Chapter 144: Night Blossom’s Resolve -2-

“If someone like Clara has those values, I’m curious if you would accept polygamy even if your own country doesn’t.”

“Ah…”

Ichinose Yui recognized the importance of the current situation. She wanted to give her utmost concentration and prudence to her answer.

Shion and Clara would understand, no matter how long the silence stretched.

‘It’s not easy to even approach a good man. It’s only been a few months since I enrolled, but there are so many women who are serious.’

After agonizing for a long time while biting her lower lip, Ichinose opened her eyes and stared blankly at the Cafe ceiling.

She lowered her head and glanced at Clara, who was nibbling on bread.

“Clara-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“Since you’re from Zeno, your values regarding dating and marriage should be similar to mine. Is there a reason why you accepted it?”

“…”

“Or did you not have any aversion to polygamy from the beginning, Clara-ssi?”

The girl shook her head desperately, denying it.

Her purple Twin Tail swayed back and forth.

“Th, There is a reason…”

“Could you tell me?”

Clara glanced at Shion sitting next to her and moved her lips.

“Ju, Juyeon-nim said that the one approaching should understand the culture…”

“!”

As expected of the revered Juyeon-nim. Ichinose felt a sense of enlightenment.

She hadn’t even considered the fact that Clara was close enough to Juyeon to confide in her.

“And I want to be with Shion unnie too…”

Shion, hearing her words, smiled and looked at Clara.

Shion’s gentle smile, which she rarely showed, proved how deep their relationship was.

Holding Clara’s fair hand under the table, Shion continued the conversation.

“Let me tell Ichinose-nim a little more about our thoughts. First of all, Clara and I don’t know Rohan’s thoughts.”

“…What does that mean?”

“We can’t be sure how Rohan thinks of us. Are you able to, Ichinose-nim?”

Shion and Clara were like that.

If they had been certain that Rohan loved them as women, they wouldn’t have resorted to trying to recruit someone else.

“How Rohan thinks of me, you say…”

Ichinose pondered.

Judging by how he treats me, he must have some level of affection. But I don’t know anything beyond that.

He’d had a subtly kind side from the moment they first met.

There was a mysterious air about him, as if he had known her from the beginning.

“We desperately want to confess our feelings. But… we believe it’s right to confess when we’re certain.”

“Confession is about certainty, not confirmation.”

“That’s right.”

“…”

Ichinose couldn’t criticize Shion and Clara’s attitude as careless.

Just the thought of confessing to Rohan and being rejected made her break out in a cold sweat.

Unconsciously, her whole body tensed, and she gripped her sword tightly.

“Since Rohan is from the Southern Region, we thought that if prepared women banded together, the chances would be even slightly higher… Even if it’s desperate, we want to seize that possibility.”

Although Clara was in the same state, Shion, being an Elf, couldn’t turn back her straightforward feelings. She had already pulled out the steering wheel and thrown it away.

Even if it meant crawling on the ground, she just wanted to be loved by Rohan’s side.

“Clara and I are doing our best to become the type of women Rohan prefers. We are training, and we are also studying aesthetics and cooking to find out what Rohan likes.”

“…”

“Even so, we are lacking and often make missteps. We would like Ichinose-nim to join us and help us.”

Looking at Shion’s earnest gaze, Ichinose fell silent.

The two girls in front of her were establishing a system to capture Rohan’s heart.

Unlike herself, who had just realized her feelings of love and was vaguely fantasizing, they were different. She realized that her thought of naturally becoming involved with Rohan over time was a delusion.

And above all, the advice Juyeon gave to Clara.

The words of the person she admired resonated deeply with the girl.

‘Polygamy definitely makes me uncomfortable… but forcing monogamy on Rohan when I’m the one approaching is also disrespectful, right?’

Of course, I could try to win Rohan over on my own.

But could I beat those two girls that way? If another charming woman joined their group later, it would definitely become more disadvantageous.

“…”

Ichinose calmly considered which side she would choose if she were Rohan.

Sadly, she couldn’t be confident of winning and had no choice but to surrender.

“Would there be any advantages to joining forces with you?”

That question itself was proof that Ichinose had been swayed.

Shion calmly continued her explanation.

“Rohan usually comes to the Mansion and has dinner with us. We train together, and on weekends, like today, we often have breakfast together.”

“Oh, there are many days when older brother makes me food because he feels bad about using the mansion…”

Ichinose, who had been listening intently, blinked her eyes in surprise.

These two are really deeply involved with Rohan.

“If Miss Ichinose joined hands with us, there wouldn’t be a problem with you coming and going from the mansion like Rohan. We can just say you’ve become that close, and I actually want to get closer to Miss Ichinose.”

“I, I want to be close with older sister…!”

“Besides, there are definitely times when you two will be alone with Rohan.”

“Yes, yes…!”

Clara finished by nodding as if it were true.

Ichinose once again fell silent, captivated by the conditions that were more alluring than a Succubus’s Charm.

She looks at the remaining coffee.

She thinks quietly.

The answer Ichinose would give was already decided.

“I look forward to it.”

Shion and Clara smiled brightly at the long-awaited answer.

If they had clashed with Ichinose, their relationship would have naturally drifted apart.

They were worried that Rohan would dislike that situation itself, but thankfully, it turned out well. It felt like they had climbed a huge mountain.

The three exchanged numbers on the spot.

They created a new group to exchange messages.

··

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Peace settled among the three who had concluded the situation with an ideal result.

As the tension dissipated, Shion, who finally felt hungry, swallowed the salmon on the brunch dish, and then

continued the topic she was curious about.

“It feels like the order is a bit off to ask this now, but may I ask one thing?”

“Of course.”

“I know that Cheonoecheon (Beyond the Heavens), run by Mr. Ichinose Jun, is the largest company in the Three Kingdoms Union.”

“That’s right. That’s exactly right.”

“So I’m curious if Miss Ichinose is free. I heard that arranged marriages are not uncommon for prominent Martial Families or those in power.”

Somehow, Shion and Clara even exchanged numbers with Momo.

Just by looking at the atmosphere she exuded, they knew the possibility was low, but they still had a sliver of doubt.

Nothing is as certain as hearing it directly from the person involved.

“I know there have been many marriage proposals so far, but… needless to say, my parents have rejected them all. My father and mother want me to live as I please.”

“That’s a relief. You have the freedom to find happiness.”

“Older sister and older brother are also f, fated… ! Hehe…”

Ichinose smiled faintly at Clara’s words.

Seeing her naturally speak such embarrassing words, Clara felt that Clara was truly a natural girl.

“I have one last question.”

“Feel free to ask. That’s what this is for, right?”

Ichinose was becoming strongly interested in the unexpectedly talkative Shion.

She was beginning to grasp the different facets of these two girls.

“I understand you are close with Miss Noa Frozenheart.”

Ichinose nodded. It wasn’t something to deny.

Whether or not she would answer depended on the question.

“By any chance, does Noa also…Rohan…”

Before she could finish, Ichinose shook her head.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yes. But she probably thinks of Rohan as a good friend.”

Noa can’t hide her feelings.

If she had feelings beyond friendship, she might have just charged forward recklessly.

‘Of course, I anticipate this behavior as well.’

Ichinose, who had been with her since childhood, had never seen Noa romantically interested in a man.

There had been many men who confessed to her, but Noa had simply rejected them all.

‘If Noa liked Rohan…?’

Wouldn’t everyone here be in a state of emergency?

Ichinose could only vaguely speculate.

Seeing Ichinose pouting as she continued her imagination, Shion smiled.

Now that they had made a pact, it was time to get closer.

“Since things have turned out this way, would you like to go to the mansion now? Rohan should still be there.”

“…Would that be alright?”

“Rohan mentioned our common ground, so I think he’ll be pleased.”

“Then… I’ll leave it to you.”

It’s Sunday, and she has an excuse to see Rohan.

As the excited Ichinose hurriedly gathered her things and emptied her cup,

Shion and Clara smiled, feeling as though they were looking in a mirror.