Because Love is Subservient (3)
"....."
She rubbed her cheeks, burning hot like fireballs, and sifted through the densely stacked piles of documents. Even aside from Leon's situation, Ariel had mountains of issues demanding her attention.
She swept aside the miscellaneous papers on her desk—titles like [A Villa No One Can Find] or [A Suitable Mansion for a Honeymoon Home]—and methodically reviewed the memories from her previous life that she had jotted down.
Since I've dragged Leon into the academy, I must prepare for the major incidents in advance.
Emilia won't begin her activities for quite some time yet—
The immediate major issue is the large-scale dungeon break in a few months.
Imperial Calendar 246: Massive overflow phenomena occur from dungeons deep in forests or labyrinths.
To subjugate the swarming monsters, the Empire conscripts all combat-capable citizens.
Stockpile strength—cooperate with the Imperial Guard to prepare for the raid.
Of course, that naturally included Leon and all the cadets at the academy.
"To think the lady herself would propose dinner first. I never imagined it."
"......"
Of course, the biggest problem was 'that entity' which caused the dungeon break in the first place... but for now, she needed to persuade the crown prince to prepare troops ahead of time.
Ariel set down the knife she'd been using to cut her steak with a cold expression and shot the crown prince a quiet sneer.
"You must have points to spare. You've skipped classes so much, you've racked up penalty points."
"....Hah, ahem. Well, there's always a way. Since I'm buying lunch, eat comfortably."
"....."
What way? He probably pressured the students into handing them over.
He might be a stupid, foolish man, but if properly manipulated, Crown Prince Cedric was a useful card. Getting Leon into the academy had served two purposes: to erase the major scar he'd suffered during the dungeon break in her previous life, and because the swordsmanship department, where the crown prince belonged, would find excuses to stay in the rear lines—keeping Leon's belligerent nature a bit safer.
For now, she needed to play along with this man's whims.
"More importantly, did you try on the diamond necklace I sent? It's as brilliant as your—"
"....."
The crown prince's words turned to hazy noise in her ears. She nodded vaguely to his boastful chatter, half-listening, and silently gazed out the window.
The square below teemed with people, and amid them, silver hair and purple eyes stood out clearly even from afar—clear as day to her.
She watched the scene curiously for a moment, then—as if a memory resurfaced—dabbed her lips with a napkin and offered the crown prince a perfectly polite curtsey.
...Around this time? When Emilia's lackeys started moving.
"Something interesting seems to be happening below. I'll go first."
".....Huh."
Cedric stared at Ariel in bewilderment, then glanced down at the window and let out a deflated chuckle.
"....Ah—did you not see the letter? We sent separate notices, excluding the lowly commoners—"
"......"
Ariel's gaze poured down on him, utterly emotionless. Cedric swallowed hard and unwittingly rose from his chair, stumbling back a step.
"Have you forgotten Article 1 of the academy regulations? Once enrolled, all students are equal."
"....Duchess. Even so, there are distinctions of—"
"....Enough."
Ariel, as if unwilling to say more, paid for the meal upfront and vanished abruptly.
**
"At present, many students are suffering from hunger. The student council is working to resolve this, but the monopolization of points by a few has created major issues."
I listened quietly to the speech. When they called an emergency assembly for all academy students under the guise of a student council announcement, Kyle and I had taken a spot in the corner to hear out Lady Olivia, the student council president.
"It's truly regrettable. I believe the point system at the academy is a test. A trap set by the professors to see how well we can unite and bond."
"....What the hell is she spouting?"
"......"
I wanted to agree with Kyle, but decided to hear the full speech. Judging by the crowd size, this seemed like a long-planned scheme.
The student council president waved her hand dramatically, rallying the surrounding students with exaggerated gestures, scanning each one.
"...Thus, our view is that in such difficult times, students must unite to overcome it."
She wrapped her words in flowery packaging, but it boiled down to pooling all students' points and dividing them equally.
"Of course, we understand those who scrimped without buying artifacts or personal items, but we've agreed in the student council to use them communally. All academy students uniting to help each other."
Murmurs erupted here and there as she finished. "We've already agreed"—that meant it was absolutely a minority opinion. Just propaganda from the ringleaders. No better than back-alley thugs hiding behind clever words like "students' opinions" and "greater good."
"If anyone has opinions to share, please speak."
Kyle, who had nearly as many points as me, looked furious and raised his hand—but I blocked it.
"....Why? Leon, let go. I gotta say something. Even if—"
"You get too worked up and can't even speak properly. Not you, anyway."
"......"
Kyle shut his mouth. After snapping at Professor Elvin in a rage and getting stuck with park cleanup duty as punishment, he knew I was right. He looked a bit dejected but nodded.
"....Fine, then you speak up?"
"We'll see. I'm thinking. If no one else steps up, I will."
Olivia flashed a satisfied smile and slowly scanned the crowd. Armed with the banner of communal benefit, no opinion could counter her.
...Even to catch that person's eye, I have to make this succeed.
Olivia's gaze landed on a short, bespectacled boy. A magic department oddball, doodling indecipherable magic circles from the back row.
"Yes, you there. Please speak."
"....Magic department vice-top, Macbeth."
He scratched his head, looking like everything was a hassle, and opened his mouth.
"....Well, sounds good and all. But how exactly are you dividing the points?"
"Point transfers are possible, so the student council will collect them all and redistribute equally to the cadets."
"Couldn't the council skim some off?"
"......"
Olivia's response lagged. She'd prepared for complaints about compensation or communal sharing.
"....It will be transparent. The student council will—"
"Pretty words. Mind sharing how many points you have?"
"...Excuse me."
"That's all from me."
Olivia inwardly sighed in relief, put on a confident face, and scanned the crowd again. For the democratic facade, she needed a clean resolution here to justify harsh measures later.
Next was a silver-haired boy with striking purple eyes.
"Swordsmanship department, Leon Chris."
"....Huh, that's—"
"...The, uh, duchess's."
"......"
Leon's ear tips flushed slightly, but he faced the president steadily and spoke.
"I probably have the most points in the academy. Right now, I've got three hundred eighty-two."
"....Hmm."
Genuine admiration. Olivia eyed the boy briefly, then nodded.
"I understand your feelings. You must have saved the most, so you're the most aggrieved."
"....Thanks."
"But wouldn't it be nice to give a little for the other students' sake?"
".....Nah, that doesn't sit right."
"......."
"......"
A long silence. Olivia stared at me in confusion, then signaled her lackeys.
".....Tch, thinks only of himself?"
"Not mandatory, but that tone and attitude—no class at all."
Mutterings bubbled from the crowd.
'Crowd psychology.' Get swept in the murmurs, and anger takes over unbidden.
Olivia raised a hand to calm the increasingly hostile crowd and smiled gently.
"No need for harsh words. I understand such thoughts. But, Leon Chris, one question?"
"Of course."
"....Yes. Three hundred eighty-two points isn't something you amass by skipping a meal. Surely public items or help from someone?"
"I've gotten meals a few times."
To my clear answer, Olivia nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. From close friends, no doubt. But in noble society, communal bonds are strong. You might not know."
"......"
...Look at this bitch?
I kept my cool, carefully choosing a counter. Her words had plenty of holes and massive flaws. But she'd already claimed the stage and atmosphere.
To flip it, I needed a hammer to smash through to the masses.
I opened my mouth to Olivia again.
"Well, as for you, Olivia—"
"One and all, seems like their brains are leaking out their ears."
That firm, icy voice cut in from somewhere, instantly silencing the square—filled moments ago with sneers and whispers—like a frozen lake.
And then—like the sea parting—the crowd split.
At the center stood a woman with her signature blank expression.
"Lady Olivia. The man you're discussing has an after-date promise with me."
With those words, Ariel stepped toward me, one foot at a time.
Finally at my side, Duchess Ariel glared at Olivia and flashed a venomous smile.
"When will you stop spewing this moronic bullshit?"