Under Hill’s cover, I finally slipped out of my own home.

After such a huge incident, returning anytime soon would be suicide. This month, my constitution flared up early—and far more violently than last month. Judging by my stepmoms’ reactions, they’d need weeks to calm down.

Luckily, even if home was off-limits, I had a safe haven nearby: the Kingdom of Lothric, just beyond my castle.

Among the continent’s kingdoms, Lothric reigned supreme in both soft and hard power. And my dangerously charming childhood friend, Lorian, happened to be its youngest princess.

Truth was, Lorian and I were more than childhood friends—we were cousins. She was my maternal aunt’s daughter.

How? That perverted dad of mine somehow charmed Lothric’s crown princess—now one of my stepmoms—using who-knows-what dark arts.

That made the old king my nominal grandfather. He’d even held me as a newborn. Thanks to this tie, his royal castle became my refuge whenever my "constitution flared" and I messed things up.

…

After a morning’s walk, I reached Lothric’s royal castle just before my stomach growled loud enough to summon guards.

Hill had turned back halfway to handle my pursuing stepmoms. Alone, I crossed the quiet courtyard to the garden where Grandpa usually read.

An old man sat by a round table, draped in loose robes, absorbed in a book. Though his temples were silvered, the sharpness in his brows lent him an air of seasoned authority.

My grandfather—King Roas of Lothric. In his youth, his beauty was so unearthly that awestruck subjects dubbed him… ahem, the Demon King.

Grandpa was stern to outsiders but warm with family. Every time I fled here, he welcomed me like a true grandson.

He had just one flaw lately: aging made him crave great-grandchildren. He’d been pushing me to sign marriage papers with Lorian for months.

No way would I agree! I was still in my abstinence phase for the trial! Yet no matter how I explained, he refused to believe me. Including today’s attempt, he’d tried to force this eight times.

…

“Grandpa!”

I steeled myself, lifting my skirt as I hurried toward him.

He set down his book at the sound. But his reaction was… odd.

He raised his monocle, studying my face intently. His voice hitched with suspicious pauses.

“Oh~ Xiao Ya.”

Recognition dawned. He beamed, nodding in satisfaction. “Months apart, and you’ve grown into such a lovely young la—ahem, lad.”

*Yes! Your grandson’s already a lovely—*

*Huh?*

“Grandpa… what did you just say?”

“Hahaha!”

His laughter deepened. I doubted he’d recognized me at all.

Honestly, it wasn’t his fault. I’d inherited my birth mother’s delicate features, and Lorian loved “experimenting” on my face. Unless you knew me well, I was unrecognizable.

…

I shook my head. Today wasn’t about showing off my dress.

“Grandpa, today’s… that time of month for me. Could I stay here awhile?”

“Family needs no formalities. Pick a room, Xiao Ya. The maids will prepare it.”

He waved dismissively.

*Yes! Grandpa for the win!*

“Thank you!”

Relief flooded me as I turned to leave—until his next words froze my smile.

He wasn’t done. After the sugar coating came the stick.

His stern expression confirmed it: the inevitable had arrived.

“Xiao Ya, you’re sixteen now, aren’t you?”

Arms crossed, he watched me calmly. “Lorian just turned fifteen. Since you’re here… let’s discuss this again. You’re both old enough. Shouldn’t you… settle things?”

“H-haha… ‘settle things’ meaning…?”

I tried playing dumb, but the jig was up.

“Set a date,” he said lightly. “You two are well-matched, fond of each other. Better to formalize it now. If you… slip up later and she gets pregnant, scrambling to fix it would bring shame.”

“Wait, Grandpa! I can’t before adulthood—”

“Don’t make excuses. You just want more freedom, don’t you? I was young once. I know how boys think—you’re exactly like your father!”

His words sealed my lips.

I did like Lorian. Signing someday? Fine. But now…

Because of my trial, the farthest I’d ever traveled was this castle. If I married my childhood friend without roaming the world like my perverted dad…

Honestly? It’d waste this excellent body my parents gave me.

*Saying that aloud?* Grandpa would have me tied to an altar with Lorian by dawn.

…

I wiped sweat from my brow.

For my sake, Lorian’s, and the hundreds of unseen girls out there—I had to dodge this marriage talk.

“Grandpa… could we delay the contract? Until I’m older, maybe…?”

“I’d wait if I could. But can *you* two hold back? Modern youth chase thrills, skip precautions… one reckless moment, and—”

Grandpa didn’t flinch while spouting this bizarre lecture.

Just as I opened my mouth to insist Lorian and I hadn’t “scored on the first try,” his expression darkened.

Then he dropped the bomb.

“Besides, Xiao Ya… Lorian’s grown. Rumors spread. Suitors have already appeared.”

“*Who?!*”

I slammed my palms on the table, black dress fluttering. “Which fool dares eye Lorian? I’ll chop off his bits and stir-fry them with chili peppers!”

As the Hero’s son, I might not be the strongest—but I could still walk this continent sideways.

Even in a dress, my aura of dominance made Grandpa’s eyes widen.

“The son of an Elf elder.”

Grandpa coughed violently mid-sentence. “Cough—Xiao Ya, your skirt! Tug it down—cough! Wife, wife, I didn’t mean to look! Don’t haunt me in dreams!”

He clasped his hands, praying skyward.

Grandma had passed long ago.

Now I understood. His worry wasn’t about us “slipping up”—it was rivals appearing before we came of age.

Some blond punk? No matter. I’d handle him.

“Grandpa… if I convince that fool—ahem, *gentleman*—to back off… could Lorian and I delay the contract?”

“We could… if you can control yourself.”

His brow furrowed.

Still, he compromised for his brilliant grandson. Progress.

“But Xiao Ya… human-Elf relations are fragile. He’s a highborn Elf. One misstep could spark a racial war…”

“Relax, Grandpa. Who do you think your grandson is?”

I cut off his worries.

“Elves? I have a hundred ways to make those pointy-eared nuisances stay far from Lorian.”