Reincarnated With Harem System

After the ceremony, the priestesses made their departure, leaving the crowd disappointed, particularly the men, who seemed especially saddened and reluctant to see them go.

Moments later, under the Duke's orders, the matches resumed. The crowd was stunned, unsure whether to stay or leave. After all, they had just undergone treatment to recover from the psychological traumas they suffered, and now the Duke wanted to expose them to another? Is he a sadist?

As the nobles debated whether they should voice their concerns, the Duke reassured them, explaining that the upcoming matches would not be as violent as the first.

Still skeptical but unwilling to risk offending the Duke, the nobles reluctantly chose to stay, quietly steeling themselves for the rest of the event.

To their surprise, the Duke kept his word. The following matches were far less brutal. Referees now stood inside the arena, intervening quickly to stop fights that became too intense or when a participant was in danger of being killed.

As the matches become more bearable to watch than before. The nobles, gradually reassured, began to relax and enjoy the show. Some even grew so enthusiastic that they started cheering for the participant. They seem to forget about their earlier fear.

Lumien also began to relax and was able to pay attention to the matches more attentively.

However, the more matches he watched, the stronger his longing for magic became.

He was enthralled by the Awakened who entered the arena, demonstrating a dazzling array of magical abilities. Some had the ability to summon deadly gusts of wind sharp enough to slice through skin, another could conjure jagged rocks from the earth, draw water from the air, and form a blazing spear that they threw across the arena. To Lumien, it was utterly mesmerizing.

Before he realized it, two hours had passed quietly. After the tenth match, the Duke declared it would be the last. Following that, the nobles were brought to experience other forms of entertainment unique to Arsnova, just as the Duke had promised.

Throughout the period, many nobles seemed eager to leave, finding Arsnova's style of entertainment too uncivilized and crude for their status. However, with the Duke present, they dared not voice their dissatisfaction and were essentially compelled to stay.

...

"Ha... finally, some rest." Leonard let out a long sigh as he sank into the plush cushions of the carriage seat.

"I never realized the people of Arsnova had such... wil—unique taste for their entertainment," Eleanor said, quickly correcting herself as she remembered they were inside one of the Duke's carriages, and the driver could likely hear their conversation.

"Lumien, how's your body holding up? You didn't forget to take your medicine, did you? Should we head straight home?" Eleanor asked in quick succession, her tone filled with worry.

"I'm fine, Mom," Lumien reassured her with a small smile. "Honestly, I've never felt better."

"You don't have to exaggerate your condition to cheer us up," Eleanor replied, waving off his words. She assumed he was trying to reassure them with a white lie.

"No, Mom, I mean it! I-I think the medicine is finally working," Lumien said after a brief hesitation

"Really?" Leonard turned to him in surprise, studying his son carefully. After a long moment, he nodded slowly. "I'm not a physician, but... your complexion does look better. Your monthly check-up is scheduled for next month, right? Let's see what he has to say about this."

Afterward, his mother continued to bombard him with questions, clearly still in disbelief. But before long, her skepticism gave way to joy, and she pulled him into a tight hug.

Not long after, the carriage came to a halt.

As the family stepped out one by one, Lumian's eyes were drawn to the massive structure before them. A grand mansion, easily large enough to accommodate probably hundreds of people.

His father turned to the nearby servant and asked in a surprised tone, "Is this the Duke's famous Averice Mansion?"

"Yes, sir. His Grace wishes for all of you to enjoy a pleasant and restful afternoon in preparation for tonight's grand ball. For that, he has prepared a private room for each of the guests in this mansion."

"A room for each of us?" Leonard gave the servant a puzzled gaze.

"We can stay in this mansion?" Eleanor exclaimed in an unconcealed shock.

"Yes," the servant replied with a polite nod. "We've already informed your family's attendants, as well as those from the other families, about the arrangement. During the hours you spent with His Grace, they returned to your residence to collect your dresses, suits, and other necessities."

"How thoughtful!" Eleanor exclaimed, unable to contain her admiration.

Leonard remained silent, but inwardly, he couldn't help but marvel at the Duke's generosity in allowing guests to stay in his mansion. It was well known that the Averice Mansion, with its immense historical significance and grand size, was second only to the royal family's. For the Duke to extend such hospitality not only to high-ranking nobles but even to barons like him was astonishing.

The servant gave a polite smile and continued, "There's a card room for gentlemen to play in and an activity room for ladies to gather and chat. His Grace has also arranged for live musical performances for those who wish to enjoy them."

The servant elaborated further for another minute before saying. "Shall I escort you to your rooms, sir, madam?"

"Sure, sorry to trouble you,"

...

When Lumien opened his eyes, he noticed the curtains were still drawn open. The sun had long since set, and the two moons were nowhere in sight. Instead, a mass of clouds blanketed the sky, occasional streaks of lightning illuminating their dark shapes.

"Is it about to rain?" Lumien muttered to himself. With great reluctance, he pushed himself up and climbed out of the extremely cozy bed.

"This bed is way better than what I've been sleeping on these past few years," he grumbled, stretching. "But honestly, I still prefer my bed back home."

As he continued to complain under his breath, his gaze fell on the clock beside the bed. The hands were nearly pointing to a symbol that represented the number '7'

"Crap! I'm going to be late! I actually overslept!"

He quickly made his way to the bathroom for a swift shower. Moments later, he returned and began putting on the suit his family had prepared for him.

As he adjusted his collar, a random thought popped into his mind.

I'm glad I was reborn as a man. If I had been reborn as a woman, wouldn't I have run out of time just trying to wash and dry my hair?

Soon, he heard a knock on his door.

"Coming," Lumien called out. When he opened the door, he found his sister standing there, dressed in a lavish red gown with small glittering ornaments on each layer, looking bold and elegant. She wore an uncomfortable expression, fidgeting at her dress.

"You're ready?" Azalea asked.

"Yeah," Lumien replied with a slight shrug. "Though it was a bit annoying to put everything on myself with no servants to help."

"Well, that couldn't be helped. Each family was limited in the number of servants they could bring inside the mansion for safety reasons."

"I know, I know. I'm just saying. Anyway, should we go meet Father and Mother in their rooms now?" Lumien grumbled.

"There's no need," Azalea replied. "Father and Mother left for the ball much earlier. If they hadn't, how else would I have managed to get dressed on time without their maids helping me?"

"Ah, I see..."

"Your collar looks awful. Let me fix it for you."

Without waiting for Lumian's answer, Azalea immediately stepped closer, reaching for his collar with her slender fingers. As the distance between them closed, he caught the faint scent of her natural fragrance, her warm breath fanning against his face.

Almost instinctively, he closed his eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, she gave his collar a final pat. "There, all done,"

"Why did you close your eyes?" she then asked.

"Ah, it's nothing. Let's go, sister," quickly opening his eyes, he changed the subject and led his sister out of his room.

...

As the siblings stepped into the hall, their eyes were immediately drawn to the giant, brightly lit chandelier at the center of the room. Beneath it, rows of guests swirled and twirled in dance, accompanied by lively music in the background.

Lumien's gaze swept across the crowd before instinctively settling on their parents, who were dancing together in the middle of the hall, locked in each other's embrace.

He quickly looked away and turned to his sister. "Mother and Father seem busy."

"I see them too," Azalea said with a nod. "Let's stay on the sidelines for now."

Since Azalea had seen how much Lumien's health had improved recently, she didn't restrict him from indulging in the buffet. However, she occasionally stepped in, offering reminders when she noticed him reaching for something particularly unhealthy.

As Lumien enjoyed his meal, he couldn't help but notice how much attention his sister was drawing. Several young men around her age eagerly approached, each trying to make an impression. Some boasted about their family's influence, while others flaunted their wealth or skills, all in hopes of winning her favor.

The scene reminded him of how male peacocks behaved during their mating rituals, each trying various methods to capture the attention of the female. Lumien could barely stifle a laugh as he watched his sister's mood sour, her expression growing darker with each new suitor who approached her.

After politely declining yet another invitation to dance, Azalea turned to her little brother with a chilling smile. "Aren't you having a good time?"

"What do you mean?" Lumien asked, feigning innocence.

"Don't play dumb," she said, narrowing her eyes. "I know you've been enjoying yourself watching your sister get tormented."

Just as Lumien opened his mouth to respond, Azalea spotted another young man heading straight for her.

Before he could react, she grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the dance floor. She then placed his hands around her waist and leaned in to whisper, "Now, we're even."

As Lumien was helplessly forced to dance with his sister, a tall girl with striking red hair stood in the corner of the hall, her gaze fixed on the dance floor. Her expression was adrift.

Seeing such a strikingly beautiful woman lost in thought, many men couldn't help but steal glances at her. They quietly wondered what could possibly occupy the mind of someone so enchanting as her.

Inevitably, one of the men couldn't resist the urge to approach her. He stepped forward with a confident smile, preparing to introduce himself. However, before he could speak, the girl's eyes snapped into focus. She turned toward him, her gaze sharp and lucid.

The man felt a surge of satisfaction, thinking she had noticed him over all the others. But his confidence was short-lived. In a soft yet harsh voice, she said, "Get lost."

Stunned, the man stood frozen as she brushed past him without a second glance and left the hall.