CH 96

“Are you sure about that?”

A voice rises from the student who sits closest to Alice. The fact that he was sitting so close to the princess without a care in the world meant that his rank was not low unless he was a fool. Perhaps this man will be the second most powerful person on the team after Mist.

“Yes! It’s been rumored throughout the year that this one had declared that he would protect Lady Alcala!”

“If that’s true, then it’s not a good idea for Mr. Dreschord to be at this meeting, is it?”

The man gave me a suspicious look. He seemed to be genuinely suspicious of my relationship with Claire, judging by his reaction.

Now, what should I say to him?

Everything the man next to me was saying was true, and there was nothing wrong with it. Besides, it’s quite natural that he doesn’t want the contents of the meeting to be known to someone who is connected to the enemy general.

On top of that, the princess can’t lose since she wants to make a name for herself, she doesn’t want to be seen in a bad light. Honestly, if I were in their place, I would eliminate myself.

But I can’t be eliminated so easily. Rather, I need to have a big enough say in this to adopt a strategy to defeat Claire.

When I thought about it, a solution came to mind. In order to gain their trust, I should show them that I want to defeat Claire and how much I want to. By doing so, I can instill the thought, ‘this guy wants to beat her that badly?’

I can see the method clearly so I get up and open my mouth.

“I can’t blame you for thinking that. But I’m here to win.”

“I don’t believe that!”

The counterargument comes back as expected. However, I show my calmness here to create an atmosphere.

“Believe it or not, I have declared that I will fight and defeat Lady Alcala.”

My comment caused a stir in the conference room. Then, as if to make sure, the man from earlier asks me,

“Did you really declare that? For a nobleman to fail to achieve what he has declared would be the greatest shame of all.”

“Yes. I know.”

“You seem to have a lot of confidence, don’t you?”

Of course I have the confidence to fight and win. But more than that, I need to be stronger than her in order to match Lady Alcala. I have the utmost confidence in the power of my feelings.”

When I finished, a silence fell over the conference room. Everyone nodded their heads in admiration or looked at me with respect. The boy from earlier seemed to be moved.

“Lady Americia, I think we can trust Viscount Dreschord, don’t you?”

The man then turned his gaze to Alice next to him.

When I turned to Alice, she was white-eyed and bubbling like a crab.

“What is the matter with you, Lady Americia?”

Everyone stood up in astonishment and rushed to Alice’s side. Then, as if regaining her senses from the shouting, Alice hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her mouth. Then she let out a damp voice, as if the foam had moistened her throat considerably.

“I’m okay…….Let’s keep going.”

“As expected of Lady Americia, you’re not feeling well, yet you still participate in the meeting and show a respectable appearance…….You’re so serious about the mock battle that you’re trying to win with us…….!”

One after another, people began to admire Alice. But I don’t think Alice is such a patient person, so I felt something was wrong.

However, contrary to my feelings, some of them even started to shed tears of joy. I looked around, wondering if I was crazy, and saw Mist still sitting in her chair, holding her hand over her mouth and trying hard not to laugh.

Mist, like me, senses something different, and maybe she’s laughing because she understands what’s different. If not, she would be a crazy girl laughing at the princess’s health problems, so I’m going to assume that Alice was foaming at the mouth for a very interesting reason.

“Everyone, listen up.”

As the heat was at its peak and the windows were about to fog up, the man sitting next to Alice stopped everyone with his hand. Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the man as silence enveloped the room once again.

“We now have two reasons why we must win this mock battle. The first is to fulfill the wishes of our friend, Dreschord. And the second and most important reason is to fulfill Americia-sama’s desire to win!”

In agreement with the man’s words, everyone raised their fists and shouted. It was a motivating speech, but now that I understand that it’s being driven by a misunderstanding, I can’t help but feel cold.

“Lady Americia everyone’s resolve has been made. Let’s leave it at that for now and have a meeting another day. Please rest your body, Americia-sama.”

“What?”

“Everybody! Training starts today!”

Alice, who had been stunned by the momentum, hurriedly called out to them, but the students, breathless with motivation, slithered out the door.

I was taken aback, but I decided to leave too, and put my hand on the door. When the door was half open, I was grabbed by the shoulder.

“What is it, Lady Americia?”

I turned around to see Alice’s crying face.

“What’s going on?”

“What do you mean……?”

“Coming through.”

Mist slipped between us and walked out through the half-open door. Then I heard Mist’s voice faintly saying, “Good luck.”

I called out to Alice to retreat as well.

“Alice, can you let me go?”

“……”

She didn’t respond, but the force in her hands increased. I looked at Alice’s face and saw tears in her big, spilling eyes. Behind her, through the window, I could see the sun finally rising as the day started.

I let out a breath and let go of the door, hoping that I could keep her company for a little while.