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
Buying a house in the capital.
Even if she told me that, what am I supposed to do? Itโs not exactly the kind of thing you can just buy on a whim, but since itโs settled with a simple โJust ask His Majesty,โ the princess really is too powerful.
โWhat kind of house would you like?โ
โItโs hard to sayโฆโ
Inside the carriage heading for the capital, Iris asked me that question again. To be honest, even when she asked me that, I couldnโt really picture it.
โActually, we do have a townhouse in the capital. Wouldnโt that work?โ
โโฆโฆNo.โ
After a brief silence, Iris spoke, sounding reluctant.
โI want a house where no one interferes with us.โ
โI see.โ
It felt less like she wanted a place to live while attending the academy, and more like a child wanting their own room. The fact that for a noble, that โroomโ becomes an entire house is quite extravagant. As long as sheโs a princess, itโs probably difficult to avoid interference entirely, but perhaps she just wants to draw some kind of line for herself.
The fact that Iโm there is probably a condition sheโs accepted as part of leaving the castle. The royal capital came into view through the carriage window. I tried to imagine what kind of house she might like.
โIt doesnโt have to be bigโjust a quiet place where I can sleep.โ
โExactly.โ
She pointed at me with her index finger, giving her strong approval.
ใใโใโใโ
As youโd expect from the capital, there are crowds everywhere. Our territory has a decent population too, but itโs no match for the capital. My eyes are drawn to the streets lined with stalls, like a festival.
โDoes it bother you?โ
โIโm just a country bumpkin.โ
โEeiโ
โโฆDid you really have to rub it in?โ
She was laughing happily, so I guess she did, from her perspective.
โI donโt get to come to the capital very often, so of course Iโm interested.โ
โYou came here for the arranged marriage, didnโt you?โ
โThereโs no way I could have taken my time sightseeing then.โ
โWhy not?โ
Iris tilts her head, clearly not getting it. Sure, for her, arranged marriages were probably an everyday occurrence, but for someone like me, it was a sudden, troublesome event that got shoved into my schedule. And with the other party being Her Royal Highness the Princess, thereโs no way I could just throw myself into sightseeing the moment I arrived in the capital.
It goes without saying that the same applied when I came to confirm the engagement.
โWell, once weโve found a place, letโs go check it out.โ
โDo we really have time for that?โ
By the time we arrived in the capital, the sun was already starting to set. There was still time before dusk, but I didnโt think we had enough leeway to go sightseeing. Iris brushed aside my concerns with a casual, โNo problem, no problem.โ
โWeโll just decide on it quickly and move in right away.โ
โโฆโฆWeโre not moving in today, are we?โ
โHuh?โ
She gave me a look that said, โAre you kidding me?โ
I told you, we came here to look for a place to live while I attend the academy. Enrollment isnโt until later.
ใใโใโใโ
โWeโve been waiting for you!โ
When we reached the castle gate, a woman dressed in a light, airy dressโwho looked incredibly excitedโwas waiting for us. She wore glasses, which is rare for a woman, and she had the arms of her glasses pushed up on her temples.
Her smile was clearly for show, but the radiant energy pouring out of her was overwhelming. Iris, whoโs clearly more of a โshadowโ type, narrowed her eyes in disgust as if to say, โSo itโs her,โ and hid behind my back.
โOh my, whatโs the matter with Lady Iris? If youโre not feeling well, would you like to rest somewhere?โ
โUghโฆโ
โStop growling, stop growling.โ
Sheโs on high alert, just like a cat. I knew she wasnโt good with people, but I didnโt expect her to react like this to someone. It seems we really donโt get along. Well, I guess you can tell just by looking at her.
โPlease donโt worry about it. Sheโs just acting like a kitten after the long journey.โ
โWhat kind of grand adventure have you been on?โ
โWhy, a comfortable sightseeing tour in the royal carriage, of course.โ
โHow lovely!โ
She clasped her hands together and beamed.
Was that genuine, or just a sales pitch? Iโve always had a hard time with people who approach me with smiles like thatโitโs impossible to read their true feelings. But then again, I suppose thatโs just how nobles are.
โI apologize for the late introduction. My name is Karin, and I will be your guide for this visit. By His Majestyโs command, I have been instructed to assist in finding a new residence for Lady Iris and Lord Lucian.โ
โHow kind of you.โ
In response to her elegant bow, I gave a slight nod of my own.
As usual, she was on high alert, refusing to come out from behind my back.
โIs it really that bad?โ
โItโs blinding.โ
This girl has a personality that makes life pretty tough, doesnโt she?
ใใโใโใโ
โHow about this one? Itโs a mansion built by a certain wealthy merchant who spent his entire fortune on it. Because of that, his trading company went under, he passed away suddenly, and itโs been vacant ever since. Iโm confident it would be perfect for the Princess and her husband to live in!โ
โItโs huge.โ
Also, it hurts my eyes.
As youโd expect from such extravagance, you can tell itโs a mansion just by looking at it. An absurdly huge garden, a mansion so vast I canโt even see the whole thingโฆ or rather, itโs practically a castle. Itโs amazing they managed to build something this massive in the cramped royal capital. The late former owner must have been incredibly wealthy.
Still, when it comes to actually wanting to live here, strangely enough, I donโt feel the slightest urge to do so.
Iris, who had been tugging at my sleeve and following me, is clearly making a sour face too.
โTacky.โ
โYeah, right?โ
Itโs all gold.
From the outer walls to the pillars, almost everything in sight was gold. I assume itโs gold leaf, of course, but if you tried to cover a mansion this size in gold, no amount of wealth would be enough. No wonder the trading company went under.
Folding her hands and sparkling her eyes, Karin-san steps closer and asks, โWhat do you think?โ
โItโs a bit old, but thereโs no other mansion of this caliber anywhere else in the capital! I believe itโs more than suitable for a residence befitting Her Royal Highness and her husband.โ
โIt would be scary if there were another one.โ
Also, weโre not a married couple.
โGuards are stationed here at all times, so security is top-notch!ใItโs even been recommended by His Majesty.โ
โSo thatโs your real motive?โ
Even in the capital, danger isnโt nonexistent. From His Majestyโs perspective, itโs only natural to consider safety. Itโs a mansion thatโs clearly overflowing with valuables. If itโs a vacant house owned by the state, security would likely be tight, and as a father worried about his daughter, he should feel reassured.
โฆWhether or not it aligns with his daughterโs wishes is another matter.
โSo itโs decided, right? Right?โ I turned to face Karin, who was trying to coax my agreement. Seeing Irisโs face head-on for the first time in a while, she had a scowl that seemed to say, โA princess shouldnโt be doing this,โ and even though I already knew the answer without asking, I asked anyway.
โWhat do you think?โ
โDo you actually think there is one?โ
I donโt think there is.
ใใโใโใโ
โAre you sure this is really okay~?โ
Setting aside Karin, who sounded unusually dissatisfied, weโve finally settled on a place to stay for the night. Weโre not moving in permanently, but itโll serve as our lodging.
Itโs an upscale residential district where noble residences cluster. We chose a modestโwell, not exactly modest, but small compared to the othersโtwo-story mansion located there.
โThere are much fancier places,โ Karin pouted, but I donโt particularly want to live in a mansion. Or rather, she just likes mansions, doesnโt she? That person.
Iris was reluctant, but โThis is His Majestyโs minimum requirement,โ so there are maids and guards stationed here permanently. Since thatโs standard procedure for nobles, Iโve accepted it as just the way things are, but Iris apparently wanted to eliminate even that.
Sheโs all fired up about getting rid of them eventually, but since this house was arranged by the kingdom in the first place, her request probably wonโt go through.
โIโm so tired.โ
โAlright, letโs head into town.โ
โNo way, no way.โ
Iโd finally settled down in the great hall, but Iris was already trying to coax me out. It was already evening outside. The crimson light was spilling into the room, reminding me that night would soon fall.
I sank deep into the chair provided and waved my hand dismissively.
โLetโs do it tomorrow. Besides, there arenโt that many places open at night, are there?โ
โActually, the real fun starts at night, doesnโt it?โ
โDo you want to go to the red-light district or something?โ
Every now and then, I almost forget that Iris is a princess. Isnโt she a bit too wild for her own good? There are theaters open at night, so Iโm not saying itโs completely out of character, but still.
โBy the way, is there anywhere in particular you want to go?โ
โUh, a brothel.โ
โThatโs way too wild.โ
Whatโs scary is that she doesnโt sound like sheโs joking.
I donโt know if itโs just curiosity or what, but if I took Her Highness to a place like that, Iโd probably end up getting hanged. Or rather, how could she say that to someone sheโs trying to make her fiancรฉ? Is this some new kind of kinky play?
โWeโll decide where to go tomorrow.โ
โBut weโre going to the brothel.โ
โโฆLetโs put that conversation on hold until tomorrow.โ
It would be even better if she just forgot about it altogether.
I managed to pry my butt, which had grown roots to the chair, off the seat and stood up with a grunt.
โShall we eat?โ
โShould I call the maid?โ
โNah, Iโll cook today.โ
Karin left some ingredients for me, so Iโll just wing it. I was about to shuffle off to the kitchen when I felt a gaze and turned around. Iris was staring at me with a dumbfounded expression.
โWhat?โ
โYouโฆ can cook?โ
โOf course I can. Is that whatโs surprising?โ
When I asked her back, she nodded with a childish gesture.
Itโs certainly rare for a nobleโespecially a manโto cook, but is that really something to be so surprised about? Both my older brothers can at least grill some meat.
โJust wait and see.โ
โIโm so worried.โ
It was a hopeless lack of trust.