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
โAre you getting along well with Her Highness Princess Iris?โ
I showed my father into the reception room, but from the very start, I could sense he was in full lecture modeโand it reeked of it. His scowling face and suspicious gaze were really getting on my nerves. Honestly, whether weโre getting along or not is none of his business.
โItโs going okay.โ
โMake it the best it can be.โ
This is sooo annoying.
โStop making that face.โ
โWhat face am I making?โ
โThe face that says, โWe havenโt seen each other in ages, and all you do is lecture me? What a pain.โโ
โHahaha, no way.โ
Spot on.
If he knows that much, he doesnโt need to start with a lecture. Father has a terrible personality. Seriously, I wonder who he takes after.
Father lets out a blatant sigh.
โโฆSeriously, who did you get that twisted personality from?โ
โItโs definitely not you, Father.โ
โOf course not.โ
โโWere the two of you clowns or something?โ
I turned toward the sudden voice to find Iris, who had just entered the room, wearing an indescribable expression. She was looking at me and Father as if she were utterly exasperated, her dark eyes seeming to have a lot to say.
โI have no intention of becoming a laughingstock.โ
โโฆโฆHuh.โ
Whatโs with those narrowed eyes?
I looked at Father, but he seemed just as confused as to what Iris was trying to say. If I donโt get it, then I guess neither does he. While the two of us were tilting our heads in puzzlement, Iris nonchalantly plopped herself down on the sofa next to me.
โWait, why?โ
โI need to be here too, donโt I?โ
โRight?โ Iris asked my father.
Thereโs no way thatโs trueโI didnโt even invite her. I tried to signal him to send her away quickly, but my father nodded vigorously and said, โOf course, youโre needed here.โ Hey.
Beads of sweat were forming on my forehead. Iโd clearly lost to her authority.
โโฆThatโs not it. Itโs because this concerns Her Royal Highness Princess Iris as well. In any case, I invited you here if you had the time.โ
โOh, really?โ
I just canโt believe it.
Father clenched his teeth, but in the end, he let out a sigh. He brushed back his short silver hair and exhaled deeply.
โฆโฆ?
He seems to be struggling to say something. Thatโs unusual for him. Even at my matchmaking meeting, he got straight to the point right awayโis this really that hard to put into words?
โIf my presence makes it difficult for you to speak, Iโll step out.โ
โAh, no. You may stay.โ
Showing consideration for Iris, Father shook his head gently from side to side, declining the offer.
โI suppose so.โ
My father closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, as if steeled for what was to come, his gaze was no longer wavering as it had been moments ago; he looked straight at me.
โLucian.โ
โYes.โ
โโโDo you intend to inherit the title?โ
โฆโฆโฆโฆ.
โHuh?โ
ใใโใโใโ
What on earth is this man talking about?
Between this and the arranged marriage with the princess, Iโd been thinking heโd been saying some pretty outlandish things lately. Going back and forth between the royal castle and his own domain. Has his brain finally given out from exhaustion and stress?
โโฆโฆIโll go get a doctor.โ
โIโm perfectly fine.โ
โThat makes it even worse.โ
If anything, I wished this were just a cruel joke.
I glanced at Iris. Her eyelids, usually drooping with sleepiness, were wide open. It seemed even the fearless Iris had been taken aback by this story.
As the person at the center of this, I was even more shocked, and honestly, Iโm not at peace.
It felt like a hand caked with sand had roughly brushed against the surface of my heart.
โPlease, just let this be a joke.โ
โThat wonโt do.โ
My father stopped me as I tried to end the conversation.
โIf Lucian is to formally marry Her Royal Highness Princess Iris in the future, we need to consider such matters.โ
โWe arenโt even engaged yet.โ
โItโs a โwhat if.โ Iโm merely discussing the possibility.โ
Whether it was a possibility or not, I didnโt want it to happen.
โHer Royal Highness Princess Iris is the third princess of the kingdom. Normally, itโs customary for her to marry into a powerful noble family within the kingdom or to royalty in another country. While there are precedents for her marrying down to a viscountโฆ itโs highly unlikely sheโd marry a third son who isnโt even an heir.โ
Thatโs true.
Iโm a member of a viscountโs family, but if I donโt inherit the headship, once I leave the family home, my status isnโt much different from that of a commoner. Of course, there are jobs only available to nobles, and civil servants working at the royal palace are prime examples.
I can rely on my noble family, and in the truest sense, Iโm not the same as a commoner, but even so, Iโm not of a rank that allows me to marry a princess.
I know that. Or rather, I knew it.
โYou know that perfectly well, donโt you?โ
Itโs a given.
From the moment the arranged marriage was proposed.
Whether it goes through or not, whether we actually get married or not, is a separate issue. I knew that from the start, and if it werenโt acceptable, the match wouldnโt have been arranged in the first place, even if it was just to make up the numbers.
My position, Irisโs position.
This is the reality, taking all of that into account, so why is Father bringing it up again now?
โI understand what youโre trying to say. But now that marriage is becoming a real possibility, Iโm saying we should prepare for that scenario.โ
โIt isnโt becoming a possibility, is it?โ
โEven though weโre living together like this?โ
โโฆโฆWell, thatโsโฆโ
Thatโs it, isnโt it?
โโฆโฆโฆโฆBecause I couldnโt refuse.โ
โWhether you consented or not, if youโve had a physical relationship, you should take responsibility as a man.โ
โThatโs not what Iโm talking about!โ
My language slips out before I can stop it.
How dare he say something thatโs practically a dirty joke right in front of the princess.
โItโs not a firm commitment, but you need to be mentally prepared. Iโll talk to your two older brothers about this later, but you should think it over tooโฆ? Lucian? Whatโs wrong? Why did you suddenly stand up?โ
โWellโฆ how should I put this?โ
I get it.
I understand that, given the situation, it was necessary to have this conversation. I get that, but whether I can accept it is a whole other matter.
Iโm partly to blame for letting things get carried away and letting him bring up that kind of topic.
But you know what?
Setting aside questions of legitimacy or necessity.
For Father to tell me now to succeed himโah, really. Itโs infuriating beyond belief.
โL-Lucian?โ
Perhaps sensing something off about me, my fatherโs expression hardens, but I give him a gentle smile.
With a beaming grin, I raise my fistโ
ใใโใโใโ
โโโHa ha ha ha ha! Viscount Magnolia, whatโs with that face!? Are you a raccoon dog in disguise? H-ha ha ha!โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆYouโre laughing too much, Your Majesty.โ
A room in the royal castle.
I had come to the castle to report to His Majesty regarding Lucian and Her Royal Highness Princess Iris, but the moment I was granted an audience, he burst out laughing.
A distinct bruise was clearly visible around my right eye.
If someone laughs at that, comparing it to a raccoon dog, even His Majesty would be put out. I felt like pursing my lips in a sulk.
Damn you, Lucian. I will not forgive you.