episode_0301

Harnie’s appearance gave me time to legally get away from them.

To be honest, I was bored.

Although they reacted in various ways, it was just a ‘pretend’ of being interested, not a real interest.

There were many things to see and see, and various fun things to do, but I never once got my hands on any of them.

In the meantime, check the intimacy.

I’m wondering if there’s anything wrong with the reaction.

Meanwhile, I was busy checking the expenses I paid one by one and writing down the figures in a notebook.

But the ironic thing is that this founding of the country felt really slow and long.

There was absolutely no time.

Just like in real life.

…It used to be like that.

“The moon is really pretty today.”

Suddenly, it was night.

Nothing happened.

I was just following Harnie around and doing things here and there.

All I remember is that Harnie was more clingy than usual?

There were quite a few embarrassing memories mixed in with that uninhibited skinship.

‘…But how did time suddenly pass so quickly?’

Did he see me with a puzzled expression?

Harnie took advantage of this gap to play some mischievous pranks.

“Eight.”

“…Huh?”

“Hehehe. Did you let your guard down? You finally hit me with a punch.”

“…”

Something sticky and sweet-smelling touched my face.

Perhaps it was a cake. Something used to secretly smear it on the face.

The shop that made that cake had a mission that was only open to women, and if a man brought it to them, they would receive a very special prize, but I kept blocking them, so I know it was a huge failure for Harnie.

“Isn’t that the same thing as getting that prize again?”

“That’s true, but I’ve always wanted to try it.”

Harnie puffed out her cheeks slightly.

“Actually, I don’t know what the prize will be, but I was curious. Since they don’t show any openings, I wondered how I could criticize them.”

“…”

That’s a really great reason.

…But, I guess it’s a bit weird for me to be treated like this too?

-Ugh.

“Still, I was satisfied because it was buried properly in the end… Whoa?!”

“Haha. You let your guard down?”

Okay. Okay.

I can’t just live with this.

“At that time…! Are you going to try it?”

“I’m sorry, but I won’t do it twice.”

“Blocking is against the rules! Get your hands out of here!”

“There is no such rule. Harnie.”

Suddenly, a cake burying competition began.

…And then, suddenly, a familiar memory comes to me again.

-Hey! It’s against the rules to use your hands! Get your hands out of the way!

It’s not anyone’s birthday.

It wasn’t even a day to commemorate any particular day.

But even then, I spent time with her.

…on this exact date.

Meanwhile, the exhausted Harnie stopped attacking, panting.

“Ugh. You didn’t even look at me once. Isn’t that really too much?”

“You can’t just take it easy, right?”

“Chi. Okay. I lost, so I’ll just wipe my hands and go.”

Hmm. I guess so.

I looked at my watch and saw that it was approaching midnight.

I stopped the non-combat fight(?) through an agreement with her.

I’m almost done with the finishing touches. The cake I bought is a mess, but I can’t help it since it’s used like this. I also finished cleaning up the cake that got on my hands and face.

But, there is still one place that has not been cleaned.

Seriously.

In times like this, I say it’s nonsense.

“Harnie. Stop for a moment.”

“Yes?”

“What if I forget this?”

-Ugh.

I wiped the cake off my soft cheek and sucked my finger.

“All, you…”

Harnie suddenly looked at me with a puzzled look and lowered her head.

An ominous feeling begins to form in her trembling shoulders. It feels as if spikes are about to fly out of her back.

…No. But you know what?

I didn’t do anything wrong?

Did you just wipe away the leftover cake?

I did nothing wrong!

…Even if I think about it like that, I’ve already given up.

In times like this, it’s better to just hit him cheaply and end it…

“…It would have been better if it was soaked in alcohol.”

“Huh? I didn’t hear you right. What did you just say…?”

“Oh, it’s nothing!”

“Wow!”

I was startled by the weight of her jumping body pressing down on mine.

“No, what if you suddenly jump dangerously?”

“What’s dangerous about it? You’ve held on so well!”

He said that and put both arms around my neck.

“Take me to the carriage like this.”

“…Oh, I see.”

It looks like you won’t get hit for now.

I don’t know what I did wrong, but… will this be enough for you to forgive me?

-Carry me there.

The author was like that back then too.

And so it passes midnight.

The status window was opened accordingly.

-Tiring!

▶Episode IX. Cleared the re-started Founding of the Nation.◀

▶I had enough time.◀

The episode was also cleared.

In the end, I ended up not even knowing the clear conditions for this episode.

…but why is that?

I felt like I was missing something important.

***

Although I arrived a little late because I was very worried, I was able to gain a lot from Geon-guk University.

“…”

Harnie looking up at the sky.

Judging by the position of the moon, it must have been past midnight and close to dawn by now.

Even though I arrived late, I still spent a lot of time at Geon-guk University.

It’ll take at least half a day.

But that time felt so short.

Why is a day so short?

Even the time spent riding the carriage felt infinitely short.

…okay.

It wasn’t a short time.

Even though it felt short, it was because I had been so happy and enjoyed my time with Karcein.

So much so that she felt regretful when she saw the man who had brought her back get back into the carriage.

Feel joy in every little thing.

His hands that embraced me affectionately left an unforgettable warmth.

This memory lingered for a long time, endlessly wandering through Harnie’s mind.

Thanks to this, endless greed blossoms.

That greed was constantly growing.

“…Is it really necessary to fall like this?”

The time I spent with Karcein feels so short.

The time we spent together at Geon-guk University passed by in an instant.

Isn’t it such a waste of time being apart like this?

“It’s not like I’m not helpful to Carcein…”

Karsine is now making money in the realm.

To get away from the Duke’s house.

If so, it could be helpful to Harni in some way.

As a merchant, I can help you with your work.

It may help prevent you from using a dump, and it can definitely help with poor tax reporting.

Not only that, but being a fiancée itself helps, as it prevents her from getting hurt by the other sisters of the Duke’s family.

“Yeah. There’s no need to break up. I’m his fiancée.”

I will go to him in a carriage.

To spend this precious time together.

But Harnie stops walking because of a heavy question that comes out of him.

-If you keep liking her like that, are you sure you can let her go later?

“…!”

that…

It was a question that took my breath away.

While I was so in love with a man named Karsain.

Are you confident that you will let it go when the time comes?

Something like that…

-If you love someone endlessly, will you tell them not to go?

A sharp knife is stabbed into the chest.

Karsine’s goal was not to escape the dukedom.

To the place he lived, to the world he lived in.

I was aiming to go back.

If I spend more time in such a situation…

There’s no way I can send you off on time.

“This is… so… so… so… so… so… so… so… so…

The answer has already been given.

Ironically, if I continue to fall for Carcein,

If you long for a deeper love.

I might catch him.

A clear line had to be drawn and maintained.

A line that leaves behind memories, but never harms his purpose.

***

After sending Harnie and Geon-guk-je.

As I had done before, I sent a reply saying that I would not return to the Duke’s residence, making the excuse that I would return to govern the territory with my family.

Create a grace period.

Extend that grace period.

By the time I paid off my existing funds and extended it to the maximum extent possible.

This time, as always, we reached our limit.

-Tiring!

▶The grace period cannot be extended any longer.◀

▶Episode X. Isabella’s Birthday Begins◀

The three sisters’ birthdays took turns, so you might think it’s over now, but there’s still one last hurdle left.

It is none other than Duchess Isabella’s birthday.

This was the episode that put an end to this family’s birthday tour.

However, Isabella’s birthday is a little different.

‘Well, it’s just a way to steal time and money.’

The background to this episode is simple.

Arina, Claire, and Flora actively pursue this plan to bring in Karsane, who rarely appears at the Duke’s residence.

‘In that respect… it’s not much different from reality.’

Lastly, before I leave the house.

I also prepared for the author’s birthday, which is called Mother.

Anyway, the biggest event is assigned to the founding of the country, which tends to inflict a large penalty or hit your funds, but once you get through it safely, everything else after that is just a minor hindrance.

So the method to clear it is also simple.

There are three main types of influences from the Duchess’s birthday party.

Flora’s intimacy.

Claire’s intimacy.

And Arina’s intimacy.

Since they had to prepare and execute everything on their own, if they could just do it in a format that suited the three of them, this episode would have been one of the easiest chapters of all time.

Anyway, for that reason.

“Harnie. I think I need to go to the duke’s house for a bit.”

I expressed to her my intention to return to the dukedom.

After the foundation of the country.

Harnie came here periodically.

Stay with me wherever I go.

Even when it was time to go back, he didn’t go back and stayed here.

It’s already been over a month.

Honestly, I feel guilty.

He’s been helping me with my work by my side like this, and sometimes he’s even helped me prevent Difficile Syndrome by giving me mana.

It was a shame to only receive help like this continuously.

“What’s the schedule?”

“It’s the Duchess’s birthday. I guess I’ll be taking on some work.”

Not just a little bit, but all of it.

anyway.

“Um… If that’s the case.”

-Moonlight.

“I’ll go with you. You’ve never hosted anything like this before.”

“But…”

“We should leave it to the experts, right?”

It was a plain fact.

How many times have I hosted something? Carcein too.

So I don’t really have anything to say in rebuttal…

‘Is it because I’m in a good mood?’

She winks with her fox-like eyes and approaches me, lightly grabbing my arm.

…I don’t know why, but I felt like our skinship had become more daring than before.