Chapter 321
Christmas Date Emergency Strategy Meeting
Knock, knock.
Brown tea drips from Bella’s bobbed haircut.
Bella elegantly pulls out a handkerchief from her pocket and wipes away the spilled tea, saying, “No matter how low my popularity as an air character is, this treatment is a bit too much.”
“Ah, um… s-sorry…”
Han Seo-Jin bows her head.
Her face feels hot with shame.
She had never made a mistake in her life up to now.
But today, and of all people, she made this disrespectful blunder against Bella.
It was inconceivable.
Han Seo-Jin bites her lip.
“I’m fine.”
Bella says while cleaning up all the tea.
A faint smile appears on her face.
“Anyway, seeing Han Seo-Jin’s poker face crumble and looking so flustered is a first for me. It’s quite interesting. Could it be because I struck a nerve?”
Han Seo-Jin flinches.
After reacting so intensely just now, she couldn’t deny Bella’s words.
Han Seo-Jin lets out a short sigh and says, “…that’s correct.”
Thump.
Han Seo-Jin’s heart starts beating again.
Her face changes from shame to something else.
Bella’s eyes narrow as she observes.
“So that means… indeed, your Master’s choice for the date this Christmas is you.”
“…I won’t deny it.”
Han Seo-Jin responds with a voice that pretends to be calm.
Hearing Han Seo-Jin’s answer, Bella takes a graceful sip of tea.
The rumor about who Kim Deok-Sung’s date for Christmas would be had grown uncontrollably, like a snowball rolling down a hill.
It needed to be resolved in some way.
In that sense, picking Han Seo-Jin was quite a clever choice.
It was literally someone who wouldn’t get hurt; everyone could agree on it.
As Bella, the lady’s maid, she felt a bit regretful that Olivia wasn’t chosen, but it wasn’t something she couldn’t understand.
After all, Han Seo-Jin had always been by Kim Deok-Sung’s side like a shadow, so she thought she deserved at least some personal time with him.
Though Han Seo-Jin herself might not think so…
It seems like you’re not thinking…
Clap, clap, clap.
Bella is clapping.
“What a wonderful mindset for a servant, Han Seo-Jin. But isn’t the true answer for a genuine servant to faithfully carry out the commands of their master?”
At Bella’s words, Han Seo-Jin bites her lip.
She lowers her head.
“While it’s an honor that he chose me, I really wonder if someone like me… could be the Christmas date partner over the others.”
I don’t deserve it.
Han Seo-Jin swallowed her words.
Bella closed her eyes and opened them again.
Since they were both in the same servant position, Bella could fully understand Han Seo-Jin’s feelings.
Servant and master.
Forbidden love that transcends classes is originally like that.
“Perhaps it’s precisely because it’s such a forbidden love that it burns even more fiercely. Hehe.”
Bella chuckled inwardly.
From her perspective, her master’s master was undoubtedly a splendid man.
A dangerous and deadly charmer capable of making the princess of the Bonaparte royal family swoon.
For a servant, it’s only natural to develop feelings for him.
There are times when she unconsciously finds herself drawn to her master’s master as well.
As Olivia’s servant, she should ideally support Olivia, but considering the feelings after the engagement incident, Bella decided this time to support Han Seo-Jin.
Above all, hadn’t Miss Olivia already shared her first kiss with her master’s master on Pocky Day?
Thinking of the blushing lady who shyly thanked her for sharing the Korean Pocky Day tradition, Bella said, “If you’re really troubled, why not directly ask the parties involved?”
“Y-Yes?!”
Han Seo-Jin was flustered by Bella’s suggestion.
Seeing her reaction made Bella smile.
“I’m getting to see many new expressions from you today, Han Seo-Jin. If others are worried, then why not simply ask for their true feelings? Isn’t that the most reasonable course of action?”
Han Seo-Jin was at a loss for words.
She had nothing to say because it was just too spot on.
“Y-Yes…”
Han Seo-Jin nodded absentmindedly.
“Very well. Then let’s meet again tomorrow. For now, let’s enjoy the rest of our tea time together.”
Watching Han Seo-Jin’s flustered face, Bella sipped her tea.
It was a night in December, in the servants’ lounge, as snow fell outside.
*
The next day.
After school, in the Cooking Club Room.
[Emergency Meeting for the First Christmas Date]
Under a crooked, crayon-written banner, Olivia, Rin, Eri, Makoto, Kasumi, and all the cooking club heroines, including Haru and Aris, were gathered.
It was a perfect gathering of harem members.
The only members missing were the advisor Mayuzumi Mayu, who had other commitments, and the principal Yoshizaki Seira.
In the center, seated like the chairperson in a hearing, was Han Seo-Jin.
*gulp*
Han Seo-Jin swallowed hard.
She gazed at the heroines around her.
Sitting in the middle like a chairperson was the platinum-haired beautiful girl, Olivia.
Next to her sat Eri and Aris, like angel wings.
“Lis.”
Next to her are Rin, Makoto, Kasumi, and Haru.
“So, why did you gather us here today? Emotionless maid with the air of a character?”
“Is it justifiable that Master’s Master designated Han Seo-Jin as his Christmas date?”
At Bella’s words, Haru crunches on some snacks while resting her chin on her hand.
Haru’s gaze shifts to Han Seo-Jin.
Flinch.
Han Seo-Jin’s body trembles slightly in her suit.
Christmas date.
Christmas is a special day even in Japan.
Along with Valentine’s Day and White Day, it’s a day for lovers to confirm their love.
Because of this, the pressure of being chosen as a date partner is immense.
“Heh, Deok-Sung oppa. So that’s why you picked Han Seo-Jin?”
Haru immediately senses Kim Deok-Sung’s intention.
The reason for choosing Han Seo-Jin is that Kim Deok-Sung fully understands that pressure.
Haru, who knows his true past and the identity of this world, understands his thoughts better than anyone else.
He will take responsibility for everyone.
But it’s not time yet.
He hasn’t defeated Messiah and hasn’t found a way to return.
That’s why the Christmas event is being handled this way.
Moreover, for Haru, Han Seo-Jin is a benefactor who helped her deal with personal issues after being missing in Korea for 10 years.
In such a situation, Haru wasn’t short-sighted enough to cling to him.
“Haru doesn’t care. It’s not just me; no one else can do it either. Nishishishishi.”
Haru laughs while covering her mouth.
“What about the older sisters? You don’t mean to refuse Deok-Sung oppa’s judgment, right?”
Jingle jingle.
The metal bracelet on Haru’s wrist shakes.
The first to respond to Haru’s provocation is Eri.
“Hmph! Eri doesn’t care. If it were anyone else, maybe… but for Han Seo-Jin, I might let it slide this once.”
Eri puffs up her cheeks with her arms crossed over her waist.
For Eri, Han Seo-Jin is an ideal career woman and someone she somewhat admires.
Considering everything she’s been through, a Christmas date should be a piece of cake.
“…I also think it’s fine.”
Next to answer is Olivia.
“Han Seo-Jin is someone who saved me during my engagement ceremony. I don’t want to hinder the path of my benefactor out of selfishness. Repaying kindness with malice would tarnish the honor of the Bonaparte family.”
Olivia speaks seriously.
She knows.
That Han Seo-Jin was the one who obtained the decisive weakness of William during the engagement turmoil.
Without her, things could have gone really sideways.
In that sense, Han Seo-Jin is a benefactor to Olivia.
The Bonaparte family never forgets a kindness.
Thus, there is no justification to oppose Han Seo-Jin’s Christmas date.
“Hmm… If it’s Han Seo-Jin, I think it’s okay for her to date Deok-Sung too.”
“I think it’s fine if it’s Han Seo-Jin.” “I think it’s okay… If she’s Master’s loyal subordinate, then it’s fine.”
“If it’s Han Seo-Jin, the faithful subordinate of the lord, I think it’s fine.”
As soon as Olivia finished speaking, Rin, Kasumi, and Makoto expressed their agreement.
Rin and Makoto also couldn’t find a reason to oppose.
If it were someone else, it might be different, but when it came to Han Seo-Jin, it didn’t matter.
That’s what Rin thought.
Moreover, Han Seo-Jin was the one who had thrown a lifeline to Rin under the pretext of the Harem Plan.
And Makoto owed a debt to Han Seo-Jin for helping her with her date.
So there was no reason to oppose.
Kasumi was currently using Han Seo-Jin’s Harem Plan to her advantage.
In such a situation, there was no reason to fall out with Han Seo-Jin.
“I don’t think it’s necessary for me to meddle in someone else’s rights. As long as it’s not inappropriate relationships, I don’t mind.”
Finally, Aris spoke up.
Aris and Han Seo-Jin had no particular connection.
Honestly, she wasn’t completely free from jealousy, but it wouldn’t look good for her, as the Student Council President, to interfere with Kim Deok-Sung’s choice for dating.
There was no reason to oppose.
Bella, hearing that all the heroines agreed, smiled and said, “Everyone approves, right? Han Seo-Jin.”
“……”
Han Seo-Jin remained silent.
It was unbelievable.
How could this go so smoothly?
She had braced herself for a storm to brew.
How kind were these people, really?
“Are you all seriously saying that I, someone like this, can enjoy the honor of going on a date with that person?”
Just then, Eri slammed her hand down on the desk and exclaimed, “Han Seo-Jin! What do you mean by that? How amazing you are! Everyone here wouldn’t have come this far without you! Even Eri-Ring agrees!”
“That’s right, Han Seo-Jin. Self-deprecation is forbidden.”
Kasumi chimed in.
Not just Kasumi; everyone except Aris nodded in agreement with Eri’s words.
Han Seo-Jin’s face turned red.
“What I’ve done isn’t that amazing. Moreover, I’m…”
It wasn’t something she did for them.
It was solely for that person.
Yet, to receive such praise…
It was embarrassing and disconcerting.
Just then, Olivia interrupted, “Enough!”
She crossed her arms with a red face and said, “Since the decision has been made, I won’t allow any dissent as your personal maid! Han Seo-Jin! Starting now…”
With a flick, Olivia placed her hand on her chest and pointed at Han Seo-Jin, saying, “Instead of talking back, you should let us coach you for your date! Got it?”
As soon as Olivia finished, Eri tore down a poster stuck to the wall.
[The 1st Annual Han Seo-Jin’s Christmas Love Love ♥ Date Operation]
Beneath it, a banner written in crayon revealed its true appearance.
Olivia covered her mouth and burst into a lady-like giggle.
Thus began the Christmas Love Love Date Operation.
