If only everything would just explode.

After the situation calmed down, Maya headed to the side room and, with an apologetic expression, brought the coffee Feria had brewed to her lips.

“I’m sorry, Feria. Unintentionally, I…”

“No, it’s fine. Honestly, you scream every day, so what’s the big deal about bumping your nose on the window?”

“Ugh.”

The reason she couldn’t deny it even as a lie was that Maya herself was quite aware of her own eccentricities.

Hadn’t she just recently made a teacher who had business with her do work?

‘I should be thankful that the Student Council room is well soundproofed.’

As she felt her heart stirring with a sense of self-loathing, Feria, who had been watching her, chuckled and brought her cup to her lips.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down and had coffee with the president like this.”

“A long time… Come to think of it, how long has it been since I had tea time with Feria?”

“Just once. Just once when you brought me into the Student Council.”

After that, it was a continuous stream of work, skipping regular classes with the privilege of the Student Council.

Nevertheless, Feria faithfully carried out her duties as secretary, one of Maya’s close aides, without complaint.

The work was very difficult, but she knew well that the president was the one taking on the most challenging tasks.

“It’s been about half a year since we started working together, and while a lot has happened during that time, there’s never been a crisis like this one. Of all times, the person in charge of accounting had to leave early for graduation…”

“We should understand that. After all, the person in question was none other than a princess of a country.”

How could one focus solely on studies and work when the rise and fall of a nation was at stake?

At this point, there was no intention to resent her at all. They would just casually pass it off as bad luck, a thing of the past.

“In the midst of that, it’s fortunate that child came to us just in time.”

That child…

It must be referring to the boy still sleeping on the sofa in the president’s office. Feria looked back at the president’s office connected to the side room and gave a bitter smile.

“Come to think of it, today was the last day that child would be working, wasn’t it? It’s a shame. If we had the capacity to reveal him in a more official position, I would have recommended him as an accountant on my side.”

“…Feria seems to be favorable towards Dale.”

“What’s there to see negatively? He does his work precisely and listens well to the president’s words, doesn’t he?”

Of course, since the conditions for joining the Student Council aren’t just about work ability, it would be impossible to bring him in right away.

No, it would be the same in the future.

For the Student Council, where external image is important, that boy was caught in conditions that could never be welcomed.

‘I’d like to clarify that it was a misunderstanding, but… it won’t be easy. Even though I’m busy, I understood everything about that child just from rumors.’

If there had been more time and leisure, couldn’t we have learned more deeply about that child?

As she had such self-deprecating thoughts while conversing, before she knew it, time had entered the after-school hours.

“Well, I’ve finished my coffee, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“As I mentioned earlier, I came because I had some free time on my side and wanted to see if there was anything I could help with. But since all the work is done, I should take advantage of this rare vacation I’ve found and enjoy a date or something.”

“…Feria.”

“Oh my~ Don’t worry, it’s not an impure relationship between the sexes or anything like that~”

Feria spoke glibly and smiled brightly.

Although it was a bit worrying, since they hadn’t specifically implemented any ordinances prohibiting romance on campus, there was no intention to restrain her in that regard.

But let’s just say that occasionally news of incidents that cross the line reaches her ears.

If left unchecked, it could lead to a decline in morals and the collapse of the established order on campus, so as the Student Council President, it was still a matter she had to take sensitively.

‘It might not be a bad idea to emphasize the importance of health and physical education on this occasion.’

“By the way, does the president not have such a partner?”

As she was meticulously considering such plans, Feria, standing at the entrance, turned to the president and asked.

Judging by the curiosity shining in her eyes, she seemed very interested.

“A partner… Coincidentally, no such news has been relayed from my family. They’ve repeatedly emphasized that they won’t pay attention to it, at least while I’m serving as president.”

“No, no, I’m not talking about fiancés, but whether you have someone you’re interested in. For example, the Disciplinary Committee head?”

“…Feria.”

“It, it’s a joke. Hehe~”

As soon as Maya’s gaze turned fierce, Feria left her spot.

Looking at the empty space she left behind, Maya sighed deeply and placed her finger on her forehead.

‘Waden as such a partner?’

That man who’s stiffer than a woodpecker?

That can’t be. From the start, Waden was just someone she had recruited as an ally for her own purposes, and the feelings she had for him were no different from those for other Student Council members.

Unless it’s that child who’s an exception to such contractual relationships…

-Slap!!!!

“…What am I thinking.”

Maya slapped both her cheeks with her hands.

The heat on her cheeks from her palms must be because the force she applied was that strong, surely that must be it.

“…I should go out for some fresh air.”

Maya, sighing deeply, immediately left the Student Council room and wandered the corridors of the school.

Just with the mind to take a light stroll.

But as if unable to overlook her presence, when she reached places where people could be felt, students around her gradually began to gather towards her.

“Oh my, President? It’s the President, isn’t it?”

“It’s been a while, President.”

“Are you perhaps making rounds of inspection?”

“Yes, that’s sort of what I’m doing…”

In fact, inspecting the school is one of the duties of the Student Council.

It could be said that as president, she needs to know how the work they’ve done affects the school and how students react to it.

Of course, it’s just called an inspection, but what she’s actually doing is just taking a walk, but given her position, this too was something she had to accept humbly.

“Oh my~ Even though you must be busy with Student Council work, you’re trying to check on the students directly on foot, how generous of you!”

“As expected of the royal family’s magnanimity~! Surely you’ll become a great leader even after graduating from the academy!”

The students gathered around her started to open up a conversation, each adding their own words.

Of course, most of it was just flattery. It was closer to approaching her because of her position as president and her royal blood, but Maya didn’t particularly dislike such things.

It’s natural for a politician’s descendant to consider the give-and-take of the world. Maya, having received such teachings herself, was trying to understand and respect them.

Above all, even if political reasons are involved, can’t we say that there’s at least some friendship or affection in those relationships?

“If it’s alright with you, how about having a cozy tea time later?”

“Yes, if the opportunity arises, let’s have a chat then.”

To have frequent occasions where we meet just as people, without purpose, without checking each other or being wary…

Such an environment being taken for granted is called peace in the world, and Maya, pursuing that ideology, was pleased by the very fact that a venue for dialogue had opened up.

But…

“Oh right, speaking of which, I heard some news about the Student Council recently…”

“News?”

“Was it Dale Enberton? Is it true that the Student Council is monitoring and educating that child recently?”

Her face darkened at the question.

The students, not noticing the atmosphere, began to speak the anticipated slander, but when Maya faced it, what she felt was not hatred or anger towards them, but self-loathing.

Until she had that child by her side directly.

She realized that she had been no different from these people.

---

It wasn’t just the first time the rumors were mentioned.

Afterwards, almost every student she met brought up the topic without fail.

However, Maya chose to evade rather than answer any of the questions definitively, saying she had business or that it was Student Council matters and they shouldn’t worry about it.

Wasn’t it a rumor that had already been spread?

She had experienced to the point of nausea through her activities so far that once perceptions are firmly established, they won’t be corrected even if you try to persuade.

“No, rather than that, I should say I’m avoiding being checked by someone.”

Maya, sitting on a bench in the school plaza, clutched her throbbing head and let out a deep sigh.

She had momentarily forgotten due to being obsessed with work lately. That the position of Maris’ Student Council President is one that can only be reached with the support of everyone.

This means being a person welcomed by everyone, and at the same time, not being hated by anyone.

Origin, environment, nationality, generation…

It’s not easy to gain everyone’s support regardless of even social status.

‘The increase in workload compared to the previous Student Council was also because it’s not easy to cater to everyone’s feelings.’

Of course, if it were an absolute monarchy like the Empire, there would be no need to worry about such things, but for Maris, such a system could never be allowed.

After all, since people come from different places, there are bound to be big differences in ideologies and values, right?

If we fail to respect these differences and distinguish between us and them, creating hierarchies and abandoning respect, in the end, only violence will remain.

In an era that is extremely wary of war, this is something that must be avoided.

Therefore, here at least, everyone must be guaranteed to have equal rights. Even if not, it must be achieved forcibly.

‘Of course, even the equality claimed in this way is ultimately just superficial.’

Everyone is equal, and sovereignty is shared by all individuals, not by a single individual…

The intention is really good, but in the end, since the path the group must take is limited, we can’t listen to everyone’s words.

Even if everyone speaks up, we must extract the most objective facts possible and set a course of action.

While it’s believed that everyone agrees on these objectified facts, in reality, Maya saw democracy as a concept that justifies sacrificing someone for the sake of that objectivity.

‘If we collect equal taxes from those who have and those who don’t, the wealth gap will only widen. But if most people can afford to pay, they’ll choose to ignore those who oppose and move forward.’

It’s not taxes, but isn’t it the same with tuition fees?

The reality is that the same tuition is collected despite everyone not being in the same environment.

For some, it’s insignificant money, but for others, they’re attending this academy while their family fortunes decline or even going into debt.

Besides this, there are various other deficiencies, and while there are no classes per se, each person’s perspective is bound to be different, and these differences in mindset ultimately act as factors that divide people into ranks.

‘If ranks are divided like this, it’s the public’s choice to sacrifice those with the least power, those who don’t have, as a priority.’

This academy was in exactly such a state.

Even the equality that appears on the surface is ultimately a result created by silencing the opinions of minorities and the powerless.

To create equality to show externally, forcing harsher injustices on those who are not visible… How is this fundamentally different from witch hunts?

‘To think that fragments of the madness that existed long ago can be seen in a system considered to be more progressive….’

The victim of such a witch hunt was the child who had been helping her with her work until now.

Yet, because of being mindful of the majority’s gaze, she couldn’t even actively explain.

‘Can I really fulfill that person’s unfulfilled dream like this?’

To change this academy, and further, to contribute to this era of peace based on that…

Through that, to fulfill on behalf of the current emperor, who has the same blood as the revolutionary who beheaded the past tyrant emperor… the ideal that he couldn’t achieve.

The wish to create a society where everyone is respected as an individual, transcending borders and status, rather than continental unification by force which was the starting point of the conquest wars.

‘Even that wish only now has a chance to be realized because the problems left by the previous emperor are scattered. Now that His Majesty is getting older, he’ll step down from his position soon.’

An unfortunate leader who can no longer realize his dreams in this hard-won era of peace.

She had aimed for the presidency, inheriting his ideology, and had drawn excellent individuals to her side as close aides, but.

All she’s doing is catering to others and protecting her own position, isn’t it ridiculous?

“Ah.”

Maya, looking back at herself, looked up at the blue sky and expressed her feelings of resignation alone.

“…If only everything would just explode.”

If everything visible could be destroyed and blown away, there would be no need to worry like this.

-Boom!!

But immediately after, a thunderous sound pierced her ears.

Only then did Maya realize the reality, prick up her ears, and turn towards where the explosion sound came from.

“What…”

Black smoke rising from beyond the building.

Was it due to an accident, or was it caused by someone’s intentional act?

No, it’s not too late to find out after heading to the scene.

‘An explosion occurred at the academy.’

As the president, it was something she could never overlook.