Chapter 82

As I mingled with the gentlemen and ladies in the hall, I checked the venue.

...Hartis is with the literary club members. He’s wearing a cool suit. When I first met him, he was a small and cute Hartis, but now he’s grown a bit taller, has shorter hair, and has become quite manly.

The cool guy is surprisingly chatting and laughing with the class. Has he stopped pretending to be cool? He’s not a bad guy at all. If he talks normally, he can get along with anyone.

On the other hand, Picard, who stands out, is being swarmed by girls. As usual. He should learn how to say no.

Jack is talking with the students from neighboring territories in his hometown, along with Silfa. Are they discussing post-graduation plans? They have a lot to prepare for after graduation, so it’s good to discuss things now. One of the benefits of being able to interact without regard to status in the academy is that everything goes smoothly when the atmosphere is open, making any joint venture progress well.

The heroine and the brainy one are not here...

The pink-haired and tall Powell should stand out, so I would notice if they were here.

"Rins and Powell are not here..."

Serea seems to have noticed too and whispers to me softly.

"Yeah, something might be up."

"Brother!"

I was startled. My younger brother, Ren, the second prince, suddenly calls out to me.

He’s walking straight toward me.

Ren has grown a bit taller than me and has become quite handsome. He’s also well-built and is already very popular among the first-year girls. He has a prince-like charm that surpasses mine.

He’s approaching me with a look of anger, and Powell is following him, also with a fierce expression.

"Rins was pushed down the stairs and got hurt!"

The hall buzzes with whispers.

"...Rins...?"

I blurted out reflexively. Oops, that was probably not a good move.

"Don’t play dumb! The third-year, the one with pink blonde hair, the ‘Princess of the Academy,’ Rins Blauver! There’s no way you don’t know her!"

The hall forms a circle around us, and Serea clings to my arm, trembling.

"What’s this ‘Princess of the Academy’ nonsense...? When did she get such a nickname?"

"Pushed down...? From where?"

"From the stairs in front of the drama club room!"

"Why was she there?"

"She was changing for the party."

"Right, how is she? Is she badly hurt?"

"No, it’s her ankle... but that’s not the point!"

Powell shouts from behind. Then, Ren, who has drawn everyone’s attention, says,

"I won’t tolerate the bullying of Rins by you, Brother, and Miss Serea any longer!"

What...?

Why is it coming to this? What kind of development is this?

"(H... Hidden character...)"

Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying, Serea.

The hall is in an uproar. Everyone is surrounding us, looking shocked.

"Brother has been bullying Rins since he entered the academy. And Miss Serea has been plotting with him! That’s clear now!"

"What did I do?"

"Listen. You stuck mean notes on Rins’s back. You tore her textbooks and poured water on her. You pretended not to remember her name and always isolated her, letting the bullying escalate!"

I have no memory of that.

"You didn’t just pour water on her once or twice! You also drew dirty graffiti on her desk. You tore her dress for the Christmas party and her dance practice clothes! You ignored her and made her a laughingstock countless times. Is that the kind of behavior befitting a prince? Miss Serea, who helped you, is equally guilty! I recognize that Brother has no qualifications to be the crown prince and demand that he renounce his right to the throne!"

The second prince demanding the disinheritance of the first prince... What a dramatic turn of events.

Powell is standing behind Ren, looking smug.

Ah, I see. If I remain a prince, you can’t join the royal guard, can you? You’re trying to form a faction to support the second prince and get me out of the way. So you’re getting Ren’s cooperation. Got it.

"Um, is there anything else you want to say?"

"What...?"

"Ren, since we’re at it, say everything you want to say. It’s fine."

"So, I want you to declare the renunciation of your right to the throne here."

I see. You don’t have the authority to strip me of my right to the throne, but if I declare it myself, it’s valid.

"I refuse."

"What... won’t you admit it?"

"There’s no way I would admit to something like that. Do you have any evidence for the bullying you mentioned?"

"I have numerous testimonies."

"From whom?"

"From the first-year girls!"

"The first-year girls only know what’s happened in the past year, right?"

"Brother and Serea have been bullying Rins for a long time, and it’s well-known."

"I’m hearing this for the first time. It’s just testimonies without any evidence."

"...That’s right. They are credible testimonies."

Just testimonies, huh.

"Did Rins, the victim, say the same thing?"

"She won’t say it. She can’t. How could she say she’s being bullied by a prince?"

"Then why do you think so?"

"I can see it from her tears!"

Are you a psychic or something?

"Why would I need to bully Rins? What’s the reason?"

"To elevate the prince’s authority in the academy."

That’s a great theory. How did you come up with that?

"...Why would I need to do that?"

"Brother is being mocked in the academy. No one calls you ‘Your Highness’ or uses honorifics. You’re lowering the authority of the royal family in the academy! So you pretended to help someone being bullied to boost your own authority. Isn’t that right?"

That’s a huge misunderstanding.

"That’s something I asked for myself. I asked everyone to call me ‘Shin’ and treat me like a normal friend while I’m in the academy. Didn’t you know?"

"I haven’t heard that from Rins either!"

"The one who told me that the most was Rins herself..."

This caused a bit of laughter in the hall.

"Whenever Rins was being bullied, Brother and Serea were always at the scene. It was as if they knew it was going to happen. They pretended to help her in front of everyone. They’ve been doing this for three years! I won’t let you deny it!"

"Wait a minute."

Picard steps forward. He’s not spinning today.

"I don’t believe that story."

"That’s disrespectful. This is a matter of the royal family. Students should not interfere!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Ren, this is an academy. ‘All who pass through this gate must abandon their status.’ Didn’t you read that when you enrolled? Maybe you got in through the back door?"

"Who are you? Identify yourself!"

"I am Pierre Baljean, the son of the Count of Baljean, Picard. Remember me."

He bows elegantly. You’re impressive, Picard.

"I’ll remember. I’ll punish you for your disrespect later."

"Feel free. When Rins was being bullied, it was natural for Shin to be there. After all, I would call him for advice every time."

"What...?"

"When her textbook was torn, I went to Shin to ask for a replacement. When she was doused with water, I consulted Shin about getting a change of clothes. When her desk was defaced, I showed it to Shin."

"What...?"

"So, Shin was always there when Rins was being bullied because I asked him to help. It’s only natural that he was there."

"You were also involved in the bullying!"

Picard dramatically sighs and shakes his head.

"Me? No way. I’m a champion of all ladies. I can’t bully such angels. I firmly deny it. No lady here would doubt it."

"That’s right!"

"Picard-sama wouldn’t do such a thing!"

"Stop making false accusations!"

His fans cheer. I wish they would do that for me too...

Ren glares at Picard.

"...A mere count speaking out against a prince without permission is a grave sin."

"I said, feel free."

"Rins is the daughter of a baron and a commoner. You targeted her because of that, didn’t you!"

That’s the most disrespectful thing you’ve said...

"I don’t believe that!"

Silfa steps forward with a powerful presence. No, I can’t involve you too! I try to stop her, but she won’t listen. She takes a ladylike bow and then looks up at Ren.

"I am Silfa, the daughter of Baron Blazes. Shin-sama would never discriminate based on status."

"Who gave you permission to speak!"

"It’s impossible! I’ve been friends with Serea and Shin since I was twelve. They’ve never mentioned my status! I can vouch for that!"

The hall erupts in applause.

"Who would believe the testimony of a mere baron’s daughter? Keep your mouth shut! You’ll also be punished later."

"Feel free."

Jack steps forward to protect Silfa.

"You believe the word of Baron’s daughter Rins but not Baron’s daughter Silfa? That’s not fair. Treat them the same!"

"You... How dare you speak to a prince like that!"

"Sorry, I’m Jack Schreiter, the son of Viscount Wyls. Remember that."

"You..."

Jack suddenly slaps me on the head.

"Ouch! What are you doing, Jack! Consider the time and place!"

Everyone in my class bursts into laughter.

"See, when a viscount like me hits Shin, he doesn’t get angry. We’re friends."

"It hurt, though."

"I don’t believe that Shin would bully a girl to gain respect as a prince. I’ve never seen him act like a prince in the academy. When you become as popular as Shin, people respect you without you having to act superior. You don’t need to act like a prince. Got it?"

The hall erupts in applause at Jack’s words.

"I’ll strip you of your title too."

"Feel free, Ninja Boy prince."

The ninja boy from the martial arts competition... That’s you?

You really wanted the heroine’s kiss, didn’t you, Ren?

Jack bows to Ren, but it’s too late...

"I don’t believe it either."

Hartis steps forward. You too...

"I am Hartis Kepler, the third son of Count Jofnes Kepler. I know that Shin and Serea have dedicated themselves to running the orphanage. On weekends, they visit the orphanage to entertain the children with handmade puppet shows and play with them. We literary club members also helped. With orphans, the lowest in the country, even despised by commoners, Shin and Serea are beloved. I can say with certainty that they are the least discriminatory among the nobles. It’s impossible that they would bully a baron’s daughter. I don’t believe it."

Ren shakes with anger.

"That’s just hypocrisy! You’re just putting on a good show! You’ll also be punished for disrespect!"

"You keep talking about disrespect. Have you ever read the law on disrespect?"

"What...?"

"The law on disrespect states, ‘Those who spread false information about royalty shall be punished.’ No matter how inconvenient, if it’s true, it’s not a crime. The last trial for disrespect was twenty-five years ago, and the defendant was acquitted because the accusation was true. The law on disrespect is also meant to protect citizens from the tyranny and injustice of the nobility. If you think you can punish people at will, you’re mistaken."

"I’m a prince, and I say it’s disrespectful!"

"Most importantly, the law on disrespect doesn’t apply in this academy because there’s no status here. The king himself has stated, ‘All who pass through this gate must abandon their status.’ Continuously invoking the law on disrespect is an admission that you’re not respected, which is a disgrace to the nobility. Feel free to try."

Hartis, as always, is knowledgeable about the law. I think he would make an excellent advisor to calm me down. He would be a valuable asset to the government.

But he wants to be an astronomer, right? What a shame...

Hartis, the gentleman, bows elegantly, smiles, and steps back.

...Thank you, everyone.

Next: "82. Engagement Cancellation Declaration"