Fuuka Kiryuiin's POV
When I enjoyed my life in the academy, far away from my family's endless nagging and the suffocating business matters, suddenly my father called me and gave me terrible news, news that said the family needed me.
I had a bad feeling from the very beginning.
My instincts were rarely wrong, and this time was no different.
As if the universe wanted to mock me, my father bluntly told me that I was to be married off, not out of love, not out of choice, but as a deal, to the heir of the Ichinose family.
The Ichinose family.
A name I had never associated with children, let alone an heir.
If I remembered correctly, the head of that family had no son and only missing daughter.
But according to my father, that problem had already been "solved."
Apparently, the head had discovered long-lost daughter, a grandson and a granddaughter.
The grandson was quickly named heir.
But that wasn't enough for him.
He needed strong support, a powerful alliance, to secure everything for his grandson: the company, the fortune, and the legacy.
That was where we came in.
The Kiryuuin family would serve as the solid foundation, the strongest backing for that boy, and in return, two of the most powerful mega corporations in Japan would unite and dominate without opposition.
The moment Father heard this, he agreed. Not after some consideration, not with any hesitation, but immediately, like he had been waiting for a deal like this all along.
He even went so far as to pressure my academy, forcing them to let me out temporarily so I could attend this so-called engagement.
For all of the academy's power and influence, they couldn't afford to wage war over something so small.
No matter how mighty the institution was, crossing both the Ichinose and Kiryuuin families, two corporate kingpins who practically ruled Japan's economy would be worst decision.
They could easily fight back, but if there's no benefit in doing so and it only creates unnecessary enemies, why would they sacrifice their interests for the sake of one girl?
As for the rules about not leaving the academy, rules can always be bent by the powerful.
Simple as that.
And just like that, my life was decided for me. I was dressed up like a doll, wrapped in a high-class red dress, sprayed with an expensive perfume that carried a seductive, natural scent, not to make me happy, not for myself, but for him, the heir.
I was to be sold off, shown off, and judged by how much I could impress him.
Father looked at me with a satisfied smile, as if I was nothing more than his masterpiece for display.
"Good luck, Kiryuuin," he said coldly, almost mockingly. "As long as you can impress him, your position as heir in this family will be secured and unshakable."
He promised me security, but I knew better than to trust him. How could I trust a man who sold off his own daughter like cattle, without even bothering to ask how I felt? A father in name only, a vampire who sucked out every ounce of my value for the sake of his ambitions.
I smiled flatly at him, hiding my disgust. "I will not disappoint you, Father."
He smirked in return, not noticing or not caring about my tone. "Then go, girl. Meet your fiancé. Don't let him wait for long."
After saying that, he left without looking back, leaving me to carry out his plans as if my thoughts and feelings had no meaning at all.
I stopped paying attention to him and began walking, the sound of my red high heels clicking against the floor. Each step felt heavy, my heart weighed down with exhaustion and a quiet resentment.
I sighed softly, not out of nervousness, but out of sheer tiredness with this family, with this role forced onto me.
All I wanted was to get this over with.
Hopefully, the heir wasn't an annoying guy. That was all I asked for.
...
Takashi Ichinose's POV
The week was finally over, and the official announcement of my engagement with Fuuka Kiryuuin was about to take place.
The venue was none other than the Ichinose Hotel, our family's private luxury hotel in Tokyo or to be precise, the new "identity" and "setting" arranged by the system itself.
For this occasion, I set off together with my sister, flying in a helicopter that our so-called grandfather had sent for us.
Arisu didn't ride along; she chose to go with her own father instead.
To outsiders, arriving by helicopter might seem excessive, but in the world of the upper class, it was nothing unusual.
For billionaires who burned through money as if it were air, this was simply common sense.
And truthfully, over the past week, I had been doing the exact same thing.
I threw my money around without hesitation: buying mountains of high-end food and snacks, stacking my wardrobe with branded fashion, designer glasses, the latest specs for both my PC and laptop, and even throwing down for a private island somewhere in Southeast Asia.
I didn't hold back on a single indulgence.
Why should I? Every yen was mine in the first place. And besides, this "grandfather" of ours only existed in this world because of me, because the system put him here.
So why should I feel awkward or embarrassed about spending what was already mine by right? This was nothing more than taking what I deserved.
The helicopter finally touched down on the rooftop landing pad of the hotel.
It doubled as a parking space for choppers like this, complete with attendants already waiting in line.
I stepped out with my sister, the wind from the rotors whipping at our clothes, and we began walking toward the entrance.
She glanced at me, doubt flickering in her eyes.
"Brother," she asked quietly, "are you really not angry about this… strange grandfather who suddenly forced his way into our lives? Back then, when our father abandoned us and left mother, I saw how angry you were. Don't you feel the same now?"
Maybe in her heart, she thought this new man was no different from our old deadbeat.
The only difference was that the one back then was poor trash, while this new one was rich beyond imagination.
But to her, both were the same kind of worthless man.
"You don't need to think of him as a grandfather," I answered calmly, my voice steady. "Just treat everything he gives as convenience. Use it. It's your right. Our right."
Honami lowered her head slightly, her shoulders sagging.
"I'm not as brave as you, brother… I can't convince myself that it's really okay."
I put a hand on her shoulder and spoke firmly, "You don't need to force yourself. Just think of it as repayment. This is the price he owes us for neglecting us back then. This is how he should pay."
Unlike Honami, I already knew the truth. This so-called grandfather wasn't real, he was nothing but a background character, an NPC created by the system to fill a role.
How could I get angry at something that was never even real?
My sister fell silent, clearly turning my words over in her head.
I didn't pressure her further.
Instead, I simply hummed a tune to myself as we walked side by side.
Ahead of us was the grand engagement banquet, an event meant to display power and prestige to the world.
And I was curious to see it for myself, to see just how far this feast, set up by someone who claimed the highest seat in the world, would go to prove that power.