At that moment, a voice soaked in tears echoed.
A cheerful ringtone blared as a phone lay carelessly on the floor.
Han Seo-Jin.
Seeing the name on the screen, Eri hurriedly answered the call.
[Have you been waiting long, Nishizawa? I’m sorry, the security preparations took a bit longer.]
The voice resonating in her ear sounded like a savior’s—Han Seo-Jin.
Eri shook her head.
She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears that had gathered in her eyes.
“Uh, n-no. Not really! So, what about the Master? Where’s the Master?”
Right now, the call with Han Seo-Jin was a ray of light piercing through the darkness of despair for Eri.
She clutched her phone and shouted.
[Kim Deok-Sung is currently on his way to France with me.]
Han Seo-Jin’s response made a question mark pop up on Eri’s face.
“France? Why is the Master there…?”
Out of nowhere, it was France, not Korea or Japan?
Suddenly, a face flashed through Eri’s mind like lightning.
“Could it be because of the princess?!”
Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.
It was clear that the Master’s trip to France was related to her, the French princess.
A woman’s intuition was ringing alarms.
[That’s right. Kim Deok-Sung is heading to France to rescue Olivia, who has been forced into an unwanted engagement with the British prince.]
With Han Seo-Jin’s follow-up, Eri bit her lips.
Thump.
Her heart raced.
Thank goodness.
The Master hadn’t abandoned her.
A mix of relief at not being rejected and jealousy toward Olivia stirred within Eri like muddy waters.
“Uuuuuuuuuu…”
Eri let out a sound of distress.
‘The Master did nothing wrong. Yes, nothing wrong.’
Eri murmured to herself like a self-hypnosis.
The Master is kind.
He couldn’t possibly ignore a princess in peril.
Because he saved her when she was on the brink of expulsion.
Kindly.
So, it was just Olivia’s turn this time.
That was it.
However.
Eri bit her lip while fiddling with her collar.
If she left Olivia and Kim Deok-Sung alone like this, she might lose the love competition for good.
Recently, the Master has been favoring the princess quite a bit, and if he manages to rescue her from engagement…
The aftermath was predictable.
Imagining a future where Olivia monopolizes the Master’s love made Eri’s vision blur.
‘I have to stop this.’
Monopoly is unfair.
So how to stop it?
Just then, as Eri’s mind was in a whirl.
[Are you also coming to France, Nishizawa?]
Han Seo-Jin’s voice echoed in her ear.
“E-Eri too?!”
Spark returned to Eri’s eyes.
[Yes. While Kim Deok-Sung is working hard to prepare, the opponent is the British royal family. The more hands on deck, the better. There’s no reason to refuse your joining, Nishizawa.]
In that instant, as she heard Han Seo-Jin’s words, an idea struck Eri like lightning on how to counter Olivia.
I came up with an idea to keep an eye on Via.
The more, the merrier!
There’s no reason to refuse joining.
As Eri chewed on the words, a smile crept onto her lips.
“Hehe. Is that so? Alright! Then I’ll go to France too!”
[Understood. I’ll contact you later to inform you of the joining date and location. Thank you, Nishizawa-san.]
“No, thank you, Eri. Hehe. Han Seo-Jin! I’ll be waiting for your call! Oh, and it’s a secret from the master! I want to surprise him!”
[Understood.]
After finishing the call with Han Seo-Jin, Nishizawa chuckled and tapped her phone to make another call.
Rrrrrrrr, click.
[Nishizawa? What’s up? This early in the morning…?]
Kasumi’s voice came through Nishizawa’s ear.
“Hoshino-senpai. Please gather all the members of the cooking club right now.”
[All of them? At this hour? Why all of a sudden?]
“We need to hold a strategy meeting regarding the master.”
The moment Nishizawa’s words sank in, Kasumi replied in a fully awake, serious tone.
[If it’s about the juniors, then there’s no helping it. Alright, I’ll take care of that, Nishizawa.]
Click.
Eri hung up and rose from her seat.
Wiping away the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, she smiled.
“Master.”
Whoosh.
The morning breeze flowing through the open window wrapped around Eri.
“I’ll protect you, Master.”
No one else but me.
For sure.
Eri made that vow as she stepped out of the now empty room.
*
Stratosphere.
The President of South Korea’s private jet.
Inside the jet, the impressive Taegeukgi was emblazoned on the white fuselage.
In a lavishly decorated corner of the cabin, Han Seo-Jin was on the phone.
[No, thank you, Eri. Hehe. Han Seo-Jin! I’ll be waiting for your call! Oh, and it’s a secret from the master! I want to surprise him!]
“Understood.”
Hearing Eri’s response, Han Seo-Jin hung up.
“Phew.”
Han Seo-Jin took a deep breath.
She closed and opened her eyes.
‘I was going to contact them upon arrival, but I didn’t expect Nishizawa to reach out first.’
It was lucky.
Han Seo-Jin thought so.
The divorce operation was an important mission.
But it was still just a part of the “Harem Plan,” which was significant.
She didn’t want a scenario where Olivia’s overzealous approach pushed other girls out of the picture during the divorce operation.
What she desired was not just Olivia, but for everyone to marry Kim Deok-Sung so that he could live a happy harem life.
‘For building a harem, balance is key.’
Building an ideal harem where everyone gets along is the best outcome.
But the problem is that such a harem approaches the impossible.
Human nature dictates that even with a harem, an invisible hierarchy tends to form within.
In such cases, it is common for a figure often referred to as ‘the main wife’ to organize the remaining members.
However, if that ‘main wife’ becomes too dominant, there’s a risk that her lofty goal of establishing Kim Deok-Sung’s harem could fall apart.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
It’s fine if Olivia takes the lead.
But she must not go too far and upset the balance.
To achieve that, some form of restraint is necessary.
That’s why Han Seo-Jin intended to summon the other girls to France.
Fortunately, thanks to Eri’s early contact, the harem plan could continue smoothly.
Now that the call was over, it was time to return to Kim Deok-Sung.
As Han Seo-Jin thought that and turned around…
“Han Seo-Jin.”
Behind her stood a middle-aged man in a suit. President Kang Myung-Hyun appeared, flanked by bodyguards.
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“I looked everywhere for you and couldn’t find you. So, you were here. How’s that harem plan you devised going?”
The President’s eyes gleamed.
Kim Deok-Sung’s harem plan is tied to the national fortune of the hero weak country, South Korea, as well as his personal happiness that he greatly respects from Hero Kim Deok-Sung.
Therefore, it was the most important issue that the government was focusing on and promoting.
“It’s progressing well.”
“That’s a relief. The harem plan… truly a remarkable idea, Agent Han Seo-Jin. If there’s anything lacking, feel free to speak up. I’ll prioritize all support for the harem plan.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry about the special law. We’ve already reached an underground agreement during a private meeting in the Blue House to process it unanimously when the time comes.”
The president smiled.
“…Everything is for his harem.”
Han Seo-Jin said in a low voice.
“For Mr. Kim Deok-Sung’s harem.”
President Kang responded in a low voice.
While the two were having their whispered conversation, the presidential airplane was hard at work heading toward France.
Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport was getting closer and closer.
Eri’s Heart-Pounding France Operation
Shuo Hero Academy.
Annex. Cooking Club Room.
Inside the usually relaxed atmosphere of the club room, a suffocating tension was hanging in the air.
[Eri’s Heart-Pounding France Operation!]
A childish handwritten banner was hung on the wall of the room.
All the club members except for Olivia and Kim Deok-Sung were seated at the table.
A heavy silence descended among the members.
“Washboard.”
The first to break the silence was Rin, sitting across from Eri.
Her cold navy blue eyes were directed at Eri’s modest chest.
“Why is the operation name ‘Eri’s Heart-Pounding France Operation’?”
“Cow. Why are you carelessly using Eri’s nickname? Eri is a name that only has public approval from Master.”
Eri puffed her cheeks and glared at Rin.
“Right now, the operation name is more important. Why is your name at the front?”
“Well, because Eri got the information first. Eri is the one who called this meeting. Eri is Master’s number one slave! Therefore, I have the right to have my name in the operation title! But I guess a stupid cow like you, whose nutrients only go to your chest not your head, wouldn’t know that.”
Eri smiled confidently and fiddled with her collar.
Seeing that, Rin narrowed her eyebrows.
“Fine. I’ll let that slide. Then what does the ‘France’ in the grand operation mean?”
“Yeah. Nishizawa, you called for a meeting about something related to Junior, and suddenly it’s France. I don’t get the meaning. Can you explain?”
Kasumi joined Rin’s attack at that moment.
Simultaneously, all the members turned their attention to Eri.
Feeling the attention of the members, Eri beamed with confidence.
Eri opened her mouth.
“That’s because Master is currently heading to France to rescue the princess. I got this information directly from Master’s assistant, Han Seo-Jin, so it must be true.”
A bombshell declaration came out of her mouth.
Everyone’s eyes trembled upon hearing that.
“Bonaparte? Kim Deok-Sung?”
The first to react was Rin, who regarded Olivia as a hero, love interest, and rival.
She slammed her hands on the table.
“Is something happening to Miss Bonaparte?”
The next to speak up was Kasumi, her eyes wide.
Eri nodded in response to their questions.
“The princess is about to be forced into an unwanted engagement with the British Second Prince, William. Master is heading to France to save the princess from that engagement.”
Unwanted engagement.
Eri’s second bombshell froze the cooking club room.
Olivia’s engagement.
Kim Deok-Sung going to France to save her.
The opponent is the British Second Prince.
An engagement ceremony being held in France.
A whirlwind of shocking facts engulfed the room.
“…Ms. Han Seo-Jin said Master alone would be insufficient to save the princess.”
Eri’s gaze swept around the room.
“And that might actually be true. Unlike previous opponents, William has the power of the British royal family behind him.”
She speaks in a serious tone, different from her usual.
“So right now, Master needs help.”
Eri closes her eyes.
“That’s why I’m going to France.”
She bites her lip.
“Of course, saving the princess is important too. An unwanted engagement? That’s just cruel. I can’t accept it. But more importantly… I can never give up on my feelings for Master.”
Eri’s eyes snap open.
She couldn’t give up on her affection.
She could never abandon Master, who saw her as a person and not just an object of desire.
Thump, thump.
Eri’s heart races.
She lowers her head.
“I… I… I wouldn’t mind being Master’s concubine. No, even a slave would be fine. I just want to be by Master’s side. I want to be of help to Master. I will be Master’s number one slave, Eri Ring. So, I’m going to France. But I can’t do it alone.”
She touches the dog collar as she speaks.
“So here’s my proposal. Help me, no, help Master. Let’s all go to France together.”
Before her words finish, a heavy silence descends.
Rin’s cold voice shatters the silence.
“Is that why you called us together? Laundry board, I mean Nishizawa.”
She wears a serious expression.
Eri bites her lip upon seeing Rin’s face.
Shinozaki Rin.
The relationship between her and Eri wasn’t exactly good.
They had no choice but to cooperate a few times due to a common goal, but fundamentally, they were close to rivals.
From breast size to femininity.
Rin and Eri harboring insecurities about each other could never be friends.
“Yeah. Cow, I mean Shinozaki. I know you and the princess don’t get along, but still, for Master’s sake…”
“I will go. To France.”
Rin cuts off Eri’s words.
“Shinozaki?”
Eri’s eyes widen in surprise.
Rin is going to France to help Olivia?
For Eri, who had firmly resolved to persuade her rival, those words were shocking.
Especially considering the contentious relationship between Rin and Olivia.
“Looks like you’re surprised, Nishizawa.”
“You don’t really like the princess, do you, Shinozaki?”
Rin smiles faintly at Eri’s words.
“You’re right. I still don’t particularly like Bonaparte. But regardless of that… Being forced to get engaged to someone you don’t like is absolutely unacceptable.”
Memories with Bonaparte and Nishizawa flash through her mind.
At first, she hated Olivia, but now that she’s gone, her absence feels oddly empty.
“A marriage forced by family pressure, regardless of one’s own will? Doesn’t it feel like being an instrument of your family? Like…”
Like I used to be.
Rin swallows her words.
She may not particularly like Olivia, but she saw echoes of her own past, being an instrument of her family in Olivia.
Rin couldn’t just let that be.
‘…I might have developed some resentment toward Bonaparte in the meantime.’
Rin chuckles to herself.
She shakes her head.
“No, nothing. Moreover, I share the desire to be of help to him as well, Nishizawa. And…”
The image of the man she has feelings for, Kim Deok-Sung, surfaces in her mind.
She bites her lip.
“Perhaps if I miss this opportunity… I could lose the chance to win his heart forever. No matter what anyone says, Bonaparte… is the one closest to his heart…”
Rin understood that.
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