The Damn Family Is Back Again

396. CHAPTER 6. ■■■■(5)

“Glug. Glug. Haaa…”

Harnier, having rushed into the Imperial Palace, downed cold water in large gulps.

The heat is cooled by the cold water.

The fiery blush that had painted her face red also gradually began to return to her original skin tone.

However.

-Thump. Thump.

Still, only the sound of her heartbeat hadn’t returned to normal.

“Haa. Reaaally…”

Both hands were neatly folded over her chest.

Even while complaining about why it was beating so fast, she couldn’t help but admit it was unavoidable.

Listening to the thumping rhythm, Harnier internally voiced a grumbling complaint.

“That’s just mean. This sort of thing.”

Ironically, now that all the complicated matters were settled, she had become defenseless.

Words that had once seemed ordinary were now all too conscious.

She couldn’t help but be aware of every single action she had become accustomed to.

The sham of being lovers that she had always shown in front of others now felt strangely foreign.

Because her feelings for him had now become far too profound.

What’s more, now that there was nothing else to think about, this was all that remained.

And so, that one phrase in the hospital room became a runaway carriage, circling for what felt like eons.

What words to form?

How to meet his gaze?

How on earth to continue the conversation?

Before the unfamiliar emotion called embarrassment, honesty refused to leap forth.

Only a strange pressure, accompanied by an unspeakable tickle, contorting my whole being, flowed through me.

But…

Carsein sought to alleviate my burden as much as possible.

Sharing gazes in places we’d visited together.

Laughing and joking with him, openly sharing honest opinions.

Seeing fragments of the past etched into every corner, allowing forgotten stories to be told naturally.

It was, a memory.

The first memories with Carsein, impossible to erase.

Days with the person I loved, never to be forgotten, nor could they ever be.

So, wouldn’t it be fair to call it cheating?

“Then…what becomes of the me who prepared all this…”

A beautifully wrapped box emerged from Harnie’s arms.

Originally possessing a great significance…but now, having lost its value, it was rendered useless.

“Those are the words I was originally going to say to you…”

Indeed.

Those words, to end the fake relationship.

Those were the words Harnie intended to say to Carsein.

Even if she couldn’t look him squarely in the eye.

Even if she couldn’t manage a proper conversation with him.

She had somehow, barely, resolved herself and devised a method.

To move onto the next stage.

To avoid remaining in this state.

It was a result born of her own efforts.

But, those efforts were shattered into nothing by Carsein’s sincerity punch.

-Dating. Day one starts today.

Just that one word, the catalyst.

“Ugh… what do I do?”

It was an overwhelming emotion.

Too much for a girl who had only known unrequited love, from the past until now, finally accepting its fruition.

His consideration, so very kind, sent her heart into a frenzy.

The thoughtfulness with which he tried to alleviate any burden caused a ticklish sensation to bloom in her lower abdomen.

Emotions, swollen as much as the memories she had brought forth and relived, spread throughout her entire being.

Love, a terribly potent disease, one for which Harnié had no immunity whatsoever.

“Dating…”

Dating. Uttering the word that conjured such delightful palpitations, Harnié lowered her head once more.

She and Carsein would truly be lovers from now on.

It would be a happy time. Surely.

But.

Suddenly, Harnié snapped her head up again.

“But… that’s not enough…”

Though they had called it a fake relationship, the truth was, the time spent with Carsein had already felt like a real romance to Harnié.

Fake? The noun had been erased long ago, the moment she’d held him in her heart.

She already liked him.

She was already holding him dearly in her heart.

She had loved him for so long, such thoughts never even crossed her mind.

Therefore, her desires swelled.

“I want to… get closer.”

Holding hands, linking arms, walking the same path as him.

Sharing food, chatting happily, spending the day together.

Helping each other through hardships, sharing joy, and steadily accumulating more shared moments.

She should be happy.

To be able to be so close to the person she loved.

…But, isn’t that what they’ve already been doing?

Lovers?

Girlfriend?

One day?

It amounts to the same, however you choose to phrase it.

If it were just hands, I’ve held his countless times.

Arm in arm, whether consciously or unconsciously, outwardly or within my heart, we’ve been there many a time as well. Close enough for our chests to brush.

How much time have we spent in each other’s company? How often have we ridden the same horse, or how many times shared the same carriage? It’s beyond counting.

Meal times, I’d long ago adjusted to his rhythm.

Ending each day, murmuring goodnights into each other’s eyes had become routine. Embraces, a given. Not just at bedtime, but rising from slumber together as well. On cold nights, we’d fall asleep entwined in each other’s arms.

Difficult tasks? Shared moments of joy? Shared time built upon…?

What good does any of it do?

This is the relationship we’ve always had, all this time.

…Then aren’t we caught, suspended in the ambiguous middle? With no further progress?

It’s not enough.

I can no longer be satisfied with the status of lovers.

Beyond lovers.

We must transition to a relationship that is all the deeper.

-Doesn’t the young lady find it…lacking?

-Lacking…?

-Your current relationship with the young master, I mean.

Mina, already seeing straight through to my hidden desires, had posed such a question.

I couldn’t understand it then.

And so, I’d answered that I didn’t know.

But…now I can answer with certainty.

Lacking.

-If you ever feel that way, then from that point onward, the young lady will have to make the first move.

-Me?

-Yes. The young lady must be on high alert, as it were.

High alert.

What does that even mean?

Again, Mina’s words were utterly beyond my understanding.

*

With time somehow bought, the Imperial side, seeing Karsein and Harnier arrive, wiped sweat from their brows and heralded the start of the banquet.

Though called a banquet hall, it was in truth closer to a formal Imperial announcement.

Facts previously unknown to the world. Misunderstandings that needed correction. A time to mention stories that would leave everyone in shock.

…Aye. That much was true.

The Yggdrasil Project and the Treebeast.

The identities of Belian Theresia and Yggdrasil.

The power of the World Tree Yggdrasil. And the abilities of the Westerners, and their contributions.

In many ways, the stories contained within the victory were endless.

And.

Towards the end, they were bound to mention the meritorious deeds.

‘…Ha, but this isn’t right. Eh?’

Discontent was inevitable.

‘Why are they hyping it up so much… Shouldn’t they just explain that we aren’t criminals?’

That was all he wished for.

No more being chased.

No more being pursued.

The project had been stopped, so all that was needed was to clear his name.

However.

“Isn’t all of this due to the contribution of Prince Karsein, who summoned the Westerners—!”

“Indeed!!!”

“It was none other than Prince Karsein who saved the Empire! Do you not agree?!”

This utter filth.

Why were they exaggerating so damn much?

They should just gloss over it appropriately, you people!!

He glared daggers at Arsien and Florence, sending them a message to keep it moderate. But, what came back was.

-Wink!

A completely different message.

…These infernal curs.

“The Prince is the protagonist of the victory!!”

“A great general-in-the-making who saved the Imperial Army!!”

“He deserves a medal befitting his deeds. Something ordinary simply won’t do!!”

“Indeed. Indeed, it must be so, yes? Heh heh.”

I shook my head, slowly.

No more, I signaled clearly.

Why are you people making things bigger?

I never asked for any of this. Just let me go. Please?

– *Wink!*

‘Son of a biii-‘

Even as I cursed inwardly, the Imperial Household had elevated Carsein as the hero of this victory, positioning him as the single greatest contributor to the Empire’s defense, having thwarted the very scheme to nurture the World Tree.

Exclamations of admiration followed one after another as the final announcement neared its end.

At this point, my mind had gone pretty much numb.

No matter what I heard, it barely registered.

“Therefore, we have conducted a vote to acknowledge his deeds and grant him a certain estate. Though, of course, dissenting opinions may exist.”

– *Tap.*

“We shall now announce the results at this very moment.”

The outcome was overwhelming.

“Not a single dissenting vote. I presume there will be no objections?”

“Just a moment. I do have an objection.”

“Hmm? And what might that be?”

Before Archien, who held aloft the results of the vote, stepped forth a noble.

A murmur rippled through the assembled aristocracy.

At a moment like this, where not a single dissenting vote had been cast, to dare raise an objection… Such was the prevailing atmosphere.

And yet.

“The estate is far too small. Should you not be granting him more?”

… Once more.

Kindling ignited.

Thereafter, with Archien’s pronouncements, the hall was engulfed in cheers and applause.

And so, the hall caught fire.

Only after being consumed, as pure and blank as fresh parchment, by that blaze, was I able to descend from the dais.

Of course, what awaited me after that…

It was hell, though.

*

A long time passed.

Finally, a break.

I snagged a segmented terrace, squeezing myself in, and sprawled on the sofa, letting my grievances spill out.

“Ugh… I’m so freaking tired. These people. The moment I stepped off the podium, it’s…”

Even thinking about it now, it’s sheer torment.

“Seriously, the people who wouldn’t even glance my way before are suddenly swarming me… Ugh…”

It wasn’t a joke; my complaint was utterly heartfelt.

I was so weary, I wondered if meeting people was always this exhausting.

“Heh heh.”

Harnier chuckled at my grumbling.

“You seem incredibly impressive right now. Harnier. I don’t know how you deal with all these people, one by one…”

“Well, this has always been my job. But, this was something that should have happened a long time ago”

Harnier honestly laid bare her feelings.

Like how she would’ve been furious if she were being ignored like the old days.

Or how she would have presented evidence and blasted the newspapers with a major scoop if the nobles acted up.

How she would’ve just called in some Westerners and challenged anyone trying to put her down to say it to their faces, one more time.

“Haaa… I have no allies. None.”

“Oh my. Am I not on your side?”

“…That doesn’t count. Ugh.”

As I slumped on the sofa and shook my head, Harnier quickly shoved something into my mouth.

A sweet taste and aroma spread.

“Anyway, you worked hard. Eat this and cheer up.”

“Chocolate?”

“Valentine’s Day has passed… But still, I wanted to give it to you.”

Valentine’s.

She was right, it was late. But, the fact that it was homemade chocolate held a deep meaning.

I quickly sat up and grabbed another chocolate from the table.

-Munch.

Naturally, I crunched down on the chocolate, and Harnié glanced at me with a puzzled look.

“Huh? You didn’t usually care for sweets, did you?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then why…?”

Indeed, I never really liked sweet things. Barely touched desserts, even.

But, it seems my taste buds have changed from the old days.

“Lately, someone has been making them with such care, I don’t dislike them as much.”

“…”

The flavor of this chocolate was quite familiar.

That chocolate I received while working part-time. That chocolate Ji-eun had made by hand.

That’s why this chocolate tasted so good today.

“Hm? Is this one broken during the making process or something?”

“Pardon? Broken? There wouldn’t be… eh?”

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. I’ll eat it anyway.”

“W-Wait…!”

-Crunch. Crunch.

Mm. The taste is the same as always. Not like a failed attempt, just seems to have broken a little unfortunately.

“Ugh…!”

…But why is Harnié acting like this?

Is something wrong?

Harnié fidgeted with her fingers, a bashful expression on her face, glancing at me. Soon, after checking my expression, she began fanning herself.

“Why, why is it so hot all of a sudden? Perhaps they’ve cranked up the heating too much.”

Declaring it was too much, she rose from the sofa, saying she would get something to drink, and went out.

I picked another chocolate from the box and put it in my mouth.

“Ji-eun told me not to leave any.”

So, shouldn’t I eat them all? This time, as well.

-Ding!

▶Episode II. The Already-Passed Valentine’s Day Continues.◀

▶Eat All of the Chocolate Made by Harnié.◀

[ Number of Chocolates Eaten: 9/25 ]