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
โDeliciousโฆโ
Iris murmurs as she takes a bite of meat coated in cheese with her fork. I say, โThanks,โ and start eating my own portion. Itโs a meat dish baked with cheese on top. It doesnโt have a specific name, but the rich cheese gives it a great flavor.
Actually, there were all sorts of spices laid out, so just looking at them was fun. As youโd expect from a princessโs residence, thereโs no shortage of luxury items. I feel a bit guilty about taking advantage of thatโnot really, though; Iโm just going with the โuse it while you canโ mentality. I might not get to eat this again.
The vegetable soup is delicious, too. Salt and pepper really are the best.
Iris sets down her spoon and half-closes her eyes. She bites her lower lip lightly and stares at me with a look of dissatisfaction.
โWhat? Was there a vegetable you donโt like in there?โ
โI hate beans.โ
โYou can pick them out.โ
Since Iโm not her mom, I have no intention of lecturing her about not being picky. Just as I was about to continue eating, assuming she just had a childish palate, she stopped me again, saying, โThatโs not it.โ
Whatโs with you?
โDonโt get a big head just because you can cook.โ
โIโm not.โ
Why am I getting criticized for cooking? Me.
โI could do it too if I wanted to. I just wasnโt allowed toโitโs that easy.โ
โOh, wow, thatโs impressive.โ
โListen to me properly.โ
โThis cheese is so good.โ
โListen!โ
She kicked me hard in the shin.
It didnโt hurt, but Iโm not sure I like that habit of hers.
โIโm making food tomorrow.โ
โIf weโre done here, Iโd like to go back to my parentsโ house.โ
โNo way, Iโm definitely doing it.โ
It seems Irisโs competitive spirit has been ignited. Itโs not like itโs unusual for a princessโor rather, a noble ladyโnot to know how to cook, but for her, the fact that I can do it and she canโt seems to be a huge blow to her pride.
Is she surprisingly competitive?
Her dark eyes are burning. Is she actually the passionate type? It doesnโt really fit her appearance.
โBut why can you cook?โ
โโฆBecause I can?โ
โDo you really think thatโs what Iโm asking?โ
I donโt think so, but if thatโs all you say, I wonโt know what you actually want to know.
Iris gently set down her spoon. That single gesture was graceful and truly befitting a princess.
โThe reason I decided to cook. I mean, thereโs no need for me to, right? We have chefs at home, and the maids handle the housework. Thereโs no way we nobles would do that ourselves.โ
โWhen a princess says it, the words carry so much more weightโฆโ
โI actually do plan to do it myself.โ
She lifts her nose in a slight snort.
Thatโs more of a hope than anythingโitโs practically an admission that she hasnโt put it into practice yetโbut if I point that out, sheโll probably kick me in the shin again, so I, being the kind soul that I am, keep my mouth shut. I donโt have a hobby of enjoying getting kicked. Even if itโs by a beautiful girl.
โThe reason I wanted to do itโฆโ
Sipping my fruit wine, I dig through my memories.
The triggerโฆ what was it? I donโt remember clearly. But thereโs a reason Iโm still doing it now. I could state it clearly, but when I see those expectant eyes, I donโt feel like telling her.
Above all, I hate looking like a wimp.
โMy dream for the future is to be a chef.โ
โOh, really? So?โ
โNo, โsoโ. I said I want to be a chef.โ
โIโll recommend you to His Majesty to be a chef at the royal castle.โ
โIโm sorry.โ
Please, give me a break.
Being a chef at the castle isnโt just something Iโd spit out. Plus, itโs scary to think that His Majesty would probably just say โOkayโ without batting an eye. Canโt I even brush it off with a clumsy joke?
Oh well, I guess Iโll just tell her.
Itโs not like Iโm hiding anything, but Iโm feeling pretty pathetic about this, I thought to myself, when Iris let out a sulky-sounding โFine, whatever.โ She propped her chin on her hand, lifting her cheek.
โIf you donโt want to talk about it, whatever?โ
โThat doesnโt look like a โwhateverโ face to me.โ
โWhatever.โ
Sheโs rolling her tongue way too much.
Thatโs nothing more than a threat disguised as politeness. โYouโre such a kid,โ I muttered under my breath.
โWell, Iโm the third son.โ
โโฆโฆHmm, I see.โ
I wondered what kind of face Iris was making as she snorted. I kept my head down, pretending to focus on the cooking so I wouldnโt have to look, when Iris spoke up.
โIโm the third daughter.โ
โIt must be tough for both of us having so many siblings.โ
โYeah.โ
I offered a small, brief nod of agreement.
We werenโt saying much, but I felt like the atmosphere at the table had improved a bit compared to before.
ใใโใโใโ
โW-w-wake up?
A sensation tickling my ear sent a shiver running from my toes to the top of my head. I jumped out of bed with a start, and Iris, looking startled, blinked at me.
She had her hand cupped over her mouthโฆ Hey, cut it out.
โWhat are you doing?โ
โPlaying newlyweds.โ
Is she trying to kill me first thing in the morning?
Sheโs wearing her usual baggy clothes, not a shred of princess-like dignity in sight. Sheโs picked up some bad habits. That smirk on her faceโI really wish sheโd stop.
โWaking you up is fun, too.โ
โI was about to fall into an eternal slumber, wasnโt I?โ
โHuh.โ
She doesnโt seem interested. In my life, that is.
โI broke out in a cold sweat first thing in the morningโฆ Wait, whatโs this smell?โ
A scent that tickles my noseโtoo burnt to be called savory. I sniffed the air, and there was another smell as well; if I had to describe it, it was probably the smell of cooking.
But why?
As I wondered that, I recalled the conversation at the dinner table last night.
[Iโll make food tomorrow.]
[If youโre done with your business, Iโd like to go back to my parentsโ house.]
[No way, Iโm definitely doing it.]
โWait, no way?โ I thought, staring intently at Iris, and she nodded with such smug satisfaction as if to say, โExactly as I thought.โ
โBreakfast is ready.โ
โOh, r-right.โ
I see.
โThe Last Supper, is it?โ
โExplain exactly what you mean, please?โ
โGive me some stomach medicine.โ
She gave my shoulders a firm shove, and I sank back into the bed.
I wanted to just stay in bed like this. I truly did, but the princessโwho had cooked for the first timeโpulled my arm, saying, โItโll get cold,โ and wouldnโt wait for me.