Chapter 84

“Wh, Why are you here…?”

“First, could you let me stretch my body a bit?”

“Body…?”

Naturally, her gaze drifts downwards at his words.

Her two arms are bound, wrapped around Carsein.

What kind of situation is this?

She was happily rolling around, holding something warm and comfortable, thinking she could sleep a few more hours, but it turned out to be Carsein?

Her cheeks turn red.

The white skin that was turning red started from her face and spread, spreading a hot flush.

“Gya, Gyaak!!”

“Ckh!”

She screamed as she pushed him away.

“You! You were pretending, but in the end, you…!”

“Uu… if you did something like that, the Oath Gem would have activated!”

“S-So… What happened? Why was I in the carriage like this…”

“Really. Asking me that? I was so tired I fell asleep first.”

Carsein, who was pushed off the seat, rubbed his back as he stood up.

“I fell asleep? Me?”

“Do you not remember? You said you’d repay me properly after entering the carriage, so wait.”

“…”

Recalling the memory, it was true.

Due to Carsein teasing her, she grumbled and quickly finished整理继续：

the Shatren Territory report, intending to repay him.

And then…

She couldn’t remember anything.

It meant she had fallen asleep right there.

How long had she slept for?

Trying to check the time, Carsein placed a watch right in front of her eyes.

‘Seven, three hours? Did I really sleep that long?!”

Her dazed mind suddenly cleared.

She had slept for three hours leaning on his shoulder, and instead of saying thanks, she impulsively thought he was a pervert and pushed him over?!

This was outright ungrateful.

Harnier asked with a trembling voice,

“Er… Carsein? Can I ask you a few questions…?”

“What?”

He asked with an uneasy response.

“That is… My body was pressed against yours…”

Sighing deeply, Carsein scratched his head and shook his head.

“No, no… Did I hold you while sleeping?”

She didn’t want it to be true.

She wanted to believe it wasn’t true.

But, she already felt intuitively that it was likely true.

He nodded.

Her reddening cheeks spread out, and her eyes started to waver.

Like her confused mind, her purple eyes scrutinized Carsein carefully.

“Why, why do you think that? Even if it was because of the contract, you wouldn’t… And besides, you wouldn’t think of me that way… I must have been out of my mind… No, that’s not it! That…!”

Though she was rambling, her point was clear.

“I’m sorry!”

She apologized to the person who caught her falling, the one who lent her his shoulder for a comfortable sleep.

But instead of apologizing, she had suspected him and pushed him over.

Carsein’s forehead bulged with a cross-shaped vein.

“Ouch!”

He flicked a light bean at her forehead.

“Apology? If you knew your mistake, don’t helplessly sleep and waste time like this anymore.”

“Yes, yes… Eh?”

Harnier, who was rubbing her forehead, looked up, puzzled.

“Carsein, what did you say just now…?”

He chuckled and replied,

“The Shatren Territory report. Thank you, Harnier.”

As if he already knew.

As if he didn’t need an explanation.

That was his answer.

***

“I’ll be going back now, Harnier.”

“…”

Harnier lowered her head. Her cheeks flushed again with embarrassment.

Carsein awkwardly laughed, climbed into the carriage without saying a word, and left.

Meanwhile, Harnier raised her head slightly, watching him climb into the carriage.

“Be careful, Carsein! Thanks for today… uh…”

Though she felt embarrassed, she had to say thank you.

“You too, Harnier.”

Fortunately, his words reached her, and he stopped for a moment to reply before climbing back into the carriage.

Watching the carriage disappear, Harnier kept her eyes on him until he was completely gone.

After Carsein left, Harnier covered her blushing cheeks with both hands, trying to cool them down. She even fanned herself to dissipate the heat.

“Oh… My face is still burning…”

She felt so embarrassed showing such a state to Carsein that the heat wouldn’t subside.

Harnier speculated the reason:

“…I didn’t even ask why the Shatren Territory investigation was ongoing.”

He only said thank you, not even pressing for details or asking simple questions.

She probably had guessed that much.

“Why am I feeling this way?”

Her cheeks puffed up involuntarily.

When she secretly tried to give Carsein the Shatren Territory report, she had been found out.

She didn’t even ask how he knew.

It wouldn’t be hard to see a document slip from her hand while she was asleep.

Certainly, it must have been a satisfactory deal for both parties.

Yet, she felt unsatisfied.

Was it because her intention was exposed directly?

Or was it because he hadn’t shown surprise at the fact, implying he had anticipated it?

“Then… that voice…”

Carsein’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Ah…!”

Her cheeks flared up again.

Because he had watched her all along, it made it even more embarrassing.

Not to mention, he accurately pinpointed every detail.

He noticed she had yawned in the morning.

He remembered her saying she lacked sleep due to work.

He observed her concentrating on the report during the remaining time in the carriage.

And…

“Did you sleep well?”

His voice, heard immediately upon waking up.

The distance between them had become too close, making her flustered, and that scene had deeply imprinted itself in her mind.

“Ahh…!”

She waved her arms in the air, trying to erase the memories floating like clouds in her mind.

She tried to deny the strange feeling that Carsein seemed different today.

“It’s because of his consideration. It feels so real, but it’s just his consideration!”

She felt she received more than she gave back.

She hadn’t been able to repay him properly.

“I’ll make sure not to lose next time.”

Feeling inexplicably frustrated, Harnier imagined the warmth left on her body as heat and clenched her fist, resolving to confront him next time.

Meanwhile, Mina approached with a gleam in her eye.

“Miss. Oh, really.”

“Mina?”

“You’ve been saying the bathwater is cooling down. How long will you keep looking?”

“Did it take that long?”

Harnier tilted her head, puzzled.

Mina’s voice sounded faint.

Of course, Mina deliberately approached without saying anything.

Because Harnier’s gaze had been fixed on the carriage.

This must have some meaning.

As a woman, Harnier felt a sense of intuition.

“Master Carsein. Isn’t he quite a good person?”

“Huh? Yeah, he is…? Considering he pays attention to such small things…”

Caught!

Mina smiled suggestively.

“What? I said it’s fine as long as it’s a good deal. Small things?”

“Huh? No, that’s not it! There is something!”

“What is it? Did you do something extra for Miss?”

“No, no! Nothing like that. The bathwater is cooling down, right? I’ll go take a bath!”

Harnier thought she had escaped unnoticed, but Mina’s sharp gaze had already captured her.

Her cheeks turned rosy.

Her ears slightly pink and her eyes wavering.

And unconsciously, she was touching Carsein’s arm, which had been resting on her shoulder.

This was already beyond a budding sprout.

“Let’s go, Miss!”

If our Miss, who has never had a proper date, meets this man, perhaps she can have a happy time.

Mina followed Harnier, indulging in a dream slightly removed from reality.

“Phew.”

“How is the water temperature?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect.”

Feeling like her tired body was melting, Harnier soaked in the bathtub after Mina served her, taking a brief rest.

Closing her eyes and briefly enjoying a sense of liberation, she suddenly felt worried.

“Preparing for the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting…?”

After the Peselros Empire unified, the Royal Family took strict measures to root out the corrupt nobility exploiting the people.

Those protecting the empire were mostly commoners, and the nobles, using this as a shield, enjoyed peace within the empire.

Thus, the Royal Family warned them:

“If you are nobles, act like nobles.”

They demanded proof that they deserved their status each year at the annual Eastern Nobles’ Meeting.

This meeting was where nobles had to prove their worth to the empire.

“…There, Shatren Territory…”

Carsein chose a territory.

How would he improve the lives of the residents through new systems?

How would he create opportunities for those suffering from poverty?

How would he prevent crime and alleviate the discontent towards the nobles?

He declared he would take responsibility and execute these plans to prove his ability by managing a territory.

Choosing a territory wasn’t bad.

Territories are commonly used in the Eastern Nobles’ Meeting among nobles.

But for Carsein, it might not be a good choice.

“I investigated it myself, but it wasn’t in good shape, not even slightly.”

Shatren Territory.

Once prosperous under the Bargrand family, it wasn’t the same anymore.

One person’s decision led to its decline, and the residents blamed Carsein for it.

Afterward, Carsein was restrained by Arina and the order was revoked, but they failed to regain the former prosperity.

Even now, they haven’t recovered.

If she were in his position, attempting to revive Shatren Territory wouldn’t be easy.

“It probably won’t be easy. Reviving a once-prosperous Shatren Territory among the Bargrand territories.”

Before achieving success, the residents of Shatren Territory would strongly oppose.

How could they accept someone who ruined their lives coming back to revive the territory?

Moreover, there was little hope of turning things around.

Based on her investigation and organization, this was the case.

That’s why she could smile again.

“But you took the report knowing it wasn’t in good condition… So, you must have had a plan, right?”

In a previous trial, he overturned a major event and produced unexpected results no one could predict.

His voice, thanking her for the Shatren Territory report, showed no hint of unease.

He must have anticipated being given the task of reviving Shatren Territory and prepared a plan and alternative solutions.

“I’m looking forward to how you’ll shake up the world again, Carsein.”