(Chastity Reversed) The Legitimate Wife War: How I, a Harem-Hater, Ended Up Creating an Ultra-Eccentric Harem with a Villainess, a Sadistic Beauty Teacher, a Scheming Classmate... etc.

Takeda-san didn’t say another word. With his maid, Sato-san, he silently retreated to his room.

It was obvious that something had happened.

Normally, I wouldn’t have paid it any mind. I’d have just assumed something unpleasant had happened to him and left it at that.

But this time, I couldn’t shake a bad feeling.

A really bad feeling.

And when I got feelings like this, they were usually right.

…Not that there was anything I could do about it.

Still, his expression wouldn’t leave my mind.

That was the face of someone truly angry.

Feeling unsettled, I returned to the living room and tried to bury myself in my book.

“…Oh, I still haven’t apologized, have I?”

This didn’t feel resolved at all…

—

The next day.

Takeda-san’s maid, Sato-san, contacted Kurokawa, and I was able to piece together the reason for his anger.

Apparently, yesterday, Takato and Kuzuryu had approached him.

It seemed they’d said something incredibly rude, and that was what had upset him.

“I’d guess it was Kuzuryu who said something rude,” I commented.

Takato tended to blend into the background, for better or worse. He was not the type to actively cause trouble.

“So what did Kuzuryu say? Something like, ‘Why don’t you join my harem?’ Or maybe not… I feel like that wouldn’t be enough to make Takeda-san angry. Though it is possible…”

“As expected of you, milady. You’re correct—Kuzuryu invited Takeda-san to join him, and it seems that recruiting him was his main goal.”

So the plan was to poach him and deal me a blow in the process. How distastefully underhanded.

“There’s probably someone behind this. There are too many enemies in our circle to pinpoint who, but given the circumstances, the NAZ Agency seems like the most likely suspect.”

“Yes, that’s what the two of them also concluded. They mentioned wanting to investigate any other suspicious movements by the NAZ Agency.”

I was surprised they’d shared that information with Kurokawa, though.

Normally, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume this was an internal Hosho family issue.

They could have even suspected Kurokawa of betrayal.

“Well, I thought it was a bit naïve of them. From Takeda-sama’s perspective, he wouldn’t be wrong to doubt us as well. Though, of course, I would never betray you, milady.”

It seemed Kurokawa had the same doubts.

As we spoke, my phone buzzed.

The timing was too perfect. If it was who I thought it was…

Sure enough, it was exactly who I expected.

It was our first exchange over LINE, but the message was as dull and formal as a business email.

The content was the same as what Kurokawa had just explained.

There was also one additional request.

Ah… Well, no wonder he was angry.

“He also said this,” Kurokawa added. “‘This is a clear and direct attack against Hosho-san and me.’”

“An attack,” huh? Pretty strong words.

During the incident on the date, he’d only described it as “unpleasant”.

For him to call this an “attack” showed how furious he must be.

It explained why he was keeping his cool and planning his countermeasures so carefully.

He was even taking steps to test Kurokawa for potential betrayal.

“…Did he say anything else?” I asked.

“Yes, he did.”

“What is it?”

“Well, it seems like Kuzuryu mentioned that he’d come to pick him up the day after the fiancée vote. Apparently, Kuzuryu believes that if you approve him once during the vote and then Takeda-sama suddenly disappears from your side, it would do the most damage to you.”

“…I see. Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

Kurokawa seemed a little confused by my line of questioning.

That’s fair.

“It’s strange, though, isn’t it? I assumed Kuzuryu would try the same tactics as last time.”

Kurokawa muttered, looking somewhat conflicted, perhaps remembering the anger she’d felt before.

Still, I felt oddly relieved.

“That’s good to know.”

“Good to know?”

“Yes, that you haven’t betrayed me.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Takeda-san lied to you. Kuzuryu didn’t actually say all that. In reality, all he told Takeda-san was that he’d come to get his answer during the fiancée vote.”

“I see… That is different from what I was told. Ah, I understand now.”

It seemed Kurokawa had caught on to what I meant and nodded in understanding.

“If I hadn’t repeated what he said, it would’ve planted seeds of doubt in you. And if I said something different from what Takeda-san told you, you’d grow even more suspicious. By contacting us both simultaneously, he ensured a discrepancy in our information. It’s a sly tactic… And the reason he trusted only you was likely because you’ve been harmed by Kuzuryu before, making it unthinkable for you to cooperate with him.”

“Exactly.”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“You’re a handful, milady, but Takeda-san is no less troublesome. Is he really a high schooler?”

I didn’t fully understand what he meant by “a handful”, but I got the gist of it.

“Well, apparently, he is. But given his position, it makes sense. As for me, I know your past, Kurokawa, so I know you’d never do something like that.”

“Of course, milady.”

But Takeda-san didn’t have that knowledge.

“The reason he was angry was that they insulted his sister.”

That part was also in Takeda-san’s email.

Hearing this, Kurokawa sighed deeply.

“It’s truly baffling. Considering why he’s even participating in this fiancée system, it should be obvious how much he values his family. At the very least, it should’ve been clear enough to avoid making light of such a subject.”

“Seriously… Though it seems like there might be more to this than we realize.”

“How so?”

“He asked me for one favor. This is what it is.”

I showed her my phone screen with his request.

“…Poor thing.”

Well, “poor thing” might be accurate, but…

“It’s also her own fault. If she wants to fix this, she’ll have to try harder. As for us, we’ll do what we need to do. Start investigating on our end as well—we might find ourselves in the same position before we know it. And make sure to carry out Takeda-san’s request.”

“Understood.”

With that, Kurokawa left the room.

This incident had solidified my resolve.

I, too, needed to pull myself together.

Over the next two weeks, Kurokawa seemed busy as well.

While there had been developments, there wasn’t much I could personally do, so I spent my time gracefully, as always.

I hadn’t spoken much with Takeda-san since then—there hadn’t been anything to talk about.

Apparently, he’d gone on dates with other girls during that time.

Just the other day, he went out with Tachibana-san, and today, he was supposed to be going on a date with the teacher.

…Wait, hadn’t the teacher been unwell recently? How was he planning to manage that?

Would she even be able to show up tomorrow?

Well, regardless, my role didn’t change.