The Princess Sitting Next to Me is a Sweet Girlfriend Only in Front of Me
……Honestly, even I find it hard to put up with Gourie.
But it’s not something I can resolve by making the first move, and doing so would only make him more arrogant.
If I were to crush his smug face head-on, he’d have his pride shattered, but in return, I’d be made a scapegoat.
No matter how privileged a scholarship student’s position is, it’s because they’re fulfilling their responsibilities as a scholarship student.
Especially now, after learning about Fia’s secret, my situation isn’t just about me anymore.
To put it indirectly, in short, I don’t want to trouble Fia.
Above all, I saw it.
After Gourie left us, I noticed faint tears welling up at the corners of Fia’s eyes.
Having lunch together was something we both ended up suggesting later on.
We exchanged notes, confirmed that no one from our class was around, and then took our seats in the cafeteria.
“…You noticed I was about to cry, right?”
“…Well, it caught my eye.”
“It’s fine. It’s my fault for not being able to hold back.”
Fia lowered her head as if mocking herself.
At this rate, she might start crying again.
“I hate how pitiful I am. I’ve been trying so hard not to trouble you, Heim-kun…”
“Trouble? Not at all…”
In fact, thanks to Fia apologizing to me, I was able to fend off Gourie smoothly.
It’s rare for him to back down so easily like that.
Thinking about it, I should actually feel grateful.
“Heim-kun… I was told to protect you.”
“…!”
She didn’t say who it was, given where we were, but it wasn’t hard to guess.
The King must have told Fia that if she wants to continue her relationship with me, she needs to safeguard my position.
She must have been recalling that.
With that in mind, Fia’s reaction made perfect sense.
“And yet here I am, getting carried away… what am I even doing?”
“Fia…”
With others nearby, Fia was holding back her tears while blaming herself.
That wasn’t right.
At the very least, I didn’t want to see Fia unjustly blaming herself.
“…Yeah, I don’t want to see it.”
“Heim-kun…?”
My quiet muttering seemed to have reached her ears.
I shook my head to signal it was nothing.
That’s right—just as Fia said she’d protect me, I don’t want to see her tears.
Up until yesterday, such a thing wouldn’t have even happened between us.
Our relationship has changed.
We’re already in a situation where there’s no going back.
I need to properly acknowledge that.
