I Will Abandon My Family! - v3 Chapter 29, Chapter 30, Chapter 31 (Patreon)

v3, Chapter 29

Nail Bitter
Shepherd’s Point of View
I felt a piercing gaze since a while ago.

"Look. He's made it here."

"Indeed."

"Lord Benoah is too kind."

Why do I have to endure such stares?

"Benoah, may I excuse myself for a moment?"

"Yeah..."

I didn't want to stay in this atmosphere any longer.

But leaving did not change the uncomfortable atmosphere.

"So you showed up."

"How shameless can you be, Shepherd?"

Classmates from my school days appeared.

"What? What do you want to say?"

"I was just thinking what kind of nerve a criminal like you had to participate."

"Or do you have no awareness? Truly unaware idiots are frightening."

What have they been saying since earlier?
I am a criminal?

"I heard you tried to take over a Count's household by engaging in a marriage fraud with his daughter.”

"It feels unpleasant to have fraudsters in front of us, who are engaged in charity work."

"A man like you should not be here... No, you shouldn't be in high society."

They have been saying whatever they wanted for a while now.
Calling me a fraudster? A criminal!

"It's already become a rumor."

"Expelling your wise father, mistreating your sister like a stepping stone, and even abandoning your brother-in-law... You're not human."

"It's pointless to talk to you. You're a demon without a human heart."

"Why are you even Count Diaz's son? A good-for-nothing like you!"

Why does everyone praise such an incompetent man?
I could do much better.

I'm excellent.

"Don't speak nonsense!"

"Huh?"

"I'm different from that idiot! I wouldn't be such a pathetic failure... if that man weren't so incompetent!"

That's right.
I'm suffering like this because that man is a failure.

I should be living in the Capital, surrounded by many servants.
I shouldn't have to spend time in such a poor territory.

And I should have married sooner than that woman.

And then...

"What's wrong, everyone?"

"Benoah!"

I felt like something inside me had broken.

"What's all this commotion about?"

"Benoah, why did you invite this person?"

I see, it was all orchestrated by this man who called me tonight.

He pretended to introduce Miss Yuna and made a fool out of me, aiming to embarrass me and isolate me.

"Shepherd, what’s the…”

"You bastaaard!"

"Whoa!"

I couldn't allow myself to be mocked by a man like this.

Being ridiculed even by a worthless rural noble was unacceptable.

"I won't forgive you... Never."

"Stop! Let go of Benoah!"

I grabbed Benoah, and in my frenzy, I had forgotten where we were.

It was a balcony.

And because I lost control, I accidentally pushed Benoah off the balcony.

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v3, Chapter 30

Leak
Designs for new coats for the upcoming fall season.
We were supposed to unveil them together with Lady Eliana a month from now.

However...

Our ideas have been stolen.

"Why were our dress designs..."

"Where did the information leak from?"

We took strict precautions, yet somehow our information was leaked.
While it's understandable that the design drawings at the workshop might overlap slightly with others, having everything stolen is another matter.

"This is a serious issue, Madam."

"What's wrong?"

"Somebody has monopolized the silk within the Capital."

"What!"

If we can't obtain silk, we won't be able to create our new dresses.
Furthermore, I was informed that someone has also hoarded large quantities of other fabrics.

"Where could the leak have come from?"

"I was too careless. I should have been more diligent in my business dealings..."

It's not anyone's fault.
No, I had been too naïve.

Such things were rare in our territory.
But this is the Capital.
It was a mistake to think the same way here.

"However, if we don't do something about it..."

If the designs are unveiled first, the one who announced them later will be accused of copying.

"What should we do..."

We don't have the materials.
We won't make it in time with the design.

"I'm home."

"Henry."

"Lord Henry"

Henri looked perplexed as he saw us about to cry.

"What's wrong, Marie?"

"Well... the design plans leaked outside."

"What? Is that all?"

Is that all?
Without changing his expression, Henry presented me with cakes from my favorite shop.

"It's the new strawberry shortcake."

"Lord Henry, we can't eat cake in this situation..."

I was happy about the cake, but now is not the time for such leisurely things.

"I anticipated the risk of your ideas being stolen."

"Huh?"

"I've been living in the Capital for years, you know? I expected certain things. There's a limit to what precautions can achieve. That's why I was taking measures to minimize the risk.”

“Well… if you say so.”

"I was working on the assumption of making significant changes to the previous design to create a completely different outfit."

"What about the fabric and materials..."

"The company never intended to consider the original contract."

Lady Eliana and I couldn't close our open mouths.
Henry had been planning this from the beginning.

"Lord Henry, you're an incredible strategist."

"Yeah..."

He was always sharp-witted since our school days.
He handled things well in the Ranford territory, but I never thought he was this good.

"Let's make them suffer a little and bring them shame."

"Y… yeah..."

Henry smiled, but his eyes didn't.
They had made an enemy from someone they shouldn't have.

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v3, Chapter 31

Tactician
Henry’s Point of View
No matter how many precautions we take, we can't predict where information might leak from.
Even with our newfound title, our family is just a recent addition to the ranks of nobility.

"Henry, you've been proactive."

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down."

Expanding the business is a good idea.
But sometimes, Mom prioritizes going with the flow a little too much.

That's why I've been working behind the scenes.

"I'm not outright opposing your business ventures, Mom."

"I know that."

"I just wish you’d be a bit more cautious. I want you to have a solid support system and reduce risks... to protect you."

I may be overly cautious, but Mom tends to walk on precarious bridges.
She probably thinks she should cross those dangerous bridges first and make sure it's safe before letting us cross.

But what if something happens to her?
Even if our risks are minimal, what if she faces danger?

"I don't have the boldness and adventurous spirit that you have, Mom."

"Being cautious isn't a bad thing."

"But I know that sometimes, it's necessary."

I don't possess the boldness that Marie does.
I've grown accustomed to always considering the risks.

"So maybe it's just right. It seems like it's my role to be your brakes."

"Indeed."

Someone needs to rein in our Mom, who tends to go off the rails.
My job is to ensure that Marie regains her former confidence and keeps moving forward.

"We need someone with a bad personality, right?"

"Henry?"

"I'll crush anyone who harms Mom, Marie, or Cyril."

Despite growing in a single-parent family, we hold our heads high even if people gossip.
But there are times when gossip isn't the only issue, and that's why I...

"It's my role to protect you guys.”

"You've grown up."

"Yes, thanks to you."

I'll make those foolish businesses and nobles who underestimated me suffer.
The company that stole Marie's ideas and put pressure on her has been getting a bad reputation, which is why I plan to cut ties with them after this.

The timing is perfect.

"But what about the fall coats? Dresses are one thing, but..."

"That's also been taken care of. Who said we only have one flagship product?"

"Huh?"

I asked Lady Eliana-sama for more designs.
And there's an idea that only she can execute.

"Lady Eliana has endured a long battle with illness. She understands the feelings of the sick and the physically weak better than anyone else."

"Yes..."

"That's our target."

Flashy coats that are just for looks are outdated.
Coats that can be worn multiple times, are warm, and easy to maintain are appreciated more.

And many women desire something unique to themselves.

The real competition starts here.

Next chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/89398494