Babysitter of my Fiancee

Babysitter of My Fiancée.

I would be grateful if as many people as possible could read this.

— I'm so fed up with babysitting.

Eleven-year-old Tobias muttered under his breath.

All of this was because he had a younger fiancée.

An engagement decided by their parents without their consent. He had never seen the face of his fiancée even once. And she was four years younger than him. He was tired of babysitting a seven-year-old. Wasn't this just similar to playing house?

"Toby, you must never be rude."

As if he could hear the suppressed voice of frustration, his father admonished him.

Trying not to squint his almond-shaped eyes, he put on a composed expression.

The waiting fiancée, who had been bracing herself, was incredibly nervous. And she seemed even more fragile than he had imagined.

With childlike manners, she eagerly engaged in conversation. She asked him about his favorite foods, what he studied, and other things.

Naturally quiet and not very talkative, Tobias could only answer her questions one by one. Yet, despite this, she—Marlene—continued to ask question after question without getting discouraged.

"What does Lord Tobias like?"

Strangely, he didn't dislike it. There was something charming about her efforts to get to know him.

By the time Marlene and her family left, the feeling of annoyance within Tobias had miraculously disappeared, and he felt that being engaged to her and continuing to spend time together wouldn't be so bad.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

 "―The refreshing morning breeze of early summer sweeps through the Royal High School.

Tobias is enrolled in the fifth grade at the academy where nobles' sons and daughters, aged thirteen to eighteen, attend.

Reserved and not one to actively engage with others, Tobias was enjoying his youth with his few friends.

"Tobias! Let's go out to the town on the next break!"

Shortly after arriving at school, his friend Jill makes an enticing invitation. However,

"Sorry. That day, I'm meeting with my fiancée."

"I see. Well, then I'll invite you some other time."

"Sorry, you went through the trouble of inviting me."

"No help for it, no help for it. Prior commitments come first."

Since their first year, Tobias's friend Jill knew about his engagement. If there's a prior commitment with the fiancée, he understands without taking offense.

For Tobias, he was a grateful friend.

Listening to the exchange between Tobias and Jill, a few other classmates joined them.

"Tobias, are you going on another date with that fiancée? You did that last month too, didn't you?"

"It must be tough with someone so much younger, huh? Babysitting, right?"

"Even if it's for the family's sake, don't you want to be with a more mature woman?"

They all chime in with such comments. Though they sound like disparaging remarks about Tobias's fiancée, Marlene, they mean no harm.

From a societal perspective, a four-year age difference in engagement isn't unusual. However, engagements with a significant age gap are often formalized after graduation.

Those engaged within the school are generally of the same age or only a year or two apart.

As a result, Tobias's engagement appears unusual to the students within the school.

"It's not like I'm dissatisfied with this engagement or my fiancée."

Tobias replies, using the standard phrase he's used to when people comment on his engagement.

To this, another classmate adds,

"But having a young fiancée means you can mold her to your liking. It's a man's romance, after all."

―What a weirdo.

Tobias thinks this, but he never voices it. If he incurs their displeasure, his life at school will become more difficult. He understands that.

"Hey, you guys can say whatever you want, but can you say that in front of your fiancée? Women are scary, you know. If you've got time to meddle in someone else's engagement, you should think about attending a tea party or something."

"Oh, this? It's a saying from my older sister," Jill says playfully, injecting humor into the situation.

Tobias appreciates his friend's support in lightening the atmosphere.

"Man, your sister must be really something," a classmate laughs, and the tales of Jill's sister's feats begin.

It was when they were listening to a story about Jill's sister getting angry at her forgetful fiancé and slamming a fan against the wall for his birthday.

The classroom door swings open.

―Ah, is it that time already? Surely, everyone in the classroom must have thought so internally.

A female student enters the classroom, surrounded by multiple male students."

The female student has shoulder-length pink-gold hair and large green eyes, making her easily fall into the category of a beauty even by general standards.

A notable aspect is that she is a recent transfer student taken in by the Baron's family, and she has been capturing the hearts of the upper-caste young gentlemen one after another.

The female student's name is Irene.

She bewitches multiple male students and moves around the campus while being attended to.

This has become a familiar sight for those in the same class as her.

And recently, she has become a source of concern for Tobias.

"Ah! Good morning, Tobias-kun!"

Irene, who doesn't greet anyone other than the boys surrounding her, inexplicably greets Tobias every day and strikes up conversations whenever she can.

The boys around Irene glare at Tobias. His stomach starts to ache. Tobias gently presses his stomach.

"Once again, you're wearing a troubled expression. Tobias-kun, you're not alone. I hope you'll share your loneliness with me someday."

Looking at Tobias within the circle of boys, Irene says this with an enchanting smile. If that moment were captured in a painting, it would surely be beautiful, but her words are so outlandish that Tobias half-seriously suspects there might be a fairy living in her head.

"Irene-san, that's not nice~ We're here too."

Immediately, Jill interjects with a retort, and she apologizes with a laugh as well. Irene heard Jill because he's a boy, but apparently, she would ignore it if it were a girl.

"The teacher will be here soon..."

Muttering under his breath, Tobias expresses his wish for her to go away, and the boys, or rather her entourage, head back to their seats.

"She's amazing again today..."

Jill mutters quietly, and the boys nearby all nod in agreement.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

 Marlene, Tobias's fiancée, comes from a wealthy viscount family. This, in fact, was the reason behind Tobias and Marlene's engagement.

Tobias's family has a long history and could easily be considered prestigious, but a few generations ago, they faced financial difficulties due to a failed business venture. On the other hand, Marlene's family is a line of merchants who, from her grandfather's generation, sought to join the ranks of nobility, the so-called newcomers.

Here, the interests of an affluent noble family in need of money and an emerging noble family looking to enhance their reputation aligned, leading to the engagement.

When Tobias first heard that he was engaged at the age of eleven and Marlene was seven, decided through discussions between their parents, he thought it was tiresome to babysit. However, upon meeting Marlene in person, that feeling inexplicably vanished.

So, Tobias wasn't particularly against this engagement or Marlene herself.

"Toby-sama, how do you find the taste of the tea?"

A soft voice calling his nickname from across the table reached his ears.

"Yeah. The taste and aroma are both good. Just as expected."

"I'm glad you like it."

Marlene breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. It wasn't a lady-like smile but a gentle one.

Her long, silky golden hair is a warm shade of gold with a hint of brown sugar-like brown mixed in. Her eyes are a clear blue like the sky after the rain.

Tobias always thinks that everything about her, from her soft hair to her chestnut-colored almond-shaped eyes that might mistakenly make those around her think she's in a bad mood, is completely different from himself.

"So, how's Marlee been lately?"

It's a routine question he asks along with her nickname.

"I finally finished my first exam at the girls' academy. I was really nervous."

"Well done. But Marlee, you're hardworking, so I'm sure it went well, right?"

"Not really. It was my first time studying for exams and studying with friends... It was all new to me..."

Marlene, who turned thirteen this year, enrolled in a girls' academy renowned for its young lady education. Her recent topics of conversation mostly revolve around the academy. She talks about interactions with friends, her efforts in manners and studies, and things happening at the academy, all with an enthusiastic tone. Watching her talk, Tobias feels an urge to support her.

"That friend you mentioned, Yarmila, was it?"

"Yes, she's so interesting. She's fully committed to whatever she's interested in."

As Marlene talks excitedly, Tobias's eyes narrow involuntarily.

"Oh, speaking of which..."

She seems to have remembered something.

"Recently, there's a trend in plays where a woman captivates multiple men, called 'reverse harem.' Yarmila was talking about it!"

At Marlene's words, Tobias almost chokes on the tea he was drinking.

He manages not to actually choke, but he feels a sense of déjà vu about the term "reverse harem."

Or rather, what kind of thing is Yarmila, the female student, watching?

"Of course, Yarmila wasn't interested in that kind of thing. She went to see it because her favorite actor was in it... But she said it was tough to watch since he was one of the men serving the women."

It seems Yarmila endured a trial to see her favorite actor.

"Really..."

"And we discussed how if a real-life reverse harem like in the play happened, it would surely be a mess."

"Ah! Of course, it's not okay for men to have women serving them in a harem either! Absolutely not!" Marlene says earnestly.

"In reality, there's no one who would do something like that."

Tobias answered as such, but he couldn't say it with a straight face.

In the Royal High School, who would have thought that a single female student would be capturing the hearts of high-ranking noble sons?

In Tobias's mind, he could picture Irene with her pink-gold hair and verdant eyes. Not in a good way, of course. He was convinced there must be a mischievous fairy living in that pink head, speaking cryptic words.

As he reminisced, he found Marlene's and Irene's names somewhat similar in sound, but he thought their personalities were entirely different.

Marlene probably possessed the ability to enchant men, but she wouldn't use it. Tobias was convinced of that.

"Besides, if you're engaged, you can't easily create harems or reverse harems."

"That's a topic that doesn't concern us," Tobias said as he sipped his tea. Now that he thought about it, the tea he drank at Marlene's house was just right for even his sensitive palate. It was a fleeting thought.

"Indeed, as Toby-sama said, it's a topic that doesn't concern us."

In Marlene's attempt to appear lady-like, her still-childish smile made Tobias feel at ease, thinking, 'It's not something I dislike.'

*****

One day after school, Tobias was asked by a teacher to return the equipment used in class to the storage room.

Tobias had few friends, but he always adhered to the school rules and diligently attended classes, earning him the teachers' favor. This kind of task was quite common for him.

He held two world maps given to him by the geography teacher. In today's class, they had compared maps from different eras to study changes in landforms. Just the fact that landforms changed over a hundred years intrigued him; he wondered how they would change in the future, a hundred years from now.

The world maps were returned to the storage room without any issues. As Tobias thought of leaving since he had finished his task, he heard voices echoing from the hallway:

"That's why everyone is my friend...!"

"She said I'm cool... amazing, didn't she!"

"That's true! She did say that!"

"In that case, you don't need to care about the others! Choose me!"

"It's impossible! I can't choose just one person!!"

Is this some sort of lover's quarrel? The voices of a boy and a girl arguing reached the storage room.

In other words, it was that girl, Irene. Tobias gently pressed his hand against his stomach.

So it's a tangle of emotions involving Irene and one of her admirers.

Tobias contemplated whether he should stay holed up in the storage room until the storm passed. However, just then...

"Let go! It hurts!"

Irene's voice reached his ears.

Even though she definitely provoked the guy, causing this, Tobias couldn't just ignore it if she got hurt. After all, watching someone get hurt without intervening would leave a bitter aftertaste.

Tobias opened the door. Inside, he found Irene and a red-faced male student with a tight grip on her delicate wrist. He was probably the son of a count, if Tobias remembered correctly. They were of a similar social status.

"What are you doing in the hallway?"

Tobias said in a flat tone.

"What the hell!"

The count's son, who didn't expect anyone to interrupt, barked back in surprise.

"Take a look at her wrist. It's red."

Panicked, the count's son examined Irene's wrist, which he had been gripping. As pointed out, it had indeed turned red.

The count's son quickly released her wrist.

He's not a bad guy, but he's a bit hot-headed and quick to anger. In a way, he's a victim of Irene's mischief. That's what Tobias thought.

"Don't you think it would be bad if other students saw?"

As Tobias pointed that out, the count's son's face turned from red to pale.

"No one else saw it just now except me. Maybe cool down your head a bit?"

"I appreciate your concern..."

Irene thanked him with a smile.

The Count's son looked at Tobias, then at Irene, and apologized before leaving her behind and walking away.

Now, only Tobias and Irene remained.

"Um, thank you..."

Irene expressed her gratitude in a trembling voice.

"It's nothing. I happened to hear your voices while I was in the storage room."

"But still, thank you for helping me..."

Irene rubbed her wrist, which had been caught by the Count's son just moments ago. Her victim-like behavior annoyed Tobias.

"Hey, have you learned your lesson?"

"Lesson?"

"Yeah, because you're nice to so many guys and give them mixed signals, that's why this happened."

"But..."

"It's not just 'but.' You're smart enough to have conversations that make guys fall for you, so you can't be completely clueless."

"..."

"I think it's a waste of your intellect to use it to flirt with guys and make yourself look foolish."

He had said what he wanted to say. He was satisfied that he finally managed to say something he'd been thinking for a while. With a light step, Tobias left the scene.

Irene continued to gaze at his departing figure.

*****

A few days after that incident, Irene seemed to have changed drastically, becoming much quieter.

While it used to be common for her to be surrounded by multiple male students, she now declined their advances and spent her time alone. In truth, if it weren't for the male students, she would have been left with no one around her; she was inherently lonely.

Although some female students whispered about her "interesting situation," she seemed unfazed by their comments.

What bothered her more was...

"Oh, Tobias-kun!"

Whenever she spotted Tobias, she would unfailingly approach him, regardless of Jill's presence next to him.

"Tobias-kun, listen..."

"What?"

Tobias responded without bothering to hide his displeasure. Most people would avoid approaching him after such a response, but...

"You know, the class we just had was really difficult!"

Irene's attempt had no effect.

"Why are you telling me that?"

"Why? Well, I want to get closer to you, Tobias-kun..."

Tobias found it all meaningless and somewhat embarrassing. He rubbed his stomach in frustration.

"Hey, Irene-san, if you want to get close to someone, you could try getting close to me too~"

Jill threw her a lifeline. In response...

"Sorry, but if I become friends with Tobias-kun, I'd have to become friends with Jill-kun too!"

Irene replied nonchalantly.

"Hey, Tobias-kun. If you're not averse to sweets, could I make cookies and bring them tomorrow?"

"Oh, Irene-san, that's..."

"Sorry, it's not possible."

Tobias firmly declined her request.

"Why? You don't dislike sweets, right? In fact, they should be your favorite..."

How does she know what my favorite is? I've never eaten sweets in front of her, since I don't get the chance to eat them at school. Tobias shuddered.

In the first place, he couldn't accept personal gifts from the opposite sex.

"I can't accept gifts because I'm engaged."

"Liar!? Who is it? Someone from this school!?"

"Someone you don't know. She attends the girls' academy."

Upon hearing that, Irene turned pale.

"Hey, Tobias-kun, are you close to that person?"

"We're just normal. Like any other engaged couple. We get along fine."

Tobias and Jill left the scene, having had enough.

*****

A few days later, Tobias was riding in a carriage, strolling through the town with Marlene.

Today, she wore a refreshing mint-colored dress with matching ribbons, her hair styled in braids. She looked cool and comfortable.

Tobias, on the other hand, wore a light shirt with a white ascot tie, also dressed for the warm weather. His hair was a deeper reddish-brown than his natural color.

"I appreciate you accompanying me today."

"It's not a big deal. Don't worry about it. It's just something natural."

They had come shopping together for Marlene's upcoming birthday.

"But I'm really happy. It's the first time I've gone shopping with you for accessories, Tobias..."

"True. We've been to cafes and restaurants quite a bit though."

Indeed, this might be the first time they shopped together for decorative items, as opposed to having meals together at eateries.

For each other's birthdays, Tobias and Marlene had a tradition of buying gifts and presenting them later. Tobias would buy accessories for Marlene, and she would do the same for him. So, going together to buy Marlene's present felt like a fresh experience.

"What kind of accessories do you like?"

Tobias inquired. Marlene's face reddened instantly, and she became visibly nervous.

"W-Well..."

"What is it?"

"I-I'd like matching earrings!"

Once she managed to say it, she started fidgeting.

"If you don't like it, Tobias, that's okay! I heard that close couples wear matching accessories..."

Upon hearing Marlene's words, Tobias felt a flutter in his chest. It wasn't an uncomfortable sensation, yet he couldn't figure out why he was feeling this way.

"If we're talking about earrings, and I'm supposed to wear them too, then I might not be able to choose something too flashy. Is that okay?"

"That's perfectly fine. If we can wear matching accessories every day, any design will do..."

"I'm happy about it," Marlene smiled, looking radiant and pleased.

*****

The carriage soon arrived at a jewelry store.

They were shown into a reception room, treated hospitably by the staff, and shown various pieces one after another.

From the shape to the components, down to the gemstones, they made decisions one by one, and a design sketch of the earrings was being drawn on a sketchbook.

The earrings consisted of small metal discs with even smaller gemstones embedded into them.

"I absolutely love this stone!"

Marlene's voice was filled with excitement and delight.

Marlee was steadfast in her choice of reddish-brown garnet stones, refusing to compromise. While it was her birthday gift, Tobias was willing to let her decide, but her enthusiasm for garnets was quite intense.

Did she really like garnets that much? Tobias wondered. And she even wanted to use the brownish parts of the garnet, rather than the red. What was going on with his fiancée?

Nevertheless, the design of the earrings, encompassing her wishes, was practical for everyday wear and something he appreciated. Although he felt the design might be a bit mature for a 14-year-old like Marlee, just imagining her wearing those earrings on her small ears stirred a flutter in his chest.

Tobias excused himself to use the restroom.

He walked over to the shop window, where a variety of earrings were displayed. There were a few pairs that he thought would suit Marlee, but none felt quite right.

However, among the necklaces on display, he spotted an aquamarine necklace that seemed to capture the essence of a clear sky after the rain. The oval shape would likely accentuate Marlee's delicate neck, and he was particularly drawn to the fact that it matched the color of her blue eyes.

Tobias summoned a store clerk and purchased the necklace.

When should he give it to her? What kind of expression would Marlee make when she saw it? As he pondered these thoughts, he realized he was actually enjoying himself.

"Isn't it troublesome being someone's babysitter?"

Tobias recalled what a classmate had told him recently. Initially, when the engagement was announced, he had thought being a younger person's babysitter was a nuisance, almost like playing house.

But how was it now? He wondered. Presently, he felt that both the engagement and his fiancée Marlee were not bad at all. In fact, he found it enjoyable. It was peculiar how much his heart had changed.

Later, when Marlee came looking for him, he had to hurriedly conceal the necklace.

*****

After leaving the jewelry store, they decided to go to a cafe.

It was a recently opened cafe catering to the affluent.

The establishment exuded a bright and clean ambiance, both in its exterior and interior. Tobias chose a chocolate cake, while Marlee went for a shortcake. They both opted for Assam tea.

"Thank you very much for today."

"I already told you earlier, don't mention it."

"But I'm still happy. It's one of the privileges of being engaged, going to a jewelry store together. And I got to do that today."

"Are there really special privileges for being engaged?"

"Well, Yarmila said so. She mentioned that only those with an engagement can go to a jewelry store together."

"Ah, her."

While it was true that people who weren't engaged could still visit jewelry stores, there were women who were engaged and went shopping alone. Yet, doing so as a teenager required courage.

Tobias felt the same. He was able to enter the jewelry store today because he had a justified reason—to buy Marlee's gift. On a normal day, he wouldn't casually step into such a place.

Tobias took a bite of his chocolate cake. The sweetness spread in his mouth along with a hint of bitterness. Sweet things were definitely nice.

"Not just Yarmila, but the girls from the girls' academy without an engagement are now working hard to find partners."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, they want to fulfill the privileges of being engaged, like having tea together, going to jewelry stores, and traveling."

"If they find an engagement, all those wishes will come true."

Tobias said that, but he wondered if he had fulfilled all those so-called privileges of an engagement himself.

"Marlee, is there something else? Are there any other engagement privileges you'd like me to fulfill?"

"I..."

Just as Marlee was about to answer, the cafe door opened, and a young man and woman entered.

Tobias recognized them— the boy was a senior student, probably a year older than Tobias. As for the girl...

"Tobias-kun! What a coincidence!"

It was Irene, the recent source of his troubles.

"Why are you here? Is this your favorite cafe or something?"

"I just stopped by after shopping with my fiancé."

Tobias answered grumpily, making no effort to hide his irritation.

"Fiancé?"

Irene's gaze shifted towards Marlee.

The male student with her appeared slightly displeased and asked, 

"Hey, Irene, who's that guy?"

"He's Tobias-kun, my friend! We're in the same class!"

Tobias almost let out a surprised "Huh?!" but managed to hold it in, considering they were in public.

"I see..."

The male student, referred to as Andrew, directed a cold smile at Tobias. This was turning into a hassle, Tobias thought as he rubbed his stomach.

To make matters worse, Irene, seemingly oblivious to the atmosphere, chose to sit at the adjacent table despite there being other available tables.

"Tobias-kun, what are you eating? Chocolate cake? I think I'll have that too."

She even added a wink, as if there was some meaning behind it. Tobias was bewildered, his expression showing his discomfort.

"I'll have that too, Tobias-kun."

Surprisingly, even Andrew decided to go with the same chocolate cake as Tobias. Although Tobias was met with chilly stares, Andrew seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Now I am matching with Irene..."

Andrew, having placed their orders, shot Tobias a triumphant grin. Tobias wasn't really competing with anyone, and if anything, he wished Irene would leave with him now, pulling her away from this situation.

As for Irene, she was rudely staring at Marlee. Then she went on to say something outrageous.

"Hey, are you Tobias-kun's fiancée?"

Irene's lack of manners and etiquette was evident. While her carefree behavior was often overlooked within the academy's ideals of equality, this was not the academy. As a daughter of a baron, she was supposed to show respect to Marlee, who was a daughter of a viscount.

"Hey!"

"Irene!"

Both Tobias and Andrew called out simultaneously. Even Andrew seemed to realize that Irene's actions were crossing the boundaries of proper behavior.

"Um..."

Marlee was about to say something, but Irene continued to talk quickly, as if to drown out Marlee's words.

"Tobias-kun is really smart! That's why the teachers at school trust him a lot."

"Also, he looks cool, and he's not the flirtatious type who goes after girls. So all the girls say how wonderful Tobias-kun is."

She even formed an 'arc' with her lips, seemingly pleased with herself.

"That's right, and I'm really happy that I've become really close with Tobias-kun."

Nonsense!

Tobias felt like shouting, but seeing Marlee's face turn pale, he suppressed his anger.

"Marlee, let's leave the café."

Tobias took Marlee's hand.

"Um... Tobias-sama..."

"It's okay, don't worry."

He tried to soothe her in a gentle tone, but Marlee's hand was cold.

Quickly settling the bill, Tobias led Marlee towards the exit.

"See you tomorrow, Tobias-kun!"

Irene's carefree voice echoed. To Tobias, it was nothing but vexing at this point.

As they stepped outside, they quickly got into the waiting carriage.

Marlene still looked pale. She called out in a trembling voice, "Um, Tobias..."

"Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"Does Tobias have... a close relationship with that woman?"

Her voice trembled, and she seemed frightened.

Tobias regretted his actions. He should have left immediately when Irene showed up. If he had, Marlene wouldn't have been hurt.

"Don't worry. She's just a classmate. We're not personally close at all."

"But she knew about Toby-sama at school...even those things that I didn't know..."

"More of my friends know more about me than she do. She's a bit of an odd one..."

"Odd?"

"Yeah, it's hard to describe... She probably just wants things to go her way."

"Then, is that woman lying about wanting to be close to you?"

Marlene looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Trying to get close to me… Huh."

Tobias recalled Irene's words from before: "I want to get close to Tobias-kun..." He didn't understand why she wanted to get close to him, but she was going about it the wrong way, using methods that he found hard to accept.

"That's right, she's just making things up. It's all nonsense."

"...But Tobias-kun is good at studying, and he's cool... Those things aren't lies."

Marlene caught him off guard with her words.

"Tobias-kun always chooses and gives me presents on my birthdays. You escort me politely. You explain difficult things clearly. Oh! And that time we went on a picnic to the highlands, you supported me when I stumbled! You're really kind too."

Marlene kept listing off Tobias's good qualities. It seemed as if her head was full of thick albums, even containing episodes Tobias himself had forgotten.

"I don't know Tobias-kun at school, but I know a lot of good things about you otherwise..."

Marlene murmured with a surprised expression, as if she had just realized something.

Tobias's heart fluttered and tightened. It still wasn't clear why he felt this way, but it was becoming clear that this feeling wasn't unpleasant.

Tobias put his hand in his pants pocket.

"Marie."

He addressed his fiancée.

In his hand was the necklace box they had bought earlier.

He gently opened the box, revealing the necklace inside.

Marlene's eyes sparkled upon seeing it.

"This blue stone, it reminded me of your blue eyes..."

"My eyes...?"

Marlene whispered, and her eyes began to well up with tears. The color of a clear blue sky after the rain. The color of her eyes was not something Tobias disliked.

Taking the necklace from Tobias, Marlene held it to her chest as if she had received a precious treasure.

"Tobias, you're always sincere with me, aren't you?"

"I'm more than satisfied with that," she said with a mix of tears and a smile that wasn't quite ladylike. Tobias didn't mind at all.

*****

The next day, as soon as they arrived in the classroom, Irene predictably came over to Tobias.

"Good morning, Tobias-kun!"

Tobias chose to ignore Irene, not wanting to engage with her after the events of the previous day. If she didn't realize that he was avoiding her, then she was truly oblivious. Perhaps there was a tipsy fairy dancing in her pink head.

"I was so happy to see you yesterday~"

It seemed she had a fairy in her head, truly living in blissful ignorance. She continued to talk without waiting for any response from Tobias.

"Your fiancée who was with you yesterday, well, she's even more petite than I thought."

Tobias remained silent.

"She seems delicate and easily hurt, like a genuine noble lady."

What was she trying to say?

Jill, who usually came to his rescue, had yet to arrive at school. Unfortunately, nearby classmates chimed in at an inconvenient moment.

"Yeah, seriously! She's a cute girl who makes you want to protect her. Looking forward to the future, huh?"

"But dating her might be unsatisfying. She's way too young."

"Tobias and his fiancée... it feels more like a brother and sister relationship, doesn't it?"

They spoke in a forthright manner.

They didn't mean any harm. They were usually friendly guys. They were just expressing their amazement due to differing views on engagements.

Tobias reminded himself. If he showed his emotions now, his already poor social skills would make his life even more difficult.

But then...

"I saw you and your fiancée having tea yesterday, and I thought it looked like 'playing house.'"

Tobias slammed his fist onto the desk, unable to contain himself.

His patience had reached its limit.

But soon, the heat that rushed to his head began to dissipate, leaving a cold feeling.

"Tobias...?"

One of his classmates called his name, bewildered. As he looked around, he noticed that many of his fellow students were staring at him with surprised expressions.

"Ah..."

Numerous gazes were fixed on him. Tobias couldn't bear it any longer, so he fled the classroom.

He ended up in the courtyard. He felt that there would be fewer people there at this time. He sat down on a nearby bench, feeling drained of energy.

He couldn't help but regret not handling the situation better when they talked about his engagement. He had made the atmosphere awkward.

All his classmates had witnessed it.

Wave after wave of regret washed over him.

Then, he absentmindedly gazed at the sky. The morning sky resembled the color of a sky after the rain. Naturally, his fiancée Marlene came to his mind.

"I didn't strongly deny them when they talked about Marlene..."

He was filled with a deep sense of guilt towards Marlene.

He didn't want his classmates to talk about Marlene that way.

However, for his own sake, he had reluctantly accepted their words, even though he would verbally object.

What a terrible person he was. Tobias despised himself.

The bell signaling the start of first period rang from the school building.

He had never skipped a class before. However, he couldn't muster the will to go back to the classroom now.

He felt powerless to do anything.

Then, a figure entered the courtyard.

"So you were here, Tobias?"

"Jill..."

It was Jill who had arrived.

"What are you doing, Jill? Classes have already started."

"I'll return those exact words right back at you."

Jill also took a seat on the bench with a casual "here we go."

"Forget about classes for now. Your best friend is troubled, and that's more important."

"My worries..."

"I heard from the guys in the class. They said you finally got angry after they belittled your fiancée."

Tobias found himself choking up at those words. He wondered how he was being talked about at this very moment.

Jill seemed to see through Tobias's inner turmoil that had lasted for the past five years.

"Just so you know, no one was saying anything bad about Tobias. On the contrary, they were praising you for finally getting angry for the sake of your fiancée. Especially the girls with fiancés, they were showering you with compliments."

"But I still wronged them..."

"Don't worry about that. In fact, they were reflecting on how impolite they were to you."

As his friend's words reached him, the tightness in Tobias's chest began to loosen.

"But I've been hearing about Marlene over and over again, and I never asked them to stop."

"That's not true... you always said, 'I have no complaints about this engagement or my fiancée.'"

"That should be enough," Jill said, crossing his legs.

"In the first place, you're going to marry and become a family in the future. Regardless of the age difference, it's natural to cherish your fiancée."

"..."

"I mean, I don't have a fiancée yet, so I can't speak too confidently, but I know that you've kept your promises to meet with your fiancée and have carefully chosen gifts for her."

"That's just the basics."

"You don't get it, huh? Those basics can be quite challenging."

"So," Jill added after a brief pause.

"I think you're amazing for being able to handle those basics, and I think you're a good guy."

Tobias felt something that had been hardened within him start to unravel at those words. He began to share his true feelings.

"Marlene means a lot to me..."

"Alright, I get it!"

"In the future, we might argue, and there might be times when I upset her, but even so, I believe that we'll be able to work things out through discussion."

"That's right! You two can do it!"

"Besides, I feel like I have to protect Marlene."

"Yeah! You're quite the man!"

Even though they were having a serious conversation, Jill's usual light-hearted tone was a source of comfort.

"Looking at Marlene and me, people are saying we're like brother and sister, or that it's like we're playing house... I got really angry about it. But..."

He took a deep breath and let it out in one go.

"If someone were to ask me if I love Marlene as a woman, I don't think I would answer yes. I wonder if I've been treating Marlene more like a sister..."

Tobias had been thinking this since the time of their engagement. Logically, he understood that she was his fiancée. They would become a married couple in the future.

Marlene was important to him.

But if he were asked whether he loved her romantically as a woman, he was certain his answer would be different.

In response to this, Jill...

"But Marlene is only thirteen, isn't she? It's harder to see her as a woman."

"That's true, but..."

"In that case, it's simple. Time will take care of it. Just wait a few more years. Marlene will surely become an attractive woman!"

Tobias tried to imagine Marlene a few years later, but he couldn't quite picture it right away.

"Also, my sister said something interesting. Women remember the things they didn't like for decades, even until they die."

"That's why your current approach is spot on!" Jill said, jabbing his thumb forward.

Tobias chuckled at his friend's comical gesture and realized how grateful he was to have Jill as his friend.

"Thanks, Jill."

"No need for thanks. After all, you're my best friend."

Best friend. The words warmed Tobias's heart. He didn't have many friends, but he had a reliable best friend.

As a side note, when he returned to the classroom, the classmates who had been talking about Marlene came to apologize.

"If someone says something bad about their own fiancée, anyone would get angry. Sorry."

Although the tone and words varied, most of the apologies were along those lines.

As an additional note, Irene did not offer an apology. It didn't bother Tobias much; he simply didn't want to have any more involvement with her. That was the extent of his feelings towards her.

There was another unexpected development. A male student who had once firmly grabbed Irene's wrist in the hallway approached Tobias.

"If you're uncomfortable in the classroom, come to me. Don't worry, none of my friends would speak ill of someone's fiancée."

"Huh? Wait..."

"It's Patrick. I caused you trouble before. I appreciate what you did to stop me back then."

With a serious look in his eyes, Patrick extended his hand for a handshake. Tobias, not entirely sure what was happening, shook his hand in response.

"Thank you, my friend. See you around."

With those words, Patrick left with a confident stride. Tobias unexpectedly gained a new friend.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

 A few days later, it was the day of the tea party with his fiancée.

The tea party took place in Tobias's family garden. It was early summer, so the garden was adorned with colorful flowers.

"It's such nice weather."

"Yeah, right? How about our garden?"

"It's beautiful whenever I see it. And the garden is spacious, making it a pleasant place for a tea party."

Despite their economic hardships, they were still a prestigious noble family, and their garden was meticulously maintained.

"When I was little, I used to have picnics here with my father and mother."

"That sounds wonderful! I'd love to do that someday!"

Marlene's eyes sparkled. The necklace with the blue gem that Tobias had given her was hanging around her neck. Tobias felt a flutter in his chest, but he realized that he didn't dislike it.

"We'll have plenty of picnics and tea parties in the future. After all, someday you'll be coming here as my wife."

Marlene blushed instantly at his words.

Observing how easily her emotions showed on her face, Tobias found it amusing, yet he also became aware of the fact that someday he would marry Marlene and become her husband.

At the same time, he remembered Jill's words. If he waited a few years, Marlene would also become an attractive woman.

He couldn't have imagined the future Marlene back then.

She was kind and hardworking. Moreover, she took care of her younger brother, so Tobias believed she would make a great mother in the future.

Children...

As nobles, they were expected to have children. How many children would they have? Tobias pondered on that thought.

If they had children, they could have picnics in the garden just like his parents did for him. When that time came, he imagined Marlene smiling as she watched their children. 

He thought about inviting their future grandparents over or having friends visit. He could imagine various futures. Tea parties in the spring, outings in the summer, reading books together in the fall, making snowmen in the winter – each future shone like a precious treasure. And Marlene was by his side through it all.

Tobias realized that he didn't mind any of this. In fact, he saw it as a happy future.

Even if others called it "playing house," he didn't mind. These moments shone like treasures, and they were precious, comforting times.

"Tobias."

Marlene called his name along with his affectionate nickname.

"What's up?"

"Why did you suddenly go quiet?"

"Nah, just thinking."

Marlene's warm golden hair seemed to be adorned with question marks.

Tobias found even that to be adorable.

And then, he made a silent promise – he would never betray her trust, no matter what.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

 The school life was surprisingly calm. Since that incident, his classmates had stopped making comments about the engagement, and Irene no longer approached him.

Tobias continued his usual interactions with Jill, and unexpectedly, he had also made a new friend named Patrick.

In short, Tobias's school life had become peaceful.

Freed from his worries and annoyances, Tobias found himself inwardly raising both hands in a celebratory gesture, thinking, "Hooray!"

Now, having parted ways with Jill after school for a prior engagement, Tobias was enjoying some quiet reading time in the courtyard.

He was engrossed in a mystery novel, with the plot reaching its climax, and the solution to the mystery and the identity of the culprit were about to be revealed.

As Tobias concentrated on his book, he heard a loud, furious voice:

"Why are you doing this to him?"

The voice belonged to a female student.

"Since you came into his life, he's become strange!"

"Seriously, who does a mere baroness think she is, ordering around a man?"

"Didn't you learn not to get too close to engaged men in the baron's household?"

Multiple female students were berating someone.

It sounded like a dispute among girls, and it was quite intense. From their words, it seemed like they were attacking:

"Why don't you say something, Irene!"

So, it was Irene after all. Tobias had a sense of déjà vu.

Unintentionally, he found himself eavesdropping on their conversation.

"It's not like I'm around your fiancé anymore."

"Then why does he keep looking at you all the time?"

"I don't know about that."

"You can't play innocent. You were the one getting all touchy-feely with the guys."

...

A silence fell among them.

Tobias's attention was drawn to a voice in the midst of berating Irene.

"Rumor has it that you were born to a courtesan mother. Is that true?"

The voice belonged to a girl from another influential family. Their families had connections, and causing problems and tarnishing one's reputation would only bring disadvantages, to put it bluntly.

Reluctantly, Tobias rubbed his stomach and walked over to where the girls were arguing.

"What are you all doing here?"

He had said something similar before. He mused on this as he gazed into the distance.

"Tobias-sama!"

The girls who had been confronting Irene became flustered.

"While I understand your concerns, isn't it going a bit too far to gang up on one person?"

"But..."

"Isn't it enough? There's no need to keep blaming her. She's been alone lately, and maybe she's learned her lesson?"

The girls didn't seem entirely convinced, but with Tobias appearing, they probably felt they were at a disadvantage.

They hurriedly left the scene.

 Tobias and Irene were left alone in the scene.

"Um, thank you for helping..."

"It's not like I helped."

Tobias replied in a cold voice.

"Anyway, it seems like you've really earned quite a bit of resentment."

Given her actions, it was only natural. She had been getting too close to guys, even those who were already in relationships or engaged. It was impossible not to arouse resentment with such behavior.

Irene remained silent, but then quickly lifted her face to look at Tobias.

"By the way, do you think I've changed lately?"

Tobias struggled to keep up with her sudden words, and then she continued,

"The last time I met your fiancé... with Senior Andrew and the committee, we were out shopping, and we had to be together. But I've decided not to spend time with men anymore, you see?"

Irene muttered, "So that's why."

"I'm not that foolish woman who flirts with men anymore..."

Her voice trembled towards the end. Then, she took a breath and said,

"Tobias-kun, I like you."

Tobias was left speechless by her unexpected confession.

"I like both your seriousness and how you scold me properly."

"Why?"

He had treated her indifferently all this time. Tobias couldn't help but find it puzzling.

"I was born to a courtesan mother whom my father kept. So, I'm used to being looked down upon and mocked. I knew that from the moment I transferred to this school, I would be ridiculed. But I also knew that I could 'capture' certain boys. So, I tried to do that, to have a fun school life with the boys."

"But..."

Her voice took on a shadow as she continued.

"Patrick started coming on to me, and he grabbed my arm; I was really scared. I realized I couldn't fight back with strength."

"Patrick turned out like that because you toyed with him, right?"

"I know that too. It's because you taught me, Tobias-kun."

Irene's green eyes glinted with determination.

"It's strange, but I felt happy when you scolded me."

"You're just misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding... If you think so, then fine. I like you, Tobias-kun."

"But I'm already engaged."

That was an unshakable fact.

And Irene couldn't accept it.

"Back then, when I saw you and your fiancé, I thought... when I said it was like playing house, I meant it."

"...I see."

"And also, she got hurt by a little bit of sarcasm, and she's so fragile. With that, she won't be able to support Tobias-kun in the future."

"So, I'm the more suitable one, right?" That's what Irene was saying.

Marlene was being belittled. While he didn't like it, strangely, Tobias felt calm.

"Have you ever thought about the future?"

"The future?"

"I have. Well, I've just started thinking about it recently."

Tobias looked up at the sky, a slightly lonely shade of evening blue, different from the blue he associated with his cherished fiancée.

"As an adult, I'll work every day. I'll get married and have children. And sometimes, I'll enjoy tea parties and picnics with my family. Occasionally, our parents and friends will join us."

"And also," Tobias paused for a breath, and then earnestly said the important words, "Marlee will always be by my side."

In his mind's eye, he pictured Marlene's smiling face. Even if her appearance changed with time, that warmth would surely remain constant. And for Tobias, it wasn't something unpleasant; it was happiness.

"Even if someone calls it 'playing house,' I'm fine with that."

"I can't accept your feelings."

That was Tobias's unwavering response.

Upon hearing this, Irene didn't lose her composure. She just looked upward and let out a sigh.

"I see..."

A small remark slipped out.

"I wonder if I'm being punished..."

Irene mumbled, almost asking herself.

Then, her gaze returned to Tobias.

"You know, I'm about to talk about something crazy and incomprehensible, but please listen."

After taking a deep breath, she began to speak.

"-Before I was Irene, I lived in a different world. You could call it my past life."

"Past life..."

What came out of her mouth was shocking.

"In my past life's world, civilization was more advanced than in this world. There was a toy, like a story, where girls enjoyed romances with various guys... It was called an otome game... And this world is the stage for that otome game."

Unbelievable. That's what Tobias thought, yet Irene seemed serious, and she didn't look like she was lying.

"I, as the protagonist of that otome game, was reborn as Irene. The story goes like this... Irene, who was born out of an affair with the Baron, gets adopted by him after her mother dies. Then she enrolls in the Royal High School and captivates and falls in love with numerous men..."

"..."

 "Can't believe it, right? But it's true. I knew about the targets I could conquer... that I could capture. That's why I created a reverse harem."

Certainly, Irene's appearance was exceptional. However, it was a mystery why she could captivate so many male students. But if her story was true, it made sense.

"You know, if it's true, Tobias, you were one of them too."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You're socially awkward, always a lonely presence. But secretly, you're a lonely person who actually craves warmth. That was the setup."

"But I have a few friends, and I have a fiancée. Plus, I respect my parents..."

"That's right. You, Tobias, are nearly identical to the Tobias from the otome game, yet you're completely different. You didn't even have a fiancée."

Tobias wasn't engaged to Marlene. Even though this was a hypothetical scenario, it left Tobias feeling like a gaping hole had opened in his heart.

"There were other differences too. Patrick got angry with me for being on good terms with other boys... And Andrew, in reality, was different from the game, he was petty and annoying."

"Isn't reality like that?"

"... Yeah, you're right. This world is reality. The people in this world are real too..."

With a weak voice, Irene mumbled. However, her expression was surprisingly refreshed, as if a weight had been lifted.

"I tried to turn this world, the people around me... into playthings. That's why I must be facing some kind of punishment..."

"Hey," and,

"I'm really shocked by being rejected by you, Tobias."

"I'm sorry for that. But I can't understand your feelings."

"Don't apologize. I understand..."

Irene said that and laughed. It was an awkward smile, trying to hold something back.

"I'm going to cry now, so I want to be alone."

-Because, when I cry, it's really ugly.

"I want to look cute in front of someone I like..."

"So, go ahead and leave," in a trembling voice, Irene said.

As instructed, Tobias turned away and began to walk.

After a few seconds, he heard the sound of her sobbing from behind.

Tobias didn't look back. He just carried the fact that he had rejected a girl in his heart.

And then, he suddenly realized something. Her story was absurd and unbelievable. However, just now, he had established a form of communication with her for the first time.

What kind of person was she originally?

At this point, it was impossible to know.

Tobias continued to walk away from the sound of sobbing.

＊＊＊＊＊＊

 Marlene's birthday had arrived.

Tobias received the items from the jewelry store and headed to Marlene's mansion.

Tobias was treated like a family member, so he was quickly on his way to Marlene's mansion. There were no guests yet, but the preparations for the celebration were complete.

Tobias went to see Marlene.

Upon opening the door to the sitting room, there stood Marlene in a warm reddish-brown dress.

Her half-up hairdo showcased her golden hair, and her white skin, rosy lips, soft blue eyes—everything about her captivated his gaze.

An odd sensation stirred in Tobias's chest.

However, this uneasiness wasn't unwelcome.

Ah, I see. Am I actually aware of her "femininity"? Tobias finally grasped the reason for his unease.

Simultaneously, he realized that in a few years, she too would become an attractive woman. He understood this. As his best friend, Jill, had said, in a few years, Marlene would surely become a woman who captivated anyone's gaze.

And surely, at that time, Tobias would love her as a woman.

Moreover, he was looking forward to that future.

"Toby-sama?"

Marlene, looking puzzled at Tobias's silence, spoke up. Flustered, Tobias quickly offered his congratulations.

"Ah, sorry, Marlee. Happy birthday."

"Thank you. But really, Toby-sama, what happened earlier? Were you perhaps not feeling well?"

"Nah, I'm fine. I was just surprised because Marlee seemed more mature than usual."

Marlene's cheeks turned red at his words, and she shifted her gaze around awkwardly.

"Well, today is my thirteenth birthday... And I wanted to, you know, be a bit more like Toby-sama..."

"This dress even has the same colors as your hair and eyes," Marlene answered, her face beet red, her voice small. Once again, Tobias found her utterly adorable.

Tobias handed Marlene the present he had brought.

"Here, a birthday present. It's the earrings we picked out together the other day. Go ahead and open it."

"Thank you!"

Marlene accepted it happily and then held it to her chest as though it were a precious treasure. She immediately opened the box.

Inside were two sets of earrings—one for Marlene and the other for Tobias. Following the design they had chosen at the jewelry store, a small gold disc with an even smaller garnet embedded within it. The garnet was a reddish-brown color.

Tobias suddenly realized that this color matched his own hair and eyes.

And he also realized the strength of his feelings towards his fiancée.

"Hey, Marlene... Would you mind putting on the earrings?"

"Is that alright?"

"Of course. Actually, I was thinking maybe we could wear them together next time... Also, I'll wear them too."

"Isn't that a privilege of being engaged?" Tobias responded with a question. Today, Marlene wasn't wearing the blue necklace around her neck. Considering how it would clash with her dress, it made sense, but it left Tobias feeling a bit lonely.

So, he wanted to wear matching earrings as a substitute.

Marlene gladly accepted Tobias's offer and skillfully put the earrings onto her shapely ears. Tobias did the same, and once again, an odd sensation stirred within him.

Tobias spoke to Marlene, who was beaming with joy.

"Hey, Marlee, do you really think you need to match up with me?"

"Well... because, Toby-sama, you're so amazing, and I'm still inexperienced."

"Marlee, it's not like that at all. I'm far from perfect too, and I'm doing my best to keep up with everyone around me..."

"That's not true..."

"No, really. When it comes to socializing, I think you're one step, no, even more steps ahead of me."

Marlene was discreet yet adept at reading the atmosphere at the girls' academy. Tobias was confident in this assessment, based on what his classmate with a sister at the academy had told him.

"I'm much weaker and less impressive than you think..."

"Not to me! Toby-sama, you're kind and you always help me. I know you put in a lot of effort!"

"You're a wonderful fiancée to me." Marlene earnestly conveyed this message. With such an adorable fiancée, Tobias couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you laughing? I'm serious."

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just really happy."

Marlene was precious to him, after all. That's what Tobias thought.

"Whether we match or not, I don't think it matters to us. We share the same perspective, stand in the same place, and have the same destination."

"Same...?"

"Yes, that's why I hope we can move forward at our own pace. I want us to decide the path we'll take together, facing joy and challenges, supporting each other, and discussing things every step of the way."

—Slowly is fine.

—Even if it's like playing house.

Tobias believed that this approach would lead to a future filled with happiness with Marlene.

Marlene pondered Tobias's proposal for a moment, and after a few seconds, she replied with a smile that seemed to release something firm within her.

"I... I think that would be wonderful."

At that moment, a message came from one of the servants that a meeting for the party was scheduled soon.

Tobias and Marlene headed there together. As they were about to leave the room, Marlene called out to Tobias. Leaning in close, she whispered softly,

"Toby-sama, I love you."

This unexpected confession caused Tobias's face to flush red this time.

Thank you for reading.