Karen was turning sixteen in two weeks. What that meant was simple, she would legally be old enough to get married.
“In two weeks, I will be holding the wedding ceremony with Karen.”
Domeki Loki, the oni himself, arrived at our house in a pitch-black limousine and declared this arrogantly from the seat of honor in our guest room. Karen was leaning sweetly against him, my parents sat respectfully below them, and I stood waiting outside the room. It was an abrupt announcement for all of us.
Two weeks? There wasn’t even time to diet for the dress. Not that Karen would need to.
Onis were said to be single-mindedly devoted to their brides. They couldn’t wait to make them their own and didn’t care about the means as long as they got what they wanted. So it was only natural for him to insist on holding the ceremony on her sixteenth birthday.
The one who adapted the fastest, of course, was Karen. She let out a delighted squeal and clung tightly to Loki’s arm.
“I’m so happy! I can’t believe I get to marry you so soon, Loki! Once we’re married, I don’t have to go to school anymore, right? I just want to be with you every day.”
Loki stroked her chin affectionately, his touch almost like a master petting his favorite toy, and gave a magnanimous nod.
“Of course. You are my bride, Karen. Your place is by my side. I won’t let you go anywhere. I promise you a life free of any hardship.”
“Loki…”
Karen looked up at him dreamily. Seeing them, my parents finally snapped out of their stunned silence and spoke up.
“Karen, that’s wonderful. You must be happy.”
“I’m certain it’ll be a beautiful ceremony. What kind of dress should we choose, I wonder?”
Their voices were bright and cheerful, utterly devoid of worry. They spoke with the blind trust of those who fully believed in the onis’ honor.
“About that,” Loki began smoothly,
“Until the wedding, I’d like Karen to live at my estate so we can prepare properly. Since she’ll be busy, have her take a break from school. She may as well drop out, after all, she’s getting married, so it shouldn’t matter.”
He said it with complete assurance, as if the thought of refusal had never even occurred to him.
“Of course! Right, Dad, Mom? It’s okay, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I think you’ll be fine even if you drop out, Karen. Just mind your manners.”
“Do your best to behave properly, dear.”
As expected, no one objected. But honestly, this worked in my favor. If Karen disappeared from the house for good, that would be one less source of stress for me.
Just as I was silently breathing a sigh of relief at how things were turning out, Karen spoke up again in a small voice.
“Ah, but… I’ll feel a little anxious alone. Can I bring onee-chan with me? Pretty please…?”
With that soft, coaxing tone that she used, there was no way the oni would refuse her.
“I don’t mind. Having family around might make things go more smoothly.”
“Thank you! Then, I’ll come stay at your house together with onee-chan!”
I froze. Why had she dragged me into this? The reason was obvious. She didn’t want to be alone in a mansion full of unfamiliar onis. And I had been chosen as her convenient maid.
Furthermore, I’d have to miss two whole weeks of school and even right during finals, no less. I’m not even sure if my grades will survive. I needed to rearrange everything immediately, talk to Nao, and then…
As I mentally listed out all the things I needed to do and felt dizzy from the sheer number of them, I muttered under my breath:
—Someday, I will definitely kill her.
As long as I can still say that, I know I’ll be fine.
