I'll Save This Damn Family! - Chapter 2
I tried my best to keep my back ramrod straight, but my strength failed, so I ended up leaning against the sofa.
“The Ossyria Empire is a nation that believes nurturing talents to be important. At one point in time, our House may have stumbled, but it is still true that our family has long maintained an intensely close relationship with the Royal Family since the beginning of the Empire. We helped and cooperated immensely to build firm foundations for the nation. Though we may not enjoy the same close relationship with the Royal Family as we had in the past, had that child not departed from this world, one of the prince’s secretaries would be from our family.”
Count Lloyd Elias, my father, could not hide his bitter expression.
“I believe this time is a chance for us. The MacQueen Family’s oldest son is doing an excellent job as the 2nd secretary within the Palace. And the Berotta Family’s second daughter, as well, is currently helping Princess Margaret, ranked 4th in line to the throne, with her duties. But why is that our House, in particular, has no one in any position of importance at the Palace, and why must I continue to listen to the criticism remarking that I am merely a merchant focused on profits? This has always been my grievance.”
The longer he spoke, the more emotional he became, his voice growing louder. He looked at each of his children. At his sharp gaze, each of the siblings’ shoulders flinched.
There were five of us, including myself.
The gaze sent in my direction did not last more than a second.
“The Empire does not differentiate between men and women. As such, I shall give you all an equal chance.”
Though the opportunity may be equal, it meant that implicit bias between genders due to conventions still existed.
“I intend on giving a third of the guild shares and the ownership over one of Elias’ rural territories to whomever passes the administrative tests and rises to the position of a 1st secretary.”
At my father’s words, the sitting room burst into murmuring.
It may be merely a third on paper, but, in reality, the guild run by the Elias Family could be counted among the 5 best guilds within the Empire.
The amount of cash that came flowing in by the month was hard to count even with all the accountants. If all the loans, debts, and the interest that only multiplied by the month were summed up as well, the annual income was more than enough to be counted as amongst the top 20 within the Empire.
And what of the rural territory that was to be gifted? That territory consisting of a large plain, otherwise called the Pantheon, was a territory valuable not for its land, but rather its prime location.
It was located at a choke point where the importing of luxuries from the bordering Gawain Dukedom could be monopolized.
Stating that he would give one of his children that very ripe golden fruit was equivalent to saying that the child would be his heir.
The future master of the Elias Family. It was the same as having both an administrative position and the seat of the master of the Family open. It was an offer that would make anyone’s eyes flip over with greed.
“…Will you be taking your hands off the guild, Father?” asked the second-oldest son, Jason Elias, under the assumption that he would pass.
7 years ago, the oldest son died of disease. He was the brother that Tara loved the most, and the reason why she had cut off all interaction with the world.
“The child who is able to pass the administrative test will have more than enough skill to work both their government administrative role and the guild management, Jason.”
It was a stupid question. Did he not already mention the gains that could be obtained by passing the government’s administrative test?
Of course, he had not mentioned the role of his heir explicitly, but that could easily be inferred with a little thinking.
As such, it was obvious that one would have to handle the guild’s work in addition to the government administration. Jason Elias was currently in charge of the guild’s imports.
Perhaps he had not seen father’s slight frown, for the 27-year-old Jason’s blue eyes merely sparkled.
My half-brother, who was filled with more ambition than anyone else, was like a hyena who cleverly hid his claws.
The only problem was that his head could not follow the speed of his ambition.
“Is it possible to be nominated as secretary within a few months?”
Ho… Now, that was a smart question. As expected of the third daughter, Chloe Elias.
24-year-old. Every dress she wore was the cost of a small rural estate. White face powder and red nail polish. Shoes embedded with diamonds. Just one look and you could tell she would risk her life for luxury.
She even had her own boutique shop, named after herself — Chloe Boutique Shop — whose main store was located in the Capital, with chain stores spread throughout the Empire.
“In about 2 to 3 years. Everyone is sure that His Majesty will abdicate the throne around that time.”
Indeed. It was in about 3 years. Around then, the emperor would abdicate the throne. And immediately afterwards, the slaughtering would begin.
Of course, the Elias Family would be exterminated completely.
The amount of time left before this bad end was 3 years. Within 3 years I had to alter the direction of our family’s fate.
“Am I allowed to apply for expedited graduation, Father?”
My fourth brother, the 23-year-old Logan Elias, was currently attending the Elias Imperial Military School as a senior. It seemed he was rather talented in martial arts since he was young.
After graduation, he was to be given the role of hiring and managing all of the family’s soldiers.
“That’s definite. I’ll talk to the dean about having you graduate within the next month.”
“Yes, Father.”
Father must have had quite the trust in Logan, looking at him with smiling eyes.
Well, no doubt. Anyone could tell that he was a full-on alpha male. Trustworthy, reliable.
Unlike the rest of my siblings, this was only the second time I’d seen Logan because he was always at school.
Of course, I was talking about myself after transmigration.
“Any other questions?”
My younger sister, who was standing next to me, quietly raised her hand. “But… I’m still young, Father?”
How could one look so cute when laughing so shyly? My younger half-sister, whom anyone could tell that ‘she’d grown up with a lot of love’, was 17-years-old. Aria Elias.
She was currently attending an upper-level aristocratic girls’ school.
That light brown hair that curled down to barely touch her waist. Those crescent moon-like eyes. Her youthful, slightly plump cheeks. The lips like peach blossoms and white skin.
She was the reason why numerous aristocratic lords always peeked about in front of the estate.
For instance, wasn’t Father’s icy expression melting away with a single blow from that shy smile?
However, I was not fooled.
Who was she trying to trick? I nearly fell over backwards and died two days ago when she ‘accidentally’ bumped into my shoulder on the stairs.
I had tried to hold her accountable, but to no avail.
“Oh! I didn’t know it was you, sister.”
She didn’t know? It was said that one should speak straightforwardly even if their mouth slanted. And she didn’t see me? She didn’t see this body? Did it make sense for anyone to be unable to see me unless there was something truly wrong with their eyes? Was she kidding?
Well, I guessed the other aristocratic ladies in this world would be more severe than her.
Even so, she was the kind of child who fit a particular phrase in Korea, where I had lived previously.
‘That rude bitch.’
“Anyone at the age of 16 and up are able to apply. Though they say it’s to select administrators, from their movements it looks like they’re also trying to select princess candidates. You should also participate.”
There were still two princes who had no princesses.
“Oh my! Is that so? That’s great, father. I’ll study hard.”
Ah… Didn’t her eyes hurt? It looked tiring to maintain those smiling eyes.
The gaze of each of my siblings were different, but they all had the same expectations and ambitions. Up till now, the candidates for those who would lead the Elias Family in the future had been but two.
The second son Jason and the first daughter Chloe. But within a single moment, this had been flipped on its head.
A fair and equal chance.
If everything went well, not only would they become the heir of the family, but they could also rise to a position close to the Emperor.
At this chance to hold both power and money, my siblings’ eyes glazed over with greed.
The door to golden pastures that had been so narrow that only those with qualifications could pass through had suddenly swung open wide. Of course, one had to hold the lock first.
It could even be seen as unfair competition to Chloe and Jason.
After all, the two of them already had a firm foundation. As such, it seemed as the two of them did not even see their other siblings as competition.
But, as it was a good chance to seize authority within the Royal Palace, it seemed they did not mind this equal opportunity much.
The air in the sitting room seemed to heat up and with tension, ready to explode at any moment.
Since my first day after being transmigrated, or, in other words, when I had returned to the estate like a beggar, I had thought to make my other siblings give up on this examination should this day come.
However, before 5 minutes had passed since I had entered the sitting room, my thoughts shattered into pieces.
The reward for passing the examination was far too big. If it was to this extent, their will would not be bent even if God came.
Then there was only one method left.
It was now time to slowly show what I was made of.
Father once more glanced at his children in the sitting room, and when his gaze fell on me, just like before it quickly withdrew.
Then he got up from his seat as though he had nothing left to say.
“M-m-may I choose my own teacher?”
All the heads in the room turned towards me as one. The frowning eyebrows and narrowed eyes. Those expressions filled with contempt as though I was being nonsensical.
Father seemed extremely surprised at first, but after a few seconds of staring, he fixed his posture. “You, too?”
It was a question so cold it was literally dripping with chilliness.
“Yo-you said that anyone could take the exam.”
Damn it. Why was I stuttering so much? Why was I cowering?
This damned body did not follow my will as if it had its own.
Would it listen to me after it has grown used to this situation? When would the habits of this body be fixed?
“That’s right. But you…” He omitted the rest of the sentence, but everyone knew what he was going to say.
‘What are you going to do with a body like that?’
I lightly ignored Aria’s snarking that only I could hear. I had expected this much from the beginning.
“E-equal chance. Please give it to me too. I am an Elias after all.”
“Oh my, look at her.” This was Chloe.
“She’s changed a lot.” That was Logan.
“They say the ignorant are courageous.” That was Jason.
“Oh god. She’s gone crazy, seriously. Kek.” And this was Aria.
That’s right. Laugh all you want. But don’t you ever forget. Today, this sister of yours has resolved to save your lives.
“Quiet!”
The disorderly atmosphere inside the sitting room grew cold once more at my father’s shout and stiff expression.
“That’s right. You are an Elias as well. But up till now, you’ve only laid about due to a deep sickness. Though it’s no longer important whether that was your sickness or a problem with your determination, what have you done up till now as a member of this family? If you answer with your sickness, that is merely an excuse, and if it’s a problem with your determination, then you have no right to use the name of the Elias Family. But you wish to use the Elias Family’s name in this official examination? I wonder. What do you think you would do if you were me?”
Fuck it, all of his words are true. But I was not the real 18-year-old Tara either.
I was Ji Yeon-woo who had ended her life as a 33-year-old composition writer.
In other words, I had lived intensely in Hell-Joseon the Nth Generation [1]. In other words, I had rarely lost to those broadcast producers, who were known to fly and crawl [2], when pitted against them.
“I’m sure it would make you hesitate.”
Thankfully, I did not stutter this time around.
“But if I were Father, I would have no other choice but to give myself permission to do so.”
“Is that so? Why?”
“Because, y-you had clearly said it was an equal chance.”
“Indeed. But had I not explained just earlier? You have never done anything with the family name. I believe it is contempt to give you an equal chance as your other siblings.”
I truly hated playing with words, but it could not be helped.
“T-then you should include a prerequisite. Huu.”
“What?”
Footnotes:
- Nth Generation (kr. n포 세대) refers to those in their 20-30s of modern age Korea where they had not only given up 3포 [dreams] (Dating, Marriage, Pregnancy) and 5포 [dreams] (add House and Social Life to 3포), but also their dreams and hope. It’s a term that was created due to the difficult economic status of many people in their 20-30s in Seoul, where the living costs are high, so much so to the point that people often give up their dreams to pursue a more profitable career, or any of the other things mentioned above to fund themselves financially. The increasing difficulties of the college entrance exam and problems of the education system in Korea are also results of the same origin of such societal problems.
- To fly: an common analogy in which the subject makes the impossible possible.
To crawl: a common analogy that is similar in meaning to “groveling”
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T/N: I’ve been busy for about the last month, so I haven’t been able to get anything translated, but (spoiler alert: I’ve already finished Chapter 3). Just a few tweaks and that will be published as well. I’m trying to stay on top of my school work, but I’ll probably still disappear sometime around midterm exams and final exams. So, please bear with me.