“Stop talking nonsense and go back to your home already!”

  Akitsu Shouga’s voice echoed across the quiet road as he glared at the girl standing in front of him.

  “I don’t care if you had an argument with your parents or anything like that, but you just can’t run away from home! Even if your parents don’t care about you, at least you have parents! Some people don’t even have parents!”

  The words poured out of him like something he’d been holding in far too long.

  The girl clenched her fists, her expression twisting in fury.

  “Why do you care if I run away or not?!” she shouted back. “We just met, and you’re lecturing me to go back home even though I don’t want to!! It would be better for me if my parents disappeared!!”

  Akitsu’s eyes narrowed.

  “You should be grateful for what you have!” he snapped. “Even if your parents don’t care about you, you are still their child—so go back home!”

  For a moment, the girl froze.

  Then she stood up abruptly and thrust her hand toward him.

  “Let’s go! I’ll prove it to you—that my parents don’t care about me at all!”

  Akitsu slapped her hand away without hesitation.

  “I don’t want to go with a spoiled noble like you,” he said coldly. “You can go back home by yourself.”

  The girl’s lips curled into a dangerous grin.

  “Looks like I’ll have to forcefully drag you back to my house, huh?”

  Akitsu didn’t even have time to protest.

  After a chaotic struggle, the girl grabbed him by the collar and began dragging him through the streets with shocking strength. He stumbled over stones, nearly tripping multiple times as passersby stared in disbelief.

  “Quit struggling!” she yelled. “You’ll just make it harder for both of us!!”

  “Let me go!” Akitsu shouted. “Let me go, you stubborn brat! I don’t want to go back to your house!”

  “I don’t care!!”

  Her once-beautiful ball gown was now smeared with dirt, torn at the hem, and completely ruined—but she didn’t slow down.

  By the time they stopped, Akitsu’s legs felt like jelly.

  They stood before a giant mansion, towering above them like a fortress. It was located kilometers away from the horse barn where he had slept the night before.

  The girl had dragged him the entire way by herself.

  The sun was at its peak. The wind was calm.

  A guard at the front gate glanced at them, recognized the girl instantly, and hurriedly opened the gate without a word.

  She refused to let go of Akitsu’s hand.

  Eventually, Akitsu gave up resisting and followed her inside.

  They walked toward the mansion’s massive front door.

  “Umm… why do you need me here?” Akitsu asked hesitantly.

  “I’m going to prove to you that my parents don’t care about me at all!”

  “That can’t be the only reason, right?”

  The girl looked at him—and smiled.

  “I like you. Want to be friends?”

  Akitsu sighed deeply.

  “All I see is an immature, rebellious teenager trying to prove to me that her parents don’t care about her.”

  She punched him square in the face.

  “Shut up!! You obviously need me since you don’t have any place to stay!”

  “How do you know about that?”

  “You slept on a pile of hay,” she said flatly. “Isn’t that enough proof?”

  “…Yeah. I guess so.”

  Akitsu sighed inwardly.

  This feels like a fantasy story, he thought.

  I even got the fantasy romance deluxe package for free.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  The girl burst through the mansion doors.

  Inside, chaos erupted.

  Her parents rushed down the stairs, faces pale with fear.

  They embraced her tightly, tears streaming freely.

  “Kaoru!” her mother cried. “I thought we would never see you again! I’m so glad you’re back home safely!”

  Her father hugged her in silence, his grip trembling.

  Kaoru froze.

  Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

  Akitsu gently slipped his hand from hers.

  “I told you, I was right…” he whispered.

  “Your parents do love you.”

  Without another word, he turned around and walked away.

  “Wait.”

  Her father’s voice stopped him.

  The man opened his eyes and looked at Akitsu.

  “Who is that boy you came with, Kaoru?”

  “That’s my friend!” she said quickly. “He helped me come back here.”

  Perfect, Kaoru!! Akitsu thought.

  Now for the finale—the father will be indebted to me and give me all the treasure I want!!

  “Wait!!” her father called out. “I haven’t thanked you yet!!”

  Perfect execution!!! Akitsu thought. This is exactly what I wanted him to say!!

  “There’s no need,” Akitsu replied calmly. “I don’t need any help.”

  “Please,” the man insisted. “I am indebted to you. I won’t be satisfied unless I can treat you to something!”

  “Really, there’s no need—”

  “OI!!” Kaoru shouted. “Stop trying to act cool! You don’t even have a house to stay in!!”

  “Oh my,” her mother gasped. “Dear, the poor boy doesn’t have a house.”

  Good job blowing my entire plan up, Kaoru!!! Akitsu screamed internally.

  “Please,” her father said. “If you want, I’ll give you a room in the mansion. I must treat you to something.”

  “…Alright,” Akitsu said quickly. “I’ll take you up on that offer!”

  A few hours later, Akitsu stepped out of the shower.

  “This place isn’t so bad,” he muttered. “I get my own personal bathroom.”

  Neatly laid out on the bed were silk shirts with embroidered collars, fine tunics, and tight hose made of silk and wool.

  “That looks… expensive.”

  He hesitated, then shrugged.

  “I guess I should wear it. They gave it to me, after all.”

  Dressed in noble clothing, he looked out the window at countless other mansions.

  “I wonder how rich this whole neighborhood really is…”

  A knock echoed.

  “You may enter!”

  Kaoru stepped inside, wearing a pink gown adorned with flowers, her hair tied neatly into a bun.

  “I see the outfit fits you,” she said.

  “Aren’t these clothes expensive?”

  “Yes,” she replied casually. “But don’t worry. My parents are rich. Money isn’t an issue.”

  “Whatever you say, Kaoru, you stubborn brat.”

  She walked up and punched him on the head.

  “Shut up!!”

  “Ow! That hurt!”

  “How do you know my name?”

  “I heard it when you reunited with your parents.”

  “If you know my name,” she said, “tell me yours.”

  “I’m Akitsu Shouga. Call me whatever you want.”

  “Alright, Shouga-kun.”

  “Using my given name already, huh?” he smirked.

  “Aren’t we moving too fast, Thorn Princess?”

  She punched him again.

  “Shut up! We’re going to be friends from now on, so try to get along with me!”

  “That’s easier said than done…”

  “Are you insisting that I punch you again?”

  “No! No! No!”