Chapter 240

“Really, what a great opportunity! A trip, and not just any trip, but one by the sea!”

“Uh? Why is this a great opportunity?”

“Miss. You owe the young master a big debt, don’t you?”

“…Ah.”

“Now is the time to pay it back with this!”

When Symphony ended and she received an early notice about the trip.

Mina had said that much.

With the debt owed to young master Carsein, now was the perfect chance to repay it.

She even gave advice on what to bring as a gift and to stick close to his room.

Seeing how things were going, Harnier was bursting with anticipation for this trip.

A math study trip.

While officially for learning, it was more of an escape from the stress of recent exams.

There could be moments alone with Carsein.

The atmosphere would be perfect for giving him a gift.

After changing into new clothes at the hotel, she spent ages pondering.

“Should I really wear this? It’s too…”

Putting down the outfit given by Mina, thinking it wasn’t right.

Then picking it up again after hearing Mina’s nagging voice in her head.

After much deliberation, she finally decided on another approach and left.

Anyway, she had taken care of the gift for Carsein.

But then.

“Oh my. Look at young master Carsein.”

“Gulp. Look at those defined muscles. Oh my…”

“Even though his back and shoulders are covered, they must be solid…”

In swim trunks and shirt, Carsein’s appearance drew whispers from the women.

Suddenly feeling odd, Harnier thought:

“Why does this situation feel so unpleasant?”

He wasn’t being criticized.

On the contrary, he was receiving praise for his trained body.

Yet, it didn’t feel good at all.

Probably just being overly sensitive.

Harnier thought to herself.

-Pang!

Carsein blocked the incoming object.

This was a perfectly normal action, protecting his ally.

No, it went beyond that. He was very gentlemanly. Unlike the young lord who fled first, he knew how to protect a lady. Very gentlemanly indeed.

But then.

“Let’s go now. Before we get properly hit and disqualified.”

“Th-thank you…”

“…”

Just moments ago, they were having fun steadily advancing in the game as a team.

That single action changed everything.

If they were bound to lose anyway, why not let them?

Even if there’s pain, it shouldn’t be unbearable here.

If it’s going to end in disqualification, why not let it happen?

Even though another man has already forfeited.

Given how the tide has turned, wouldn’t it be better to let them forfeit and then surrender?

It irked her.

The noble girls’ initial gazes upon Carsein’s body.

The screams outside.

The woman who just slumped over looking at Carsein.

Carsein’s actions.

Everything grated on her nerves.

An involuntary sigh escaped her lips.

“…Hmm.”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“I’m glad I was saved by you, my lady. I couldn’t take my eyes off you outside the field.”

“Huh… Really?”

Oh, such a clumsy response.

-Snap.

A cross-shaped vein appeared on Harnier’s forehead.

“Harnier, just give up. We can’t win this.”

To end it here?

Block and then surrender?

“I don’t want to.”

“What?”

“I kind of want to see it through.”

This can’t be tolerated.

“Stop everything. I won’t let her win, okay?”

So, block hard.

Block harder than when stopping that girl.

With a smile, Harnier grabbed another object with mana.

-Cough, cough!

Arshien, watching Harnier and Carsein closely, choked on her drink.

No, it wasn’t just choking.

The chill in the air was so intense, it made her shudder.

Well, the cause was obvious.

Anyone who saw that eerie smile would guess enough.

Arshien sighed deeply seeing Carsein.

“Oh, how could someone be so clueless?”

Tsk tsk.

It was natural to click her tongue.

With a fiancée right there, saving another woman with her own hands. And even encouraging them to leave?

“You should know what happens when a woman gets jealous.”

They say a woman with a grudge can make ice form even in July.

Arshien rested her chin, wanting to see the struggle.

And then, an unexpected turn of events happened.

***

Originally, it was supposed to end in a forfeit, but since Harnier refused to surrender, the game continued.

‘Continuing like this in this state?’

‘Only two of us left… why?’

‘If they knew how many were left on our side, wouldn’t it be better to just surrender?’

‘Especially since it’s the two princesses of the Bargrand family on our side.’

The opposing side must have been puzzled.

‘Two people, what difference does it make?’

‘We’ll finish them quickly.’

‘It’s clear they’ll tire out eventually.’

Thinking this, they resumed the game.

Using mana to drop obstacles, exploiting gaps to use items and bind legs, and attacking back.

However.

Once the game restarted, players started dropping from their side.

“Gah!”

“Ahh!”

-Smack! Smack! Smash!

The sounds grew oddly fierce.

‘Huh?’

‘Miss Harnier seems to be throwing harder than before…?’

‘Ahh! Scary!’

Watching teammates fall one by one, they swallowed hard.

“Why are you all doing nothing? We outnumber them significantly!”

“There’s no need to be intimidated just because a few have fallen. If we focus our efforts, she’ll tire out soon.”

Claire and Arina tried to explain, but players kept falling.

As most of the princesses fell, defenders dwindled.

-Smack.

“Ah?!”

Claire too.

-Smack.

“Unbelievable!”

Arina also.

Unable to avoid Harnier’s relentless attacks, they were eliminated.

Claire and Arina’s team was now severely reduced.

Gradually eliminating the opposing team’s leaders, they reached this point.

2:2. They were tied.

All that was needed was to eliminate one more team.

But…

“Gasp, huff…”

Running around to protect Harnier, Carsein was exhausted.

Gasping for breath, he inwardly cried,

‘Ugh, so tired!’

How many times had he blocked?

He couldn’t even remember.

Harnier wanted to continue the game, and he agreed, albeit reluctantly.

…He had to move to avoid the spike hitting his back.

Using mana would deplete him quickly, so he used his body.

Now, only one team remained.

One more team down and the game was over.

No more marks on his back!

“Inhale!”

Carsein blocked the final attack.

And then.

“Ugh!”

“Ahh!”

Harnier eliminated the last two, securing victory.

-Thump.

“Heh, huff.”

Exhausted, he lay sprawled out.

Sweat drenched his back, and his entire body was soaked.

Seeing this, Harnier matched his eye level and said with a haughty tone,

“Hmph. Who asked for such consideration?”

“Huh, yes, yes? What do you mean… Ouch!”

Harnier pinched Carsein’s side.

“The fiancée is right behind you. Helping another woman? Wanting to be suspected?”

“Ow! I get it! Let me go!”

“Hmph.”

Releasing him, Harnier turned away sharply.

Though somewhat relieved, she still felt uneasy.

‘Was I too harsh?’

Looking at him sprawled out, drenched in sweat, she felt a pang of guilt.

His popularity came from his looks and physique.

Blocking the spike and letting him go was due to his gentle nature.

Reflecting on it, Carsein hadn’t meant anything by it.

Still, it felt a bit excessive.

Feeling guilty, Harnier stood up.

‘I should at least wipe the sweat. Where’s the towel?’

Just then.

-Woosh!

An object flew directly towards Harnier’s face.

From the opposing team, who had regained consciousness.

‘Sheer mistake…’

Why did she forget?

The princess hadn’t declared the game over yet.

There was no escaping it.

Closing her eyes, Harnier waited for the elimination.

But.

“Harnier!”

-Grip.

Her body instead embraced a firm, muscular one.

-Smack.

With a dull thud, the embrace was released.

“Lucky. Didn’t get hit.”

“You…”

-Thump!

“Leave the rest to me. Got it?”

Carsein, declared out by the object, moved out of the field.

Unable to suppress the rising smile, she clamped her mouth shut.

Heart pounding, eyes blinking rapidly, heat rising.

And then.

“Leave the rest to me. Got it?”

The voice replayed.

It was unfair.

Such a thing was truly unfair.

“Gasp!”

One of the opposing princesses, unable to eliminate Harnier, flinched.

‘First, I need to win…!’

Grabbing another object, she threw it.

Though weaker, it was clear which team won.

-Ping!

“The sole survivor is Miss Harnier! Therefore, victory goes to this team!”

The whistle blew, sealing the win.

Teammates celebrated, laughing and cheering. Pushing through them, Harnier went to find Carsein.

“Excuse me. Let me pass.”

Too many people.

How will she find him?

Recalling him lying down, she spotted him alone on the sand.

“Heh… We won. Still…”

Even amidst defeat, he still talked about winning.

What a foolish man.

-Swish.

“Um… Harnier? Is your anger gone?”

Lifting her head to his knee, Carsein asked, puzzled.

Harnier, suppressing her racing heart, apologized shyly.

“Sorry. For getting angry over something silly.”

“Heh. No, it was my fault. Being careless. It’s true, one shouldn’t do things that invite suspicion.”

Even if they won, it’s fine.

Carsein chuckled.

But Harnier didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, glancing at him.

The feeling of him embracing her at the end still lingered.

Sure, the sensation was dulled by a magical tool, but the moment of holding her tightly still haunted her.

‘Why am I like this?’

His thigh, under her head, felt incredibly ticklish.

Not just because of her hair.

The sensation spread from his thigh to her whole body.

This strange sensation converged into a single point.

-Thump. Thump.

Like when she felt protected in his arms,

Her heart raced uncontrollably.

This summer felt incredibly hot.

Oddly so.