The Damn Family Is Back Again

29 – 29. Belated Birthday Gift (8)

Once again, Karcerine was not at fault.

The reason for going out was completely justified, and that should have been enough to convince anyone.

But I let slip words that should never have been spoken.

“Considering how many accidents you’ve had, it’s only natural for problems to arise. This is all your fault.”

Considering how many accidents you’ve had.

So it’s only natural for problems to arise.

It’s a situation that raises suspicion because of your track record, so don’t talk back.

Stupidly, I responded like that instead.

It was a slip of the tongue.

A foolish judgment, a clear mistake.

Even though I knew that hasty judgments were forbidden, I made a huge mistake, disregarding the previous case of Kelvia allergy.

If it had ended there, Karcerine would have been upset… but I went even further.

It won’t end with just being upset.

I left a wound, something more than just being upset.

A very severe and deep wound. A wound in the heart so big it’s painful.

“It’s not too late yet…!”

Giving a loud warning to Emma and entering the mansion, Claire quickly moved her steps.

A birthday gift? She would prepare an even more luxurious one because it’s belated.

I will take care of everything that has been forgotten.

I will inform the family and throw a party even more luxurious than myself.

It’s late, but still.

I counted on doing everything I could as an older sister.

Until Karsene is satisfied.

-Knock, knock.

“Karsene. Are you still sleeping? Can I open the door for a moment?”

Claire knocked on Karsene’s door, thinking that there was still a chance for reconciliation.

Karsene’s voice did not come from inside the room. With no response or movement, Claire began knocking on the door even harder.

“Open the door. I know you’re upset. So let’s talk and see each other’s faces. Okay?”

Still, the room remained silent.

Thump, thump!

Anxious, Claire started knocking on the door even louder.

“Karsene! Can you open the door, please?”

After several more urgencies, the door finally opened.

Claire was relieved that she could finally have a conversation, but it wasn’t Karsene who appeared in the room, but his maid.

Politely bowing her head, Camilla delivered Karsene’s message.

“The young master does not wish to have a conversation, Miss Claire.”

“What…?”

“He said you would understand the reason better than anyone else, Miss.”

As I entered the room, I already knew what I was going to say.

I had planned to promise that if there was anything she needed, I would listen without any doubt this time.

I wanted to propose a birthday party, the happiest one she could ever imagine, on a day of her choosing, so she could completely forget about today.

But with just one word from Camilla, Claire’s excited heart chilled in an instant.

There was nothing more to say.

A firm refusal, saying that she wasn’t in the mood for a conversation.

Claire cautiously asked Camilla, who had relayed Karsein’s words with pursed lips, “Are you really angry?”

The reason behind Camilla’s words was something she knew best.

She must have already been full of wounds. Not only did she not receive any attention on her birthday, but she also didn’t receive a single present. She was only allowed to go out, a meager gift that was met with suspicion.

From none other than her own family, who should have been the ones to celebrate her birthday.

Camilla didn’t respond. No, it would be more accurate to say that she couldn’t respond. Claire must have clearly sensed her displeasure.

“Okay. I’ll… just go now.”

Rarely, today was the day when Claire’s shoulders slumped.

-Ding!

***

“Phew.”

Isabella sighed, holding her throbbing forehead in her home office.

For the comfortable everyday life of her children.

For the affluent and abundant days, she always worked diligently with her pen.

However, nothing seemed to be going well for Isabella.

As the hostess of the mansion and acting head of the household, she had an absurd amount of work to do.

Sigh.

“…”

Thunk.

Isabella placed her pen on the table. As if unable to hold the pen, she gazed blankly at the sofa.

Every time this hour came, she would remember the figure of Carsein, who used to visit with something to say, using the excuse of a morning greeting.

Just like always, she thought she had to listen to this young boy’s tantrums. She had even considered it as part of her daily routine and didn’t pay much attention to it.

But now that the seat was empty, she felt a great sense of unease.

– I won’t come for a morning greeting anymore.

He had said that one day, that he wouldn’t come for a morning greeting anymore.

She didn’t pay much attention to it.

She thought it was a lie, and if not, she thought he could come for any other reason.

Not long after, she expected him to come as usual, sooner or later.

However, contrary to this obvious expectation, Carsein really didn’t come. Even after several days had passed, he didn’t come for a morning greeting.

Even though she trusted that he wouldn’t doubt her because of Kelvia’s allergies, Carsein never came to meet Isabella.

-Sigh.

“Why aren’t you coming? Carsein.”

Isabella gritted her teeth as she touched the calendar from last year, December 31st.

That’s right.

The reason she put down her pen was none other than Karsein.

Not only did she realize her birthday late, but even after giving her a birthday present, she couldn’t calm her mind. She wanted to send a gift that would be enough to fill a castle.

“His Grace no longer expects any more birthday presents.”

Heron, who delivered the gift, advised her not to ask for a response and not to bring up that day’s events again.

Then there was nothing else to do but wait, right? Until Karsein came to her on his own.

Even if she put aside everything that happened before, she was certain that he would come this time. But… Karsein surpassed Isabella’s expectations once again and did not show up this time either.

Despite three days having passed since the day he said he was going out.

“Since there’s talk about the fiancée anyway, I should call him and have a conversation.”

Even if she couldn’t handle the situation, she couldn’t just leave Karsein like this. Whether it was about the secret meeting with the fiancée or the birthday present, she had to make a place for it.

The breakfast table.

If it was just that, it would be the perfect time to call Karsein.

Isabella reached out her hand towards the bell, wanting to call for Heron.

“Mom, can I go in now?”

Her outstretched hand stopped. This voice belonged to her second daughter, Claire.

“Come in.”

The door opened lightly.

But Claire’s expression didn’t seem light at all. Isabella immediately asked Claire about her intentions.

“What’s the matter? Why did you come at this time?”

“Well… Mom, I made a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Yeah. It’s… pretty big…”

The second daughter, who had been hesitating, finally blurted out her concerns as if she couldn’t find an answer to the complicated thoughts swirling in her head.

“It’s been three days since Carsein hasn’t come out… and because I forgot my birthday and started suspecting that he went out, I thought maybe that’s why…”

As Claire was about to say something, she trailed off and touched her throbbing neck.

“Actually, nothing happened, right? Even if he went out that day, there was no word from anywhere. So, I mean, it’s about Carsein going out… Shouldn’t we talk to Sister and maybe, let him go?”

“… “

“Sorry, Mom. It’s my fault, but I just couldn’t bring myself to figure out what to do. That’s why I came to ask for your help.”

In response to Claire’s plea for help, Isabella fell silent instead.

In fact, as soon as she heard about Carsein’s birthday, Isabella herself hesitated. She didn’t know what to do to help.

“I’m sorry. Even I… I realized his birthday too late, so it’s difficult for me to help like that.”

“Mom too?”

-Nods.

She was in the same situation, realizing his birthday too late.

She tried to give him a birthday present, but her sincerity was criticized by Heron.

Neither side had a confident position.

But Claire’s opinion about lifting Carsein’s ban on going out resonated with her.

“First, shall we call Arina and Flora?”

It was a long-awaited family meeting.

***

“I heard you called.”

Arina and Flora entered the office together. Perhaps because they heard it was a family meeting, Arina’s expression was already sour.

Sitting on the sofa, she asked bluntly, “What trouble has Carsein caused this time?”

Whenever a family meeting was held, it was usually about Carsein’s problems. It was so predictable.

“It’s true that I called you because of Carsein, but it’s not because he did something wrong.”

“What are you talking about, Mother?”

Claire was still scratching her cheek, looking nonchalant, and Flora’s expression soured as soon as Carsein’s name was mentioned. In such an atmosphere, Isabella brought up today’s agenda.

“I want to lift Carsein’s ban on going out.”

“What?!”

“Um… pardon?”

Arina and Flora were astonished.

In response, the two of them protested.

“That’s impossible, Mother. Carsein is causing trouble everywhere he goes!”

“Yeah, Mom! He brought dangerous things from outside and threatened me!”

“To be honest, I was worried yesterday as well. Do you know how many rumors I heard about Carsein going out?”

It wasn’t just a one or two-time occurrence. It was understandable that they were sensitive to Carsein’s outings.

But they couldn’t keep him from going out like this. Isabella added a valid reason. It was a bit bitter, but she had to say it herself.

“It’s a birthday present.”

“What?”

“That outing, I allowed it as Carsein’s birthday present.”

A sudden silence fell upon the meeting room.

It was Isabella who broke the silence.

“December 31st. I completely forgot. That day was Karsein’s birthday. That’s why I allowed him to go out.”

“…”

“Arina, Flora. What kind of birthday present did you give to Karsein?”

Upon hearing those words, the two remained silent as well.

With no knowledge of the birthday or any gifts prepared, they couldn’t find the words to speak.

Seizing the opportunity, Claire cautiously spoke up.

“Well, actually, it was just a day out yesterday. It’s hard to call that a birthday present. So… I lifted the ban on going out. Besides, nothing happened yesterday.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Even Isabella agreed.

There was only one step left to lift the ban.

“I know what you and Flora are thinking, sis. But Karsein is determined not to accept any gifts. So this is all we can do.”

“…..sigh.”

Arina let out a long sigh.

This measure was clearly a gamble, like entrusting fish to a cat.

If they carelessly released Karsein’s leash, it was obvious that accidents would occur throughout the empire.

But since she herself was at fault, she couldn’t deny it. Moreover, she couldn’t think of any other alternative, especially since she had played a trick by refusing to accept gifts.

In the end, Arina chose to find a consensus.

“Then let’s do it this way. Since it’s necessary to confirm whether he has the temperament to lift the ban, let’s see for ourselves and make a decision.”

“Do we have to confirm it with our own eyes?”

“Yes. The Imperial Court is also preparing for it. You know that better than anyone, Claire.”

“Ah, I see. The Snowflake Festival.”

While other seasons had their own festivals, the winter was so cold and harsh that it dampened people’s spirits.

But when it snowed, the children laughed and played. Despite the chilly atmosphere, the children didn’t lose their smiles and threw snowballs at each other.

Recognizing this, the Emperor of the Empire designated a festival period to create a lively atmosphere even in winter, and named it the Snowflake Festival.

It was one of the annual events of the Empire, conceived while watching the children playing outside from the beginning of January, the season when it snowed the most.

“I heard that this year’s Snowflake Festival will be even bigger. Since last autumn was so abundant, there will be a much larger crowd. The nobles are also gathering attention.”

“…Among all those people, will Karsen cause trouble? Let’s test it.”

“Yes. It is not too late to lift the ban at that time.”

There won’t be any better compromises.

Isabella agreed with Arina’s opinion and decided to prepare for the family festival.

Meanwhile.

Karsen, who hadn’t come out of his room for three days, was looking at his status window.

▶ Episode IV. The Snowflake Festival Begins! ◀

▶ Enjoy a normal festival with your family! ◀

[If you clear it, Arina’s ban will be completely lifted!]

“Finally.”