The Heir I Dragged Into My “He’s My Fiancé!” Lie Is Somehow Playing Along!? - Chapter 2.11

“It’s an invitation from Executive Director Ashiya of Sekai Cruise. That matter about wanting Kanoa personnel to experience the Kasuga’s short cruise before the Hakuhou’s maiden voyage. I was originally invited, but they wanted Shirotsuki-san to come along too. …Yes, Ashiya seems quite amused. It’s from this Thursday to Saturday. Is that acceptable?”

After Kido went out to see Ashiya off, Kai called Akyoko on the spot to arrange the boarding. After a brief exchange ended the call, he let out a small sigh and turned his whole body toward Alice.

“I got the vice president’s approval. Sorry for the sudden notice, but it’s another business trip.”

Kai looked apologetic, but Alice was already getting excited.

“A Kasuga cruise experience…! That’s amazing. Even though it’s work, I think I’ll have an incredible time. I need to stay focused, or I’ll probably get carried away with everything.”

Ashiya seemed like he might have some quirks as a person, and there were some concerning remarks given his apparent long acquaintance with Kai and Kido, but Alice’s mind was completely filled with “I get to ride a luxury cruise ship!”

Narrowing his eyes and giving Alice a gentle look, Kai spoke in a calm tone.

“If you have fun and get excited, I think that’s the best thing for Alice’s future growth. Ultimately, hotel and restaurant work is about providing customers with experiences that become lifelong memories. Speaking specifically about Kanoa Resort as a company, we’re expected to provide services in the luxury price range. That can’t be achieved just by having the best buildings and amenities. It only comes together when staff who understand ‘what luxury means’ handle the customer service.”

“I understand that intellectually, but as a regular employee’s salary, it’s hard to get opportunities to learn by spending my own money. Oh, sorry.”

She’d voiced her thoughts as a general employee. Kai gave a wry smile and nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”

“Even if we can’t suddenly raise salaries, I’m thinking we should at least improve employee discount prices for using group facilities.”

After saying that, they looked at each other and simultaneously realized something with a start.

“Sorry. I immediately go into work mode. I was worried that by having Alice choose to live with me, I might be making home feel like an extension of the company.”

“Not at all! The reason I can focus completely on my work without extra worries is thanks to you, Kai-san! The house is clean, you drive me in the morning, and there’s always delicious food waiting when you return from business trips. Um, I feel like I’m receiving 100% of the benefits, but you…”

“10,000. But if I’m being greedy, I’d like to see Alice awake a bit more.”

“Ah—!” Alice groaned and bowed her head deeply.

“Really, I’m sorry for falling asleep every single day. I sleep everywhere—at home, in the car, anywhere.”

“That’s probably because your body needs sleep. It’s much better than not being able to sleep. The current work situation is honestly terrible. I seriously want you to get more rest. Didn’t Kido tell you that since the vice president is taking time off, you should too?”

“You see right through me.”

“Much more accurately than Ashiya’s assumption about a love triangle causing trouble. By the way, Ashiya and I go way back to high school—we’re old friends, and our families know each other. He knows about my sister and Kido too. But even I don’t really understand their current relationship, and there’s nothing I can do about it. This is between us.”

While sharing important information, he put a finger to his lips, winked, and smiled.

“Anyway, about Kido. No matter how worried I am about your health, I can’t put a rope around Alice’s neck and drag her home. You’re in a different department, so I won’t interfere. That said, since we’re boarding the Kasuga from Thursday for company reasons, try to take on work that doesn’t strain your body too much until then. Once we’re on the ship, let’s forget everything on land and enjoy ourselves together.”

Alice almost reflexively said “I’ll study hard!” as a company employee, but she managed to swallow the words this time.

Kai had said “let’s enjoy ourselves together.” She decided to gratefully accept that sentiment and carefully chose her words to convey only how much she was looking forward to it too.

“Yes. I’m really looking forward to it, so I’ll conserve my energy!”

“Please do. I’ll consider that my reward and work hard for the next three days.”

Finishing cheerfully, Kai started walking.

Watching his straight back, Alice felt her heart warm.

The Thursday boarding of the Kasuga was treated as a business trip, but employees weren’t expected to meet up somewhere and go together—it was meet at the location.

To let them fully enjoy the travel atmosphere, they were told: “Just keep in mind that you’re boarding as Kanoa employees, maintain appropriate behavior, and otherwise feel free to enjoy yourselves as regular guests. That’s what Sekai Cruise hopes for too.”

Alice pulled her trunk and headed to Yokohama Port with Kai.

When they arrived at the lounge, the waiting area before boarding, Kido was already there.

“Good work. You two could have just enjoyed yourselves alone. I’ll take it easy over here too.”

Kido gave Alice his usual smooth greeting, then spoke to Kai in a somewhat careless tone.

Kai, in his executive-style work attire, replied regretfully, “I’d love nothing more, but…”

“I really can’t do that. It’s combined with an inspection, so even on the ship, my first day is packed with meetings. The main producer for the Hakuhou will be there too.”

Kai immediately added that Kido had work too, as if reminding him. As if expecting it, Kido nodded. Just then, a breeze rustled through.

“Morning! Glad you could make it! Three days is short, but enjoy yourselves!”

The one who appeared was Ashiya, today wearing a stunning royal blue suit.

When his eyes met Alice’s, he smiled with the familiarity of old acquaintances. It gave the impression of a truly first-class hotelier, and Alice felt professional respect.

(In customer service, someone who can create luxury through personality—that’s this kind of person, right? Quick-witted, good taste, doesn’t seem intimidated by any guest. Kai-san is like that too.)

Ashiya continued speaking smoothly.

“For Manager Kura, of course we’ve prepared the top-tier suite. I was concerned that staying with Kido would feel like a work extension and be dull, but I’m glad Shirotsuki Alice-san came along. The vice president is quick to understand such things—that’s good.”

“Thank you for the invitation. I’ll enjoy it enough for a lifetime.”

“What’s this, a lifetime? A lifetime is long. If you like it, come again privately next time. Actually, I hear Kanoa’s wedding business is struggling right now, but don’t feel obliged—you could choose us instead. We can do full charters.”

Still smiling, Alice froze. The marriage implication aside, she couldn’t even imagine the cost of chartering an entire luxury cruise ship.

“Executive Director Ashiya, that’s unnecessary meddling. Please don’t stick your nose too much into our affairs.”

Kai cut in with a cold voice, but Ashiya showed no sign of remorse and responded with a smile.

“Sorry. I’m just so curious I can’t help poking into everything. I haven’t given up on saying that if Kai wasn’t going to work at Kanoa, he should have come to Sekai Cruise. Look, his name is even ‘Kai’—our work suits him better. Maybe I’ll poach both him and his fiancée while I’m at it.”

“Regarding the Hakuhou business partnership, we’re already going out of our way and doing our utmost. Trying to poach Alice on top of that is unacceptable.”

“If poaching won’t work, then maybe abduction. Essentially, if Shirotsuki-san chooses me over Kai, both as a company and as a man. …Huh?”

Ashiya seemed to be just teasing Kai, but Kai apparently didn’t take it that way, and the atmosphere grew terribly heavy.

“…Whoa, you’re serious?”

“Serious or not, I don’t date women as a joke.”

Even to his old friend Ashiya, Kai declared with a stern expression.

But Ashiya merely shrugged lightly.

“Meeting within the company is cliché, but since Kai is the heir, the dating itself is tough. This time, even though it wasn’t requested by Kanoa and I arranged it, being invited by a business partner to a luxury resort with a woman in tow—how is that different from the former PR director who caused a scandal? You might think you’re justifying it to other employees as ‘fiancée’ rather than ‘mistress,’ but don’t be too optimistic. Family-run businesses already tend to be seen as having nepotistic upper management.”

As expected of someone who, like Kai, attained an executive position in a family company at a young age.

(His words feel so real!)

Alice had been concerned about this too. He was hitting a very sore spot. Was the cruise invitation actually Ashiya’s trap? The thought made her blood run cold even now.

Pressing on, Ashiya continued cheerfully.

“If Shirotsuki-san is showing promise in her work at Kanoa, there shouldn’t be any issues ability-wise, and we’d welcome her. If the company views her strictly, you could send her on loan to Sekai Cruise. It would be good for Shirotsuki-san’s learning too. Kai, judge that calmly.”

Being told to be calm seemed to work.

Kai, who had looked ready to retort against all the remarks, now nodded seriously at Ashiya’s proposal without any joking.

“Understood. Honestly, if someone told me to take her on world cruises several times a year for three months straight, I’d struggle with that too. I’m concerned about Alice’s current workload, and her work style should be reviewed. We’ll consider it as a company while respecting her wishes.”

Alice had been watching the conversation unfold without interrupting, but when Kai, Ashiya, and Kido all looked at her, she straightened her posture.

“As a Kanoa employee, if I’m told to go on loan for training, I might not be able to refuse. But personally, I don’t want to leave my current work half-done, and even if told I could board a luxury cruise for future learning, three months without seeing Kai-san would be.”

She answered smoothly, then gasped and shut her mouth.

(I might have said too much of how I really feel…!)

What Kido had told her earlier had been weighing on her mind. Couldn’t she care about Kura Kai not as coworkers, but as his girlfriend?

She’d resolved to prioritize honest feelings over work in important moments, but how was that just now? Anxiously, she looked toward Kai.

“Ugh… I might cry.”

Kai had bowed his head and was clutching his chest. He might actually be crying.

“Well, he would cry. From every angle, it’s been one-sided love all along.”

Kido said bluntly, and Ashiya burst out laughing, holding his stomach. Then he murmured happily.

“What, it’s one-sided? Then it seems there might still be an opening for me too.”

After boarding, Kai said “I’ll finish work quickly and be back!” and hurried out of the room without even exploring the precious suite.

Left behind, Alice, due to her professional habits, almost started checking amenities, but restrained herself and enjoyed the luxurious room she might never enter again in her life.

“To think I’d ever stay in a room like this. The Hakuhou has rooms costing millions per night. Even on the Kasuga…”

She almost imagined the price and shook her head.

Boldly throwing herself onto the king-size bed, she declared out loud, “I won’t think about it!”

(Originally, this room was meant for Kido-san! Even though he said “staying together is outrageous” and went to a different room, there’s no point being nervous about something that’s already decided!)

Kido had told her too—that humility and patience, when excessive, become annoying.

She was told to forget work and enjoy herself, and if she remained timid forever, she’d just cause trouble for others.

“I worked hard until today! For these three days, I’ll think I won the lottery and enjoy myself to the fullest. That will become nourishment for later!”

Telling herself this, Alice headed toward the buffet-style restaurant where welcome food and drinks were prepared.

Among the bustling regular guests, she spotted a few familiar faces.

“Shirotsuki-san! Good work!”

The one who called out was Miwa from the secretarial department.

Dressed very casually, she had a girl around elementary school age with her. A bit further away were a woman who appeared to be her wife and a young boy.

“Good work. Miwa-san, you came too.”

“Yes. ‘Might as well go,’ thanks to the president’s kindness. It’s treated as work attendance until Saturday, but the whole family is invited with no work brought along. It’s such a rare opportunity, I even let the kids skip school to come. Shirotsuki-san, are you with Manager Kura?”

“Yes. It’s terribly presumptuous of me, but…”

The words “I’m not family though” almost came out, but seeing Miwa’s smile, she stopped herself from saying something pointless.

“Shirotsuki-san, you’ve been busy lately, so this is perfect timing. Until the Hakuhou’s maiden voyage, the company will continue gathering volunteers for the Kasuga cruise experience. Other employees are looking forward to it too, so please enjoy yourself fully and pass it on. Just between us, since we’re a large family group, they prepared quite a nice room for us too.”

Saying it casually, Miwa left with her family.

“I see. Okay, let’s have fun!”

Feeling suddenly much lighter, Alice thoroughly enjoyed the buffet from there, then wandered the ship freely, peeking into the gym and casino.

They all looked interesting and fun, but being alone felt lonely, so she didn’t actually go inside.

(I’d like to come here when I’m with Kai-san.)

In the tenant area, as she was about to pass by a jewelry store and high-end boutique, she conveniently ran into Kai, who had his smartphone in hand.

“Alice! All my meetings are finished! I still have some schedule, but I’m free to move around. Perfect timing—I was about to contact you. You were worried about the dress code, right? We didn’t have time to buy new clothes, so let’s get them here.”

“Here?”

She found herself slightly annoyed that she was worrying about prices right after deciding to have fun.

(The flower shop we passed earlier seemed to have prices one digit higher than on land. If we get clothes at the ship boutique…)

Kai said with a perfect smile.

“I know Alice’s birthday is tomorrow. I’ve been too busy to prepare anything, so I’d like you to consider everything we give you today as birthday presents. Tonight’s restaurant has the strictest dress code. Also, ‘Haruhi’ has a dance hall that also requires formal attire. I have business at all these places, so I’d like Alice to accompany me.”

Being told all that, there was no reason to refuse. Alice smiled again and expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you very much!”