The Damn Family Is Back Again

392. CHAPTER 6. ■■■■(1)

Harnie, having fled the sickroom as if running for her life, buried her face in her hands in a small, empty room.

‘Ugh… What do I do? Everyone must be completely misunderstanding everything by now…!’

What will I do when I run into them at the Duke’s mansion next?

If that awkward tension fills the air, what should I even say?

I’m bound to run into them at least once, and a conversation is bound to follow in some way. How am I supposed to react?

My face already feels like it’s about to explode.

‘Why, of all times. Why did it have to be then!’

It was truly impeccable timing.

My mind suddenly went blank, I shook off Carsein’s hand, and when I couldn’t see anything around me because of how flustered I was, I even tripped over something because of my bad luck.

To add insult to injury, I hadn’t even noticed my dress tearing open, ‘riiiip’, on an untidy table, and I’d ended up falling face-first onto Carsein’s bed, underwear fully exposed.

…By the time I realised it, it was already too late.

The door was opening.

I still can’t forget it. The way his mother, unsure of what to say, was sweating buckets the moment she opened the door, and cautiously covering the eyes of her still immature youngest daughter, and the one person who was only filled with wonder.

Everything only served as fuel, intensifying Harnie’s embarrassment to a fever pitch.

That sight, as if she’d stumbled upon Karsein, fresh from his sickbed and half-dressed… it would naturally conjure risqué, even vulgar imaginings.

And their reactions certainly suggested as much.

“S-Sorry! Carry on with what you were doing!”

“The intruder takes her leave.”

“Mom? What is it? What’s going on?”

…She couldn’t deny a thing.

Not when she was already slamming the door shut with such haste.

Leaving behind, in the ensuing silence… a blossoming, scalding heat.

Just thinking about what she’d say when they next met… her face already felt like it would explode.

The burning heat stretched toward Karsein’s back.

With a shriek, Harnie escaped from the sickroom.

But this heat of shame was only temporary. Not eternal.

“…I, I was too much. Idiot.”

She’d lashed out at Karsein in her embarrassment, but it was she who seemed to cause the trouble in her flustered state.

And then, adding insult to injury, she’d struck the very person who’d caught her before she could hurt herself…

Besides, this time the blow felt rather forceful. Probably, Karsein must be in considerable pain…?

A pang of guilt struck.

“…I have to go back.”

She needed to apologize properly for hitting him out of pure embarrassment.

She needed to express her gratitude for grabbing her when she was about to fall and hurt herself.

But why was she trembling so?

Why did this heat bloom through her body with every step she took toward him?

The heat was strangely persistent.

Her body, previously steeped in shame and humiliation, had long since shed those emotions. They shouldn’t stand in the way of her returning to Karsein’s room.

Yet, the closer she got to Karsein, the more her body tensed.

“Why… is this happening?”

She’d never felt such tension before.

Karsein wasn’t the sort of person to inspire such feelings.

But…

This time, it was different.

Trembling, she was.

Just the thought of seeing him.

Imagining approaching his hospital room, having a conversation, sent her heart hammering in her chest.

Even… the apology she had to offer. The words of gratitude for saving her.

She couldn’t even be sure she could meet his eyes.

The most absurd thing was this:

-I wish to spend my future with you.

Perhaps the very cause of her fluster, the primal genesis of her mind going blank.

At Carsein’s heartfelt declaration, Harnier hesitated once more near the corridor leading to his room.

And as Harnier lingered,

a conversation continued inside the sickroom.

“Truly. Does that brain of his work so well in this direction too?”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Your Highness.”

“Deviously clever, you are. Well… I understand it well enough. I shall fix things and explain to the ministers.”

Harnier’s shoulders visibly twitched.

And with good reason, for the voice belonged to Crown Prince Albert.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected. The fact that Carsein had brought a horde of Westerners was now known to all, so contact from the Imperial Family seemed inevitable.

But… Harnier did not look favorably upon this situation.

‘Ugh… it had to be the Crown Prince. This brings back unpleasant memories.’

Thinking about that time made her face flush red all over again.

She had been pretending to sleep, and then, of all people, *he* had to, right where Carsein was, saying those things for all to hear…!

No. That must never happen again.

She had to carefully escape to prevent a repeat—

“Ah. Right. I almost forgot about this.”

“Your Highness?”

“Do you know? Since news of you saving the Empire spread, your stock has skyrocketed among the nobles.”

…What?

Harnier’s shoulders jumped.

‘My stock… is up among the nobles?’

The remark hung, difficult to ignore. All her senses sharpened at once.

Surely, it couldn’t mean what she thought it meant…?

…No. She’d know if she listened. Just a little longer.

Harnier pricked up her ears, eavesdropping on the two men’s conversation.

“What does that even *mean*?”

“Come now. Think about it. That sort of title, applied to a prospective husband, a son-in-law…it’s the highest honor for a nobleman, wouldn’t you say? Ha ha.”

…Husband-material. Son-in-law-material.

A title. Noble. Honor.

“Hmph.”

A nasal sound escaped her in the hallway, involuntarily.

So, she’d been right in her suspicions.

As if she wouldn’t recognize that kind of euphemism from the noble circles.

She’d deciphered it correctly.

“Yes, of course. A war hero returning in glory, even His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince would qualify. Hmph. To be hailed as the empire’s savior – think how the young ladies must adore him?”

Her eyes narrowed instantly. Her eyebrows sharpened just as quickly, and the shame and embarrassment straightened the rigid puppet that had been her body mere moments before.

“Wait. So, are you saying there are people who are angling for *me* as husband-material? As a son-in-law?”

“Precisely. Beautiful young ladies are likely already burning with desire. If there’s a family you favor, or a particular maiden who catches your eye, just give us a hint. The Imperial Household will, as a reward for your service, arrange a magnificent wedding ceremony.”

Dense as the man may be, it seemed he finally understood the explanation.

But still, Harnier’s sharp eyebrows didn’t relax.

“Husband-material and son-in-law-material? Ha! To understand it that clearly and *not* deny it? Unbelievable.”

How, *how* could the answer not be immediate?

After saying *that*.

After telling *her* that he wanted to spend the future together.

Why didn’t the words ‘I don’t even have a lover, let alone a wife,’ spring to his lips immediately?

Every inch of her skin bristled, sharp and agitated.

“He could say ‘I don’t even have a lover’ now, but he *isn’t*? Hmph. Is a wedding ceremony with some Miss So-and-So *really* being prepared, then?”

Her expression twisted and hardened, as if she were grinding her teeth to dust.

“Just let the name of that Miss Somebody or her family come up, just *let* them…”

Her voice was already laced with thick venom.

Harnier’s resolve to *absolutely not* let that family get away with it was palpable.

But.

“Unnecessary.”

A completely different answer sprang from Carsein’s lips.

“Because the only person filling my heart is just one.”

…Eh?

“It won’t change in the future either, it will never be replaced.”

Ehhh…?

“I can’t live without that person.”

-Hiccup!

Along with a hiccup, Harnie staggered on the spot, smashing a supply cabinet.

Perhaps, that sound had reached even the room, but… consumed by the sound of his own heart overturning, he had no leisure to care about such external matters.

His cheeks burned, not just red, but a blazing crimson.

In his violet eyes, endless waves crashed.

From his barely-restrained mouth, hiccups leaked out little by little.

And…

His heart, beat faster than it ever had before.

“Keuh. Keu-keu-keuk.”

“…?”

“Oh my. Impatient, are they? I must leave before those ministers start their fussing again.”

A moment later, the Crown Prince emerged.

“So that’s how it is? Mister.”

Wink!

Along with a lewd whisper, Albert winked, sending a signal. To Albert, Harnie finally realized that he had been caught in a trap.

Again.

This kind of thing had happened again.

The same thing that had happened in the sickroom, when he had noticed him pretending to be asleep and deliberately led Carsein’s conversation that way, was happening again.

To have this kind of experience again.

To have Carsein’s true feelings extracted right in front of him.

It was far too fatal a trap.

…No. Perhaps this isn’t even Albert’s trap.

-Thump. Thump.

Like the frantic beating of my own heart.

This wasn’t Albert’s snare; it was being utterly, hopelessly, irrevocably caught by the straight shot of the most magnificent man in the world.

‘What do I do now…?’

My confidence had vanished.

The apology for striking his back.

The gratitude for his steadying hold, preventing me from being hurt.

I couldn’t muster the courage to voice a single word.

Not only that, but the confidence I’d had to boldly declare, “*I* am your lover!” to keep Carsein from seeing other noble ladies had been utterly shattered.

-Because the only person who has entered my heart is you.

-And it will never change, not ever.

-I cannot live without that person.

The memory of his voice, surfacing at every opportunity.

‘Ugh… what am I supposed to do…?’

It’s not that I dislike it. Clearly, this is good. No. Beyond good, this is a situation where I *should* be overjoyed. It wouldn’t be strange to be overwhelmed with happiness that something I desired so fervently had come to fruition.

But…

The impact was just too much.

I’m happy, but I can’t say it out loud.

Even with a wall still between us, my chest trembles.

Will I even be able to meet his eyes? Will a proper conversation be possible?

…

-I cannot live without that person.

“Ughhh…”

*Fsssshh.*

From that devastatingly direct confession, Harnie’s face had transformed into a cauldron simmering without end.

*

With the passing of time, the wound healed well.

Though initially severe, having weathered the worst of it, my body’s recovery was gradually accelerating.

Not only was a brief meeting with Camilla and Tasha, the mother and daughter from the territory, possible, but I was also cleared to receive visits from Viscount Ptoa and Marquis Magnuel, and even to engage in light exercise from time to time.

…Yes. Everything is going well.

Except for one single thing.

“Harnier.”

“…Y-Yes, y-yes?!”

She jumped back, startled.

…Yes. The problem lies here.

‘I was just trying to embrace her… why is she so surprised?’

For a day or two, I could have brushed it off. I even thought she might get annoyed sometimes.

So, in the beginning, I didn’t pay much attention… but as time passed, this phenomenon didn’t stop.

Whenever I tried to find out the reason, she wouldn’t tell me.

She’d say it wasn’t something to worry about, or she’d suddenly flail about, or stammer and change the subject, or answer to the empty air without even meeting my eyes… I’ve seen this happen more than just once or twice.

‘Just… why? What’s causing this to happen?’

As I was grappling with a question I’d never encountered before.

– *Ting!*

‘Huh?’

A status window popped up.

▶CHAPTER 6. ■■■■ is in progress.◀

▶Harnier has been afflicted with a status ailment for some reason.◀

▶The reason is because of you!◀

‘…What?’

No, what did *I* do?

▶#!@#$@-ly such !@#!@#!$%!◀

What’s it saying? This crazy status window.

▶Anyway, proceed with the episode to解除 the status ailment.◀

▶Initiating Episode I. ＜Again, From the Beginning＞.◀

▶Attend the Imperial Court-hosted banquet with Harnier.◀