Villain? Nah. I'm just here for the harem.-Chapter 29: What is the meaning of all this?

What is the meaning of all this?

Yeah... yeah, I should've seen this coming.

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "What do you mean?"

Liliana's grip on my collar tightened, her golden eyes burning with emotions I couldn't quite place. Anger? Frustration? Something deeper?

"You have that commoner childhood friend, and now you've gone and thrown yourself into hell for that dark sorceress, Iris Nightshade! You fought for her—you nearly died for her! Why? Why are they more important to you than your own life?"

Her voice cracked near the end, and for a moment, she almost seemed... hurt. But that couldn't be right, could it?

I grabbed her wrist, prying her fingers off me, my own anger flaring. "Why are you angry about my choices?" I shot back. "You know our engagement is political. There's no romance, no love. You're not my wife, so I don't need your permission for anything. And Rin and Iris... they are special to me."

Liliana flinched, her expression shifting from rage to something more vulnerable. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

I exhaled and looked away. The truth was, our engagement was nothing more than an arrangement between two families. My family, the Asakuras, was one of the most powerful noble houses in the empire, producing generations of elite swordsmen and dark-element mages. But we lacked financial stability. Meanwhile, Liliana's family, the von Eldorias, were among the wealthiest merchant families, but they weren't of noble blood. Our engagement was nothing more than a trade—a way to secure both power and wealth.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't care about your 'stuff,' Renji. I was worried about you." Her voice trembled. "I heard rumors... that you had fallen into the devil's path. That you were lost. I thought you'd never come back."

She turned toward the door, her voice quieter now. "I will never let myself be part of a political marriage. So... please remember that."

Then she walked out.

I sat there, stunned.

What the fuck.

I ran a hand through my hair, lost in thought. What was I supposed to do with that?

Before I could process it, another knock came at the door.

This time, it was Rin.

She stepped inside, her familiar presence immediately easing some of the tension in my mind. She looked me over carefully, her emerald eyes filled with relief.

"Thank god... you're fine," she said softly.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

I leaned back on my bed. "I told you, I'm fine. So why are you here?"

Rin pouted. "What do you mean, 'why am I here'? I'm your friend! I can visit you whenever I want!"

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, shaking my head with a small smile.

She studied me for a moment, then tilted her head. "You look worried."

I sighed. "Why wouldn't I be? Liliana just fought with me before you arrived. I don't want a fiancée like that. If I have to marry someone, I'd rather it be someone like you—someone who actually takes care of me."

Silence.

Then, Rin's face turned bright red.

She fidgeted, looking away, and then, in a barely audible whisper, she said—

"I-I will... I will become your wife if you want."

My brain short-circuited.

"...Huh?"