episode_0183

“How about we all have a semester-end party together tomorrow?”

Serafin, the princess, suddenly suggested, causing everyone in the student council room to shift their gaze.

Oh, except for one. Orion, who seemed uninterested, was engrossed in his book.

“Hmm, I’m too lazy, so I’ll pass.”

…He was probably going to refuse anyway. To be honest, just the fact that he showed his face in the student council room was surprising in itself.

Of course, the other five, excluding Orion, couldn’t help but be interested in Serafin’s afterparty proposal.

“A semester-end party?”

“Yes, Gwyn. I feel like it would be a bit unsatisfying to end the semester like this.”

“Then we should secure a venue first. Most of the buildings on the academy grounds will be used for supplementary classes starting the day after tomorrow, so we might need to check if we can rent a place outside.”

“It’s fine. We plan to use the sub hall in the guest room, as Lord Machart has already returned to the palace four days ago, and the only ones using the guest room now are me and Luke here, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Oh, then we might not need to rent a venue.”

Upon confirming that the venue was already prepared, Vice Chairman Gwyn Elbert nodded and stepped back.

As a former mercenary, he seemed to be ready to handle the issues that arose from the suggestion of an afterparty.

It seemed like he had no intention of refusing to participate in an event proposed by his superior, Serafin.

“The party will start after the student council duties are done tomorrow. We’ll hire the kitchen staff from the guest room for an extra day, and Luke will take care of other miscellaneous preparations. Right, Luke?”

“Leave it to me, Princess Serafin.”

Right. If there’s a party, of course Luke will participate.

It would be absurd for her, who is Serafin’s bodyguard and exclusive maid, not to participate in the first place.

Seeing the sudden afterparty proposal, Lizzie and Ethan hesitated slightly.

As their return home schedule could be delayed up to a day, both of them seemed to be contemplating their decision.

At some point, their gazes naturally shifted towards me.

“What does Rilis want to do?”

“Will Rilis be joining?”

“…Huh?”

The almost simultaneous reactions of the two caught me off guard.

If she wants to join, she will join, and if not, she won’t. Why suddenly ask me for my opinion?

“Lizzie, since you have the closest relationship with me in this student council, you seem to think my participation is important… even if I’m not sure why Ethan, as my master, is asking me for my opinion.”

This is something Ethan should decide, not me.

If she joins, I’ll join, and if she doesn’t, I won’t.

I couldn’t make such an important decision, so I simply returned the decision-making power to Ethan instead of engaging in unnecessary actions.

“I am Ethan’s exclusive maid, so I will follow Ethan’s wishes.”

“Then, as Rilis’s master, I will command. Let Rilis decide whether to participate in the afterparty.”

“….”

Oh man, seriously.

Should I be happy that Ethan entrusted me with the decision, or should I be annoyed that he passed the potential conflict with Serafin onto me?

Well, Ethan probably didn’t have any ill intentions and just wanted to give me the choice.

To be honest, I was feeling a bit skeptical about Seraphine’s post-semester party.

As someone who had played the original game to the point of boredom, I had my doubts about the mediocre party being held at this time.

“I remember the party not being at the end of the second semester, but rather right before the student council disbanded at the end of the first semester.”

Having spent 2000 hours on “Luminor Academy,” I couldn’t recall ever participating in the Seraphine Student Council.

Whether it was to conquer the Seraphine route, the Luke route, or to build a friendship with Orion, joining the Seraphine Student Council was necessary.

The student council activities at Luminor Academy started at the beginning of the second semester and lasted until the end of the next first semester.

Therefore, the student council closing ceremony scheduled for the end of next semester was an event like a post-party in the game. That’s why Seraphine’s proposal to have a party at the end of this semester felt strange.

Even Seraphine’s uncharacteristically hasty decision to set a schedule raised natural doubts.

“President Seraphine, may I ask you one question?”

“Of course, Lily.”

“Isn’t it a bit early to have the student council party at the end of the second semester? We still have half a year of council activities left.”

“Oh, I wasn’t planning to mention this, but…”

“…?”

“Tomorrow’s party is actually in place of our council inauguration ceremony.”

Ah.

Right, the inauguration ceremony. That was also a council event.

Come to think of it, I didn’t remember having an inauguration ceremony at this council. If we had one, it would have definitely stuck in my memory.

“At the beginning of the council, Lily, you had a bit of a dangerous situation, didn’t you? And we can’t have an inauguration ceremony without you, so we couldn’t have one this semester.”

“Oh, right… that’s true….”

“So, since we finally have some free time, I thought we could all have a simple meal together and chat. Did that put any pressure on you, Lily?”

…If I outright reject this, I’ll feel too guilty. If the party falls apart because of me, it will be like committing a crime against Seraphine.

There was no reason not to participate in the first place. If I were to reject an invitation from someone like Seraphine, I would need a good reason.

Instead of coming up with a lame excuse, it’s better to just attend for a day.

“Alright. If my attendance doesn’t cause any trouble for President Seraphine, I will also participate in the party.”

“It won’t be a bother. You don’t have to worry, Lily.”

“My personal maid is attending, so I will too.”

“I, I will attend too. I can send a letter to my family saying I’ll be back a day late.”

“Hehe. Thank you all for participating with joy.”

…I feel a bit uneasy about this event that wasn’t in the original game.

Well, the semester is already over, so nothing major should happen.

Two days before Seraphine proposed the party to the council members, in her private reception room in the guest hall, Princess Seraphine welcomed a guest who would soon arrive.

“Thank you sincerely for accommodating my sudden visit, Princess Seraphine.”

The prophesied hero, Gethmjoshegiwot Bolt.

For the past year, he had been active in various ways within and outside the academy, helping Princess Seraphine in this world.

“Welcome, hero. I was actually expecting you, so there’s no need to apologize.”

“…Yes? Oh, by any chance, the future…?”

“Yes, I saw it. It was a full moon a while ago. Of course, it was my choice to wait for the meeting with the hero instead of the dinner with Viscount Burko.”

“…Is that so. I must have caused some trouble by visiting the princess on a day like today.”

“Please don’t worry, Hero. The fact that I owe my life to you countless times makes the meeting with you much more important to me than the dinner with Viscount who only cares about his own interests.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

In the guest room, Seraphine’s flawless smile met the eyes of the hero.

A truly genuine smile filled with pure affection that she never showed in front of anyone else.

Seeing that smile directed at him, the hero felt as if he was being enchanted just by that one smiling expression.

“Serista is not around today, who is usually by your side? She always sticks close to you and never leaves your side.”

“Yes. Serista doesn’t like it when I talk about women, so she’s not here.”

“Oh, again? Not only did you lure an elf from the Forest of the World Tree, but you keep adding more women. Should I call you not the Hero of Prophecy, but the Hero of Harem?”

“Please don’t tease the princess. She knows why I keep Serista and Serena by my side.”

“Well, I was just joking.”

Lately, Seraphine had been showing signs of jealousy towards the hero, who she harbored affection for, even though she knew that openly revealing her feelings would cause many problems. This behavior was only visible when they were alone like this.

It wasn’t just admiration for the hero for saving many people that made her feel affection for him. It was because he always believed in her future self and helped her whenever she needed it, making him seem like a prince charming from a fairy tale.

The problem was that the hero was the protagonist of this world, and not just to Seraphine, but to many other women as well.

“I wonder if you know how I felt when I helped Serista. If you keep adding women around you like this, it will cause problems for my plans in the future.”

“So, who are you planning to meet today? Natalie was the last one, so is it Agnes this time?”

“Princess…”

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop teasing you.”

With a half-serious joke, Princess Seraphine and the hero lightened the mood.

Once the atmosphere became serious again, the two could finally get to the heart of the matter.

“I would like the princess to arrange a meeting for someone I cannot easily meet.”

“Is it someone like my sister?”

“No. She is of much lower status than Princess Lucetia. And she already has a connection with Princess Seraphine.”

“That’s a relief. Even if I’m with you, I don’t think I can get along with your sister.”

“…What?”

“…Anyway, who is it? Someone you can’t meet easily but has a connection with me?”

Seraphine expected the name of a duke or a baroness from somewhere, or perhaps a foreign prince or noble lady.

His unexpected name coming out of his mouth caught Seraphine off guard, unable to hide her surprise.

“Release… Blackwood Rosewood.”

“…Pardon?”

“If you could arrange for me to have a chance to speak with her, even just once, the maid in the service of Master Ethan Richard Blackwood, I would greatly appreciate it.”