Prologue

“Hiroyuki~. Can you leave this house by next week?”

“Huh?”

On a Saturday morning,I , Hiroyuki Higashi Kujo was downstairs from my room on the second floor to enjoy the special luxury of sleeping twice on my day off, when I suddenly heard my father, who was lying in bed watching the TV, say those words.

“I mean… Why?”

“Hiroyuki, starting next week, You’re going to live with your wife.”

“Huh?”

“As I said, from next week,  Hiroyuki will leave this house and live with his wife, Ayane-chan.”

“…… Wait a minute. I can’t keep up. What are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

“Don’t be rude. I’m not crazy. Hiroyuki is–“

“Take your eyes off the TV for a moment and look at me!”

My father turns towards me saying “What a pain..” How could you tell me to get out of the house while your focus is on the TV??

“Hahh… wanna know something?  Actually, your father’s company almost went bankrupt right after you were born.”

“In this Reiwa era, it’s a Showa era gag, dad” (TL Note- “The Shōwa era refers to the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Shōwa from December 25, 1926 until his death on January 7, 1989”- Wiki. Showa era is present day)

I shuddered.

“No, no, no, I’m not kidding. We were in a pretty bad situation… but then the president of a large company came to our rescue. He gave us financial support, lent us human resources, and introduced us to business partners. Well, he was a big help.”

“Hooo, well good for you”

“Right?　And your father thanked him very much, you know? I asked him if there was any way I could repay him, and he said, ‘Well, when your son and my daughter reach the right age, let’s get them married. “

“So… A fiancée?”

“That’s what I meant.”

“…I have a lot to ask regarding that. But first, why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“No, I mean, why do people even arrange marriages?  Isn’t it because there are benefits for both families, or because the parents get along well with each other? I’m not wrong, am I?”

“No, you aren’t”

“You haven’t known the president for a long time, right?”

“That’s right. It’s just about money. “

“How could you say that?  Then why are you talking about marrying me and the president’s daughter?

My father’s company is nothing more than a small business. Even though they call him “President”, it’s only small company with about 10 employees

“I don’t think the president of a large company would be that interested in you.”

“Hiroyuki… Trust your father’s ability! Don’t you believe in me?”

“You almost destroyed the company, didn’t you? Do you even have what it takes?”

“That’s harsh.. Shouldn’t you be more like “Well, surely? I don’t even have that ability, Dad.”

Saying that, my father shrugs his shoulders. No, it’s not that I don’t like or respect him, I don’t think my father was a big person in the first place.

“I’m just the president of a small business, but I’m a good person. But you know, my family is pretty famous, right?”

“Really?”

” Oh. I  never told you about that didn’t I?”

“First time I’m hearing it.”

“It’s pretty famous in Kyoto, you know? The head family of Higashi Kujo is from an old noble family, and the ancestors of the head family are also listed in history books.”

“Really?”

I did think that the main family’s house was huge, but I didn’t know that my family was that famous…

“Then why is my dad the president of a small business?”

“Good question, though I don’t really know how to explain this but… All the good places have already been taken by the main family and other powerful branch families.”

“That’s a pity..”

“Really? I’m not complaining though, because I’m free to do what I want. The company president who helped your father’s company came from a family of so-called businessmen. Well, though it’s not really a good way of putting it, they are what we call ‘nouveau riche’.  I heard that he had a lot of frustrating experiences in the business world.’ (TL Note- “Nouveau riche is a term used, usually in a derogatory way, to describe those whose wealth has been acquired within their own generation,rather than by familial inheritance.”-Wikipedia)

“..”

“Therefore maybe he thought of something like “Bloodline of a great family”. Well, another reason might be because it was a rapidly growing company, so it might’ve gotten a lot of bad publicity. So he probably couldn’t find anyone to marry his daughter.”

“… Really?”

What? I have to marry the daughter of such a prestigious family?

“Well, your father actually made that promise casually. But later, when I heard about his reputation, I went pale.”

“Then turn it down! Please turn it down!”

Mainly for my happiness!

“I’d love to do that, but… I’m sorry, Hiroyuki. The company has not been able to pay back the money borrowed from the president’s company. In fact, it’s increasing…”

“You should quit that company!　You don’t have the talent to run a business!”

“I’m already at the point where I can’t quit… Hiroyuki!　Please!”

“No thanks.”

“Your fiancee is really cute you know?　She’s like a real lady!　She has excellent grades and athletic ability!　She’s good property,  a good property!”

“What do you mean ”property”?!”

“You have met her before, you know?”

“I have?”

“Mhm”. My dad nodded

“Because you go to the same high school!”

“What??”

Oh no no no. I have a really bad feeling about this.

“You don’t know her? Your father has seen her in pictures, and if she’s that good looking, has excellent grades, and is athletic too. It wouldn’t even be surprising if she’s a school idol.”

As if to announce an emergency, an alert goes off in my head.

Good looking?

Excellent grades?

Athletic prowess?

On top of that, she’s a rich ojou-sama and goes to… the same school.

“Ayane..”

“Mm?”

“Is the name of the fiancee “Ayane Kiryu”?

In front of me, sincerely hoping it was a different person, my father put a gigantic grin on his face.

“Yes, that’s right! I knew Hiroyuki knew her! Hey, is she famous after all?”

“Indeed she is”

She is a sophomore at my school, Tian Eikan High School, and is famous for being the most beautiful girl in the whole school. She’s from a wealthy family, has excellent grades, and is an all-around athlete. A perfect young lady, but…

“ “Villaness Daughter” wasn’t it”

She was said to have a ‘devastatingly bad mouth and character,’ and the nickname she got was ‘The Villainess.’

Well, what can I say, she was a young lady with a reputation in many different ways.