Pretending To Have A Girlfriend?

Chapter 58: A Wild Change (1)

Chapter 58: A Wild Change (1)

Chapter 58: A Wild Change (1)

“...Can you say that one more time?”

Starchis asked, thinking there was no way he had heard her correctly.

Rose blushed and hesitated.

It had taken a lot of courage to say it the first time, and she needed a moment to gather herself again.

“Miss..? I didn’t hear you properly. Can you repeat it once more-”

Starchis was so bewildered that he hoped Rose would quickly confirm he had misheard. However, Rose just needed more time; she had no intention of changing her wish.

“B-Bitch... Actually, something even worse would be fine...”

Embarrassed, Rose pressed her forehead against Starchis’s chest.

Her heart was pounding so fiercely that her whole face felt like it was buzzing. Numerous reasons combined to make her heart race.

The anticipation of his response made her nervous, the liberation made her happy, and the situation excited her.

It seemed like a single intense heartbeat, but it was actually a blend of three different feelings.

‘W-What is this...’

Starchis was shocked.

He had always seen her as an innocent noble lady, but the hidden side of her was not easy to handle.

He thought the wish she was about to make might be something simple or something that made his heart flutter.

Or maybe it was all just a joke.

“Ahaha... Miss. That’s a funny jo-”

“I mean it. It took a lot of courage for me to say it.”

- Huff.

Starchis shut his mouth.

“...This is a wish I’ve never told anyone.”

Rose said with a trembling, moist voice.

Starchis was dumbfounded that such a wish existed, but then again, that was his standard.

His older brother had always told him not to judge others by his own standards.

‘...She must have her reasons.’

He tried to respect her. He couldn’t understand, but he tried.

Nonetheless, it was still a difficult situation.

“How...how can I say such a thing to you...”

“I’m okay with it. And we’re friends, aren’t we? Stop treating me like I’m above you.”

“Alright, alright, but...”

Since Rose was leaning against his chest and not looking at his face, Starchis frowned and pondered.

Why did she make such a request of him?

What did she see in him?

Was it because she didn’t know much about the world?

“...You shouldn’t make this kind of request to just anyone, Miss...”

“...Do you think I’m a fool? I’m asking you because it’s you, Starchis. I told you, it’s the first time I’ve asked anyone for this!”

It was a completely insane request, yet there were still rational aspects to her.

That made it even scarier.

“But why me...?”

“....”

Rose swallowed her next words.

She couldn’t bring herself to say that he was the perfect person to be her master, or that she liked his kindness, or even that she liked that he could be ruthless.

Wherever Rose went, people felt uncomfortable around her. Perhaps it was because she was a noble lady, but everyone treated her that way.

The heroine of ‘The Submissive Elf Princess’ had the same problem.

As a princess, no one felt at ease around her and everyone wore masks.

They flattered her, wanting to be in her good graces. In her long elven life, she had never even heard casual speech directed at her.

She had always been revered.

Then, the male protagonist appeared.

He was kind but transformed when they were alone, treating her with disrespect and speaking harshly.

He used words she had never heard in her life as a princess. Yet, he owned her and cherished her in his own way.

He treated her roughly and shook her up, but deep down, he loved her more than anyone else.

Rose couldn’t count how many sleepless nights this novel had caused her.

Rose had always longed for something she didn’t have.

She wanted friends who could speak casually and comfortably with her, who weren’t awkward around her.

She wanted to laugh secretly at others’ misfortunes.

She wanted to pull silly pranks.

She didn’t want sharing her deep concerns to be seen as exposing a weakness.

Moreover, she wanted a lover who could be merciless, yet also guide her and love her in their own way, someone who could make her forget she was a noble lady.

She wanted someone who could free her from all her shackles, who could be completely honest with her.

She wasn’t a great person.

She had just been lucky to be born into a good family.

She didn’t like being held in high regard and treated as precious when she had done nothing to deserve it.

The burden it brought was unbearable.

She felt uncomfortable being revered by those strong, independent people who couldn’t do anything without her.

Even going to a commoners’ restaurant meant everyone inside was cleared out.

It was too much.

Rose’s eyes widened in anticipation, her breath quickening as she looked up at him, waiting.

Rose felt a slight, very slight disappointment.

Given the current mood, it seemed like he might reject her.

And the current situation wasn’t exactly what she had imagined.

Though novels and reality are different, there was a hint of regret.

Right now, she was the one pushing him.

He was leaning against the wall, unable to escape, and she wasn’t letting him go.

The roles were reversed.

For the situation to be perfect, he would have to pin her against the wall—

—whoosh

Starchis suddenly gathered his strength and spun Rose around.

“Ah..!”

Rose, swung around, hit the wall a bit roughly. She was dumbfounded.

One moment she was pushing him, and the next moment she was pinned against the wall.

She felt completely trapped. Even if she wanted to escape, she couldn’t.

“...Hey.”

His rough voice made Rose’s heart pound painfully.

It was beating so fast her head was spinning.

Like an animal cornered by a predator, her body froze.

Her eyes darted around, finding nowhere to rest.

She breathed heavily.

“Ha... Ha...!”

She was more excited than she had ever been before.

She couldn’t even meet his eyes.

She just stared at his masculine Adam’s apple, which bobbed with every word.

Starchis pressed his hand against the wall, leaning in to trap her.

This was the last time, so he decided to act.

He wasn’t talented at lying or acting, but the darkness concealed his awkwardness.

Given the series of events, he had become adept at changing his tone of voice.

Starchis spoke words devoid of emotion. It was solely for her.

He slowly lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

“...What is this filthy bitch asking for in public?”

“..Ah..”

-Squelch

Rose’s legs gave out, and she slumped to the ground. Her body trembled slightly.

She was overwhelmed, both by the excitement and the realization of her deepest desire coming true.

****

Starchis ran away, panting heavily.

“This is just crazy..!”

It was unclear who he was talking to—Rose, who had wanted this, or himself for granting her wish.

When Rose slumped to the ground at his words, Starchis was startled.

As he stood there, unsure of what to do with Rose, whose cheeks were now as red as her pink hair, the two bodyguards, Pippin and Brook, approached and checked on her.

They asked Starchis what he had done, but he couldn’t answer honestly.

He just said that he had said goodbye. It wasn’t a lie.

Unless by some coincidence, he wouldn’t see her again.

In the end, Rose couldn’t get up on her own, and Pippin and Brook helped her back to the mansion.

The house wasn’t far from the alley, so she would be alright.

Starchis looked back.

The alleyway he had been in was now so far away it was just a dot in the distance.

He scratched his head vigorously.

Starchis kept pushing back the dark part of himself that threatened to surface.

He hadn’t wanted this, but the guilt of having spoken so harshly to a noble lady like Rose...

—Slap, slap!

Starchis slapped his cheeks hard.

It was all because of Rose’s beauty.

He was shaken by her delighted and satisfied expression.

He had to forget about it.

They wouldn’t meet often anymore.

Starchis rubbed his hands together and looked ahead again.

The restaurant where he had eaten dinner was visible in the distance.

It was now closed, and the magical lights were all off.

But someone was crouched in front of it, staring blankly at the moon that had risen in the sky.

A woman with hair darker than this deep night.

His long-time friend.

Luss was still sitting there.

[ TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the /mark007 ]