Harem System In A fantasy World - Chapter 276: My future
Chapter 276: My future
The moment Gale saw Mira, his expression exploded into immediate anger.
“Mira.”
Her name came out more like the sharp hiss of an angry snake.
Mira stopped just inside the open gates, keeping her distance, her eyes meeting his without wavering.
Of course, Gale had tried to have one of his men walk past the gates when Esme went inside, only to be blocked by an invisible wall.
It was like Esme was teasing them, opening the gates for them as if to allow entry, only for them to find that they couldn’t walk past the gates at all!
“Father.”
A tense silence stretched between them as they held eye contact.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Gale demanded, his voice rising slightly, and his cane striking the ground again.
“You disappear for days, you ignore your family, and now I find you hiding in some stranger’s estate?”
Mira’s expression didn’t change.
“I’m not hiding.”
“Then what is this?” he snapped, gesturing around, “You think you can do whatever you want just because you’re in that academy?”
Mira’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“I am doing what I think is right for me.”
Gale’s face darkened.
“What is right?”
His voice dangerously dropped again.
“Associating with a heretic? With someone accused of consorting with demons?”
A flicker of emotion crossed Mira’s face, but it wasn’t doubt. It was irritation.
“He’s not a heretic.”
“You don’t know that!” Gale barked.
“I do.”
Her answer came instantly without any hesitation from her side. That alone made something snap in Gale’s expression.
“You will come home. Now.”
It wasn’t a request. It was an order.
Mira stood her ground.
“No.”
The word fell quietly. But it echoed heavily all the same.
Gale’s grip on his cane tightened.
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
Her voice was still calm and more steadier than ever.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Gale took a step forward.
“You will not defy me—”
“She already has.”
Esme’s voice cut in smoothly from behind Mira. She stepped forward, coming to stand just behind Mira, her presence settling over the scene once more like a shadow.
“And I do believe,” she continued lightly, “that she made herself quite clear.”
Gale’s eyes narrowed.
“Stay out of this.”
Esme smiled.
“I would…”
A pause.
“But Mira, here is my dear sister, and you are standing at my gate, raising your voice.”
Her eyes gleamed faintly.
“And I find that rather unpleasant.”
Gale’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering between Mira and Esme; it looked like his irritation would bubble over any moment now.
“You think I care what you find unpleasant?” he snapped, though the edge in his voice had dulled just slightly.
Esme didn’t react. She simply looked at him with that calm look, but it did nothing but make Gale’s irritation worse
Mira exhaled softly, stepping forward just a little, her presence drawing Gale’s attention back to her.
“Father… enough.”
Her tone wasn’t loud. She seemed to become calmer and more confident with Esme by her side, and for good reason.
“I didn’t come here to argue with you.”
Gale scoffed.
“Then stop acting like a rebellious child and come home quietly.”
Mira shook her head.
“I already told you, I’m not going back anywhere with you.”
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, but her gaze never wavered.
“I have things I need to do.”
“And what could possibly be more important than your family?” Gale shot back immediately.
Mira didn’t hesitate.
“My future…”
The answer was vague, but simple at the same time. Gale’s expression faltered for the briefest moment.
“You think your future lies here?” he said, his voice lowering again. “In a place tied to that boy? That thing?”
Mira’s eyes flashed.
“Don’t call him that.”
The air pulsed lightly, not because of Esme this time, but because of Mira. A faint ripple of mana stirred around her, distorting the air slightly.
Gale saw it, and it made his anger surge again. He couldn’t believe that she would dare to act like this, in front of other people, no less, toward her own father!
“You think you can do what you want just because you have a strong ally? You want to waste all my efforts for some boy!? Do you think that you can just disregard all that I have done to raise you and do as you see fit!?” he began slowly until his final words ended and echoed loudly. “Over my dead body!”
Mira didn’t respond because in he opinion, she didn’t need to. Her silence was answer enough.
Gale let out a sharp breath, his cane striking the ground once more.
“Fine.”
The word came out cold.
“Then hear me clearly.”
His gaze hardened completely.
“If you walk away from this now… if you choose him over your family…”
He paused.
“You are no longer a part of the Gale family.”
A deep silence passed over them all. Even the men behind him seemed to stiffen at that.
Mira didn’t move. For a moment, it looked like the words might have shaken her. But then she took a light breath and steadied herself, putting on a light smile on her face.
“I was hoping you would say that. If that is what it takes…” Her voice was quiet. “Then so be it.”
Gale’s eyes widened in disbelief.
She had said it so simply and without hesitation that it made his chest twist like a knife had been stabbed into it.
He had said the words as a way to scare her and maybe goad her into making the easy choice of staying with her family instead of some heretic who would, in his mind, no doubt be hunted once he showed himself.
But instead, it seemed as if she had been hoping for this outcome all along.
But instead of acknowledging it, he turned it into anger.
“Are you mad, girl!?” he shouted loudly as spittle flew from his mouth, “Do you not care for your mother and brother!? Have you forgotten who raised you!?”
“Don’t misunderstand me, Father,” She answered calmly, “I have not forgotten anything. But as much as you are going to start speaking of family, about familial love, raising me and so on and so forth, I do not think I will be able to understand that language,” Her smile deepened. “After all, I have been taught to chase nothing but benefits and material things since the day I was born. So why must I conform to values that I do not understand?” She shrugged.
Gale’s mouth gaped open. Never in his life did he ever think he would see the day that his own teachings would be used against him. By his own daughter, no less. What was he supposed to say to that?
It would only make him appear to be a cheap and shameless human being who believed in their own values so long as it benefited them. But then he still had a way to twist her words. He had been playing this game way too long for him to lose to a little girl who was still green.
“And what benefits do you think you will get from associating with this demon? This is foolish and illogical! Have I taught you nothing?”
“Well then, Father, I guess I am just a foolish little girl who knows nothing….” She finished with a smile, “Do not waste your breath, you are not going to convince me into anything. I suggest that you give up. Cedric should be enough to achieve your ambitious goals, no? Or are you admitting that your only son is useless?”
Gale didn’t answer to that last jest, since he knew he wouldn’t win that argument. His heavy breathing was the only sound that everyone could hear now. His eyes were bloodshot, and it took him at least a minute to finally speak.
“If this is what you want, then don’t come crawling back when you realize your mistake. But I promise you this: you are an investment that I have gambled on for the past nineteen years of my life. I have not taken any losses in all my days as a merchant. I will not start now. One day, I will come to collect the debt that you owe me, and it will not be pretty!”
Mira said nothing, and Gale only stared at her for a moment longer, then he turned sharply toward his entourage.
“But maybe I might not need to do anything at all, your little demon will get you in deep trouble sooner or later,” He threatened sharply, “Let’s go!”
He didn’t wait. He turned around and walked into his carriage without looking back even once.
The men followed quickly, none of them daring to linger as they retreated toward the carriage.
The two shady figures exchanged one last glance before slipping away as well, disappearing into the surroundings.
The carriage door slammed shut, and moments later, they were gone. The area fell silent once more.
Mira stood there for a long moment with her gaze fixed on where they had been. She said nothing. Then a soft breath left her lips.
Behind her, Esme stepped forward quietly.
“You held your ground well,” she said.
Mira let out a small, wry laugh.
“Did I…?”
Her voice was quieter and a bit heavier now.
But at least there was no regret in it. Only resolve. Esme placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
“You did.”
Mira closed her eyes briefly. Then opened them again. They were clear and focused. She turned slightly and looked up into the sky.
She stood there for a moment longer before she finally let out a quiet breath and turned around. Esme was already walking back toward the manor
Mira followed and caught up quickly.
“You know… he really does cause quite a bit of trouble for someone who isn’t even here.”
Mira blinked, then let out a small laugh of her own.
“That he does.”
They stepped through the doors together as Esme glanced at Mira from the side with a playful glint in her eyes.
“And yet… despite all that trouble… You seem like you would die for him if it came to it.”
Mira rolled her eyes lightly, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
“As if you’re any different.”
Esme laughed softly.
“Mm… I suppose not.”
They continued walking deeper inside, their steps echoing faintly through the halls.
“You said earlier that he could go on for days,” Esme added casually, her tone teasing now. “I take it you’ve had to deal with that multiple times?”
Mira’s cheeks tinted slightly
“You make it sound like it’s a burden,” she replied dryly. “If anything… he’s the one holding back.”
Esme let out a low hum, clearly amused.
“How considerate of him.”
Mira huffed softly.
“Trust me, if he didn’t… none of us would be getting any rest.”
That made Esme laugh a little louder this time.
“I can imagine.”
There was a brief pause before Esme added, her voice lowering just slightly with a teasing edge,
“And here I was thinking I was special.”
Mira shot her a look.
“You are… just not in that way.”
Esme placed a hand over her chest dramatically.
“How cruel.”
Mira couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“Well,” Esme said after a moment, a soft smile on her lips, “when he returns… I suppose we’ll all have to make up for lost time.”
Mira smirked slightly.
“Something tells me he’ll make sure of that himself.”
Esme’s eyes gleamed faintly.
“I look forward to it.”
