Chapter 80

“Wh, what did you just…?”

“Grated bars… the world…?”

The party hall turns pale with shock at such buttery smooth dialogue.

Some pull their fingers away, squirming, while others suddenly crave wine and gulp it down.

A few whisper barely audible “Ugh,” not wanting to be heard.

Of course, if we said such lines out loud, how could we ever recover?

Damn. Even I, who said it, am not okay with this.

No one rushed to say more, though.

One guy suggested they need time alone, saying it with a stutter.

Taking advantage, Harnier quickly excused herself and headed towards the terrace faster than ever.

Holding my hand tightly.

“Grr!”

Shivering from the cheesy line, Harnier tried to shake off the stickiness.

Thanks to that, as soon as she entered the terrace, her self-loathing came flooding back.

“I threw that line, but isn’t that a bit too much of a reaction, Harnier?”

“You didn’t seem like such a sticky person…”

“This is all because of someone.”

She seemed to guess what I was going to say, twitching her lips and avoiding eye contact.

Sighs escaped me.

“…Sigh. Why did you have to deceive me?”

“Deceive? We agreed to help each other.”

“Helping means ruining my image?”

“Did you specifically say you wanted help? Nothing wrong with this, right?”

“Your eyes avoid me when you say that; it’s not convincing.”

I get it.

I thought helping each other would be more efficient for our plans.

But this is different.

“I think it’s not working out. My whole image has changed.”

Harnier shrugged her shoulders, seemingly confused.

“Doesn’t work out? I helped too.”

This woman?

Really?

“At the trial, I helped. Visited the knight order directly… I even did something for the public good, hmm.”

Harnier turned her head, saying this with a new sense of pride.

Though her eyes still trembled, knowing she crossed a line.

Still, here she comes.

Without hesitation, I grabbed her chin, fixing her gaze on mine.

She couldn’t manage her expression in shock.

“!”

“Because of that, I became a legendary lover you can’t live without. So, should I steal your kiss as payment?”

“What are you talking about?!”

“You said fair exchange, right? So, I think I’m legally allowed to steal your kiss now.”

“No! That’s…!”

Harnier’s face started to flush.

Her reaction is quite cute. Should I tease her more?

“In fact, I’d welcome a kiss from such a beautiful lady. It feels like love could bloom.”

“Ugh… Can you stop with those cheesy lines? Wait! Are you sneaking up on me? Stop! Don’t come closer?!”

“I told you before, I’d welcome it if it’s you.”

“My first kiss… Can you really just take it like that?”

“It’s fine. I’m having my first kiss too. But since I became a legendary lover, I should learn to handle kisses, right?”

“Don’t talk nonsense and let go!”

Unfortunately, in this position against the wall, she can’t resist.

Should I make a quick choice before she makes a fuss?

Should I lose your precious first kiss?

Or should I make a proper deal?

Harnier reluctantly lowered her head, admitting her mistake.

“I’m sorry for deceiving you. Please stop…”

“No more excuses? If you complain later, I’ll really—”

“Alright, alright!”

With a flushed face, she tapped my shoulder, asking me to let go.

As I pulled back, she fanned herself to cool down.

“So, what do you want?”

Looks like I have the upper hand now.

Hmm.

I hadn’t planned this deeply, so there was no plan.

But, seems like I have a lot to be upset about this time.

“Lately, I’ve been hit without reason. I had palm prints on my back twice.”

“Wha— You…?”

Harnier’s voice trembled in disbelief.

Why don’t you experience it yourself?

I smirked.

***

“Now, you’re going to hit me for no reason?!”

“Do you know what it feels like to be hit for no reason? That’s really unfair, right?”

“That’s because you’re so clueless…”

“What did you say?”

“…”

When Carsein repeated his question, Harnier immediately shut her mouth.

She knew that would just provoke him more.

But, it backfired.

“Oh, by the way, I’m clueless. I don’t know how to be considerate?”

Aaaah!

Why did I say that?!

Harnier internally cried, wanting to grab her head.

‘Isn’t that action a bit much?’

But he wouldn’t really hit her, right?

Strong… or not, a man hitting a woman for payment is ridiculous.

It’s not serious.

It’s a joke.

Harnier swallowed hard, cautiously asking:

“But you won’t actually hit me, right?”

He smiled mysteriously and took another step forward.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s ungentlemanly… right?”

“No problem. I’m originally a commoner. Not a gentleman.”

“Bu— Carsein, you’re usually quite nice. You’re generous and understanding…”

“I’m actually a beggar. Haven’t paid back money I borrowed late.”

“What?! No, you’re not. The you I know is compassionate enough to understand a maid’s situation and help…”

“Better to finish this quickly, Harnier.”

She threw everything at him, but Carsein didn’t budge.

Neither compliments nor flattering words worked.

He wasn’t going to give in.

“…”

He was right in front of her, breathing into his fist.

Harnier whispered softly.

“Just a little leniency…”

Carsein sighed lightly, watching her.

Despite that, his heated fist rose.

She clenched her eyes shut, expecting pain.

Her body curled up, trying to endure the coming pain, but she was trembling.

Then, *thunk*.

A light tap on her forehead.

“Eh?”

Opening her eyes, she saw Carsein’s finger poking her lightly.

“Ah?”

She looked puzzled.

In his violet eyes, Carsein was teasing her.

“Even if you’re serious, would you really hit your fiancée with your bare fists? Hehe.”

“…”

“Because you didn’t tell me after causing such an accident, I played a little game. I won’t hit people.”

He said as if the tap was the end.

Instead, he said he’d collect the debt.

Sinking into the chair, Harnier finally relaxed.

“Sigh. Really… Why are people so mean?”

“Since you buttered my mouth, shouldn’t I be able to play a little?”

“Still, I thought you were going to hit me. I was scared when I heard knights were hit too.”

“Oh, I only hit those who provoke me. Why would I raise a hand against you, Harnier?”

Yes, that’s him.

Didn’t I already experience this in the carriage?

Rather than hitting, he’s the type to throw himself in to save you.

If I had thought earlier, I’d have known it was just a joke.

‘If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell me? What’s the point of joking around again?’

Yet, I found myself grumbling.

“Let’s hear the situation first. We need to make a countermeasure, right?”

“Gruh. Thinking about that gives me a headache… but yes.”

“Settle it with some finesse. Let’s calm down, get a drink, and think of an excuse.”

Carsein said and left the terrace.

Left alone, Harnier had enough time to catch her breath.

Now, she needed to figure out how to clean up past events in the party hall.

But strangely, instead of planning, another thought came first.

“…How many times is this?”

Their contract aims for mutual goals and public benefit.

But over time, it hasn’t felt like Carsein benefited much.

“Most things I handle alone… why am I getting so much help from him?”

Granted, he gave me a handkerchief, but that doesn’t count as repayment since I used it as an excuse to meet my fiancé.

Even though I borrowed a small amount, I paid it back.

And even though I used another handkerchief, it was indirectly helpful.

At the trial, I helped, but I could have handled it myself.

My etiquette lessons were subpar anyway.

On the other hand,

Once in the carriage, our bodies were pressed together.

And this time, trapped against the wall.

Twice, I nearly got seriously hurt.

And how many threats has he saved me from?

During the snow festival, he stood up for me against social circle harassment.

At the Marquis Mansion, he protected me from pressure.

And this time too.

Even when I made a reckless move, he stood up for me.

“…This can’t continue. Harnier.”

While I need a ruthless heart for the plan, morally, I can’t exploit him.

Even though he’s seen as a rude troublemaker, he’s not.

He just needs to learn proper etiquette and has the will to follow it.

Rumors of misconduct are just rumors.

The crucial thing is, he’s not evil.

He’s shown immense compassion, even to those who bullied him closely.

I treated him like any other man at first, which was embarrassing.

“Yes. I need to repay him properly.”

Nodding firmly, Harnier resolved to repay Carsein.

Of course,

“But I don’t know how to answer questions outside about this…”

I need to wrap things up first.

***

Harnier needs time to make a plan.

Meanwhile, I slipped out of the terrace with a suitable excuse.

▶ There are currently no ongoing Episodes!◀

I needed to test something.

‘Even though there’s no current episode… could I change the sequence and run an episode?’

In Chapter 1, I never considered performing tasks ahead of schedule.

But coming here with Harnier first made me realize I should have visited later.

Seeing a sub-episode appear made me wonder if I could handle it earlier.

Shouldn’t I try?

‘The problem is… I’m not that free here.’

Currently, I’m drawing a lot of attention from the nobles.

Using the excuse of fetching a drink might work, but it’s hard to sneak in a sub-episode unnoticed.

Especially with someone who could solve this sub-episode right in front of me.

There’s no choice then.

*Clang!*