The Damn Family Is Back Again

Chapter 182

182. The Second Agent (3)

When I returned to the house where I stayed in Châtenay, it was quite late at night.

In truth, it wasn’t that far.

Even if I dawdled, it was a distance I could reach within tens of minutes.

But then, I thought of a trap to increase the intimacy with Dyke, the second agent.

The first time I stepped on a trap in Châtenay to test the combat risk, a small group of marauders threatening Châtenay appeared before me as enemy entities.

In the game, they were merely elements to level up and pose a threat, but upon reflection, the traps within the domain that spawned enemy entities seemed quite helpful.

There were sub-episodes related to plundering, and whenever a threat came to the residents, these sub-episodes would automatically activate, and each time I appeared to help the guards, Dyke’s intimacy would increase.

So, I intended to remove some traps in advance, but…

“Where on earth have you been to come back this late?”

Caught up in removing traps, I was late, and there she was, my fiancée, arms crossed, waiting impatiently.

…I’m doomed.

I can’t work late into the night now. The nagging is inevitable.

That’s what I thought, but it was already too late.

“You’ve been out this late… Don’t tell me you skipped dinner?!”

Well… the rest is predictable.

I got a thorough scolding for not even eating properly.

After enduring the nagging, an hour passed until dinner time was over.

The night sky was already dark, almost racing towards dawn.

“Harunie, over there?”

“Stop thinking about work and get some sleep?”

“…”

I knew it would come to this.

Today is a bust.

…Or not!

There’s one last resort left, so I have to try it!

“Hmm. But, why did you come back? There was a task I had assigned to you.”

At my question, Harunie hesitated for a moment, glanced at me, then huffed and turned her head away.

From noble mtl dot come

“You asked if Chatren’s specialties could grow in other soils, didn’t you? If that’s the case… then, we could just bring the soil here and plant them.”

“…”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No, not exactly.”

I did say we needed a control group of soil, but I knew there wouldn’t be much of a harvest.

Whether Chatren strawberries and Chatren grapes, crops that grow in Chatren, really only thrive here.

Not just the soil, but also the climate, vegetation, rainfall, humidity – can they truly not grow in other environments?

If we had no idea, then it could serve as a control group, but records are abundant that Chatren’s specialties have never grown here.

Even the game data is plentiful.

Chatren’s domain introduction. Texts from the ducal library. Additional information according to the domain survey. Item descriptions and so on – there’s enough evidence that research isn’t even necessary.

So why did I ask Harunie to do this if I already knew?

By establishing a control group of soil, we can assert that these crops only grow in Chatren, which allows us to question the farming methods. In other words, it’s about creating options in advance.

‘But even considering that, was there really a need to come all this way?’

That’s when the thought struck me.

“Um… thank you for helping this time.”

“Huh?”

“Thanks to you, we could overcome the count’s suspicions. The Plescia consortium can also use Rusmayer without any issues… so everything worked out well.”

No way.

Is that what she came to talk about?

“But… honestly, there’s still something unsettling about this.”

“Not enough?”

“It’s not uncommon at the symposium for betrothed or married individuals to stick together… If we, if we stay apart, the count might find it odd… right?”

“So it’s to avoid suspicion.”

“Yes, exactly. That’s why I thought it would be better to stick together… and why I came to see you.”

It was awkward to hear ‘thank you,’ but the following words made sense.

Harunie is being checked not only by the count but also by society. Perhaps, since our goals overlap significantly, both sides might be joining hands to pull Harunie down.

It’s better for Harunie and me to keep up the pretense of being lovers for as long as possible.

‘Of course. This smart woman wouldn’t waste her time. There must be a purpose.’

…But why is she standing there so hesitantly?

For such an obvious conversation, her demeanor seems strangely off.

“Harunie?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Hmm.”

-Swish.

“Ah!”

Startled, Harunie stepped back as I touched her forehead.

“What, what are you doing…?”

“Oh. Sorry if I startled you. Your face was a bit red, so I thought you might have a fever.”

“Fever? What fever! I don’t have such a thing…!”

“Even so, you seemed to have some fever. Are you sure you’re not sick?”

“I told you, I’m not!”

Clearly, there was some fever when I touched her.

But she vehemently denies it, so I guess I’ll just have to take her word for it.

“Um, can I open the window?”

“Are you hot?”

“Just a little.”

“That’s fine. The weather has been warming up lately.”

With a fan of her hand, Harunie opened the window, then glared at me and pointed her finger at the single bed in the room.

“It’s late, so go to sleep quickly. I’ll be right beside you to make sure you rest properly and sleep comfortably.”

Ugh. So it has come to this.

This is awkward. If Harunie stays here, I won’t be able to stay up all night…

I should try to persuade her.

“I can’t sleep even if you say so.”

“Sigh. Are you making up strange excuses again? After you fell asleep so easily?”

“No. It’s true. I actually have quite severe insomnia. I couldn’t sleep deeply last night either. It was just a coincidence.”

Zap!

It’s unfair. This isn’t a lie.

“…Sigh. Well, I can’t help it then.”

“Really?”

She looked at me intently and then silently approached.

And then, my world suddenly turned 90 degrees.

Unable to grasp the situation, I blinked rapidly in confusion, and in the meantime, Harunie coughed and asked.

“Would this… make it possible for you to sleep?”

“Harunie? What is this…?”

“If you lie like this, you used to sleep well. If you can’t sleep in bed, I could lend you my thigh to sleep on… that’s… right

“Stop talking nonsense and go to sleep! Really…”

Harunie, who had lightly hit my shoulder twice in a row, fanned herself with her hand again, complaining about the heat.

With both plans blocked, pushing any further would be unreasonable.

Reluctantly, I had to close my eyes again on these unfamiliar thighs.

Still, I was relieved that she didn’t think of me as some weirdo and that this time, I hadn’t fallen asleep first. But in this state, how could anyone sleep

As if that wasn’t enough, it became difficult to shake off Harunie who had nestled into my embrace.

“You need to… sleep properly… Karsein… and eat properly too…”

“…”

-Hey, Minhyuk! You have to sleep properly. And eat properly too!

Even amidst this, as I watched her trying to take care of me, Jieun’s voice once again brushed past me.

-Uh-huh… Minhyuk… you have to eat properly and sleep…

And the situation unfolding before me… Yes. It was something I had experienced once with Jieun.

*Sigh.*

Why do such similar events keep overlapping?

I don’t even know anymore.

For now, I can’t escape from Harunie. I might as well catch some sleep.

Maybe after a few hours of sleep, I’ll wake up to find us separated, tossing and turning. She must be sleep-talking like this.

Then I can sneak out and get some work done.

…But.

Ridiculously, I fell asleep again.

***

Harassment followed me wherever I went.

Among the nobles, I was often tagged as an illegitimate child.

In the circles of society ladies and wives, I was labeled a seductress, and for men, my beauty was considered a poison.

And…

The triumphs achieved through diligent study were not even acknowledged by my own kin, making the reality of being a b*stard all the more palpable.

Harassment, pain, loneliness.

It was a structure I had no choice but to become accustomed to.

I needed to gather money as quickly as possible. I wanted to escape from the Theresia Marquisate using the hidden exit of the Plescia Company.

This detestable noble society, I wanted to shut it out of my sight and mind as soon as possible.

But.

In these loathsome times, there emerged moments I wanted to remember.

“Eek?!”

I still can’t forget that time.

I stood alone against the malice that sent those tight shoes, realizing my condition had worsened, and he carried me in his arms to the terrace. That time is unforgettable.

My hand touched the wounded foot, and as the shoe came off, a refreshing breeze seeped in. I can’t forget that moment.

Medicine was applied by another’s hand, a bandage was affixed, and new shoes were fitted, making my heart flutter. That moment is unforgettable.

Every minute, every second. No, those few hours never left my mind.

Surely, it was a time of torment, a time to endure.

A time that would have been quickly forgotten once I left the party hall.

I thought not even a fragment of memory would remain in that place.

Yet, it vividly surfaced in my mind.

In the form of a sweet dream.

“…”

When I realized it was a dream, my eyes opened on their own.

And only then did Harunie realize she had been deeply asleep.

‘Again, like this…’