The True Madness (Illustration Included)
Harem Plan.
The moment Han Seo-Jin’s shocking words hit the air, the atmosphere inside the Home Economics Practice Room freezes like the Arctic tundra.
Olivia’s face stiffens.
Her cheeks tremble.
Olivia’s blue gaze turns toward Han Seo-Jin.
Olivia pouts.
She loses her words.
“The Harem Plan…?”
Breaking the silence is Rin.
She trails off her sentence.
“Han Seo-Jin, you don’t mean you’re thinking of telling the princess, do you?”
Next to speak is Eri.
With a slightly shocked expression, she addresses Han Seo-Jin.
“Han Seo-Jin, you’re planning to recruit Miss Bonaparte, aren’t you?”
Kasumi smiles calmly and speaks in a composed voice.
After hearing everyone’s reactions, Han Seo-Jin’s gaze shifts to Olivia.
“H-hahaha, the Harem Plan? What, what kind of nonsensical plan is that?!”
Suddenly, a harem? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?
Olivia’s hand trembles.
She displays her discomfort.
But Han Seo-Jin’s expression remains unshaken.
“It’s not a nonsensical plan, Miss Bonaparte. The Harem Plan is quite realistic.”
Han Seo-Jin’s gray eyes focus on Olivia.
Her expression and voice are deadly serious.
Receiving Han Seo-Jin’s gaze, Olivia flinches.
“The Harem Plan is a plan promoted in our South Korea for the happiness of Kim Deok-Sung and you all. The contents of the plan primarily involve enacting a special law at the national level to allow polygamy for Kim Deok-Sung, based on the cooperation of those of you who have feelings for him.”
In a calm voice, Han Seo-Jin explains the details of the Harem Plan to Olivia without wavering.
“I can’t accept that! Absolutely not! As a devoted maid! I cannot tolerate such scandalous and debauched behavior as a harem!”
Scandalous and debauched.
Olivia thinks that as she retorts seriously.
“The Harem Plan has already received the consent of Shinozaki, Hoshino, Nishizawa, and Kamiya.”
Han Seo-Jin’s eyebrows twitch.
Upon hearing her words, Olivia’s eyes tremble.
“Y-you got everyone’s consent?!”
Olivia’s view includes the other heroines.
“Is what Han Seo-Jin saying true?! Did you really participate in such a scandalous Harem Plan?!”
Olivia shouts at Rin, Kasumi, Eri, and Makoto.
Olivia shouted as she looked at Rin, Kasumi, Eri, and Makoto.
At Olivia’s unusually serious expression, Rin, Kasumi, and Eri flinched.
Thud.
Makoto stepped forward.
“Is that really true?”
Makoto’s lips opened.
“Why on earth did you agree to this?”
Jolt.
Olivia’s blue eyes turned to Makoto.
She couldn’t accept it by her common sense.
Neither the Harem Plan nor the heroines involved in it.
“Well…”
Makoto bit her lips.
Her cheeks trembled.
“I wanted to be by my lord’s side, even if it meant this…”
Makoto lowered her head.
Her shoulders shook.
Tears gathered in Makoto’s emerald-like green eyes.
“What do you mean…”
Olivia’s words got stuck.
Makoto raised her head.
She bit her lips.
“Unlike the always sparkling, beautiful Princess Bonaparte, I… I’m lacking as a woman compared to others… I’m like a guy, without charm or popularity…”
Makoto clenched her fists.
Her hands trembled.
Tears fell drop by drop from her eyes.
She knew it too.
The fact that her charm fell short compared to the other girls around her.
She already knew of her low femininity.
“So… Someone like me could never be chosen by my lord, right?”
Makoto smiled. The tears streaming down her cheeks.
Olivia’s body jolted.
“B-but… even so…”
Olivia stuttered.
Her tone softened compared to earlier.
“So, that’s why I chose. Princess Bonaparte might not know, but… I want to be by my lord’s side, even if it’s as a concubine…”
Makoto wiped away her tears and spoke.
Makoto’s green eyes sank heavily.
“And I believe that the Harem Plan is the only way for everyone who loves my lord to be happy and avoid getting hurt.”
Makoto clasped her hands together in a praying pose.
“So don’t interfere. Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.”
Olivia bit her lips.
Words escaped her.
There was nothing wrong with Makoto’s statement.
As the frontrunner, Olivia had never considered the feelings of the runners behind her.
“I see…”
Olivia closed and opened her eyes.
She wanted to monopolize him.
She didn’t want to share him with anyone.
Because she was his exclusive maid.
Because she had been by his side the longest.
Because she was the first to like him.
Olivia thought that way.
But now, with Saionji Aris emerging as a real threat, Olivia could no longer cling to her past stubbornness or take any liberties.
Ironically, only now, as her leading position was being threatened, could Olivia empathize with Makoto’s words.
She understood and related.
But she still hesitated to accept the Harem Plan.
At the moment of Olivia’s hesitation.
Thud.
Eri stepped forward and hugged Makoto while saying.
Embracing her, she said.
“Makopi is right. No matter how much of a princess you are… opposing the Harem Plan is unacceptable.”
Eri puffed her cheeks.
Unlike Olivia, Eri didn’t feel as possessive about Kim Deok-Sung.
She was Kim Deok-Sung’s loyal number one servant.
Though possessive, she couldn’t go against her Master’s wishes.
“That’s right. Bonaparte. We just found a way for everyone to be happy.”
Then Rin stepped in.
She bit her lips.
Rin felt similar to Makoto.
Being a concubine would be fine.
Because the first person who thought of wanting to be by his side was Rin.
“Yeah, junior.”
Kasumi also stepped up, folding her arms and glaring at Olivia.
The four girls were putting pressure on Olivia instead.
‘As expected, things are going as planned.’
Han Seo-Jin observed this and a smirk appeared on her lips.
She had predicted that the persuasion from the cooking club members, whom Olivia had a longer history with, would be more effective than her own attempts, despite her conflicting feelings.
All that was left was to watch Olivia capitulate.
Olivia lowered her head.
She began to mumble.
Memories from the conversation at the Versailles Palace ball after the engagement debacle suddenly flooded her mind.
[…And, if possible, I would prefer that everyone be happy as well. I don’t want to be the only one happy. I don’t want to make someone unhappy for my own happiness. Especially if it’s someone I owe a debt to, I really don’t want to.]
It’s better if everyone is happy.
Yet, here she was, trying to kick away that happy ending and monopolize him.
Her face turned hot.
It was embarrassing.
She had thought that as a noble princess of the Bonaparte royal family, she had to uphold her words.
But because of her possessiveness, she almost dishonored the royal dignity.
‘This can’t be happening.’
This was something that should never happen.
Olivia’s gaze landed on the four cooking club members.
Eri, Rin, Makoto, Kasumi.
She had once thought of them as rivals, as thieving cats.
But now, as she imagined them gone, why did it feel so empty?
Memories of the engagement chaos stirred in Olivia’s mind.
If it weren’t for Kim Deok-Sung and their help, she might not even be here.
She owed them at least as much as she owed Kim Deok-Sung.
‘The noble Bonaparte royal family never forgets a favor!’
So monopolizing him alone was against the rules.
Olivia thought to herself.
‘As expected…’
Olivia’s heart slowly leaned towards the Harem Plan.
“Alright… It’s all okay. Recognizing that the Harem Plan is the way for everyone to be happy… it’s difficult, but I admit it.”
Her gaze turned to Han Seo-Jin.
“But Han Seo-Jin, is that plan really for the happiness of everyone and not just for your own interests?”
Olivia’s eyes narrowed.
The club members believed it.
But she couldn’t trust Han Seo-Jin.
Olivia knew.
She was certain of how Kim Deok-Sung’s reality was.
He was under pressure from the Motherland just like, or perhaps even more than, she was.
Olivia was certain that she was under more pressure from her motherland than she could handle.
The memories of summer vacation and the club activities retreat were still vivid in her mind.
Almost fanatical national pride, enthusiasm, and expectation.
It was far too heavy a burden for a single boy to bear.
Thus, Han Seo-Jin, an agent of South Korea, couldn’t trust Olivia either.
The ultimate goal of the Harem Plan might not be everyone’s happiness, but rather a means for his motherland to pressure Kim Deok-Sung.
The gazes of Han Seo-Jin and Olivia collided in midair.
“Of course.”
Han Seo-Jin’s eyes sank heavily.
“The Harem Plan is a scheme that I devised solely for the happiness of Kim Deok-Sung and all of you. The interests of the state don’t matter. Though I can’t deny that it has the side benefit of increasing the heroic status of South Korea, a once weak nation…”
Han Seo-Jin’s face hardened coldly.
“…Still, that’s merely an unintended side effect. My eternal number one is not a nation but Kim Deok-Sung, and only him. The subject of my loyalty, the one I will dedicate my life to, and the reason I live on this land is solely him.”
Words failed Olivia in the face of Han Seo-Jin’s almost mad declaration.
The madness sparkled in Han Seo-Jin’s eyes.
“From the moment he took on my burden, I decided that I would give my all to Kim Deok-Sung.”
Olivia instinctively understood Han Seo-Jin’s heart through feminine intuition.
Love?
It was a feeling that couldn’t be described with such a word.
Loyalty, no, it was closer to madness.
Everyone fell silent before Han Seo-Jin’s true insanity.
“The purpose of the Harem Plan is to ease the burden of national security placed on his shoulders through increased heroic status, and to design a future where everyone can be happy without anyone falling out. There is no room for national interest to intrude.”
Step by step.
Han Seo-Jin took a step forward, gazing at Olivia.
“Can you believe me now? My sincerity?”
“Th-That’s…”
Olivia fidgeted with her fingers.
She lowered her head.
“Well, if you put it that way, I have no choice but to believe you…”
“I’m glad you understand my sincerity.”
A slight smile appeared on Han Seo-Jin’s lips.
“So, Lady Bonaparte. Will you join us in the Harem Plan for the happiness of him and everyone?”
Han Seo-Jin’s question lingered in Olivia’s ears.
Olivia’s face turned red.
In truth, she had already made her decision in her heart.
She couldn’t be cruel enough to crush the feelings of the other girls right before her eyes.
She couldn’t deny her oath to seek everyone’s happiness.
But saying it out loud was embarrassing.
With pink lips stammering, Olivia looked at Han Seo-Jin and said, “…I-I guess I have no choice. I h-have to…”
Upon hearing Olivia’s words, Han Seo-Jin’s smile grew wider.
Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.
The moment the French Knight Princess finally joined the Harem Plan had arrived.
