The Damn Family Is Back Again

412. A New Family is Born.

“Hmm… it seems we just need to introduce a provisional territorial system for this…”

Since Harnie arrived, the amount of work requiring attention began to noticeably decrease.

The piles of documents that never seemed to shrink were being processed at a rapid pace.

The reporting cycles from within the territory, which had been relentlessly frequent, were either extended much longer or disappeared altogether.

Conflicts with the Westerners, as well as clashes with neighboring territories, were easily resolved.

Furthermore, folk remedies, indigenous beliefs, religions, and cultures – elements that were causing problems in various places – were being resolved all at once.

‘This… these aren’t things that could be resolved so easily, are they?’

…Surely, these were the things that wouldn’t disappear even after working for three days straight.

Of course, it wasn’t as if there weren’t mitigating factors for this speed.

In terms of governing a territory, it was more correct to say that she, a noblewoman, knew more than I did.

Although I had gained experience in Ruthmeier and Shatren, the abilities of the individuals leading a trading company couldn’t be ignored. Especially if that person was the mysterious head of a trading company whose identity had never been revealed to the world.

Even considering these detailed reference materials stacked high next to her, contrasting with the documents piled up next to me, this speed was entirely possible.

The existence of Harnié itself is almost like having a cheat code.

She knows the people of the West inside and out.

She’s intimately familiar with which special products and industries our territory leans towards.

The flow of coin, the quality of manpower, the valuable goods, even the territory’s interests – all of it was information neatly cataloged in Harnié’s head.

In other words, her presence is the core that’s processing these tasks right now.

However, that’s what makes it so much stranger.

‘…It’s just too perfect.’

Simply having her by my side allows for such easy resolutions.

Then, luck adds to the advantage, timing couldn’t be better to use the power of a merchant to its fullest, doubling the speed.

Even when a tricky case arises, she has contacts everywhere, able to utilize a wide range of abilities without holding back.

Yes. It’s luck.

Truly, an incredible stroke of luck.

But, while it’s luck, is it *too* much luck? I can’t help but think that.

The things that had me sweating for three days, handling them one by one, are being resolved so easily?

I haven’t even been able to take a step forward in the territory I was granted, because I have mountains of things to investigate?

No matter how much I prepare materials through prior investigation and wield the power of a merchant, there’s something undeniably fishy here. It’s as if these materials have all the right information, offering solutions to existing issues far too readily.

And how did she prepare them anyway? Even in three days, is it possible to organize all of this? Isn’t the timing for the merchant guild to thrive *too* conveniently perfect?

Can I really call this luck?

‘This is…’

That initial suspicion flashed through my mind again.

Harnié… she definitely seemed flustered earlier.

Rattling off words like a machine gun, then asking me to leave her with the work… perhaps?

“…Excuse me, Karsein.”

As if sensing my gaze, she spoke up willingly.

“I’m sorry.”

With that sudden apology, she gently set down the pen she was holding.

“Ahaha. I tried to hide it fairly well… but I end up getting caught by you every time.”

“…”

“But I didn’t have any bad intentions. Really, truly!”

Harnié, laughing awkwardly, waved her hands, emphasizing that she had no such intent.

“Hmm… even so, there’s still room for misunderstandings, isn’t there? So… where should I even begin explaining…”

Explanation.

Just as I suspected, there was something.

But Harnié didn’t want to deceive me further.

Sensing I’d caught on to something, she quickly apologized, trying to smooth things over to avoid any misconceptions. Asking for just a little time.

The future unfolds before me.

Soon, thoughts, somewhat organized in her head, will spill from her lips.

And I’ll hear that story, understanding the situation I’ve found myself in.

Needless to say, I don’t even entertain the notion that she has ill intentions.

She’ll gradually unravel the confusing bits, and I’ll pose a few questions.

About me, about her, and about my current circumstances too.

…Yes. That’s the future.

Through those questions, I’ll come to understand Harnié’s true intentions.

Penetrating to the heart of the matter, I’ll finally be convinced.

The future unfolding before me.

Such an obvious outcome, the future I’m about to face.

We’ll resolve this little kerfuffle smoothly, without any major problems.

‘…But why am I so displeased with it?’

Truly, truly displeased.

‘…Yeah. I don’t like this. I don’t want to see Harnié agonizing like that, nor do I want to see her worried face, afraid that I’ve misunderstood.’

If that kind of future is coming, I’d rather change that choice myself.

“I don’t know. I’m a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to these things.”

“Huh?”

“If I had to pick something, maybe… that I feel bad because my girlfriend is putting in so much effort for me?”

Yeah. Is it really necessary to know everything?

Is there a need to understand it all?

They say sometimes ignorance is bliss, right?

In this case, it’s okay for me to remain oblivious, isn’t it?

“Anyway, my energy is flagging a bit. With so much work, I don’t feel like doing anything.”

“Eeeh…?”

“Just a little longer, let me hold you. Is that alright?”

Let’s just throw it all away.

That prickling unease, the suspicion, the nagging doubt, none of it matters.

Today, I choose to be an utter fool.

“Carsein, you really are…”

Harnier sighed, the sound drained of its strength.

So, Harnier noticed too… no, wait. Why am I thinking? I’m supposed to be an utter fool, remember?

A sigh? Why the sigh?

Don’t care. Not paying attention to any of that.

Right! What I see is my ridiculously beautiful girlfriend.

“Actually, I lied.”

“Lied…?”

“About this. It’s not from being tired. It’s something I feel every time. You’re so beautiful, I just don’t want to work. I want to throw it all away.”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

“No, I mean it. You’re so beautiful, I can’t focus on work. How can I just sit there and work when I have a woman like you?”

“What are you even saying? Seriously!”

Harnier shook my shoulder lightly, like I was completely hopeless.

“Yeah, hit me all you want, it doesn’t hurt. You shouldn’t be so pretty if you don’t like it.”

“Will you, will you stop? I’m going to seriously hit you if you keep it up.”

“You don’t know, because it’s your own body, how good you smell. And you’re so warm and comforting, it feels like I have everything in the world when I hold you… ow.”

“I told you to cut it out, seriously.”

“I’m just stating facts, why are you like this? Because I have a pretty, well-shaped, kind girlfriend, that’s why.”

And with that, I pulled Harnier closer, taking a deep inhale of her scent.

Fragrant. Warm, comforting. Right now, I could define what happiness is.

It’s holding Harnier.

“Ugh… I told you to stop!”

Oops. Guess I went a little too far.

Harnier’s fox-like eyes sharpened.

Well… you know what comes next.

No one knows better than I do what’s about to happen.

But I didn’t do it halfway, not deliberately.

It was me who didn’t stop at a moderate level, but went further, twisted it all up.

Because that was my choice.

“Agh!”

*Whack!* A long-awaited back-handed spike came flying.

My back tingles. Enough to jolt me awake.

“Ugh. That hurts.”

“Serves you right for not being a little more moderate.”

Harnie sighed deeply, approaching me as she rubbed my back.

“But… thank you.”

-Peck.

Soft lips gently overlapped mine.

As our lips parted, a shy face emerged.

Just that pose of her lightly tucking hair behind her ear makes my mouth move on its own.

“Being this pretty is cheating.”

“Wh-what are you even saying!”

“Agh!”

The shy face turned sharp again and I got hit one more time, but I didn’t entirely dislike it.

“…Now you don’t need to touch that thing anymore.”

She understood my intentions, and she was subtly giving me a hint too.

*

Perhaps, because she was smart, she might have noticed.

As time passed, there were aspects that would have seemed strange if a sense of unease didn’t arise.

I tried to deceive her by correcting and adjusting as much as possible, but it probably wasn’t enough to fool Karsein.

So, I quickly tucked my tail between my legs.

I didn’t deny that I was deliberately deceiving her, and tried to reveal everything I had hidden from her. I didn’t want to leave behind even minor misunderstandings, so I was going to confess everything honestly.

But the story went completely awry.

It was clear that the focus was gradually being grasped, and yet that atmosphere suddenly reversed.

Because it was Karsein, the one who should have been suspicious, who overturned the atmosphere himself, not anyone else.

“That’s unfair. Changing the subject like that.”

Harnier flushed, a secret smile playing on her lips.

How could he not know, starting with that sudden back hug and then all that complaining he never usually did?

He acted as if he’d been rendered an utter fool.

Instead of asking questions, he’d just made excuses, nuzzling, clinging, repeating how pretty she was.

And then, stubbornly, he’d said exactly what he knew would earn him a smack, and of course, he got it.

All that just to shift the atmosphere like that.

To completely bury the original topic.

And.

Thinking about how she played along, pretending not to notice, Harnier clutched at her pounding heart.

“Well, I don’t know. I’m a bit dense when it comes to this sort of thing.”

“Pardon?”

“If I had to put my finger on it… Maybe I’m a little sorry that my girlfriend is going to so much trouble for me?”

“Really. Why does he have to stir my heart like this?”

Always just giving. Always conceding. Always only losing.

That foolish man had always been like that.

But this time, it’s different.

“He said to expect it, so I really have to surprise him properly, don’t I?”

She wouldn’t just be on the receiving end.

Having been handed an opportunity like this, she had to repay him with a dazzling finale.

Above and beyond what she’d received.

– *Shhhk.* –

As the curtain was drawn back, something pure white was revealed.

Astonishingly, it was the object that would decorate the day of tomorrow splendidly.

*

Having spent the day burying the clues of those intensely busy three days, the next day had arrived.

Today was not busy. All the original tasks had vanished.

But it seemed something even more special was about to happen.

Having woken up early, Camilla was already there, and she promptly announced she had prepared a bath, ushering me to the bathroom. Apparently, Harnier had hired her as a handmaid.

It looked like there was an important event. But as if telling me not to ask, she silently went about her business, only attending to me and not uttering a single word beyond that.

And.

“Hmm. I’m starting to feel like I want to take this blindfold off.”

“You can’t.”

“…This isn’t some kind of revenge for me blindfolding you last time, is it?”

“Of course not.”

Having finished all the preparations, I was riding in a carriage, my eyes covered.

It was a mirroring of what had happened a short while ago.

I had also blindfolded Harnier.

If you just reversed our positions, it was the exact same situation as before.

‘This… now that I’m experiencing it, it must have been really frustrating, huh?’

Just waiting was truly very frustrating. It was fortunate that I was at least holding a hand, otherwise, it would have been much more…

-Shhhk.

‘Huh?’

Harnier’s hand, which I had been holding so tightly, slipped out of mine.

“Harnier?”

“From now on, you have to wait alone, Karsein.”

“Ah… alone?”

“Yes. We’ve arrived at our destination, but the most important part remains.”

She’s asking me to wait, so there must be a reason, but… alone? And blindfolded?

“I know you have a lot of questions. But, when the time comes, you’ll know everything.”

“Hmm… So, you’re saying you’ll come get me then?”

“…”

“Harnier?”

I asked again because there was no answer, but she didn’t respond to that question.

“I’ll trust you. I have to wait until you signal me and not take off the blindfold, right? I have to wait, okay?”

The carriage door opened and then closed again.

With a short farewell, Harnier left the carriage.

“Hmm.”

My head was filled with question marks.

What exactly was Harnier hiding? What had she been doing all this time? And what was she planning to do during this time? I knew nothing.

Yesterday, I said I would be a fool who knew nothing, so I suppose it’s fine, but even now, I still couldn’t quite grasp what was going on.

The only clue: I mustn’t remove the blindfold.

Or, put another way, the moment I do, I’ll understand everything.

“Gotta wait, I guess.”

A period of endurance descended.

Unable to hear, unable to see, untouched by anything, I waited for what felt like ten minutes.

-Knock, knock.

‘A knock…’

Harnier’s signal.

I immediately tore off the blindfold.

After being covered for so long, the sunlight felt remarkably harsh.

“Damn, I should have opened the door after adjusting to—”

-Screech!

As if mocking my thoughts, the carriage door swung open.

And just like that, I learned the reason.

-Bang!

A grand explosion of fireworks coincided with the blinding sunlight.

The sounds of joyous applause filled my ears to the point of ache, mingling with the delicate falling of cherry blossoms.

Once my eyes had adjusted, I could only stare, dumbfounded.

“Ha, haha.”

That I would understand everything in due time.

They weren’t wrong.

There were many strange things afoot, but… they truly weren’t wrong.

I’d been well and truly ambushed.

So that’s why they had kept me occupied like that, to prepare all this.

To plan something so elaborate. I admit defeat.

Amidst the sakura blossoms raining down, thick with fragrance, a long, crimson carpet stretched out, guiding my path.

““Congratulations, Young Master!””

As I took a step, the knights showered me with their felicitations.

““We celebrate, Lord!””

Another step, and now the citizens of the estate roared their cheer.

“May you be happy!”

“Magnificent!”

Camilla, Tasha, and the other maids of the Duke’s household.

Heron, Shayden, and the butlers and servants of the Duke’s estate.

“A fine day indeed!”

“Hahaha. You speak the truth!”

Baron Ptoa, Marquis Magnuel, and the rest of the vassals.

“What’s with that blank look! Straighten your shoulders. Carsein!”

“Hm. Lucky for me to see this sight before I kick the bucket.”

The dignitaries from the various regions.

“Hahaha! Those watching nearly died of frustration, you know.”

“It’s a relief. We were seriously considering whether to deem it treason against the Imperial Family.”

The sly, serpentine Imperial siblings.

“Big Brother is so awesome-!”

“Hey, hey! Flora! You’ll get hurt! Ugh, congratulations, Carsein!”

“Congratulations. My son.”

Even those family members he once hated so much, reviled, and considered accursed.

With each step he took, everyone he had ever met filled the space.

And then.

“Welcome. Carsein.”

She was there, waiting for him, wearing a pure white dress.

For him, whose entire life had been one of lonely existence, a ray of light shone.

For him, who believed he lived only with his back turned to the world, a radiant beam bloomed.

One person who, since time immemorial, had only looked at him, only watched over him, only thought of him.

That person was waiting for him.

“Now, I shall commence the wedding ceremony of Carsein Wederoa and Harnie Theresia!”

Textbooks, they answer the word ‘family’ in this manner.

Family is an unbreakable bond, they say. Like the adage that blood is thicker than water, defining it as the closest and most deeply connected relationship.

Those who can help you in your most difficult times. A connection that remains unbroken, sharing happiness within the home until one’s dying breath, and so forth, many expressions exist.

Those phrases that he once couldn’t understand now began to resonate.

It was all, every single word, true.

No expression rang false.

“Groom, Karsein Wederos, do you take Harniere Theresia to be your wife, to love her in joy and sorrow, unwavering until the end?”

“I do.”

“Bride, Harniere Theresia, do you take Karsein Wederos to be your husband… hm?”

“Yes. He’s my man, my husband! I’m never letting him go. But, it’s so late, I can’t bear it anymore!”

“N-Now, just a moment. That part of the ceremony isn’t until─”

-Smooch.

─Hahahahaha!

There, in a place blessed by all.

I gained a new family.