I admit to myself that I was expecting something else after our meeting yesterday. Buf then, I'm relieved that it didn't happen. Hiding something from the people I treasure the most already makes me feel guilty, so what more if it is lying?
Luckily, Vivi didn't tell the Student Council about what happened to me. She kept it from them, but I can tell that she is still worried about me. I assured her already, but her glances say that she is still concerned and wondering why that occured out of blue.
Today is the start of another week. Two days from now, the official preparations for the Open Academy Festival will commence. Since we would want to polish our ideas and plans beforehead, a meeting would occur later after the classes.
"Mr. Fridman," Kee almost jumped out from his seat as our teacher called his surname, "what is the other term for the reign of the 40th emperor?"
"4-40th emperor... uh..."
I chuckled as he stood up, stuttering. "First Golden Age."
"F-First Golden Age!"
"Thank you, Mr. Fridman. The reign of the 40th emperor, Emperor Iscalade II is dubbed as the First Golden Age of the Empire of Vanimelde..."
Kee took a deep inhale. "You can now go back to sleep, Mr. Fridman."
"I'll let you mock at me since you saved my life again."
"Hmm?" I faced him, smiling. "I apologize but are you saying something?"
He clicked his tongue and averted his gaze. "Fine. Lunch's on me."
"Ms. De Loughrey, how long did the 40th emperor reigned the empire?"
"Emperor Iscalade II led the Vanimeldian Empire for 83 years, making him the longest-ruling monarch in the history," I answered as I stood up.
Kee applauded lightly. "Hands down, Young Lady Azariella."
"I feel so bad, thinking that Azariella's the class secretary," President complained and threw a glare at Kee. "Could you imagine that? The class ssecretary's hardworking, determined, and intellectually superior while the vice president is annoying, lazy, and exceeding dumb!"
"President," Julius called, "do you like Aiden?"
"Huh?" I chuckled as President glared at him. "Are you stupid? I'm clearly complaining here, Whore-schester."
"R-Right! Y-Yeah, President's complaining. Of course, I-I know that!"
President sighed and drank her apple juice. "I wonder if Aiden will have a wife, or a family. If that happens, well, I'll just wish his wife the best of luck."
"Kee likes someone, President," I added and she made a horrified expression. "Maybe if he is serious to pursue that woman in the near future, surely Kee would marry her and have a family. What's with the expression, by the way?"
"For the love of the Empire, Azariella! Couldn't you see it as a bad thing?"
"If he is happy with it, then I'll support him --"
"No, no! You shouldn't! Kee is depending on you, Azariella! He couldn't even answer the basic math problems without your help! L-Let's say, he'll have a family. Surely, he would depend on his wife just as he is doing to you right now!"
"Ah, I smell long-term jealousy."
President flashed a smile and handed her lunch box to me. "Mind holding this for me for a bit, my dearest Azariella?"
"Sure, President --"
And Kee returned from the comfort room, seeing his best male friend almost unconcious on the ground. With that, a dramatic scene was the only thing we can all see while munching our lunch. President, having no more patience left, plugged in her earphones and listened to her favorite playlist while eating.
"U-Uhm..." We all paused from our conversation and diverted our attention to a female student. She quickly bowed at me and handed an envelope. "Y-Young Lady, there was a m-mail for you..."
"Mail? All right, thank you very much!" She nodded nervously and ran away as if she was intimidated.
There isn't no information about the sender. The only thing written here is the receiver, which is me.
"Love letter?" President giggled. "Well, I won't be surprised by that. Azariella is so beautiful --"
"It probably came from Lu's stalker," Kee commented. "There is no sender information."
I just opened the envelope, with all of them looking at me. I get it. They don't want to view what's the mail for me unless I offered it to them.
I'll be waiting at the rooftop of your school building.
- LV
Lv? I don't know anyone with initials --
"I'll be skipping classes!" I exclaimed and rushed to the rooftop of the building.
I quickly knelt as I arrive at the said location. "Rise." I nodded and stood up, facing him. "Your brothers, Albert and Orion, have told us interesting characteristics of yours. And, I will be straightforward, Lady De Loughrey... I need your help."
"P-Pardon, Your Highness?"
"Yesterday at the Capital, I overheard you and the president of the Montgomery Academy Student Council talking about the waging war between the Vanimeldian Empire and the country of Corveau. I need your help -- no, I need your intellect, Lady De Loughrey, in order to win the war."
"B-But, Your Highness, I was simply, uhm, voicing out my thoughts. I am no professional for you to consult. I mean, the Empire has its own military commander and Your Majesty."
Prince Lugh took a deep inhale. "I understand your point --"
"You are against it, aren't you?" My eyes quickly widened as I realized that I actually stated my thought and bowed. "I-I sincerely apologize for interrupting your statement, Your Highness..."
"Yeah." He flashed a smile at me as I lifted my sight and he gazed at the clear, blue sky. "I am against their plan. That's why, when I heard you at the café, I thought that it was you whom I can consult with regarding this. I would be lying if I said that I feel powerless now. That's why, I sneaked out of the Royal Academy and went here, in hopes of lending me your intellect so I can have my authority back."
Something must be occurring inside the Imperial Castle. The princes and princesses won't easily approach a stranger in this manner, even if he came from an aristocratic family, just like me. I know I might be wrong, but it is the only thing I could came up with. That there is an internal conflict that even the Emperor himself can't fix.
"Your Highness, I would like to say that your hopes will not go in vain."
Prince Lugh's face brightened up. "That means..."
"Yeah. I will help you within my knowledge, Your Highness."
"Thank you very much, Lady De Loughrey. I assure you that your anonimity will be well-taken care of."
I went beside him, smiling. "May I know what's the plan that the Emperor came up with?"
"In war, quantity doesn't means victory."
"What do you mean?"
"Even if a side is lesser than the other one, if the upper command has laid out plans perfectly, they would win. I was saying that, Your Highness, even if the Emperor has gathered all the military troops of the countries under the Empire, once they are welcomed with an explosion followed by bodies being thrown up mid-air, the probability of wining against Corveau and its allies will surely decrease."
Prince Lugh sighed and gazed at the scenery around us. "So, what should we do?"
"Your question is wrong, Your Highness. It should be, what should I propose? I am not badmouthing His Majesty, but as you stated, he doesn't care about his children's suggestions. If it happens that the Emperor's decision is irreversible, as one of the members of an aristocratic family, I will have no choice but to support His Majesty and offer assistance."
"Lady De Loughrey, I am clearly opposing the idea of my father. That's why I approached you, to ask for wisdom and courage to present it. What plan should I propose? How could I persuade my father to listen to me?"
"I understand you, Your Highness. That's why I am willing to offer you the wisdom you seek. Right here, I will tell you the plans I came up with. However, Prince Lugh, I cannot give you courage. The courage you seek is inside your heart. It will came out in times of need. In this case, you will already have it as you stood before His Majesty." His eyes widened for the second time. "As for the plan, may I take a world map for a while?"
Prince Lugh gasped after I finished speaking. His face is still flashing a surprised reaction while staring at the world map laid on the floor of the rooftop. "T-That makes sense perfectly..."
"The plan might be perfect as you think, Your Highness, but this would be nothing if it wouldn't be properly executed."
He nodded and smiled at me. "I will make sure that your astonishing plan will be as more than useful. Now, I owe you this, Lady De Loughrey."
"Lady Azariella would do, Your Highness."
"Well then, Lady Azariella, does addressing me as Prince Lugh will reduce my debt from you?"
"If you insist, Prince Lugh. Is there anything more that you would want to ask or clarify?"
Prince Lugh glanced at the world map and shook his head. "Nothing. I already got a grip of the plan. I think it's now all up to me." I nodded at him. "Now I know why Albert and Orion talks about you almost all the time."
"T-They do?"
"Yeah. Eleanor also told us about you adopting a cat. Oh, about that, she wants to see you again in the Royal Academy."
"Please tell Princess Eleanor that I will accept her invitation. Tomorrow, I think, I can go there again."
"All right, I'll relay it to her. Thank you, Lady Azariella. I wish you and your family the greatest of luck and prosperity."
"It's an honor, Prince Lugh. I will be hoping for the Empire to claim the victory. Please do your best."
"Leave it to me. Well, I shall return to the Royal Academy now."
"U-Uhm, wait, Prince Lugh. I was just curious on how will you return..." My eyes widened as he just winked at me. I just smiled and nodded. "Have a safe travel, then, Prince Lugh." He saluted at me and wore his cap and mask before leaving the rooftop. "Sneaking out surely seems to be dangerously exciting."
President stood in front as our last subject teacher for today. "All right, Class 3-A, attention here! This afternoon will be our only time to organize the class for the upcoming Open Academy Festival. To start our class meeting, I would like to call our class vice president."
"Huh? Me?" I asked, completely confused, while pointing out to myself.
"Of course, my dearest Azariella!" I took a deep inhale and stood up to go beside her. "Azariella will be explaining our class strategy to top the competition. Please do not mind me writing on the board." President smiled at me and patted my shoulder. "You can do it, Azariella."
"I don't have any choice, do I?" I sighed as she enthusiastically nodded and faced the class. "U-Uhm, so, this is what we —"
"— she!"
"— I plotted..."
Everyone agreed with the plan that I came up with. And so, after explaining it to them and answered their inquiries regarding the same thing, we first organized the list of the participants for the sports competition. Kee gave us the list of the possible participant from the other section so we could properly decide ours. As this list only came from our pure observation, this isn't considered as cheating.
As expected, they made me the representative of the class for the chess game. Since I would be only participating in one game, I will just be watching for the whole sports competition or I might help in assisting them for a new tactic so our class will win.