since no accidents occurred because of it.

It went well.

Yes. Without any commotion. It went well.

I should have spent the remaining time satisfactorily, knowing that it was resolved.

“…Why do I feel so uneasy?”

A strange discomfort crept onto Arina’s face.

It felt like something was missing. Like she had forgotten something important…

“Sister?! Ah, there you are.”

“Claire? Why did you come in such a hurry?”

“Never mind that. What happened? That bastard.”

It seems she came right after finishing her first dance, considering the timing. If she didn’t even enjoy her own coming-of-age ceremony and came running like this, it must have piled up quite a lot.

The explanation didn’t take long. Just like reading a language textbook, I repeated the reason why he wore such clothes, saying that he wouldn’t repeat the mistakes from three years ago and that he wouldn’t ruin Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony.

“What’s the matter with him? That damn bastard. He’s really a bastard.”

As soon as Claire heard that sound, her expression instantly twisted, as if she couldn’t hold back her annoyance.

12:35 AM.

It had only been 35 minutes since my birthday began.

“I want to go back. It’s not fun at all.”

Despite her own birthday approaching, Claire decided to go back.

“But still, tell Mother and Flora.”

“I was going to tell them anyway. But…”

Whether there was something else that annoyed her, Claire scratched her flowing pink hair. It was because there was something unresolved, even though she hated her hair being messy.

“Sis, there’s something bothering me.”

“What is it?”

“…It’s about yesterday.”

“Yesterday? Claire, just say it.”

“Oh, well, the day I was preparing for my coming-of-age ceremony.”

“I understand. What about that day?”

“Was it a special day? I can’t remember.”

It was a sense of discomfort about December 31st that completely matched what Arina had been consulting about all this time.