Drip, drip.
The door to the meeting room opened.
The gazes of four girls turned toward the opened door.
There stood…
“Good day, everyone.”
A beauty with gray hair in a black suit.
Han Seo-Jin.
Her calm gray eyes scanned the gloomy faces of the four girls.
Her lips parted.
“The worries you all carry…”
Click.
The door to the meeting room closed.
“I have the perfect solution for those worries.”
Han Seo-Jin’s gray eyes grew cold.
“Han Seo-Jin! What’s that solution?!”
Before her words had even finished, Makoto raised her hand and shouted.
Gulp.
Eri swallowed dryly.
With the eyes of the four girls fixed on her, Han Seo-Jin declared.
“It’s the Harem Plan.”
A faint smile lingered on Han Seo-Jin’s lips as she said this.
Just a temporary alliance for now.
The Harem Plan.
As Han Seo-Jin’s words settled, a heavy silence fell inside the meeting room.
What conversations had transpired in this room remained unknown.
Yet the girls present had likely realized, through this group date, that they couldn’t individually fend off Olivia’s solo advances.
Everyone here had to unite their strengths to confront Olivia.
After all, the reason Han Seo-Jin had leaked Kim Deok-Sung and Olivia’s solo date information to them was to provoke their spirits.
‘Just as expected, the atmosphere and outcome.’
True to her predictions, the girls were agitated.
Han Seo-Jin’s eyes were gleaming.
But no one was brave enough to initiate a discussion about cooperation.
It was a matter of pride.
After all, the girls were rivals in love.
‘My role is to bell the cat…’
The balance was already broken.
In that case, completing the Harem Plan by utilizing the broken balance was her duty.
Han Seo-Jin’s gaze swept over the girls.
That’s why she stepped forward.
To unite the girls into one team and further incorporate them into the Harem Plan.
Now was the right time.
Han Seo-Jin thought so.
“May I sit for a moment?”
Han Seo-Jin broke the silence.
“Uh, sure. If it’s you, Han Seo-Jin…”
Eri trailed off as she spoke.
Han Seo-Jin sat down and took a bite of a cookie.
As expected from one of the finest hotels in France, even a simple snack was extraordinary in taste.
“What exactly is the Harem Plan… Han Seo-Jin?”
A question reached Han Seo-Jin’s ear.
The girl who asked was Kasumi.
Her violet eyes, still glistening with moisture, were fixed on Han Seo-Jin.
“It’s a way for everyone to stay by his side without being eliminated.”
“Everyone here has a chance to not get eliminated,” Han Seo-Jin said calmly.
The eyes of the girls flickered at her words.
“What do you mean by everyone not being eliminated?” Kasumi wiped her tears with her sleeve and asked again.
“Literally. It means that everyone present here… can marry him, on the condition that you cooperate with my Harem Plan.”
Han Seo-Jin’s eyes sparkled.
She, too, was just one of the women who admired him, so she understood the desire to monopolize a loved one.
If the love race surrounding Kim Deok-Sung were a normal situation, the girls wouldn’t even take a second glance at Han Seo-Jin’s Harem Plan.
“But this isn’t a normal situation.”
Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.
She was so far ahead in the race that she surpassed all the girls combined.
It was truly a runaway; she was the overwhelming frontrunner.
In this abnormal situation, her Harem Plan had to be the only alternative.
That was why Han Seo-Jin decided to make a bold move.
The mention of a Harem Plan shook the girls’ eyes.
An awkward silence filled the air.
At that moment.
The blue-haired beautiful girl, Rin, twiddled her fingers and said, “B-but isn’t Korea and Japan a monogamous society? You can’t be suggesting going to the Middle East…”
Of course, there were some Japanese heroes who secretly took concubines.
But that was unofficial and not recognized by society.
Countries where polygamy was legal were only in the Middle East.
“Ugh.”
Rin bit her lip, unable to finish her sentence.
As the daughter of a prestigious Japanese family, it was impossible for her to naturalize to the Middle East.
But in her heart, she wished to be his wife, even if it meant moving there.
While Rin was lost in thought.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is the only hero with South Korean nationality.”
Han Seo-Jin’s voice struck Rin’s mind.
“Our South Korea is ready to grant any extralegal rights to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, who is our only hero and the revered hero of the Han people.”
With a swift motion, Han Seo-Jin placed a document translated into Japanese on the table.
“Even if it means that this is a polygamy law exclusively for him.”
The Kim Deok-Sung Harem Special Law.
An agreement reached during a closed-door meeting of the ruling and opposition parties at the Blue House.
The document was currently being shown to the four girls.
The gist of the agreement, with the signatures of the President and the leader of the opposition at the bottom, was simple.
“…Polygamy is permitted solely for Kim Deok-Sung. There is no limit on the number of spouses. Furthermore, upon marriage, Kim Deok-Sung’s spouse will be granted South Korean nationality…”
Rin stammered as she read the agreement.
She looked at Han Seo-Jin and asked, “…So, if we marry him, does that mean we must become Korean citizens?”
Rin’s eyebrows twitched.
This was no small consideration for her, the heiress of a prestigious Japanese family; full naturalization to Korea was a significant political burden.
But compared to the completely different culture of the Middle East, if it were South Korea, which shared the same East Asian cultural sphere…
Her heart was drawn in.
Thump.
Rin’s heart raced.
She bit her lip.
“If you wish, you don’t have to fully naturalize to Korea. You can hold dual nationality with both Japanese and South Korean citizenship and still enjoy the benefits of the Harem Special Law.”
Han Seo-Jin explained in a calm voice.
The issue of dual citizenship was the only point of contention between the opposition leader and the President during the closed-door meeting at the Blue House.
The president’s stance was the only point of contention.
The opposition leader advocated for a single nationality for South Korea, while the president argued for allowing dual citizenship. After a lengthy debate and political tug-of-war, the president’s proposal was adopted.
The result is the agreement before us.
“······Dual citizenship.”
Hope sparked in Lynn’s eyes.
While dual citizenship was not without its political burdens, it was certainly better than full naturalization.
“As you can see, this is the agreement reached directly by the President and the leader of the opposition, and assuming the Harem Plan proceeds smoothly, the bill is expected to pass unanimously in the National Assembly.”
Han Seo-Jin pointed to the signatures of the president and the opposition leader at the bottom of the agreement.
Gulp.
Makoto swallowed nervously.
“Under this special law, spouses of Kim Deok-Sung will hold equal legal status as ‘wives.’”
Equal status.
Lynn’s and Eri’s eyes flickered at her words.
Of course, in a world where fairness is a myth, hierarchies would emerge even within that.
“If this Harem Plan goes ahead… there will be no chance of getting dropped from the race and being abandoned by him.”
No one will be abandoned.
That much was true.
Han Seo-Jin’s words stirred the hearts of the four girls.
“Choose.”
Han Seo-Jin’s gaze swept over the four girls.
“Will you join my Harem Plan, and through cooperation, thwart Olivia while all becoming his wives? Or…”
Han Seo-Jin’s gaze sharpened.
“Will you continue to fight separately and allow Olivia to monopolize, leading to a tragic ending for everyone?”
Tap tap.
Han Seo-Jin’s elegant fingers tapped on the agreement papers.
Her words left a heavy silence pressing down on the meeting room.
The Harem Plan.
Polygamy.
Logically, it was absurd.
But.
Creak.
The first to react was Lynn.
“I’ll join.”
She placed her hand firmly on her sizable chest with a determined expression.
“To your Harem Plan.”
Lynn’s fist trembled.
She knew.
She was falling behind in the race.
Her feminine charms were low, she lacked special allure, and the only weapon she had, her physical assault, was something he didn’t particularly enjoy.
Though she often denigrated Eri as a ‘washboard,’ she wasn’t foolish enough to be unaware that she was actually behind even ‘washboard.’
‘If I don’t do this, I might… end up getting eliminated forever…’
She could be completely abandoned.
That fear gnawed at Lynn’s heart.
Lynn’s clenched fist trembled.
That’s why.
The first reason she expressed her intent to cooperate with the Harem Plan was.
“Because right now… this is my only option…”
Lynn spoke in a small voice, as if crawling.
Tears welled in her eyes.
Lynn shook her head, wiping the tears away with her hand.
“So, I will join.”
Even if it means becoming a member of the Harem.
She would stay by his side.
It was better than accepting the worst outcome of elimination.
Lynn thought so as she bit her lip.
“Very well. I’ve registered you. Don’t worry. Shinozaki.”
“······Understood.”
Thump.
Lynn plopped down in her seat.
In that moment.
Suddenly.
Someone raised their hand.
“I want to join too.”
The owner of the voice was Makoto.
She also understood her position well.
Unlike Lynn, Eri, and Olivia, who were founding members from the beginning, she had joined midway as a transfer student.
It was myself who had intruded.
Completing the race was already a miracle.
But if it was the Harem Plan…
Even if I couldn’t win, I definitely wouldn’t be eliminated.
“Kamiya Makoto. You’re registered.”
“I want to join too! I can’t bear being away from Junior… I’d rather die.”
The next girl to join after Rin and Makoto was Kasumi.
“Only Junior can embrace a monster like me… I don’t want to lose Junior…”
Kasumi murmured in a low voice, wrapping her arms around her upper body.
“Understood, Hoshino.”
Han Seo-Jin’s gaze quickly shifted towards Eri.
“Whack!”
Eri swallowed hard at Han Seo-Jin’s attention.
“What about Nishizawa? Will you participate? Or…?”
Han Seo-Jin deliberately trailed off her sentence.
Her eyes shone with coldness.
Before coming here, Han Seo-Jin had already completed a thorough analysis of the four girls.
She had predicted that Rin, with her lacking self-esteem despite her noble status, would be the first to join, followed by Makoto and Kasumi.
With three already on board, Eri would surely be swept up by the atmosphere.
“I’ll join! Eri will too… No, I will participate in Han Seo-Jin’s plan.”
Eri’s eyes sparkled resolutely.
Though his attitude had softened quite a bit since that rainy night, surpassing Olivia was still a tall order.
He needed help.
On top of that.
“I can’t abandon Makoppi.”
What started as a joke had turned into a real friendship, and Eri couldn’t bear the thought of watching Makoto get eliminated.
So, Eri resolved to join the Harem Plan.
For everyone’s happy ending.
“Join? Sure. Washboard, I really dislike you… But against Bonaparte, I have no choice. This is temporary alliance, just this once.”
Upon hearing Eri’s words, Rin crossed her arms and coldly responded.
“Tch, that’s what I should be saying. Cow, I mean Shinozaki. This is a temporary alliance until we stop the princess’s solo run. Don’t get the wrong idea that I like you.”
Eri pouted.
“You like me? Don’t make me laugh.”
“Think whatever you want, Cow.”
“Washboard.”
The moment Rin and Eri’s glares collided in the air…
Clap.
Han Seo-Jin clapped her hands.
“Great. I have clearly registered everyone’s intentions here.”
Han Seo-Jin’s gray eyes sparkled.
The gazes of the four girls gathered on her.
Just as expected.
They had all become cooperators in the Harem Plan.
“Now then, I look forward to working with everyone.”
At Han Seo-Jin’s words, the four girls nodded seriously.
Seeing that, Han Seo-Jin made a resolution.
She wouldn’t let anyone get eliminated.
No one would be left behind.
She would definitely create that person’s harem.
With her determination set, Han Seo-Jin’s eyes shone coldly.
It was already dizzying.
Since that day, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.
Just being called around Paris under the guise of an internship for the cooking club and exploring restaurants.
They said French cuisine was so delicious, and since they only went to expensive restaurants, it lived up to the expectations; I had no complaints.
We went to the Eiffel Tower observatory, took photos at the Arc de Triomphe. Those were nice memories.
