The Seven Stars.

It refers to the seven prestigious noble families of the empire, representing the largest noble faction in the country.

But Bella of the Izakhel family, one of the Seven Stars, invited me to their union.

I leaned back in my chair.

And I announced to those beautiful eyes waiting for an answer.

“I refuse.”

“Why…?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

The Seven Stars are all families that have contributed greatly to the prosperity of the Meikhael Empire.

They are nobles who have been awarded stars on their family crests by the imperial family for their merits. In other words, they are the core of the pro-imperial faction.

Naturally, they wouldn’t get along with the Ruelberta family.

“You know… it’s an uncomfortable position for the Count. But still…”

Bella trailed off.

Seeing her like that, I remembered.

The reason she was reluctant about the Seven Stars Union.

I subtly brought up the reason.

“…It’s funny to call it a union. They’re so busy boasting about their families, it’s more accurate to call it a boasting club.”

“……Did you know?”

Bella’s face darkened.

Once, Izakhel claimed to be the leader of the Seven Stars.

But with Duke Fred, the current head, falling into gambling, Izakhel has fallen to a point of no return.

Yet, the only reason Izakhel still presides over the union as the leader of the Seven Stars is…

“I don’t want my family to be the laughingstock of others…”

Bella sighed deeply.

“That’s why I have to represent our family at this union. If my father attends, he’ll only be ridiculed.”

Bella has been struggling to restore the glorious past of Izakhel.

In the original story, she was forced into an engagement with Tristan because he held the lifeline of Izakhel.

For her, Izakhel was her pride.

It might have been worth helping her once.

But…

“…Even if I go there, nothing will change.”

That was the truth.

Even if I go, there’s nothing I can do.

At best, I’d just attract the attention of the Seven Stars.

So, I still couldn’t understand Bella’s persuasion.

Eventually, her mouth opened cautiously.

“…Among the men who proposed to me, there’s a man named Patrick Wolfbert.”

Ah… I see.

Hearing that name, I stroked my chin.

Only then did I roughly guess why Bella wanted to call me.

“That’s the eldest son of the Wolfbert family.”

“Yes. Do you know him?”

“Roughly.”

Patrick, the eldest son of the Wolfbert family, who leads the imperial navy.

If it weren’t for Tristan, the protagonist, or Peter, he might have been the one to win Bella.

With his handsome looks, tall stature, and excellent athletic ability, Patrick.

He is recognized for his abilities within the imperial army and has a solid position.

Also, with a bright future ahead, he would be a perfect match for Bella.

But I know exactly what kind of person Patrick is.

So, I couldn’t simply cheer for their relationship.

“Sigh… I clearly refused, but he wouldn’t give up. He kept asking to meet, and it was getting difficult. Now, he’s coming as the representative of the Wolfbert family to this union. So…”

Bella swallowed and spoke.

“Even if you do nothing… just… could you just stay by my side?”

If I didn’t know the circumstances, it might have seemed like Bella was being unreasonable.

Perhaps she was simply asking for my company out of anxiety.

But her intuition was right.

Because Patrick’s true nature was a character gone awry in a different sense from Tristan.

I opened my mouth.

“Are you planning to use me?”

“…I won’t deny it. Just having you, my ex-fiancé, by my side will be enough to have an effect.”

I fell into thought for a moment.

It wasn’t something I was keen on.

If I go to the Seven Stars’ gathering, it would cause an uproar.

Of course, the atmosphere would turn hostile.

Bella must have anticipated such a situation.

Yet, asking me like this meant she was prepared for it.

‘Is this a declaration that Izakhel will side with Ruelberta instead of the Seven Stars…?’

I don’t know what change has occurred in Bella’s heart.

But her determination would clearly have a significant impact on the future story.

“…You have more than one or two things to lose.”

“I have no regrets. Besides, our family has nothing more to lose. Well… maybe we’ll have to remove the star from our family crest, but so what? It’s not like Izakhel’s history will disappear.”

Bella spoke nonchalantly.

It must have been a conclusion she reached after much thought.

Izakhel will withdraw from the Seven Stars.

And perhaps that day will be the last day of the Seven Stars Union.

I, too, became curious about the expressions they would make then.

I quietly drank water and thought.

Eventually, Ruelberta and the Seven Stars would inevitably clash.

That moment just came a bit sooner.

The Seven Stars are absolutely necessary for the upcoming war with the players.

But I won’t ask for their cooperation. I will demand it. I will force it.

I will make them submit.

Perhaps this twisted personality is influenced by Tristan’s trait ‘Pride.’

But ‘I’ also didn’t want to bow my head to them.

As I remained silent, Bella quietly opened her mouth.

“If you grant my request… I’ll do anything you ask.”

“…Anything?”

“Yes. Ah! But, it can’t be something beyond my abilities!”

Bella blushed slightly and spoke in a flustered manner.

What on earth was she thinking?

I clicked my tongue.

“I have nothing to ask of you.”

“Is that so…”

I put down my fork.

The dignity of a noble has long been ingrained in me. I elegantly wiped my mouth and added.

“…Not yet, but who knows about the future.”

“Not yet… not yet?”

It didn’t take long for Bella, tilting her head, to realize what that meant.

“Th, then…!”

Bella’s face brightened like a flower.

But the next words didn’t come out of her mouth.

Kugugugu.

A vibration and explosion sound echoed throughout the building.

*

Sia Riumin groaned under the pain pressing down on her entire body.

It hurt.

Her hands, feet, head.

No, more than the pain, the dampness was bothering her.

She, who always handled water perfectly, wasn’t used to being completely soaked.

Finally, Sia opened her eyes.

“What…?”

As if an explosion had occurred, the place was filled with shattered debris.

Water was pouring endlessly from the broken areas.

Sia was lying right in the middle of it.

“Ah…”

Only then did Sia remember.

Her magic formula had gone awry due to the events of the morning.

In the midst of that, she swung her staff in anger.

Naturally, her magic went out of control.

This was the result.

“Ah, you’re awake…?”

“?!”

Sia flinched and looked towards the source of the voice.

“Are you okay…?”

The one asking Sia was a small girl with twin tails.

She was the student representative who had taken the top spot from Sia.

It seemed she had survived Sia’s magic unscathed.

“Uh… I’m fine.”

“Th, that’s a relief…! I was worried because you seemed to have lost consciousness…!”

“You were worried…?”

“Yep!”

Sia couldn’t understand.

She had just threatened the girl’s life, yet the girl was worried about her.

“Are you… not hurt?”

Unlike Sia, who was completely soaked, the girl’s clothes were dry.

The surrounding area was destroyed by the powerful water magic.

Yet, the girl was unharmed.

Moreover, Sia was also unharmed except for being wet.

It was probably thanks to the girl’s magic protecting her.

The girl’s magic was on a different level from Sia’s.

‘This is the top student…’

Realizing this, Sia was overwhelmed with an indescribable sense of defeat.

The girl showed Sia something.

“Of course, the bread is a little… no, a lot wet… but… it’s okay… I… I’m okay… sniff…”

“Uh… huh?”

The girl, holding the soaked bread, had tears in her eyes.

Seeing that, Sia awkwardly apologized.

“Sorry…”

“It’s okay… I was careless…”

“No… it’s all my fault. I couldn’t handle my magic properly, and then I suddenly attacked you…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say more.

Partly due to her thin pride, but Sia sensed that what she had done was no ordinary matter.

The destruction of school property, unauthorized use of a staff, and attacking a student… it wasn’t something that could be resolved with simple disciplinary action. At the very least, expulsion.

Then, the girl spoke.

“Hey, hey…!”

“…Huh?”

“Let’s, let’s run away… no, get up!”

“Huh?”

“Pe, people are coming…!”

Through the collapsed debris, the sound of murmuring could be heard.

Probably people had come after hearing the commotion.

The girl urgently grabbed Sia and pulled her up.

“Qu, quickly… let’s get out of here!”

“Le, leave me…”

Sia had decided to accept her fate.

She couldn’t tarnish her family’s name any further.

She was prepared to pay the price for what she had done.

But the girl was persistent.

“Wh, what are you saying! Let’s go together…!”

Sia had just tried to attack her. She could have ignored her and run away.

Instead, she was helping Sia escape.

“You, you… why…”

“This way…!”

The girl grabbed Sia’s arm and started running through the collapsed debris.

Fortunately, they didn’t encounter anyone along the way.

A small hand was leading Sia.

Sia slowly opened her mouth.

“Why… are you helping me escape?”

“Huh? Be, because if so many people come, I, I would……”

The girl tried to continue but couldn’t.

“Two people. Stop.”

“…!”

A cold, sneering voice grabbed the back of their necks.

Turning around, the worst possible man to encounter in this situation was standing there.

It would have been better if it were a nightmare.

“What are you doing there?”

“…Hiccup!”

It was the chairman.

Seeing that emotionless, cold face, the two hiccuped simultaneously as if they had made a pact.