How to Survive as the Academy’s Villain

Episode 73

“How was the reaction?”

“Thank you for your hard work, Princess. As expected, the reaction and results were as predicted.”

“There was a tremendous response. It definitely had an effect.”

“Really? Then that’s a relief.”

As Princess Francia let out a sigh of relief, someone shook their head with concern.

“It’s premature to say it was good. Some students didn’t look pleased. This is a significant gamble.”

“But the overall atmosphere wasn’t bad. There’s no need to view it negatively.”

“Of course, it’s because they were swept up in the moment. Once they’ve cooled down, they might feel differently.”

Rosen Ravenia continued to express her negative opinion about the announcement
.
Princess Francia, with a smile, gently spoke to her.

“I understand what you mean, Lady Rosen. But there isn’t a more certain issue than this right now, is there?”

“Still…”

“I’ll leave the details of the pledge to you, Lady Rosen. Please help me implement it smoothly without any problems.”

Rosen Ravenia couldn’t argue further and closed her mouth, moved by Princess Francia’s sincere voice.

“Rosen, thinking negatively won’t help.”

“Shut up, senior.”

Rosen Ravenia, responding curtly to Vice President Obern, nodded.

“I understand what you mean, Princess.”

“Thank you, Rosen.”

Princess Francia, who responded as such, then looked around and asked again.

“Isn’t Lady Cecilia’s speech next? Where is she now?”

“I’m here, Princess.”

At that moment, Lady Cecilia, wearing a dazzling blue dress, appeared before her.

“Oh my, nice to see you. And there are some familiar faces beside you?”

Seeing President Alex and Kamon Vade standing next to Lady Cecilia, Princess Francia smiled.

Lady Cecilia, unfazed, slowly began to speak.

“I didn’t expect your announcement at all… It seems I’ve been quite outmaneuvered.”

“I just put into action something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Thankfully, I have good people around me.”

Princess Francia pointed to Vice President Obern and Rosen Ravenia standing nearby.

Though Rosen Ravenia didn’t look very pleased.

“I’m just grateful that these capable people are assisting someone as lacking as myself so well.”

“Haha. Is that so? Well, everyone there is indeed remarkable.”

Lady Cecilia forced an awkward laugh.

Princess Francia nodded and continued speaking.

“Thanks to them, someone as lacking as me can stand here.”

“That’s right.”

“There are capable people by your side too. Let’s have a good competition until the end…”

Just as Princess Francia was about to conclude her words.

“A good competition, my ass.”

“…?”

All eyes turned towards the male student who muttered with a smirk.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to speak out loud.”

It was Kamon Vade who apologized ambiguously.

Grr.

Though anger boiled deep inside her, Princess Francia responded with a bright smile.

“Haha. It’s okay. It happens.”

‘Like hell it happens. That bastard… Phew, calm down.’

Thinking he was deliberately provoking her, she twisted her lips and looked at Kamon.

“So, did you listen to my pledge, Kamon?”

“Oh, me? Yes, I listened. It seems you made that pledge just for me, thank you.”

“No. I did it for all the commoner students at the academy…”

“Pfft!”

Zap!

A sharp killing intent flashed from Princess Francia’s side.

“You laughed?”

“Did you just laugh?”

Naturally, Rosen and Vice President Obern added their words.

At the same time, people from Lady Cecilia’s side stepped forward to prevent any possible clash.

“Kamon, apologize.”

Following Lady Cecilia’s voice, Kamon Vade raised one hand, still looking unapologetic.

“Ah, sorry. I just thought of something funny for a moment.”

“Is that something you should say…”

“Obern senior, stop. I’m okay.”

“Princess!”

Princess Francia stopped Vice President Obern with a wave of her hand, still maintaining a faint smile as she looked at Kamon and Lady Cecilia.

‘An idiotic girl and an annoying guy combination… Alright, let’s see how far you can go.’

“Then I will listen carefully to Lady Cecilia’s announcement today.”

“Yes, you must. Please listen carefully.”

Though both sides exchanged words with smiles, the tension was so thick that no one could breathe easily.

Click-clack.

Soon, the two parted ways, and Lady Cecilia appeared on the platform.

[Good day, everyone. I am Cecilia Romanoff, running for student council president.]

Watching the hologram projection in the waiting room, Princess Francia quietly spoke to Obern and Rosen beside her.

“Have we figured out what they prepared?”

“We haven’t gathered any solid information yet. But most predict it won’t be anything significant.”

“No, whatever they bring won’t be able to beat us. Unless Lady Cecilia suddenly starts stripping on stage.”

“Rosen! That’s too low…”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, it’s just a joke.”

[Today, I stand here to reveal a certain truth to you all.]

Unexpectedly, Lady Cecilia began with something surprising.

“Huh? Isn’t she supposed to announce her pledge?”

“What does she mean by revealing the truth?”

“Is it about rumors related to President Alex?”

As the unexpected development caused murmurs to rise, Kamon Vade handed a box containing many crystal balls to her on the platform.

“What’s that?”

“It looks like crystal balls. Probably used for recording voices or images…”

[These crystal balls contain recordings of someone’s words. Today, I will expose the lies of that person.]

“What did she just say?”

“What kind of record is being revealed?”

“She mentioned a deceitful appearance, but what could that be?”

As everyone tilted their heads in curiosity and focused on Lady Cecilia’s words.

[“I wish those worm-like bastards would all just die.”]

[“What the hell, how can they even think they’re worthy of competing with us? Those trash who don’t even know their place…”]

A familiar voice echoed throughout the central garden and through the hologram projection in the waiting room.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Princess Francia’s face and expression hardened involuntarily.

And then.

“Wait a minute, isn’t that voice really familiar?”

“Who would say something like that…?”

As the unknown voice continued to emanate from the crystal ball, not only the students in the central garden but also the members of Princess Francia’s campaign team began to stir.

“Hold on. This…”

[“So those bug-like commoners don’t even know their place and dare to climb up.”]

Suddenly, Vice President Obern shouted urgently to the other campaign members.

“Stop it immediately. Someone get on the platform and stop that crystal ball! Hurry!”

“Yes, understood!”

Thud thud thud!

In that moment, a student’s voice from the central garden was picked up by the hologram.

“Hey, isn’t that the Princess’s voice?”

* * *

Lady Cecilia had revealed a crystal ball containing the shocking voice of Princess Francia.
And naturally, they reacted quickly.

“All the voices in that crystal ball are fake. They’re all fabricated. So the academy election committee should respond immediately to this matter…”

But they couldn’t stop the rumors that had already spread throughout the academy.

“Did the Princess really say that? No way!”

“No, I heard it myself. Lady Cecilia held up the crystal ball, and Princess Francia’s voice came out…”

“So the Princess hates commoners?”

“She talked about supporting commoners and abolishing social discrimination at the academy, but deep down, she considers us less than insects.”

“I had a feeling something was off.”

“Damn it, so you really can’t trust anyone?”

However, some people were skeptical and expressed their doubts.

“I can’t believe the Princess would say something like that. Isn’t it really fabricated? The Princess’s campaign team is also responding strongly.”

“Fabricated? Who would be crazy enough to fabricate something like that? They could be executed for defaming royalty.”

“But considering the Princess I’ve personally seen and interacted with, I can’t imagine her saying such things.”

“Hey, didn’t the voice in that crystal ball sound a bit strange? It kept cutting off and had weird words.”

“Really? I don’t remember. I was too shocked at the time…”

Additionally, the number of people with these opinions was significant enough to show how much trust and reputation Princess Francia had built among the people.

However.

“Either way, it’s disappointing.”

“Huh, I never thought the Princess would be like that.”

“Right. Maybe those rumors and weird stories were true.”

“Yeah, yeah. That makes sense.”

The leaflets that had been distributed earlier combined with this incident, creating a synergistic effect.

And eventually.

[“We demand the truth from Princess Francia.”]

Finally, students appeared with signs reading “Truth from Francia,” marking the peak of the incident’s impact.

“What are you guys doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re demanding the truth. We want to know if the Princess really hates commoners.”

“Don’t you know this is against the school rules? Stop it!”

“Don’t suppress the students’ right to freedom!”

“Right, the truth must be revealed!”

Naturally, such radical actions caused various conflicts and chaos.

The groups still supporting Princess Francia tried to stop these actions, and the “Truth from Francia” group responded immediately.

“They’re oppressing us on the Princess’s orders! The Princess must reveal the truth!”

As the election turned extremely chaotic and everyone was in disarray.

Thud!

I put down my tray and savored the commoner cafeteria food with a smile.

“Sigh, does this mean I’ll never get to eat in the noble cafeteria again?”

“You couldn’t enter the noble cafeteria as a commoner in the first place. Why are you disappointed now?”

“Well, still. I had a little hope.”

Next to me, a girl sighed deeply, and another girl quickly comforted her.

“Forget it, don’t worry. It was impossible from the start.”

“If that’s the case, they shouldn’t have given us hope. What is this?”

Humans are truly fickle beings.

When someone tells them that something impossible can be achieved, they harbor hope.
Those who hoped and expected the impossible soon felt disappointed when it seemed unattainable.

And that disappointment quickly turned into anger and resentment.

At that moment, a loud voice from outside the window.

“Reveal the truth!”

“Princess, reveal the truth!”

A girl eating in the cafeteria looked out the window and muttered to herself.

“Should I join them too?”

“Are you crazy? Why are you saying that?”

“No, the more I think about it, the angrier I get! I feel like I’m the only fool who believed!”

As I finished my meal and left the cafeteria, I encountered the “Truth from Francia” group holding signs and shouting slogans.

And at the center, the student shouting the loudest made eye contact with me.

“……”

“……”

We both nodded simultaneously, exchanging knowing smiles.

‘Money really can do anything, huh?’

The “Truth from Francia” group was a faction I had secretly funded and organized.

The money Elliot had obtained by mortgaging his inheritance rights had been put to good use.

“Reveal the truth, Princess!”

“We demand the truth from Princess Francia!”

‘Yes, keep doing that.’

When I first figured out Princess Francia’s plan, I was slightly taken aback.

A pledge to abolish social discrimination, something never mentioned in the original story.

‘She must have felt confident in the election and didn’t think she needed to take such a risk.’

However, as the election chaos increased due to my interference, Princess Francia seemed to have made a bold move in her own way.

But.

How about now, Princess Francia?

What? Abolishing social discrimination?

Did you think you could gain the upper hand with just that?

Pfft.

Public opinion warfare is not that simple.

…Do you understand?

And soon.

“Ex-excuse me, can I join you?”

“Of course. Any academy student who follows the light of truth is welcome.”

“Th-thank you.”

I saw the girl who had complained in the cafeteria earlier joining them.

“Re-reveal the truth, Princess!”

Seeing her shouting loudly after joining them, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

______________

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