"Oh my, from childhood friends to an engaged couple! Isnāt that so romantic?"
"Yeah. No, itās not."
"You two were always together back in the academy, right?"
"Ah, thatās true."
It all began during our academy days.
I was exhausted from the constant stream of marriage proposals.
āWhat about me?ā
āWhat?ā
āAs your marriage partner.ā
And so, I ended up signing a contract engagement with my friend, Aivert!
Thus, we began acting like a couple who couldnāt live without each other.
Of course, I can swear that heās just a friend.
But as time passed, and when the end of the contract was approachingā¦
"Soon, I'll be free!"
I thought the embarrassing couple act would soon be over! Butā¦
āClank.
An unexpected event occurred.
I stared, bewildered, at the handcuffs now on both my wrist and Aivertās.
What kind of situation is this?
*
I thought weād just be stuck together, and as long as we did our part, everything would be fine.
After all, acting as a couple would get easier, right?
I kept thinking positively about it, butā¦
Holding the key to the handcuffs, Aivert Royden subtly tilted his head.
āIf I break this, would you be disappointed?ā
Rodellaās eyes went wide.
The shy and cautious childhood friend from her memories was gone, replaced by a stranger, yet someone familiar.
He wore a look that stirred strange feelings in her.
"You said it yourself. A madman should be tied up."
Clank. He shook his bound wrist.
"If I take this offā¦"
If I drift away from you, if I let this opportunity slip awayā¦
"I think I might go crazy. What should I do?"