The Heir I Dragged Into My “He’s My Fiancé!” Lie Is Somehow Playing Along!? - Chapter 1.10

The impression Alice had of Kairi Yumikura was that he was a person who didn’t lie.

He never embellished his words or actions, always appearing to be his natural self.

(Even though he’s recognized among employees as the “Prince” within the company. I’m sure throughout his life, in various situations outside of work too, he must have had “characters” and “images” forced upon him.)

Still, he never yielded to the atmosphere around him, never compromised on “how he wanted to be,” and maintained consistent behavior. To Alice, he seemed like a very strong person.

Alice herself had repeatedly imposed on Kairi images of “the kind of lifestyle common to wealthy characters as imagined by ordinary people,” like “buying out entire racks from select shops” or “living in a high-rise condo,” despite not really knowing his personality or life.

The more she remembered, the more her feelings of apology for her own clumsiness and rudeness grew.

No matter how princely he might be, it’s wrong to have preconceived images about a young man in his twenties in modern Japan.

Even if she intended it as a positive compliment, saying something like “With those looks, a six-figure salary, and a wealthy family, you’re dazzling!” was just prejudice and rude. Kairi probably didn’t feel good about it either.

I’m sorry.

I’m sure where he lives is within the realm of common sense too!

Before arriving at Kairi’s condo, Alice had reached that conclusion in her own way.

“The guest room is here. There’s no bathtub, but it has a simple shower room and toilet, so you won’t have to see me. It’s small, but there’s a refrigerator by the desk too. Right now, there’s only water in it. The closet is empty, so feel free to use it as you like. There’s a safe inside too. If you have valuables, put them there. The structure is the same as the ones in hotels around here. There’s a lock on the inside too, so you can lock the door when you’re in the room.”

When they arrived at the condo and he said “Wait here while I park the car,” leading her to an entrance that looked like a luxury hotel, she had vaguely sensed something was off.

Moreover, although the exterior was a fairly large condo, from the feel of walking down the hallway after getting off the elevator, it didn’t seem like there were many rooms on the floor. She had a premonition that each unit used the space generously, different from a studio apartment.

As for Kairi’s room they arrived at, there was an arrangement of blue-toned flowers placed in the entrance when he opened the door. “Weird. Is this really a single man living alone?” she felt a sense of incongruity. The entryway was spacious, but the fact that not a single pair of shoes was out also had an indescribable intimidating feel.

(It’s impossible that he doesn’t own shoes, so he must put them away properly. His meticulous living sense is impressive. What do I do, I feel like I’m going to make an unnecessary jab again. I shouldn’t say such tasteless things to the Prince. This is why commoners…)

Severely admonishing herself, Alice kept quiet, but as she was led down the hallway to the guest room with a separate shower and toilet, and given a brief explanation, she couldn’t help but say:

“Ordinary company employees don’t live in palaces, you know. You yourself said it was about the size of a palace’s doghouse, but this guest room alone is as big as my studio apartment. If this is part of the doghouse, just how many dogs are you planning to keep?”

“Dogs… right now it’s just me. Am I a dog?”

“You’re the one who said doghouse, Manager Yumikura. If Manager Yumikura who lives here is a dog, I think he’d be a very, very high-class large breed. Um, though I prefer cats.”

“Given the flow of this conversation, isn’t that a bit off? If you asked me which I prefer, I’d say cats too. Shirotsuki-san, you seem cat-like.”

“In terms of size, you’re like a cat. Compared to a large dog.”

They unexpectedly discovered they shared a preference regarding dogs or cats.

However, facing the insurmountable wall between royalty and commoners as a harsh reality, Alice was only half-paying attention.

“Bed, desk, refrigerator included, and the closet is bigger than mine. It’s livable.”

“When friends come from overseas, or when I absolutely have to bring work home and Kido from earlier comes over to use it. Not that it’s happened many times before. The linens are changed, so it’s fine. I don’t usually keep soap and such here, so I’ll bring some stock. Do you have favorites with you?”

When asked so casually, Alice, who hadn’t thought that far ahead, answered “Nothing” and felt like sinking.

(When I went back home, he said “You can’t park here, so I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes,” so I hurriedly stuffed changes of clothes, cosmetics, and bankbooks into my suitcase, and cleaned out the fridge just in case, but I was so out of it then…)

She brought her bankbooks thinking she might need to explain any withdrawals from her main bank. Her mind was working that much, but she had packed her luggage without really thinking. It was full of things she lacked.

While Kairi left the room once to bring shampoo, body soap, towels, etc., Alice opened her suitcase and realized something critical.

“…Loungewear…”

“Hm?”

“Um… I usually wear comfortable clothes at home as pajamas, you could say… I remember thinking while packing that I definitely couldn’t bring these, but I got distracted packing other things and completely forgot about that area. Will a summer sweater and skirt be okay? I use them for work.”

She didn’t know how long she’d be staying, but considering it might drag on until Monday, she had brought clothes she could wear to the office. Thinking that being at her boss’s house was like being at the office, so it should be fine, when Kairi casually said “Want me to lend you some?”

Alice felt like gritting her teeth at her own lack of foresight.

“I’m really sorry. Given how this is going, that makes sense!”

Apologizing while regretting having said something that sounded like a demand, Kairi muttered with a dissatisfied look, “Does Shirotsuki-san ever think about conversation flow?” It felt somewhat rude, but this wasn’t the time to argue.

“Thank you for your help.”

“Though I don’t have women’s clothes. My shirt and half-pants should be okay?”

“Half-pants that would be cropped length on me! They might drag! Our leg lengths are cruelly different!”

“That would be too much.”

Kairi left the room laughing and soon returned with a change of clothes.

“I’m going to shower and change too. If you go straight down the hallway, it’s the living room. See you later.”

After informing her of the necessary details, he quickly left.

Watching his retreating back, she agonized over whether to lock the door or not, then locked it anyway.

Feeling like she might dawdle if she sat down, she unpacked her suitcase, hung what needed hanging on hangers in the closet, and put her valuables in the safe. She tried putting the suitcase in the closet too, and there was plenty of room to spare.

“Doghouse…?”

Tilting her head, she checked the shower room – it was like a gym private room, separate from the toilet. It seemed more user-friendly than a studio apartment for singles in Tokyo, and again she thought “This is a doghouse??” while gratefully using it.

She refreshed herself with nicely scented shampoo and body soap, thinking she wouldn’t be surprised by anything else that might appear, but was astonished by the fluffiness of the bath towel, wiping some moisture from her shoulder-length hair.

The borrowed short-sleeved shirt became three-quarter sleeves, and the half-pants were baggy enough to be cropped length, but by tightening the waist drawstring, she could wear them.

After putting them on, she briefly thought she should have checked the brand name on the tags, but told herself that caring would mean losing. If she thought about something presumptuous like buying and gifting something later as thanks, a month’s salary could easily disappear.

(I want to return the favor, but how? I’ve lived alone for a while too, so with housework. Cleaning and laundry? He’d probably say he has a regular housekeeper. Really, how can I repay this kindness? Work? Get promoted until I’m his right-hand man? How many years would that take? And my rival is that Kido-san? Hmm… First, I’m losing in physique.)

Tormented by her worries, she left the room and headed to the living room.

Kairi seemed to have already finished showering and started cooking, as a delicious smell already drifted down the hallway.

“Manager Yumikura, thank you. If there’s anything I can do to help.”

Calling out toward the brightly lit kitchen area as she approached, Alice stopped in her tracks.

From the borrowed shirt and half-pants, she had guessed that even executive Kairi probably wore casual clothes at home, but when Kairi turned around in the kitchen, he clearly exceeded Alice’s expectations.

His brownish hair was loosely clipped up in a half-up style, and he wore glasses that seemed for home use. On his exposed ears, both sides had several piercings.

His outfit was a blue striped shirt with jeans, not quite loungewear-level casual, with a black sommelier apron tied around his waist.

“Make yourself comfortable. In an unfamiliar kitchen, it must be hard to move around.”

The voice that answered was definitely Kairi’s, but his appearance – like an idol’s off-duty magazine photo – made Alice shudder and step back.

“Did you just try to run away?”

“…My brain couldn’t keep up. Manager Yumikura, did you have piercings?”

“These are piercings too, but mostly ear cuffs. I don’t wear them at the company.”

Unable to process the information, Alice held her head.

(What does it mean that he’s wearing accessories he doesn’t wear at the company? Is he going somewhere? No, for the ultimate indoor prince, that’s unlikely. Wait, wait, I’m not wearing makeup? I’m not being considerate at all, yet the prince is flawlessly stylish? Is there some reason?)

The situation was too confusing, so she decided to ask him directly.

“The piercings suit you so well. Um, the hairstyle too. The glasses and apron too. It’s so different from the suit image, but this is incredibly stylish too. Is someone else coming over? Why are you so handsome at home? Even though I’m the only one seeing you, don’t you have the concept of waste? Relaxing with looks worthy of worldwide live broadcast. It’s too wasteful that I’m not recording this.”

“Um… am I being complimented? I’m just doing what I want to do.”

He sounded perplexed.

But Alice’s mood was “You shouldn’t look without paying admission.” While averting her eyes, she muttered back:

“Manager Yumikura, if that’s your natural self, then you’re completely the male of the species in the natural world. You’re exactly like male birds.”

“In the peacock sense? I didn’t intend to be that flashy.”

Avoiding direct eye contact with Kairi who looked like he couldn’t understand, looking down while observing him, Alice mustered her courage and spoke:

“Um, I think this might bother you to hear, but actually, I have zero interest in suits, I prefer more casual-looking guys. Prince, can I take your photo?”

“Of me?”

“Sorry for becoming a fan, I won’t sell them. I just want to look at them alone sometimes and grin. Really, I have no evil intentions, sorry. I want photos.”

Truthfully, Alice herself was surprised at how little interest she had in so-called “uniforms.” Until now, she had felt Kairi’s presence in his suit, recognized his good looks, but at most thought “He looks cool among the older men.”

That’s why the gap with his private appearance shook her so profoundly.

(He’s going to be creeped out…! But I really want photos. Secret photography is bad, absolutely. Ah, but wanting photos like this must be annoying, right.)

To Alice who was thinking rapidly, Kairi casually said “Sure.”

“Just in case, to prevent leaks, let’s make it a composition that absolutely can’t be sold.”

“Huh?”

He walked briskly over, stood next to Alice, and held up his smartphone with the front camera.

“A two-shot. At a distance where you can’t crop.”

Pulling her shoulder close, they were captured in one photo with a click. With surprising speed.

They only touched for that one moment.

“Eh, even with me in it, you won’t be happy. Um, I don’t photograph well, I always close my eyes. That’s a bit…”

Coming to her senses, Alice clung to Kairi’s arm, but he ignored her as he checked the photo.

“It’s fine. You look cute. I’ll send it to you.”

Saying that, he lightly held out his smartphone in front of Alice’s eyes.

The Alice displayed there looked slightly surprised from being caught off guard, but her expression wasn’t as strange as she’d thought.

(I wanted a solo shot of the prince. But I can’t be any more selfish than this.)

Thinking it was a bit disappointing that she was in the photo too, she suddenly realized she didn’t have her phone with her.

“Ah, I think I left my phone in the room. I’ll go get it.”

Alice quickly turned back down the hallway.

She walked faster than necessary.

Even though it was just a moment, the feeling of her shoulder being held made her heart pound. She felt she absolutely wouldn’t be able to calm down unless she put some distance between herself and Kairi.

(Hot guys are scary…! But I’m happy about the photo! I don’t like that I’m in it, but I’m happy. Good…)

After Alice, wrapped in Kairi’s clothes, left with light pattering footsteps, Kairi stared blankly at his smartphone.

Then, without a sound, he collapsed on the spot and crouched down.