Chapter 99

If we leave this matter as it is, it seems like it might even affect Izy.

"Lance, can you call Izy, Theo, and the others?"

"Understood."

Lance immediately called Izy and Theo.

"Al? Have the guests left?"

"Brother, I heard you called. What is the matter?"

Theo was as usual, but Izy's voice was more lively than usual. However, upon noticing that there were still guests in the room, Izy's expression turned serious.

"Both of you, come over and sit down."

When I gestured, Izy immediately sat next to me, and Theo sat on the opposite side.

"Izy, do you want to give the welcoming speech for the new students?"

When I asked, Izy made a displeased face and answered without hesitation.

"No, I don't want to. I don't want to do it."

"Immediate answer, huh. By the way, why don't you want to do it?"

"…I don't understand the criteria for selecting the representative for the new students."

Good, it's not like he's completely obsessed with his brother, thinking that 'the brother is the most suitable representative.'

"If you understand the reason, would you accept it?"

"Depending on the content, and if I can be convinced."

"What about Theo?"

When I turned to Theo, he spoke his true feelings frankly.

"Why do I have to do such a troublesome thing? Let the top student do it. Usually, the top student does this kind of thing, right?"

That's true.

"What about Al?"

"Same as Theo. I can't accept the idea of being a representative just because I'm royalty."

To be honest, Izy and Theo and I all want to enjoy our school life freely. If we become representatives and our presence is known to the lower grades, we'll definitely be a hassle, so we don't want to do it!

"Unfortunately, it seems we have a disappointing result. Can we ask the girls?"

For that reason, we declined to be the representatives of the new students to the principal and the secretary.

The girls, Ein... no, Ottilie, I'm not sure, but Hetta and Hilda will probably decline. Hilda might think there are other suitable candidates, and Hetta probably isn't interested in this kind of thing. Besides, Hetta probably knows that the top student will give the speech, so she'll probably ask who the top student is first.

"The girls have already declined," the principal said in a pitiful voice. Ah, they've already declined? Did Ottilie decline too? She's straightforward, so I thought she might be swayed by Hetta and accept.

"What is this about?"

"It's about asking someone to give the welcoming speech for the new students."

"…Why did you ask Al?"

"Because he is the first prince."

"Where is the equality in education?"

"There is a matter of the nobility's face."

As I answered Theo's question, the atmosphere became awkward. I understand, I understand. It's like the faculty is actively prioritizing the nobility despite promoting equality in education, right?

The issue is that it's related to donations. Since it's a royal institution, the city of the academy receives funding from the national budget and from the founder, Hunt-Airfolk, but that alone isn't enough to cover the city's operations. We receive donations.

After our conversation, Theo, who had been thinking, interjected.

"Then, why not let a commoner be the representative? It's normal for nobles to study, right? They have the environment to do so. So, isn't it more impressive for a commoner who has worked hard while helping their family or working, to have studied and been admitted? The representative should be someone like that."

That's right.

"Are donations a form of bribery?"

When I said this, the principal shrank back.

"This year, the daughter of Duke Hunt-Airfolk is enrolled, and since she is related to the founder, it might be a bit problematic if we continue like this?"

"You children... what do you know?"

The secretary's mutter was clearly heard by me, Theo, and Izy.

"Sorry, we're just kids."

"If it's an adult's domain, leave it to the adults. Then don't ask my brother. Troy, see the guests out."

Oh dear, Izy and Theo are both upset. Well, it can't be helped. Just because they're kids doesn't mean they don't think.

Izy's butler prompted the principal and the secretary to leave, and they stood up and exited the guest room.

"Next time, do a proper introduction."

As soon as I said this, the secretary looked at me with incredible intensity, and I waved and smiled to see them off.

From the looks of it, Daurft Salt, who introduced himself as the secretary, is not just a secretary. The principal kept glancing at Daurft Salt, showing concern.

"What was that about?"

"I don't know, but maybe they thought that if they asked the arrogant prince to give the representative speech, it would flatter him and make him happy?"

Why they had that idea, I can kind of guess? Maybe they heard somewhere that I'm a spoiled prince. In the noble circles, the story that the second prince's faction spread is widely believed, but there are still people who don't know.

"Do they still believe such lies?"

To Izy, who couldn't hide his anger, I explained that it wasn't just that.

"It's possible. They might have been testing us."

"Huh?"

"From the management's perspective, it's natural to want to get rid of troublemakers who might disrupt the school's order early. However, since the rumors are unverified, it's also possible that they came to test us."

"But that wasn't the attitude they showed."

That's true, but don't be so one-sided. I don't want Izy to have a biased view of things.

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