I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started

Chapter 72 Angela’s face turned as pale as a sheet at Yvette’s words.She had been caught red-handed, fighting disgracefully with another maid. And not just by anyone—Yvette Büllosen, a noblewoman close to Daniel, who had likely witnessed the entire scene from start to finish.Desperation painted Angela’s face as she clung to Yvette.“L-Lady Yvette. This is a misunderstanding!”“Do you still have excuses to make?”Yvette’s lofty tone made Angela shrink back even further. With a haughty gaze, Yvette looked down at her.Angela flushed with frustration, her anger inexplicably directed at Rosieta.‘Why does she always get help like this?’Angela had once considered getting along with Rosieta, especially after rumors of Miriam’s bullying started to spread. Distancing herself from Miriam meant she needed allies, and with the summer retreat being the perfect opportunity, Angela had planned to win Rosieta over.But Rosieta had been nothing but defiant—wide-eyed and unyielding. Not only had Angela failed to intimidate her, but she had also managed to draw Lucas’s ire.And now this…Angela’s plans to secure allies during the summer retreat had completely unraveled, spiraling further out of her control.“I will inform your master of your misconduct. For now, return to the quarters and await your punishment,” Yvette said coldly.“……”Angela realized there was no point in arguing. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she glared at Rosieta one last time before offering a stiff bow to Yvette and retreating into the darkness.Rosieta let out a humorless laugh as Angela disappeared.‘She grovels for the nobles, but why does she act like this only to me?’Though irritation and disbelief flared within her, they faded quickly.Her gaze fell to the crushed box at her feet.The once-small and elegant gift box was now mangled, its expensive blue silk handkerchief peeking out, marred by a dark footprint.“I’ve been waiting so long to give this…”She had promised herself she would give Colin a thoughtful, beautiful birthday gift. Now, the gift was ruined.Hot tears welled in her eyes, and despite her efforts to hold them back, the unfairness of it all overwhelmed her.Yvette, standing nearby, found herself equally at a loss. The dimly lit corner, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon, felt oddly intimate.As she turned her gaze to Rosieta, she saw her trembling, on the verge of tears.‘…Should I comfort her?’Yvette was terrible at comforting people. Even casual conversations with strangers were an uphill battle for her.Rosieta clutched the crushed box tightly, as if it were the most precious thing in the world.Yvette hesitated. She didn’t particularly want to grow close to Rosieta. The red hair reminded her too much of her younger sister, stirring unwelcome feelings of misplaced hope.‘And yet… here I am, stepping in for her.’She had only intended to get some fresh air when she stumbled across the shouting match. Normally, she would have walked away, indifferent to the scene.But something about Rosieta’s trembling shoulders tugged at her. She raised a hesitant hand, her fingers brushing the air near Rosieta’s shoulder.She wasn’t good at offering solace, but the sight of Rosieta’s despair caused a strange ache in her chest, as if her heart were being pricked by tiny needles.It reminded her of the helplessness she felt when her family—or Deborah—had been upset.For reasons she didn’t fully understand, she wanted to ease Rosieta’s pain.‘Why am I feeling this way about her?’Just before her hand could make contact, Rosieta wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve and turned to face her.“Thank you for helping me, Lady Yvette,” Rosieta said, her voice trembling but resolute.Yvette froze, taken aback by the gratitude in her tear-streaked voice.Rosieta was clearly trying to put on a brave face, unwilling to show vulnerability in front of someone she barely knew.Yvette remained silent, unsure how to respond.“I’m sorry you had to see me like this,” Rosieta continued.“…..”“I’ll repay your kindness someday. Please, go back inside and enjoy the party. I’ll stay here for a bit longer before returning.”Her words were polite but distanced, drawing a subtle boundary.Yvette studied Rosieta for a moment longer before nodding. The girl’s words were reasonable—it was hardly an ideal situation to have been caught fighting like this. And they were little more than acquaintances who had crossed paths a few times.Rosieta bowed deeply to Yvette, then turned and walked toward the colonnade that led to the garden.Even after Rosieta disappeared into the darkness, Yvette remained standing there, unmoving.She felt as though she had missed something important. ***** “Haa…”A sigh I had been holding back slipped out as I crouched under one of the tropical trees planted in the atrium.The light spilling from the building was visible, yet this spot was just dim enough that no one would likely find me here.Leaning on the glow from the terrace’s lights, I carefully opened the crushed gift box again and took out the handkerchief.The blue silk handkerchief, now disfigured and bearing a hideous footprint, looked even worse under the light.“How am I supposed to give this as a birthday gift…?”I thought about how much I had agonized over this purchase, how my hands had trembled as I made the payment.Though Mika had stepped in to haggle on my behalf, it wasn’t the kind of expense I could pay lightly.But it wasn’t just the price that mattered.I let out another deep sigh that seemed to come from the pit of my stomach.Why was my life always like this?Everything was beginning to weigh on me: Angela’s baseless hatred, my own ridiculous anxiety over a handkerchief, and the shame of having shown such an undignified side of myself to a stranger.Colin’s birthday, a day I had wanted to celebrate joyously, had instead turned into my worst day.“I wish I could just disappear.”Sitting alone in the dimly lit corner, dark and impulsive thoughts began to creep in.What if I left everything behind and returned to Danten? I could work at Lynne’s restaurant and wait for the inn to be completed.If I stayed in this mood, I might just catch the next night train back home.But then…“At least for me,” Daniel had said once, “having someone like you to talk to in that noisy, miserable orphanage was the only thing that kept me going.”Those words suddenly surfaced in my mind, unbidden.He had told me that my presence had helped him endure that bleak time, that it had been his strength to keep moving forward.‘Why am I thinking about that now?’Was this some subconscious nudge, reminding me that Daniel owed his life to me and that I had every right to demand something in return? Or was it a sign that I should go straight to him and report Angela’s behavior?The absurdity of my own thoughts made me chuckle faintly.Daniel, for all his aloofness and prickliness, was surprisingly soft when it came to those of us who had grown up with him in the orphanage. If I suddenly vanished one night, he would likely just furrow his brow in silence rather than reprimand me. Who knows—he might even forgive my debt on a whim if I gave him some nonsensical excuse.Daniel was like that. Tough on the outside, but soft where it counted.“Too soft,” I muttered with a wry smile. But the smile faded just as quickly.Thinking of Daniel made me realize how selfish the idea of leaving without a word truly was. After ten years of absence, I had finally found my way back to him, and all I had done was repay my debt to him.If I disappeared again, he would undoubtedly be disappointed. And I didn’t want to see that look on his face.Hugging my knees, I lifted my head to the sky. The full moon hung brightly in the black expanse above.“…At the very least, I’ll stick around until Daniel arrives.”I had made many promises during my time here.I had promised Colin that I wouldn’t disappear without a word ever again.I had promised Lucas that we’d enjoy the village festival together. Leaving without warning now would only hurt them both.“Right… Jensen, wasn’t it?”That little village, sharing my last name—Jensen. Was it mere coincidence, or was there a connection? What kind of place was it?‘I’ll have to look into it. It’s probably just a coincidence, but…’Lost in thought, I leaned against the thick trunk of the tropical tree and slowly got to my feet. My legs were stiff from crouching for so long, and I had to shake them out.Enough of these gloomy thoughts. Sulking wouldn’t change my situation. Tears wouldn’t uncrush the handkerchief, and wallowing wouldn’t solve anything.“Think positively. Being miserable won’t bring me bread or money, will it?”I still had a 2.7-million billing debt to Daniel, a lovingly planned inn under construction in Danten, and Lynne’s family waiting to welcome me like their own.Most of all, I had friends I hadn’t seen in ten years who were counting on me to make good on our promise to see the sea together.“Yeah, no matter how down I feel, I’ll push through. Maybe enjoying the summer beach here will lift my spirits.”That was the wisdom I had learned after nearly 20 years of living this life: sadness was fleeting, and brighter days would come if I just held on a little longer.Honestly, without that mindset, I wouldn’t have been able to endure the harshness of this life. So, I decided—no more sniffling. Time to think positively.‘As for the handkerchief… I’ll try hand-washing it. It doesn’t have to be gifted today.’Forcing myself to stand a little taller, I stepped out from the shadow of the tree. Just then, I spotted someone entering the garden.‘Who’s that?’Instinctively, I retreated back into the shadows and peeked out.Two figures emerged from the lively party hall into the quiet garden. It was Colin and a woman.As I hesitated, wondering if I should reveal myself or stay hidden, the woman spoke.“Colin, will you marry me?”