How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Chapter 64

“Are we really proceeding as discussed?”

Lady Cecilia asked with a faint smile, holding the report I handed her.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Thank you. I’ll read it through one more time.”

Lady Cecilia smiled lightly at me before focusing on the report.

After a while, she spoke again.

“But is this strategy really feasible?”

“Yes. It’s a draft, but there won’t be any significant changes.”

“……”

She pondered my confident answer with a deeply contemplative expression.

Then, she spoke in an almost admiring tone, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Wow, really…”

“How do you come up with such low tactics? Are all commoners like this?”

“Pardon?”

Stunned by her casual yet rude comment, I found myself asking back in disbelief. Lady Cecilia quickly waved her hands in denial.

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just fascinating. Propaganda? Fake news? False rumors? I’ve never seen anything like this before. The more I read, the more intriguing it gets.”

“……”

Watching her skim through the report again, I couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated.

“Kamon, will these tactics really work? I mean, wouldn’t normal people see through them?”

“Lady Cecilia.”

“Yes?”

“Have any friends or servants told you that you’ve lost weight or look prettier recently?”

Her eyes widened in surprise at my question.

“Weight? Why? Do you think I’ve gained weight?”

“No, that’s not it… Just answer my question first.”

“Oh, yes. Every time I attend a party or tea time, other ladies often say I’ve lost weight and look prettier. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Have you ever heard anyone say you’ve gained weight?”

“What? Oh no, I must have gained weight. I’ve been snacking a lot due to stress recently.”

Lady Cecilia looked distressed, her face falling. I continued speaking patiently.

“No, I just want to know if anyone has ever told you that.”

“No, never. This is the first time I’ve heard that, Kamon.”

“That’s it.”

“What?”

“If someone started a rumor that you’ve gained weight and become unattractive, would your close friends believe it?”

“Well, those who know me well would definitely deny it. They’d know it’s a malicious rumor.”

“But what if this rumor spread at a party you weren’t invited to, or among noble ladies far away? And what if it was impossible to verify immediately? Especially if it came with a plausible reason?”

“……”

Lady Cecilia fell silent at my continued questioning. She wasn’t a fool. She was simply an idealist who saw the world in a certain way.

“You’re right, Kamon. If it’s something they can’t easily verify, they might believe it. There would be no way to confirm the truth.”

Phew, finally.

You’re not an idiot, Cecilia.

You can understand reason.

Seeing her finally nod in realization, I felt a weight lift off my chest. But then she looked at me and asked again.

“Still, if we spread false information, won’t Princess Francia be hurt? If rumors spread that I’ve gained weight, I’d be really sad…”

“What does that matter?”

“Pardon?”

“We are in a battle with Princess Francia for the election. Who worries about hurting the enemy in a war?”

“Well, still… It’s a lie.”

“Lady Cecilia, didn’t you say you wanted to win?”

“Yes?”

“The person who said she absolutely wants to beat Princess Francia and become president is now asking such questions?”

“……”

I had no room for soft values like morality or justice in this battle. From the standpoint of the underdog, I had to use any means necessary to win.

Even if it was despicable, cruel, or unjust…

Lady Cecilia nodded with a determined expression.

“Alright!”

She then spoke to me with conviction.

“I’ll support this strategy fully, so let’s go ahead with it.”

What? Suddenly?

You’ll support it fully?

Well, thanks, but…

Isn’t that a bit too emotional?

“Are you serious?”

“Yes? Why ask that? You said this plan would work, Kamon. Were you lying to me?”

Seeing her frown, I quickly shook my head.

“No, I’ll do my best.”

Despite the unexpected shift, I had achieved the desired result. Now, if we just proceed…

“Oh, Kamon. You should take Lois and use him as you see fit.”

“What? Why suddenly?”

“He’s my cousin, but he’s still naive. I think he could learn a lot from a friend like you.”

“……”

Her playful wink left me speechless for a moment.

‘What? Lois is naive? And you’re saying that?’

* * *

“I’ve heard everything. The next student council president should definitely be Princess Francia.”

“Thank you, Senior Devran.”

“Haha, it’s been years since I graduated from the academy. You don’t need to call me senior.”

“Oh, but once a senior, always a senior, isn’t it?”

“Thank you so much for saying that, Your Highness.”

The man with a scraggly beard smiled, and Princess Francia responded with a slight bow and a smile.

‘No matter what, I have to do my best.’

Although her royal status and the subtle support of the imperial family were evident, she didn’t want her victory to be attributed solely to that. She wanted to prove her own abilities and strength, which is why she was striving for a more decisive victory.

“Until next time, Senior Devran.”

“I hope to see you again at the palace.”

As the guest departed, someone quietly spoke to Princess Francia.

“A letter with the signatures of the supporting professors has arrived. Additionally, some professors have expressed their intention to participate in the next speech event.”

Obern, the former vice president and current strong supporter among the third-year students, reported to her, and Princess Francia nodded lightly.

“Thank you, Obern. Thanks to you, the election has become much easier.”

“No, Your Highness. This is all because of your excellent character and charm, which have influenced everyone at the academy…”

At that moment, another member of the election team, Rosen Ravenia, spoke up.

“But it seems that the former president hasn’t said anything yet, has he, Vice President Obern?”

“President Alex declared a long time ago that he would remain neutral so as not to interfere with the election, Rosen.”

“Is that so? But the rumors say otherwise.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are rumors that he’s actually supporting Lady Cecilia because they are related by marriage.”

“Rosen, can you back up that claim?”

“Everyone is saying it, so what’s there to back up? I’m more curious about why the vice president is saying otherwise.”

“Rosen Ravenia!”

The argument between the two made others start looking around uncomfortably.

“Everyone, please stop. There’s no need for us to argue right now.”

Princess Francia cut off the argument with a gentle smile and continued speaking.

“President Alex must have his reasons and circumstances. I respect his free will. There’s no need to pressure him unnecessarily.”

With her unique gentle charisma, Princess Francia successfully mediated the internal conflict within her election team. She then sat down at her desk, ready to move on to the next agenda.

“There’s still some time until the next event…”
Bang!

“Your Highness!”

Suddenly, the door to her office burst open, and someone entered with a very confused expression.

“We are in a meeting. What’s so urgent that you barged in like this…”

“Here! Look at this, Your Highness!”

The student who had rushed in ignored Obern’s reprimand and handed a large poster to Princess Francia.

“What is this?”

“What nonsense…”

“Oh, come on. Now someone is stooping to such disgraceful tactics?”

The poster depicted Princess Francia in a defiant pose, a cigarette hanging from her lips. Below the image was the headline:

“Exposing the Shocking True Face of Princess Francia.”

“……”

The crude and inflammatory wording made it look worse than a third-rate tabloid.

* * *

[“We thought she was just an ordinary smoker, but the princess is actually a heavy smoker?”]

[“Rumor has it that Princess Francia enjoyed gang fights with her servants in her youth, and she has scars on her back from those days. Is it true?”]

[“The princess, who grew up sheltered in a greenhouse, is actually a classist who despises commoners?”]

All sorts of provocative and scandalous content, paired with crudely edited photos, spread throughout the academy.

At first, people reacted with disbelief to the posters that appeared overnight, defaming Princess Francia with lies.

“Who would put up such nonsense?”

“Our Princess Francia would never be like that!”

“This is just another jealous group trying to slander the princess.”

“There are some real weirdos out there.”

“Whoever did this, they’d better watch out when we find them!”

“Do you think the princess actually smokes?”

“Hey, what are you saying? You believe that?”

“No, of course not! But it does make you wonder.”

The posters were quickly taken down, but they reappeared soon after, each time with different content.

“Could this be true?”

“There must be some reason these rumors keep appearing.”

“And each time, the details get more specific. Maybe…”

Eventually, some began to entertain doubts about the false rumors concerning Princess Francia, casting curious glances.

“Hey, why are you believing such nonsense?”

“Whoever’s doing this should be crushed!”

Despite the general public’s negative view of the culprits behind these acts, the rumors started to seep in.

“Can I back out now, Kamon?”

“Bren, what are you saying? Are you really going to bail now and show no loyalty?”

“But, Elliot, if we get caught, we’re dead. We’re targeting the princess herself…”

“Keep quiet, Bren.”

Elliot quickly covered Bren’s mouth and scanned the surroundings, while I chuckled and spoke.

“Don’t worry. We haven’t been caught yet, so it’s fine.”

“But, Kamon, I mean…”

“Not being caught so far doesn’t mean we won’t get caught later, right?”

“It’s fine. We won’t get caught. I’ve already secured the patrol schedules and routes. As long as we don’t make mistakes, there’s no chance of getting caught.”

I reassured them with a smile, trying to alleviate their fears.

______________

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