Wise stood there in a daze, prompting Belle to tilt her head in confusion. Before she could question him further, he shook his head.
"No, I'm busy."
"Eh~"
She stretched out the sound, letting her displeasure hang in the air between them.
"Why?"
"Because, uh..."
Facing Belle's puffed-up cheeks, Wise struggled to find an explanation. After a moment of internal debate, he forced himself to speak.
"In short, it's just..." He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I have something important to take care of tomorrow. Something I can't put off."
"Really not?" Belle sounded hurt. "Brother, this Carnival is just like the one back in the Old City... When the teacher took us to the Carnival back then, we said we'd go every year, but I don't remember going again after that one time..."
Even though Belle's mood dropped and her voice started shaking like she might cry, she still bit her lip and kept the tears from falling.
"Actually, if you're really busy, it's okay not to go with me. After all... the Carnival isn't just one day. But at least tell me why?"
Wise looked at Belle, who was forcing a smile. He opened his mouth, then his expression softened into his usual gentle demeanor as he stroked her head.
"Because, since it's a promise I made, I have to be the one to take you. How can I let you invite me first? Right?" Wise looked down into Belle's eyes.
Their gazes met, and she froze for a moment before joy bloomed across her face.
"Really? That's great! I knew you would never forget! I'm going to get ready now. We're going to the Carnival tomorrow~ I'm so happy!"
Belle even lightly kissed Wise's cheek as she spoke, then skipped back to her room.
Wise watched her go, and his smile slowly disappeared. Life's weird like that sometimes. When you think it's bringing happiness, it can also bring pain.
As for why he didn't explain the situation clearly to Belle and maybe have her help him think of a solution?
Well, that was simple. He didn't dare refuse a sister with 100+ affection just because he had a date with other girls. That would definitely end with him getting stabbed while he slept.
But it wasn't over yet. Right when Wise was trying to figure out how to manage his time, his phone buzzed with another message.
He hoped it might be one of the girls canceling or asking to reschedule, but that kind of wishful thinking was far too optimistic.
Opening his phone, he tapped into the chat app and spotted several new messages from a contact labeled 'Red Panda'.
Even from the preview text visible in the contact list, Wise had a pretty good idea what this was about.
Sure enough, after opening the chat and reading her message, his face dropped.
| Red Panda (Koleda): Wise, I heard there's a Carnival on Lumina Square tomorrow. Everyone else is busy, why don't you go with me? |
This was, of course, a lie. Everyone else was completely free. This was just a little trick by Koleda to invite Wise without seeming too forward.
Wise didn't immediately accept or decline. Instead, he waited quietly for her to finish typing.
| Red Panda (Koleda): When I was little, my father and I went to a similar Carnival. It was so much fun back then. Grace came along too, but unfortunately, after my father left because of some things, we never went again. |
There was a brief pause before another message appeared.
| Red Panda (Koleda): It's okay if you can't make it, though it would be... never mind, if you can't, I'll understand. |
After reading what Koleda sent, Wise took a deep breath and said yes to the date. Then he put his phone down and leaned against the counter, looking visibly drained.
It seems having a harem wasn't as easy as he thought. In fact, it was very complicated.
While he was thinking this, Belle came out of her room and couldn't help but ask when she saw his tired expression.
"Brother, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, just a bit tired after finishing a commission. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep. By the way, are you done preparing?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"Not yet, I'm thinking about what to wear tomorrow. Brother, why don't you help me choose?"
"I'm not very good at choosing clothes, but you're so cute that clothes are just decoration on you..."
"Oh, stop it. You always say stuff like that. Well, I'm going to pick out my outfit now."
Belle hummed a cheerful tune as she headed back upstairs to the second floor. The moment she turned to leave, Wise's phone started ringing again.
Without bothering to check the caller ID, Wise picked up immediately.
"Sorry, I'm busy tomorrow."
| Eh! But tomorrow is the Starlight Knight anniversary! Why is everyone busy? |
Hearing Billy's voice on the other end, Wise couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Finally, there was someone he could refuse.
However, before he could speak, Billy on the other end suddenly recalled something.
| Oh, that's right! Nekomata mentioned she was planning to invite you to that Carnival tomorrow. I didn't realize she'd beat me to it? |
'Wait, Nekomata?'
Wise had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, after the two talked for a bit, Nekomata's voice came from somewhere behind Billy, and then he gave her the phone.
| Nya! Billy, what are you talking about? I haven't even had a chance to invite him yet. |
Wise immediately tensed up and remained silent as Nekomata spoke.
| Billy said you're busy tomorrow. Is that true? |
Nekomata sounded like a dejected kitten. Even without seeing her, one could imagine her ears drooping.
| Is it because of a last-minute commission? Or... something else? I mean... if I'm just a little more important than whatever it is, could you agree to go out with me instead? |
Nekomata's tone was both hurt and sweet in a way that would make any guy unable to refuse.
After all, can you refuse your cat when she actively lies in front of you and asks you to rub her belly?
Obviously, Wise couldn't. But at this moment, he had no choice, at least until she continued.
| When I was little, I often looked across the river at the children playing in the amusement park in the city on the other side. Even from far away, I still felt like I could hear their joyful laughter. At that time, I didn't have money and couldn't go. I could only imagine how much fun it was inside, whether there were countless balls of yarn and dried fish. |
Now this was enough to make him waver. The image of a young Nekomata staring longingly across the river, dreaming of simple joys she couldn't afford, struck something deep in his chest.
There was no way he could say no.
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