Chapter 75

We gathered the student council to discuss whether we could do something about the bullying campaign.

Actually, I have never experienced being bullied. It’s only natural, right, since I’m a prince. That’s why I don’t really understand the reasons for bullying...

Hartheis, the vice president, knows the situation. Cain, the second-year secretary, and Meethis, the first-year treasurer, listened to my story and tilted their heads in confusion.

"That’s strange. It doesn’t seem like the kind of bullying that happens among nobles."

The chubby secretary said this.

"First of all, noble bullying isn’t done in secret."

"Huh?"

I got an unexpected answer.

"Noble bullying is done to establish a hierarchy. To show that you are superior and that they should not defy you. So, they don’t do petty things like tearing up textbooks or ripping dresses. They don’t gossip behind someone’s back or write insults on desks; they openly insult the person in front of everyone. There’s no point in bullying in a way that makes it unclear who the bully is."

"Wow... Now that you mention it, that does sound right, but it’s so devious."

Which is worse, I wonder? No, both are terrible.

"Have you ever been bullied, Cain?"

The first-year treasurer, Meethis, asked the second-year secretary, Cain, straightforwardly. Hey, can’t you be a bit more tactful?

"Well, I was a bit chubby and slow, so I was bullied in the past."

"Still are..."

"Stop, stop. Let’s not get sidetracked."

"Sorry."

Treasurer, are you a bit harsh?

"It must be tough for the victims..."

"Not really. If the victims don’t want to be bullied, they should correct their behavior and admit their faults. If there’s a status difference, they should know their place. It’s that simple."

If there’s no reason to bully, they won’t bully. I see, that does sound like something a noble would say. It’s more like education than bullying.

"So, this kind of bullying, where the perpetrator remains unknown and it’s done in secret, isn’t actually done by someone of high status. I think it’s the opposite."

"The opposite? You mean someone of lower status is retaliating against a higher noble?"

Meethis, who asked this, is a viscountess. Cain is the second son of a viscount, but there are royals, dukes, and marquises above him, and viscounts, barons, and knights below him, placing him in a delicate middle position. They were glad about the school’s policy of "no status discrimination" and adapted quite quickly. Both of them seem to be good candidates for student council president when they become seniors.

"No, I don’t think that’s the case either. After all, the victim is a baron’s adopted daughter."

"Really? I see."

"Then, is it someone of the same rank, with no status difference?"

"If so, it might be personal grudges or revenge."

Hmm, I see. If that’s the case, it’s not really "bullying" anymore.

"Maybe she’s doing something that makes people resent her."

"Yes, it could be that someone in a weaker position is retaliating because they can’t do anything about it."

Is there anyone in a weaker position than the heroine...?

"President, you said you’ve helped this person a few times, right?" Cain asked.

"Yeah."

Not just me, but the brainy one, the cool one, the silly one, and Hartheis, and even Jack and the villainess, Serea, joined in.

"Maybe this person is seen as being under your protection. If they bully her, you won’t stand for it. That’s why they can’t bully her openly like a noble would and do it in secret."

"It’s my fault...!"

If I were a prince or a top-tier character in the school, I would want to confront the person directly. But because I’m one of the prince’s favorites, I can’t. The heroine also takes advantage of this and acts up, which only increases the resentment. And as the bullying escalates...

"No, it’s not the president’s fault."

"Should I stay out of it?"

"That’s not an option. If there’s bullying in the school, it’s only natural to try to stop it. Shin, you’re not wrong."

Hartheis said this to me.

The difficult part is that the root cause can’t be addressed.

Can you tell the heroine, "Stop monopolizing all the popular guys"?

You can’t, right?

...But maybe I should try saying it once.

If I do, it might make it seem like I’m the one bullying her.

"President, who is the person being bullied, anyway?"

The treasurer asked.

"Umm, for their dignity, I don’t want to say..."

"Could it be Rins Brower?"

She’s well-known even among the first-years...

In such cases, it might be better to be straightforward and ask. After the secretary and treasurer left, Hartheis and I stayed in the student council room to talk.

"Hartheis, why do you think the pink-haired girl is being bullied?"

"Pink-haired, not pink-brained, right?"

He laughed.

"I’ve been pestered by her for a long time to help her with her studies, but it was clear that she just wanted to get close to me. The conversations always veered off-topic, and she was very curious about my family’s situation..."

"‘I’ll listen to all your problems and affirm you completely.’"

"Exactly! That’s exactly how it felt!"

Hartheis clapped his hands, looking satisfied.

"Shin, did you experience the same thing?"

"I ran away before it got that far."

"Of course. I’m not good with women..."

"Don’t say I’m good with them. I respect you for not saying no when asked, Hartheis."

"I don’t like being respected for that."

He stirred his tea with a spoon and chuckled.

"When she says things like that, it makes you think she might like you. Rins is very good at making you think that."

"Right! I’ve thought that before too! Good job, Hartheis, for noticing that."

"Maybe it’s because I’ve seen Shin and Serea together. Rins felt very different. I might have been swayed if I hadn’t seen them. Like Powell and Fried."

"Isn’t Picard included?"

"Ahahaha! Picard believes all women are in love with him!"

Picard has a great personality.

"Shin and Serea are kind and fair to everyone. But they are unwavering in their commitment to each other as fiancés. I’ve seen what real lovers look like."

Yeah, sorry about that.

"So, Rins is a fake. I think other girls can tell that too."

He’s analyzing it well. As expected of someone from a scholarly family. Love can be analyzed scientifically.

"Does she still come to you for help with her studies?"

"Not since we became seniors. She’s capable when she puts her mind to it. I think she’s given up on pretending to need help."

"Hmm..."

"Ahahaha. It’s a bit strange, but it’s nice to have these kinds of conversations. I rarely get to talk about these things with other guys, so I’m a bit happy."

Now that you mention it, I don’t either...

Next.

"...What do you want?"

I sat down in front of Fried, who was eating alone in the school cafeteria, and placed my tray.

"I want to discuss how to eliminate bullying in the school."

"Are you really a prince? If you were a noble, you’d start with some small talk to gauge the mood before getting to the point."

"I do that with everyone else."

The corner of the cool guy’s mouth twitched. It’s rare to see him react like that.

"Anyway, about the pink-haired girl who’s been bullied..."

Fried choked, trying to suppress a laugh while eating.

"Cough... You really don’t know her name, do you? It’s Rins Brower. Remember that."

"Right, her."

"You really have no interest in her, do you?"

"Nope. But when she’s bullied, I always get caught in the crossfire. Mostly because of Picard."

"I can see that..."

"By the way, you were always at the scene, weren’t you? Were you called by Picard?"

"Not exactly, but I did get involved a few times."

"Did you notice that you were coincidentally involved more often than others?"

"...Yes."

Wow, that’s some strong influence. You should go to the church and make an offering to Lady Ranates.

"From the outside, it looks like you, Powell, and Picard are competing for her, but that’s not the case."

"Wait, are we really seen that way!?"

"Everyone sees it that way."

"That’s ridiculous... with those idiots."

"But that’s not the case. It’s more accurate to say that she’s equally flirting with all three of you, maintaining a close relationship with each to keep the balance."

"...You’re observant."

"Even you notice it sometimes, don’t you?"

Fried continued his lunch in silence. It’s hard to admit things sometimes.

"Let’s get back to the topic."

"Sorry, sorry. How to stop bullying. Of course, the bullies are in the wrong. That’s a given. But we also need to consider why she’s being bullied."

"Right."

"To put it bluntly, she’s flirting with all the popular guys in the school, trying to maintain a relationship that’s more than friends but not quite lovers. This makes her unpopular with the other girls. She even tries to get close to me if she gets the chance."

"You really don’t hold back! Can’t you be a bit more tactful?"

"Do you prefer a more subtle and suggestive approach?"

"Well, maybe, but getting to the point is better."

"She doesn’t care about their fiancés or status differences. Her freedom and spontaneity are attractive to men who are tired of the formal noble ladies, but they’re annoying to the girls. She’s like a stray cat."

"...You put it well."

"At least if she focused on one person, it wouldn’t cause so much trouble..."

"I agree."

The cool guy is surprisingly calm and perceptive.

After finishing his meal, Fried drank his water and stood up with his tray.

"I’m leaving."

What!?

"Wait, wait, wait. I didn’t come here to ask you to do anything!"

"I know. I just found it ridiculous."

"But it’s not that bad."

"Most importantly, I can’t have people thinking I’m being manipulated by a girl like that."

Well, everyone already thinks that.

"I even suspected you. Sorry. Don’t get involved with me anymore."

No... I didn’t expect this.

Being cool is tough. I feel a bit sorry for him.

Next: "75. The Gentleman’s Social Scene"