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
โNice to meet you, Lord Lucian.โ
Forced to attend against my will, I was standing in the courtyard of some mansion, feeling like a wallflower. While the gathered noble sons and daughters of my age were gazing in awe at the colorful flowers, I was the only one laughing to myself, thinking it was funny that I was the one being treated like a flower.
Then Aisia arrivedโa prince-like figure who had the young ladies around her squealing with delight. She was dressed in lavish attire, tall with long legs. Her straight nose was proof of her good looks, and the young ladies were swooning over her almond-shaped eyes.
Why did she come talk to me?
I remember thinking, โThis is such a hassle.โ Or rather, I was just in a bad mood, so
[Ugh, what a pain,]
slipped out, and Aisiaโs blue eyes widened.
โThatโs about it.โ
โโฆโฆYou call that a โnormal encounterโ? Whatโs wrong with your sense of judgment?โ
Iris gave me a look that said, โEw, gross.โ
I donโt think this is a normal encounter either. Itโs nothing more than an acquaintance.
โSo, what happened after that?โ
โAfter that?โ
No matter how hard I racked my brain, not a single drop of memory came to mind.
โNothing really. We chatted a bit, but it was just small talk. I do remember getting some really jealous glares from the other young ladies there, though.โ
โThatโs irrelevant.โ
โAre you worried?โ
They even complained later, telling me not to try to hog her all to myself (rough translation).
โIsnโt there anything? A reason why Aisia might take a liking to you? Youโve met her three times, right?โ
โโฆโฆI donโt know?โ
When I said thatโnot to play dumb, but because I genuinely didnโt knowโshe grabbed both sides of my head firmly with her hands and shook me from side to side.
โYouโre empty.โ
โBut Iโm packed to the brim, arenโt I?โ
โThat just makes you sound stupid.โ
I said it myself and thought the same thing, but hearing Iris say it really pissed me off.
Iris pulled her tear troughs up sharply.
Her black eyes were faint. No matter when I looked at them, the light was small and hollow, as if devoid of emotion. Still, there was a faint glow, and it felt like stars twinkling in the night sky.
Just as I felt like I was being looked down upon by that tiny night sky, Iris suddenly collapsed.
โHey.โ
Right onto my lap.
โIโm kind of tired.โ
โMe too. Can you move?โ
I sympathize and shake my thigh, but Iris doesnโt budge. Instead, she starts patting my thigh as if to say, โDonโt bother me.โ How selfish.
โAre you some kind of princess?โ
โI am a princess. Is there a problem?โ
โOh, right.โ
Iโd completely forgotten.
Maybe itโs because sheโs so casual and weโre so close that I keep forgetting.
โShow me some respect.โ
โYes, yes, Your Highness.โ
When I brushed her off casually, she smacked my thigh again. If this were any other princess, it would be different, but well, itโs Iris, so I guess itโs fine.
I sit up.
Now Iโm looking down at Iris, but this position doesnโt feel like our roles have reversed at all.
โAre you happy to have a guyโs lap to rest your head on?โ
โItโs hard.โ
I figured as much.
โBut itโs not bad.โ
โIs that so?โ
Iโm the one whoโs in trouble hereโmy legs are starting to go numb in this position.
Maybe I should just push her off.
I thought about it, but Irisโs expression as she turned toward me was serene, and her usual stiffness was gone. Especially around her eyes. Theyโre sleepy and relaxed, and looking at her face makes me think, โWell, I guess itโs okay.โ The contrast with her usual self is truly remarkable.
โDonโt fall asleep.โ
โโฆโฆMm.โ
Her voice sounds sleepy.
Or rather, donโt close your eyes. Youโre practically trying to fall asleep, arenโt you?
โLucian.โ
She calls out, and I reply, โWhat?โ
โI wasโฆ a little jealous.โ
โJust a little,โ she says.
Having been confided in so childishly and bluntly, what am I supposed to do? I throw my hands up and flop down onto the bed.
I didnโt feel like asking her to explain what she meant by that.
ใใโใโใโ
The next day, I went to school as usual and attended class.
โโฆPeople seemed really hostile toward me today. Especially the girls.โ
โThat mustโve been rough. If you want, Iโm here to listen.โ
Aisia sat across from me with a prince-like smile. Does this one even realize what sheโs doing? If itโs just her messing with me, thatโs totally awesome.
She handed me what looked like teaโฆ but it wasnโt. It was some kind of black liquid.
โโฆโฆWhat is this?โ
โItโs a luxury item that came in from a southern country. Itโs been all the rage in the capital lately.โ
โHuh.โ
When she says itโs trendy, I feel like giving it a try even if it looks like muddy water. Its blackness reminds me of Irisโs eyes and hair. After seeing the princess lying on the sofa, yawning, I took a big gulpโฆ and it was bitter.
โโฆโฆTell me how this is different from muddy water.โ
โIt tastes good.โ
โI didnโt taste anything but bitterness, though?โ
โI like it, though.โ
Saying that, she adds sugar and milk from the table. If thatโs how youโre supposed to drink it, you shouldโve done that from the start. I bet this handsome girl is just messing with me.
I bring the cup to my lips againโฆ Itโs bitter, but compared to before, is itโฆ tasty?
Itโs my first time drinking this, so I canโt really tell.
โIโll have a taste, too.โ
Even though sheโd been lying down just a moment ago, Iris was suddenly standing right next to me. It seems she was intrigued by my flustered reaction to the bitterness and came over. Just as I was about to give Aisia a look to ask her to pour some for Iris, Iris simply put her lips right to the cup I was holding.
Um, excuse meโฆ Your Highness?
โItโs bitter. I canโt handle it.โ
She scowled and stuck out her red tongue.
She went straight back to the sofa and flopped down. There was a faint red mark on the rim of the cup. I donโt really want to drink it enough to swap cupsโฆ oh well.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆThatโs bad manners.โ
โNo oneโs watching.โ
Aisia blushed and mumbled something.
Every time I put my mouth to the cup, she let out little sounds like โAhโ or โEw.โ
Why is she suddenly acting so weird?
Just as I was wondering about that, there was a soft knock on the salon door.
โOh, looks like a customer.โ
Aisia hurriedly stood up from her chair.
Yesterday she didnโt even make a sound pulling out her chair, but now sheโs making a racket, stomping her feet. Was I really that rude? As I reflected on my own behavior, Aisia was inviting an unfamiliar female student into the room.
The girl, whose long, wavy chestnut-brown hair swayed, looked at me and let out a gasp.
โAhโฆโ Whatโs with that โahโ?
Does even a stranger think my manners are bad?
Just as I was feeling anxious about my etiquette, the girlโwho was clutching her skirt tightly with both handsโcame up to me and spoke up.
โU-umโฆ!โ
โYes?โ
โW-would you please let me join your faction too!?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆFaction?โ
She nodded frantically, her face bright red.
No, itโs not my faction, and who are you anyway? You.