Apparently, Her Highness Princess wants to keep her relationship with me a secret (what does she even mean by 'her relationship with me'?) - 3-1

3-1

A Classmate Client

Several days had passed since Princess Emma had returned to Westminster Academy.

Not that her return had any effect on my daily life. On that day, when she declared to me that she would return to school, I could sense her unwavering determination—but honestly, I wanted to tell her to do whatever she pleases.

“…Princess Emma. What were you thinking, speaking up to someone like Orgot!”

Princess Emma had transferred into Class 2-C, the same class I belonged to.

Initially, she was only supposed to attend school for a week, without being assigned to any particular class per se. Instead, she merely appeared in classrooms where lessons were held. However, once her official reinstatement was decided, the entire student body eagerly speculated on which class she would join.

“Was it wrong for me to speak to one of my classmates during a lesson?”

Her composed, dignified aura and sharp presence were different from before.

The rumor around the school was that Princess Emma had become more radiant, and during breaks, she socialized brightly with her classmates—everyone except me, of course.

It seemed that Princess Emma didn’t want anyone to know about her relationship to me.

…What’s really her Relationship with me to begin with.

“You may not be aware of it yet, but, Princess Emma, that man is a baron’s son who disgraces Westminster’s pride!”

For the starters, the atmosphere in Class 2-C was already at its worst possible—thanks entirely to Princess Emma.

In the previous class, she had immediately broken one of the unwritten rules.

“Just having him in our class is already a stain on our reputation!”

A group of male students had surrounded the princess during the break.

Yet Princess Emma showed no sign of fear. She stood tall, with clear and beautiful demeanour, meeting their gazes head-on.

“He is a classmate like anyone else.”

“He is not a classmate!”

During the earlier lesson, Princess Emma nominated me as the respondee. The Professor had followed the usual custom of the Unified Magic Theory class—allowing students to nominate each other to answer questions written on the blackboard.

And for some reason, the Professor had allowed Princess Emma to choose the respondee in his place.

(Incidentally, blackboards in this world remain essential educational tools.)

And of all people, Princess Emma had chosen me as a respondee.

She had violated Class 2-C’s most sacred rule: “Do not treat Itose Orgot as a classmate.”

The atmosphere of the classroom froze so solid at that time. Looking back on it now, it’s just so funny when I remember it.

“It’s already disgraceful enough that Orgot advanced to second year!”

“But doesn’t that mean he met the promotion requirements all correctly?”

“That’s irrelevant!”

One of the boys surrounding the princess slammed his fist on a desk.

“He’s trying to trample on Westminster’s traditions! Since this academy was founded, no one below the rank of earl has ever been allowed to graduate!”

The tuition fees alone are beyond what a mere baron’s family could afford!”

Oi, I can hear you, you know. At least learn some composure, composure.

I leaned my elbow on my desk, shutting my eyes with a bored sigh.

“Princess Emma, tradition is the most important principle more than anything here.”

“……”

“It’s not like I want to trouble you or anything, Princess Emma. Since you’ve had not attended the Academy until now, it’s only natural that there are a lot things you don’t know about.”

Princess Emma fell silent.

“…You’re right. Just like you said, there are many things I still need to learn. Things that I must learn.”

The boys seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief from the words uttered by Princess Emma.

Even the highest-ranking dukes’ sons in Class 2-C were nervous about speaking out against the princess.

“To begin with, this school is the most difficult to graduate from among the Four Great Academies, and only those from Earl families and above are encouraged to enroll. Even regarding the tuition fees, it’s not something that can be paid by the Baron household. Some of my friends depend entirely on scholarships to stay here… No one knows what kind of shady dealings Orgot relies on to afford tuition. Princess, you should stay away from him. Rumor has it, he’s involved in some questionable businesses.”

Ah, are they talking about that sugar mama thing Harald teased me about before?

The pocket money I receive from wealthy commoner madams is a precious source of income.

Spare me your judgment, rich-sheltered boys.

Man, I wish this break would end already.

“It’s not just Orgot. There’s another baron’s son in the second year—Harald Hardy. If you want a peaceful school life, Princess Emma, it’s best to avoid both of them I say.”

“Thank you for your advice… but I’ll choose my own friends, myself. Now, the next lesson is about to begin.”

What made the whole scene even funnier was that Princess Emma’s seat was right next to mine.

Every single word had been exchanged at my immediate side.

Truly, is this what hell looks like?