I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started

Chapter 65

 Colin’s sudden proposal hung in the air, heavy and startling.I blinked, my thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind as I processed his words. The dim light of the pub softened his features, but his green eyes gleamed with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.“Colin…” I murmured, unsure where to begin.“You don’t have to answer right away,” he said gently, his voice softer now. “I just… I wanted you to know how I feel.”For a moment, neither of us spoke. The only sounds were the faint hum of the train and the clinking of glasses from the bartender cleaning up behind the counter.I let out a shaky laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re really good at catching people off guard, you know that?”Colin’s lips curved into a small smile, but there was no humor in his eyes. “I’m serious, Rose. If your debt is what’s keeping you here, let me take care of it. I want you to have the freedom to choose what makes you happy.”His words felt like a lifeline thrown into the churning sea of my emotions. For so long, my debt had been this invisible chain, binding me to a life of obligations and compromises.But could I accept such a thing?“What if I say no?” I asked cautiously, studying his face for a reaction.“Then I’ll keep trying,” he replied without hesitation. “Not to pressure you, but because I want to prove that I mean it.”I lowered my gaze to the table, tracing the edge of my coffee cup with my finger.Could I trust this? Could I trust him?The thought of someone else taking on my burden was both tempting and terrifying.“Colin,” I began carefully, “I appreciate what you’re offering. Really, I do. But this isn’t just about money. It’s about… my pride, I guess.”His expression didn’t waver, but his fingers, still resting lightly against mine, twitched slightly.“I understand,” he said quietly. “But pride doesn’t have to mean doing everything alone.”I met his gaze again, his sincerity pulling at something deep inside me.“I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye,” I admitted. “If I ever do leave, I’d never just disappear like that. Not to you, or to Daniel, or Lucas.”Colin’s smile returned, softer this time. “That’s enough for now.”We sat in silence for a while after that, the weight of the conversation settling into something more comfortable. Colin finally leaned back, giving me some space.“If you change your mind, the offer still available,” he said with a wink, his teasing tone returning.I rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”“Not when it comes to you, Rose.”His words were light, but his eyes held a depth that made my chest tighten.Before I could respond, the train jolted slightly, and I glanced toward the door. The moment passed, and Colin chuckled, breaking the tension.“Come on, finish your coffee before it gets cold,” he said, gesturing to my cup.I nodded, lifting the warm drink to my lips. As I sipped, I couldn’t help but feel that Colin’s words would linger with me long after the train ride ended.  ***** It was late.The evening glow had long disappeared behind the mountains. Daniel rubbed his temples, clearly weary. He had been waiting for hours.How much longer would it be? At last, a servant hurried out from within.“Count Drunia, His Majesty the King will see you now.”What an endlessly long wait.Instead of voicing his irritation, Daniel merely furrowed his brow and followed the servant into the King’s office.The large windows, rimmed with gold, offered only the darkness of night. At the desk, the King sat with his hands clasped, resting his chin on them, a sly smile playing on his lips.“I’ve kept my friend waiting, haven’t I? Come, have a seat.”At those words, Daniel stared at the King for a moment.Friend? Who keeps a friend waiting for six hours?This wasn’t the first time the King had treated Daniel with such disrespect.In public, the King would embrace him and praise the Holden Trading Company for saving the kingdom in times of crisis. Yet in private, he would leave Daniel waiting for hours or treat him with subtle scorn.Behind his back, the King weighed and debated Daniel’s worth, even when it came to things like his marriage—particularly the proposal to wed Saintess Deborah.Was helping the King ever a good decision for me?Doubt crept in as Daniel clenched his fists.Today, the King’s behavior irritated him more than usual. Perhaps it was because he had been about to leave for Rewybourne. What normally felt like petty harassment now stung deeply.I was supposed to leave with her…With a dark expression, Daniel thought of Rosietta and sighed softly. Before the servant could reprimand his demeanor, he sank into one of the sofas in the office.They called me here because a mere orphan managing a trading company isn’t worthy of an official audience hall, didn’t they?The King, still smiling as if nothing were amiss, sat across from him.“I called you here to discuss your marriage.”“Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but I have no intention of getting married.”The middle-aged King widened his eyes, staring at Daniel.“No intention? You’re a young, eligible leader of a trading company. Why wouldn’t you want to marry?”“Well…”“Is the Saintess not to your liking? If that’s the case, you can tell me freely.”The shrewd King stroked his chin, clearly testing Daniel’s reaction.Freely? What a joke.Tired of the circular conversation, Daniel resolved to make it clear that he had no plans to marry.Then the King smiled faintly and asked in a gentle tone, “Or… is there someone else you like?”“Pardon?”Forgetting himself momentarily, Daniel openly frowned. The King laughed heartily.“Ah, I mean that red-haired young lady you brought to the ball last time.”“…….”“That girl. She didn’t seem to be a noble.”The King’s gaze lazily swept over Daniel, making his skin crawl as though a snake were slithering over him.Why bring up Rosieta now? What was the King’s intent?The King continued speaking.“Is she a commoner too? The nobles who attended said they’d never seen her before. Her name was Rose, wasn’t it?”“Did you investigate her?” Daniel asked, unable to hold back.“Count Daniel Leandro, watch your words,” the servant behind him warned coldly.Still, the King maintained his composed smile.“Investigate? What a hurtful thing to say. I was merely curious. I wondered why Count Leandro kept rejecting the Saintess for marriage.”“…….”“Then, suddenly, you brought that girl to the party. I recall asking you to bring the Saintess, didn’t I?”By now, the smile had vanished from the King’s eyes, though his lips were still curled upward in an empty gesture. Sitting with crossed legs, he tapped the armrest of his chair with an air of arrogance.“You claimed you were introducing a friend who had helped Holden Trading Company. Nice excuse.”“…….”“But don’t try childish antics like that to test my patience. I’m not a particularly patient man.”From the moment Rosieta was mentioned, Daniel’s expression had hardened like stone. His lips twisted bitterly.“What exactly is the reason for summoning me today?”“Well, what do you think it is?”The two men locked gazes, the tension in the room so thick it seemed to freeze the very air.It was the King who broke the silence, smiling faintly.“If you don’t have feelings for that red-haired woman, then marry the Saintess. It’s the best choice for you, Count Leandro.”“What exactly makes it the best choice?”“A marriage with the Saintess, beloved by the kingdom, will bolster the status of a mere orphan-turned-trading company leader. It’ll silence some of the dissent in the noble council, too.”The King’s blatant words left Daniel speechless. The King shrugged.“I’m under constant pressure as well. The nobles keep filing petitions, questioning why I granted a title to an orphan. Surely you can understand my position.”In the end, it was clear: the King intended to use Daniel for his own political convenience.Daniel felt a deep sense of revulsion whenever the King’s true nature surfaced like this. The same King who played the benevolent ruler in front of wealthy merchants and nobles…The King rose from his seat and gave Daniel’s shoulder a careless pat.“Oh, and I hear you’ll be spending the summer in Rewybourne. Come back to the capital as soon as summer ends and marry the Saintess.”“…….”“If you delay with some half-hearted excuse, I might think you’re trying to run away.”With that veiled jab, the King dismissed Daniel, practically forcing him out of the office. The servant bowed to Daniel in the corridor before returning inside.Click. The door shut, leaving a suffocating silence in the darkened hallway.Standing there with a grim expression, Daniel sank into his thoughts, his face tense with restrained anger.