Chapter 85

<084. Bad Boy>

“......”

“......”

A conversation hosted by Eve von Loewengrim.

Let's just call it a tea party. Anyway, this tea party is closer to a meeting of various departments than a salon for the noble ladies of the capital.

Considering the political symbolism of Jefrin itself, the student council president is like the 'emperor' of the Loewengrim Empire, and the rest are like his subjects.

Therefore, it goes without saying how much interest there is in which side the current student council president stands on, what path they take, and how they form the student council executive board. When you consider the special budget allocations, task forces for special tasks, and the staff for fulfilling campaign promises, the budget allocated to one of Eve's projects is enormous.

That's why people gather to hear even a word about what Eve's recent interests are and what she finds intriguing. They form a sea of people, and the seemingly useless bloodline mate of mine is actually an incredible talent.

However, it is often said that in royal events, sometimes a member of the royal family participates instead of the emperor.

So, if I attend this tea party in place of Eve von Loewengrim, it doesn't really lower the status.

Anyway, I decided to attend.

"As a representative of Student Council President Eve von Loewengrim, I am Prince Wolfram von Loewengrim."

They're introducing me as a real prince.

Wasn't Jefrin supposed to be a place without ranks except for Eve von Loewengrim?

Anyway, since my name was called, I took my seat and could feel the gazes pouring over me.

Have you ever felt someone's gaze?

I mean, the concept of feeling that many people are looking at you.

Honestly, it's strange.

Gazes don't have mass, so there's no way you should be able to feel them.

But I can feel them now.

Countless gazes directed at me.

Some are trembling in fear, some are glaring at me, some are avoiding my gaze, and some are looking at me with interest.

Until I entered, everyone was backstabbing and looking for opportunities, but now all their gazes are on me. Unbelievably, I can feel the weight of this storm of gazes.

Honestly, I'm really scared.

Thinking about it, this is a banquet where nobles above the second year, who were oppressed by Wolfram von Loewengrim, are gathered.

Am I walking to my own death?

Just as my legs were about to tremble,

【The royal bloodline is activated.】

【You cannot show a disgraceful appearance in any situation.】

【Deal with the pressure from everyone around you.】

I immediately came to my senses.

Wow, this is no joke, it's a Tier 1 skill.

I immediately feel more alert.

"Why is Lord Wolfram here?"

"Hmm."

"I thought you had returned to the palace."

"......"

Ah, they're openly mocking me.

I actually want to go back too?

Really...

【The user is in a situation where the bloodline is being disrespected.】

【A forced auto-counter against the surrounding impure bloodlines is activated.】

【The royal bloodline raises its flag even in the face of many oppressions.】

【The greatest bloodline commands all the surrounding impure bloodlines!】

【By the bloodline judgment, a forced pressure effect is applied to those with a bloodline lower than Tier 1!】

?

What is this?

I didn't intend to, but my mouth opens.

Huh?

"【Rude, ignorant, immoral, and insolent.】"

"..., Yes?"

"【Have you forgotten that the one before you is Wolfram von Loewengrim, the greatest and most legitimate bloodline?】"

"A, ah... Ugh, ah. Ah."

"【Have you forgotten that Jefrin is merely a model garden?】"

"A, I'm, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"【Disrespecting the legitimate heir of the royal family is a crime of high treason. Can your family bear the responsibility for this crime?】"

"..., Ah, uh, uh..."

"【Answer me.】"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..."

【Auto-counter duration ended.】

【A pressure status effect is applied to everyone around!】

...

Everyone's eyes widened.

Crazy.

"..., Ah, ah."

"Please, save me. I, I didn't do it."

"Your Highness Wolfram, I, I'm sorry. No, I didn't say anything, I didn't say anything."

What are you going to do with this atmosphere?

Everyone is trembling.

I didn't know that a Tier 1 skill would activate an auto-counter if the bloodline is disrespected. Wow, I just found out!

Well, in the original story, Eve von Loewengrim was never disrespected, and Wolfram just died by a sword, so how would I know?

When I turn my eyes, everyone trembles. Except for one person who isn't trembling and is looking at me with even brighter eyes.

"Daughter of the Siella family."

"Yes, Your Highness. Regina Siella greets you. Are you well?"

"Hmm. I'm fine."

"Hehe. Seeing you display the dignity of the royal family just now, it reminded me of last year and made my heart race."

"Hmm."

"However, now that others have also realized the dignity of the royal family, I humbly request that you withdraw that dignity."

"Very well."

"Indeed, you are different from last year. Then, I humbly request that you forgive all sins and treat this as if it never happened."

Saying this, Regina chuckled, and the tense atmosphere that I could feel to some extent was slightly relieved.

Hmm. Why is she saying this in such a situation?

Ah, I see.

Maybe I'll play along this time.

She's the one who relieved the tension, after all.

"Understood. I will treat everything as if it never happened."

"Of course. Did everyone hear that? His Highness Wolfram von Loewengrim was merely unable to forgive the insult to the royal family. He has no personal grudges, so everyone can now have a pleasant conversation."

With that, the conversation began, and Regina Siella sat right next to me, whispering very quietly.

"Thank you for accepting my request. I am grateful for Your Highness's broad-mindedness."

"It's nothing. If I had been too harsh, it would have been inconvenient for me too. I'm glad you stepped in."

"Thank you for your words."

"So, are you trying to sell me a favor?"

"How could I, Your Highness?"

"No, I don't consider this a favor. What I mean is, you covered for... the daughter of the Citrus family, who was mocking me. Did you want to owe me a favor?"

Regina Siella's eyes widened at this.

Well, it's obvious.

Regina Siella, despite her appearance, is very calculating. She probably thought that if she intervened and stopped me, someone would feel indebted to her.

"..., Indeed, I cannot match Your Highness. My defeat..."

"Do not dare to utter the word 'defeat.' Daughter of the Siella family."

"Y-Yes?"

"I said, do not utter it."

"A... Yes, I understand."

If you admit defeat here, it will be the third time you've lost to me, after the competition and the midterm exam.

Then your route will open.

I have no intention of opening your route, which matches your devastated mental state!

***

After that, the conversation proceeded more normally than expected.

To be precise, I just crossed my arms and listened, while the nobles started to converse with each other.

More serious topics were being discussed than expected, and occasionally interesting stories popped up.

"By the way, isn't Miss Trista not attending today?"

"Yes, she rarely attends."

"What a pity. I wish Miss Trista could have brightened this gathering."

It seems Ayla doesn't often attend such gatherings.

And the girl who mentioned this glanced at me.

Who was she? Not a combat type, not a support type...

Ah, right. She was the school reputation character.

She likes spreading rumors and gossiping about people's love lives. She was probably from the Jefrin newspaper club.

If I put her in the party and do something to raise the school's reputation, it would be more effective.

Her name was...

"Do you have something to say to me, the eldest daughter of the Tabloid family?"

"Y-Yes? Do you know me?"

"Of course. Jefrin newspaper club, one of the factions of public opinion, a member of the second-year magic department, the next editor-in-chief, Daily Tabloid."

"How... How did you know... Where did you get the information that I'm the next editor-in-chief... Ah."

Ah, that was decided from Act 3.

Becoming the next editor-in-chief of the newspaper club was quite advanced information, wasn't it?

Sorry, I shouldn't have known that, and this is your mistake.

"Speaking of someone's fiancée so casually and trying to gauge the reaction is disrespectful. Have you forgotten that royal marriages are serious matters and should not be spoken of lightly?"

"I'm, I'm sorry..."

"There will be no next time. Be careful."

"Y-Yes, yes..."

Indeed.

If I had talked about Ayla here, tomorrow's Jefrin newspaper would have had an article like "Prince appears alone at an event without his fiancée. Feel the weight of his love!"

Since she's a journalist, her name is Daily Tab