The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange

19. Unwanted attention, unexpected development (1)

“Sit comfortably.”

Puffed up. Edwin, the student council president, who was seated in the upper seat, spoke in a relaxed tone.

Me and Lia looked at each other. I carefully sat down on the seat next to the sofa in the shape of a ‘c’.

“Coffee and tea are prepared. What do you prefer?”

“I like coffee, lia…… Can be served as black tea.”

At this point, I haven’t revealed the fact that I am Leah’s escort driver. I thought it would be awkward to use the title ‘Lia-sama’, so I said it comfortably. For some reason, Lia’s cheeks are red and she coughs.

“…… Leah?”

“Huh? Oh why, why Cain?”

The answer is awkward. What is it, do you have a cold?

“Rowen, two cups of coffee and a cup of tea, please.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Just as he was about to inquire, Edwin turned his head away.

Edwin, who had brilliant, bright blond hair as if he had gilded his hair, looked at me with his characteristic languid eyes. I also faced him.

Because we are looking at each other like this. The setting of Edwin, which was described in the original work, suddenly came to mind.

Didn’t Edwin say he looked just like his mother? Because of that, even though he is the rightful heir and first prince of the empire, he is out of the eyes of the emperor. He said that since he was a child he had been through all sorts of hardships.

Edwin, who grew up exposed to royal court strife and assassination threats, meets Edwin, who has a twisted personality, and Stella, a heavenly woman, at the Bern Academy. Growing in love little by little is the story up to the 4th volume of the original work.

“Cain Reinhardt.”

The moment I tried to look back on my vague memories. Edwin opened his mouth. I answered a beat late.

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you have a special taste?”

“…… Yes?”

This is, again, nonsense.

He asked a strange question out of the blue, and I frowned without realizing it. Edwin clasped his hands and placed them on the lap of the twisted leg.

“I know very well that I resemble my mother and look very good, but even so, I feel like they are staring at me too intently. If the three sons of the Reinhardt family have that kind of preference, I asked them to give up early since I’m no match for them.”

“… ….”

What a great self-consciousness.

We only exchanged a few words, but I think I have a rough idea of what kind of person Edwin was before he met Stella.

Arrogant, arrogant, overflowing with narcissism. The first prince, Edwin von Edward, who truly deserves the title of legitimate heir to the empire.

To think that a person like this would become a lofty lover who would give up his liver and gallbladder just for the sake of a woman. Really, what is love?

I can’t answer because I’m dumbfounded. Rowen entered the student council president’s office.

On the tray are two cups of coffee and one cup of tea. A small box of sugar cubes is up.

“You can adjust the sugar level with cubed sugar, as you like.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I put the coffee cup down on Edwin’s side first. Afterwards, Rowen, who also gave me a coffee cup, looked at me slowly.

It has an expressionless face, but its eyes shine clearly, as if it were trying to judge me.

“Rowen. If you look at a freshman who just entered today with such a terrifying gaze, won’t you be afraid to talk to him?”

“There’s something you’ve done yourself, so there’s no way you’re scared because of me now, right?”

“Ah, indeed. You’re a freshman who proudly declared war in front of thousands of people. It’s only about Rowen’s gaze.”

Muttering like a joke, Edwin glanced at me. There was deep interest in his eyes.

When I came to get the student council badge in the morning, he didn’t say anything, so I thought he was just going to let it go. Of course, this story comes out.

I spit on my lips and slowly opened my mouth.

“President. Well, it’s no different that we made that declaration.”

“It must have been to achieve another purpose under the pretext of liquidating the accumulated corruption, right?”

Expression management, I was going to. Unknowingly, my eyes widened.

When she rolled her eyes at Lia, she must have been as surprised as I was. She had her lips parted with a frown on her face.

“The purpose, of course, must be a secret that should not be known to others.”

Edwin, who spoke calmly, looked at Leah and me with eyes that said, ‘What do you think, am I wrong?’

I was going to deny it first, but I was already halfway caught. I calmly admitted it because I thought it would only raise suspicions that I had performed.

“Yes, that’s right. Leah and I had different goals. But.”

“It was never for the purpose of hurting the president, I guess he was saying the same thing.”

“…… We never do this with impure intentions.”

“Are you doing this to make the world a better place?”

“… ….”

Did this human travel back in time from the future?

With words that seemed to pierce my heart to such an extent that I naturally had such doubts. Deprived of everything to say, I rubbed the back of my neck with goosebumps.

Edwin looked at me like that and smiled.

“If you stay in the imperial palace for a long time, you will encounter all kinds of human groups. Cain Reinhardt, there are probably hundreds of people who have tried to persuade me to get something out of a repertoire similar to what you are about to say. So don’t be too surprised.”

“… ….”

In the original story, Stella was an idiot who only looked for Stella, so I looked at her a bit funny. When you actually meet and talk like this, your insight is no joke. Isn’t this the first prince of the empire for nothing?

If you tried to persuade Edwin for this, a cause that didn’t work, you would be accused of being a disobedient element and kicked out of the student council.

I looked at Leah. Now that things have happened like this, we have to show the cards we have to some extent and persuade them to gain credibility. The moment I tried to have a conversation with only eyes to seek consent.

“Kain Reinhardt, Leah von Eleves.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Yes, sir.”

Edwin caught our attention. He untwisted his legs and slightly leaned his upper body towards Leah and me.

“Let’s make a deal.”

“Trade… …. Yo. This?”

“Yes, it is a deal. It’s not like it’s not, you guys want to achieve some purpose by borrowing the power of the student council. Also, wouldn’t you have a wish that I would condone your existence and actions?”

“…… Yes that’s right.”

Edwin, whose tone had changed 180 degrees, came out and looked straight at Lia.

“A huge budget of £100,000 is consumed annually in the name of financial support for the Bern Academy. And part of the budget goes to the clubs and organizations within the Bern Academy. They are piled up one by one in the pockets of the second and third generation nobles I will meet in the imperial palace in the future.”

“… ….”

“This is deplorable. My father’s wealth has turned into blind money, and he is paying the rent of my political enemies.”

Edwin straightened his posture.

“So, let’s make a deal. What you need to do is simple. As declared during the entrance ceremony. Thoroughly research the budgets of existing clubs and organizations within the Bern Academy. It is enough to prevent money from meaninglessly leaking out, and to block embezzlement at the source by dissolving it by any means and methods in cases where the degree is severe.”

“If that’s the case, Chairman, in return.”

“No matter what you do, I will turn a blind eye to it. However, we cannot promise full support or complete extraterritoriality. I also have my own political stance.”

After speaking, Edwin crossed his legs. His expression was very relaxed, as if he believed that you would never be able to refuse this deal.

And, in fact, it was. Edwin made the maximum concession he could and at the same time suggested a good compromise between sister and brother-in-law.

My and Lia’s purpose is to find the members of the Order hidden within the Bern Academy, and Edwin’s purpose is to keep the aristocratic factions in check, who will later become his enemies.

These two purposes are perfect for being carried out under the guise of eradicating evils. Of course, Edwin didn’t know this, but based on his experience, he must have hit it with his eyes. You could say that the head is in an emergency.

“By the way, my proposal is valid only at this moment as I am sitting here.”

After saying that, Edwin seemed bored and opened his mouth slightly to yawn. He meant that if he dragged on for more time, he might leave this position himself, so don’t think long and answer quickly.

…… I turned her head to see Leah. As if she didn’t have to think further, she looked at me and nodded her head vigorously.

“Okay.”

“Okay, Rani. Does that mean you want to make a deal with me?”

“Yes. I’ll do it. But, before that, may I ask you a question?”

Edwin gave a relaxed chin. To say it once.

“If the president’s goal is to eliminate the corruption within the Bern Academy, isn’t it that we don’t have to step forward? It would be faster for the president to step forward rather than me and Lia, who are just the newcomers.”

“…… You know, Cain. It is not such a simple matter.”

Sigh, Leah tugged at my sleeve. She caught my attention as she spoke to Joe as she explained.

“The fact that the head of the student council, the president, directly tries to eradicate the evils is tantamount to the student council officially declaring that it will stand up to all clubs and organizations. If that happens, will the regime’s approval rating, which is the source of its omnipotent power, fall? If the approval rating falls, the performance of the student council’s duties will be put on hold. The president’s ability to speak is also weakening. It’s a story that goes bad in many ways.”

“…… Ah.”

Unlike real politics, where the approval rating rises when people shout for the eradication of evils, in a fantasy world where vested interests are often entangled, the approval rating is rather low. After listening to Lia’s explanation, I understood immediately.

“Okay then. I don’t think there’s any need to repeat what I said earlier.”

Edwin, speechless, reached out his hand.

I didn’t say much, but it seemed to mean to hold my hand if you were going to agree with me.

He had already made up his mind, so there was no hesitation. I sighed and grabbed Edwin’s hand.

“Thank you very much. President.”

“Well, I am.”

* * *

Five minutes later.

After Edwin, Cain, and Leah made a deal. Student President’s Office.

“Rowen.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Among the representatives of the freshmen this time, I’m talking about the female one. She looks like her father, so she’s smart, right?”

“If it’s a woman’s father… …. Are you referring to Prince Macmillan von Eleves, head of Count Eleves?”

“Yes, Earl Macmillan.”

Edwin remembered the image of Count Macmillan, who was not here. His eyes were bulging, and his knuckles were covered in hair. A wild bear-like count who was terrifying because of his formidable face.

He started bragging about his daughter as soon as he entered the imperial palace. He must have been very afraid of his one and only daughter.

“Maybe it’s because she resembles that bear-like fox, but her hair is so extraordinary.”

“That’s because he’s the head of the freshman class. Of course, the hair must be good.”

“No, not the study head, but the other head.”

Tuk-tuk, Edwin tapped his own temple with his index finger. Rowen looked at Edwin and replied nonchalantly.

“Could it be that you are saying that because you mentioned the long-cherished wish of the president, the eradication of deep-rooted corruption? That’s about it, it’s something that anyone can understand if they investigate with interest.”

“Yeah, I guess I can figure it out. However, how many people can use the card effectively just because they found out?”

“… ….”

That was right. Even if you find out that the president wants to end the deep corruption, what the hell can ordinary students do?

A student council executive who is capable of running around as he pleases under the pretext of thanksgiving and inspection should at least imitate it.

However, when you become an executive of the student council, you don’t have to do that. There are so many benefits that can be given even if you just breathe, but there is no reason to insist on eradicating accumulated evils even at the cost of your own throat.

If you push for the eradication of the accumulated corruption that turns most of the students at the academy into enemies, and then get fired from the executive position under the pretext of public opinion, it is your responsibility to take care of the aftermath.

So, the existing student council executives went over without knowing or not knowing. The chairman knows that well, so what he has been halfway giving up on is ‘liquidation of accumulated evils’.

Cain Reinhardt and Leah von Eleves advocated the elimination of the evils.

Of course, there must be another purpose at the base, but the ‘clearing of accumulated corruption’, which is the cause they put forward on the outside. Edwin couldn’t possibly ignore it.

Familiar trading skill that accurately grasps what the opponent wants, hooks it up as bait, and drags it into his board to achieve his goal.

Edwin laughed softly as he looked over at Earl Macmillan and his daughter Leah.

“This is, I ate a blow to that nobleman’s daughter.”

“…… Countess Macmillan is a seasoned aristocrat, so her daughter must have inherited her abilities intact.”

“Um, right? She probably resembles her father. He pretends not to know and gets everything he can get, even his actions are very similar. Are you sure.”

Edwin cupped his hands, then turned his arm back and put it on the back of his head.

“Yes, resemblance is resemblance. So, what is the real purpose of freshmen?”

“Yes? What is your purpose?”

“Uh, purpose. The purpose of two new freshmen who don’t know anything is to clear up the accumulated corruption. As long as it’s not for political reasons, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything to be gained no matter how much you think about it, right?”

“Hey, I don’t know what’s inside the two of them. If you’re so curious, why don’t you ask yourself?”

“Oh, is that so? I shouldn’t have weighed it down, I should have asked honestly.”

“…… Are you stupid?”

At Rowen’s muttered words, Edwin smiled softly.

“So, what do you think Rowen? What do you think the purpose of the new students is?”

“What is the purpose, does it matter? After all, due to the flood of duel applications, I won’t be able to survive for a week and become a regular student.”

“Really? Then, would you like to bet with me?”

“A bet? Me and the president?”

Rowen pointed at herself with her index finger, then she pointed at Edwin.

“Yeah, bet. It’s a bet that that freshman can make it through a week or not. As for prizes, the winner grants the loser one wish.”

“Isn’t that usually the opposite?”

“What are you talking about? It’s right to do this If you lost a bet, wouldn’t it be unfair to grant your wish?”

“…… Yes what You see. I bet that the freshmen won’t last.”

“Okay, then I’ll bet you hold out.”

Edwin and Rowen looked out the window at the same time.

There, Cain and Leah, who had escaped from the building before they knew it, were walking on the grounds of the Bern Academy and talking casually.

“You look so friendly, what are you talking about?”

“Perhaps, Lia von Eleves is leading the way in making plans for the future. You must have been promised protection from the president, because now there will be nothing to hold back.”

“Um, right?”

* * *

“Cain. I’m hungry.”

“You ate lunch a while ago, again?”

“A rice pear and a dessert pear are two different things. Delicious food sold in front of you. Let’s stop by for a moment, okay? Are you going with me?”

“Yeah, what…. All right. Let’s go.”

“Oh, really? Oh yea-!”