The Damn Family Is Back Again

251. Designation of Sponsors (4)

The three sisters entered the room first.

Karsein was the last to come in after having a brief conversation with his fiancée outside.

Feeling ready, Arina crossed her arms and began to interrogate.

“I thought you were changing a little. But you really haven’t changed at all, have you?”

“…!”

“Sister!”

“Both of you, be quiet. It was that guy who said he had something to do and left, not us causing a ruckus in front of Mother.”

Flora flinched and trembled, while Claire, having a slightly different perspective, urged Arina to stop.

However, Arina began to scold Karsein again, bringing up the earlier mention at the entrance.

“I thought we agreed not to cause such disturbances. You broke the order to stay close to family because there might be problems and wandered off alone, forgetting our promise?”

Arina pressed him with a heavily laden voice.

Karsein accepted that the moment had come and replied calmly.

“Yeah. We did promise. But I couldn’t just sit still about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have a question. Arina, do you remember what happened at the exchange hall during last year’s martial arts tournament?”

“There’s no way I could forget that.”

—

Arina let out a sigh, a sound like air escaping from a balloon.

“That day was none other than the day you, Karsein, caused a ruckus. Yes. Just like today, it was a day when someone got beaten up.”

“You remember well. So, do you also recall what I said that day?”

“Well, it’s not something I could easily forget.”

As always, someone had lied about her, claiming she had spoken ill of them.

Arina replied in kind.

“Then you must remember this too. Do you recall what kind of state my body was in?”

“…What?”

“You said you came back from a fight. But do you remember how my body actually looked?”

That…

She couldn’t remember.

What kind of state had Karsein been in?

“…I came back with cuts from sharp objects all over.”

At Claire’s interjection from the side, Arina turned her head sharply.

“The clothes Karsein was wearing then were made by me. That’s how I know.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I saw it too. Big sister. You came back bleeding a lot… Karsein collapsed at that time.”

Then came Flora’s testimony. Only after her two younger sisters mentioned it did Karsein’s image finally surface in Arina’s mind.

Despite having beaten someone up, Karsein had returned covered in wounds.

His clothes were torn and marked with signs of having been cut.

And then, just when he was about to hear some nagging…

He had collapsed and urgently called for Shayden.

“…”

As she recalled the past, she turned her gaze to Karsein.

“Why, are you finally a bit interested? What happened back then, why I acted that way?”

“If that happened, then explain—”

“I couldn’t, because of you.”

Karsein cut off Arina’s words with a voice laced with coldness.

“You’ve always been like this, Arina. No matter what happened, whenever I tried to clarify something, you always called it a lie.”

“…!”

“So this time, I won’t say anything either. So, think whatever you want.”

– Swish.

As Karsein stood up, something fell from his pocket.

In that moment, Claire and Flora’s hearts sank.

The object was…

A pair of ritual scissors.

‘This… No way. Karsein…’

‘He bled profusely from a sharp object…!’

Once warm blood had hardened and stuck to the surface of the scissors.

A few threads faintly hung from the handle of the scissors.

What had happened back then?

It was clear evidence that anyone could understand given the circumstances.

– Clink.

Karsein, who had dropped the blood-stained ritual scissors, smirked and left.

In the place he had vacated, a chilling cold lingered despite it being midsummer.

“Ha. Trying to stir up trouble again with this nonsense… Fine. I’ll just inform Mother about this.”

“Sis. Wait a minute. That’s a bit strange.”

“…Claire?”

“What if it’s not Karsein’s fault?”

“I, I think so too! I think so too!”

Unlike the puzzled Arina, her two younger sisters had sensed something.

– Ding!

▶ Sub Episode. You have cleared the conspiracy at the exchange venue. ◀

▶ The penalty has been lifted. ◀

***

Days spent bearing the brunt of incidents and accusations.

Conversations that started with questioning rather than asking what I had done.

Being scolded and punished by my family without even being given a chance to explain.

That was my everyday life.

If something were to be nitpicked, it was something I had always experienced, and rather than an inquiry into the circumstances and causal relationships, it had typically proceeded in a form close to interrogation.

Unpleasantly, the same thing happened here as well.

However, this time it was different.

Perhaps this situation could have been resolved more easily. Truly.

Lusmeier and Chatrain were openly supporting me.

The western Lipheton and Aipheros had provided their grounds.

Because of them, the public opinion in the exchange hall was also wavering.

So, while it wouldn’t have worked in the game at all, this time I might have been able to bring it up just once, to clarify that the b*stard dared to insult my fiancée.

Well. Depending on the case, I might even be able to prove it wasn’t my fault.

But I didn’t.

I already knew that it would mean nothing to inform them.

That was a conclusion drawn from my experience.

In any case, they wouldn’t listen.

Even if I appealed, claiming it was unjust, they wouldn’t even lend an ear.

Even if I asserted that there was justification for it, their tightly closed ears would never open.

So, I won’t let them know.

I’ll bury it deep inside, ensuring it never comes out; if I don’t unearth it, that would be the perfect ending.

In this process, I particularly didn’t want to receive help from my family. After all, we would soon be strangers, wouldn’t we?

Thinking this, I put my hand in my pocket, but strangely, it was empty.

“…Did I drop it somewhere?”

I considered throwing it in the trash.

Forget it. Just treat it as if I lost it.

In the meantime.

The young ladies who found me outside gathered around.

Do I have to deal with this too?

Fatigue was creeping in.

But then.

“Sir, do you perhaps have some time to spare?”

From the mouths of these young ladies who had approached unexpectedly, completely different words sprang forth.

“There’s a small ball happening upstairs. I was wondering if you might attend…”

“Isn’t it just perfect that you have no dance partner?”

“Could you dance a song with us?”

…What is this?

Is this some kind of new trick?

No. Forget it.

I should just decline casually.

“Dance or whatever, I—”

“Carsein!”

At that moment, Harnié was striding toward me from the front.

…For some reason, she wore an even brighter smile.

Ah. I can see the future.

The fact that she’s approaching with that expression means…

-Swish.

“I was wondering where you were. Here you are? With the young ladies, no less.”

“…”

“I think we have something to discuss?”

“Yes, yes…”

Damn it.

If I make a mistake today, I’ll have a spike reserved for my back.

***

Following Claire and Flora’s opinion that it might not be Carsein’s fault, we decided to investigate the incident further in that room.

There were plenty of witnesses.

“We heard it clearly! We know exactly what that guy dared to say to our lord’s future wife!”

“Can you not understand that he was openly saying she’s just a b*stard child?!”

“He even said that no matter how high and mighty she acts, she’s just a worthless brat who wasn’t even properly treated in her own family!”

“Not only did he babble that she has no abilities, but he also called our lord a commoner from the Bagland Duke’s family…! He not only insulted the fiancée but also the young master. Truly, the young master was ready to throw a punch!”

Lusmaier too.

Shatren as well.

The people of Carsein’s territory all consistently argued that my lord’s punch was justified.

“Hmph. We, who were treated as savages rather than nobles, understand that feeling best.”

—

“If it were us, we would have made it so they couldn’t even open their mouths.”

Moreover, the cooperation between Aiferos and Lilpetten was no different.

“If you stepped in because you didn’t like hearing your fiancée slandered, isn’t that no problem at all?”

A handful of nobles had been testifying in defense of Karsein.

Thus, a full investigation commenced.

Mark, who was in charge of Karsein’s security, brought forth irrefutable evidence.

“I followed those who insulted the young master and the young lady, and found them plotting this.”

“This item belongs to Young Master Karsein. It has been confirmed that it was smeared with the juice of Kelbia fruit.”

Testimonies from loyal vassals towards Karsein.

Testimonies from the Westerners who had built a thick trust through their cooperation with Karsein.

Transparent testimonies from the nobles within the exchange hall.

And finally, the discovery of decisive evidence.

It was no surprise that this led to certainty.

Unlike what she had expected, Arina was taken aback to find that Karsein was innocent, and instructed the two to retaliate against those who had insulted him.

In the end, with the help of those around him, Karsein had cleared his name, albeit late.

However, Claire remained dissatisfied.

It was none other than Arina’s method that bothered her.

After holding back, Claire finally spoke up.

“Sister. This isn’t right, is it?”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“Just listening to the testimonies is enough. Even after hearing just a couple, we could have interrogated them for insulting Bagland. Was it really necessary for the investigation to continue this late?”

That was the part she couldn’t understand at all.

“They said your fiancée was insulted right in front of her. That’s the same for anyone. If I had a fiancée and she was being insulted in front of me, I would have stepped in immediately. It’s only natural, both as a noble and as a member of the Bagland ducal family.”

“Haah. Claire. We also have to consider the possibility that Karsein might have lied.”

“Sister!”

Claire retorted immediately.

“Sure. There’s a chance Karsein could have lied. But then, conversely, it might not have been Karsein’s fault at all, right?”

“…”

“You can tell just by looking at the two of them! They’re close enough to have secret meetings with Lady Harnié. Plus, they were inseparable during the school trip. Does it make sense to say that’s a lie after seeing that?”

“…If that guy’s usual behavior had been like that, I wouldn’t have doubted him.”

—

Sure! Here’s the translation of the excerpt you provided, with attention to word choice, phrasing, and atmosphere, while preserving the line breaks:

—

“Sister!”

“You know very well what happened just last year. That kid started off with a penalty because he beat up another Young Master while spreading lies about being slandered unnecessarily. He tarnished the honor of the nobility and the reputation of Bagrand.”

As soon as last year’s events were mentioned, Claire bit her lip tightly and pointedly addressed Arina.

“Do you know that he didn’t do anything wrong last year?”

“Claire. I’ll say it again, Carsein—”

—Clatter!

“This! Sheyden checked it, and it’s Carsein’s blood! It means he was stabbed with scissors meant for the foundation!”

“…What?”

“The way that clothing is torn suggests that a different tool was used, not just hands. Because I personally handled that fabric! In other words, if he was cutting his own clothes with scissors while being slandered, doesn’t that mean he was actually throwing punches in return?”

“…”

“Sister, this is really strange. It’s hard to accept. I think that both last year and this year, Carsein doesn’t seem to have done anything wrong! So why is everyone pushing the narrative that Carsein started off with the blame?”

—Bang!

Claire’s hand, filled with anger, slammed the door shut.

Flora, who had been watching the scene, hesitated before cautiously speaking up.

“Um, big sister. This time… I think little sister is right. If you even know about the Kelbia fruit… it means you’re intentionally tormenting him.”

Once again, the door opened.

Even Flora left the room.

Left alone, Arina let out a deep sigh.

“I didn’t know such things were hidden away.”

It’s understandable that she would be upset; perhaps I should provide a suitable reward.

—Ding!

▶ Hidden Episode. You have cleared the truth of last year’s exchange meeting. ◀

▶ The public opinion calling for punishment of Carsein has completely vanished. ◀