Although it looked like Tasuku had no choice to refuse, that was wrong. If he closed his eyes off thinking of Erika’s engagement as a sacrifice, refusing would be possible. If that happened, the connection between the Stokes house and the Sumeragi house would become unshakeable, and even without LP farming they could just receive financial aid from the Stokes as agreed upon before.
Or rather, with this proposal Harold was the one who had to take a risk. And that too, normally thinking it was a risk he didn’t need to take.
It was easily imaginable that he had invested a considerable amount of time and money on developing the resistance drug. Even though he had done that much, with there being the danger of the situation coming to nothing, he had left the decision to Tasuku in the end.
(It’s not easy to do this………..)
He honestly thought that. Was made to think like that.
If he thought about it carefully, Harold was moving so that there weren’t any losses to the Sumeragi.
Normally, if one was brought such a convenient proposal, nobody would easily accept. They would doubt the other party, investigate for suspicious points, and if their doubt wasn’t cleared, they would refuse. Even Harold’s proposal was like that.
That decision as a result would link to the possibility of simply letting go of the profit which they could have obtained.
But Harold had expressly prepared a rationalization like “Erika’s engagement could be annulled”. So that it would be easy for Tasuku to accept the proposal. Although it seemed that it was thought of as being over interpreted as good will, nothing else could explain why Harold hadn’t broken down the appearances of a discussion to the extent of bearing unnecessary risks.
(Even though it could be that he is using this train of thought, in that case, opposing wouldn’t help. No matter what, it’s my complete defeat)
Tasuku slowly exhaled the large breath he had taken in. He raised his head which was bent downwards, and gazed firmly at Harold’s eyes.
「I accept this time’s proposal」
That was Tasuku’s answer.