“Just now, I wasn’t paying attention while walking and accidentally bumped into the Student Council President. Sorry, Miss…”
Ximo had thought Xiliya would be angry after discovering the incident, since she had only recently warned her to stay away from Melrose. But Xiliya merely let out a soft sigh.
“You don’t need to apologize, Ximo. I told you to stay away from that woman not because I’m jealous.”
Xiliya stared at Melrose’s retreating back, her voice very soft.
“I know what you’re thinking. The Student Council President seems very approachable, right?”
“But that’s all just her disguise. That woman… she’s actually a thoroughly vile person.”
“Just in case, Ximo, it’s best if you don’t get involved with her.”
—
After the entrance ceremony ended, in the Student Council President’s Office.
Melrose sat in her favorite chair, flipping through this year’s new student enrollment list. Student Council President duties were indeed busy, but over the year, Melrose had adapted quite a bit.
“Melrose Your Highness, are you in?”
A familiar voice sounded from outside the door. Melrose didn’t even look up. “Just come in.”
The door was carefully pushed open. The visitor seemed afraid and didn’t dare meet the eyes of Melrose, who sat behind the large desk.
“Melrose Your Highness, um…”
“I’ve said it already—this is school. Don’t call me Your Highness. So, how did the task I gave you last time go, Mira?”
“Yes, Student Council President Melrose!” Mira quickly corrected herself. “I’m very sorry, President. That matter last time… I didn’t manage to do it…”
“Didn’t manage it? Buying an item shouldn’t be that hard, right, Mira? Wasn’t the money I prepared for you enough?”
“Before the auction started, I accidentally lost my bank card, so… that item ended up being bought by someone else.”
Mira knew her excuse was stupid, so her voice grew smaller and smaller. She kept her head down, catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye that Melrose had stopped her movements.
“You lost the card…”
Melrose gently rocked her chair back and forth. Although there was no angry expression on her face, Mira’s heart was already in her throat.
“Fine, I understand. You can go.”
Melrose waved her hand dismissively, sending Mira away. But the latter turned pale at being let off so easily—she would rather Melrose punish her right then and there. This was far more terrifying.
Mira didn’t dare disobey Melrose’s order and obediently left the room. Melrose, meanwhile, picked up the new student list again, as if nothing had happened.
“What do you think was up with that new student today?”
In the office with no one else around, Melrose suddenly spoke as if talking to herself.
“From the front gate of the auditorium to the back door, it should take at least three minutes to walk normally, right? And that Ximo is a new student who shouldn’t know the way—unless… she scouted it beforehand.”
“Maybe… maybe it was just a coincidence.”
After a moment of silence, a trembling voice replied from beneath Melrose.
“A coincidence? But I just asked the Student Council members who were volunteering. They said no one left the auditorium midway during the ceremony, but among the people she described to me, one matched Ximo’s features.”
“If that’s also a coincidence, it’s a bit too convenient. If she had obediently followed me earlier, I could’ve questioned her properly. Oh well, never mind now.”
Ximo had no idea that if she had agreed to let Melrose lead her earlier, her fate would already be sealed.
“Alright, Senior Weila, that’s enough for today.”
Melrose suddenly stood up and crooked her finger. With Melrose’s permission, Weila—who had been serving as a chair, crawling and kneeling on the ground—finally dared to stand.
“I remember you graduating seniors have a get-together this afternoon, right? I won’t waste any more of Senior Weila’s time.”
If Ximo had been there, she definitely would have recognized Weila as one of the students who had been walking with Melrose on the road earlier.
“Oh, right. Your father’s surgery after his illness should be fine now. I arranged a private room for him at the best hospital in the Imperial Capital. He can stay there until he’s fully recovered.”
“Thank you, President…”
Weila’s eyes stung. Although Melrose had just used her as a chair, she now thanked her profusely.
“Go on,” Melrose said carelessly, waving her hand as she pulled over a normal chair and sat down. “Congratulations on graduating, Senior Weila.”
Weila was two years ahead of Melrose. Today’s new student entrance ceremony also marked the graduation of Weila’s class from the Imperial Capital Magic Academy.
Weila left the Student Council President’s Office quietly on tiptoe. She hadn’t gone two steps before her classmate, who had been waiting outside, stopped her.
“Weila!” The short-haired girl rushed up. “Are you okay? Did Melrose do something overly cruel to you again?”
“No,” Weila said, keeping her head down. “Besides, we’ve graduated now, Nuo Er. Let’s just leave it.”
“How can we just leave it?!” Nuo Er looked furious. “What gives her the right to bully people like that? Just because we’re commoners who got in on exams, and she’s the Student Council President and an imperial princess?”
“No, Little Wei. She’s done so many awful things to you—we have to report her to the school. No way would they side with her and twist right and wrong!”
“We’ve already graduated anyway. We won’t have any more dealings with those nobles. If you’re scared, I’ll report her for you myself!”
Seeing her best friend about to act, Weila hurriedly pulled her back.
“Enough, A’Nuo. Student Council President Melrose isn’t as bad as you think. And if it weren’t for her, my father’s illness probably…”
Weila’s voice trailed off. Nuo Er calmed down too. She knew Weila’s father had a serious illness. Both she and Weila were top students who had tested into the Imperial Capital Magic Academy on merit. Nuo Er knew Weila’s family didn’t have the money for her father’s treatment.
“Weila, what are your plans after graduation?”
“Me? I don’t have any grand ambitions. I just want to open a flower shop in the Imperial Capital.”
“Then I’ll go with you and open it together, okay?”
…
In the hallway, the two girls walked farther and farther away, sticking close together, their hands quietly clasped tightly.
Meanwhile, back in the Student Council President’s Office, Melrose somewhat troubledly gazed at the new student list in her hand.
As a toy, Senior Weila was barely adequate, but unfortunately, their grade difference was too big. When Melrose enrolled last year, Weila was already a fourth-year.
She had to replace her toy after just a short year, so this time, Melrose wanted to pick from the new students—at least that way, she could play longer.
Her gaze swept over the photos on the enrollment list. Suitable toys weren’t easy to find… She had originally been a bit interested in that young lady from the Camberlan Family who came from Border City.
