I Just Wanted to Call Off the Arranged Marriage With the Princess—Someone I Could Never Possibly Be a Match For—But for Some Reason, She Took a Liking to Me and Is Now Closing in on Me
“I ended up with these”
I had a few bottles of sake wrapped in cloth in my arms.
The old guy at the liquor store had pulled them out from the back and shoved them on me. I tried to pay for them, but he told me, “Just take them!” so I took them.
Did he think I was going to knock them back? I wouldn’t do that, though.
It was a fluke, but I ended up making a profit. This kind of luck is more satisfying than the money itself. The old guy’s face of despair will surely make for some great conversation.
“Was it okay for me to take them?”
“It’s fine.”
Elisa, walking hand-in-hand with me on the way to the brothel, was cowering.
I don’t know the full story, but it was that old man who was picking on her and treating her badly. He’s the one in the wrong. The sake I accepted was an apology—I didn’t exactly demand it.
“In other words, justice is on our side.”
Her head was in just the right spot, so I ruffled her hair, and Elisa narrowed her eyes like a cat.
Cute.
I grew up with brothers, and since I was the youngest, I’d always had a bit of a longing for a little sister. It was a lie that just slipped out on the spot, but seeing her squirm like that, looking so ticklish, she’s actually quite endearing—enough that I’m starting to think maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
I can see why Iris wants to dote on her.
“Hehe.”
Yeah, she’s cute.
“Does that kind of thing happen often?”
“……Sometimes.”
Her grip tightened.
She looks like a girl in her early teens. I know this isn’t the kind of thing you should ask a girl like that, but I can’t help but worry. She wasn’t being physically abused, but I don’t want to imagine that kind of thing being her everyday life.
“Because my hair and eyes are black.”
Faced with that matter-of-fact statement, all I could say was, “I see.” It hadn’t happened to anyone around me, but I knew such things existed in this country, and it wasn’t just limited to them.
Discrimination and persecution exist everywhere.
It’s not just a problem for the nobility.
I wasn’t driven by a sense of justice to think, “Well, then I’ll do something about it.” I couldn’t, and it wasn’t a problem for me to solve anyway. It was just that the sight of that girl with her head bowed reminded me of Iris.
I wonder if she’s been treated like this, too.
She’s a princess. So, it probably wasn’t as obvious as what happened to Elisa. Still, I don’t think it didn’t happen. I know it doesn’t really matter, but that thought keeps lingering in the back of my mind.
Maybe she was targeted, even though it’s not like her.
I ruffled her hair once more.
While I was playing around like that, the brothel was right in front of us. I’d planned to leave her with the guard and head home right away, but standing before the imposing gate was a beautiful woman with an elegant air about her.
It was the brothel’s owner, Lilium san.
She was talking to the guard about something, and I could see anxiety on her face. “Could it be…?” I thought, just as Lilium turned her violet eyes toward me and widened them.
Her eyes trembled as if they were about to well up.
“Elisa!”
She ran over to me and immediately hugged Elisa. She held her so tightly that even from a distance, I could tell just how worried she’d been.
Had she snuck out on her own? No wonder she was worried.
I’m glad I walked her home, but I’m a little worried I might get accused of kidnapping.
“I always tell you not to go out alone, don’t I?”
“……I’m sorry. But—”
With that, Elisa took my hand.
I handed her the bottle of alcohol I’d been holding for her, and she cradled it in one arm.
“I wanted to give a gift to onee chan who’s graduating.”
“I’m sure she’ll be happy. But if you get hurt or have a bad experience because of this, we’ll be very sad. Please, next time, talk to me first. Is that okay?”
“……Yes.”
Elisa visibly slumped, looking dejected.
I wanted to step in and say, “Come on, come on,” but since I’d witnessed the dangerous situation, it was hard to defend her. Besides, if she did something wrong, she should be scolded by her guardian. It’s not for others to interfere.
Even though it’s hard to watch.
“I apologize for the late greeting, Lucian-sama. I am deeply grateful to you for bringing Elisa home.”
“No problem. It was just a coincidence, so don’t worry about it.”
Lilium, who had stepped away from Eliza, bowed her head to me. Did she notice? Of course she did. She seemed to have vaguely sensed the situation, which saved me the trouble of explaining. I didn’t need to make excuses about not being a kidnapper.
“If you don’t mind, please let me thank you. I’d like to offer you the best hospitality I can.”
“Hospitality, you say?”
I glanced at the brothel, then looked back at Lilium, who gave me a sly, seductive smile.
“If that is what you desire, I could offer that sort of hospitality.”
“I’m not interested.”
Who knows what Iris would say if she found out. Of course, it’s not that I’m not interested.
“Then, at the very least, please allow me to offer you a proper welcome. If we let you leave without doing anything after you saved Eliza, it would be a disgrace to the White Lily House.”
“Ah, I’d love nothing more than that…”
“I’ll send a messenger Lady Iris.”
Somehow, I feel like my retreat has been cut off.
Now that my concerns are gone, I have no reason to refuse. Still, it feels a bit awkward to be considered indebted to her—or to be thanked—for such a small thing. I just walked a lost child home, and I even got some sake.
What should I do?
As I was agonizing over it, the hand I’d been holding was suddenly tugged.
“I want to thank you.”
“Why don’t you come over?”
Elisa’s expression lit up instantly.
I just can’t compete with cute younger girls. …Though, if that’s the criteria, Iris would fit the bill too.