I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 328

Chapter 328: Alone (11)

One of them had simply woken up, startled by the unexpected visitor, only belatedly realizing the compromising situation. The other, hurriedly covering herself with the blanket, her face flushed crimson as she assessed her state of undress.

I tried to explain, but the words wouldn't come.

Camilla, her face burning red, had made a hasty retreat.

And then, she had said that.

To just continue.

If she had said that, then…

“...”

“...”

Carsein turned his head, his expression frozen, glancing at her nervously.

And Harnie, her eyes meeting his, mirrored his expression.

They both looked away at the same time, their thoughts aligned.

An awkward silence filled the room, the two of them frozen in place, their heads bowed, as if time had stopped.

‘This is bad.’

‘Wh-what should I do?’

A strange, heavy atmosphere settled upon them.

It was a scene ripe for misunderstanding.

While the air outside was cold, the room was filled with a different kind of heat.

A man and a woman, alone in a room, it was a precarious situation. The line between propriety and impropriety was thin.

And they weren’t just in the same room, they were in the same bed. They had slept together.

And their attire… he was shirtless, and she was wearing his shirt, and nothing else, the oversized garment barely concealing her body.

And most importantly, they had been holding each other close.

Skin against skin.

Their bodies pressed together, sharing warmth, their breaths mingling.

Embracing each other like that… it was undeniably suggestive.

And realizing that, the awkwardness intensified.

“…”

“…”

Their eyes met again.

And they both sighed.

“I-I didn’t mean for this to happen…!”

The best course of action was to clear up the misunderstanding.

To find Camilla and explain that it had been an accident.

And then forget about it.

As if it had never happened.

As if nothing had happened at all.

If they both pretended it hadn’t happened, the awkwardness would dissipate.

Carsein knew that.

But Harnie didn't.

While she was usually meticulous and detail-oriented, in situations like this, her clumsiness, her tendency to overthink, would take over.

‘…I’m screwed.’

How was he supposed to fix this?

He had finally gotten some much-needed rest, but now, his mind was a jumbled mess.

***

It was agonizing.

He had been racking his brains, trying to find a way to dispel the awkwardness that hung heavy in the air.

But he couldn't just ignore it.

Harnie flinched at his every move, every word.

Even the slightest sound made her tense.

And…

-I-I’m going to change! We… we can’t… we can’t have this happen again…!

She had even said she would put her clothes back on.

This wasn't normal.

Not for either of them.

‘This can’t continue.’

He had to talk to her.

It was time to be honest.

There were so many things he hadn’t told her.

That it was dangerous for her to be helping him, a wanted man.

That she should return to the Marquisate before she was implicated.

He had to tell her.

Right. He had to talk to her.

It wouldn't be difficult to break the ice.

He had a few ideas, a few topics that could steer the conversation in the right direction.

Just as he was about to speak,

“Carsein.”

She spoke first.

“It’s time for breakfast. Aren’t you hungry?”

“…Breakfast?”

“Yes. I’m hungry. It’s rather late.”

It was.

It was much later than their usual breakfast time.

Harnie smiled faintly.

“So I was thinking… perhaps I could prepare breakfast today?”

…Wait, what?

“Th-there’s no need for that.”

“Well, you cooked yesterday, so I wanted to… return the favor.”

“I… I can cook. You don’t have to.”

“What’s with that look? I’m not that bad at cooking!”

This wasn't good.

She was actually going to cook.

“Hey! No fair getting up first!”

“First come, first served. There are no rules against that.”

“That’s not fair! Give me that!”

“No way. You can just watch.”

“Are you going to keep pushing me around like this?”

“I’m simply asserting my rights as a gentleman, Harnie.”

And so, a playful scuffle ensued in the kitchen.

But I wouldn't relinquish my position.

She tried to reach for the cooking utensils, standing on tiptoe, even jumping, but it was no use.

Harnie, realizing she couldn't win, finally backed down, pouting.

‘Phew. That was close. I’m glad she didn’t… Wait a minute.’

I suddenly realized.

The awkwardness had dissipated.

‘…Right. This is my chance.’

And so, we sat down in the kitchen, ready for a belated breakfast.

***

It was a peaceful breakfast.

We ate our fill, the plates now empty.

My stats had returned to normal, the satiety restoring my HP and stamina.

But there was still one unresolved issue.

Harnie was still pouting.

“…Hmph.”

She seemed displeased that she hadn’t been able to cook breakfast.

‘This isn’t good. I won’t be able to talk to her like this…’

I knew Harnie well enough to know that if I said the wrong thing, she would shut down, refusing to speak.

And then… there would be no conversation. And for some reason, she would often resort to violence, her infamous backhand spike, when she was truly upset.

This was troublesome.

I had to appease her before I could talk to her.

…It couldn’t be helped.

“Harnie, come here.”

“Hmph. No.”

“Then I can’t teach you.”

“Teach me what? You already cooked everything.”

“The main course, yes. But what about dessert?”

At the mention of dessert, the sharp glint in Harnie’s eyes softened, returning to her usual playful expression.

But then, her expression hardened again.

“That won’t work. Hmph.”

…She saw right through me.

“…There are a few conditions… for my forgiveness.”

“What are they…?”

-Slide.

Harnie stood up and took my arm.

“First, teach me properly.”

***

Harnie’s cooking wasn’t particularly good.

She hadn’t had much practice, having rarely cooked for herself.

But that could be fixed with practice.

They said that failure was the mother of success.

And as expected, after a few pointers, the dessert she presented was a vast improvement.

But I hadn’t expected her to do this.

“Please enjoy. It’s been difficult surviving the Cold Week in the north, so I’m staying here for a while, thanks to Camilla’s kindness.”

Harnie was handing out the desserts she had made to the villagers of Lusmire.

A woman, appearing out of nowhere, offering food… it was a strange sight, bound to arouse suspicion.

But suspicion required action.

And if they didn’t act, it meant they weren’t suspicious.

Harnie’s disguise was flawless, preventing them from even considering the possibility.

“Oh, I’ve seen that outfit before. It’s made from fabric woven in the north, isn’t it?”

“They say the material is unique because they can’t grow many crops there due to the harsh climate.”

“And the way they wear it is different, too. They wrap themselves up like that to stay warm.”

The northern attire, the story about coming from the north, her actions, her explanation… it was all perfectly crafted to avoid suspicion.

It wasn’t widely known, but Harnie had a keen eye for fashion. She had even managed a clothing boutique.

Her disguise, combined with her knowledge of clothing and fabrics, was impeccable.

‘So that’s why she asked me to teach her.’

And as a result, the villagers didn’t suspect a thing.

She had shared food with them, interacted with them, and yet, they hadn't even considered the possibility that she might be someone else.

While she could be clumsy at times, her attention to detail, her meticulous planning, was impressive.

Harnie returned with the empty basket and handed me half of the remaining bread.

“Staying cooped up inside would only make them more suspicious. So, this kind of natural interaction is a better way to blend in.”

I see.

So that’s why the villagers of Lusmire had been wary of me at first.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you. I’m still upset.”

“…Is there something else?”

“Of course. That wasn’t one of the conditions.”

-Slide.

Harnie took my arm.

“I doubt anyone will suspect us now. We can’t just stay inside and wait, so let’s go out and enjoy ourselves.”

“…You’re being reckless. What if we’re discovered?”

“We’ve pretended to be a couple before. And you were planning to do the same, weren’t you?”

Well, she wasn't wrong.

I, too, needed to blend in.

If I could disappear into the crowd, they wouldn't be able to find me easily.

“Let’s go. I want to do some shopping.”

-Squish.

“…Harnie?”

“What? Let’s go.”

“Isn’t this a bit… close…?”

“Hurry up! I have a lot of things I want to buy!”

…

Why was she in such a hurry?

Was it just me?

***

‘…Good.’

She had managed to interrupt him, changing the subject.

Carsein was a difficult person to understand.

Cold, distant, his emotions hidden.

He never asked for help, never relied on others, always trying to handle everything himself.

It made it difficult to understand him.

He hid everything, concealed his true intentions.

While she had learned a bit about him over time, she still barely knew him.

But Harnie had a feeling she knew what he was about to say.

‘Idiot.’

His eyes were filled with concern.

Concern for her.

He would try to send her back to the Marquisate, for her own safety.

‘No, Carsein. I don’t want that.’

A world without him would be hell.

She didn't care about the remaining time, about the consequences.

‘I want to stay with you, for as long as I can.’

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