Chapter 15
Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Student Council (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"The First Prince starting a rebellion? Don't talk about it like it's no big deal and explain properly, Elena."
"Hmm, well. I'm not really confident I can explain this in a way you'd understand."
"I still need to know the gist of it so I can prepare for it later, don't I?"
"Umm, alright. So, in your case, unlike the other 'capture targets,' you have this separate 'support rate' value attached..."
With those words, Elena continued her explanation with terms that were once again a bit hard to grasp right away.
She remained utterly calm as she spoke about whether my brother Darius would rebel or not.
According to Elena, in the 'original story,' my actions at the academy would change this 'support rate' value, and if it dropped too low, Darius would rise in rebellion in the east with his followers.
Honestly, it was hard for me to wrap my head around it. I couldn't see how my academy life connected to Darius's rebellion.
"Darius himself is just set up as a character who still harbors ambitions for the throne. The developers probably linked it to your support rate as an excuse, but even I think it's a bit forced."
"...So, if I act in ways unfit for a crown prince, Darius might seize my position."
"Roughly, yeah?"
Hearing it laid out like that, it did make a certain kind of sense.
Of course, it still wasn't something I could just accept without question. The idea that my brother on the eastern frontlines could even gauge public sentiment about me felt unrealistic to begin with.
...Unless there was a spy planted around me feeding information straight to him.
'For now, that seems the most plausible explanation.'
Finding a mole wouldn't be too hard if I set my mind to it... but if I drew attention doing it and word got back to Darius, it'd just make things more troublesome.
So for the moment, it was best to pretend I wasn't worried about it. Just like before, listening to Elena's advice.
"What do I need to do to stop Darius from rebelling?"
"Most routes end without any rebellion or issues. But now that Lucia's captured you, it might get a bit tricky."
"...What?"
"Breaking off a long-standing engagement to a duke's daughter and marrying a commoner isn't exactly great politics. That's why in the original story, when Lucia captures you, you focus on building favor... no, on academics and etiquette too. So even if you cast Elena aside and put her in the fiance spot, you minimize the backlash as much as possible."
"Even if everything you're saying is true, I still don't think discarding you for her would be a smart move."
"Well, yeah. But the 'me' in the original story was a total bitch. Always bitching and moaning, no talent but endless complaints, picking fights with everyone and abusing power like the typical villainous lady."
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't picture Elena doing any of that.
"Coincidentally, the royal family was already discussing what to do about Elena—even for the sake of allying with House Rozier—given her attitude. Then you met Lucia, fell completely for her, and through a series of events, ended up marrying her in a happy ending. Oh, and you fend off Darius's rebellion along the way if needed."
"...I see."
That vague 'series of events' part bugged me a little, but it could wait until later to ask about.
And from what Elena just said, I was certain: Darius's rebellion hinged on me breaking off with Elena, when my power base weakened temporarily.
'Elena herself doesn't seem to realize that far.'
She had insight, yet she couldn't connect those dots here.
Or maybe she was deliberately ignoring the fallout because breaking off with me mattered more. For now, I could only hope it wasn't the latter.
'That's another reason not to break off with Elena.'
Not that I'd ever planned to in the first place.
With time, Elena kept giving me more reasons why I couldn't let her go.
"Oh, right. Can you zip this up for me?"
"...Sure."
-Ziiip.
"Thanks~. Should I wash up first? My hair's been tied up all day, and it's itchy."
"...D-do whatever you want."
...Her defenseless look was starting to feel deliberate now.
"Come in, Elena. And you too, Miss Lucia."
"Pardon the intrusion, Your Highness Prince Cedric."
"P-pardon the intrusion..."
With the new semester starting and the fourth-year student council members graduating, the lineup had changed.
Three spots were open, so bringing Elena onto the council was planned from the start. Putting Miss Lucia in one of the remaining two owed a bit to Elena's influence.
'Is bringing Lucia onto the student council really necessary?'
'Especially because it's Lucia. Giving a commoner a spot shows you're open to talent regardless of birth. She has decent skills too.'
'Hmm. Still feels risky. What if she flirts with me... or the other council members, like you said?'
'Shouldn't be an issue. You already said no to her. Orpheus is head over heels for Lisia, so no chance there. Theo might be a long shot, but I'll tell Amelie to snag him later.'
'You used to sound like you were cheering on your friend's love, but now you're so casual about it.'
'Well, it makes the story easier if Theo and Amelie end up together, but it's not required. If it doesn't work out, just say it's not meant to be. Even as a baron's daughter, she's noble stock—she won't die an old maid.'
'......We're alone, but stop with the unseemly talk, Elena.'
'Huh? Oh, old maid? Pfft, is that what you think is unseemly? You've got quite the imagination, heh.'
After that exchange, unable to refute her, we ended up adding Miss Lucia to the student council.
She'd seemed decent enough character-wise when I saw her before. If she had talent as Elena said, it could boost my 'support rate' by showing I valued ability over birth.
...After hearing about Darius possibly rebelling, I couldn't ignore anything anymore.
"Um, is this really okay...? I'm just a commoner. Someone like me in the student council..."
"Certainly, it's unprecedented for a commoner to join the academy's student council."
"...Elena?"
"Eh, Lady Elena...?"
Elena spoke with a suddenly icy tone, drawing stares from Lucia and the other council members alike.
"However, the very fact that a commoner passed the Arbel Kingdom Academy entrance proves Miss Lucia's ability. If anything, someone like her is exactly what the student council needs."
"Lady Elena...!"
"So don't bow your head in false humility, Miss Lucia. Arrogance from the incompetent is ugly, but denying your own talents is just as unpleasant to watch."
"Yes...! Thank you, Lady Elena...!"
Elena was still just a first-year freshman herself.
Ever since that incident at the entrance exchange party, Lucia had become oddly devoted to her, like a follower.
To graduate from the academy as a commoner, she'd need backing like Elena's. It didn't seem calculated, but maybe it was instinctual survival smarts.
"If anything..."
"Hm?"
"I wonder if I'm the one unfit for the student council. I'm just a duke's daughter who lucked into the academy on my family's name."
"......What?"
...This reaction was different from what we'd rehearsed.
Glancing around, I wasn't the only shocked one—everyone except Theo looked stunned. Even Lisia Grabel, whose expressions rarely changed.
"?!"
"...L-Lady Elena?"
"Lady Rozier...?"
"The title of student council member is too much for someone like me, born merely lucky as a duke's daughter. Surely the academy has far more capable candidates?"
"N-no...!"
"Don't say that, Lady Elena!"
"Lady Rozier, didn't you just say denying one's own abilities is ugly?"
"Yes. That's why I'm accurately assessing mine, Your Highness Prince Orpheus. My insight is shallow—I barely solved one or two problems on the entrance exam. I rarely attend socials, so my connections are limited. And now, my status as House Rozier's eldest carries no weight. I humbly decline the position and will focus on my studies..."
...I got the gist of her scheme, but thankfully, I'd prepared for this.
I'd felt something off when I reviewed her entrance exam as student council president.
Leaning close to her ear so only she could hear, I whispered:
"Sorry, Elena. The student council president gets to review the new students' entrance exams."
"......Huh?"
"Yours stood out oddly. Out of twenty questions, you solved nineteen but left the answers blank on purpose. Skipped basic magic theory but answered only the hardest last one."
"......"
"Be good and join us. Hate it all you want, but if you try to run like this, I'll have to play dirty too."
"......Tch."
She clicked her tongue so softly only I heard, then turned back to the council members.
"...But recognizing one's shortcomings means there's room to grow. I'll make up for my lacking knowledge through student council activities. Please take care of me."
"!"
-Nods nods.
"Lady Elena is right!"
"Ah, y-yeah.... Looking forward to working with you, Lady Rozier...."
...I really can't let my guard down around her for a second.