Apparently, Her Highness Princess wants to keep her relationship with me a secret (what does she even mean by 'her relationship with me'?) - 2-2

2-2

Emma Ojou is going to attend the Academy.

The mere news of that today sent Westminster Academy, where I study, into a complete frenzy.

“Did you hear?! That Princess Emma will be coming to the academy this afternoon! And get this—she’ll be attending daily for an entire week at that! I swear, I’m going to sit right next to her no matter what!”

“You’re late to the news. It was posted on the bulletin board in big letters wasn’t it.”

Princess Emma is a student, just like us.

But just the fact that she’s coming to school causes this much commotion. That’s royalty for you. Given how I still remember the sight of her sipping her drink through a straw, makes this all feel all too surreal.

“—-Oi, Itose! You, even though Her Highness Princess Emma is coming, you’re still as expressionless as ever! She’s a princess, you know, A Princess! Aren’t you even a little interested!?”

Just as I finished my first class of the morning, he approached me from another class.

The only guy in Westminster Academy who talks to me—Harold.

“Harold. At least fix your bedhead. It looks disgraceful.”

“Hawha! There’s no way a princess would take interest in the button of the school guys like us. More importantly, Itose, it’s time for the only moment where we, the lowest of the low, can shine! Let’s go!”

Getting smacked at my back with a loud slap, my senses awake because of the sheer pain.

“Hell yeah! Time to show them what the pride of a baron’s family looks like!”

“Yeah true.”

This Westminster Academy is a boarding school attended by noble-household students.

Only about one in ten students make it to graduation, making it the hardest school in the country to graduate from. The main reason is the brutal advancement of it’s requirements.

It’s been a year since we enrolled. All the other students from baron families have either been expelled or dropped out—except for Harold and me.

“Out of the way! Orgot and Hardy, scum like you have no right to stand before me!”

Yesterday, I received a request from Princess Emma.

The content was that, she asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend for a week. At first, I wondered why just a week, but now I get it. It lines up exactly with her school attendance period.

“Why someone like you two, the lowest of the low, from baron families, are still here! Even though all your fellow barons have already decided to drop out!”

A week of attendance at the academy was something Emma Ojou was forced into.

My role as her fake boyfriend was simple: whenever a situation arises which could trouble her, I step in and handle it by myself.

And most importantly, I must do this without anyone realizing it.

“Move, Orgot! Just seeing your filthy presence in the same space as Princess Emma is an insult!”

Emma doesn’t want people to know she has any connection to a baron like me. Well, that’s understandable. I’m at the absolute bottom in this Westminster.

If that’s the case, then don’t rely on me in the first place—but apparently, she has no one else to turn to or rely upon. After all, people keep trying to approach her in this Westminster, but none of them are truly trustworthy.

“This Westminster Academy is considered the most prestigious school in the nation is because, in its 500-year history, only nobles of earl rank or higher have ever graduated! Don’t you understand that your presence alone is a stain on its name?!”

From now until lunch, we’ll be participating in a special class unique to Westminster Academy.

A combat training known as ‘War technique learning’ is essentially a sanctioned battle royale between students.

“Say! Just give up already. For people like you guys, graduating is a far off deam anyway!”

Harold and I descend the staircase.

From behind us, insults are hurled our way. At this point, if I say something like I’m used to it, then that would be alright. But no matter how much I try to brush it off, there’s always a part of me that asks—why do I have to put up with this?

Still, resisting here wouldn’t change anything.

This is just another normal day at Westminster.

“…Don’t tense up now, Harold.”

Beside me, the usually strong-willed Harold clenched his fists. Maybe it’s because Emma Ojou going to attend from today, everyone is riled up apparently.

I lightly pat his broad back and said,

“Your mind’s going haywire.”

“Oops, That was close!”

And with that, Harold lifts his face.

His usual determined expression is back, with his gaze fixed forward. Good. That’s how it should be. If we react to their taunts, we would be just playing right into their hands.

“Don’t die, Harold. If bottom-rankers like us die, we’re expelled.”

“Shut it, Itose. Even if I am not told by you, I get it!”

—And with that, it’s time for the deathmatch.