I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 242

Chapter 242: School Trip (5)

Harnie moved her arms again.

She was still embarrassed.

It was natural to feel shy about revealing so much skin to another person.

But…

In this moment, the embarrassment didn’t reach her.

No, rather than feeling ashamed, she was driven by necessity.

The subtle, appraising glances from the other noblewomen had been irritating.

And their hushed whispers about Carsein's physique, even more so.

The way they had tried to engage him in conversation, their hands subtly brushing against his arms, their fingers reaching for his muscles… it had felt like they were trying to claim something that belonged to her.

Carsein’s appearance had changed drastically. He was no longer the frail, sickly boy they had once dismissed. He was undeniably attractive, his body toned and muscular. And combined with his intelligence, his ability to revitalize two failing territories, and his status as a Bagrand, he was an undeniably desirable partner.

But he was her fiancé.

He wasn’t theirs to covet.

In that sense, this gift was special.

It was different from what the other women could offer.

It was a special gift from a fiancée to her fiancé.

A gift for the only person she could trust in this world.

This moment was a precious gift, something only she, as his fiancée, could give him.

“S-so… what do you think?” Harnie stammered, her cheeks flushed.

She was nervous, worried he might find her appearance strange.

“Um… Well…”

Carsein averted his gaze, scratching his head, his expression flustered.

Displeased by his reaction, Harnie puffed out her cheeks and cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her.

“Hey! Stop avoiding my gaze!”

“Wh-what? Harnie?”

“I-I’m not completely comfortable with this, you know! I agonized over whether or not to bring this, and even after I brought it, I kept second-guessing myself. And now you won’t even look at me?”

Despite her confident words, a flicker of anxiety remained.

Was he looking at her strangely?

Did he find her appearance unappealing?

But her worries were quickly dispelled.

-Embrace.

“Huh?”

Harnie let out a gasp of surprise.

His toned, muscular body, honed through training and discipline.

The firm, solid feel of his muscles against hers.

The very body the other noblewomen had been eyeing so enviously, wishing they could touch him, just once.

He was holding her close.

Carsein’s arms wrapped around her.

“There’s nothing strange about it. You look beautiful, no matter what you wear. And this… suits you.”

His straightforward compliment sent her heart racing.

***

The school trip. The ocean. The swimsuit.

And one person.

It was only after all of these elements converged that I was able to recall the memories of my school trip.

I hadn’t found it particularly interesting.

Not when I first set foot on the beach.

Nor when the student council president and vice president had orchestrated that small performance to boost my popularity.

The only reason I remembered that school trip so vividly was because of one person.

She, who was secretly afraid of the water, pretending to be brave.

Playing the beach games with me.

And ending up tied for first place.

Because of her, I remembered that school trip.

Seo Jieun.

It was all thanks to her.

And she had suggested a walk along the beach.

Just like now, to show me, and only me, her swimsuit.

She might have been ridiculed by the other girls if they had seen her.

Jieun, often the target of malicious gossip due to her appearance, had endured countless cruel whispers and rumors. Wearing a bikini here? She could only imagine what they would say.

And yet…

She had shown it to me, without hesitation.

Saying that I was someone she could trust.

And it was true. For the first time, I had learned to trust someone.

While I couldn't trust anyone else, not even my own family, I could trust Jieun.

Because of her unwavering faith in me, I had been able to open up to her.

I had told her she looked beautiful.

That it suited her.

And I gave Harnie the same response.

Because she, too, had placed her trust in me, and I felt compelled to be honest.

But there was a part of me that regretted it.

I could have praised her more.

Said something to make her smile.

My response had felt inadequate.

So, this time, I acted differently.

I expressed myself in my own way. By holding her close.

Harnie stiffened for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Ah, I should probably add this.

“Harnie, while you look beautiful in that swimsuit, please don’t show it to anyone else.”

This wasn’t just a casual remark.

There were those who would harbor unsavory thoughts upon seeing someone so beautiful. Just like those who had targeted my second sister and Claire.

So she absolutely couldn’t show herself like this to anyone else.

Even I had almost had impure thoughts.

…But then

Harnie’s face flushed crimson.

“Y-you…!”

Uh oh.

Was this the prelude to a backhand spike? What had I done wrong now?!

As I braced myself…

A light tap landed on my chest.

-Tap.

Harnie looked down, her voice barely above a whisper.

“…If… if someone else sees me like this… will you… cover me like that again?”

Why would she ask that?

“Of course. Anytime.”

Harnie’s shoulders trembled slightly.

“What if… I’m far away? What will you do then?”

“I’ll come to you. Immediately.”

“Silly. You can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“It would be a burden. For something so trivial…”

“Trivial? Not at all.”

I gently stroked her hair.

“A fake engagement. A contractual obligation. Yes, that’s what it is. But you trusted me. You gave me such a precious gift. I wouldn’t betray that trust.”

“…”

Harnie was silent for a moment, then asked another question.

“If I… asked you to stay by my side… would you?”

“Yes.”

“…If I needed help… with the social circles, or with my family?”

“I would help you. Always.”

While I was usually suspicious of others’ kindness, I didn’t doubt hers.

She was different.

“Then… one last question.”

I held her close, waiting for her to speak.

“If I… wanted to continue this relationship… after we leave the Duchy… would you?”

Was that even a question?

I chuckled and replied,

“Of course.”

She was precious to me as well.

Because she had helped me?

Because of the contract?

Because she was my escape route from the Duchy?

Because she had expanded my options in this game?

‘I don’t need a reason.’

I liked her. Harnie, as a person.

That was enough.

Just like the first friend I made in school.

Just like the first person I had ever truly trusted.

Just like Jieun, I simply wanted to continue this relationship.

Yes. I didn’t need any other reason.

“…I-I won’t show it to anyone else.”

“What?”

“I-I said I won’t show it to anyone else!”

-Thump.

Harnie lightly punched me in the chest again.

“Only… to you.”

That was a relief.

She slipped out of my embrace, her back turned to me, and took a deep breath.

Right. She must have felt suffocated in my arms.

Considering how tightly I had been holding her, it wasn’t surprising.

Harnie glanced at me nervously, then took my hand.

“Y-you’ll… teach me how to swim… later, right?”

“Yes.”

Of course. I would gladly teach her.

***

The fiery hues of the sunset faded, and the sky transformed into a canvas of black, dotted with the shimmering light of countless stars.

The warm glow of the campfire.

The sizzling meat on the grill, the subtle aroma of ale, created a festive atmosphere.

The hectic day had finally come to an end.

But…

Harnie’s heart still lingered on the events of the day.

-Thump. Thump.

Even as she lay in bed, her heart pounded relentlessly, refusing to calm down.

She had been so embarrassed when she had first shown him her swimsuit.

And when Carsein, mistaking it for lingerie, had held her close, shielding her exposed body, she had been flustered.

She could understand that.

He had thought it was lingerie. He had been trying to protect her.

-There’s nothing strange about it. You look beautiful, no matter what you wear. And this… suits you.

She could even understand his compliment.

Carsein rarely said anything unkind.

But…

-Harnie, while you look beautiful in that swimsuit, please don’t show it to anyone else.

He had said that again, without realizing the implications.

That man… he was so intelligent in other matters, but sometimes, he lacked a filter.

That was like saying he wanted her to only show him her swimsuit.

“…”

And yet…

Harnie’s cheeks flushed.

She couldn’t deny that the thought pleased her.

And then…

-…If… if someone else sees me like this… will you… cover me like that again?

-Of course. Anytime.

-What if… I’m far away? What will you do then?

-I’ll come to you. Immediately.

He had said he would come to her, even if she was far away.

-Silly. You can’t do that.

-Why not?

-It would be a burden. For something so trivial…

-Trivial? Not at all. A fake engagement. A contractual obligation. Yes, that's what it is. But you trusted me. You gave me such a precious gift. I wouldn’t betray that trust.

He had reassured her, gently stroking her hair, saying it wouldn’t be a burden, even after she had pointed out the trivial nature of her request.

Hearing those words, held close in his embrace, her feelings for Carsein had shifted.

She had wondered…

Why he felt so different.

Why he wasn’t like other men.

Why her heart raced whenever she was with him.

Why she felt this fluttering, this excitement, only with him.

Simply saying he was a good person, a kind soul, wasn’t enough.

So Harnie had blurted out the questions that had been swirling in her mind.

-If I… asked you to stay by my side… would you?

Would he truly stay by her side, if she asked?

-...If I needed help… with the social circles, or with my family?

Would he help her, if she needed it?

-If I… wanted to continue this relationship… after we leave the Duchy… would you?

…If she told him, indirectly, that she didn’t want their relationship to end with the contract… would he accept?

They were childish questions, filled with a selfish longing.

She shouldn’t have asked, not after they had only just started to get along.

But…

-Yes.

-I would help you. Always.

The answers she had longed for, echoed in his voice.

He would always be there for her.

He would always help her.

And…

-Of course.

He had understood her unspoken plea, and with a smile, he had agreed.

From that moment on, her heart hadn’t stopped racing.

The thought of his voice filled her with happiness.

And yet, a part of her felt a pang of longing, now that he wasn’t by her side.

She couldn’t forget the feeling of his arms around her, the warmth of his embrace.

It felt empty without him.

She wanted to see him, to be with him.

To hear his voice, to walk alongside him.

Harnie pressed her hands against her racing heart, and whispered,

“…What am I going to do?”

-Thump. Thump.

“I think… I’m falling for him.”

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