Adele sits on the sofa by the window.
I stand in front of him.
Time passes without a word, and I notice that the sunset is coming in from outside the window where Adele gazes.
From there, one can see the windows of the many rooms that are lined up in the same way facing the courtyard.
In each of those windows today, our classmates are similarly forced into couples and ordered to have their first night together, regardless of their feelings.
When I think about that fact, I feel like puking and approach the window.
Ignoring Adele, who looks up at me with a demon glare, I reach out to avoid his body and close the window curtain.
“There’s no point looking outside since it’s useless. The pairs have already been decided.”
Former Countess of the Principality of Arita, I, Tiana Klein, was recognized as a “civilian” at the age of 12.
I had secretly admired the few female knights who fought on the frontlines, but I calmly accepted that it would require horse-riding and swordsmanship that had to surpass the skills of all the other boys.
Because of this, considering the skills that could be relatively useful on the front-lines among civilians, at the age of 15 I selected a course to study medicine.
It was decided that I would go on to medical school at the Imperial University after graduation, which is located in the largest city of the kingdom.
And Adele.
He is the eldest son of the Berger family, a former Viscount of the Principality of Arita.
Just the same, he studied at the Great Imperial Academy and, of course, is attached to the top group of the “military attaché” course and the Knight course, which is the most elite among them.
I don’t know what he’ll do after graduation, but many of the previous top-ranked students first belonged to the Knights of the neighboring city, gained practical experience, and eventually went on to the Imperial capital’s career elite course.
Somehow it makes me sick.
Anyway, we have a fixed course, and before anything else, we have to finish this ritual without delay to live peacefully in this Empire.
“Listen here, I don’t care what you want to do after graduation, but for the sake of our future we have to overcome this, whatever ... this ritual, tonight. If you say you can’t, they’ll take it as rebellion. So let’s treat it like it's a small matter, alright?!”
“I know-”
Adele says tiredly.
“-That’s ... I don’t think it’s just to prevent free love but also political marriages between houses and completely manage them … to suppress their gain of power through political marriage, or maybe to develop and manage excellent human resources. This Empire is crazy.”
“If they catch you saying that you’ll be imprisoned!”
12 years ago, the Prince of Arita wisely opened the castle without difficulty, causing no major loss to the people or land of the Principality, and everyone became accustomed to the political system of the Empire relatively quickly.
But again, the old “marriage system” was abolished and completely overtaken. Turning into the “system” that had a large backlash by those who were around the age of 18 that year. So the Empire imprisoned all those who rebelled.
The aristocrats, who were further deprived of their succession by the Empire’s power, had no choice but to accept the Empire with this system as if pulling out the fangs of a feral animal.
I think we’re still better than the 18-year-olds of that year.
Since the age of six, we have lived with the understanding that we will never be connected to our favorite partner by our own free will.
However, the hits and misses are commonplace, so there are still many who dislike the system.
There are those who are happy to have children from their unrequited love of many years! And, in other cases, the first-grade beauty is paired with the first-grade beast, causing a huge ruckus.
Anyway!
“We don't like each other. We’ve established that ok? But let’s think about the future now. Tonight, we can think of it as a job, an obligation and kill our hearts. It’s like a tragic accident. There are some things in life that you just have to overcome. Do you understand?”
Adele sighs and unties his crossed legs.
“I’m prepared to succumb.”
I think it’s a little rude to be told as much, but it can’t be helped. I nod.
“ ... Ok”
Standing up, he begins to untie his belt. He wears a loose white shirt over black trousers.
Looking at me with a stunned face he speaks,
“Take yours off, too.”
When I look away, I notice a big bed near the wall ... one that could accommodate two people.
“mum ... “
My chest bounces and my face turns red.
I desperately rub my cheeks to deceive him and appear calm and collected.
If I can think of it as surgery. A surgery that I must perform in order to live in this country, and I’ll have to be the doctor here. (basically taking charge)
It was embarrassing, humiliating, but better for the long run.
It’s not about our feelings.
I take a deep breath and begin to untie the bodice of the dress I was wearing.
My seniors told me that I shouldn’t wear clothes that unfasten from the back, since few boys know how, or will, take them off, so it was better to wear clothes that you can put on and off by yourself.
Loosening the bodice I begin to remove the hook on the side of the dress.
When I look over, Adele is shirtless, sitting on the bed with only his pants on, he begins to remove his shoes.
Adele’s expression is completely plain, and his calmness is very disappointing.
I use my quivering fingers to unhook the dress.
After I hang my dress on the couch, all I have to wrap around my body is a thin silk chemise ... an unreliable fabric that covers everything from my breast to just under my knees.
Desperately pretending to be calm, I approach the bed, changing direction to stay in Adele’s blind spot as much as possible.
Adele, sitting on the bed with his pants on, looks at me with a quizzical brow.
“What’s with the suspicious behavior?”
“It can’t be helped!”
I yelp, climbing to the top of the bed as far away from Adele as possible, and sit upright at the edge.
Silence flows between us.
“Let’s begin ... “
Adele mutters with a sigh and looks at me.
The moonlight shining through the curtains and the light of the lamps at the entrance of the room highlight Adele’s unreadable expression.
Adele stands up, takes three strides around the bed, and sits next to me. I can see Adele’s chest in front of me, and when I try to back up, I almost fall out of bed.
Adele reaches out and grabs my upper arm.
I feel his hot breath close by.
No comments:
Post a Comment