A Lover for One Week

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If we nobles are the sun, then she, who is part of the royal family, is like a fleeting shooting star—barely visible, almost untouchable.

The real Emma Satie Ronan, Princess Emma, sat on the chair, sipping/slurping her drink through a straw.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to surprise you… Ah, this? It’s very delicious. Just what kind of drink is this, I wonder?”

Saying so, she smiled mischievously—this is the country’s one of the popular entities.

The second princess of the Ronan Republic, the nation where I was born in.

With Silver hair, pale eyes, and a graceful demeanour. A princess rarely seen in public. If heaven ever bestowed its favor upon a person, it would be someone like her without a doubt.

“…So, where’s my customer? You’re not the masked Ojou-sama who has requested for me.”

I almost lost my composure because of her royal highness’ presence, but somehow managed to maintain.

My guest was supposed to be the masked lady—a girl who loves stories, a masked Ojousama, who would listen to my stories and chuckled quietly, elegantly, at my tales. I didn’t hate our time together. Honestly, I was a little happy when I learned she’d be today’s guest.

“…I’m the real masked lady.”

Emma Ojou, I don’t know if you liked the apples tea per se, however for heaven’s sake, please stop noisily sucking it through the straw continuously—.

“No, you’re not. In the first place, the masked Ojou sama I know of… isn’t a princess in the first place.”

“Rose is my servant… She would listen to your stories on my behalf. The stories you made were really incredibly wonderful.”

In a private room at a quaint little café, somehow I found myself alone with Her Royal Highness Princess Emma.

Princess Emma sat down on the chair, and gazed out at the small garden built outside. Any of my classmates who would see, would probably be in tears of joy at this situation…

“I’m leaving.”

“……Eh?”

I turned around and tried to open the door—and found the door locked.

“What the hell?! That’s kinda hard!”

“W-Wait right there…! Isn’t that reaction a bit harsh? Do you even know who I am…?”

Of course I knew. Emma Satie Ronan—my classmate who rarely attends school. Thanks to her royal privilege, she can graduate without even showing up to the school. A princess who is enjoying that enviable position to its fullest.

“I’m here according to what the rules of this café complies with. The fact that I’m not being kicked out of here, doesn’t that already mean I’m following the rules perfectly?”

It felt like an iron grip was holding the door shut from the outside.

Damn it… I walked right into a trap.

“Finally gave up? Still, trying to leave while I’m right in front of you… that’s quite rude of you, you know…? Not that I mind… I don’t mind at all, you see…”

While I was busy trying to exit the room, she finished drinking her tea, even though she says that she doesn’t mind that at all. But, yeah, she definitely minded that.

“But… normally, wouldn’t most people be happy to meet me?”

“So? What’s your request for me?”

“You’re quite quick in switching gears… I’m busy, after all. So, that actually helps.”

I sighed, defeated. If the princess came here to meet me, then she’s my client.

As long as she’s been acknowledged by the café, I’ve got no choice but to follow the rules.

“Your Highness Princess Emma. In this place, customers don’t use their real names. So, what should I call you by?”

“Me…? The Masked Ojousama will do just fine.”

She said that twirling her hair around her finger lazily.

“That’s not happening.”

“…Eh? That’s a no?”

Emma Ojou raises her face,

Her big, round eyes blinked up at me.

Moreover, with that delicate and fragile frame. If someone like her relied on a boy, he’d probably throw everything away to meet her expectations.

“For me, the masked ojousama is her—no one else. Please think of another name.”

When said that, Emma Ojosama pressed her temple, thinking hard.

“Then… how about the Iron Princess?”

That’s quite an un-cute name huh.

“…Understood, Iron Princess. So, what do you need me to do for me? Should I tell stories like I did for your servant, the masked ojousama?”

Haaa, I was already fed up.

Whatever request the princess had, it was already bound to be beyond my imagination. So, no point in thinking.

“…….”

Yet the Iron Princess fell silent, lips pressed together.

“Why would you keep silent, if you came all the way here, you must want something from me.”

I spoke bluntly—

A low-ranking noble talking down to royalty.

If any other Noble would hear me like this, they would probably have me half-killed for this.

But I didn’t care. Why would someone from the heavens, like this Ojousama, stoop down to meet someone like me?

“……”

Yet, Emma Ojou continues to press her lips together.

I stared at the side glance of her quiet profile. She looked beautiful from any angle whatsoever. Kind of finished like a doll. Even though my classmates know that they would get rejected and heartbroken, it’s understandable how they would still go and confess to Princess Emma.

“…One week…”

Her voice was so faint that if I didn’t hear it with utmost focus, I would almost miss it. It could even be drowned out by the garden’s gentle stream.

“I want you… to be my lover for one week.”

“…Got it. Starting today, I will be your boyfriend.”

“……Eh?”

I feel sorry for Her Royal Princess Emma to get all so stunned.

But pretending to be someone’s lover was one of my specialties. Wealthy commoner ladies often hired nobles like me to play their fantasy of being doted upon, customers having such crazy dreams are actually quite many.

Emma Ojou seemed puzzled at how quickly I’d accepted.

“A-Are you serious? Someone like me… Emma Satie Ronan’s …lover…you know? Wouldn’t most people hesitate at first for that…?”

I’ll play the perfect boyfriend of this Ojousama until the contract ends, and with that I will be done with her.

“You wouldn’t come to a place like this without a good reason right. I won’t ask why and for what reason—just tell me what to do. Oh, right… How should I call you? Emma? Emma-chan? Emma sama…? Or how about… my beloved Emma? I’ll deal with any complexities, so feel free to ask me.”

Hearing my words, the princess, who is said to never have changed her single expression at the academy no matter what, had her white cheeks flushed faintly.

Was it embarrassment or  perhaps regretting asking me to play the role of her boyfriend?

The Iron Princess—a girl I absolutely know nothing about.

And so, at that moment, I had no way of understanding her as well.