“Prince Antonio?”

Delfina was quite surprised by the big man standing in front of her, but she calmly opened her mouth without trying to express it.

Although they were the prince and the viscount daughter outside the academy, at least within the academy there was a difference between the current student council president and the former student council president.

Objectively, Delfina was able to stand confidently against Prince Antonio because there was no part where she was pushed.

“Hello, Lady Delphina.”

“It’s late, but it’s a big deal. Judging by the fact that the prince’s closest aides also accompanied you, did you come because you have something important to say?”

“Yeah. I felt I had to speak as quickly as possible, so I came despite the late hour.”

What is the word that needs to be said as quickly as possible?

The first thing that came to mind was the proposal related to the position of student president.

It wasn’t long before the student council president election was over.

Above all, the only point of contact between himself and Prince Antonio was that they were competing for the presidency.

If he resigned as student council president, of course the next year’s student council president would be Prince Antonio, who was next in line.

Delfina, who had been thinking that far, began to vaguely guess what Prince Antonio was going to say.

Maybe she was trying to convince herself by promising all sorts of titles and riches that she couldn’t have as a viscount daughter.

It was quite possible.

The reason why he came to visit him so urgently was because it was hard to think of anything else.

If he willingly accepts the offer, he will be able to obtain a personal connection with the imperial family, Prince Antonio, as a bonus.

Even if Prince Antonio had suggested such a thing, how many aristocratic ladies would be able to shake off that temptation?

It would be a sweet whisper that was especially hard to resist for Delphina Perdalos, who were thirsty for power and connections.

“… … .”

Even so, Delfina was preparing a statement to immediately reject such an offer from Prince Antonio.

Delfina was also aware that she was a person who was thirsty for power and connections, but she was not the kind of person who ignored even the smallest of principles and paved the way to build it.

To replace all the efforts of the people of the election camp who worked hard to get to this position, and the efforts of his older brother Conrad Perdalos and his colleagues, into immediate profits.

It was something I shouldn’t have done and couldn’t do.

Most of all, Delphina never did anything that could be a weakness for her.

Derogatory titles such as traitor and irresponsible would be unpleasant titles for her, so it was her mindset that she refused to be created in the first place.

Above all, when it comes to personal connections with someone who makes such a proposal, even if he is the 5th prince, Delphina will refuse to do so.

So, I was preparing to express my intention to reject the resignation proposal right away.

Surprisingly, the words that came out of Prince Antonio’s mouth were slightly different.

“I have come to offer my sincere apologies for my mistake in leaving out Lady Delfina Perdalos and Johnny Winte at the dinner table last time.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Delfina and Johnny were perplexed at the sight of Prince Antonio bowing his head against a mere Viscount’s daughter and a commoner, not knowing what to say.

Rather, the first person to speak was the figure of Prince Antonio’s closest aide, Prince Vincent Seitaridis.

“Now, wait a minute, Prince! You can’t do this, you have to keep your cool!”

“… … .”

“If it becomes known that the prince bowed his head to lower nobles and commoners, he will become a weak point in the competition for the next successor!”

“Stop talking nonsense and keep your head down too, Vincent.”

“… Yeah?”

Vincent’s mouth stopped abruptly after hearing Alex’s scolding.

“It was because you arbitrarily edited my guest list and kicked out the two people who came to the door. Are you going to make me bow my head and stand still?”

“… … .”

At Prince Antonio’s words, Vincent’s expression hardened for an instant, but it was not enough to make him bow his stiff head.

“I’m sorry. But, Lady Delfina Perdalos… . I didn’t know a precious person and committed rudeness… .”

“… I’m not the only one that Master Vincent will apologize to, right?”

“Eh, I apologize as well… . Joe, Mr. Johnny Winte… .”

The fact that he bowed his head to the lower nobles and commoners he had so despised made Vincent want to pour blood out of his throat at any moment.

Even if Prince Antonio wasn’t standing next to him, he, the eldest son of the Duke of Seitaridis, wouldn’t have bowed down to his subordinates.

However, Vincent’s mistakes in the past were not easily forgiven, so he had to lie down for the moment in order to somehow make up for them.

Even if I was so angry that I could taste blood in the gaps between my closed molars.

“Because of Prince Vincent’s sincerity, I won’t comment on the rudeness you committed last time.”

“Seeing Mr. Vincent’s expression of sincere reflection, my heart was relieved enough. Big.”

Even though the commoner was openly spitting ridicule at him, all he could do at this point was to vent his anger.

If she could endure now and maintain her position as an aide to Prince Antonio, she would always be able to pay for today’s humiliation.

After trying so hard to convince herself, she was able to endure the current humiliation.

“And, there is one more thing I want to ask you.”

Until the next words came out of Prince Antonio’s mouth.

“I would like to suggest recruiting me to the student council cabinet that Lady Delphina will form later.”

“… yes? Did I hear you wrong?”

“Are you serious, Prince?”

“Hey, wait! What are you talking about!”

Among the three, the one who was most excited about Prince Antonio’s remarks was none other than Prince Vincent.

In order to participate in the competition for the imperial power, standing upright at any time would not be enough, but to think that he would go under the viscount’s daughter and work with a mix of commoners.

For Vincent, it was like a thunderbolt from the blue sky.

“No, Prince! If you do something like that, you will be at a disadvantage in the imperial competition!”

“Have I ever said anything about aiming for the position of emperor?”

“… … Yeah?”

“The most important goal for me is not the position of emperor. It’s a very far place for me anyway, and there are many talented older brothers and sisters who are on top of me, so there’s no reason to participate.”

“Ji, what did you just say… .”

“I don’t know why you interpreted my intentions that way in the first place. Ever since I gave up competing for imperial power, I have never changed my purpose.”

“no! In the first place, for me to work with a commoner under such a viscount lady! I just can’t get it!”

Vincent protested to Prince Antonio, but Antonio frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

“What do you mean?”

“If Prince Antonio is going to be under this woman, then of course I, who is closest to her, will also be under this woman… .”

“You haven’t delivered it properly yet, Vincent Seitaridis.

You no longer belong to my entourage, so there is no need to follow me in.”

In contrast to the prince’s calm attitude, Vincent’s excited expression appeared more clearly.

“What are you talking about! It’s already been five years since I’ve served Prince Antonio by my side… !!”

“Assuming that I have been by my side for a long time, my exclusive butler and maid have taken care of me much longer than you.”

“How many connections I have made to Prince Antonio… !!”

“But because of your mistake, I lost a lot of connections, including Delphina and Lady Perdalos. Besides, I don’t think this is the only time you’ve done something like this.”

“It was all necessary for the prince to ascend the throne as emperor! If it weren’t for me, the prince would have been in the visible line of succession… !”

“How many times do I have to tell you, Vincent?”

Antonio sighed deeply at Vincent and relayed to him the same story he had just told.

“I have no intention of becoming emperor. This was a thought that you decided on before you served me, and it has never changed.”

“… … !!!”

Vincent’s expression was stained with despair.

It meant that he realized that all the efforts he had made so far were meaningless, and at the same time, the reason for himself to stick by Prince Antonio’s side was also gone.

“Brother Vincent.”

In the moment of silence, Delphina opened her mouth to him.

“Anyway, it seems that Prince Antonio doesn’t need Master Vincent on the way he’s walking.”

“… damn it!”

Vincent, who last spat out a low curse word, disappeared with bleak steps.

In front of the door with only three people remaining, Delfina opened her mouth to Prince Antonio again.

“Are you okay? Still, he seems to have served the prince for quite some time.”

“If I had known that he was a person who behaved differently than I thought, it would be a pity that I could not get rid of him sooner.”

Seeing Prince Antonio’s determined attitude, Delfina was able to confirm her evaluation of him.

He is also a person who values ability rather than position.

So, if you just build up a network with this person now, it will definitely come back to you as a great reward.

After making that judgment, there was only one thing Delphina would do.

“The proposal I made to Lady Delphina today is not a joke, so I hope you will take it seriously.

I don’t even want to be the middle of the next student meeting. Even if it’s the end, I just want you to give me a chance to mend the lost relationship with you.”

After saying that, it was not Delfina who would leave Prince Antonio alone as he was about to return.

“Prince Antonio, are you sure you want to die?”

“Oh, do you have anything else to say?”

“It’s not like that. From now on, you have to participate in the first task you have to do as a member of the student council.

“… yes?”

“Today is the day when the student council members have a dinner party. I’m sorry, but there are no exceptions even for the prince, so you’ll have to join us until tomorrow morning.”

“Cheup.”

At Delfina’s shameless yet natural attitude, Johnny laughed at the moment.

Prince Antonio also immediately grasped the intention of Delphina’s words, and immediately returned an answer appropriate to it.

“Alcohol is weak, so please in moderation.”

“No matter.”

In this way, the last vacant seat in Delfina’s student council cabinet was taken by the 5th Prince Antonio.

* * *

Inside the schoolyard where dusk has descended.

A man walked out of Delfina’s election camp with nervous steps.

As if his pride and resentment were not resolved, the man crossed the campus, raising a riot of dust on the floor.

“Damn it! I’ve been serving Prince Antonio by my side for years already!”

To be blamed for the cause of the election defeat and step down from the position of the closest aide overnight.

For Vincent Seitaridis, the situation was simply absurd.

I just kept the Viscount’s daughter from approaching Prince Antonio, and the result was to be kicked out like this.

Even the efforts he had made by Prince Antonio’s side so far had been completely denied, so the sense of loss and deprivation made him unable to properly control his body.

“Delphina, that damn girl… . Revolt against the Seitaridis family without knowing how scary the world is? Let’s see. I will make you pay the price for daring to ignore me… .”

“… How are you going to pay?”

“Ahh! What, what?!”

It was late at night, so I said it thinking that no one would listen, so of course I couldn’t help but be embarrassed by the sudden reply.

When I turned my head at the voice I heard behind my eyes, there was a famous person Vincent knew well.

Conrad Perdalos.

He was the overall head of the Ministry of Magic and a person who was driving all the hot topics in the academy these days.

Also, he was the family of Delphina Perdalos, whom he hated so much.

“I think I just heard about Delphina who rebelled against the Seitaridis family… . Please, I hope I heard it wrong.”

“What, what?”

“If an idiot like you touched my little sister even by a hair, she might really go crazy.”

It was in the dark, but the eyes were enough to feel alive.

Conrad, as if trying to prove what he said, was already preparing to use magic after completing multiple chanting.

“… … .”

As a wizard, Vincent naturally felt the energy, and immediately changed his attitude as soon as he confirmed the disturbing magic that he felt around Conrad.

“What do you mean, Conrad? Why would I hurt your sister, huh?”

“… … .”

“You don’t have to blush with fellow Ministry mates. The Delphina I was talking about is a lady from another department… .”

Before Vincent could finish his words, a ray of arcane magic entered Vincent’s ears.

“uh?”

A stream of magic that was a bit different from normal magic stirred once in Vincent’s head, and immediately Vincent felt intense pain all over his body.

“Quaaa!!!”

It was unbearably hot pain, as if his whole body was burning with the flames of hell.

“Stop talking nonsense, don’t you think I have no eyes or ears?”

“Quaaagh! It’s hot!!”

“If you had come to your senses, you should have held back and lowered your head first. It’s an excuse that doesn’t work anywhere.”

As soon as the burning pain wrapped around his body was over, Vincent immediately protested to Conrad.

“Hey, what is this!”

He hadn’t even made a preemptive strike yet, but he tried to burn himself to death with fire magic, so even if he was the chief of the Ministry of Magic, he wouldn’t be able to escape severe punishment.

Not only that, but the fact that the sonship of the viscount family touched the sonship of the duke family could also cause problems politically.

“Do you know what you just did?! In the name of the Seitaridis family, I will formally protest against Perdalos!

The sin of daring to burn to death the eldest son of the duke Seitaridis family will never be easily passed over… .”

“It’s caustic pain magic, you idiot.”

“Come on, burning pain… ?”

“What is burning to death? I just channeled mana into my brain and it only made me feel the burning pain. If you don’t believe me, look for burn marks on your body.”

“… … .”

After looking around his body, Vincent shouted in disbelief.

“Hey, don’t lie! I could definitely feel my whole body burning… .”

“Then have you tried it again?”

“aaa!!!”

A second pain, identical to the one he had just suffered, sent Vincent’s body rolling across the floor once again.

In front of Vincent, who let out a groan of pain, Conrad delivered the last notice.

“I don’t care if you are the eldest son of the Seitaridis family or not, just remember this.”

“… Whoops, whoops, whoops… .”

“The moment you touch my sister or anyone else around me. That I can come to you at any time.”

Confirming that Vincent barely nodded, Conrad moved on and disappeared out of sight of Duke Youngsik.

Only the muddy young master of the Seitaridis family remained in the seat, sobbing on the floor for a long time.