Chapter 48
“From today onward, I hereby appoint Liet Meren as the Student Council President of Truto Public Academy for Nobles.”
With a victorious smile, Liet gazed down at the students. So this is what it feels like to be emperor. Of course, it wasn’t absolute power like that of an emperor, but within the academy, it was still an immense authority.
And the first targets on whom she would wield that authority had already been decided.
Henry Reris, Pierre Carte.
Though they weren’t the ones who had actually thrown her book into the fountain, they still deserved the hammer of retribution.
But then—
“They dropped out of school?”
One of the boys who used to hang around Henry nodded.
“Why?”
“I heard their families ran into financial trouble… but I don’t know the details.”
Liet tilted her head slightly at the explanation.
Pierre and Henry both ranked quite high. Did they just give up because they realized they couldn’t break into the top three?
By second year, most students had a good idea of their final ranking, and it wasn’t uncommon for some to withdraw around this time.
But their families are having financial trouble?
She had heard both came from fairly wealthy houses.
In this world, commerce was highly developed, and trade between nations was flourishing.
Yes, there were still old-fashioned nobles who looked down on the act of making money as something “lowly,” but unless one’s estate was fertile and prosperous, income from trade far outweighed land revenue. The idea that commerce was beneath nobility was practically archaic now.
Thus, many noble families engaged in business actively—including those of Henry and Pierre.
For both of their households to face financial decline at the same time…
Retribution, perhaps?
Maybe justice was still alive after all. Liet thanked the heavens for delivering judgment in her stead.
Time flowed peacefully, like gentle waves.
Yellow leaves fell, white snow blanketed the ground, tender green sprouts emerged, and the blazing summer sun came and went. Before she knew it, Liet was in her graduation year.
“Graduation’s not far off now,” Samuel said with a wistful expression, looking at Liet. He was right—it was almost upon them.
Lifting his head from his desk, he squinted at the dazzling sunlight streaming in. Its warm glow reminded him of someone.
“It still shocks me, even now, that Lucas dropped out.”
As Samuel muttered, Liet’s dulled memory stirred.
It had already been a year since Lucas vanished. Yet humans were adaptable creatures—Liet, like everyone else, had gotten used to his absence.
Though sometimes, I do still remember him.
Brushing away the thought, Liet turned to Samuel.
“Come to think of it, you’re the one who benefitted the most from Lucas’s disappearance.”
When she pointed at him, Samuel flinched.
“M-me?”
“Of course. With Lucas gone, you became the solid third-place student.”
It was the very definition of good fortune. With both Lucas and Henry gone—students who had been ranked just above him—Samuel had unexpectedly risen to third place.
“Well… yeah, that’s true.”
Scratching his head awkwardly, Samuel gave a sheepish grin. Liet chuckled.
“In any case, it worked out well for you.”
Once, Samuel had resigned himself to never climbing higher, given the unshakable rankings. But opportunity had come. With graduation, he would even surpass his older brother and inherit the family line.
“It’s all thanks to you, Liet.”
“…Right.”
She wasn’t sure what exactly was “thanks to her,” but she simply nodded without pressing it.
“Actually, if anyone deserves congratulations, it’s you.” Samuel clapped and looked at her.
“You’ve secured the top spot for graduation.”
Ah, yes.
That was indeed why Liet had been in such high spirits lately. She had aced every final exam with perfect scores, cementing her position as number one.
Evan had also scored perfectly, but the decisive advantage was the bonus points from her role as Student Council President.
I wonder if he regrets it—helping me win that election last year.
Though Evan had congratulated her, perhaps he secretly regretted it when he saw the outcome.
Too late to regret now, Evan.
Just the thought of surpassing him put a spring in her step.
“Liet?”
At the sudden call, she turned her head. A teacher was scanning the classroom.
“I’m here.”
“Ah, there you are. Please head to the principal’s office. The principal wishes to see you.”
The principal…? Why all of a sudden?
Curious, Liet rose from her seat.
Knock, knock.
“This is Liet Meren.”
“Come in.”
Opening the door, she found the principal standing with the autumn sunlight at his back.
“Good afternoon, Principal.”
“Miss Meren. I asked you here for a short talk.”
He gestured to the sofa, and she sat down, feeling oddly uncomfortable. Then she realized why—it was because the elderly man was addressing her so formally.
Sensing her puzzlement, the principal poured tea and explained, “You’re about to become a full-fledged adult. It’s only proper I address you with due respect.”
“Oh…” Liet was struck anew by her age.
Once she made her social debut, she would be treated as an adult. Her second life—it felt slow at times, but suddenly graduation was almost here.
“The reason I called you is that I wish to recommend you as a candidate for the Noble Assembly.”
“Pfft—!”
Liet sputtered tea in surprise.
“R-really?”
She stammered like a fool, but the moment was too overwhelming to care.
It was her dearest dream. One of the biggest reasons she had aspired to a dukedom was so she could become a noble legislator.
She had heard that a few outstanding graduates were sometimes recommended, but for it to actually happen to her—it was beyond moving.
“I’ve been deeply impressed by your conduct during your years here,” the principal said warmly.
“…Which part, exactly?”
She was grateful, yet confused. She’d barely spoken to the principal—he seldom showed himself on campus, appearing only on formal occasions. Even after she became Student Council President, their exchanges had been purely on paper.
“In truth, I had my eye on you since your admission. As you know, female students are a minority here, and none had ever ranked among the top before.”
Since admission…!
Her heart swelled.
“At first, I thought it would be difficult. But then you excelled in the very first exam.”
“Th-thank you.”
Unused to direct praise, Liet smiled awkwardly.
“The first exam was only the beginning. No one expected a queen to rise in the Student Council elections.”
She remembered vividly—the thrill of discovering the answer and the shivers that followed.
“To be honest, when I set that riddle, I believed no one could solve it. Only someone observant of their surroundings would.”
Setting down her teacup, Liet asked, “Then why set such a question at all?”
“Because I believe a leader must have a wide field of vision. Someone who sees only straight ahead can’t guide others.”
“…A broad perspective.”
“To test insight and resourcefulness, the sunstone was the perfect choice. It also happened to be the time for replacing it.”
The practical logic made her marvel at his reasoning.
“And to obtain the sunstone, one had to cooperate with others, correct?”
“As expected, Miss Meren—you grasp two points from one clue.”
The principal glanced at his reflection rippling in the teacup.
“No one can live alone. In this harsh world, discerning who can truly be your ally is a vital ability.”
Liet nodded gravely. She had learned that lesson about trust and betrayal in the hardest of ways.
“The election was one grand test. And you passed every part flawlessly.”
Smiling, the principal pulled out a document.
“That is why, when drafting this recommendation letter, your name came to me first.”
Her chest tightened. Recognition—at last! And not just recognition, but a recommendation to the Noble Assembly itself.
“Of course, my recommendation alone doesn’t guarantee your appointment. You must still graduate successfully, and win the approval of the current legislators.”
Graduation was already secured. As for the legislators—another hurdle, but she felt she could overcome anything now.
“Yes, I understand,” she replied firmly.
But one question lingered.
“Am I the only one receiving a recommendation?”
The principal shook his head.
“Evan Kreutz as well.”
Of course. I knew it.
“He impressed me in a different way. He has the qualities of one born to rule.”
Liet couldn’t deny that.
She had come to realize, during their years together, that Evan instinctively knew how to instill just the right measure of fear and earn respect. Watching him, she had often thought how easily he rose to the top.
Still, the top graduate will be me!
While savoring her triumph, she heard the principal’s gentle words.
“The growth of you two, so different yet so remarkable, has left a deep impression on me. I look forward to your future.”
At long last—after all the struggles—fruits of her efforts had ripened.
The clashes with Samuel, her book tossed into the fountain, Lucas’s betrayal… every hardship now seemed like steps toward this moment.
It’s finally over.
Well done, Liet! She congratulated herself with pride.
That evening, she was filled only with joy.
She did not yet know that beyond her door, her father’s anguished cry would soon ring out—her family’s crisis drawing near.
