The Damn Family Is Back Again

399. CHAPTER 6. ■■■■(8)

It was, truly, a war.

A battle to claim the man who had saved the Empire with his conspicuous achievements.

The blind fools of the past no longer existed.

The old aristocratic families, either overthrown or vanished, were quickly replaced by a new generation.

The nobles of this era held no ill will towards Carsein.

Could the lower classes be any different? Not at all.

In this time, where stale, stagnant waters have been flushed away and replaced with fresh currents, the women were more curious about men than ever, tirelessly seeking a husband.

Thus, it was a war. A fierce war waged over the man Carsein.

As befitting the epithet of ‘Hero who saved the Empire,’ the women roamed the halls with their eyes wide open, desperate to somehow capture him, the undisputed greatest man of the Empire.

Their claws sharpened, ready to face their rivals.

Subtly checking each other with sparks flying from their gazes.

But then.

Harneier’s appearance caused the fervent atmosphere to rapidly cool.

The sparks, which had been fiercely targeting rivals, ceased all at once.

Even the gazes that hadn’t stopped scrutinizing the young lady who had boldly offered her hand to Carsein, flaunting her power, froze completely.

All from that one chocolate kiss.

Up until then, there was still room to wedge myself in.

A kiss? That could just as easily ignite a fire in him.

To start with such an impudent kiss. What if he disliked that sort of thing?

Besides, even if she did kiss him first, she still hasn’t claimed Carsein, has she?

I just had to push my way in.

The position wasn’t set in stone yet.

Carsein’s chosen partner couldn’t be decided by a single act like that.

I just had to push her aside, show off my own charms, and capture Carsein’s heart.

But.

There was no room to wedge myself in. Absolutely none.

Why, you ask?

Of course there wasn’t.

‘Good heavens…’

‘How can someone be so beautiful…’

‘That’s practically cheating!’

Because the woman who called herself his girlfriend and kissed Carsein, her beauty was far too fraudulent.

“Un-unbelievable…!”

The young lady who had been standing with a fan mumbled, her expression vacant.

She was no different from the women around her, all equally dumbstruck. Staring at Harnier.

My eyes are bigger than hers.

My nose is higher than hers.

My lips are prettier than hers.

My face is more slender than hers.

What about my jawline? What about my collarbone? My face is smaller.

My legs are longer, my height is more compatible.

Everyone was glancing around, finding solace or a reason to smile in that way.

But against Harnier, those thoughts simply wouldn’t form.

Even before she had an engagement, Harnier would stir the hearts of men. Just walking was enough to draw attention, men’s eyes drawn to her as if entranced.

Moreover, there were many who contacted Marquis Theresia, declaring their infatuation with Harnier, sending countless messages directly to her. Even those who, thinking themselves still spry, gazed up at a mountain they couldn’t climb, were captivated by her, by the mere act of her walking.

There was no arguing with the title of the Empire’s greatest beauty; she always reigned supreme when it came to looks. Which is why, not settled with names like femme fatale or fox, the rumors of her being a cunning woman who sucked the marrow from men’s bones spread.

Even then, Harnie wasn’t fighting at full strength.

“Lady Harnie… I want to see her properly dolled up, you know?”

“Yeah, exactly! I bet she’d be even prettier if she really made an effort.”

“I agree. Her makeup, her dresses… it’s all so plain.”

“I wonder if she’ll ever decide to really dress up? Seriously, I could get down on my knees and make a public confession.”

According to the murmurs of the men at the time, they wanted to see her properly adorned, did they?

Inevitably, subdued. Projecting an innocent image, she always brushed off the advances of men. Never once had she truly applied makeup.

Even when observing formalities, never flamboyant. She merely wore dresses that were commonplace, barely fitting the role.

…Yes. That was her power, deliberately suppressed.

She hadn’t even revealed half of her allure as a woman.

So, how would she appear if she truly decided to transform herself?

It wasn’t strange that they were left stammering, speechless, now.

She had reached a realm untouchable by any other.

They were overwhelmed merely by gazing upon her.

Unable to flaunt one’s own merits, forced to feel a sense of feminine defeat and powerlessness in the face of such an impossible visage.

♬~

The atmosphere stilled in an instant.

Music begins to play, rising above the stunned and intimidated onlookers.

“…Ah.”

“Is it already…”

A ball wasn’t complete without dancing to really fuel the mood, and the Imperial family had scheduled the dance at this time.

There weren’t many factors that could bring men and women closer like dancing.

Starting with light physical contact, intimate conversations only audible to one another, and even the development of romantic relationships as they matched their rhythm.

So originally, the noble ladies would have attempted to request a dance with Carsein, but…

“Could it be… that my man still has some business remaining with you?”

All of it was for naught.

“I, I must be going…”

“Yes, that’s right. Ah, well. There’s a group of gentlemen on the other side who seem to be the perfect number for our group…”

“Let’s go together!”

“I guess I should, um, go find someone else…?”

“Seems they’re looking for a 2-on-2 match over there. What do you say?”

“A-alright!”

At the pronouncement of the alpha predator, the other females whimpered and turned tail.

“Karsein.”

Harnier called his name with a smile completely different from before. Her desire was the same as his.

Not a word needed to be spoken; this was an invitation to dance. Karsein chuckled and took Harnier’s hand.

In the end, she was the one chosen.

“Kuh… that I, that I should be…!”

Penerine clutched her fan tightly.

The old guard of nobility were falling one by one, and currently, she was undoubtedly the most powerful. Yet, she had never felt such humiliation.

“Lady Penerine…”

“D-don’t you think it’s better to just give up?”

“The opponent is just too…”

Hearing those words, the strength in her grip shattered the fan.

“Ha. Give up, you say? She’s just a pretty face! Are you telling me to concede to someone like that?”

“Just a face…? It doesn’t seem like *just* that though…”

“Her figure is also… well, quite attractive, isn’t it…?”

“Her grace and etiquette are flawless… and there’s nothing to criticize about her attire or ornamentation either…”

“You lot…! Did I tell you to praise that woman?!”

““S-sorry!””

The ladies of her faction avoided her gaze, looking restless. They couldn’t bring themselves to suggest giving up again.

“Absolutely not. Do you think I’d give up this chance? *I* am the one who belongs with that man. *I* am the noblest woman among the aristocracy!”

Penerine still hadn’t surrendered, her eyes flickering with embers of defiance.

*

Music flowed from the ballroom.

Men and women began to dance in pairs.

Some strange woman had come up to him and asked him to be her partner, and he’d wondered what she meant. So this was it.

And now, he too…

…stepped onto the dance floor, beginning to dance with Harnier.

He didn’t know how he would’ve felt before, but now, he thought he just might enjoy this time.

When I floundered from not learning to dance, or when chased by the status window. Surely, there was a feeling of being pursued back then, but now this is simply a dance I share leisurely with Harnier.

I thought this time would be spent drawing closer to Harnier, sharing this and that, worry-free.

But…

In reality, it wasn’t like that at all.

“…Don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Pardon?”

“You know. Something to say.”

While dancing, Harnier is sharpened to a fine edge.

I don’t know why… but instinct born from long experience tells me.

One wrong word here, and you’re done for.

“Ahem. Well… those women. They swarmed us the moment we stepped onto the terrace.”

“…Is that so?”

Harnier’s sharp gaze softened slightly.

So, at least this topic isn’t off-base!

Good. Let’s clear up any misunderstandings first.

“I waited for quite a while on the terrace, you know? You said you were going to get something to drink, and you were gone so long, I couldn’t just sit still.”

“You… were worried?”

“You took far too long. It would be strange *not* to be worried.”

This wasn’t a word to avoid anything but sincerity. She was gone, and that took a while.

“By the way, did you finish all the chocolates?”

And finally, I got rid of any lingering seeds of misunderstanding. I figured I had answered sufficiently.

“…That’s not it.”

“Huh?”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

*Whack!*

…Huh?

The tempo of the song suddenly shifted. Along with it, the distance between Harnier and me shrank considerably.

Furthermore… it’s fast.

The rapid tempo is layered with Harnier’s inherent dance skills.

‘This move…!’

The dance shifted abruptly.

The difficulty surged exponentially; a single misstep now, and it would be an accident.

No choice.

I had to keep up!

“Still won’t speak?”

“…!”

Clearly, it was deliberate.

To draw my mind elsewhere.

Time, sliced into dozens of fragments by the quickening tempo. Matching Harnier’s movements, I found myself naturally pressed against her body.

Thoughts spiraled inward.

My mind, analyzing Harnier’s question, grew intensely tangled.

“You look beautiful. Tonight.”

“…Specifically?”

“You’re too beautiful. Now that you’re properly made up, I can’t keep my eyes off you.”

“Not yet. That kind of talk still comes out, I see.”

I tried to buy time, but the more I did, the more difficult a dance Harnier led me into.

This… meant I couldn’t escape until I answered.

There was no room for deeper thought.

Whatever I was thinking in my head flowed straight down my spine, and burst from my lips.

“…ing.”

“Say it again. What?”

“Your chest is showing.”

──!

But fortune seemed to favor me.

Thankfully, the music ended, and the final movement concluded.

-Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Applause erupted.

We finished with a terribly flamboyant flourish… and were far too close.

Close enough that a slight movement would bring our lips together.

‘…Dangerous, but I weathered it.’

Harnie regarded me with eyes that held a touch of surprise.

It must be… because of what I just said. Easily cleared up with a little explanation, I figured.

“It’s… not that I dislike it. It’s just that the… outfit reveals a little too much here and there, and I don’t quite know where to look, you see? That’s all. Um.”

What am I even saying?

I couldn’t tell if the words were coming from my nose or my mouth.

“Ahem. In any case, that’s it. I’ll at least drape my coat over you, so we can return like that.”

I began to step back, but at that moment…

“…!”

Harnie pulled me closer, embracing me even tighter.

Because of that, the soft sensation of her chest pressed against me, unbidden.

“…You can look. At you, anyway.”

“What…?”

“Don’t avert your gaze. You can look directly. Because you’re my lover. And beyond that, I… I can permit even more.”

*Thud.*

With that sultry voice, the sound of some crucial string snapping resounded from somewhere.