When Haru returned to the manor, he was directly scolded by both Maria, Merlin, and Melinda.
"What's wrong with you?!" Maria asked.
"Yeah, is there something wrong with your head?" Merlin nodded.
"Haru, do you really want to have a duel with Shin?" Melinda asked with a worried expression.
"...." Haru was speechless and said, "I'm just asking for a duel, and it isn't like we're doing a life and death battle. If I lose, then I lose, if I win, then I win, that's all, what are you worried about?"
"...." They were speechless by Haru's words. After all, they had seen Shin's power that was capable of destroying everything, and because of that, they thought they couldn't defeat Shin, but this guy dared to ask for a duel with Shin, which made them wonder what was inside his head.
"But, Haru, don't you feel scared?" Alice asked. In truth, she was quite scared of Shin. Even though her power might be increased from before and she might be more powerful than most of the magicians in the kingdom, she knew that there was no way for her to defeat Shin, or rather those thoughts had been planted by all of them here, after all, Shin's power couldn't be seen by common sense and even though, they didn't say anything, they thought of him as a monster.
Even though Merlin had said to everyone before that Shin wasn't a monster and an existence that everyone could achieve by their hard work, he knew himself better that wasn't the truth, and he knew that his grandson was special.
"........" Merlin and Melinda were in silence when they heard Alice's words, but their thought was quite normal, after all, even though Shin was very kind and a bit stupid, that guy was powerful, so powerful that no sane people might think of him they could match him in their entire lives.
"Shin... I think that he's too lonely on the top." Haru looked at everyone and said, "And, I want to see what's the gap between him and me. I know that my request for a duel is a bit reckless, but with this, I'll prove to everyone that Shin isn't an impossible existence."
"Haru..."
Merlin and Melinda were moved at that moment and thought that Haru was really a great friend of their grandson. Even though August might be great and all, after all, August was the crown prince of the Earlshide Kingdom and the future King of the country, August was still very weak, and they knew what Shin needed wasn't someone like that, but rather someone who could match his grandson.
"Still, as a man, if I don't dare to face this challenge, then what am I?" Haru smiled and said, "You don't need to worry too much. I'll take a break today, so I'll be ready tomorrow." He then grabbed both Lynn and Yuri since he really wanted to take a rest, right?
"......" Everyone, who saw him at that moment, thought that this was what man was. Even Merlin felt itchy and amazed by Haru's spirit. As for the girls, they looked at both Lynn and Yuri in jealousy, Haru might not be handsome, but his courage was something that they all wanted on their man.
---
After Haru rested in his room, he kissed both Lynn and Yuri, who were sleeping, then he decided to go to the hot spring pool to take a bath. After all, his body was a bit sticky.
Haru entered the pool, but he noticed someone was inside before he entered, but he didn't say much and entered. He sometimes sighed at his "Kenbonshoku Haki" since, with this power, the most cliche bathroom scene of the harem protagonist wouldn't be able to happen, which was why he sometimes ignored the reaction of the "Kenbonshoku Haki" and entered the bathroom directly even though he knew that there was someone inside.
When Haru opened the door, he showed a dumbfounded expression when he saw Sicily was there.
Sicily was also dumbfounded when she saw Haru was out there.
"I'm sorry!" Haru quickly closed the door.
When the door was closed, Sicily also woke up, her face turned red, but then it might be because of the impulse, and she said, "Ha - Haru, I - I don't mind to take a bath together."
"Really?" Haru asked, but he had already opened the door.
"........" Sicily wasn't sure, but she had a feeling that this bastard might trick her.
---
Haru and Sicily didn't face each other but sat with their backs facing each other.
Sicily was very shy at that moment.
"Are you sure that we should go together? If the people of your house know, then I might be forced to be your husband, Sicily," Haru said with a joke.
Sicily somehow pouted and asked, "You don't want to marry me?"
"You want to marry me?" Haru asked.
Sicily's face turned red, and he couldn't say anything afterward since her face was as red as an apple.
Haru smiled at Sicily and rested his head on the pool's edge while staring at the stars.
Sicily noticed Haru had moved and saw him relaxing in the pool. She looked at his glasses that had fogged up because of the steam and couldn't help but ask, "Haru, your glasses, don't you need to take it off?"
"If I take it off, I'm afraid that you'll really fall for me," Haru said simply.
Sicily thought that his words were a joke and said, "Really? Then I'll try to take off your glasses." She was about to take off Haru's glasses, but Haru grasped her hand.
Both of them stared at each other, and the atmosphere between them was quite ambiguous.
"You should know that if you move forward, then you won't be able to escape," Haru said.
Sicily stared at Haru, and her eyes were full of obsession. "I - I feel like if I don't do something, I might miss you in the future." She then took off Haru's glasses since she wanted to see his eyes better, but then, she was dumbfounded. She looked at him for a while before she nodded. "Now, I understand why you need to wear glasses." She thought that the reason he wore glasses should be both Lynn and Yuri. After all, if the girls in the kingdom saw this face, she was sure that there would be many competitors in the future. "In the future, you should wear these glasses all the time."
"Except in front of you?" Haru asked with a smile.
"Don't tease me." Sicily pouted.
"It's too late. I'll tease you forever." Haru moved closer and stole Sicily's lips.
Sicily closed her eyes and accepted his lips, feeling the warmth of his lips and the taste of the happiness that she felt for the first time.