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
โโฆ because it was so sudden?โ
โAre you turning down a royal proposal for a reason like that?โ
Even though she spoke as if she were simply asking a question, why did it feel like she was grilling me? From my perspective, I thought that might be one of the reasons, but her pale pink eyesโthough gentleโnarrowed as if to say she didnโt believe me.
Itโs true, but thatโs not the real reason.
โDoes that make sense?โ I try tapping my cheek lightly, but of course she wouldnโt understand.
โI donโt want you to get the wrong idea, but itโs fine to refuse, you know? Political marriages are commonplace among the nobilityโand even more so among royaltyโbut I have no intention of forcing such a norm on Iris chan. Or on you, Lucian kun, for that matter.โ
โThank youโฆ I suppose?โ
Is it okay to thank her for this?
I suppose itโs probably fine, but she just chuckled softly. Itโs kind of embarrassing. Even that laugh has such graceโit really drives home the fact that this woman is the Queen and Irisโs mother.
โIris chan has been looking so happy lately.โ
โHappy?โ
โYes, very much so.โ
She nodded with such confidence, but I canโt help but wonder: is that really true?
Pale, unhealthy-looking skin and a sullen, grumpy expression. Thatโs the Iris I knowโsomeone whoโs basically never happy. Setting aside the question of what that says about her as a person, thatโs just how she appears on the surface.
Sure, I do see her smile from time to time, but not often enough to say sheโs been โhaving funโ lately.
Perhaps realizing I hadnโt caught on because of my slow reaction, she twirled a strand of her long, wavy, pale pink hair around her finger.
โBecause of that hair color, Iโve been on the receiving end of all sorts of comments since I was born.โ
โIs that so?โ
โโฆโฆHeh, arenโt you very interested?โ
She gave me a sly smile, and I stammered, โNo, thatโs not it,โ as I denied it.
Itโs not that Iโm truly uninterested. Itโs just that I can imagine itโs not exactly a pleasant story, so I didnโt feel like asking about it myself.
His Majestyโs hair is golden, and the Queenโs is peach-colored.
Even setting aside the talk of being an unlucky child or whatever, I can imagine what kind of rumors there were, even without knowing the details of that time.
โIf youโre the one telling me, I wouldnโt mind hearing it.โ
โHehe.โ
She laughed at me for some reason.
โThat child might like that carefree side of you.โ
โI wonderโฆโ
Itโs awkward to be told she likes me when sheโs not here. Even if itโs not romantic, I canโt even joke about it, so I donโt know how to respond. All I can do is draw out my words to buy some time.
โSince I havenโt been a very good mother myself, it might be none of my business to worry about her. But watching the two of you today, you seemed to be having such a good timeโฆ donโt you think? I just wondered why you still so stubborn.โ
โDo we really look that close to you?โ
โYes, like a couple.โ
My throat tightens.
She really knows how to say things that leave me at a loss for words.
If she were just being pushy like Iris or His Majesty, I could just say โNoโ and be done with it. But when she says something like โThatโs how it looks to me,โ I canโt deny it. After all, itโs just her impression.
โYouโre engaged,โ or โYouโre a couple.โ
If it were a definitive statement, I could just brush it off with โNo way.โ
โWhether you get married or not is one thing, but getting engaged wouldnโt be so bad, would it?โ
โโฆโฆBreaking off an engagement might not be the best idea, though.โ
โOh? My eldest son did it, didnโt he?โ
When she brings up the prince, Iโm at a loss for words. Come to think of it, there were rumors that he broke off an engagement heโd had since childhood. I get the feeling that, while itโs not exactly common, itโs not rare among the nobility, so why not?
Thatโs why Father and Mother are in favor of it, too. Or rather, wouldnโt anyone normally refuse a princessโs engagement?
But stillโฆ the resistance I feel, like a massive boulder damming a river, is probably my own problem.
โI wonโt tell a soul. As a mother and as the Queen, Iโll keep my promise. So, wonโt you tell me?โ
When the Queen raised her hand, the maid standing by the door curtsied and withdrew. Even though she has a husbandโฆ no, wait, maybe itโs the other way around. Precisely because of that, Iโm not sure about being truly alone together, but I suppose this is the Queenโs way of showing her sincerity.
I guess I have no choice but to talk.
Ugh.
My stomach feels heavy, as if itโs stuffed with stones. My cheeks burn as if the fire in the hearth had leapt out. But Iโm not so twisted that Iโd keep my mouth shut in front of a sincere Queen whoโs worried about her daughter as a mother.
โSetting aside any feelings of affectionโฆโ
โYes?โ
As the Queen nodded, the tip of my tongue trembled.
โโฆThis might sound selfish, but the reason Iโm breaking off the engagement isโbecause I want a normal romance.โ
When I said that, the Queenโs wide eyes widened even further, and she burst out laughing so hard tears welled up in her eyes.
ใใโใโใโ
โYouโre dead.โ
Iris, who had returned to the room after being called by the maid, saw me slumped on the sofa with no regard for manners, and those were her first words. I pleaded with her eyes to show me some consideration, but still managed to say, โIโm not dead,โ to confirm I was still alive.
But I couldnโt get up, so I leaned my body against the armrest of the sofa. Then, glancing at the Queen, Irisโs temple twitched.
โWhat? Did she suck the life out of you or something?โ
โOh? I wonder why?โ
โYou just look so radiant.โ
โHeheheheh.โ
The Queen, having been called out, placed a hand on her cheek, looking thoroughly pleased. Her complexion was unusually radiant, moist as if wet with water. Her flushed cheeks were plump and suppleโI could understand why someone might suspect I had been drained of vitality.
Iris grimaced as she compared the vibrant Queen to me, who was on the verge of death.
โโฆJust to be safeโthough Iโm absolutely certain it didnโt happenโIโm going to ask.โ
โDonโt ask.โ
โDid you do it?โ
โI told you not to ask.โ
Even though weโre in front of the Queen, I donโt have the energy to keep up appearances anymore. I mean, given the situation, I canโt say I blame her for suspecting something. But asking that of the Queenโwhoโs her husbandโs wifeโor rather, my own mother?
This girl is the worst.
I glare at her, implying this isnโt a joke, but she looks surprisingly serious, which just makes me feel even worse. Even if Iโm only half-convinced, being suspected of having a relationship with my own mother makes me want to die.
โDonโt worry, Iris chan. We didnโt do it.โ
โUmโฆ could you please choose your words a little more carefully?โ
I wish the queen and princess of this country would stop talking about whether we โdid itโ or โdidnโt do it.โ I donโt want to tell them to limit their speech because of their positions, but as a lady, I find it questionable. To begin with, why do this mother and daughter have no qualms about that sort of thing?
โRight.โ
And the fact that sheโs patting her shapely chest in relief just makes me sadโI canโt trust her.
โSo, what did you talk about?โ
โIf I told you that, thereโd be no point in having you step out, would there?โ
โTch.โ
Hey, that princess just clicked her tongue.
โIris-chan.โ
The Queen calls her name.
Just that alone makes the relaxed atmosphere grow tense. I naturally straighten my posture and find myself looking straight at the Queen, even though she didnโt call me.
Iris herself remains standing near the sofa, facing the Queen. Unlike me, she must be used to the Queenโs solemn aura.
โWhat?โ she replies calmly.
Turning to Iris, who had turned toward her, the Queenโs smile deepened.
โRegarding the engagement, Iโve decided to oppose it.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh?โ
Startled, Iris looks at me, asking, โWhy?โ I collapse back onto the sofa to escape her gaze.
I told you so. If I say that, thereโs no point in having you step out of the room.