CHAPTER 24: MEETING WITH THE STUDENT COUNCIL

A month later, after class, Ard and Eva were sitting at a table in the Student Council room with Mirea, Claudia, and two other handsome male seniors. Mirea, sitting in the middle, looked tense.

"Okay, first off, I need to ask: why is the entire first-year S-Class in this room?" Mirea asked.

It turned out that Alicia, Milia, Beatrice, Rosalind, Patricia, Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin were all lined up behind Ard and Eva.

"Um... they want to help too?" Ard answered, sounding unsure.

Ard turned to see Alicia, Milia, Beatrice, and Rosalind looking annoyed, Patricia looking confused and awkward, while Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin looked forced to be there and wanted to leave quickly.

"That’s just how it is, haha," Ard said, scratching the back of his head.

"Haaah... fine. At this point, we can’t be choosy about who helps us. First, let me introduce you. This is Nikolai Arnaud Durnhill, S-Class fourth year and Crown Prince of the Durnhill Kingdom. He is the Student Council Vice President," Mirea said, introducing Nikolai, who had a handsome face, white skin, and messy blonde hair.

"Hello... pleasure to meet you. [He turned to look at Milia] You... are Baron Olaf’s daughter?" Nikolai asked.

"That is correct, Your Highness," Milia answered, bowing respectfully.

"Hey... here, we’re all the same. No need to bow. I apologize for the actions of my younger brother who intended to force you into an engagement, even though he was rejected," Nikolai replied.

"It’s nothing, Your Highness. Thank you for your apology," Milia replied, glancing at Ard.

"Next to him is Oliver Jensern, from the Ateras Kingdom. He’s a second-year S-Class student, and his position is Student Council Secretary, handling the finances as well," Mirea said, introducing Oliver, a young man with long hair, glasses, and a thin but well-built body.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Oliver," Oliver added, pushing up his glasses.

"And you all already know Claudia, a second-year S-Class student who serves as security and discipline for the academy," Mirea added.

"Hi, we meet again," Claudia said, greeting them and simultaneously teasing the girls, except for Eva.

"Actually, there are two more who greeted you at the academy entrance with Claudia that time, but they’re not here today because they’re in a meeting with the teachers to address the events of the past month," Mirea said.

"The events of the past month?" Eva asked.

"An increase in monster activity in all regions, and the detection of demon army activity," Mirea answered.

"According to Academy Headmaster Galdorf, the Demon God’s seal is starting to break. The increased monster activity everywhere is a sign of it," Nikolai added.

Ard, Eva, and the others immediately fell silent. Mirea, Claudia, Nikolai, and Oliver also fell silent, and the atmosphere inside became quiet and slightly tense.

"Hey... don’t be so tense. I gathered you here to tell you that we’ve been asked to hold an outdoor training exercise with all A-Class and B-Class students for first, second, and third years," Mirea said.

"I see. So what can we do to help?" Ard asked.

"I just want the ten of you to supervise their training. Of course, you’ll also participate in the training and report back to us," Mirea replied.

"Is that all?" Eva asked.

"No. As the S-Class, you are also responsible for keeping everyone safe if something unexpected happens. Consider it practice before you become true heroes," Mirea answered.

"A-Class in each year has five teams—first, second, and third year—which means about 75 people need to be supervised, while B-Class has eight teams in each year, meaning about 120 people. For the first year, you will be handling about 65 people," Oliver said, reading his list.

"Um... only the first year?" Ard asked.

"Yep. For the second and third years, we have teams helping us from the S-Class of those same years, so don’t worry," Nikolai replied.

"Last year, the fourth and final year, the fifth, were assigned to this, but currently, they’ve been sent out to deal with monster activity," Claudia added.

"That’s right. We’re not actually short on people, but because there have been so many incidents this past month, the Knight Academy couldn’t just stand by, and that’s why we need your help," Mirea added.

Ard and Eva turned to look at their classmates standing behind them, who now seemed ready to help the Student Council. After that, they began discussing how to execute the field training, the logistics, and everything else related to the upcoming exercise. After that, Mirea excused Ard, Eva, and the others to leave the room.

Then, Nikolai moved his seat next to Mirea.

"President, about what’s happening at our academy, don’t we need to explain what’s going on to them? Too many victims have already fallen to that group," Nikolai asked.

"No need. If Ard and Eva are who the Headmaster says they are, they’ll definitely be able to handle it, since they clearly surpass us if it’s true," Mirea answered calmly.

"Let’s hope so. That group is clearly connected to the Demon God," Nikolai replied.

"Yes, but we can’t make a move because there’s no proof yet and... primarily because most of those involved are from royal families," Mirea answered.

"Haaah... it seems my brother is really causing trouble in this academy even though he’s in third year. Pathetic," Nikolai muttered, looking very stressed and rubbing his hair.

"No need to worry, Nikolai. The third Prince of Fredonia and the second Princess of the Orhus Empire can handle them, I’m sure," Mirea said.

"Hmm... it seems you have a personal interest in Ard, don’t you?" Nikolai asked.

"Huh... don’t say strange things," Mirea answered, turning her blushing face away.

***

Meanwhile, in the academy corridor, Ard, Eva, and the others were walking toward the exit door of the academy building when they suddenly saw four young men walking toward them from the front. When they saw the four young men, Eva linked her arm through Ard’s, and Milia stood right behind Ard. They stopped because the four young men were Prince Edmund, Prince Julius, Prince Abel, and Prince Dizon Hardy Ateras, the second Prince of the Ateras Kingdom, who had a bald head and looked vicious.

"Well... well... looks like my little sister and... her little helpers," Edmund sneered, belittling Ard and the others.

Edmund deliberately stood in front of Eva, then he glanced at Eva’s hand holding Ard’s arm. "Slap," he immediately swatted Eva’s hand away and moved his face close to Eva’s.

"Don’t forget, you belong to me. I won’t give you to anyone, especially not that human next to you," Edmund said, glancing at Ard and smiling sarcastically.

"Oh dear, oh dear... it seems Your Highness has already forgotten about the duel in the arena that time," Ard said casually.

Edmund’s face instantly changed. He immediately backed away. Eva looked slightly relieved, though her expression remained cold as before, and she glared at her older brother. But suddenly, Julius stepped forward.

"Hey! Watch your mouth!" Julius shouted, pointing at Ard and glaring at Milia, which made Milia shrink further behind Ard, looking down.

"Prince Julius is very energetic, it seems... oh right, you didn’t watch our duel. Would you like to try a duel with me like His Highness Edmund did? What are your thoughts, Your Highness?" Ard asked mockingly, smiling sarcastically.

"Hmph... let’s go. They aren’t worth facing," Edmund urged.

"Remember this! This isn’t over," Julius added, pointing at Ard.

They walked around Ard, Eva, and the others, who hadn’t moved from the middle of the hallway. Ard turned to see Abel look back at him as he passed by. Abel’s face looked very curious, as if he was wondering whether Ard was truly his younger brother or not. Meanwhile, Dizon passed by without saying a word, his face straight ahead and his arms folded across his chest. After they passed,

"Thank you, Ard," Milia said.

"You’re welcome," Ard replied.

"They’re all princes," Ainsley muttered.

"Yes, but they are weak. Just big mouths," Beatrice said, annoyed.

"Princess Beatrice, please don’t speak carelessly about such a sensitive topic," Rosalind said.

"I know... fussbudget," Beatrice shot back, annoyed.

"Princess Eva, why were you so quiet?" Alicia asked.

"It’s nothing. Let’s go," Eva replied with a cold face, then walked on.

They resumed walking toward the academy building’s exit. Eva glanced at Ard, who was walking beside her, talking with Geoffrey, Ainsley, and Irwin.

"Thank you, Ard... I want to jump into your arms... but I have to maintain my Imperial Princess image, and I can’t possibly violate etiquette... I’ll just invite him to be alone with me later," Eva thought to herself, her face remaining cold.