Chapter 69
“Ha… what? Did I just hear that wrong?”
For a moment, Rozen let out a dumbfounded laugh and rose from his seat.
“Lady, it’s me — Rozen Lavenia.”
“I know.”
“Then what did you just say…?”
“I said you’re a shameless, crazy piece of trash. Or perhaps, to be precise, I should call you a scumbag who’s forgotten what shame is. Though, if you still had a shred of that, you wouldn’t have dared show your face here.”
Her tone didn’t waver in the slightest. Because of that, all of us — Rozen, his secretary Albion, and even I — could only stare blankly.
“L–Lady Cecilia…”
“…”
What the hell.
Why is she going off like this all of a sudden?
It wasn’t the kind of vulgar curse one would hear in a tavern, yet every word she spoke carried the weight of wanting to crush the man standing before her.
“Ha… hahaha.”
Rozen Lavenia finally couldn’t hold it in and laughed aloud.
“Ha, unbelievable. Has our dear lady gone insane?”
“No. I’m more lucid than ever. As you said earlier, my head’s full of flowers — which means I can’t stand the stench of filthy garbage like you. So please, leave now, Rozen Lavenia.”
“Cecilia!”
“This isn’t a request. It’s an order.”
With a sharp tone, Cecilia shouted, then turned to her secretary.
“What are you waiting for? Call someone.”
“Ah, y–yes, my lady!”
Albion rushed out of the room.
Watching him go, Rozen twisted his lips into a crooked grin, glancing between me and Lady Cecilia.
“To think, someone who once said she couldn’t even breathe the same air as someone of a different class… You’ve fallen quite far, haven’t you?”
“Well, after being betrayed by someone of my own class, I figured the flower field needed a bit of manure.”
“Pft… I see. The two of you actually suit each other quite well. Fine then. But let me ask just one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Can you say, with confidence, that you won’t regret today?”
His tone was chillingly calm — almost whisper-like.
At that, Lady Cecilia simply let out a scoffing laugh.
“Fine. Got it. Then I’ll see you around.”
Tap, tap.
Without another word, Rozen turned and walked out.
Creak—Bang!
And then—
Thud.
The moment she was gone, Lady Cecilia sank weakly back into her chair.
“…”
In the silence that followed — like a storm had just passed — I couldn’t help but applaud inwardly.
Wow. Impressive.
I’d sensed it earlier when she called me lowly, but still…
Cecilia Romanoff — she’s got a hell of a temper.
At the very least, she’s got the makings of a top-tier villainess.
Anyway…
Before things got any more complicated, I decided to make my exit.
“My lady, I’ll—”
“No, Kamon. Let me go first.”
“…Pardon?”
“What Rozen said earlier. Flower-head, idiot, pure princess.”
Reciting the insults that had been hurled at her, she continued.
“Is that… is that why everyone left me?”
“…”
“When you said before that you finally understood why everyone around me betrayed me and walked away… Is this what you meant?”
Her voice trembled slightly as she asked that.
For a moment, I didn’t know how to answer.
Should I just tell her the blunt truth?
For her, hearing that truth might mean having to deny her entire life up to this point.
But—
‘That’s not my problem.’
Right now, I had to make her the next president.
And for that, I needed a colder, stronger Cecilia — not the naïve, flower-headed fool she’d been before.
“Yes, my lady. That’s right.”
“I see.”
She nodded slowly, and then…
A look crossed her face — one I’d never seen before.
It was a mixture of deep sadness and despair, as if she’d just lost everything.
“Just like you said before, Kamon… maybe I really was a child. A stupid, little child.”
Her voice quivered, soft and sorrowful, like a confession.
I shook my head and said quietly,
“Then change.”
“…What?”
“If you’ve been a child until now, then become an adult. That’s what I’m here for — to help you do that.”
“…”
She was silent for a moment. Then, with a resolute expression, she nodded firmly.
“Alright. Let’s do it.”
“…Do what, exactly?”
“Chairman Alec. Meet him — and use that photo to demand his support.”
Her tone was decisive, her eyes burning with fierce determination.
‘She really runs on emotion, doesn’t she?’
Still, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Especially now — passion could be useful.
People don’t really change overnight anyway.
Sure, she might seem different for the moment, driven by anger and frustration, but soon enough she’d probably return to her usual self.
‘Still… a little progress is better than none.’
Just then, she spoke again.
“But Kamon, be careful.”
“Hmm?”
“Chairman Alec — he’s a man of the Axcellion Duchy. Those people never forget a grudge. So please, just…”
“You don’t need to worry about that, my lady.”
I gave a faint laugh and smiled.
Being hated — resented — was something I was long used to.
A few more names on that list wouldn’t change a thing.
“I’ll take care of it quickly.”
The next morning, even before the sun was fully up, the academy was buzzing with activity.
Word spread that Chairman Alec Axcellion had finished preparations for an announcement.
“What’s the chairman going to announce?”
“No idea. Maybe he’s going to endorse someone?”
“But I thought he was staying neutral?”
“Well, maybe he changed his mind.”
Students flocked toward the courtyard, where the speech was to be held.
The turnout rivaled even that of the opening declarations.
Step, step.
Finally, the current student council president, Alec Axcellion, appeared.
“T–That’s the chairman!”
With his jet-black hair flowing and the bright orange eyes of the Northwall Axcellion family gleaming, he gazed out at the crowd.
“Today, I stand before you to declare my support for one of the candidates in this election.”
“Whoa, he’s really endorsing someone!”
“Who? Who is it?”
As murmurs rippled through the audience, several figures stepped up behind him.
“Wait, that’s Vice President Obern and Rozen Lavenia!”
“Aren’t they from Princess Francia’s camp?”
“Yeah, then this must mean he’s endorsing the Princess!”
And then—
“It’s Princess Francia!”
“This election’s over now.”
“Yeah, if Alec supports her, it’s basically done.”
Tap.
Princess Francia sat gracefully in the seat behind the podium and took a deep breath.
‘The moment he says my name, it’s all over.’
Preparing to savor her victory, she composed herself — a serene smile, soft eyes, the perfect mask of grace and dignity.
“And so, the candidate I’ve chosen to support is none other than…”
As Alec’s words trailed off, Francia rose slowly from her seat.
‘Just like we rehearsed. Slow steps, no nerves… steady…’
But just then, Alec’s usual bright grin appeared — followed by words that shattered the silence.
“The candidate I support… is Lady Cecilia Romanoff!”
What?
Cecilia Romanoff?
“…”
“…”
The entire crowd froze in disbelief.
“What… what did he just say?”
“Did he say Cecilia? Not the Princess?”
“But… why is the Princess there then…?”
The confusion spread like wildfire.
Yet among all the shocked faces, none was more shaken than Princess Francia herself.
Crack.
‘What the hell is this…’
Her smile didn’t fade — but her clenched fists trembled violently, hidden beneath her gown.
‘Keep it together, Francia. Smile. You have to smile!’
Tap, tap.
Then came the sound of high heels approaching the stage.
“L–Lady Cecilia?”
With long ash-gray hair flowing elegantly and a violet gown shimmering under the light, Cecilia stepped gracefully onto the stage.
Tap, tap.
As she passed directly in front of Francia—
Smirk.
‘Did… did that bitch just smile at me?’
Never before had Cecilia been so bold.
They’d always been rivals, yes — but she’d never mocked her this openly.
The surge of rage was almost uncontrollable.
“Y–You little—”
‘No! Don’t! Hold it in, Francia!’
With every ounce of willpower, she forced her lips into a trembling smile.
“Welcome, Lady Cecilia.”
“Thank you, Chairman Alec.”
Cecilia’s polite bow and calm voice echoed across the square.
“Nice to meet you, everyone. I am Cecilia Romanoff, candidate for student council president.”
Her confident tone resounded, and soon, cheers erupted among the students.
“Lady Cecilia, you can do it!”
“She’s so beautiful!”
“Wooaaahhh!”
Whether planned or spontaneous, the energy swept through the crowd, pulling more and more people into her momentum.
“I am deeply honored that our current student council president, Chairman Alec, has chosen not Princess Francia — but me, Cecilia — to support.”
It was a deliberate jab, a direct provocation.
Everyone held their breath.
And finally—
Crack.
Princess Francia’s forced smile shattered.
Her face twisted, and her fingers gripped her dress so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
At that moment—
“Your Highness, this way, please. Let’s go.”
“You must walk with dignity — so no one dares misunderstand what just happened.”
Vice President Obern and Rozen Lavenia approached her swiftly, their usual rivalry forgotten in this shared humiliation.
“Haa… I’m fine. I just need… a moment.”
Forcing her breathing steady, Francia managed to rise — but then she froze.
Her eyes locked onto someone standing just below the stage.
And then—
Smirk.
The man down there — smiling wickedly up at her — made her blood boil.
“Ka…mon Bade!”
