Once everyone had finished introducing themselves, a slightly relaxed atmosphere settled over the room.

After a brief pause, the President spoke.

“You may return now if you wish, but would you spare me just a little more of your time?”

When all the first-years nodded, she inclined her head.

“Thank you. Then, if I may take advantage of your kindness, I would like to decide on representatives among the first-years. For the boys, Your Highness would be suitable, correct?”

“Of course. There is no one more fitting than I.”

The Crown Prince puffed out his chest as he answered.

His entourage praised him enthusiastically.

It was only natural that Li and the others thought they had learned absolutely nothing.

“And as for the girls? Ordinarily, it would be Li.”

The President turned her gaze toward Li.

Li considered for a moment.

Truthfully, she would not mind accepting.

However, increasing her points of contact with the Crown Prince did not appeal to her.

She was supposedly his fiancée, but she personally wished to dissolve the engagement.

In that case, perhaps it would be better to recommend someone else.

Li suspected that Erika did not entirely dislike the Crown Prince.

If she truly had no interest in him, she would not grow angry at him.

Anger, in Li’s view, implied concern.

“President, my schedule may become somewhat constrained. Therefore, I would like to recommend Erika.”

“Wha—Li?”

The Saint’s startled voice rang out, but Li pretended not to hear and continued.

“I have no objection, but Saint—would that be acceptable to you?”

The President’s deep green eyes turned toward her.

“Please call me Erika, President.”

“My apologies. Then, Erika, may I ask you formally?”

“…If I am acceptable, I will accept.”

“Thank you. Then I leave matters to Your Highness and Erika.”

“Saint, I look forward to working with you.”

At the Crown Prince’s words, Erika nodded.

After that, they exchanged a little casual conversation with the two Vice Presidents.

However, the Student Council had duties to attend to.

They were not detained long and were quickly dismissed.

Li and the others returned to their classroom, made preparations and headed to their clubroom.

“Hey, Li! Was that really alright?”

No sooner had they arrived than Erika pressed her question.

“Yes, it is quite fine. Rather, are you certain you are comfortable with it?”

Li implied the unspoken question of how Erika felt about the Crown Prince.

Erika, shorter than Li, looked up at her.

“I’m fine. But are you really okay with it?”

“That does not trouble me. Well… to be honest, I do not feel anything toward His Highness. No… more precisely, I do not truly understand love.”

In her previous life, Li had never had the luxury of indulging in romance.

There had been a time when she was married, but it had happened almost without her realizing it.

There had been neither love nor passion involved.

Her superior had simply forced the arrangement upon her.

The other party had been the same.

Even before the marriage registration, she had been devoted to another man and never spared Li (middle-aged man at the time) a glance.

Such a marriage could not last long.

Li had tried to make it work.

But the woman never abandoned the belief that her affair partner was her true love.

Li eventually accepted that nothing could be done.

Her superior, however, did not see it that way.

In the end, Li’s family registry bore a divorce mark and she lost her job.

Because of that experience, she did not truly understand love.

Yet to Erika and the noble girls, such circumstances were unimaginable.

Among nobility, marriage was a diplomatic tool.

Love and romance were irrelevant.

And yet, to young girls at a sensitive age, longing remained.

They dreamed of being united with someone they loved.

Thus Li’s words carried a different meaning to them.

They interpreted them as resignation about her future.

And they had not missed it.

For a fleeting instant, Li’s expression had grown faintly sorrowful when she remembered her previous life.

A pale, beautiful girl had shown a melancholic smile.

That single moment planted a powerful resolve in all their hearts.

Li must be protected by us.

It was the beginning of a grand misunderstanding.

“Fine. I get it. I’ll take it on. Thanks, Li.”

“You are most welcome,” Li replied with a smile.