I Just Wanted to Call Off the Arranged Marriage With the PrincessโSomeone I Could Never Possibly Be a Match ForโBut for Some Reason, She Took a Liking to Me and Is Now Closing in on Me
I exchanged a brief greeting with the queen and parted ways immediately.
As I was leaving, she waved at me with a smile and said, โHave a good trip.โ She exuded such a warm, motherly warmthโmore like a neighborโs mom than a queen. It was a stark contrast to my own mother, who had kicked me in the shin to send me on my way.
โCome to think of itโฆโ
Iris muttered as she gazed out at the idyllic Magnolia territory.
โWhy were you wearing your uniform?โ
โHuh?โ
What is this girl talking about?
Iโm going to the academy, so of course Iโm wearing my uniformโฆ Wait?
โItโs not today, is it? School day.โ
โRight?โ
โRight.โ
Weโre going to take a carriage back to the capital, a journey that will take several days. Given that, thereโs no point in wearing my uniform. Ugh, I took the time to change into this unfamiliar uniform even though Iโm busy and short on time, and now itโs all for nothing?
I canโt take this. I roughly loosened the sash that had been tightening around my neck.
โIf youโre going to say that, then Iris is the same.โ
โItโs fine for me.โ
Because a girl? I expected that ultimate excuse, but I was wrong.
โI just wanted to show it to Lucian.โ
โโฆโฆI see.โ
With my throat on the verge of snapping, that was all I could manage to say.
ใใโใโใโ
โWelcome, Her Royal Highness Princess Iris.โ
Upon arriving at the academy, I was greeted by the headmasterโunlike my father, his white hair was truly striking. He was a slender, gentlemanly figure, and his gentle demeanor would likely put anyone at ease.
โฆBut since heโs completely ignoring me, Iโm stubbornly keeping my guard up.
โThis is the son of the Magnolia Viscount familyโapparently my fiancรฉ.โ
โReally?โ
We were led to the headmasterโs office, where Iris and I sat side by side on an incredibly luxurious-looking black leather sofa. Even at that point, I had a feeling something was off, but perhaps he thought I was just a servant or something.
Was I just too inconspicuous? Or was the princess sitting next to me simply too radiant?
The headmaster stood up and bowed deeply to us.
โMy apologies. You must be Lucian, the new student enrolling today?โ
โYes, thatโs correct.โ
So he remembered my name.
It felt a bit surprising, but remembering the names and faces of nobles is an essential skill. Even if heโd never met me before, heโd surely have memorized the family names and names of students about to enroll.
โI never imagined Her Highness Princess Iris had a fiancรฉ.โ
โThatโs not exactly accurate, so please donโt read too much into it.โ
โUnderstood.โ
He agreed with a smile.
It was a bit frustrating to be treated merely as the princessโs attendant, but my impression of her shifted slightly since she wasnโt the type to pry into unnecessary matters. In situations like this, other nobles would try to dig up every last detail.
I love gossip.
โThen, I shall keep that matter locked away in my heart. It might be a bit of a stretch to call it โin exchange,โ but I have a request for Her Highness Princess Iris.โ
โNo.โ
โโฆUm, the requestโฆโ
โCan you hear me?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆWell, I am getting on in years. My hearing has been getting worse with each passing year.โ
Beads of cold sweat were forming on the headmasterโs forehead.
She must have heard it, but sheโs playing along to try and get me to nod anyway. But sheโs picked the wrong person.
โI only came here out of basic courtesy. Donโt expect anything more from me.โ
Sheโs really blunt.
Sheโs had a sharp tongue from the start. She was actually quite polite to my mother, but apparently that wasnโt just because she was an elder.
โNo, but you seeโฆโ
With an attitude that clearly showed he was at a loss, he turned his gaze toward me as if seeking a lifeline. Even if he said that, thereโs no way I could change Irisโs mind.
This is the woman who, despite me repeatedly asking, โWhy donโt we go somewhere else?โ and resisting the brothel tour, pushed ahead with it without any explanation. If I tried to persuade her now, sheโd just laugh it off.
I shrugged.
โCan I go home?โ
โIโm going home too.โ
โW-wait a minute!โ
The school principal, who had stood up after me, hurriedly tried to stop us. He seemed genuinely flustered.
โWhat are we going to do?โ
โNo.โ
โWell, weโre going to be relying on him from now on, arenโt we? Shouldnโt you at least do him a favor?โ
โโฆโฆDoes just listening to a story count as a favor?โ
โWhat do you think?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆI fully understand that the two of you are engaged.โ
Why?
She told him not to think about it a moment ago, and he agreed like a gentleman. So why did he end up figuring it out? There wasnโt a single hint of โfiancรฉโ in that exchange. It was just a confirmation.
โAre you even listening?โ I thought, just as Iris sat back down on the sofa.
โIf itโs just a conversation, sure.โ
โWas there something in there that made you change your mind so suddenly?โ
Are Iris and the Headmaster talking in a language I donโt understand, or using telepathy? Are they living in a different world than me?ใOr am I the weird one? Given the situation, Iโm the only one who doesnโt get it. So it must be me, then.
I had no choice but to sit back down myself.
โSo, whatโs the favor?โ
โWeโve gathered the students in the auditorium, so weโd like you to give a speech there.โ
โIโm going home, Lucianโto the mansion in the capital.โ
โBut today is technically your first day of school.โ
If I donโt even go to class, can you really call that going to school?
Iโm constantly standing up and sitting down.
Fine, Iโve decided to just sit here until Iris leaves the room, so I reach for the sweets on the coffee table. Just the fact that these are meant for the princess makes them taste good.
โJust a few words will do. Could you please do this for me?โ
โNo.โ
โThe entire student body is waiting for your words.โ
โThey arenโt.โ
โโฆHis Majesty is also looking forward to it.โ
โIs he here?โ
I thought the same thing as Iris.
Is His Majesty here? Just like when I had my arranged marriage meetingโare kings actually just sitting around with nothing to do? I havenโt had much to do with him, so I donโt know the details, but I thought he was a more serious person.
My image of him is crumbling more and more.
โNo, an urgent matter came up, so heโs returned to the royal castle.โ
Well, thatโs a relief.
Iโd hate to be cornered again like during the matchmaking, with him shouting, โMy son!โ I donโt know if he means it, but just having to deal with His Majesty feels like my spirit is being chipped away like an ice candy.
Irisโs face also showed a faint look of relief as she exhaled.
โThen, just tell whatever comes to mindโฆโ
Suddenly, Iris froze.
For the blink of an eye.
Just as I thought she was about to move, she touched her finger to her lips and froze again. Her gaze was fixed on the headmaster, but her dark eyes seemed unfocused and hazy, as if she were deep in thought.
Her face shifted, and she looked at me.
โUm, Your Highness?โ
โWellโฆ I suppose thatโs possible.โ
What the hell?
My inner voice begging her not to just accept this on her own, of course, went unheard, and in an instant, Iris flashed a smile befitting a princess.
โI shall accept that request.โ
โOh, really! Thank you so much, Your Highness!โ
โNot at all, it is simply my duty as a member of the royal family.โ
She was so reluctant just a moment ago, yet this seems like quite a light duty.
Her attitude toward the Headmaster has done a complete 180. The Headmaster didnโt seem to mind at all and was relieved that his request had been granted, but that smile of hers felt somehow scary to me.
โLeave it to me.โ
Your characterโs all over the place, Your Highness.
โโโฆโฆAnd so.
My hunch turned out to be spot on.
โโโThis is mine.โ
On the stage of the auditorium where the entire student body had gathered, Iris had grabbed my arm and was treating me like this. The stares from everyone made my stomach ache, and the cold sweat wouldnโt stop. I prayed I could just wither away and die right then and there, but humans arenโt built that way.