Chapter 57

The final events of the year are the graduation ceremony and the graduation party.

The graduation ceremony is organized by the school, and the graduation party is hosted by the Parents' Association, so there is no work for the Student Council. Traditionally, students are not supposed to get involved in these events.

Graduates will enter wearing robes and caps, listen to the principal's speech, and then each will be presented with their diploma. Those who have achieved particularly outstanding results will be awarded on the spot. Afterward, they will exit, and everyone will throw their caps in the air in the courtyard to mark the end of the ceremony. It’s quite simple. As the Student Council President, I don’t have to give any farewell speech or anything like that. Maybe it’s better for both the current and graduating students not to have to listen to unnecessary speeches.

Everyone’s attention is already focused on the graduation party.

The graduation party will be held in the school’s grand hall starting at 6 PM.

Graduates will be dressed in beautiful dresses and tuxedos, and current students can attend voluntarily.

The current students will be there to bid farewell to their seniors. Since it’s a student party, there’s no strict rule that you need an escort to enter. Of course, I will attend with Cerea.

The main stars are the graduates, so we current students enter with the other students before the graduates. Jack will enter with Sylpha.

Hartis, who doesn’t have a specific partner, is escorting each of the girls from the literature club. It must be quite a task! It’s like a harem, hahaha!

By the way, the heroine...

She’s not here. If she were, her pink hair would be noticeable.

Maybe she hasn’t decided who to escort yet. She might sneak in later.

The graduates will enter one by one, and the party will begin.

The absolute queen, former Student Council President Erena, attended with her fiancé. She is getting married after graduation. Her fiancé is from a duke’s family, who is more than five years older than her. They spot me and walk over.

"Your Highness, Lady Cerea, I am deeply honored that you have graced Erena’s graduation party with your presence. I am Larod Bistrius."

"I have heard much about your recent achievements, Lord Bistrius. I am grateful for your service to the kingdom."

Cerea and I bow to Larod.

"During her time at school, you were quite hard on Erena, I hear."

He grins.

"Lord Larod, I was not mistreated by His Highness at all. Please don’t say such things."

"Every time I saw you, you were complaining bitterly about His Highness."

Well, given Erena’s status, it’s a political marriage arranged by her parents, but it doesn’t seem like they have a bad relationship. I wish her happiness.

"As a first-year, I had no right to give opinions to a Student Council President like Erena. If I did anything to offend you during your time here, I apologize."

"I don’t recall anything that requires an apology. Be mindful."

"Yes, ma’am."

I try to suppress my laughter. This should get through to Larod.

"Thank you for helping to tame Erena. She became less energetic as graduation approached, which shows how much she enjoyed her student life. Thank you for the wonderful memories."

"I’m glad. You’ve worked hard as Student Council President."

"…It was exhausting. I hold a grudge."

That’s different from what she just said. Ahaha.

"Well, now you know how to deal with me, Erena. You can come to me with your honest complaints, not just flattery. Lord Bistrius, please keep that in mind."

"I understand, Your Highness. I hope you will continue to be a good friend to Erena."

He says this and shakes my hand.

The dance time begins. The third-year students will dance, so we current students are just wallflowers.

On the second song, we join the dance floor, and I dance with Cerea, who is in a chic dress. We try to be as elegant and graceful as possible. The main stars are the graduates, so we shouldn’t draw too much attention. We dance to show our gratitude to the graduates.

For the last dance, I ask Erena, who is looking at me.

"Oh, Your Highness, it’s too late to be distracted by me now."

"Sorry, Erena. Congratulations on your graduation. This is your last dance as a single woman."

"It’s a joke, Your Highness. I will gladly accept."

She takes my hand with a smile.

We move to the center and spin.

"I hold a grudge, Your Highness."

"Again? Did I do something to make you hate me that much?"

"The debut tea party was supposed to be held in turn at each duke’s house, but you decided on Cerea first, leaving me with no chance."

Ah, that’s how it went. I chose Cerea right away.

If Cerea hadn’t worked out, there were second and third choices.

"That was unfair!"

"It’s really frustrating that you don’t even look sorry."

She laughs.

"…When I was little, I dreamed of dancing the last dance with a prince like in a fairy tale."

"Sorry, I’m not much of a prince."

When I think about you having a childhood, you smile mischievously, like a little girl. It’s a smile that makes me think you must have been like this when you were little.

"Be happy, Erena."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Larod, whose last dance was taken by me, asks Cerea to dance and they are dancing together. Well, it can’t be helped. Sorry, Cerea. Let it go today.

In the center, the pink-haired heroine is dancing with the drama club president. The drama club president is also a third-year and this is his last time. They are reenacting the dance from ‘Cinderella.’ He’s really trying to stand out.

After the dance, I return to Cerea.

"…I’m nervous and hungry. Give me something to eat."

Cerea gives me a plate of food. As usual, there are bite marks on everything. I eat without hesitation. Cerea pushes a terrine into my mouth from her fingers, and everyone around us laughs. It’s a way to show our closeness.

The third-year literature club president also comes to greet us.

"I look forward to your future success, Cerea."

"Thank you, President. Congratulations on your graduation."

The heroine is chatting with the baka character Picard and the brainy character Powell. The cool character Fried is standing alone in a corner. What’s he doing here? He’s probably waiting to support the heroine. The drama club president joins the pink-haired girl, and the other guys are having a tense conversation. Don’t cause a scene.

"…Shin-sama, you will break off our engagement at this party, right…"

Cerea whispers.

"Does it look like I would do something so tactless at such a pleasant party? That would be insane."

What kind of person am I in the game? It’s impossible. It would ruin the party. I wouldn’t do something so unreasonable.

Cerea looks around the room seriously.

"…If that really happens, I don’t want to be here anymore…"

"That would be a problem. I would lose my beloved wife forever. I won’t let that happen."

I hold Cerea’s hand.

"Even if you don’t do it, one of the heroine’s targets will. You were never fond of me, so you might just let it happen or join in condemning me."

"…That’s harsh. But don’t worry. If things get too bad, we can run away together. We can survive anywhere as long as we’re together. Don’t worry, Cerea…"

Cerea’s eyes well up with tears, and she smiles. Her hand tells me she trusts me.

At our graduation, this place might become a battlefield.

We’ll do everything we can, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll run away. I wouldn’t hesitate to give up my position and power for Cerea.

"Let’s practice running away."

"Eh?"

"Come on, come on."

I hold Cerea’s hand and move quietly. Every time the crowd cheers, we move a little closer to the curtain, open the window lock, and step outside. I lift Cerea and carry her out the window.

…What’s the heroine doing?

The pink-haired girl is dancing with the cool character on the terrace outside, under the window light, to the faint music from the hall. The cool character looks confused and reluctant but goes along with it. Is this some kind of support event? I’ll ignore it.

We move quietly, hiding behind the plants, and cross the dark courtyard to the school fence. We jump over it and carry Cerea over to the other side.

We find the Colette family’s carriage and approach it quietly.

Knock, knock. The driver, dressed as a coachman, is waiting.

"Eh? Oh, Your Highness, are you leaving already?"

"Not yet, but I’m bored, so I’m sneaking out."

"Will it cause a commotion if you’re gone?"

"Who cares. Take us home, please."

We open the door quietly, and I help Cerea in before getting in myself. We crouch down on the seat.

"…Did you do something at the party, Your Highness?"

"No, just practicing sneaking out."

"…Why would you need to practice that, Your Highness?"

"In case terrorists take over the venue and everyone is taken hostage."

"If that happens, you wouldn’t run away first, would you, Your Highness?"

Schwarz shrugs and drives the carriage.

I lie down on the seat to avoid being seen, holding Cerea on top of me.

She’s soft, warm, and smells good.

I’m in trouble.

…We’re not kids anymore.

We’ve been together since we were ten, and I’ve seen her almost every day.

We’ve changed a lot since then.

But when we’re this close, it feels like we’re ten again, like we’re taking a nap in the same bed without anyone scolding us.

Now, that’s impossible. The head maid is too strict.

Next: "57. [Second Year] Student Council President, Start"