Apparently, Her Highness Princess wants to keep her relationship with me a secret (what does she even mean by 'her relationship with me'?) - 3-4

3-4

Classmate Customer

As I stepped onto the school grounds, the harmonious blend of lush greenery and the brick-red school buildings filled my vision.

Among the many schools in the royal capital of Roman, this Academy boasted the largest campus of all. The townsfolk often say that Westminster students devote everything to strength, fearing them—but that’s not entirely true.

The students who learn and live here in this Academy are just like any ordinary youths of their age.

The discussion with the Thunder Priestess stretched on for hours, making me return home much later than expected.

Bathed in moonlight under the dark sky, my mind kept circling back to that girl’s request.

—Having Harold as an opponent… what terrible luck.

Westminster’s signature class, ‘combat arts’ are often also referred to as small wars.

Anything is permitted in the pursuit of victory, but since students carry the honor of their families, they can’t resort to excessive tactics. For if they did, it would put a stain in their family’s name.

Still, for proud students, losing to someone from a lower-ranking house is also a disgrace. The fact that they’ll do whatever it takes to win. And meeting all their attempts with his overwhelming strength is Harold—my close friend.

—Well, I’ll give it a shot. At the very least, she’s serious about this.

When I shoved my hand into my pocket, I felt that cold object—a small vial. Inside was a laxative that can have anyone bedridden for three days. Julian had asked me to slip it to Harold, but as expected, I can’t do that, so I rejected.

I poured the contents out onto the moonlit roadside and kept walking.

“Uwaa.”

While lost in thought on how to deal with Harold, I bumped onto someone.

A ghostly white silhouette illuminated in front of me, bathed in moonlight. Perhaps the person just had her bath, since her cheeks were flushed red.

“Aren’t we supposed to avoid interacting on school grounds?”

The words came out a tad bitter than I intended.

“T-That ….depends on the time and situation…! Since it’s night, so no one will see or perceive our appearance…! Besides, I’ve also asked Rose is keep watch…!”

The figure was none other than Princess Emma.

Looking at how frequent my recent encounters with the princess had been, I couldn’t decide if they were a stroke of luck or something else entirely.

“Princess Emma, there’s something I wanted to ask you. Why did you decide on that today?”

“That?”

“When you called out to me during class. Please… from here on out, never, even by mistake, repeat that again.”

If she did again, my already precarious standing would only worsen. Princess Emma is smart enough, so she would understand.

“I’m sorry… That was thoughtless of me. I just… wanted to apologize…”

“As long as you understand. And… what’s that?”

She’d been trying to press something into my hand the entire time—When I looked at it, it seemed like a small square box wrapped in cloth.

“…”

Nope, even if you keep quiet like that, it will only make things more awkward.

With no other choice, I accepted the box and unwrapped it, which revealed a bento box.

Confusion flooded inside my head endlessly.

“You look… like you are in a lot of worry…”

“There are times even I worry as well … quite often, you know.”

Remembering who I was talking to, I corrected my speech.

“I—… I just wanted to support you…!”

“Support me? For what?”

“You’re aiming to graduate as the top student… aren’t you…?”

She spoke with a faint voice, which barely reached my ears.

“Eh?”

Becoming the top graduate was my dream—even a for of my lifeline. But how did Princess Emma know about that?

Oh… I see… I must have let it slip onto her at some point.

Hearing someone else voice such an improbable goal made it feel even more unrealistic, felt even more embarrassing—like I was being told to wake up from a foolish dream and look at the reality.

“Unlike you, Itose-kun… Since I don’t have any magical talent… My goal is simply to graduate… I wanted to tell you that… But more than anything, I wanted to say… good luck…!”

“…”

This time, I was the one left speechless.

“…”

I couldn’t even speak up.

Graduating from Westminster is already an extraordinary feat, considering there is not even one precedent before. Moreover, knowing how I am aiming to graduate being the top of the class—it’s a feat hearing which even Her Excellency, who knows my circumstances well than anyone else, would laugh and say how impossible it is.

“Itose-kun… I’m rooting for you! That’s all I wanted you to know…!”

With those final words, Princess Emma turned on her heel and walked away. While looking at her figure shrinking into the distance, I finally understood where she was headed towards.

Now that I remember—Princess Emma had re-enrolled at Westminster and now lives in the girls’ dormitory, doesn’t she.

“This,…what am I even supposed to do with this?”

The incident came to an end so fast that it felt like a daze. What was left remaining is this small bento box in my hands, although its contents were long cold. Judging by its appearance, it was handmade by Princess Emma herself.

That girl, she couldn’t have known I’d be returning at this hour now… would she?

Don’t tell me, was she waiting all this time?

Nope, no way. This is a princess we are talking about.

Ah, Now I see… It’s because, she still misunderstands and believes that ‘I have a massive crush on her’.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me. Am I… regretting all this now?”

I couldn’t even manage a simple “thank you.”

Moreover, if I’d shown a more joyful and appreciative face, maybe I could have seen her smile as well.

The fact that such a thought crossed my mind was… very strange.

*Sorry for the slow update, a little busy irl. Will give fast locked chapter updates right after I am somewhat free.