I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

37. Something a little bland

Henry the Third’s sister, Henry the Fourth’s “forceful intervention,” “active interference,” ultimately didn’t have much of an impact on Zerora’s “lunch time.” Although this young lady had a noble status, compared to Fiora, of the Louis faction, she was still “slightly inferior.” After Fiora got “serious,” she successfully chased her away.

“Chased away” for Zerora, and so… after Zerora also officially returned to the academy, and everything seemed to be back on track, Zerora began to ponder a serious question: what exactly was his relationship with Fiora now? That kiss that day, even though he hadn’t paid much attention to it recently because of the “attacker” incident, but… what did it mean, after all?

What exactly was his relationship with Fiora now? Could he talk about it? Uh… should he ask?

Would she… would she even answer?

Later, within the academy.

Today, Fiora, as usual, was carrying Zerora’s rations and “hope” in her hands. However, this time she didn’t take Zerora to the student council room, and then exchange barbed words with Mell while Zerora ate his fill, but… instead came to a certain place within the academy.

“Fiora… why are we here today?”

Fiora immediately turned her head and glared.

“Is that not allowed?”

“It is!”

Zerora immediately chose to shut up. As for the place Fiora had brought him, Zerora, with his rich theoretical knowledge and insufficient practical experience, recognized it at a glance: this was a viewing and resting area specially prepared by the academy for students, with great effort put into the scenery and “seclusion,” or rather… a so-called dating hot spot.

As Zerola knew it, many couples would come here during their breaks, under the guise of “Lunchtime! Let’s eat lunch together!” to do things a little less innocent – like their lips meeting amidst the nibbling. Doing that sort of thing in public was a bit shameful, to say the least, but these trees, practically planted on purpose, with trunks thick enough to hide two people, offered plenty of shelter.

So, Fiora’s “intel” had finally led them here, huh? Though…

“I wonder if the Student Council President will…”

“The President isn’t here today, and she’s not going to conjure up any delicacies for you, tsk…”

Halfway through his sentence, Fiora frowned. “Hey, Zerola? Why are you thinking about the President at a time like this?”

“Food! Let’s eat food!”

Zerola quickly snatched the things from Fiora’s hands, finally managing to improve her mood a little.

Unlike being cooped up in the student council room, being alone together in a public place within the academy, during lunchtime, the whole atmosphere shifted. After laying out the tablecloth and ceremoniously inviting Lady Fiora to sit, Zerola eagerly began tearing at the lunchbox packaging, as impatient as if he was ripping open a pair of stockings.

Because: it wasn’t just Zerola’s imagination, it was a genuine observation – to say nothing else, Fiora’s “culinary skills” were visibly improving day by day. One might say, what else would you expect from a gem of the Great British Empire? She possessed a considerable talent for learning anything. But precisely because of this, Zerola was beginning to hesitate about how to broach the subject with Fiora.

The content was simple: what… relationship should they publicly acknowledge?

Just thinking about it made Zerola lose his appetite, but when he looked up, he realized that Fiora was also staring at him, lost in thought.

The next moment, as if by tacit agreement, they both asked almost the same question.

“What should we do about our ‘relationship’?”

“What… ‘relationship’ should we say we have?”

As the words fell, Fiora showed a momentary surprise before looking away. Though she wanted to cheekily say “Oh my, you’re blushing?”, Zerola himself was far from alright – after a long time, he was experiencing the sensation of “face turning red” again.

Defeated, he immediately began to make excuses, planning to brush aside this troublesome issue that Fiora seemed to be seriously considering.

“Ah… ha ha, let’s think about that later, for now let’s just stay silent, alright? Otherwise if I keep flailing about, won’t I embarrass you in front of others? You know? I get a little carried away when I’m happy.”

After all, this time Zerola didn’t intend to just follow his whims as before. And if he considered Fiora, he had to consider the responsibilities and pressures that came with her status. At the very least… no one would like the idea of a Great British Empire’s shining star having a “lapdog” as her lover.

Therefore, Zerola decided that until he was really “not embarrassing” in every way, the question of their “relationship” should be kept close to his heart, at least so Fiora could live comfortably, without being judged for her “taste in partners.”

However, this time, Zerola didn’t finish his sentence.

Fiora had leaned in, no, rather than leaning, she seemed to be “crawling” towards him in Zerola’s perspective! As if to dispel his doubts, or to keep him from being self-deprecating, she once again… for the second time, pecked at his lips.

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, it made Zerola grateful that he didn’t smell bad today.

However, the atmosphere was a little quiet, which wasn’t quite what Zerola had imagined: other couples, when they got a little affectionate, wanted to be twisted together in a knot, and if it weren’t for the public place, they’d make kissing a complex performance. But here…

It seemed a little “bland.”

Although a little bland was fine. Zerola wouldn’t be able to cope if Fiora was the “carnivorous” type of girl.

“I… wasn’t taking it lightly.”

Slightly pulling away, Fiora hummed, “It’s just… I don’t know how to adjust yet. Although the Queen sisters all said I could do as I like, but… I don’t know what I should become…”

“…”

Seeing this, Zerola knew what he had to do. He couldn’t let Fiora be troubled, otherwise… slapping himself would be the least he deserved. So…

“Heh～ What a coincidence, actually I don’t know what to do either, ha ha ha～”

Chuckling sheepishly, Zerola composed herself, her expression turning serious. “So, Philora, let’s set a date, shall we?”

“A date? Hmm, Zerola, are you aiming to become a master of time management?”

“Of course not! I mean *our* ‘date’. Once I’ve caught the little scoundrel who attacked you, and retrieved what you lost, then… what do you say?”

Capturing the assailant would, Zerola felt, grant her some “capital,” allowing her to stand proudly beside Philora. So, this was the decision Zerola arrived at, but…

Some people just *had* to interrupt such a lovely atmosphere.

A figure suddenly materialized, approaching from afar, clearly… heading right for them.

Not President Mel, Mel wouldn’t be so lacking in *tact*.

But someone else… even as a “beautiful girl,” Zerola couldn’t help but feel a visceral displeasure at her presence…

“Lost? Philora, what did you lose, now?”

Henri IV, it was *her*!

Did this third wheel come with intelligent sensing, self-tracking capabilities!?

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