ILRP 09

Chapter 9

“I saw your name written on the vase near the entrance… I knew you had ambition, but wanting to become the school representative too?”

He spoke playfully, lightly lifting a single rose. Later, roses and lilies would be used instead of ballots for voting.

Elizia relaxed her stiff expression.

“Of course I have ambition. I’m a candidate for the throne.”

A sigh escaped her—uncertain whether it was relief or something else.

She couldn’t tell if she was grateful that he was smoothing things over, satisfied that he hadn’t taken Beth’s side, or simply pleased that he had chosen to speak to her instead of Beth.

Rakan tilted his head slightly and looked at Beth.

The playful air was gone. With a languid, indifferent gaze, he spoke calmly.

“Elisabeth Marche. That’s enough.”

It was a simple sentence, stripped of any unnecessary words.

Yet Beth stiffened, took a step back, and nodded with a rigid neck.

The one who felt more surprised was Elizia.

She actually stopped just because he told her to?

For a proud and arrogant royal who had been acting so vicious just moments ago, it was an unusually obedient reaction.

‘Is it because Beth likes him? When you like someone, do you end up watching their reactions like that…?’

A bitter taste lingered in her mouth.

In any case, thanks to Rakan, the situation was settling down. She had been wondering how to end it, so it was a relief.

Elizia grabbed Sophie’s arm and signaled with her eyes. It meant: let’s leave this unpleasant place.

“Then I’ll be going now. Beth, I hope you enjoy your time.”

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to offer a closing greeting.

She didn’t like it, but rules were rules. She didn’t want her behavior criticized for ignoring a senior.

Beth glanced at Rakan’s expression and reluctantly replied, “Yeah.”

Music flowed like air. The earlier commotion felt like a dream compared to the peaceful melody now.

As Elizia walked slowly, she glanced around.

Students nearby pretended to eat finger foods or chat about unrelated things.

But there was no way they hadn’t seen what just happened. They must have been listening closely.

What kind of looks would she receive starting tomorrow?

A fierce princess. An ungraceful princess. That princess who threw someone to the ground?

Those kinds of gazes were inevitable. Her nanny had always warned her to behave like a proper princess.

But Elizia soon brushed the thought aside.

‘…It can’t be helped.’

She could endure attacks directed at herself. Beth’s words hadn’t hurt her anyway.

But dragging Sophie into it was something she couldn’t overlook.

Even if she went back in time, she would have acted the same way.

In the end, what was done couldn’t be undone.

She settled into an empty corner and took a bite of cranberry pie. Her agitated heart gradually calmed.

She glanced toward Beth, who stood biting her lip among noble ladies who were watching her cautiously.

Rakan’s gaze landed on the vase with Elizia’s name.

“Elizia, you don’t seem like the type to sign up for something like that.”

“…Well, it just happened.”

She brushed it off vaguely.

She didn’t want to blame others—like saying someone else had signed her up without permission, most likely Beth.

Under the chandelier, Rakan’s golden hair shimmered dreamily.

Looking at it, Elizia was reminded of the imperial prince—who had similar golden hair.

He must be somewhere among the crowd.

But she didn’t bother searching. Instead, she looked back at Rakan.

He was staring down at the table, holding his glass.

Even as he simply drank water, he drew attention effortlessly.

She suddenly felt concerned.

‘What if Rakan gets on the imperial prince’s bad side?’

She was a princess from an enemy nation, while Beth was from an allied one.

In such a situation, it should have been obvious whose side Rakan should take.

But he hadn’t taken Beth’s side.

It could be considered reckless.

What if the prince reprimanded him?

What if he was accused of siding with an enemy?

She didn’t feel at ease.

Apparently, she had grown somewhat attached to him.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Rakan looked up at her, then suddenly called two men over.

“Friedrich. Nigel.”

Two men approached from nearby.

“Elizia, these are your seniors and my close friends—Friedrich and Nigel. Friedrich, Nigel—this is my direct junior, Elizia Warder Ortizia.”

“Hello, I’m Elizia. Nice to meet you.”

Despite the sudden introduction, she greeted them calmly.

Friedrich was someone she knew—he was Sophie’s boyfriend.

He had soft curly hair and intelligent, bright eyes.

“Nice to meet you, Princess Elizia. Since rules are rules, may I speak casually? I’m Friedrich Watts, the eldest son of the Duke of Watts.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

His gentle demeanor made him likable.

Next was Nigel—a red-haired man with a solid build and calloused hands.

“Nigel Travis. Second son of the Duke of Travis.”

“Elizia Warder Ortizia.”

Their exchange was brief.

Nigel’s gaze clearly showed disdain.

Elizia didn’t care.

Meanwhile, Friedrich gently embraced Sophie.

She seemed uneasy under Nigel’s watchful, disdainful gaze.

Elizia immediately picked up on the tension.

Nigel looked down on both her and Sophie.

She had no reason to stay.

“Sophie, let’s go somewhere else.”

“…Okay.”

After brief farewells, Elizia left with Sophie.

Rakan watched her back, then looked at the rose on the table.

It resembled the color of her lips.

The principal began speaking, followed by performances.

Eventually, the music stopped. Lights dimmed, and the stage lit up.

The principal stepped forward.

He gestured toward four vases.

[Friedrich Watts]
[Darren Valeri]
[Elisabeth Marche]
[Elizia Warder Ortizia]

“Now, let us begin voting for the school’s Rose and Lily!”

Voting had begun.

Elizia felt her heart beat faster.

She told herself it didn’t matter—but losing publicly felt different.

‘Still… with my friends’ votes, I should get at least a few.’

Beth approached first and placed a rose into her own vase.

Others followed.

Elizia was still deciding when to go.

Then—

“Elizia, did you know?”

She looked up at Rakan.

“Today, I can finally act like your proper senior.”

“What do you mean?”

He tapped the rose in his hand.

“I’ll be right back.”

He walked toward the vases.

All eyes followed him.

He placed his rose into—

Elizia’s vase.

The room stirred.

Instead of choosing Beth’s, he chose hers.

Elizia tightened her grip on her rose.

Was this… really okay?

Then Rakan added a lily into Friedrich’s vase.

As he turned back—

Something unexpected happened.

The students who followed him—

All began placing flowers into Elizia’s vase.