Chapter 30
Whispers. Murmurs from all directions. To them, it was just juicy gossip, but did they know it felt like sharp blades piercing my skin?
"Why is Her Highness with a guy like that…?"
"Maybe he has some dirt on her?"
To be precise, she had the dirt on me…
Squish—
The massive lump of flesh pressing against my left arm jolted my dazed mind awake.
"Mars. If you're my lover, straighten your back and walk tall."
She was forcing her chest forward, spouting sweet lines, but her face—hidden from the others—looked utterly tormented.
I'm the one who wants to cry here, so why does she look more pained?
"If you hate it that much, we don't have to do it. Don't make that face if you're just gonna bail anyway!"
"What better way to mark our territory? Enough chatter—keep acting!"
I could feel malice from every side. Women's fury, men's jealousy.
Ah… why the hell did I agree to help her?
"Be my fake lover!"
"Have you lost your mind?"
Ah, damn. Even I couldn't hold back on that one.
The princess's eyes widened at my blunt retort, but she seemed aware her proposal was a bit ridiculous, trying to brush it off.
"It's not a bad deal for you, is it? Fake or not, you'd be dating a beauty like me."
"That's the problem right there—thinking like that from the start."
"…You've been awfully rude to an imperial princess lately, haven't you?"
"Take it as loyal advice."
My tone was rough, but it was sage counsel brimming with sincerity. A nobody like me as the princess's lover would tarnish her reputation, and flaunting excessive confidence went against the humility a ruler needs. I was just speaking truth.
If your lord spouts nonsense, you give them a stern wake-up call. It hurts, but that's a loyal vassal's duty.
"Loyal vassals don't call their lord 'crazy' or dismiss it as 'that kind of thinking.'"
"It's not an insult—it's plain fact, so no issue."
"Didn't you just say you'd help me?!"
"Yeah, behind the scenes, with advice and support. Not by playing your lover up front."
What subordinate tells their lord, "I'll help if you date me"? They'd bring calamity and deserve a swift beheading.
"Just ask Polo this time. I'll help convince him. Escape His Majesty's meddling and date the guy you want—best of both worlds, right?"
"I told you—making him my lover is too risky."
"Me becoming your lover is what's risky for you."
Her personal guard would let me live? I'd be lucky not to get brained walking home at night.
"My people always want me to find a good man. Once they know I have a lover, they'll congratulate us."
Depends on the guy, Your Highness. With Polo? "Lucky~ Perfect match~". With me? "Dump him~ Scary~". Polar opposites.
"Then how do you plan to handle my future marriage? I wanna see my fox-like wife's face and our bunny kids first."
"We can make it real if you want. Take Polo Helios as a concubine—problem solved. I won't mind if you take other women too."
"…"
"…That was a joke, so don't look at me like that. My dignity's crumbling here…"
Right? Has to be a joke. No sane person drops lines like that casually.
"I have my reasons. Just play the doting lover for a bit. If His Majesty cancels the marriage, you'll get a fat payout, and I'll quash any messy breakup rumors. We can say I blackmailed you into this farce using your territory's troubles."
"What about Polo?"
Her plan paints her as the villain. What then for her and Polo?
"From what I've heard, guys feel some vague jealousy when a close female friend dates another man. Showing him us being all lovey-dovey might spark that in young Master Helios. Not a bad idea, right?"
…Makes sense? But I've never seen Polo jealous of me. Even when I outdid him or earned his father's approval, the idiot congratulated me, bragging about his friend.
He's got three beauties gunning for him, yet ignores them. Would seeing me cozy with the princess change that?
"Your intel said he's never had strong emotional shocks. This plan—steal his close girl to your best friend—wakes up feelings he doesn't know he has!"
"…S-Sure?"
"His Majesty won't approve us anyway. We break up, cancel the Cretia prince betrothal, back to normal."
"Hmm…"
"Succeed, and I'll set you up with the student council girls."
"Fine, let's do it."
And so our fake lover charade began.
With no clue how it'd end.
News of me and the princess dating spread like wildfire through the academy.
No surprise—witnessing the charismatic princess clinging to her "lover" and acting all coy? Even non-stories catch fire.
I became public enemy number one, turning my day into a spectacle.
Finally wrapping classes—skipping training—I bolted to the safety of my dorm, but Lady Celine blocked my path.
"You… that true?!"
"What…?"
"You're dating the princess!"
Why's she here stressing me out? Overnight: 7 threat letters, 5 duel challenges, 18 angry provocations. I'm beat.
"Well…"
Wait. Maybe tell her? Rival with the same goal, and I saved her life. Truth might ease my pain—she could help.
One ally would make life bearable. I swore her to secrecy and spilled the beans.
"For real?"
"Obviously. Why would she pick me? Too lowborn, too weak for her lover."
"True…"
"…"
"Anyway, what's that girl thinking? Stick to her lane—now she's making trouble."
Still pissed, but aimed at the princess now? Good for me.
"So, a favor?"
"What?"
"Help me out? I braced for this, but it's rough solo…"
She fell for it and agreed, but facing pure human malice alone was hell.
With her intervening against the schemers, academy life could chill.
"Help how…? Hmm~ Fine, I'll pitch in. You saved me, after all."
"Whoa, thanks!"
I basked in her mercy, eagerly awaiting tomorrow.
"What is this? Challenging the princess's authority?"
"Oh?~ No idea what you mean~ Great theater needs talented actors for good shows, right?"
"Kidnapping trauma must've messed you up. Mistaking your betters like this."
"After tasting real fear, weak threats barely register~ Where's the kitty meowing from~?"
…Wait, aren't you supposed to help?