I guess this was often the solution in medieval times for noble boys who couldn't control their pants. It felt quite annoying to face it personally, especially when it's not even me who brought this upon myself.
A whole life waited for me ahead. Unlike in my previous life, where I had given up on life and wasted away on energy drinks and games, this time around, I could explore the entire world. Yet my hand was getting bound to a woman before I could leave the house?
Alright, let's calm down. I sighed. It didn't matter. It was just an engagement, not a marriage. Engagements get canceled all the time; this was not something permanent.
On a side note, she was pretty. The reason I didn't want to get engaged had nothing to do with her appearance. Quite the contrary, as we walked beside each other in silence, going past the garden, I realized she was prettier than the exquisite flowers around us.
Nebula Carlstein was more beautiful than those models back on earth, having had a hundred surgeries.
She was a striking girl with elegantly styled silver hair, blue eyes, and a poised demeanor. Her attire, which included a red dress and white gloves, might offend some of the higher-ranked noble ladies, given how more 'noble' it made her look.
"I thought you'd be a chatterbox," Surprisingly, she was the first one to break the silence. She stopped beside a bunch of white roses blooming toward the sun, and the whole atmosphere went quite well with her white hair. "Is there anything you want to ask me?"
The gentle atmosphere of the garden didn't match her lips, however. She didn't even bother to smile. I, in fact, did have something to ask her, "Why did your father accept such a lousy engagement?"
"...."
"Not that I enjoy self-deprecation, but I'm aware of my reputation. You don't seem like the country girl type who has a crush on every handsome noble she sees, either. So why?"
"Did you just call yourself handsome?" She said with a scoff before saying, "You're right, it's not me, but my father. It's for some political reason. Our territory will appreciate the kind of help that your family can provide. A few other families fit the bill too, but they're too far from our territory. Plus your father and mine are old friends."
"So he decided to sell his daughter out?" I hadn't thought the Baron was that type of guy. She believed the same, from the frown she threw at me.
"No, my stepmother offered it," the girl said. "He asked me about my opinion on it… and I chose to accept it. It's for the greater good. Well, to be precise, this is a ploy from my stepmother."
"Interesting. That makes things clearer," I said before looking at her curiously. I was reminded of a key point from the game. Who her biological mother was. This girl's background was intense. "But are you sure you want to tell me this? What if I get mad that you don't even like me and call off the engagement?"
She smirked, "You? The ruffian who would do anything for the embrace of a beautiful woman?"
"...."
"I'm only telling you this so that I don't have to pretend to be a dumb white rose in front of you," she said. "Also, no skin contact before marriage."
She was pretty rude, but I saw how it was. She's quite smart. I guess for someone like her, this engagement is a win-win situation.
She would enroll in the Waybound Academy in a year anyway, so she'd not have to see my face for four years, meaning the marriage would have to happen after she graduated.
However, by then, she was confident enough to be a strong and independent person. She knew her worth; level 22 at the age of 19 was a feat even when compared to other noble children. Based on her achievements after graduation, she could call off the engagement, saying I wasn't worthy of her, and she'd have the entire Empire's support while doing so. In that case, her family wouldn't receive any backlash either.
It was a foolproof plan.
I would have applauded her if the person on the other end of her sword was someone else. Since it's me, it made me a little annoyed. "...."
The Heavenly Demon's memories, although only consisting of the martial techniques, resonated with me somewhat. When I was still a kickboxer, I was prone to anger and would lose my cool easily. I found that side of myself embarrassing now that I thought about it, but back then the audience called it my charm, so I kept pumping into it more. fighting rings worked like that. Thankfully, I grew beyond that in the last few years.
Now, with my legs back? That side of me, further rejuvenated by the memories of the Heavenly Demon, peeked outward, demanding I teach this girl a lesson. I felt a little embarrassed by what it suggested. 'How dare a little girl plan to use me like this?' the voice told me. Obviously, I wasn't going to hit a lady. That'd be improper.
So, I let my jaw relax. I had overcome that haughty side; I liked keeping a level head. I just shrugged and said, "Sounds to me that I'm receiving no benefits from being married to you."
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"Well, you're fixing problems in your territory by being engaged with me while I'm losing access to girls by being engaged to you, which is my fun, ," it wasn't me, but Iskandaar's fun time. But such words worked for the moment. "And I can't even touch you? Are you serious? What makes you think I won't just call off this engagement and embarrass your Barony?"
She scowled, "You wouldn't dare."
"And why would't I? In the hope that, in five year's time, when you graduate from the academy, you little missy will finally hop into my bed?" I scoffed, turning around. "I don't know how much you've heard of me, but I am not a patient man. I'm going back to my father. I'll tell him how you're planning to use me, the son of a Count, despite being the daughter of a mere Baron, and call off this stupid engagement."
Her expression crumbled, and she ran after me. "W-wait, please!" She grabbed me by my hand and said, "I'll… I'll let you touch me. Let's not be hasty; this is important for my Barony! Lately, father's been really stressed. He's getting sick. Securing this engagement will allow him to rest." She looked at me with pleading eyes. Oh, how quickly the look in someone's eyes can change.
"Oh, you've changed your mind, then?"
"...Yes."
"Great. Close your eyes, then," I walked back to her. I held her chin with my thumb and forefinger and raised it. She blinked in surprise and opened her mouth to say something and then closed it.
With a sigh, she let go and closed her eyes. Slowly, her lips parted. She waited for me, and she kept waiting. How long did she wait for me?
A minute later, she reopened her eyes and looked at me. "What?"
"Why did you part your lips as if you wanted to kiss?"
"....?" Obviously, with me holding her chin like that, with my face so close. That was natural to assume. However, how could she admit that?
I shook my head. "After saying all that about no touching, you ask for a kiss? How embarrassing and unfilial for a noble lady."
Her brows furrowed, and her face reddened a little. I relished in her glare; it really felt good embarrassing her. Of course, I had no interest in threatening a girl and kissing her after all. I only wanted to embarrass her for wanting to use me, and I've succeeded.
"Alright then," I backed off from her. "Since you showed me your sincerity, even if it revealed your harlot side, I won't call off our engagement. Be grateful."
I picked up a rose and tucked it into her ear. She kept glaring at me throughout the process.
Unwilling to endure her glare, I walked away while blowing the petals off another rose. She glared at my back but said nothing. Good. She better not ever try acting arrogant with me again.
****