I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Belated Birthday Gift (4)

The meeting with Harnie was an hour away.

The outfit I wore for the coming-of-age ceremony was a tailcoat, appropriate for formal parties and banquets. It wouldn’t do for a meeting with my fiancée.

‘She said we had to act like a couple.’

The clothes in my closet were out of the question. The everyday clothes, the sleepwear… they were all unsuitable.

The only option was the outfit that had been sent as a birthday gift. I didn’t want to wear it, but I had to, thanks to Camilla’s insistence.

‘Ugh… I said it in the heat of the moment, but… how do I explain this?’

I had a lot to worry about.

Anyway, I finished getting ready.

Ten minutes after arriving at the meeting spot…

“Duke Carsein.”

Harnie arrived, her steps hurried.

“I’m sorry, am I late?”

“You’re right on time. No problem.”

“Well, you might not know this, but it’s proper etiquette for nobles to arrive a little early. That’s why I’m apologizing.”

What kind of ridiculous etiquette was that? If that was the case, then Harnie was also 10 minutes late.

It was useless information, but… I’ll keep it in mind.

“Hmm…”

“What is it?”

“You’re dressed quite formally today.”

So that’s what she was looking at. My outfit.

“I couldn’t wear the same thing as last time, right? You said so yourself.”

“Oh my, you’re really making an effort? Thank you.”

“Well, yes…”

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, seemingly satisfied.

Meanwhile, I was sweating bullets.

‘I don’t think she’ll be smiling when she finds out what I did… ’

I would surely regret this. In 30 minutes, maybe even less, I would be filled with regret.

But whatever, what’s done is done.

“So, I’m here. What do you want me to do?”

“Well, we have to take care of this first, of course.”

Harnie said, pointing to her handbag.

It probably contained something related to the contract.

She was meticulous, yet so clumsy sometimes…

‘First, we need to move to a different location. Yes, that place looks good.’

I scanned the area, found a suitable spot, grabbed Harnie’s hand, and led her away.

“D-Duke Carsein? What are you…?”

“Just come with me.”

Harnie, startled, tried to pull away, but I didn’t let go.

***

‘This should be good.’

The place I had chosen was a coffee house.

As soon as we entered, I noticed several private rooms. There were people sitting at tables in the lobby, but the existence of those rooms was crucial.

I approached an employee.

“I’d like to enjoy a private moment with my lady. We’ll take a room for two. How much is it?”

“It’s 350 Pessel, on top of the cost of your drinks. You can pay the 350 Pessel upfront.”

“Here.”

“Please follow me.”

I paid, pulling the money from my inner pocket, and the employee glanced at me and Harnie.

He seemed to recognize us as nobles, because he led us to a room further inside, away from the lobby. And then, I felt a sharp pain in my shin, the jab of a heel.

‘You are no different! Let go! Or I’ll scream, and the guards will come!’

I turned around, and Harnie, her voice low enough for the employee not to hear, hissed at me, her eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Ha… just follow me. I’m not going to do anything like that.”

“Don’t make me laugh! You think you’re the first one to say that?”

Harnie scoffed, a string of names spilling from her lips.

I had never heard of them, of course.

Men who had invited her to private meetings, hoping to take advantage of her.

Men who had tried to touch her, their faces flushed, their smiles lecherous.

She recounted their actions, their attempts to seduce her.

“You’re all the same, with your sweet words… You’re just another animal. This is your last warning. Let go.”

Harnie looked ready to scream. This was truly her last warning.

Judging by the atmosphere and the customers’ attire, nobles were frequent visitors here. If she screamed…

‘I’ll be branded as a crazy pervert.’

It was obvious.

Of course, I wouldn’t just stand there and let it happen.

First, I needed to calm this clumsy woman down.

—Tap.

I let go of her hand and leaned against the wall, blocking her path.

This should be enough to shield us from prying eyes, even if someone was watching. But Harnie looked startled.

“Y-you… If you’re really trying to do something to me…!”

“Shh.”

Be quiet.

“You’re clueless. A fool.”

“W-what? Did you just call me a fool?”

“Yes, Lady Harnie, you are a fool. If you think I’m just another pervert who wants to grope you, then yes, you’re a fool.”

Harnie, dumbfounded, gasped.

“Then… do you have another reason for acting like this?”

She crossed her arms, challenging me to explain.

I chuckled and decided to be brutally honest with this clueless woman.

“Were you planning to announce our engagement to everyone, right here, right now? To shout it from the rooftops?”

“Are you crazy? Of course not!”

“Then why are you treating me like those other perverts?”

“What?”

She looked confused, her reaction almost comical.

“Think about it. What’s the ideal place to discuss an important contract?”

“…”

Of course, it was…

A place where they could talk privately.

Harnie, realizing why we were here, blushed, twirling a strand of her hair.

“Umm, Duke Carsein… About that…”

She started to speak, but the employee, who was walking ahead, cleared his throat and turned around.

“Ahem. You two, please refrain from public displays of affection.”

“What?”

I was about to protest, to tell him it was ridiculous, but then I realized the situation could be easily misinterpreted.

A man pushing a woman against the wall, their eyes locked.

To the employee, who had seen countless couples, our “wall slam” must have seemed like a passionate embrace.

Harnie, embarrassed, covered her face with her hands.

“Come on, let’s go. Before anyone else sees us.”

“…”

Harnie, without another word, grabbed my hand again and followed obediently.

***

The employee led us to a private room.

It was a cozy space with a large window that offered a panoramic view of the city.

And most importantly, it seemed soundproof.

“Umm… Duke Carsein?”

“Yes?”

“I… I think it’s safe to let go of my hand now.”

Oh, right.

The employee had gone to get our drinks, so we could finally sit down and talk.

“Let’s have a seat.”

Harnie, wiping away a bead of sweat, sat down.

We were facing each other, our eyes meeting, and she quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing.

Her eyes blinked rapidly.

‘Hmm… I’ll use this to my advantage.’

Harnie, her face filled with awkwardness, fidgeted in her seat. She probably regretted kicking me and calling me names.

I could use this to my advantage.

I’ll wait. She was a bit clumsy, prone to self-sabotage.

“Umm… about what happened earlier…”

“Earlier?”

“You know… in the hallway.”

I pretended to savor the aroma and taste of the coffee, avoiding her gaze, and Harnie started to steal glances at me.

Time to tease her a bit?

“In the hallway? That was a bit awkward, wasn’t it?”

“Y-yes?”

—Flinch!

“You were the one who was in the wrong, Lady Harnie.”

Her body trembled as I met her gaze. She averted her eyes, blinking rapidly.

“The employee was waiting, and you wouldn’t move. We could have been misunderstood.”

“…”

Her eyes, which had been blinking rapidly, now trembled slightly. She looked defeated.

“…I know.”

“What?”

“I-I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have kicked you and… and accused you of being like those other perverts…”

“I’m glad we cleared up the misunderstanding.”

“Don’t tease me. I apologized, didn’t I?”

“Did… did those other men tease you like this?”

“Ugh, you’re unbelievable!”

She blushed, stealing glances at me. It would be fun to tease her a little more, but… maybe I should stop here.

“Shouldn’t we get back to the main topic? The day’s almost over.”

“I was just about to say that!”

I doubt it.

Anyway…

Harnie rummaged through her handbag.

She probably didn’t bring a contract.

But I had overlooked something.

“This is a Gem of Oath. You know what it is, right?”

“Yes.”

I normally wouldn't have, but I understood when I saw the item description.

◆Gem of Oath
[A magic stone used to make verbal contracts, usually for important agreements. When used, the gem’s magic is released, creating an environment where—]

In short, the gem’s magic created a binding contract once both parties stated their obligations and objectives.

There was no need for a physical contract.

This was a world where magic existed.

Harnie, after imbuing the gem with the contract’s details, announced her objective, her desire to escape the Theresia Marquisate, and then turned to me.

“Now, Duke Carsein, just tell me your objective.”

She wanted to leave the Theresia Marquisate and become independent.

My objective? It was simple.

“───────.”

Harnie’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

“N-no. It’s nothing. I’ll proceed with the contract.”

The gem glowed brightly, its blue light shifting to crimson.

I had seen a similar scene in the game, though it hadn’t been Carsein who used the Gem of Oath. It seemed the one-year engagement contract had been successfully established.

But even after the contract was made, Harnie couldn’t meet my gaze, her fingers fidgeting with her hair.

“Umm… are you okay from earlier?”

“You mean the kick? I'm fine. Why do you ask?”

“…I just…”

She had kicked me pretty hard, to be fair. It was probably necessary to deal with those persistent men. To be honest, it still hurt.

‘This makes me look like the bad guy, but…’

I had to use this to my advantage.

“Let’s call it even. I made a few mistakes myself.”

“No, you didn’t! You were just trying to find a suitable place.”

“Not today. Well, I… I did something wrong. To you, Lady Harnie.”

“To me? Not today…?”

She tilted her head, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“When you came to the Bagrand duchy. Do you remember when we met?”

“Of course, I do. That’s why we’re here now.”

“Yes. I… I made a mistake that day. I didn’t want to be scolded by my family.”

“…?”

“I told them… that we were having a tryst that day. So… ahem. We need to… make it look more… convincing.”

“Wh-what?!”

Harnie, shocked, asked again, making sure she had heard me correctly.

“A-a tryst? We… we just have a contract! If you tell them that, then… then…!”

“We… we have to look like a couple. If we don’t want to be suspected.”

“Oh my.”

Harnie, her face pale, repeated, “Oh my,” her voice barely a whisper.

I understood.

Carsein wasn’t exactly a catch.

And Harnie was exceptionally beautiful, even among nobles.

And in terms of ability, they were worlds apart.

I wanted to even things out, to apologize for my part in this…

But it seemed like it wasn’t working.

“This is actually better, don’t you think? If we were having a tryst, it would be harder for them to suspect us. And it’ll be easier to act naturally.”

I tried to reassure her, afraid she might back out of the contract, and then her eyes lit up.

“L-lady? What’s wrong?”

I felt a cold sweat break out as she approached, a dangerous glint in her eyes. I instinctively backed away.

—Thud.

Uh oh. Nowhere left to go.

“Wait!”

“You… you…!”

—Whack!

It had been a while since I had received a backhand slap.

***

“Ugh…”

“Hmph!”

I rubbed my back, the stinging pain fading, and watched as Harnie, her arms crossed, a smug look on her face, left the coffee house.

“Wait up!”

“Don’t talk to me.”

“You should be happy now, after getting your revenge.”

“I said don’t talk to me.”

“Come on, we agreed to call it even…”

—Glare.

Harnie’s eyes, filled with malice, turned towards me. I had a feeling I would be slapped again if I said anything else.

I leaned in and whispered,

“Ahem, if you keep doing this, people will get suspicious.”

“….”

“You said you didn’t want other men to bother you, right? Lady Theresia.”

A tense silence fell, a dangerous silence that felt like it could shatter at any moment.

I waited patiently, and Harnie sighed.

“Harnie.”

“Yes?”

“Call me by my name. Drop the title.”

“Ah, okay.”

“But!”

—Stop!

Harnie, who had been walking ahead, stopped abruptly and turned to face me.

“Don’t you dare try anything funny. You can’t break the contract, not with the Gem of Oath… But you’re not an exception.”

“Yes, yes.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant by "not an exception," but it seemed I couldn’t break the contract. That was enough.

“Shouldn’t you call me ‘Carsein’ then?”

“I said don’t talk to me!”

I continued to appease Harnie until the sun set.

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