Arranged Marriage? Two Years Have Swiftly Passed
I'm sixteen now, and young master is fourteen. Just one more year until I'm officially an adult. A proper lady... no, more like a knight finally coming into her own.
But the real shock was young master himself.
"...You've really grown a lot."
I let out a small sigh as I eyed the lump huddled under the blankets on the bed. Just two years ago, I was taller, but last year he shot up like a weed, and now he towers over me by a good three centimeters.
The problem was...
"Young master, time to get up. The sun's already high in the sky."
"Ugh... nooo..."
His build had gotten sturdy, but that laziness of his had only gotten worse.
"I'm a bear in hibernation... Don't wake me until spring comes..."
A mumbling voice drifted from under the covers. Sigh. I grabbed the edge of the blanket and tugged.
"What bear? Get up and eat breakfast already."
But young master wrapped himself up like a cocoon and wouldn't let go.
"No way... Outside the blanket is dangerous... The north wind will chill me to the bone..."
"It's not that bad."
"My heart is chilled! My heart!"
"Enough nonsense and come out."
I yanked harder on the blanket, but he gripped it tight. He's gotten pretty strong now. At this rate, it might rip.
No choice. Time to change tactics. Brute force won't work—time for bait.
I set the tray I'd gotten from the kitchen on the bedside table and cracked open the lid just a bit.
"Ah, today's breakfast is fresh croissants baked special by head chef and thick bacon cream soup. It'll get cold and lose its flavor."
"..."
A gulp echoed from under the blanket. Gotcha. Food is our shared weakness, his and mine.
"Oh well. If young master won't eat, I'll have it all. Dunking that crispy croissant into the soup..."
"Wait."
The blanket parted slightly, and young master's messy silver hair poked out, followed by his head. His half-lidded, sleepy eyes fixed on the soup.
"Save some... for me."
"Get up, and it's yours."
As I said that, he ducked back under the covers.
"Pass. The blanket's coziness beats hunger."
"Haa..."
Even appetite couldn't conquer that stubborn laziness. I pulled out plan B: a cold washcloth, icy as can be.
"This is on you."
I shoved it through a gap in the blanket and slapped it right on his face.
"Hiiiiaaak!!"
Young master shrieked like a dolphin, kicked off the blankets, and bolted upright.
"C-Cold! Hey! What the hell?!"
"Feeling awake now?"
"Hmph, think that'll make me yield?"
He huffed, tossed the cloth aside, and moved to flop back down. That called for the nuclear option.
"Get up, or I'll tickle you to death."
"Try it. I'm immune now... Pfft! Hey! Kyaaak!"
I didn't hesitate, climbing onto the bed and mercilessly attacking his sides.
"I surrender! Uncle! I'll get up! Hahaha! Stop!"
"Should've gotten up sooner!"
We tumbled on the bed in a blanket tug-of-war and tickle assault. He fought back, going for my waist.
"Take this!"
"Ack, young master! That's cheating!"
"All's fair in war!"
As we rolled tangled together, he grabbed my wrist and yanked. I lost balance and toppled right onto him.
"Whoa?!"
Thud!
"Ugh..."
My face buried into his firm chest. And then...
"...Huh?"
Something big and warm—a hand—rested squarely on my chest.
Silence.
I slowly looked up at him. His eyes were wide, frozen. His right hand gripped my breast, now nicely curved and mature at sixteen.
"..."
"..."
One second. Two. Three.
His gaze flicked from his hand to my face, then back to my chest. His throat bobbed hard.
"Uh, um. Seria."
His voice cracked awkwardly.
"Y-Your boobs... got big, huh...?"
"..."
Snap! Something in my head broke. My face burned crimson.
"P-Per-PERVERT YOUNG MAAASTER!!!"
Smack!!
I reflexively backhanded his cheek—a full swing. His head whipped around, slamming into the sheets.
"Guhk...!"
He collapsed, foaming at the mouth. I leaped off the bed, straightening my clothes in a panic.
"G-Get up for real, or I'll grab a wooden sword! Wash up now!!"
Cupping my flushed face, I fled through the door.
Bam!
Only then did I slump against the hallway wall. My heart pounded like it would burst. My chest still tingled where his hand had been.
"Crazy... seriously..."
I'd hit him, yet my heart raced like mad. Calling him a pervert was one thing, but... the truth was, I didn't hate it. That was the embarrassing part.
What do I even do?
I pressed my hot cheeks, taking deep breaths. From inside, young master groaned, "Ow, think my jaw's dislocated..."
Two years later, and nothing's really changed.
—
Breakfast time.
"...Ahem."
Seria across from me cleared her throat awkwardly, fiddling with her glass. Her eyes darted everywhere—empty air, senselessly stabbing sausages on her plate. Normally she'd be policing my picky eating, but today she couldn't even glance my way.
I was the same, head down, silently tearing into bread. My left cheek burned.
"...Hm?"
Father at the head of the table paused mid-sip, tilting his head. His gaze flicked between my red cheek and Seria's flushed ears.
"You two, something happen this morning? The vibe's weird."
"N-Nothing!"
"Nothing at all!"
We shouted in unison. Father narrowed his eyes, pointing at my cheek.
"Kalian, what's that mark? Looks like a handprint."
"This? M-Mosquito! Huge northern mutant mosquito landed, so I swatted it! Haha!"
"...Mosquitoes in this weather?"
"Cl-Climate change! Global warming!"
I babbled, sweating bullets. Seria's shoulders twitched across from me. Head down like a criminal, she mashed her sausage to pulp.
"Heh, weird things happen."
Father shook his head, bemused, then turned to the stack of letters beside him. He scratched his head and sighed.
"Haa... This is a headache."
"Dad, what's up? Tons of letters."
"Well, you see."
He looked troubled, eyeing me.
"Our shampoo business made the barony famous. Now noble houses from across the continent are sending marriage proposals for you."
"Proposals?"
"Yeah. You're fourteen now—prime age for betrothals in noble society. Offers of gold wagons, land chunks... chaos."
Clatter!
The oak table shook like an earthquake.
"Whoa!"
Father nearly spilled his soup. Culprit: Seria across from me, gripping the edge so hard veins bulged on her hand.
"S-Seria? Table's gonna break."
"S-Sorry... hand slipped."
"Heh, our Seria's strong."
Father chuckled, tapping the letters.
"Of course, I'm rejecting them all. My son picks his own match when he's grown. And money? We're good thanks to you."
"As expected from Dad. Enlightened thinker."
"But..."
He coughed awkwardly.
"All rejected... except one. Hard to say no."
"One that's hard to refuse?"
"Yeah. Remember Roan Earl from the banquet two years ago?"
"Oh, the kind old earl?"
"Right. Great guy, helped our barony a lot—can't outright refuse. Plus... his daughter's coming here today."
"Today?!"
I dropped my bread.
Sneak attack. Bringing his daughter means showing her off.
"Dad! Why tell me now?!"
"Just got the message! Anyway, he's a good man—greet him properly. Kalian, show the lady around the barony."
"Ugh, hassle..."
"For Dad's face? Please?"
That puppy-dog look. Irresistible. I sighed, nodding.
"Fine. I'll give her the tour."
"Thanks, son! Seria, stick by Kalian and guard well!"
"...Understood, my lord."
Seria's reply was stiff. I snuck a peek—still mad? Her mangled sausage looked like meat paste.
Not content with groping me this morning—now escorting me on a date with another lady. No wonder she's pissed.
I sweated inwardly, finishing breakfast.
—
A few hours later.
A fancy carriage pulled up to the lord's castle gate.
"Long time no see, Martel Baron! And young Kalian!"
Roan Earl stepped down, smiling warmly as ever. Then a girl hopped lightly from the carriage behind him.
"Hi! I'm Chloe von Roan. I've heard all about you from Father!"
Golden twin-tails like sunlight, bubbly and cute. No noble airs—she beamed, offering a handshake first.
"Uh, hi. Welcome, lady."
I shook awkwardly; she grinned brighter. Objectively sweet and wrinkle-free personality. No wonder Dad squirmed.
"Kalian, while I chat with the baron, could you show Chloe around? She's been dying to see the shampoo factory."
"Yes, my lord. I'll guide her."
I forced a smile, nodding.
"Yay! This'll be fun! Take good care of me, Kalian!"
Chloe scurried to my side.
"Ah, haha..."
Nothing bad'll happen, right?