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I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 144
🕑 Added 2024-10-07 12:08:37 +0000 UTCChapter 144: A Reversal of Roles (2)
“Lusmire received help from Shatrain?”
Tasha had brought me here to witness this scene.
And the sight of those children stealing from the Lusmire carriage, coupled with her cryptic words, had hinted at a deeper connection between the two territories.
But, Lusmire receiving help from Shatrain?
‘So this wasn't just a one-sided act of charity.’
I knew I couldn’t ignore this situation, but now, ignorance was even more dangerous.
This hidden history, this connection between the two territories, could easily become a major obstacle in the future.
“Tell me more.”
Tasha, without hesitation, continued her story.
“As you know, Young Master, Lusmire is a very isolated territory. Resources are scarce, manpower is limited, monsters attack frequently, and we’re surrounded by Mount Waglu, a treacherous mountain range. Poverty was almost inevitable.”
It was a perfect storm of misfortune, a recipe for disaster.
“We tried to earn a living through sculpting, to improve our situation, but even that became impossible. We had to give it up.”
It was a classic case of adding insult to injury.
Their harsh living conditions, coupled with the artificial poverty imposed upon them, had forced them to abandon their craft.
“But, Young Master, Lusmire has survived for a long time, hasn't it?”
“What do you mean?”
I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“As you know, Lusmire has nothing. They abandoned their sculpting, so there was no source of income before you became their lord. How were they able to survive for so long?”
Now that she mentioned it…
It was strange.
Lusmire should have been swallowed whole by the neighboring territories.
How had they managed to survive until I arrived, until my encounter with Kiyan at that party?
Their survival, despite their lack of resources, funds, and manpower, was a miracle.
No, it was more than that.
Lusmire, with no source of income, would have faced their greatest challenge during winter.
Just like those children stealing bread, their biggest problem would have been food.
And the only way to survive such a critical period…
“Shatrain provided food every winter, didn’t they?”
Food aid from another territory.
There was no other explanation.
Well, it wasn't aid. It was charity, a one-sided act of kindness.
But what had prompted such generosity?
I already knew the answer.
“Shatrain used to sell their specialty products. They must have turned a blind eye to the children stealing food from the merchants passing through Lusmire.”
Tasha nodded, confirming my suspicions, and handed me a ledger.
“I trust your judgment, Young Master. If… if it takes time, I’ll… I’ll cover the losses with my salary.”
-Ding!
▶ Detected a secret relationship between Lusmire and Shatrain. ◀
▶ You, as the Lord of Lusmire, can take action. ◀
▶ Special choices unlocked. ◀
I understood the situation.
If I punished the villagers, the cycle would simply repeat itself.
Lusmire wouldn’t betray Shatrain’s kindness.
Their bond, forged through years of shared hardship, was strong enough for them to deceive their own lord.
Tasha, knowing that my decision could spark resentment among the villagers, had chosen to reveal the truth, to plead for leniency, even offering her own salary to compensate for the losses.
But…
Something didn’t feel right.
“That’s not your true intention, is it, Tasha?”
“…”
“You know that using your salary to cover the losses won’t solve the problem. In fact, it might even make things worse, don't you?”
Lusmire had once been managed by the Deol family.
Which meant, Tasha was aware of the relationship between Lusmire and Shatrain.
She probably knew more about Lusmire than I did.
She wouldn’t have come here with such a simple, naive request.
“As expected, I can’t fool you, Young Master.”
She smiled, acknowledging my insight.
“You’re right. I was hoping that you could use this as an opportunity to mitigate Shatrain’s negative reputation.”
“You want me to forgive them, to quell their anger by turning a blind eye to this?”
“Yes. Leave the rest to me. I’ll handle everything.”
She presented her plan, requesting my permission to manage this situation during the Eastern Nobles’ Conference.
Tasha was more than capable of handling Lusmire. She could resolve this issue with discretion and tact.
And it was an opportunity to lessen the burden of “Shatrain’s shame,” a burden I had been carrying for far too long.
If I played my cards right, I could use this to silence those who criticized my past actions, to create a narrative that would protect me from their judgment.
But I refused.
“No. I won’t allow that.”
“…What?”
Tasha stared at me, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“You were hoping I would use this to clear my name, to lessen the burden of ‘Shatrain’s shame.’ Weren't you?”
“…Yes, that was my intention.”
“It’s not a bad idea. It could create an opportunity to deflect criticism at the Eastern Nobles’ Conference and appease the anger of the Shatrain villagers. But, it’s the wrong approach.”
“Then… how do you intend to resolve this, Young Master…?”
[ 3. Tasha, maintain the status quo. Don't change anything. ]☑
“Maintain the status quo. Don’t change anything. Tell the villagers to continue as they are. ”
“But, the losses… You intend to cover them yourself?”
“Yes, it’s the only way to create a legitimate reason for my involvement.”
This was an opportunity.
But I couldn’t use it simply to erase the stain of ‘Shatrain’s shame’.
I needed a stronger justification.
I needed to solidify the connection between Shatrain and Lusmire.
To acknowledge their bond, their shared history.
And to create a new foundation, a new narrative.
I would use this incident to address the root of the problem.
***
The next day, I returned to the Duchy and drafted a letter to Tasha, instructing her to maintain the status quo. It wasn’t an official Duchy letter, it was from the Lord of Lusmire.
Her reply was simple, a promise to obey my orders and to keep me informed.
That was all I needed. There wouldn’t be any more choices related to this incident. I could now focus on the next challenge.
▶ You must attend the party being held in the East. ◀
It seemed like a simple notification, but…
This system message was a warning, a signal that the next episode was about to begin.
The main event of Chapter 2.
The start of the Eastern Nobles' Conference.
And that party was the opening act.
However…
▶ You can proceed to the party now. Will you depart?
[ 1. Depart now. ]
[ 2. Wait. ]
I had to remember…
Chapter 2’s main episodes were always triggered by sub-episodes.
And this choice, while seemingly offering a path to the main episode, was a trap.
It was a party, yes, but it was also a gathering of nobles, all participants of the Eastern Nobles' Conference, eager to impress the Imperial Family.
And for Carsein…
It was a minefield of potential conflicts, a perfect opportunity for them to target him.
This was a cleverly disguised trap, a carefully constructed pitfall designed to lure the player into making a fatal mistake.
Of course, I had a plan.
I had learned my lesson at Claire’s coming-of-age ceremony. The timing of my arrival, my location within the ballroom, even my interactions with the other guests… everything could trigger a chain of events, leading to either a good or bad ending.
And this party, just like that ball, would be no different.
I had to choose the right time to enter, to find a safe location, and to avoid specific actions that could trigger a death flag.
But how could I possibly know the optimal time, the safest location, and the actions to avoid?
▶ As a reward for achieving a Perfect Clear in the previous episode, all potential death flags will be revealed until the next sub-episode appears. ◀
● Time
[ Entering at 2:00 PM will trigger the Enraged Count Modric episode. ]
[ Entering at 3:00 PM will trigger the Toll Dispute episode. ]
[ Entering at 4:00 PM will trigger the ─── ]
…
…
● Location
[ Displaying party map. Purple and red areas indicate Forbidden Zones and Danger Zones, respectively. Orange indicates Restricted Zones, and yellow indicates Caution Zones. ]
● Actions
[ The wine glasses on the balcony are laced with a substance that causes stomach pain. ]
[ Touching the second flowerpot in the lobby may trigger an explosion. ]
[ Thumbtacks are hidden under the third table on the left. ]
[ The floor to the right of the center table is covered in oil. Be careful not to slip. ]
[ Approaching the woman sleeping by the second curtain may result in accusations of inappropriate behavior. ]
[ The drinks in the third room are spiked with sleeping pills. ]
[ A sleep-inducing incense is burning in the seventh room. Avoid entering. ]
…
…
“…This is quite a reward.”
This information was more detailed than my knowledge from the game.
I could prepare and avoid those potential dangers.
After analyzing the times, the locations, and the actions to avoid…
I had a plan.
I would enter the party at 5:15 PM, through the back entrance.
That way, I could avoid most of the traps and secure the next sub-episode, setting the stage for the symposium.
But there was one thing that bothered me.
“Why hasn’t she contacted me?”
I had received three letters before the spring outing.
The first from Tasha in Lusmire.
The second from Pollux Tutulum, the Marquis of Ipheros.
Those two were taken care of.
I had met with Tasha, learned about the connection between Lusmire and Shatrain, and while the letter from Pollux hadn’t been particularly helpful, it had led to a valuable piece of information.
But there was no response from Harnie.
“I specifically asked her to set a time and date for our meeting…”
She had been eager to see me, but she had gone silent.
And now, the party was upon me.
“Young Master, the carriage is ready. Shall we depart?”
It couldn’t be helped.
Camilla, ever efficient, had announced that we needed to leave now to arrive by 5:15.
[ 1. Depart now. ] ☑
“Let’s go.”
She had warned me, during our contract negotiations, that communication might be difficult during this time.
But she had also assured me that our agreement was secure.
The most likely explanation was the symposium.
She was probably busy with preparations.
I would find out what was going on at the party.
With a sigh, I boarded the carriage.
***
“…”
“My Lady, this is… This is wrong! How can they…?!”
“Mina.”
Harnie shook her head, silencing her maid’s frantic protests.
“It won’t change anything. I have no choice.”
“…”
“Don’t worry, I’m… used to this.”
“My Lady…”
She said she was fine, but she wasn’t.
Mina’s expression was filled with worry, her eyes pleading.
She had tried to intervene, to protect her mistress, but this… this was beyond her control.
There was only one hope left.
“Please, Young Master Carsein… help her…”
Carsein.
