episode_0171

‘Harnier… is asking me for help?’

Just a little while ago, there was talk about why Flora went to see her. Even then, I wasn’t that interested in what the kid said, but this was a different story.

Harnier is a meticulous woman.

She made a thorough plan on how to escape from Marquis Theresia. In order to avoid being sacrificed through an arranged marriage, he came up with a plan to choose me as his fiancé, and in addition, as a base work, he had a superior who would act to block the marquis’ view.

He is also considering how he can be checked and how he can deceive them.

That means he is a well-planned person.

Enough to fill your head with knowledge, proceed with an elaborate plan, identify problems, and deal with them.

Although there were times when I was a bit sloppy and left out important facts one by one, it was still true that I was the person who helped me the most in building knowledge about this world.

So I thought I would be prepared if a problem arose… but you suddenly asked me for help like this?

This meant there was something.

As he was looking at Harnier with that question in his eyes, he quickly removed his hand and lightly covered his lips with a puzzled look before releasing it.

“Well… no. What am I saying?”

And then I pretended like nothing happened.

It was the same expression I saw every time, with a faint smile.

It’s like… he made a mistake and then glossed over it.

“It was so unexpected, wasn’t it? It seems like those words came out of nowhere because I had a lot of worries. Don’t worry too much.”

“…”

As expected, it is the same.

I mean, I did that, but… was that really a lie?

‘no. That can’t be possible.’

I know best that Harnier is not the kind of person who would waste words like this, as I have a contract with her.

“I’ll just go. Sorry for disturbing you…”

“Wait a minute.”

“Ka, Karsein…?”

When Harnier grabbed her arm as she tried to get up, she panicked and trembled.

okay. This is trembling.

A slight tremor coming from the joined hands.

I’ve experienced this tremor before.

‘Is it when I ran into women from social circles at the Snow Festival?’

The situation where I was about to be harassed by other women right in front of my eyes.

Even back then, Harnier’s hands would tremble like this.

He also asked me to slightly lower my head and pretend to be my lover. In a slightly trembling voice.

okay. This is not an issue that can just be ignored.

I wore that face most often, how could I not know it? That’s the face when you’re trying to hide it somehow, pretending like nothing’s wrong.

It was only a short moment, but seeing my hands shaking like this, it was clear that a rather difficult problem had arisen.

But Harnier probably tried to hide it from me on purpose. I feel like some kind of damage will occur. Even though the issue was so serious that he unconsciously asked for help, he was worried enough to bite his tongue again.

‘There are degrees of good people.’

Perhaps, it can be said that this has something to do with me.

You could come out with a little more spirit and venom.

One could coherently say that the contract may be disrupted.

The reason she can’t bear to tell me that is simply because of this woman’s goodness. I didn’t want to pretend I didn’t see it and move on.

‘Once you see that no window appears… the timing isn’t bad either.’

I don’t know if there are restrictions due to an episode or system message popping up, but my status window is currently quiet.

Skip scene.

It was a timing where there was a very high possibility that the choice would not be affected.

I held on to her hand and didn’t let go.

“That story. Let’s listen more.”

“Yes? Ah, if that’s the case… there’s no need to say more. Let’s just pretend you didn’t hear what I said earlier.”

She keeps saying it’s okay and tries to pull her hand away.

If you apply more force, it will hurt, but if you pull it out, it might pretend to be okay and run away.

I can’t do it.

I really have no choice but to use my strength.

“Aaaah?! Ka, Carcein! What is this…!”

As I put my hand between her knees and hugged her like I did at the party, Harnier started to squirm.

“Please take it down. Why are you suddenly like this…”

“I won’t let you go until you tell me straight.”

“What, what?”

“If we are in a difficult situation, we ask to help each other, but it is not fair to keep it a secret like this.”

“I guess it’s not that difficult? As I got deeper into worry, something else came out, so don’t worry about that…!”

That’s how it comes out.

“What?!”

“Oh my. You have to be careful. So what are you going to do if you fail?”

yes. Both arms should be attached to my body like this.

That way it won’t fall off. No matter how much you struggle.

First of all, the escape route was blocked.

Is persuasion next?

“Oops. If your fiancee comes to visit and you don’t treat her right, you’ll be in trouble. Right?”

“…! Carcein, are you listening to me? Do you want me to take you down?!”

“Let’s go in. Let’s enjoy tea time slowly. Hahaha.”

“It’s disastrous. With this much power…!”

Perhaps because he knew that nothing could be done even if it was fatal, Harnier only tapped my shoulder with his fist and did not show much resistance.

***

I definitely thought that the issue of Lady Flora’s visit was resolved well.

As of yet, nothing has been revealed as to why he came to visit him, but Karssein didn’t really care.

When I saw Lady Claire parting ways while carrying me, I was able to conclude that I had come to the right place.

That’s true, but I was more satisfied with the fact that I noticed that Karssein wasn’t getting a good night’s sleep.

I was very embarrassed when he suddenly made a picture of me falling on the sofa… but I still got him to promise to sleep properly. Since we put this clause in the bail, he won’t be able to say anything.

But it should have ended there.

“So, why did you come here?”

The question of why you came here.

When I heard that, I should have stood up without shaking.

I shouldn’t have brought up Lady Flora and her intentions in the hope that he might be able to help.

I had to firmly realize that this was a nuisance and get rid of my selfish feelings.

however.

“Actually this time… I wanted to ask you for help.”

Suddenly, my inner thoughts came out.

Just for yourself.

I ended up saying that with just the thought that he could help.

I realized later that I had made a mistake and tried to pretend I didn’t mean it by touching my lips…

“Wait a minute.”

The man named Karssein was a very quick-witted man.

“That story. Let’s listen more.”

“Yes? Ah, if that’s the case… there’s no need to say more. Let’s just pretend you didn’t hear what I said earlier.”

After my hand was grabbed, I jumped up from my seat, feeling anxious that if things continued like this, I would end up in great trouble. I said I would just leave, and I had to make sure my business was over and turn around.

However, even that was a useless action.

Rather than losing strength in his arms, he lifted his body up.

Don’t let them run away. It was definitely captured.

Also, he is a thorough man.

“I won’t let you go until you tell me straight.”

“What, what?”

“If we are in a difficult situation, we ask to help each other, but it is not fair to keep it a secret like this.”

Reopen the conversation by bringing up old words about helping each other.

“What?!”

“Oh my. You have to be careful. So what are you going to do if you fail?”

As I struggled to remove the body that had floated in the air, I moved closer to prevent it from falling. Very, very shamefully.

‘oh my god…’

If you do this, you end up losing your expectations.

Very bad expectations that this man might be able to help him.

Harnier covered his mouth with both hands and shook his head.

That doesn’t make sense, does it?

Such a ridiculous request.

I can’t believe I’m holding out hope that I might be able to grant a request that is truly selfish.

I should never have committed such a nuisance.

I had to struggle to get out of his arms right now, but…

Strangely enough, my heart is pounding.

There is no power.

Even though I have to do my best to escape, I cannot escape.

As if I had become complacent in this position.

Harnier’s movements also stopped along with the pounding sound coming from inside his chest.

From then on, there was only meaningless resistance.

It was nothing more than an excuse to explain that the other words were just that she was worried, and Karssein placed Harnier’s body on the sofa, saying that they should have tea time, even adding the justification that she was her fiancé.

And then grinned.

“The reason you’re in trouble is probably because of Marquis Theresia, right?”

“…!”

“Well, I expected it to some extent. How many situations can you be in trouble in Harni?”

I figured out exactly why I came here.

Even though I haven’t said anything yet.

‘Oh my god… how far did you see through…’

I was going to throw at least the last stone here.

Even that returned to nothingness.

“…How did you know?”

“I know you as well as you know me. Since he is not someone who will cause problems in the territory, he must have been under pressure from his family. Even that feels quite forced, though.”

I was shocked.

There was no need for explanation as his extraordinary brain was combined with his keen insight.

“Really.”

Harnier sighed with an awkward smile.

It was as if it was already over from the first step.

The moment I showed this man a loophole. It means he has it all figured out.

“The Marquis mentioned my performance in the symposium and argued that it was necessary to get my fiancé back. Therefore, I was put in a situation where I had to prove my performance in this symposium.”

“Oh. Are you being honest now?”

“I realized that making excuses is useless, so what should I do?”

When Harnier grumbled, Karssein grinned and handed her some tea.

“Let’s keep talking.”

“Marquis Theresia asked me to keep up with Belian’s score, as if he wanted to use me again as an arranged marriage since I had not been consistently helpful to the family. To be exact, I put forward a condition to surpass my eldest son, Belian… but that’s not easy.”

Two darts sticking into the unfolded map.

Those were Harnier’s territory and Belian’s territory.

Karssein, who was looking closely at the locations of the two territories, immediately frowned.

“Plesia If you use the power of the top, you can trample on Velian’s performance, but on the contrary, the top will be exposed. That’s the problem. Because it’s a territory right next door and it’s open, there’s a lot of surveillance, and if the target of the Marquis’ Privilege is Belian, it’s a penalty beyond your imagination. Oh, I guess there was some talk about sending support to Belian?”

“How can I see that at a glance…?”

“I can roughly understand why you came to visit me. If you collaborate with me, your fiancé, you will be able to prove the capabilities of both parties and at the same time put an end to doubts about your fiancé’s capabilities. Isn’t it?”

“…”

Exclamations don’t even come out anymore.

It’s so amazing that it’s so bizarre.

But it wasn’t the time to be surprised.

“So, I asked you to pretend that you didn’t hear it. Carcein.”

“Why?”

“It’s hard for you to take care of the Shatren fiefdom… You can’t cause such a nuisance to me, too. Moreover, there is almost no way to help because the eyes of all people are watching. In this case, Karssein, you will have to manage the two territories.”

All circumstances were explained. Isn’t this the last chance to reject his heart?

I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“Actually, it makes no sense, right? Asking me to take care of two territories at the same time. It’s strange that I tried to ask for such an impossible request. So, just pretend you didn’t hear it and pass it on. This is a problem I have to solve.”

However, Carcein instead smiled and responded.

“Who says that? It’s impossible to take care of two territories at the same time.”

“…Yes?”

“No. In fact, it’s a much better condition than just running the chatren, right?”

hey?

What kind of nonsense is that…?

“It is a guaranteed payment. We conclude a collaboration here.”

“You call that a horse?! If you collaborate, there will be no turning back…! no. Regardless, it’s a nuisance!”

“Don’t think of it as a nuisance. This is my intention to maintain the contractual engagement.”

also. Another nonsense like that.

The contract engagement was to avoid both parties losing money… but this means you have to suffer a unilateral loss.

…And you’re still going to help me? Taking that huge risk yourself?

“Why don’t you just put a stamp on it? Harnier.”

Are you really…

-Excited!