Chapter 141
A summons after school.
The summoned location was the student council room. The one who summoned him was its master—the crown prince, Eric Seincle.
Clael had no personal connection with the crown prince. At most, they had narrowly passed by each other during a trip.
Naturally, this was the first time he had ever been summoned.
"Now then... I wonder what this is about."
He could have ignored it... but the truth was, he was curious about the matter.
Clael arrived at the student council room after school and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Permission to enter was granted immediately.
When he opened the sliding door, five people were inside the student council room.
The first person to catch his eye was the room's master, seated at the desk in the back—His Highness, Crown Prince Eric Seincle.
Next was the person who had told Clael to come here—Luei Biscuit.
Luei was standing by the window, and when his eyes met Clael's, he turned his face away with a sulky "Hmph!"
And then... two others seated at a desk separate from the crown prince's. Vincent Flame and Will Rileis.
Vincent rested his chin on his hand and looked over with interest, while Will gave a slight nod in greeting.
"Hm...?"
"............"
And then... there was a female student he didn't recognize.
She had long bangs that hid her eyes, giving off a gloomy and introverted impression.
She didn't try to make eye contact with Clael and kept her head down, facing the desk.
Clael tilted his head, wondering if such a character had appeared in the game, but he soon realized she was standing in for Reina.
(Ah... I see. Since Reina didn't join the student council, another first-year must have taken her place.)
In the game, Reina, though a commoner, was chosen as the Saint and was relentlessly bullied by the female students of the academy.
And the one who discovered the bullying and protected her was Crown Prince Eric.
By welcoming Reina as a student council officer, Eric placed her under his protection.
(But... Reina didn't join the student council. In the first place, there's no sign of her being bullied, so there's no need for her to join.)
Thanks to Clael's intervention, the game's scenario had changed significantly.
Before even enrolling at the academy, Reina had awakened her powers as the Saint and had grown into a breathtakingly beautiful girl that made others hesitate to even approach her.
No matter how high-ranking a noble girl might be, there was no way she could harm the current Reina.
(Since Reina didn't join the student council, this girl must've taken her place. If I recall correctly, there was a rule that a first-year had to be assigned to general affairs.)
"Ah, Mr. Byrne. You came."
Eric stood up from his chair and gestured toward the reception sofa.
"Please have a seat. I'll prepare some tea right away."
"............"
As Eric spoke, the unfamiliar female student stood up without being prompted.
She went to the table by the wall, prepared a teapot and cups, and began making tea.
"No need to bother... More importantly, what brings you here today?"
Clael asked as he sat on the sofa as instructed.
"I don't recall doing anything that would warrant a summons from His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Yes, I'm sorry. It was quite rude of me to summon you like this. But there's something I absolutely had to tell you."
Eric moved from his desk to the sofa across from Clael.
Without delay, the unfamiliar female student placed tea in front of the two.
After taking a sip of the tea, Eric spoke again.
"To tell you the truth... the other day, a certain criminal organization was eradicated. From their hideout, we found evidence of their crimes... and among it, there was a plan to abduct you."
"............!"
Just the other day, Clael had been summoned by his brother and attacked.
But this seemed to be a separate incident. It appeared there were others targeting Clael as well.
"And one more thing... It seems someone connected to you may have been involved in that crime."
"...And who might that be?"
Clael asked, already having a faint idea.
The name that came from Eric's mouth was exactly who he had expected.
"Girael Byrne... No, I suppose he's already been expelled from the Byrne Marquis family. It seems your brother was involved in the crime."
"............"
So his suspicion had been correct.
Clael slumped into the sofa and let out a weary sigh.