In any case, the matter of the blind date was settled between the two of them.
Although Haruno felt a strange discomfort knowing Roland didn't genuinely want to marry her, it actually suited her purposes.
After all, if she were to marry Roland, the burden of future arranged marriages would likely fall on her kid sister Yuki.
Haruno didn't want that to happen. She wanted her younger sister to find her own "true happiness, her man".
That's why she had been conflicted when she first heard Roland was coming for the arranged marriage. On one hand, her mother had given her a non-negotiable order to secure Roland. On the other hand, with Yuki to consider, she didn't want to rush into a blind date with marriage as it earliest destination.
The best solution was a fake engagement. This would satisfy her mother's demands while allowing them to secretly continue their own pursuits. It seemed like the perfect solution, didn't it?
And so, this pair of to be couple reach their ambiguous relationship—neither entirely good nor entirely bad—reached a rare consensus.
They would stage a grand performance, a drama titled "Fake Love."
And what was the most crucial element of acting?
That's right—acting skills.
"Alright, now that we've finished discussing serious matters, come help your sister put on her stockings." Haruno had already changed into casual clothes. She sat casually on the edge of the bed, crossed her long, snow-white, and alluring legs, and gestured for Roland to come help her put on the stockings.
"Wait, isn't that a bit of a big leap? Why does finishing serious business mean I have to help you with your stockings?" Roland watched Haruno wave the black stockings in her hand, then stole a glance at her shapely, pale legs which really wants him to bite them. He felt a strange mix of excitement and confusion, wondering what she was up to now.
Knowing Haruno as well as he did, Roland was certain that her constant smile meant trouble.
She hadn't stopped smiling!
"What do you think? We're supposed to be dating now, even if it's just an act. We need to put on a show for my mother. Do you really think you can fool her with some half-assed performance?" Haruno rolled her eyes, warning him not to underestimate her mother.
"I get the point, but Aunt Yukio isn't even here right now. Who are we putting on this act for?"
"Oh, you're so naive. It's for me, of course! I need to gauge how serious you are about this charade."
"Yes, yes, you're right, okay?" Roland couldn't help but sweat, knowing full well she was just teasing him.
"If you know, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and come over!" Haruno snapped, flicking her black stockings at Roland's face. When she saw Roland's face completely covered by her pantyhose, a mischievous smile crept onto her lips.
It seemed that Roland touching her intimate items brought her some kind of immense pleasure.
Roland could only shake his head in exasperation. How did big sister Haruno, the proud and capable businesswoman, start showing signs of becoming a pervert?
Throwing your worn stockings at someone's face isn't perverted?
Whatever. At least big sister Haruno was right about one thing: we need to take this act seriously.
In Roland's mind, Haruno was already a formidable woman to deal with. Yukio, whom even Haruno feared, undoubtedly had even more discerning eyes. Half-hearted acting would never fool her experience eyes.
If we're going to act, we might as well go all the way. Who knows how long this charade will last?
So, if she wanted to play this game, fine. Was I supposed to be scared? It was just helping her put on a pair of stockings, not like I was losing out on anything.
Honestly, sometimes Roland felt Haruno misunderstood the concept of "teasing." Was letting someone casually touch her bare thighs really teasing, or was it more like a reward?
Please, next time you try to tease someone, at least understand how men think! He was only being pure and friendly. If it were anyone else, they might have gone straight for a kiss if not more!
Since you call this teasing?
Please arrange more of it for me in the future. Thank you.
...That's what Roland had thought. But he never imagined Haruno would take things this far.
He suddenly realized she hadn't thrown him knee-high stockings at all—they were pantyhose!
What were pantyhose?
In short, they were like leggings that needed to be pulled all the way up to the waist.
And Haruno was already wearing a tight, figure-hugging skirt. This meant that if Roland wanted to help her put on the pantyhose, he'd have to reach under her skirt. What if he accidentally touched something he shouldn't?
Roland: "..."
Roland calmed himself and knelt before Haruno, her gaze fixed on him with amusement. Holding the stockings in one hand, he lifted her smooth, soft, pale leg and began to slowly stroke... no, began to carefully pull on the pantyhose.
His hand glided up Haruno's beautiful leg, pausing briefly before reaching the hem of her skirt. With a final surge of effort, he stretched the pantyhose over her shapely buttocks and quickly withdrew his hand, as if afraid Haruno might sit down and trap it.
"Tsk, you're quite skilled at this. How many people have you put this on? Why are you so practiced?" Haruno's eyes narrowed slightly, as if displeased at missing an opportunity to tease him.
That little brat is too clever, she thought. He finished the last step in one smooth motion, leaving me no opening to intervene.
"No 'White Album' here. You're the first and last. Satisfied?" Roland interrupted her.
"A smooth answer, but to be so skilled on your first try... Could my Little Roland actually be a little pervert sent from heaven?" Haruno feigned concern for her younger brother's like Roland future.
"There's no need for you to trouble yourself, big sister Haruno. Now that we've finished discussing the important matter and I've helped you put on the pantyhose, can we leave?"
"Alright~ Since you behaved so well today, I'll let you off this time. Come with me. It's time to announce our 'relationship' to Mother."
"Let's go then." Roland breathed a small sigh of relief, thinking, Finally, it's over. This woman is too dangerous. It's best to escape quickly before she does something else strange to me.
Who asks someone to help them put on pantyhose anyway...?
Just as Roland was about to make his escape, a familiar voice from behind stopped him in his tracks.
"Wait," Haruno said calmly.
"What now?" Roland's lips twitched.
"You've already forgotten what we discussed about acting?" Haruno shook her head in exasperation and held out her hand. "Give me your hand."
"Holding hands? I understand." Roland jumped, thinking she was about to pull another stunt.
Holding hands was fine. He quickly turned around, took Haruno's hand, and prepared to leave together.
As Roland pulled her along, he noticed Haruno standing motionless, a hint of displeasure on her face.
Great heavens, what's wrong now? Roland groaned inwardly.
It wasn't until he saw Haruno deliberately spread her fingers, leaving gaps between them, that he finally understood her meaning.
Seriously? Even in a fake relationship, I have to read between the lines now?
Clearly, Haruno was dissatisfied with his normal handheld. Those deliberately separated fingers were a clear signal: she wanted him to interlock their fingers, just as he had done with Aunt Yukio earlier.
Roland reluctantly tightened his grip, interlacing their fingers. Only then did Haruno flash a satisfied smile.
Roland found Haruno's mind increasingly baffling. Was she trying to recreate the intimate hand-holding she had witnessed between him and her mother?
Please don't tell me this troublesome girl is simply jealous of her mother...
But Haruno wanted more than just interlaced fingers. She looped her other arm around his, ignoring his protests, and forced him into an awkward, girlfriend-like embrace as they walked out of the room.