“What are you doing there?”
Someone intervened.
“…Lios.”
Nigel snapped to his senses and called the unwelcome guest’s name.
His body moved on its own, unable to imagine what this bastard would say after seeing him pinned against the wall looking up at Eden.
Nigel pushed aside Eden Lake’s body blocking his path with one arm, as if telling him to move.
Despite his large height and build, Eden Lake yielded his body as Nigel pushed.
“…What are you two talking about so seriously? Hm?”
As expected. Lios wore his characteristic sly expression while acting friendly. Lios Cesare.
He was the youngest son of the Kaiserion Empire’s ducal family and a person who wielded considerable influence within the Academy.
Lios, who had enrolled a year earlier than Nigel, was also the one who had recommended the Crown Prince join the Student Council.
It was true that he had received much help from Lios in adapting to the Academy, where he needed to expand his influence again after leaving the Imperial Palace.
But that was that.
“You don’t need to know.”
Nigel quickly shut him down so Lios wouldn’t show more interest. Since he knew so many people, if he aroused even the slightest suspicion, rumors would undoubtedly spread throughout the entire Academy in no time.
“What, saying it like that makes me even more curious.”
Lios persistently pressed, drawing out his words. When Nigel thoroughly ignored his interest, Lios’s arrow turned toward Eden Lake.
“Why, what is it. Tell me. Nigel, ah no. Eden Lake, you answer.”
Eden Lake’s expression, who had been keeping his place beside him all this time, was stiff. Whatever he had been trying to say, he must be displeased because of the unwelcome guest who had suddenly barged in.
Tap—Nigel struck Eden Lake’s arm once as a warning, then said.
“…Go in first.”
Eden Lake’s pitch-black eyes distorted. Then his gloomy impression beneath his glasses became even more pronounced. He bit his lower lip once, then opened his mouth again.
“Senior.”
But knowing that Lios Cesare was still sparkling with interest beside them, Nigel stopped Eden Lake’s words there.
“Go in.”
“……”
When he said it once more, Eden Lake, well aware of Nigel’s personality that disliked making him repeat himself, sighed and bowed to them both. Then he moved his legs briskly and entered the Student Council room first.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing seemed louder than usual.
‘…It’s probably just my imagination.’
As Nigel looked at the closed Student Council room door, Lios Cesare spoke to him.
“I’m really curious what it was about. Anyway, getting back to my agenda.”
Hm? When he turned his head, Lios had a serious expression. Despite being only a year apart, Lios often pretended to be an adult more worldly-wise. Why didn’t he realize that acting that way when he was much shorter made him look ridiculous?
“Nigel.”
“…What.”
Don’t tell me he’s going to talk again about canceling the Alchemy Department’s performance. Nigel swallowed an unsavory breath. He absolutely detested this probing tone.
“Do you know there’s a strange rumor going around lately?”
“A rumor?”
When Nigel asked back, Lios, unlike his usual sly self, scanned the surroundings with quite serious eyes. His attitude was as if he was being cautious lest someone eavesdrop on their conversation.
“The lion statue by the Academy lakeside. There’s a rumor that if you climb on top of it and sing, you can dance with the person you want at the ball on the festival’s final day.”
“……”
What kind of nonsense…
“Climbing up there is against school rules.”
His expression looked fed up with the stupid behavior and absurd rumor, but apparently the point he seized upon was that.
Having read Nigel’s expression, Lios Cesare continued with an amused smile.
“Do you know who’s taking up the biggest share in that?”
“……”
Nigel’s mood soured at Lios’s eyes sparkling with interest. Seeing that he was full of thoughts to tease him, he didn’t want to answer obediently.
“Not interested.”
Nigel was shaking his head left and right, about to walk toward the closed Student Council room door.
“Really not curious who it is?”
Nigel whipped his head around and said in an irritated voice.
“How long are you going to keep me standing in front of the door, senior?”
He pronounced each syllable as if chewing on it. Then he was just going to end the conversation and open the door.
He was about to be disappointed in Lios for thinking he would be interested in that stupid rumor in the first place.
“It’s you.”
At the clear voice, Nigel’s hand gripping the Student Council room door handle stopped dead. What? His face cracked.
“…What?”
Even to his own ears, it was a stupid-sounding tone.
“You, Nigel. It’s funny.”
Lios laughed loudly with a “Puhaha—” as if asking whether he finally understood. Nigel scowled and glared at Lios Cesare. What was so entertaining about this story?
“…Are you done?”
“Alright. I didn’t think you’d be pleased, but… still, what do you think? Everyone wants to dance with the Empire’s Crown Prince, whom they wouldn’t normally dare to even look at.”
If he were to give his thoughts…
“Focus on your studies.”
Nigel answered curtly and turned the door handle. Though he answered as if he didn’t care, the fact that his name was being mentioned in that ridiculous rumor was unpleasant.
“It’s not something you can dismiss so easily.”
Lios’s low voice followed behind Nigel’s back as he was about to enter the Student Council room.
“That rumor—the Alchemy Department bastards started spreading it.”
In that instant, his steps froze.
Alchemy Department—how many times had he heard that just today?
Nigel briefly entertained the lazy thought of raising their budget again due to the incoming annoyance, but soon took a breath and came to his senses.
‘No, to consider reversing my decision over something like this—that wasn’t like me.’
This was all because Lios had scattered his focus with nonsense. It was because of the thought that once he started giving in, other departments would also look down on the Student Council.
Lios said “Leaving already?” toward Nigel, who was walking quickly past him.
“I have no intention of being late.”
Nigel gave him a short answer.
* * *
The Kaiserion Student Council used the entire massive glass greenhouse at the very end of the Academy building’s right wing as their council room.
Of course, it couldn’t compare to the Imperial gardens, but it was a space arranged by a fairly famous landscape architect that suited the Student Council well, with its frequent meetings and votes.
Especially the tea brewed from freshly harvested tea leaves here was something many students longed for even after graduation.
The Student Council didn’t need a wide sparring hall and weapons storage like the Swordsmanship Department, nor did it need experimental equipment rooms like the Alchemy Department. So the Student Council room had only simple round tables and chairs placed in what could seem rather modest.
However, because of the special nature of being a greenhouse garden, Nigel liked the Student Council room. He had also grown quite attached to this space, even in the short time he’d been there.
Tap. He opened the large glass door and stepped inside.
And Lios, who had been talking with Nigel until just moments ago, followed in.
Perhaps because Nigel had entered, the Student Council room, which had been noisy, suddenly became quiet. Then everyone stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads slightly toward the Crown Prince. Nigel received their greetings with a light nod and headed toward the meeting table.
The tables were divided by grade level, and Nigel’s preferred seat was empty as always.
At the secretary’s seat across from him, Eden Lake was already settled in. He didn’t take his eyes off the documents even though Nigel had entered the Student Council room. He was the one who would normally have been the first to stand and greet him.
“……”
He must be bothered by what happened in the corridor. Eden Lake’s dissatisfaction was palpable in his firmly clenched, solid jaw. But he still couldn’t understand what exactly Eden wanted him to do about it. He hadn’t expected him to dislike the offer of a gift for helping with the festival work so much.
Nigel sat in his seat with an indifferent face. As Lios pulled out a chair and sat across from him, he couldn’t hide his interested smile, looking back and forth between Nigel and the stiff Eden as if he found this situation utterly entertaining.
As soon as Nigel and Lios finished taking their seats, the meeting began as if it had been waiting.
“So, are you really not going to grant permission for the Alchemy Department’s performance as is?”
