Apparently, Her Highness Princess wants to keep her relationship with me a secret (what does she even mean by 'her relationship with me'?) - 2-5

2-5

A Week-Long Lover

The day I was promoted to the single-digit ranks was the same day I was officially set to advance to my second year at the Westminster Academy.

Even after reaching the single-digit rank, I continued to receive simple requests through the shop, just like when I was in the double digits.

However, this time, I was directly assigned a big job by Her Excellence Westminster herself.

If I succeed, I’ll earn the right to challenge the eighth rank. I want to use any means necessary to make that happen.

“Itose, what kind of consultation do you want in the middle of the night? I’m sleepy, you know…”

Westminster Academy is fully boarding.

Harold lives next door. His room is overflowing with books and documents. Despite the late hour, Harold was still awake—apparently studying with the past exam questions I’d given him earlier.

“I want to make a woman fall for me. What should I do?”

“Itose… Why am I the one you’re consulting?”

Harold yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyelids.

“You’re the only one I can ask. I’m completely clueless when it comes to love.”

“I can’t believe that’s coming from the guy who’s ridiculously popular at Westminster. Part of the reason why you’re hated by the other guys here, is also because the girls fawn over you left and right.”

“It’s not that I’m popular or anything. It’s just that it’s rare for someone from a baron’s family to advance this further in an academy like this, so they just treat me like some exotic creature.”

“Haaah… Well if you say that, even I’m from a baron’s family too, just to remind you…”

Making Princess Emma fall for me in just one week? Impossible.

But it’s a direct order, something Her Excellence wants.

“So, who’s the lucky girl that the person nicknamed as The White GrimReaper himself has fallen for?”

The White GrimReaper—I don’t know who started calling me that.

A female student at Westminster combined my appearance with my undefeated record in combat skills and came up with that nickname.

Saying something like Itose Orgott fights like The White GrimReaper.

“That’s a secret.”

“Well, whatever… But listen, Itose. We’re at the very bottom of the ladder in this Westminster Academy. Falling for someone here will only bring you pain. They say school romances never last after all.”

“Harold. So your conclusion?”

The right to challenge the eighth rank.

Her Excellence knows me too well. More than anything, I wish to climb higher.

Being Her Excellence’s pawn, the higher your rank, the bigger the jobs you receive. I’ve finally reached ninth rank after accumulating countless small tasks.

I’d heard that jobs become significantly harder from the single digits onward.

“…Wouldn’t it be just fine with being specially kind to her? Like see, when you’re trying to tame a monster, you have to show that you’re not a threat, right? Same theory.”

Harold’s advice is always spot-on.

Whenever I’m in trouble, I would always consult him. Even before, I had been tense with how to proceed in countless different jobs. During that time as well, his advice had helped me clear them.

Being specially kind to Princess Emma, huh…?

Coincidentally, I have a request from her as well—I can use that to my advantage.

“Ah, and… if you manage to solve her lingering problems, that might work too.”