Reaping What You Sow

Why is she being so mushy? A sincere, completely honest expression of gratitude. Did it feel this awkward because it caught me completely off guard? It felt ticklish, almost cringey.

"U-Uh, yes."

Not knowing how to respond, I blurted out a foolish answer. It was just so embarrassing. Seeing my reaction, Franche Decartes giggled.

"You get embarrassed by the strangest things."

"Well, you suddenly said something like that out of nowhere."

"I only said thank you, though?"

Franche smiled mischievously, seemingly oblivious to my inner turmoil. I wondered where a sheltered young lady of a ducal house had learned to tease like this.

"Are you blushing?"

"No, I'm not."

"But you're so tense."

"..."

I appreciated her gratitude, but hearing it directly was a bit much. It felt like a shiver running down my spine, tickling the back of my neck. Anyway, that was the feeling.

"Ahem. Well, our objective is complete, and our work here is done, so why don't you enjoy the party?"

"Right, it's a rare imperial party, so I should enjoy it. Shall we dance?"

"Oh, no. I appreciate the offer, Lady Franche, but I have something I need to do."

Franche tilted her head. "Something you need to do?"

"Yes. I need to look into the Saintess."

"Ah."

While it was difficult to investigate Somire's true identity or ultimate goals further, I could at least look into what happened today.

I need to check if she's plotting something.

It was strange that the Crown Prince, who was supposed to host the party until the Emperor arrived, had entered late, and it was equally bizarre that Somire had entered alongside the Emperor. Now that I knew Somire's intentions, I couldn't just let this slide. I absolutely wasn't running away because I was embarrassed or flustered. Seriously.

"But are you planning to investigate alone?"

"Yes. Please enjoy the party, Lady Franche."

"I feel bad being the only one having fun."

"It's fine. This is my job, after all."

Franche nodded with a faint smile. "Alright. It's a shame we can't dance together, but I'll leave it to you."

"Yes, have a wonderful time."

With that, Franche went to mingle with the other nobles, and I immediately slipped behind Somire. As expected, she was moving around with the Crown Prince.

Did nothing happen with the Emperor?

The Crown Prince was the definition of incompetent, so there was no need to worry about or monitor him, but if the Emperor got involved in the dynamic between Franche and Somire, things would get incredibly complicated. Franche's power was only just beginning to grow.

They're moving.

The Crown Prince and Somire's behavior was no different from yesterday. The nobles eagerly showered praises on Somire, the Saintess, while the Crown Prince puffed out his chest in pride. It was an endless cycle.

Is there really nothing?

Was I just being paranoid? I hoped so. But just then, I overheard some news.

Somire and the Crown Prince are getting married?

So the reason the Emperor entered late was because they were discussing the marriage. That solved the biggest mystery, but... Somire proceeding with the marriage to the Crown Prince at this point? Something was terribly, terribly wrong.

Every route in a Rofanso was a reverse harem. While Somire choosing a primary husband was a predetermined outcome, that was supposed to happen at the very end of the story. To have her official husband decided before the favorability building had even properly begun? If her husband was decided this quickly, Somire would never be able to achieve her ultimate goal of a reverse harem.

It's too fast. Did she not form connections with the other male leads?

That was impossible. Cassus Persia, for instance, had gone so far as to demand a unilateral divorce from Franche despite suffering massive losses. Cassus's character trait was that of a sociopath—someone who would use any means necessary to achieve his goals. He had made up all sorts of excuses to justify breaking the engagement, but in the end, it was all because of Somire.

It's certain she met Cassus. It makes no sense that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she didn't get involved with the other male leads.

Somire's actions were far too bizarre. They were completely unpredictable.

Cassus... Where is Cassus?

Did he know about this news? If he did, there was no way he would stay quiet. I scanned the party hall, looking around.

He's not here.

He had definitely attended the party yesterday. I had even witnessed him interacting with various nobles. Yet, he was absent today, on the most important day.

This definitely has something to do with him.

I had to find Cassus first. I needed to see his reaction to gather any clues. I immediately stepped out onto the terrace of the party hall and activated my Aura.

"Whew."

I leaped down and landed outside. Utilizing the Aura surging through my body, I quickly searched the perimeter of the Imperial Palace Party Hall. It didn't take long to locate Cassus.

He was at the edge of the maze-like garden, where no one else was around. He was sitting on a bench, staring up at the blue sky. He looked like a man who had just had his heart broken.

Did Somire dump him?

This game was a reverse harem game where you gathered male leads while dealing with life-and-death situations. The core of it was keeping them all on the hook. Even if this game world had turned into reality, its fundamental nature wouldn't change.

In the first place, after Somire was chosen as the Saintess, her very first goal was a reverse harem.

Yet, that same Somire was giving up on her goal and rushing into marriage?

It makes no sense.

Given her incomprehensible actions, the only possibilities I could think of right now were a regressor or a player. And then there was the other possibility that had crossed my mind recently. The only key figure in this world whom I knew nothing about, and whose actions I therefore couldn't comprehend.

The Somire who only existed in the hidden route. It wasn't certain yet, but this was the highest probability.

But would Cassus just give up on Somire here?

Out of more than ten routes, this kind of development had never happened before. Even I, who had seen every single ending, couldn't predict how this situation would unfold.

Considering Cassus's personality, he'll definitely resort to kidnapping.

A sociopath who would use any means necessary to get what he wanted. Even if it meant making an enemy of the Crown Prince and clashing with the imperial family, he wouldn't give up. In fact, he would probably abandon his own family just to have Somire. Because of Cassus alone, the genre had shifted from a reverse harem to a dark, angsty tragedy.

Well, that's his problem to deal with.

I decided to be satisfied with the information I had gathered so far. I now knew why she had entered with the Emperor, and I felt like I was getting closer to uncovering Somire's true identity. It was a massive harvest.

I stared at the dazed Cassus for a moment before heading back to the party hall.

When I returned to the party hall, Franche was sitting in a chair, staring blankly at the ceiling with a face full of exhaustion. I approached her slowly so as not to startle her.

"You're back. Where did you go?"

"I just went outside to get some fresh air."

"Why?"

"Uh... I just felt like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it."

Franche let out a soft chuckle, perhaps finding my absurd excuse ridiculous.

"You really are peculiar sometimes."

"Am I?"

"Yes. But thanks to you, I feel a bit energized now."

"...Did something happen?"

I asked, wondering if anything had occurred in my absence, but Franche shook her head.

"No, nothing major. I just got a bit tired from dealing with the nobles over business talk."

Fortunately, it was nothing serious.

"Since we've achieved our goal anyway, if you're tired, why don't we head back early?"

"I can't do that. Because of my position as a duke's daughter, I have to stay until the party ends."

That was rather inconvenient.

"Then would you like to get some fresh air?"

"Let's do that. That sounds much better."

Leaving the bustling party hall behind, we headed out to the terrace. Franche sat on the railing and leaned her head back.

"It's dangerous to sit like that."

"You'll save me anyway, won't you?"

"Well, yes, but..."

It was nice that she trusted me, but she shouldn't become completely reckless because of it.

"The weather is lovely."

"It certainly is."

Looking at Franche now, a strange sensation washed over me. Winter had come for Cassus, the one who had first driven a dagger into Franche's heart, while spring had arrived for Franche, who had overcome her wounds and risen again.

You reap what you sow, after all.

Serves you right, you bastard. To think he talked to Franche like that, only to end up abandoned himself.

"Now then, let's talk."

"About what?"

"You investigated the Saintess, didn't you? Did you find anything?"

Well, I couldn't tell her the core details.

"I did find out a few things."

"Like what?"

"The Saintess is going to marry the Crown Prince."

"Ah, I already know that. The rumor is spreading like wildfire through the party hall right now."

In that case, let me share some news that will surely brighten your mood.

"The young lord of Persia has had his heart broken."

"...What?"

Franche's eyebrows twitched.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, it's a bit of a long story, but..."

I proceeded to tell Franche about how Cassus had fallen for Somire. And how there was a love triangle between the Crown Prince, Somire, and Cassus...

"What...?"

Bewilderment colored Franche's voice, as if she had never ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expected this in her wildest dreams.

"So, he broke off our engagement because of that Saintess?"

"Yes."

"Even while suffering all those losses?"

"Exactly."

Franche let out a hollow laugh. "He really was a madman."

She hit the nail on the head. He had thrown away an astronomical sum of money and dragged his family's reputation through the mud, all for a single woman. And this was the guy who was supposed to be the next Duke. If that wasn't a lunatic, I didn't know what was.

"He went to such lengths to break the engagement and confess his feelings to the Saintess, only for her to choose the Crown Prince?"

I nodded. At that, Franche let out a dry chuckle, which quickly escalated into a full-blown, roaring laugh.

"What a hilarious man. Did he plan all this just to give me a good laugh? If so, he's a master of comedy."

"Perhaps the heir training in the Persia Duke Estate includes humor lessons."

"Indeed. To make me laugh this hard, he must have studied it. Or maybe it's just raw talent?"

Franche kept chuckling, still finding the whole thing utterly absurd.

"Anyway, that's the best news I've heard in a long time. I still haven't forgotten the words he said to me back then."

I, too, could still vividly hear what Cassus had said. Calling her the shame of the ducal house, the trash of Decartes, treating her like a curse. I didn't know what kind of rejection he had faced from Somire, but I sincerely hoped it left a deep, permanent scar on his heart. Only then would the scales of justice be balanced.

"From now on, you will only walk on a path of flowers, Lady Franche. You can forget about a man like him. He has no redeeming qualities other than his sense of humor."

Franche smirked at my words.

"Yes, I can finally let it go completely. I need to live my own life now. Didn't you say it before? If you're bound by the past, you can't move forward. It's my turn to move forward ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now."

That was an excellent mindset.

"Exactly. The past should only be used as a tool for self-reflection. The future ahead is what truly matters."

People usually live their lives regretting the days gone by. And through that regret, they learn something. It's best to use the past only to that extent. Delving any deeper into it would only lead to self-hatred and self-inflicted wounds.

"Use the past only for self-reflection... That's a great saying. I've felt this for a while, but every time I talk to you, I get a certain impression. It's almost like talking to a priest or a monk."

Well, I wasn't entirely sure what she meant by that, but it was probably a compliment, right?

"Anyway, let's go back inside. We should wrap up the rest of the party."

I nodded and replied, "Yes."

Franche stepped down from the railing and began to walk. And so, we returned to the party hall, but...

Huh?

The atmosphere in the party hall was chaotic. The nobles were whispering and glancing around warily, while the Duke of Persia looked absolutely furious, practically spitting fire.

"The atmosphere is strange. Did something happen?"

"I'll go find out."

I focused all my senses on my hearing, eavesdropping on the murmuring nobles. And the content of their gossip left me quite shocked.

"Ah..."

"Why? What is it?"

"Lady Franche, it seems your revenge has succeeded spectacularly."

"What? Revenge? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

For some reason, the entire party hall was buzzing with rumors that Cassus was gay. Even the members of the Persia Ducal family were interrogating him about it. It was no longer just a light, passing rumor.

The time has finally come.

The graph of my long-held stock was finally skyrocketing.