(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. - Chapter 9: Fiancée Vote

“Hello again, everyone, though it hasn’t been that long—it’s only been four days since we last spoke, after all.”  

Shiina-san greeted us with her usual smile, then sat on one of the dining chairs without a hint of hesitation.  

“…Huh? There’s a butler here! She wasn’t around last time!”  

Were Shiina-san and Kurokawa-san acquaintances?  

“I was nearby last time as well, just waiting outside. Since it wasn’t a space where staff were permitted, I didn’t interact with you.”  

Huh? Something felt… off.  

“Oh, I see, I see. But honestly, you didn’t really need to be here today either, did you?”  

“It is only natural for a servant to assist the young lady with her daily life. And it is equally natural for me to be present on this occasion. The real question is—what, precisely, are you doing here?”  

“Oh, did the young lady not inform you? That doesn’t speak well of your credibility as her butler, does it?”  

Kurokawa-san’s temple twitched ever so slightly.  

Something about this exchange felt… tense.  

“I’m here to share some important pointers about this wonderful newlywed life everyone’s about to embark on, as well as to go over the upcoming schedule.”  

“I see, I see. In that case, wouldn’t it have been proper to arrive early and wait for everyone else to assemble, rather than arriving after the fact?”  

Kurokawa-san clapped her hands lightly, as if making a point.  

“As expected of a government officer. Arriving fashionably late must be second nature to you. It must be nice to have such a relaxed work environment.”  

“Oh no, no, that’s quite harsh of you! My apologies. We’re rather busy, you see. Truly, I would have liked to be the first to arrive. But alas, certain major corporations seem to keep us preoccupied. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?”  

Major corporations? She was talking about the Hosho Group, wasn’t she?  

I recalled seeing some internet news about government agencies being accused of collusion with certain businesses. Was that what this was about?  

“What a peculiar joke. Such issues are insignificant, like pebbles at the roadside. The real problem lies with the government’s inability to act promptly or implement effective measures. And lately—”  

“Kurokawa.”  

“…My apologies. What I meant to say is, as long as you do your job properly, that will suffice.”  

Kurokawa-san bowed gracefully.  

Still, wow. If Hosho-san hadn’t stopped her, I was pretty sure she would have kept going.  

Did this mean that the Hosho Group and the government were at odds with each other?  

“Please ensure we don’t have a repeat of the last incident, understood?”  

Oh, so that’s what it was about.  

It seemed like there was some history between the NAZ Agency and the Hosho household.  

“Understood. I won’t deny that the government is inefficient, but I’d appreciate it if you kept in mind that those at the lower levels are quite busy as well.”  

The tension in the room was palpable.  

Those uninvolved in the conversation—like Akitsuki-san, Tachibana-san, and me—had visibly uncomfortable expressions.  

Well, not everyone.  

Akitsuki-san looked like she was tired of the whole situation, while Tachibana-san glared at Shiina-san with clear disdain.  

Meanwhile, Kazari-san was casually sipping coffee in the kitchen, taking a break.  

How are you so calm right now?  

Aren’t you supposed to be a maid? Is this kind of behavior even acceptable?  

…Maybe I should grab some coffee too.  

“Well then, now that everyone seems to be here, shall we get down to business? Is that alright?”  

Shiina-san glanced meaningfully at both Hosho-san and Kurokawa-san.  

Her gaze seemed to say, “You two are the reason this is taking so long, you know?”  

In response, Kurokawa-san glared back, as if to retort, “Isn’t this all your fault?”  

They were like oil and water. At this rate, their bickering might never stop.  

Sigh.  

I guess I’d have to intervene.  

“Could we get started already…?”  

“Of course, Kyoya-sama,” Kurokawa-san replied, bowing slightly.  

Finally, we were getting to the main topic.  

“First, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to everyone for successfully beginning this shared living arrangement.”

With a graceful bow, Shiina-san concluded her statement.  

She should’ve started like this from the beginning—without causing unnecessary tension.  

“Well then, let’s move on to the next topic. First, you will all be living here as your base of operations.”  

That much was expected.  

“On top of that, we’ll set aside an initial one-month period. During this time, as part of the first event, we’d like you to determine whether you can see each other as suitable marriage partners or fiancées.”  

“…Determine? Wasn’t that what the matchmaking meeting was for?”  

“No, Akitsuki-san. The previous meeting was just an introduction to see if there were any immediate, instinctual feelings of rejection or discomfort. After all, if someone evokes a visceral aversion, it’s difficult to even consider their deeper qualities.”  

“I don’t recall anything like that the last time.”  

She was probably referring to her previous experiences with the failed engagements under this system.  

“Well, the government has been working to improve the system, you see.”  

“Oh, how unusual. Should we expect pigs to fly, then?”  

Whoa, Hosho-san’s words cut deep.  

Even Shiina-san couldn’t hide her grimace at that sharp jab.  

“…It simply shows how serious the government is about this policy.”  

“Well, let’s leave it at that, shall we?”  

With a polite smile, Hosho-san responded.  

Her demeanor gave me a glimpse of why she carried the reputation of being a ‘villainous debutante’. Whether she truly was one, I didn’t know, but that smile of hers, paired with her stunning beauty, could be downright terrifying.  

“Let’s get back to the topic, shall we? Over the course of this month, we’d like everyone to assess whether you can envision a future together with your assigned fiancée. It’s currently the end of February, so you’ll have until the end of March to get to know one another. To put it simply, you’ll try to see if you can view each other as romantic partners.”  

“Well, if that’s all, I could give you my answer right now,” Akitsuki-san said with a sarcastic grin.  

Shiina-san, however, remained stone-faced, unbothered by the comment. She was clearly in work mode. Akitsuki-san, on the other hand, looked deflated, as if she had been hoping for more of a reaction.  

“…You understand why we encourage this focus on something as seemingly irrational as romance, don’t you?”  

“Because of the declining male birthrate, right?”  

“Exactly. And it’s not just for your own sake, but for others as well. This policy applies to everyone without exception.”  

Akitsuki-san, though reluctant, nodded begrudgingly.  

“This assessment isn’t just about compatibility with your fiancées. It’s also about determining whether you can coexist as wives in a shared life together. Please take a comprehensive approach in forming your judgments.”  

So, if someone wanted to back out, they could. That was what this boiled down to.  

“And how exactly are we supposed to make this judgment?”  

Good question. The method was critical, wasn’t it?  

After all, my sister’s and my future rode on the outcome of this.  

I had to succeed.  

“Oh, it’s simple—through voting.”  

“V-voting?”  

I couldn’t help but blurt out the question.  

The atmosphere suddenly felt ominous.  

“Yes, you’ll all cast your votes. The deadline is March 31st. By then, you should have gotten to know each other enough to make informed decisions. Through daily interactions, you’ll naturally come to understand each other’s personalities, preferences, and habits. This event is called…”  

“…Called?”  

“The Fiancée Voting Event!”  

“That name…”  

Everyone except Shiina-san wore a grim expression.  

To put it mildly, the name lacked elegance…  

“What happens if the votes are split evenly among the four of us? It could end up being two against two… though I doubt that would happen,” Akitsuki-san asked, adding an unnecessary jab at the end.

Hey, that last comment wasn’t necessary!  

Still, I was curious about that possibility too.  

“Oh, my apologies. In this arrangement, the male participant is given two votes, so a tie is impossible.”  

Ah, I see.  

“Well, considering the male-dominant system we live in, I suppose that makes sense. After all, we’re just women,” Akitsuki-san commented with a sardonic smile.  

Though clearly discontented, Akitsuki-san ultimately accepted the explanation.  

Hosho-san nodded silently, and Tachibana-san gave a quiet acknowledgment as well.  

“There’s no need to think of this too seriously. Other participants in the program have gone through the same process, and cases where the majority voted against proceeding are exceedingly rare. Treat this month as an opportunity to get to know one another in a more structured way.”  

With her usual smile, Shiina-san delivered her reassuring remarks.  

Well, it might be true for other cases. For others, that is!  

“I understand.”  

“Understood.”  

“Yes.”  

The women, now smiling, nodded in agreement.  

“And what about you, Kyoya-sama? Are you okay with this?”  

Could I even say no at this point?  

Reluctantly—very, very reluctantly—I nodded.  

“…Yes.”  

I’d agreed, but my face probably looked incredibly strained at this moment.  

“Well then, let’s get started! The Fiancée Voting Event begins now! Push through this and there’s even a reward waiting for you, so enjoy yourselves!”  

And just like that, the event from hell had begun.