LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 0 - Prologue
“Thank you for your hard work, Hidetsugu-kun. I made some tea. If you don’t mind, please have some.”
I’ve finished my work… When I arrived at the dining table in the living room, I met my classmate. A beautiful model-shaped girl with long golden blonde hair and sapphire-like blue eyes that she apparently inherited from her half-French mother, Renge Tsukimisato. She handed me a mug.
The mug is filled with a golden-yellow liquid and it is giving off a soothing scent.
“Jasmine tea has a relaxing effect. I thought your nerves were tense from work.”
“Oh. That’s bad.”
I took the mug from Renge and put it to my lips. As I sipped the jasmine tea, I felt the gentle warmth and soothing scent seep into my body. Apparently, I was more tired than I thought.
When I took a deep breath, Renge smiled.
“It’s always difficult. Even though you’re only a second year high school student, you’re given the job of an adult.”
“It’s what I wanted. I have nothing to complain about.I removed my lips from the mug and continued:
“I’m going to take over the Yamabuki Group. I’m more than grateful to be given this job from now on.”
I am the successor of the Yamabuki Group, one of Japan’s leading corporate groups. My father, who is the chairman, has given me some of the work at the Yamabuki Group, saying that if I’m going to take over, I should get used to the job now.
I was the one who decided to take over as chairman of the group. Because it’s the path I chose, I can’t keep complaining about it.
“Rather,” I said, looking towards Renge, “If you’re saying it’s difficult, how about you?”
“Ah, am I?”
Renge tilted her head, and I pointed to the sofa in the living and dining room. There is a pile of neatly folded laundry. Apparently the clothes were ironed, so there wasn’t a single wrinkle in the clothes.
“You do all the housework by yourself every day. Don’t you have a harder time than I do?”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m totally fine, okay?” Renge grinned.
“After all, I am Hidetsugu-kun’s wife.”
“Huh? We just got engaged.” I said with a blank stare.
Me and Renge are engaged. They plan to make us husband and wife officially when we turn 18. That seems to be why Renge does all of the household chores, but I still don’t understand.
Because–
“It’s true that we’re engaged, but it’s just a marriage of convenience, isn’t it?”
Yes. The reason why Renge and I got engaged wasn’t because we had romantic feelings. This is because we decided to follow our parents’ decisions.
Like the Yamabuki Group, the Tsukimisato Group is a world-renowned corporate group. Renge is the granddaughter of the chairman.
The Yamabuki Group and the Tsukimisato Group are scheduled to merge within the next few years. The engagement between me and Renge was done in order to make the merging smoother.
Our relationship is fundamentally different from that of a typical married couple. It wasn’t the result of liking each other, and it wasn’t as if we wanted to get engaged. Although we live together, I don’t think Renge has any obligation to do anything for me.
Even so, Renge’s smile did not fade.
“I’m doing the housework because I want to do my best for Hidetsugu-kun. It doesn’t matter if it’s a political marriage or not.”
“You’re drunk, aren’t you? Do you enjoy serving someone as perverse as me?”
“I don’t deny that Hidetsugu-kun is perverse.”
“Do you know what perverse is?”
“However, you’re kind at heart. I’m not forcing myself to do things that I don’t want. I’m really enjoying myself.”
Renge’s eyes were clear when she said that, showing that her words were from the heart, without a single lie mixed in with them.
Calmly making embarrassing remarks…!
I felt my cheeks heat up so I turned my head away.
“Do as you please.”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
As if she could see that I was hiding my embarrassment, Renge let out a giggle. I felt like she could see through my inner thoughts, and my cheeks became even hotter.
As I was sipping my jasmine tea while feeling uncomfortable, Renge suddenly stood up and grabbed a tote bag that was placed on top of a cabinet near the wall.
“Are you going out?”
“Yes. I’m thinking of heading out to buy dinner.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
I finished my jasmine tea and got up from my seat. Renge lowers her eyebrows apologetically in response to my behavior.
“That’s… that’s too bad. Hidetsugu-kun must be tired because of work, so I’ll go alone.”
“No.”
I shook my head as Renge hesitated.
“The sun is almost setting. It will be dark by the time you get home. It’s dangerous to let you go out alone.”
“Huh?”
Renge was stunned, while I let out a hollow voice.
“You can’t let a woman walk alone at night. Even I have the common sense.” I said bluntly, looking away in embarrassment.
Renge blinked her eyes and her cheeks, which was as white as a snow, turned apple red.
“…See, it’s just like I said.”
“What is it?”
Renge pouted her lips as if she were sleeping and said something with a hint of frustration.
“You’re really kind, aren’t you, Hidetsugu-kun?”
“…Tell me.”
I suddenly turned away to hide my blushing face.
This is the story of how Renge and I, who got married for political reasons, became a real couple.