I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills - Chapter 43
[EP.43] Engagement Assurance
In the eldest Meliocan Hardenhartz’s office.
When Jenica arrived, followed by Bianca entering belatedly, Meliocan offered a smile.
“It’s been a long time since the family gathered like this.”
Jenica remained silent.
Meliocan was someone who put the family’s information and the interests of the house first.
As the eldest son destined to lead Hardenhartz, he had been raised on such principles since childhood.
Thus, whenever he broached such topics, Jenica was almost certain it had to deal with the affairs of the house.
“Today I’ve called you here due to matters concerning the house.”
As expected, the word ‘house’ emerged from Meliocan’s lips.
He was the acting head of the house while the patriarch Douglakan was away.
The authority to discuss the affairs of the house was his.
“What’s the matter?”
Jenica asked, her tone slightly blunt, the discomfort of being in the same room with Bianca bothering her.
“It’s about the Balheim engagement issue.”
Jenica tilted her head.
Was there really a need to bring up the matter of the Balheim engagement again?
“Jenica, it seems I need to change the engagement from Bianca to you.”
However, the following words caused Jenica’s eyes to widen in shock.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words, as it sounded as if she was being bartered off in a political marriage.
“Actually…”
“I refuse.”
Before Jenica could even voice her opinion, it was Bianca who declared her refusal first.
Meliocan seemed surprised by this reaction, not having anticipated it, and turned to Bianca with a puzzled look.
“Bianca?”
“I refuse. I’m Kraush’s fiancée.”
Her eyebrows were slightly, ever so subtly, furrowed.
But Meliocan, who didn’t care much for her usual expressions, failed to notice this.
Jenica was different, however.
Having detested her enough, she was the only one in Hardenhartz who had always kept a close eye on Bianca.
She had noticed the tinge of emotion in Bianca.
“Bianca, it’s a family affair. There is no room for your opinion here.”
“Then where is there room for my opinion, at all?”
T hi s w a s c o pie d f r o m k in g mt l . o r g
Until this point, Bianca had never expressed her own opinion anywhere.
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Living her life shunned by the house.
There was never a chance for her to speak her mind.
Perhaps knowing this fact, Meliocan felt caught off guard.
Bianca had never before actively voiced her opinion like this, leaving him speechless.
However, decisions had already been made during the meeting.
He couldn’t revoke what had been determined.
“Don’t act like a child.”
Th i s wa s c o pi ed fro m k i n g m tl . o r g
“I am a child. I was before, and so I am now.”
But Bianca stood firm in her resolve.
“So, I will whine. Children whine when they want something.”
Bianca looked firmly into Meliocan’s eyes.
“And what I insistently want to have is the position as Kraush’s fiancée.”
Hardenhartz offered no comfort for her.
There was only one place for her to stay comfortably.
Right by Kraush’s side.
Only Kraush, who resembled her, was the one person who truly understood her.
So regardless of it being a family affair, she intended to remain by Kraush’s side at all costs.
“Bianca!”
Meliocan erupted as he watched her.
His eyes flared in anger as he glared at Bianca.
“Sigh, this is not your place to intervene! It’s a significant family matter. Kraush Balheim has had the Balheim bloodline belatedly manifest itself. This means he will play a large role in Starlon as befitting a Balheim. Do you think it’s feasible for you to stay by his side? If anything, it will only make it harder on you.”
Children often cling easily to those nearest to them.
Meliocan concluded Bianca’s stubbornness was merely childish longing.
“A curse-bearer like you will eventually be abandoned by him, too.”
He spoke as if to shake her back into reality.
“Brother, wait, that’s too harsh!”
Even Jenica was taken aback by his words, which were not appropriate to say in front of Bianca.
T h i s w a s c op i e d f r o m ki n g m t l. or g
But Meliocan shot a frown in Jenica’s direction.
“It’s not harsh. It’s merely touching upon the truth. Jenica, you’re no different. Considering what you’ve done to Bianca until now, it’s for Bianca’s own good that you go to Balheim. It’s about time that you, as an adult, prioritize the family’s interests.”
Meliocan allowed a long sigh to escape as he cupped his face with his hand.
Indeed, these two young sisters were nothing but trouble.
“Both of you, be aware of this and leave now. I have to write the missive that must be sent to Balheim.”
At his comment, Jenica scowled deeply and glared at him.
But even following his stern command, Bianca didn’t even budge, let alone react.
Noticing this belatedly, Meliocan turned to Bianca, his anger rekindling.
“Bianca!”
“Don’t shout. I have ears, too.”
Yet her countenance was unflinching in the face of his wrath.
As apt for someone once called the Snow Girl, her gaze at Meliocan was icily sharp.
“I don’t care about the house at all.”
“What? Does that make any sense at this moment!? You’re a Hardenhartz!”
“There is no place for me in Hardenhartz.”
She rebutted Meliocan’s statement with resolute brevity.
“This is the house of father, brother, and sister. Not my house.”
A tremor went through Jenica.
It was her own conscience, deeply embedded, stabbing her relentlessly.
“So I have no intention to bend my wishes.”
And looking at Bianca, she realized.
This girl had changed.
“Even if I were expelled from Hardenhartz, and ceased to be a fiancée.”
Bianca’s blue eyes shone more vividly than ever before.
Knowing herself to be the type to never fold under any circumstance,
she verbally asserted her thoughts, more articulate now than any other moment.
“I will remain by Kraush’s side.”
It was then, just as Meliocan was about to raise his voice.
Knock-Knock—
The sound of a knock echoed.
With rage to the brim, Meliocan turned to the door.
“I’m busy now! Come back later for your business!”
“Er, excuse me, Lord Meliocan, Kraush requests to have a word with you.”
“What?”
Meliocan stiffened.
Though the youngest of the Balheims, Kraush belonged to the Balheim family nonetheless.
Presently stained by the dishonor of being a half-penny, he would soon become renowned.
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He couldn’t be treated carelessly, he was still too young.
Meliocan reined in his swelling anger.
The clear distinction between public and private matters was a testament to his qualifications as the acting head.
“Lord Kraush?”
Meanwhile, Bianca’s eyes widened in surprise.
What was he here for?
“Let him in.”
Upon Meliocan’s cue, the door creaked open.
There stood Kraush, hands clasped behind his back, casually entering the office.
His expression was relaxed even as he stepped inside.
Meliocan immediately noticed the certainty in his demeanor.
He was beginning to hold the presence of a true Balheim descendant.
“I apologize for the sudden visit. I hope I am not causing any inconvenience.”
Came the unexpectedly polite words from Kraush.
Bianca felt a shiver at the tone so unlike Kraush, yet he just smiled affably.
Technically, Meliocan was the brother of his fiancée.
Kraush owed him the respect of an elder brother.
“No, it’s alright. It was my mistake for not checking on you after you faced such a dire event at Hardenhartz. My apologies.”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize. After all the care, even amid the pressing Hardenhartz affairs, I’m the one who intruded suddenly.”
Meliocan considered Kraush to be rather agreeable than he was rumored to be.
Apparently, he had been quite reckless until now, but standing before an adult seemed to have sobered him.
“And what brings you here?”
With Kraush coming to him, Meliocan was curious about the reason.
There was no clear cause for Kraush to seek him out.
“Ah, I’ve come to make a simple request.”
Kraush glanced briefly at Bianca.
“I have no intention of being engaged to someone who bullies others. So give up any dreams of changing my fiancée.”
In that moment, Meliocan was taken aback, frozen in place.
So was Jenica.
“What, what do you mean by that?”
T h i s w a s c o pied f ro m k i ng m t l. o r g
Meliocan inquired, seemingly flustered.
Kraush’s expression remained unchanged.
“Exactly as I said. There are two ways Hardenhartz’s involvement in my combat against the Butcher can be spread.”
Kraush voiced his perspective, unfazed by Meliocan’s confusion.
“One narrative could be that Kraush Balheim, in a bid to protect his fiancée, succeeded in defeating the Butcher, albeit losing an arm.”
It would bode well for Hardenhartz too.
It could be construed as Kraush deeply cherishing his fiancée.
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Strengthening the bond between Hardenhartz and Balheim even more.
That’s assuming Kraush doesn’t abandon Bianca.
“Alternatively, it can be highlighted that Hardenhartz’s defenses were so neglectful that they allowed the Butcher to infiltrate, and put a direct Balheim descendant, Kraush, in mortal peril.”
The second angle was the worst-case narrative.
From casting doubt on Hardenhartz’s defenses to stating that they nearly killed a direct Balheim descendant.
It would not only risk breaking the engagement but also significantly threaten Hardenhartz’s standing.
“Being the acting head, Lord Meliocan, I’m sure you can guess which version would be more favorable.”
Between these rumors, Kraush asked with a smile, compelling Meliocan to choose.
Hearing this, Meliocan barely contained his rage.
“…What do you want?”
There was no need to sour relations with Kraush unnecessarily.
And Kraush likely felt the same.
He only acted so boldly because he desired something.
So, without any further fuss, Meliocan decided to just grant whatever he wanted.
“It’s nothing major.”
Kraush looked back at Bianca.
“Please grant Bianca what she desires.”
Be it engagement or breaking it off, whatever it was.
As long as she could do what she wanted, it was enough.
Bianca’s pupils dilated in response.
Meliocan, watching the interaction between Bianca and Kraush, let out a profound sigh.
‘…I failed to consider this element.’
The engagement had lasted barely a year.
Moreover, he hadn’t thought the half-penny son of Balheim would treat Bianca well, knowing her nature.
The rush was due to that misunderstanding.
The relationship between the two was deeper than he had thought.
‘I assumed Bianca’s tantrum was just because she disliked being at Hardenhartz. Did not foresee it was mutual.’
T hi s w a s c op i e d f r o m k in g m t l . or g
Ironically, Meliocan felt reassured.
He knew now that there wouldn’t be a broken betrothal between Hardenhartz and Balheim.
“…Bianca is afflicted with a curse.”
To reconfirm, Meliocan asked Kraush.
If he was willing to stay by the side of the cursed Bianca.
“Seems you aren’t aware of your family.”
Clearly, Meliocan hadn’t noticed Bianca’s emotions during their previous discussion either.
Meliocan looked puzzled at Kraush, who was talking as if out of the blue.
“The curse was never a concern from the start.”
With Kraush’s firm declaration, Meliocan let out a deep sigh and slumped into his chair.
“…Alright then.”
Meliocan agreed, smoothly accepting his words.
To him, Kraush’s opinion carried more weight than Bianca’s.
With such sentiment from Kraush, Meliocan no longer harbored any objections.
However, the realization that the thought process for achieving his goal did not sound like a mere child’s play sent a shudder through him, albeit subconsciously.
“Very well then.”
Having said his piece, Kraush turned to leave but halted.
“Ah, may I mention one more thing?”
“What is it?”
Meliocan braced himself for whatever else might come.
“Can you please announce that my arm has been successfully treated by the clergyman invited by Hardenhartz?”
He indicated towards his empty right arm as he spoke.
This request puzzled Meliocan as well.
How could an untreated arm be claimed to have been healed?
“The outcome will be apparent within two days. You may proceed with reporting to Balheim after verifying it then. Since it’ll save on the clergyman’s hiring costs, I assume it won’t be a problem for Hardenhartz.”
Two days would afford enough time to observe the tacit decision.
Though he didn’t grasp Kraush’s intent, his words did not seem to be empty.
“Understood. I will wait for the outcome in two days and then discuss it.”
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“Thank you.”
Having truly finished what he intended to say, Kraush walked out of the room.
Meliocan, once the door closed, turned back to Bianca.
“…Bianca.”
T h i s wa s co p i ed f r o m k in gm tl .o rg
“Yes?”
“Proceed as you wish.”
The conversation had already concluded previously, but as Meliocan gave his permission once again, Bianca promptly stood up.
“I will.”
Then she swiftly opened the door and dashed out.
It lacked the decorum expected of a Hardenhartz daughter, but Meliocan did not stop her.
Instead, he simply asked Jenica.
“…Jenica, has Bianca changed somehow?”
The way she had run off was uncharacteristic of her, usually reserved demeanor.
The behavior she had just displayed was more emotional than anyone else’s.
“She has changed.”
Jenica watched Bianca, seemingly lost in thought.
“Changed a lot.”
NOTE: Do you wish for harem? LMAO
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WhiteYin
bro are they stupid? Why would he come throw himself in danger if not for Bianca? So why would they want to cancel the engagement between them to someone who is unknown to him?????