I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 148

Chapter 148: A Significant Intersection (4)

Since Chapter 2 transitioned from sub-episodes to main episodes, Emergency Missions had a unique characteristic.

Emergency Missions in Chapter 2 were additional events that occurred during the downtime between episodes. They offered minigames with additional rewards upon completion.

They were similar to the sub-episodes of Chapter 1, in the sense that they were optional. Unlike main episodes, they didn’t carry any risks and weren’t mandatory.

The difference was that while sub-episodes could influence the main episode’s storyline, Emergency Missions had no impact whatsoever. They simply offered minor bonuses, such as items that mitigated penalties or reduced the severity of status ailments.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t even bother with them.

They were a waste of time, despite their lack of risk.

The minigames were notoriously difficult, and the rewards were rarely useful.

But…

This time, it was different.

“Harnie.”

“Yes?”

“Could you… come closer?”

“…?”

She looked at me, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Of course, this wasn’t the position we had practiced.

But I had no time for explanations.

-Slide.

I released her hand, my movements gentle but firm, and pulled her closer, my arm wrapping around her waist.

And then, the next afterimage appeared.

‘Yes!’

The moment our position changed, a faint image materialized before my eyes.

The next step.

Which meant…

I could use the game system to… dance?

“C-Carsein, what are you doing? We didn’t practice this! This wasn’t part of the routine!”

Harnie’s voice, laced with panic, made me smile.

“Do you know this dance?”

“Well… yes, I practiced with a mannequin, so I know the steps.”

So she could dance.

The first condition was met. Now, all I had to do was convince her.

“Then let’s do this, instead of the one we practiced.”

“W-What?!”

“I… I vaguely remember reading about this dance. In a book.”

Of course, that was a lie.

I had never read an etiquette book, not before entering this game, not after.

But I could dance this.

‘Light colors later, dark colors first. That’s how it worked. The afterimage is faint because the music hasn’t started yet.’

The Emergency Mission’s system, those glowing afterimages, were guiding my every move. I might not know anything about dancing, but I could follow their instructions.

This dance was essentially a minigame, a test of my reflexes and coordination. It was ridiculously difficult, but it seemed doable. Especially with those afterimages guiding my movements, just like at the Snowflake Festival.

“This dance is much harder than the one we practiced! You can’t just learn it from a book!”

“But… it’s the only dance I know.”

“But…”

“Those ladies won’t be satisfied with anything less.”

I glanced towards the group of noblewomen, and Harnie, following my gaze, her eyes widened.

“…Do you think we can pull this off?”

I smiled, my voice confident.

“Trust me.”

This game, this world, was frustratingly complex and demanding.

But if I could manipulate the system, if I could use its rules to my advantage…

We wouldn’t be a laughingstock.

***

Couples, bathed in the warm glow of the spotlights, took their places on the dance floor.

They were here to judge, to evaluate, to expose her lie.

Harnie, recognizing several familiar faces, swallowed nervously.

‘They’re all… experts.’

These were the best dancers in high society, some of them even trained by renowned instructors from prestigious families.

Lady Helly had planned this, gathering the most talented, the most critical, to ensure her humiliation.

And she had to dance alongside them?

She would be compared, scrutinized, mocked. They would point out her every mistake, and their laughter, their whispers of disapproval, would echo through the ballroom.

Her lie would be exposed.

And if she stumbled, if she fell, it would be a disaster.

But…

“Trust me.”

Carsein’s words echoed in her mind, his confidence unwavering.

She should have been panicking.

He had never danced before, he had only read about this in a book, and yet…

He was calm.

Why wasn't he worried? Why wasn’t he preparing for the inevitable disaster?

Harnie took a deep breath, accepting her fate.

“Let’s do this.”

She had no other choice.

She couldn't escape, she couldn't hide. She had to dance, to fight for her freedom, to silence those who sought to destroy her.

Carsein smiled, his gaze unwavering.

The lights dimmed, and the music began, a slow, gentle melody that quickly transitioned into a complex, fast-paced rhythm.

Harnie, her body moving instinctively, followed the beat, her steps graceful and fluid.

Now it was Carsein’s turn.

Could he keep up with the intricate steps, the rapid tempo, the unpredictable shifts in rhythm?

Could he master this difficult, demanding dance?

And then…

‘…What?’

He moved effortlessly, his steps precise, his timing perfect. He matched her pace, his confidence growing with each beat.

And it wasn’t just the first few steps.

They were in sync, their movements flowing seamlessly from one to the next.

The connection, the synergy, was undeniable.

“H-How is he…?”

“Lady Harnie is dancing… She actually knows how…”

“This is incredible! She’s keeping up with the music…”

“No, that’s not the only impressive thing! How is her fiancé so perfect?!”

The ladies, watching them with wide eyes, couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

And neither could Harnie.

It wasn’t just the tempo or the rhythm.

The timing, the way they anticipated each other’s movements, the seamless transition between steps…

It was as if they had been dancing together for years.

And yet…

He had never danced before.

He had never even practiced this dance.

“Lady Helly, what’s going on?”

“This is… This isn’t what you promised! They’re not failing!”

“This is a difficult dance, and yet, they’re making it look easy! This means our dancers… they’re…”

It wasn’t just the ladies who were shocked. The men, who had been eagerly anticipating Harnie’s downfall, were equally baffled.

The music might have masked their whispers, but their disbelief was evident.

But she couldn't relax.

One mistake, one misstep, would shatter the illusion, revealing the truth. She had to maintain this momentum, to silence their doubts.

The music reached its climax.

The most difficult part of the dance, the final challenge.

If they could overcome this…

If they could finish strong…

They would silence their critics and transform their lie into a believable truth.

But…

Harnie stumbled, her ankle twisting, sending a jolt of pain through her body.

‘Ugh!’

She had been enduring the pain, pushing through it, but…

Her ankle gave way, trembling, refusing to cooperate.

She couldn’t execute the next step, she had lost the rhythm, the tempo, and her faltering steps threw Carsein off balance as well.

They were so close.

Just a few more steps, and they would be done.

And she was ruining everything.

Harnie closed her eyes, bracing herself for the fall, but…

-Thud!

‘…What?’

Her body, falling, found support. Carsein’s arm encircled her waist, his grip firm, his movements swift and decisive. He held her upright, his body angled perfectly to compensate for her sudden loss of balance.

He had saved her.

The music ended, and the audience erupted in applause.

Harnie, bewildered, dazed, basked in the warmth of their approval, the sound of their clapping washing over her.

“Haa…”

Her legs, weakening, threatened to give way, and Carsein, sensing her struggle, stepped closer, offering his support.

She leaned against him, grateful for his presence, and smiled weakly.

“W-We did it…”

She hadn't been able to focus during their practice session, her mind filled with distracting thoughts, and she had wondered what would happen, how they would manage, but…

They had succeeded. They had performed flawlessly, silencing Lady Helly and her cronies. They wouldn’t doubt her anymore, they couldn’t question the authenticity of her engagement.

And then…

Carsein’s arm slipped behind her knees, and she was lifted off the ground.

The audience gasped, their voices filled with admiration.

“C-Carsein? What are you doing?”

She was flustered, her cheeks burning, but he simply carried her away, ignoring her protests.

“Oh my, how romantic!”

The onlookers, their eyes shining, followed them, their gazes filled with a mixture of envy and delight.

Harnie, mortified, tried to wriggle free, but his grip was firm.

He carried her, like a princess, towards the terrace, the place where they had practiced.

-Click.

He closed the door behind them, and then, gently, he set her down on a chair.

And then…

He knelt before her.

“C-Carsein…? What are you… Ugh!”

Her ankle throbbed, the pain intensifying, as her shoe slipped off, revealing a bandage wrapped tightly around her swollen ankle.

Carsein sighed, his gaze filled with concern.

“I noticed you were trembling… You should have told me.”

So that was why he had brought her here.

To check on her.

She had been caught.

“I’m sorry. It’s just… there were… complications…”

“Complications?”

“…The Marquis… he made a deal with Lady Helly. He insisted I wear these shoes. He wouldn’t let me refuse.”

She had no choice. But she knew she had been a burden.

She had forced him to participate in this dance, she had distracted him during their practice session, and her stumble had almost ruined everything.

She had been prepared for his anger, his disappointment.

But he didn’t scold her.

“If you had told me, I wouldn't have let you dance in that condition.”

He gently touched her ankle, his voice soft, his touch surprisingly gentle.

“Lady Helly, was it? I’ll be borrowing these shoes.”

“W-What are you going to do?”

“I have to teach her a lesson. I know this will annoy Arina, but I’m not letting this go.”

-Thump!

He stood up, his footsteps echoing through the silent room.

“…Why? Why would you do that? You don’t have to…”

Her words, a mix of confusion and gratitude, tumbled out.

He really didn’t have to do this.

This pain… she could endure it. It was nothing new, a familiar ache, a constant reminder of her past.

And besides, they were just…

They were bound by a contract, not by love.

Why would he go this far?

“You’ve already done enough. You saved me from those ladies. You don’t have to confront her.”

Her goal was achieved.

This pain was temporary. She would survive.

“I’m afraid I have to disagree.”

His response, his unwavering determination, made her heart skip a beat.

“Even if you weren’t my fiancée, I wouldn’t let you suffer like this. Not again.”

-Thump!

His footsteps, faster, more urgent, echoed through the hallway.

Was it just her imagination?

Or had his voice… softened?

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