Gon's Harem System
Chapter 90: Do you miss me?

Chapter 90: Do you miss me?

Gon knew those words weren’t just advice; they were a principle his father lived by.

To the Duke, strength wasn’t just about power, it was about perception. Fear kept enemies cautious. Fear ensured loyalty. Fear made sure no one ever dared challenge you unless they were certain they could win.

Gon exhaled slowly, keeping his expression neutral. He understood what his father meant.

He nodded, his face calm and unreadable. "Okay, Father," he said simply. There was no argument, no protest, just quiet acceptance.

But deep inside, something stirred. His father’s words lingered, pressing against his thoughts like a weight. It’s better to be feared. It is embarrassing to reach your limit.

His fists tightened subtly where they rested on his lap.

He wasn’t sure if it was frustration or determination, but in that moment, he made a silent promise to himself. Never again.

Never again would he allow himself to collapse in front of others.

Never again would he show weakness.

He would grow stronger, strong enough that no one, not his opponents, not his fellow mages, and certainly not his father, would ever see him falter again.

This meant one thing,he had to find a way to increase his limit, and he had to do it quickly.

He couldn’t afford to let simple fights drain him anymore.

If he wanted to stand above the rest, if he wanted to ensure that no battle pushed him to the brink, he needed to expand his energy reserves, to push his endurance beyond what it was now.

"Good," the Duke said, his tone firm and final. "You may go now."

Gon nodded, a simple, wordless acknowledgment.

He pushed himself to his feet, the chair creaking slightly as he rose.

Without another word, he turned and made his way toward the door.

His father had already returned to his writing, the soft scratching of his quill filling the silence once more.

It was as if the conversation had never happened, as if Gon’s presence had been nothing more than a brief interruption.

****

As Gon stepped out into the courtyard, the crisp evening air met him, cool against his skin.

He exhaled slowly, letting his thoughts settle, his mind still turning over the silent promise he had made to himself.

Then, a familiar voice cut through the quiet.

"Hey, young heir."

Gon’s steps slowed, his head turning toward the source of the voice. It was a voice he knew well, one that carried a mix of teasing and confidence, as if its owner found amusement in addressing him that way.

Gon turned around, the weight of his thoughts still lingering in his mind.

But the moment his eyes landed on Dina, his tense expression softened, and the anger he had been holding onto melted just a little.

She was sitting on the stone railing, one leg dangling idly while the other was tucked beneath her.

The posture was effortless, relaxed, completely at odds with the sharpness in her gaze as she watched him.

In her hand, she held a bright red apple, its skin catching the torchlight.

She took a slow, deliberate bite, the crisp sound breaking the quiet air.

Then, as she chewed, she studied him with that same amused expression, as if waiting for him to confirm her suspicions.

"Well?" she said after a moment, her voice light but teasing.

"I was worried about you," Dina said casually as she chewed, her words slightly muffled by the bite of apple in her mouth. "You know... fainting and all."

She didn’t sound overly concerned, but there was something in her tone, something beneath the teasing, that told Gon she had actually meant it.

Before he could respond, she pushed off the railing and leaped down, landing lightly on her feet.

She stood up straight, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, then glanced him over, as if checking for any signs of weakness.

"But it seems you’re all better now," she added, her smirk returning.

"Yeah, thanks for the concern," Gon replied, his voice low and edged with something darker than usual.

"Woah, guess you’re not all that better," Dina said with a smirk, her eyes glinting with amusement.

She took another bite of her apple, chewing slowly as she watched him, clearly entertained by his dark mood.

Gon exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"Did you come all the way here to rile me up?" Gon asked, his tone dry as he crossed his arms.

"Hmph." She shrugged. "I can’t just come here to relax?"

Her smirk widened as she leaned back against the railing.

"Well, did you come here to relax?" Gon asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Dina tilted her head, as if considering the question. She took another bite of her apple, chewing slowly before finally answering.

"A little," she admitted with a small shrug. Then, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she added, "I also might have missed you a little."

Her tone was casual, almost playful, but there was something softer beneath it. Something that made Gon pause for a brief moment.

Gon chuckled, the dark mood from earlier easing just a little. He tilted his head, looking at her with mild amusement.

"Why would you miss me?" he asked, a teasing edge in his voice.

Dina exhaled through her nose, rolling her eyes slightly. "I don’t know," she said, stretching out the words as if the thought irritated her. She took another slow bite of her apple, chewing thoughtfully before adding, "I’ve asked myself that."

She looked away then, as if the answer still eluded her. But the corner of her lips twitched, betraying the smallest hint of a smile.

"Right," Gon replied, shaking his head slightly, still amused by her response.

Dina moved closer to him, then she straightened, fixing him with a curious look.

"You’ve asked me a question," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "Now let me ask you one."

She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly, as if already knowing she was about to catch him off guard.

"I didn’t know we were going question for question," Gon replied, raising an eyebrow.

Dina ignored this.

She took a step closer, her eyes locked onto his, playful yet searching.

"Did you miss me, a little?" she asked, her voice light but carrying just enough weight to make it clear she wanted an honest answer.