The Heir I Dragged Into My “He’s My Fiancé!” Lie Is Somehow Playing Along!? - Chapter 2.7

Following Kirihara’s back, she proceeded down the aisle.

The destination was a table beside an especially large aquarium, where nearly twenty people were already seated.

“Oh, it’s the rumored fiancée! She actually came!”

An unrestrained voice reached her ears, and Alice grasped the situation.

(I’ve been so busy it completely slipped my mind, but within the company, I’m considered “a personnel transfer with a story.” I must have been the subject of rumors even in places I didn’t know about. This kind of baptism might be inevitable.)

More than half were men. While members of the secretarial department were present, neither Section Chief Honami nor her hoped-for ally Kido were there.

“Everyone’s quite curious about the ‘fiancée,’ you see. So, we arranged this gathering to invite you. Why don’t you give us a speech about your appointment as the Vice President’s exclusive secretary and your enthusiasm?”

Kirihara, with his sly smile, pressed Alice as if applying pressure.

(It feels like a drinking party with nothing but ill intentions, but I can’t show weakness here!)

Her pride won out.

Alice smiled and introduced herself.

“I’m Shirotsuki, newly assigned to the secretarial department. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to greet everyone. I look forward to working with you.”

“Is that all? Don’t you have anything else? Like how to cozy up to the Ozora family, or techniques for winning over that famously rigid Section Chief Yumikura?”

From beside her, Kirihara interjected teasingly.

She had vaguely sensed it during her conversation with Takase on the way here, but this must be Alice’s current reputation and position within the company.

If anything, it was almost kind that they were being honest with her.

“Win over? I don’t think there’s any method in this world to ‘win over’ Section Chief Yumikura. He’s not the type to yield to anyone’s schemes.”

“Oh ho. As expected of someone worthy of being welcomed into the Ozora family—you’ve got guts. You look like a cute young lady, but the rumors of you being a wicked woman don’t seem unfounded. After all, they say you were two-timing Section Chief Yumikura with another employee.”

Something stabbed sharply into Alice’s chest.

(Rumors…! The truth is, I didn’t realize I was being two-timed, had my money taken, was dumped, and only after that did my relationship with Kai-san begin…!)

There was no overlapping period before the relationship started; the sequence isn’t wrong. But the fact that her approach to Kai began with Alice’s big lie was undeniable, and given her personality, she felt guilty about it.

Her agitation must have shown on her face, because Kirihara smirked with a malicious grin.

“Today, we’d really like to hear the details about that. After all, Shirotsuki-san might rise high in the future and stand above us. We want you to talk about various things, including that lofty ambition and your passionate feelings for Kanoa.”

She remembered being called the “future president’s wife” on her first day in the secretarial department.

(For years after the trouble when I joined the company, without realizing it, Kai-san had been my breakwater, allowing me to live peacefully within the company… But now, conversely, being recognized as Kai-san’s ‘fiancée,’ I’m probably being scrutinized harshly by female employees who used to fawn over Kai-san and by employees who’ve worked hard aiming for promotion.)

Even Takase, her colleague in the secretarial department who had kindly taught her everything, seemed to have doubts about Alice and Kai’s relationship.

Alice was now in the spotlight, and in settings like this, she was being tested.

Running away would be easy, but if she ran once, she’d have to keep running forever. Plus, she intuitively knew she’d be pursued relentlessly.

(What would Vice President Akiko do? She’d face it resolutely! I want to be like that too!)

As a company employee, she had seen many working women. Even among them, Akiko was the first woman of her kind that Alice had met.

Workload, vitality, judgment, social skills—all of it was filled with a force that repelled others’ envy.

(If I hadn’t seen the Vice President’s work up close, I might have looked for an escape. Even if teased about being the fiancée, I might have said, “There are so many beautiful women around Kai-san, someone like me.” But that’s not the core issue. People interested in what kind of person I am care more about “ability” than appearance.)

To gain the confidence that she could be “worthy” of Kai, who stood at such heights, Alice herself had to make those around her acknowledge her.

This was no time to be timid.

Even if her skills weren’t there yet, she had to face it with courage! Encouraging herself, Alice turned a smile toward Kirihara beside her.

“Fortunately, I’ve been given the opportunity to see Kanoa’s work up close beside the Vice President, and it makes me feel determined. I don’t know if I’ll remain in the secretarial department forever or if there will be transfers, but wherever I go, I’ll give it my all. I still have shortcomings, so if you notice anything, I’d be happy if you could point it out.”

There was a sense that the room had fallen silent.

(Ah, did I mess up!?)

She had intended to give a smooth response, imagining how Akiko conversed with business partners, but the reaction was lukewarm. Just as Alice began to panic internally, Takase, seated at a distant spot, started clapping.

“I’ve been working with her, and Shirotsuki-san is incredibly serious and hardworking. She’s tackling the Vice President’s secretary role, a position no one else has lasted in without complaint or grumbling, giving it her all. When I first met her, I thought, ‘Why is Section Chief Yumikura’s fiancée such an ordinary person?'”

He added in a low voice, “I still think so,” but those around them responded with a collective “Huh.”

(Takase-san, thank you! You covered for me, didn’t you!)

Even setting aside the matter of not being accepted as Kai’s fiancée, his testimony about her work was reassuring and appreciated.

“The reason I’m managing to keep up with the Vice President’s pace now is thanks to Takase-san, who guides me as a senior. I look forward to your continued support.”

Even if the other person was her junior in terms of company tenure, she didn’t mind bowing her head.

When Alice bowed politely, like a hotel staff member, the surroundings erupted with an “Ooh~.”

Kirihara beside her smirked and said,

“I see. So, you’re a bit different from some arrogant daughter of a zaibatsu, or a model-type big sister who looks the part but has no intention of doing any company work, or a woman who doesn’t work but acts like an executive, meddling and seeming oddly expensive.”

It seemed she had been acknowledged, if only slightly, but there were words Alice couldn’t let slide.

(Is that the type of woman considered suitable as Section Chief Yumikura’s fiancée?)

Though curious, perhaps influenced by the young Takase taking the lead in speaking, the tension in the room visibly eased. For now, she felt like sighing with relief.

“Well, that kind of thing isn’t in style anymore. It’s problematic compliance-wise, so let’s leave it at that.”

Miwa, the secretary to the president, interceded as if smoothing things over, adding, “Shirotsuki-san really is an amazingly hard worker. She’s with that Vice President, after all.” A few people who had been holding their breath in what seemed like a disciplinary setting relaxed their expressions with relief.

“Well, I think Shirotsuki-san’s transfer to the secretarial department was a good choice. I’d want her in our department too, normally. She doesn’t seem easily intimidated, and it looks like she’d be worth training.”

“I thought she was plain, but Section Chief Yumikura has a good eye.”

“She’s going to transform in a few years, this one. Better butter her up now.”

The conversations, though spoken loud enough to be heard, were all favorable toward Alice.

(Since I don’t know when or where I might be tripped up, I can’t let my guard down, but I might have relaxed a little. Until now, I never liked these company drinking parties and avoided them if possible, but if this many people can get to know “me” all at once, then today was worth coming.)

When someone said, “Over here,” Alice sat down in a seat facing the aquarium.

They toasted, drank, ate the food that was served, and chatted amiably with those around them.

To the point of feeling apologetic for her initial resistance, Kirihara, seated beside her, paid careful attention to various details.

“Ahh, if only Shirotsuki-san weren’t Section Chief Yumikura’s fiancée. You’re totally my type—I’d have pursued you relentlessly until you went out with me.”

Finally, he said something she couldn’t tell was a joke or serious, and Alice gave a wry smile.

(I’ve never been popular before! I know it’s not “me” they’re interested in, but the “Section Chief Yumikura’s fiancée.” I won’t misunderstand.)

As far as she could remember, Alice had never been properly popular.

When the former PR manager approached her as a new employee, it was probably “because she was young,” and her ex-boyfriend, who committed something akin to marriage fraud, probably did so simply “because she seemed easy to fool.”

At this point, even now, knowing the circumstances, Alice herself was the most baffled about why Prince Yumikura had suddenly appeared before her. Why…?

“Kirihara-san, that’s what all the single men here are thinking. If Section Chief Yumikura weren’t keeping an eye out, I’d have made a pass at Shirotsuki-san too, I think.”

Holding a glass, Takase, who had come up behind Alice, unexpectedly chimed in.

When Alice turned around, he smiled and pointed at the aquarium with his glass.

“Good work. This is a great seat, isn’t it? Usually, aisle seats are where you call waitstaff, have dishes cleared, and generally take care of things. The image is that the organizer or junior staff sit there. But at this place, the aquarium view seats are the seats of honor. My seat had its back to it, so I came to see the aquarium. The fish are beautiful.”

“Oh, right. That makes sense, even if it’s an aisle seat, the one with the better view is the seat of honor. Ah, I’m right in the center of the seats of honor today. It’s a bit daunting, but thank you so much for arranging this opportunity.”

When Alice thanked him, Takase froze and stared intently into her eyes.

(What is it? Does he have something to say?)

She stared back, thinking, “Just say it if you do,” and their gazes intertwined. With an intensely serious face, Takase muttered, “You really don’t get it, do you?”

What? Alice leaned forward to ask.

Then, an odd silence fell.

Noticing that the moderately drunk people’s gazes were passing over her toward someone behind her, Alice broke eye contact with Takase and looked that way.

“Good work. I didn’t mean to intrude, but I was just passing by. I see some familiar faces, so I thought I’d come say hello while I’m here.”

What reason could there be for “passing by” inside a restaurant that wasn’t even an open terrace? As an excuse, it was a bit forced.

In the instant silence that swallowed all conversation, Takase, looking stunned, uttered the name of the person who had appeared.

“Section Chief Yumikura…?”