Chapter 40
The short vacation passed, and the school gates opened once more.
Feeling the crisp autumn breeze, Liet strode across the grass.
“Liet.”
A familiar voice called from the side.
“How’s life as number five treating you?”
Even without turning her head, Liet knew who it was. There was only one person bold enough to mention her rank of five right in front of her while she radiated such a fierce aura.
Liet turned with an unfiltered scowl. Evan was smiling brightly and waving.
“Perfect timing.”
Liet swung around to face him.
But… huh?
When their eyes met, she realized she had to tilt her head back more than usual.
“You… did you get taller again?”
“Maybe?” Evan replied nonchalantly.
Just as Liet said, the difference in their heights was now about a whole head.
And it wasn’t just his height—his face had matured as well. He no longer looked like a boy. The lines of his face had sharpened, completely shedding the delicate, pretty charm he once had. “Young man” now suited him far better than “boy.”
Recalling her recent talk with Duke Croyte, Liet realized again how much time had passed. At this age, even a few months could bring big changes.
“I kind of want to stop growing, but I doubt my growth plates will listen.”
At his cheeky remark, Liet pouted. Yeah, sure, good for you.
Then she suddenly remembered what she’d originally meant to say.
“That’s not what’s important.”
“It’s not?”
“The student president election is this week.”
Despite her grave tone, Evan only tilted his head slightly, as if he didn’t get the point.
“And?”
“And? Don’t you know about the bonus points? Bonus points!”
“Ah.”
Only then did Evan smile knowingly.
“So, you’re aiming to become student president… to seize first place?”
“Exactly. So go ahead and laugh at my current rank all you want. Soon you’ll be longing for the days when I was just number five.”
Liet smirked at him. Evan tilted his head back, as though pondering the sky, then turned his gaze back to her.
“I wasn’t planning to run, but if you’re running… maybe I should too.”
Liet flared up instantly.
“You weren’t going to run—so why now?!”
“Since we were kids, I’ve always followed you in everything, haven’t I?”
He gave her a smile with his eyes. His face wasn’t even as pretty as when he was younger, yet that smile still looked good on him. Which only made her more annoyed. He had everything. A total male lead type.
“That’s exactly your problem. Live a little independently, would you? I said I was entering the noble academy, so you enrolled too. Now I say I’ll run for student president, and you’re doing it again. What’s next—marriage? Are you going to copy that too?”
“I won’t be copying marriage.”
Or… would doing it at the same time still count as copying? Evan muttered something cryptic under his breath.
But then he looked back at her, as though it wasn’t all that important.
“If you do become student president, Liet, that’ll be interesting to watch.”
“Don’t say ‘if.’ I’m going to become president no matter what.”
Her absolute confidence made Evan ask,
“Is the only reason you’re running the bonus points?”
“That’s the biggest reason.”
“And the others?”
“To make sure Henry, Pierre, and the others learn what happens when they run their mouths carelessly. I’ll make them regret it, big time.”
“Using power like that… impressive.”
Evan’s admiration was completely flat. Then he threw cold water on her fiery ambition.
“But Henry and Pierre weren’t the ones who dropped your book in the fountain.”
Liet’s brows furrowed.
“What?”
“They didn’t do it.”
“And how would you know?” Liet crossed her arms and glared at him.
“Someone saw your book already floating in the fountain that morning. Meaning it happened sometime between the previous evening and dawn. But Henry and Pierre were both at an off-campus party that night.”
“…They could’ve come back and done it after.”
“Every classroom door locks at midnight. The party ended around then. Unless they can teleport back to campus, it’s impossible they were the culprits.”
Faced with their airtight alibi, Liet was speechless.
But what bothered her more was how Evan seemed to know more about the incident than she did.
“Then who was it?”
“Most likely the person who benefited the most from your rank dropping.”
Evan’s voice had dropped low.
Liet thought of the altered rankings, and familiar names surfaced. Evan seemed to be thinking the same. He spoke them aloud, just as they were in her mind.
“Lucas Holton, Henry Leris, Samuel Plume. If Henry’s ruled out, that leaves only two.”
His quiet voice carried like a warning.
“You decide.”
When she’d walked to school, all she’d had in mind was becoming student president. Now, thanks to Evan, her thoughts were in complete disarray.
“Liet!”
Just then, someone who had greatly contributed to her confusion showed up.
“Did you rest well?”
“…Yeah.”
It was Lucas. As always, he shone like the gentle morning sun.
“You don’t look like someone well-rested. Did something happen?”
With his worried expression, he didn’t seem like someone scheming anything at all. In fact, seeing his face directly lightened the heaviness in her heart.
Right. Jumping to suspicion isn’t the answer.
Collecting herself, Liet fixed her gaze on Lucas.
“Lucas.”
“Yes?”
At her soft call, Lucas blinked.
“If you ever betray me, I won’t forgive you.”
“…What’s with the sudden talk of betrayal?”
“I mean it. I’ll stake everything I have to get back at you. You know my personality—I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
Though confused, Lucas nodded earnestly.
“I don’t really get it, but… okay.”
Good. Later, she’d tell Samuel the exact same thing. Liet quickly blew away the uneasy thoughts.
“By the way, Liet, I heard they’ll be announcing details about the student president election today.”
“Yeah, I know. You’re running too, right?”
She assumed he would.
With her rank dropping, Lucas had risen to second place. And bonus points were always worth pursuing.
Becoming student president meant holding authority in school, and also gaining a recommendation from the noble council after graduation—a highly attractive prize.
So most eligible students usually ran. Since the final test came from the headmaster, everyone had the same opportunity.
“Of course. Nothing to lose, after all.”
As expected, Lucas intended to run.
At that moment, an announcement rang out, calling all candidates to gather in the Grand Hall for the election briefing. Liet and Lucas turned and headed there together.
When they entered, the hall was already packed. From the murmurs, it seemed plenty of students intended to compete.
“Don’t you think the election system’s weird?” Lucas glanced around at the crowd.
“How so?”
“The president being chosen based on a question the headmaster sets. The criteria seem too subjective, maybe even unfair.”
“Hmm.”
Liet didn’t agree at all.
If solving a question was all it took to become the most powerful student, that was far fairer than the Truto Empire’s politics.
In the Empire’s constitutional monarchy, the councilors’ power was ever-increasing. But to become one, you needed the backing of royalty or an existing councilor.
In other words, no connections, no chance.
Compared to that, a contest based on ability alone was undeniably fair. In this world, democratic ideals weren’t even a concept. If the headmaster simply appointed his favorite student, no one could protest—after all, this school belonged to him.
Still, Liet admitted Lucas had a point. If fairness was the goal, there were other ways.
While she pondered, the headmaster stepped up to the podium.
“Dear students of Truto Public Academy for Nobles, the time has come once again for the student president election.”
The first time Liet had spoken with him was at the dance party. Her impression back then hadn’t been bad.
“As it’s such an important opportunity, I have carefully considered this year’s task.”
Her heart pounded. What kind of problem would it be? She watched him intently.
“After much thought, the challenge is…”
The headmaster tapped the floor of the stage twice with his long staff. A large rolled parchment unfurled beside him.
Written on it were the words:
[Bring the Old Sun]
The Old Sun…?
Liet wasn’t the only one baffled—murmurs spread across the hall.
“Now, now.”
Clapping his hands lightly, the headmaster drew their attention back. When the hall quieted, he continued.
“It’s simple. You must bring back the Old Sun. However, there is one condition: candidates must form pairs.”
A student raised his hand.
“Why pairs, sir?”
“That’s a secret.”
Pairs again. Just like the dance party, now she had to find a partner once more. Liet sighed inwardly.
Another boy raised his hand.
“If candidates work in pairs, does that mean there will be two presidents?”
The headmaster shook his head.
“No.”
Confusion buzzed louder.
“There will only be one winner. The pair must find the Old Sun together, but then decide between themselves who will take the seat of student president.”
Though his tone was calm, the content was anything but. The boy frowned, pressing further.
“And if they can’t agree…?”
“Then the one who delivers the Old Sun first will become president.”
Gasps and whispers rippled across the hall.
“Then what’s the point of pairs?”
“Exactly…!”
While the others fretted, Liet reviewed the rule.
That meant if no agreement was reached, betrayal was inevitable. Whoever brought it first, no matter what, would win.
Beneath his kindly appearance, the headmaster’s test was brutally ruthless.
Liet clicked her tongue, already imagining the betrayals to come. But she couldn’t entirely reject the logic either. In her second life, she’d already learned that the world was harsher than it seemed.
Maybe he wants us to get a taste of real society before adulthood.
While Liet analyzed the headmaster’s intent, his voice echoed through the hall.
“Now then, let the student president election begin.”
