The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 119: Harumiya Sakura Was Utterly Furious.

Harumiya Sakura Was Utterly Furious.

Harumiya Sakura’s POV.

“I refuse it. Completely and utterly.”

Tennouji-sama had rejected the ten million yen my mother had offered. I could not hide my astonishment—not only at his refusal, but at the clear anger on his face. What on earth had upset him so? I simply could not understand what had wounded his pride.

“Besides… Ashlin-san, are you seriously telling me your daughter’s life is worth only this much?”

“Eh… Mother…?”

Was Tennouji-sama angry… on my behalf? About my worth…?

I am the eldest daughter of the illustrious Harumiya family. Though my elder brother in England will inherit the main house, my role is to marry into another family, bear heirs, and support the Harumiya name from within.

Was Tennouji-sama furious that my value had been priced so low?

I could not grasp his thinking. He had called Rinko-sama an irreplaceable treasure… Those words shook something inside me. Parents who would say such a thing must cherish her above all else. And Rinko-sama, unable to hide her joy at being touched by Tennouji-sama… I envied her.

I am a supreme jewel that no man may ever touch. A noble rose wrapped in poisonous thorns. The poison… perhaps that is my parents. I remember once feeling indignant at someone who had dared say such a thing.

I, too, wanted to be touched by Tennouji-sama in that gentle way. Rinko-sama, Mio-sama, Shina-sama… all of them clearly adored—no, loved—Tennouji-sama. Their eyes, their expressions told everything. He was truly a kind gentleman.

“Everyone, we’re leaving. Please excuse us.”

With anger still burning in his features, Tennouji-sama led the others away.

“Phew…”

Once only Mother and I remained in the drawing room, she let out a long breath.

“Fufu… I never imagined he would react quite so strongly.”

Mother gazed at the untouched money as she spoke.

“Mother… why was Tennouji-sama so angry?”

“Sakura… I’m sorry!”

“E-eh!? Mother!?”

Suddenly, Mother dropped to the floor, pressing her forehead to the carpet in a full dogeza, and began to explain everything.

“You… tested Tennouji-sama?”

“Yes. I wanted to see whether he would take the money… or demand something else—perhaps even you, Sakura.”

“But… what would that prove…?”

“If he accepted money or asked for any reward at all, he might always demand more in the future. That was one thing I needed to confirm. And at the same time… if he had been satisfied with this amount, it would mean he believed my daughter was worth no more than that.”

“???”

“In simple terms, it means my daughter cannot be bought for a mere ten million yen.”

“But no one could ever buy me! And Tennouji-sama would never stoop to such a thing. No matter how many times I offered my thanks, he always insisted it was unnecessary. He is a truly humble person.”

“Yes. I may have angered him, but that much is now clear. And the way he treats the three girls he brought… he treasures them deeply. He even called them irreplaceable treasures. That was surely his true heart speaking.”

Tennouji-sama treated all three of them so gently, as though they were fragile treasures. Watching them made me jealous… envious. I wanted to be part of that circle, too.

“So in the end, you made Tennouji-sama angry…”

“I went too far!”

“‘Went too far’ is not nearly enough! We invited him here to thank him, yet we sent him away in anger! Mother! Today, I am truly furious! I finally had the chance to speak with Tennouji-sama properly!”

“Y-yes!”

“I was just starting to become friends with Shina-sama, Mio-sama, and even Rinko-sama—who I’ve always considered a rival in the national mock exams! Shina-sama called me ‘Saa-chan’ for the first time! Mio-sama called me ‘Sakura-chan’! I wanted to talk with them so much more!! You’ve ruined everything! What if Tennouji-sama now has a poor impression of me!?”

“I-I’m so sorry!! Truly!!”

“An apology isn’t enough! Why do you always drive my friends away!? Uuu—!”

“F-forgive me, Sakura!”

“I won’t forgive you! Both you and Father told me I could choose my own partner, didn’t you!? And now… now that I’ve finally found my prince on a white horse…!!”

I continued to scold Mother without mercy. This time… I would not forgive her!

***

“I’m home. Oh? Sakura, why are your mother and Sebas prostrating themselves?”

“Welcome home, Father. Well…”

I explained everything that had happened today. Father laughed heartily.

“Hah hah hah! Your mother always tries so desperately to keep any ‘horse bones’ away from you.”

“Tennouji-sama is not a ‘horse bone’! He was more upright, more gentlemanly than anyone I have ever met!”

“Hmm. Yet the rumors about him are far from favorable. Your mother is simply frantic to protect you from danger. Though I must admit, this time she went too far.”

“Uu…”

“Sakura, you are pure and straightforward. That is a virtue. But it also means you could be easily deceived. You were nearly taken once before because of that. Never forget that your mother is desperate to keep you safe.”

“Yes…”

“An irreplaceable treasure, was it? A man who cherishes his three lovers that deeply… Hmm. He seems trustworthy. That kind of devotion cannot be earned overnight. If all three are so utterly smitten with him, he cannot be a bad person. Hmm. I would like to meet him myself.”

“Father…!”

“Sebas, find some time in my schedule. Sakura, could you let me know a day that works for him? I’ll have Sebas clear my calendar accordingly. That should be possible, yes?”

“Y-yes, sir! But with your busy schedule…?”

“It’s fine. Meeting the man who may become my daughter’s future husband and speaking with him is far more important than talking with those politicians and businessmen. I want to make time for my daughter above work.”

“Understood.”

“A mysterious young man whose actions completely contradict the rumors—Tennouji Daiki, was it? Heh, you’ve piqued my interest. Every suitor who approached you before was rejected outright; none even got close. Yet here you are, smitten with a young man of your own choosing. Ah, Sakura. Take tomorrow off school.”

“Eh!? W-why!?”

“Sebas, take Sakura to Sumizome Academy tomorrow. You go too, dear.”

“Y-yes. But why so suddenly?”

“His ability to subdue threats is quite impressive. He might even give Sebas a good match. As far as I’m concerned, it would be reassuring to have a knight who can protect Sakura in an emergency. That son of the Miyanooka family is still lurking around you, isn’t he? Isn’t that right, Sebas?”

“Yes. He has occasionally been seen loitering near the young lady’s academy. There have been reports to the police as a suspicious individual.”

“Good grief… I don’t know why he’s so obsessed with you, but a man nearing thirty stalking a high school girl like Sakura… I’ve lodged repeated protests with the Miyanooka head, but he refuses to listen. If he can’t control him, they should keep him chained up.”

“Uu… That’s scary… I never want to see that man again…”

“That is precisely why we need a knight to protect you. Sakura, I’ve arranged for you to transfer from Hanayashiki to Sumizome Academy. The chairwoman turned pale, but it can’t be helped. When the time comes, you need someone who can protect you—not just adults.”

“Father…!? Sumizome Academy is… Tennouji-sama’s!”

“Exactly. Tomorrow we’ll measure you for the uniform and purchase textbooks. Officially, you’ll start in a few days… probably from next week.”

“Father! Thank you so much!”

“However, you mustn’t let romance distract you completely. You are the eldest daughter of the Harumiya family—conduct yourself accordingly.”

“Yes!”

“Uuu… Darling, you had your eye on Tennouji-kun from the very beginning, didn’t you?”

“A hundred hearsay accounts are not worth one look with my own eyes. I simply took a gamble. If you’re this taken with him, Sakura, there must be something to it.”

Father and Mother continued talking, but all I could feel was my heart leaping with joy.

To think that I—Harumiya Sakura—would be able to attend the same school as Tennouji-sama… and as the dear friends who had visited today!

That thought alone set my heart dancing.