Ch.130Side Story) Race (2)

“……If it’s alright with you, I think it would be good to set a date.”

Count Hexter’s words were sudden, yet not entirely unexpected.

I had been postponing thinking about this subject due to my busy schedule.

Perhaps subconsciously, I had vaguely assumed we would hold the wedding after graduation.

But when I actually thought about it, there was no reason to delay. It was indeed time to marry.

After all, the announcement of Daisy’s and my marriage had been made long ago, and our feelings for each other hadn’t changed.

The Mels family had established themselves thanks to the strong backing of the Praester and Ice families, and as crime was being rooted out within the territory, the region was becoming more vibrant.

In fact, a grand event like a wedding could greatly boost the territory’s atmosphere.

Since his suggestion evoked positive feelings, I didn’t reject it and continued the conversation.

“Is there a reason you want to set a date so quickly?”

“It seems unlikely that Daisy and Lord Caden will grow apart. Also, since my daughter has settled far from her hometown in Mels territory… I’d like her to feel psychological stability by finalizing the marriage.”

I knew that Count Hexter’s strong push for this marriage included ulterior motives to connect with the Mels family, which was backed by the power of the Praester and Ice families.

But that didn’t make it unpleasant. Rather, it was a natural human response, and I could understand his choice.

And it didn’t seem false that he was doing this for Daisy. After all, any decision is made through complex reasons.

His actions didn’t make me love Daisy any less.

I turned my head slightly to look behind me.

Asena, Kirsy, and Judy were looking at me with subtle expressions.

None of them raised their voices in opposition.

Everyone seemed to accept it.

Though no one had explicitly decided who would be first, Daisy was essentially the first to have her marriage confirmed, so perhaps they were naturally accepting it.

Seeing the occasional cute jealousy from Asena and Kirsy recently, I thought they might speak up in this situation, but that thought seemed wrong.

In truth, someone had to be the first to marry. And Daisy being first seemed most natural.

Since there was no reason to refuse, I nodded.

“…..Alright. Let’s set a date.”

I heard someone inhale sharply, and when I glanced back, Daisy was blushing and trying to hide her expression.

I smiled at her and continued the conversation with Count Hexter.

****

After sending the twins and Judy out, I sat with Daisy and Count Hexter to coordinate the schedule.

I would need to discuss it with Grandmother too, but we tentatively set the wedding for three months from now.

It might seem rushed, but it seemed we could manage all the preparations without much trouble, and it would be better to hold the wedding before the new school term began.

“Daisy, is that okay with you?”

It was an odd question to ask after setting the date, but I asked her, sitting beside me, to get her confirmation.

Daisy nodded and answered.

“…..I don’t mind as long as we can get married.”

“Is there anything you’d particularly like at the wedding? Any long-held dreams?”

“…No. I’m happy just to marry the person I love.”

She kept her head down, hiding her expression, then slowly raised her arms to embrace me.

I returned her embrace.

Count Hexter watched us with a pleased expression.

“…Caden, I’ll do my best. Let’s live happily from now on.”

Her words were warm, perhaps from heightened emotions.

No one could embody the term “lady” better than her. Normally living with dignity, unwavering conviction, and determination, yet offering warm comfort for my sake.

“……I’ll cherish you for life.”

I whispered quietly.

Life is truly unpredictable.

Daisy, who was my favorite character when reading the novel. She grew up at Hexter Orphanage where I received kindness, we met at the Academy, and she became a great support when I was struggling. Now we were heading toward marriage.

We quickly wrapped up the conversation after that.

Count Hexter said he planned to visit Grandmother at the Praester territory.

Having completed his business, he made plans to leave promptly, and the Mels household members came to the square to see him off.

He waved us off, telling us not to escort him further and to go rest, and gave Daisy time to say goodbye to her father. From a distance, the two embraced warmly and exchanged farewells.

While waiting for their goodbyes to finish, Kirsy suddenly approached and nudged my arm.

“………What?”

“Did you set a date…?”

I couldn’t read Kirsy’s intention. But since setting a date with Daisy wasn’t something to hide or be ashamed of, I answered.

“Yes. We’ll marry in three months.”

“……..Hmm.”

Kirsy made a nasal sound and slowly nodded. Feeling inexplicably uncomfortable, I asked first.

“What?”

“…Huh?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No?”

Though I was to marry four women, I had a duty to properly address their dissatisfaction or anxiety. Especially with Kirsy, who easily gets upset and jealous, I needed to resolve any current dissatisfaction.

But even I… couldn’t tell what Kirsy was thinking right now.

Unlike her usual appearance when dissatisfied, she didn’t seem upset, but she clearly had something on her mind.

Kirsy spoke.

“You and Daisy getting married was already decided. You’ll marry me too.”

“….That’s right.”

“So I’m not bothered. I’m happy for you, actually.”

“That’s good then.”

Just as I was relieved thinking we could move past this smoothly regardless of what she was thinking, she spoke again.

“Ah.”

“……Yes?”

“Oppa, let’s talk later for a bit.”

“…….”

She set up a meeting without even looking at me. All I could do was nod.

Is this what marriage is like? I couldn’t move an inch because of some unknown reason.

I was already starting to worry about being under her thumb.

*****

After seeing off Count Hexter and calming Daisy, who was teary-eyed with emotion, I went to my room to talk with Kirsy as she had wanted.

As always when we were alone, Kirsy maintained one particular position.

Sitting on my lap with our navels pressed together.

“…So?”

I asked, settling into position.

“……”

“What did you want to-mmph!”

Kirsy looked at my face, then kissed me first.

It was like our own new greeting ritual. Though we’d kissed so often recently that I should be used to it by now, that wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

Kirsy also seemed to enjoy it as if the feeling never became familiar.

It wasn’t a kiss with tongues intertwined. After lightly pressing her lips to mine and pulling away, Kirsy looked at me and said:

“Oppa, let’s set our wedding date too.”

As a result of the kiss, there was a subtle sensuality in the air.

“What?”

“How about two months from now?”

“…….”

I wasn’t clueless about why she proposed such a specific timeline.

I had thought she wasn’t, but she was jealous.

This was actually more like her. Asena was probably jealous in her own way too.

Being twins, they were likely similar in this regard.

I stared at Kirsy for a while without answering.

Kirsy, taking this as some kind of signal, attempted to press her lips to mine again.

I gently held her cheeks, stretching them cutely to stop her.

Though she made a sulky expression at being prevented from kissing, she knew I was stopping her so we could talk.

Having read the intention behind her proposal, I said:

“This isn’t a competition. Daisy’s marriage was decided earlier anyway.”

“I know, I know, but…..”

Kirsy cutely wrinkled her face.

“…..I keep getting greedy.”

“….I’m not going anywhere, I’ll always be by your side, so what is there to be greedy about?”

“…….I don’t want to lose certain things.”

“….Lose what?”

She rotated her hips, pressing her stomach closer. Her silver hair draped down, brushing against my forearm. Her face was still cutely resting in my hands.

She directed her sharp eyes at me. No matter that she would become Mels in the future, the sharpness of Praester still remained in her.

“……Your firsts…..I feel like I’m losing too many of them.”

I raised an eyebrow at that curious statement.

“……Firsts?”

Kirsy swallowed once, then whispered in a voice mixed with heavy breath:

“…..First..kiss, first marriage……..first…experience, things like that.”

“……Wh-what?”

“Unnie took your first kiss…..and thinking that Daisy will take your first marriage and first experience after that….it’s hard to just sit still.”

My mind went blank at her shocking statement. I never expected Kirsy to bring up “first experience.” Even more, I didn’t expect her to be fixated on it.

I quickly tried to think of how to calm her down.

“I-if you rush things out of jealousy, it’ll ruin our relationship, Kirsy.”

“Aren’t we moving too slowly?”

“…….Huh?”

I unconsciously tensed up, my hands gripping her cheeks tighter.

Kirsy gently caressed my hands and forearms, looking at me with pitiful eyes. Each of her touches stirred something in my chest.

“……Daisy and Judy might be too early for…experience. It hasn’t even been two years since we got to know each other, and we don’t kiss regularly. But I’ve known you for over 10 years. We’ve agreed to marry….and we’ve been kissing almost daily for nearly half a year…..it’s okay to move faster, right?”

“………”

I was speechless. I couldn’t find anything to refute. I thought we were moving at an appropriate pace, but perhaps that stemmed from my desire to treasure the twins even more. I still slightly thought of them as my little sisters, so I remained cautious.

Kirsy knew no retreat.

“…I….if it’s with you, Oppa……I don’t want to keep my premarital chastity.”

I shook my head in disbelief. Kirsy couldn’t be saying this. No, she must be speaking without understanding.

In my mind, she was still delicate and innocent.

“….Do….do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do. I received sex education at the Academy.”

“No? What you’re asking for now and sex education are quite different. It can’t be explained with metaphors like ‘the pistil and stamen of a flower’-“

With a sudden movement, Kirsy broke free from my arms holding her cheeks and brought her face close to mine.

She pressed her face next to my head and whispered directly into my ear.

“-I.”

The world went silent for a moment, and only her voice could be heard.

Her breath tickled my ear.

“…..I’m not as innocent as you think.”

“……..”

“I’ve just been acting that way because I thought you’d like it.”

“…………Huh?”

Her shocking statement pierced my mind.

She remained silent for a while after that, then spoke slowly, as if making a resolution.

“…………I’ve touched myself thinking about you.”

-Thump.

With that sound, my heart dropped, and blood began to circulate throughout my body.

‘Ugh..!’

My face heated up, and a physiological reaction occurred. Praying that Kirsy, sitting with our navels pressed together, wouldn’t notice, I pushed her away.

Though she tried not to separate from me, it wasn’t difficult to remove her if I was serious.

Kirsy, now away from my ear, faced me.

Unlike earlier when she whispered seductively to tempt me, and contrary to her claim of not being innocent, she was blushing furiously, unable to meet my eyes, and covering her face with both hands.

Yet still trying to hide her discomfort, she said:

“….Um…it’s true. I’m n-not lying.”

Seeing her flustered appearance calmed my mind a bit.

She was currently blinded by competition with Daisy and pushing herself too hard.

Of course…..I knew much of what she said was sincere. Her jealousy and desire for a relationship were probably real.

But no. Not now.

It was time to cool our heads.

The heat rising to my head was making me dizzy.

“Whoa..”

The same was true for Kirsy. Her body suddenly tilted to the left, losing balance.

And at that cute sight, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Pfft.”

“………”

Kirsy pretended not to notice and bit her lip, but I knew she was more nervous than ever before.

With our bodies pressed so closely together, her trembling was transmitted to me.

My laughter broke the atmosphere.

Kirsy only became more embarrassed.

After calming my laughter, I looked up at Kirsy.

She was still covering her face with her forearms and hands.

I took her hands and pulled them down, meeting her eyes.

“….Kirsy.”

“……….Yes.”

“These things will happen naturally, so don’t be too impatient.”

“….Ugh.”

She trembled, then forced out words.

“…I…I know…but I still want to leave my mark on your life…Unnie left hers with the first kiss…”

“The first kiss I remember is with you.”

“…..Huh?”

“No matter how much Asena stole my lips before that, the kiss I consciously shared was first with you.”

“……………Ah.”

“So, calm down with that for now, okay? There’s no need to rush like this.”

“………”

I stroked Kirsy’s hair.

“Go back to your room. It’s late today.”

Kirsy hesitated for a long time.

But only after I pinched her cheek and put my hand on her waist to separate our navels did she stagger away, open the door, and disappear.

Left alone, I let out a long sigh.

“…….Phew….”

Though I pretended to be composed, my mind was complicated too.

Knowingly or unknowingly…..it felt like some kind of competition had begun.