Chapter 40

"Alright everyone, it's been over two weeks since the start of school life. I think you've all started to get used to the school and have a good sense of the people in your class."

The teacher is holding the morning homeroom. It's been two weeks already. This school is really slow. The elective course choices for the first year have already been submitted, and from today, the classes for the elective courses will officially begin.

"Now, we will decide on the committee members who will autonomously manage the school. First, the class president. Are there any volunteers?"

It's completely silent. Everyone is looking at each other.

"Then, nominations?"

"Yes, I nominate Shin Midland!"

One girl raised her hand and said this, and everyone applauded.

Me? ...Well, I guess it was bound to happen. The other nobles can't step forward with a prince in the class. I think this is inevitable.

"Midland, will you accept?"

"Sure."

"Thank you. Then, come up to the front and introduce yourself. After that, please decide on the other committee members."

I stand up and go to the front of the class.

"Thank you for the nomination. I was worried that my presence would make things difficult for everyone even before I entered school, but I'm grateful that you've accepted me as I hoped. Let's work together from now on."

I bow to everyone.

"Well, since we have a prince, it would be a shame not to have him do it."

"Our class's influence will also increase, right?"

The class laughs at the heckles. It took a lot of effort to create an atmosphere where such jokes could be made. I owe a lot to Jack. It's good to have friends.

"Hey, I'm in the worst position to do such things, so it's a bit difficult to be expected, you know?"

Well, stop laughing and let's get to work.

"Um, the class president is essentially a jack-of-all-trades. If you have any problems, feel free to ask. They also serve as the liaison with the student council and are effectively a member of the student council. Then, the other committee members. Health committee, library committee, beautification committee, discipline committee, culture committee, physical education committee... That's it."

I write on the blackboard while looking at the printout the teacher gave me.

"Then, for the health committee, please volunteer."

"Yes."

Oh, it looks like Sandy will do it.

"Thank you. Are there any other volunteers or nominations...? No? Then, Sandy, please."

"Yes!"

"Next, the library committee."

"Yes."

Serea raised her hand. She loves books, and she really liked the library with its vast collection.

"Thank you. Are there any other volunteers or nominations...? None? Then, Serea, please."

"Yes."

We decide the positions one by one like this.

"Thank you, Midland. Then, those who have been chosen as committee members, please attend the respective committee meetings after school. Now, let's end the homeroom."

After school, it's finally time for my first meeting with the Flora Academy Student Council.

I will meet the student council president, Eleana Stradis, the absolute queen of the school and a duchess's daughter. She has been the president since her second year and is continuing for a second term in her third year. During the welcome speech at the entrance ceremony, she said, "Maintain tradition and decorum, be mindful of your position as nobles, and do not disgrace the name of Flora Academy," and then glared at my unconventional welcome speech. She is likely to be a significant opposition force.

People start gathering in front of the student council room.

The upperclassmen and the new students, who were chosen as committee members in their respective classes, are here.

"Hey, Shin, you're here, as expected!"

Picard... You're the committee president? You must have volunteered.

"...Hmph."

Powell is also here. The brainy one.

I was surprised. He didn't seem like someone who would be popular enough to become a committee president.

The other two classes, I don't really remember. We follow the upperclassmen into the student council room.

...The student council room is luxurious.

The furnishings are elaborate. It feels more like a salon. Do these people actually work here?

It doesn't feel like a proper place for student council activities at all. I had imagined a room filled with documents, printed materials, and a blackboard with a schedule. It's completely lacking the atmosphere of a government office and feels more like an upper-class social gathering. This is what the student council has become.

"Everyone, please take your seats."

I sit at the end without hesitation.

Everyone bows and then sits down. Of course, I'm being glared at.

"Welcome to the student council. I am Eleana Stradis, the student council president. Please remember me."

The president greets us while seated.

"Prince Shin Midland, welcome to our school. It has been seven years since our school welcomed a member of the royal family, since Princess Saran. On behalf of the student council, I welcome you. I look forward to your future contributions, Your Highness. Please, make yourself at home."

She immediately singles me out. She's trying to pressure me to join her side by leveraging the prestige of the royal family.

"...Thank you. However, since I have entered the gates of Flora Academy, I am no different from any other student. I hope to be treated without special treatment and to be guided and disciplined like any other student."

"Your Highness, we were deeply impressed by your unique welcome speech, which left a strong impression on the entire student council."

"Please call me Midland, not 'Your Highness.' President."

"Such impertinence... The tradition and decorum of the school do not allow it."

"It's not impertinent. There is a message from His Majesty the King above the school gates: 'Those who enter this gate must abandon all titles.' I have already abandoned my title as a prince. Please don't worry about it."

The atmosphere in the student council room freezes. What's with this feeling?

Is the president some kind of idle matron? She reminds me of what Serea calls a 'villainous noble lady.'

"There is a tradition in this school that does not allow such behavior."

"When did such a tradition start?"

"Can a member of the royal family abandon their status and position?"

"Well, at least during the school years."

"That is a contradiction. If a member of the royal family abandons their status, the very existence of the monarchy loses its meaning."

"Isn't it also a contradiction for a student council that represents the nobility to refuse to follow the king's intentions?"

"You say interesting things."

The president smiles slyly.

"Never mind me. Let's get started."

"Started? What do you mean?"

"Work. The duties of the student council. What should we start with? Please proceed with the agenda. That's why you called us here, right?"

"Today is just for introductions."

The student council is so lax. Are they really working?

I've had many heated debates with the king and ministers in the royal council. I've even been sent back to redo things at orphanages and hospitals. I was thrown into the adult world from the age of eleven to fifteen.

"Can you at least tell us the schedule for this year's student council activities?"

"We will inform you once it is finalized. We have just given the instructions."

"Who are you giving the instructions to?"

"The teachers."

"Does that mean the student council has no real purpose?"

"It is our duty to represent all the students and approve it."

"What are the members of the student council doing until then?"

"Waiting is also part of the job. Good things take time, you know..."

You guys aren't doing anything at all, are you?

"I apologize. I have made many impertinent remarks and I apologize for them."

Maybe I should just stay silent.

"...Do you have any complaints about the student council, Your Highness?"

"I just started, so I don't know yet."

"You should study more in the future."

"Well, I have learned a few things."

"What have you learned?"

I realized that there is no one in this room with the qualities to be a staff member of the national government. No ministers will be selected from the graduates of Flora Academy. I won't allow it. How can people who can't even handle the work of a student council govern a country?

This student council completely fails to achieve its educational purpose of teaching students to take the initiative in managing an organization and learning leadership.

"...Let's discuss this after the seniors graduate. There's nothing a newly admitted junior should say. I will start as an apprentice. Please continue with the introductions."

No way. It would be better to graduate these people as soon as possible. They are completely useless to the school. The future is worrying.

"Yes... Then, the person next to me."

"Yes! I am Picard Baljean. My father is Pierre Baljean, Earl of Silvaria, and I am in charge of the Silvaria territory."

"Picard, you are the eldest son, I believe. I have been very grateful to your family. Please, take care of me, Picard."

"Yes. It is a great honor to see your beautiful face again. I hope to be close to you in the school as well, Eleana."

"Thank you for your efforts. Then, the next person..."

What is this student council? They make everyone state their status and say flattering words to the president.

Tea and snacks are served to everyone. The students serving the tea seem to be regular students, not part of the student council. Are they treating students like servants? This student council is just too bad...

In the end, I didn't hear anything about the specific duties of the student council and left without touching the tea or snacks.

At the waiting room for the return carriage, I call out to Serea.

"Hey, Serea, how was the library committee?"

"It was great! Everyone loves books, and there were many literary club members among the upperclassmen."

The library seems to be a place where like-minded people gather. That's nice.

"Basically, we decided to take turns being the librarian after school, but we also decided to bring ideas to the next committee meeting to increase the library's usage. Since many of the senior library committee members are in the literary club, I received an invitation to join and am thinking about it."

...Damn, I'm so jealous. I've been in the most corrupt part of the noble society, making almost everyone my enemy. The future is tough.

"That's great. Serea, you used to make stories and do paper theater at the orphanage. I'm sure the literary club members will welcome you."

"Can I join?"

"Of course!"

I want Serea to make lots of friends and enjoy school life, not just focus on princess education.

"I also thought it would be nice if the literary club members could create fairy tales and do volunteer reading and paper theater at the orphanage."

"That's wonderful! Please make it happen!"

"Yes!"

Serea looks so happy. Seeing her like this makes me happy too.

"By the way, um..."

"Hmm?"

"In the library committee, there's a hero character that one of the literary club members is trying to win over..."

Ah, the intellectual type, I see.

"What's he like?"

"He's a bit short, handsome, wears glasses, and is quite sensitive. His name is Hartis Kepler, the third son of the Kepler Earl."

"Ah, I've met him at parties. I thought he was a girl when I first saw him."

"That might be a bit rude... But when I met him in person, he is indeed a template character..."

He's the type that can make you feel at ease, even if you're a girl. Of course, he's incredibly handsome.

It's amazing how the target characters are all incredibly handsome, even the rough Powell.

"Is Hartis already won over by the heroine?"

"I can't ask that!"

She pouted. Girls are so complicated.

Next: "40. Bus Gas Explosion"