The president, who seemed to be paying more attention to Alfina than she was to our conversation, turned towards me.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’ll allow it.”
“Please wait a moment. Rooms other than classrooms? Aren’t the remaining rooms all too small to...” Lilka said.
She’s right. Excluding the auditorium and the library, the classrooms are the largest rooms in the academy. The shops required more than just floorspace to sell things. Half the participating students and many of the guests at the festival will be nobles. There’s a need for areas such as cloakrooms, waiting rooms, and the like.
“Isn’t that where a small company can show off their skills? The Toritos’ store is no more than a tenth the size of ours, right? Are you saying you can’t do business like that?”
“Any further changes would be difficult to accommodate, considering the amount of time left before the festival.”
Leonardo nodded to Zeldia. This is about the limit of what we can get them to compromise on. So let’s call it there.
Actually, why am I, the one who isn’t even participating, acting like a representative for a silver company? Even the smallest silver is bigger than us.
“Thank you very much, everyone. I’ve learned much from this.”
“What’s your name?” Hilda asked.
“I’m Ricardo Weinder.”
“Ricardo... Oh, you were Alfina’s dance partner, right? So you truly are a commoner.”
She brought up a matter that was supposed to be treated as never having happened, save for a small number of people close to the Archduchess of the West. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
“I’m sure that you will put up a magnificent shop as Alfina’s friend, I’m looking forward to it.”
Wait, how did it come to this?
“Please wait a moment. I never took part in the bidding. I don’t qualify to participate.”
“Hm? Even though you had no intention of participating, you spoke so much of the matter? Well, I suppose this works out for you then. Thanks to the new round of bidding triggered by your opinion, you’ll now be able to participate.” Leonardo declared as he pushed his glasses up.
“N-No. Even the cost for participating in the second round of bidding is far too large an expense for a copper. Having a shop at the Academy Festival is beyond the means of our company. If forced to do so, the most we could manage is a cart in the courtyard.”
“A cart?”
“Lady Hilda. This man is the son of a paltry merchant. A cart is...”
Zeldia whispered into Hilda’s ear, and Hilda’s smile twisted into a sneer.
“Oh my. So you still haven’t rid yourself of your awareness as a basket carrier. What shall we do, Lady Hilda?”
“It’s just as I said. I cannot simply cast aside a friend of Alfina’s. A cart in the courtyard... was it? That will do just fine. Register him as a participant. You won’t be using a room, so you don’t need to pay a participation fee. There are no complaints then, right? Heehee... Alfina will be supervising the courtyard as well, so this works out perfectly.”
Aren’t I so kind, even to such a lowly insect? That was what Hilda’s spider-like expression fully implied to me.
“Understood. Then I will process the required paperwork.” Leonardo nodded with a slightly troubled look.
I don’t need this kind of special treatment. A lonely cart in the middle of the courtyard is guaranteed to put me in the red. However, there was something else mentioned that was even more concerning.
“Um, Princess Alfina, you will be supervising the courtyard?”
“Yes. President Hilda entrusted me with this duty as an official of the Academy Festival. The buildings are left to President Hilda, and the gazebos are under Vice-President Leonardo’s supervision. So the courtyard between them has been appointed to me.”
Alfina informed me of this with a cheerful expression. I took a glance over at Claudia, who had completely stiffened up.
“Huh? But if you exclude the gazebos, there’s nothing in the courtyard...” Lilka said.
And now the other part of the puzzle came into sight. There was nothing in the courtyard to supervise. Even if you consider my lonely little cart, nobles aren’t cognizant that such things are a shop. They surely won’t ever have a meal while standing up.
“Up until recently, we had to take into consideration Alfina’s work at the cathedral, which prevented her from being present. But thankfully, I hear she’s been able to attend the Academy more often lately. Ergo, as a member of royalty, it is only proper that she bears a responsibility suitable of her position. The courtyard is appropriate for her first time handling such a task, wouldn’t you say?”
I see, so she was assigned an easy to handle location. But how is someone who is forced to supervise a place where nobody will come supposed to pass their time during the festival?
So this was the second prince’s fiancée. Alfina possessed the title of royal princess, whereas this daughter of an archduke did not. Hilda must have been relieved when Alfina was forced into the clergy, but the prophecy of a monster flood ended up boosting her reputation.
Furthermore, the future rival of her husband, the third prince, had played a great part in suppressing the flood from the prophecy.
I could construct the profile of this noble just from the gaze she pointed at Alfina. It was entirely possible that she got Alfina — and me — involved just so she could save face, which had no value to anybody but herself.
Well, crap. Was this yet another competition wrongly masquerading as survival of the fittest? Humans catch and eat fish because humans are the stronger beings; that’s survival of the fittest. It’s not for me to say whether it’s morally correct or not, but at the very least, nature permits it.
However, the thought that the fish must jump out of the water, turn itself into sashimi, and present itself on a dish at a human’s command is incorrect. The weak have the freedom to resist. Overcoming such resistance is the duty of the strong.
I took a glance out the window. The courtyard, huh? Back in the other world, that would be prime real estate for a school festival. We’re also in a situation where some silver companies don’t have enough space. A small prospect came into sight. That’s not all, either... If I handle this right, can’t I resolve that other unresolved problem of mine? Okay. You’re on. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
“Thank you very much for your consideration. I shall make full use of the courtyard under Princess Alfina’s supervision.”
“Of course. I look forward to it. Seeing that you have Alfina’s favor, I wonder if you’ll show me something wonderful?”
“Give it your all.”
I bowed deeply as the two student council members turned on their heels, implying that their business here was done. The two Carlests glared at me hatefully, then immediately followed behind them.
“Sir...”
Mia stood next to Lilka with a troubled look. I didn’t tell you to go that far, you say? Well, I didn’t plan on going this far either.