Student council

Aria looked at Asher for a moment before speaking. "I forgot your brother is the head of the Discipline Committee, right?"

"I only knew he was in the Student Council and nothing more," Asher replied as he stood up to leave, sounding as if that missing detail was not important at all.

Noah and Adam looked at each other silently, both wearing the same expression that clearly said there was definitely nothing wrong with that kind of thinking.

The next morning, Asher walked through the academy corridor while holding a neatly folded paper in one hand.

Noah walked beside him, staring at the paper with deep suspicion. "...You actually wrote it."

"Obviously."

"You spent an entire hour making a cafeteria proposal."

"It required proper effort," Asher replied.

Noah looked genuinely disturbed. "You've never put that much effort into homework."

"Because homework is less important."

"...I can't even argue anymore."

Beside them, Aria glanced at the folded paper briefly. "You really included spice categories."

"I also included dessert expansion plans."

Adam, who had joined them halfway through the hallway, immediately frowned after hearing that. "Why does that sound like military strategy?"

"It is strategy," Asher replied calmly. "Student satisfaction affects performance."

Noah rubbed his forehead. "You sound like you're preparing to run the academy."

"That sounds exhausting."

"Then why are you doing all this?!"

Asher looked at him as if the answer was obvious. "Because the food lacks vision."

Adam nearly walked into the wall.

Meanwhile, several students passing nearby slowed their steps slightly, secretly listening with confused expressions as the group continued toward the Student Council building.

Unlike the normal academy halls, the area near the council building was much quieter and more refined.

The floor was polished, the walls carried academy banners, and several upper-year students stood near the entrance with serious expressions.

Adam's steps slowed almost immediately. "...Are we seriously doing this?"

"Yes," Asher replied.

"You really aren't nervous at all?"

"No."

Adam stared at him for a moment. "That's somehow the scary part."

Noah sighed from the side. "I still think this is a terrible idea."

Asher looked at him. "Do you disagree with the proposal?"

"...That's not the issue."

Aria calmly looked toward the large doors ahead. "The Student Council rarely accepts random visitors."

"It'll be fine," Asher replied, then pushed the doors open and walked inside before anyone could stop him.

The others followed behind him reluctantly.

Inside the council room, several students in formal uniforms were working quietly. Stacks of documents floated through the air using mana, while others moved between desks and discussed academy matters in low voices.

The moment Asher entered, a few council members instinctively looked up and then they froze as whispers spread almost immediately.

"That's Asher Astrean..."

"The first-year?"

"Why is he here?"

Asher ignored all of them and walked directly toward the reception desk.

A girl wearing the council uniform looked slightly nervous as she straightened in her seat. "...H-How may I help you?"

"I came to submit a proposal."

"...A proposal?"

"Yes."

The girl blinked, then carefully asked, "...For what?"

"The cafeteria."

The room became quiet, even several council members who had been writing stopped moving for a moment.

Adam covered his face, Noah looked like he wanted to disappear from existence, and Aria quietly turned her head aside to hide the faint amusement in her eyes.

The receptionist hesitated before carefully taking the paper from Asher's hand. "...I'll inform the appropriate division."

"Good."

Asher turned around immediately, as if his mission had already ended but before he could take more than a step, a calm male voice echoed from the upper floor. "Wait."

Everyone turned instinctively, a tall young man with black hair walked down the staircase, his academy uniform carrying the insignia of the Discipline Committee.

His black eyes were sharp, his posture composed, and his presence alone made the atmosphere in the room tighten.

Noah lowered his voice. "...That's Aron Astrean."

The Head of the Discipline Committee and Asher's older brother.

Aron stopped a short distance away and looked directly at Asher. "...Why are you here?"

Asher answered immediately. "The cafeteria lacks proper spice options."

Dead silence followed, one council member even accidentally dropped an entire stack of papers.

Adam looked ready to collapse from secondhand embarrassment, while Noah stared at the floor as if he had suddenly become very interested in it.

Aron remained completely expressionless. "...You entered the Student Council building to discuss spices."

"Also desserts."

"...Desserts."

"Yes."

For several long seconds, Aron simply stared at him, then his gaze moved toward the paper in the receptionist's hands. "...You wrote an official proposal."

"Yes."

"...Properly formatted."

"Obviously."

The council room remained silent.

Several council members looked between the two brothers with utterly confused expressions, because somehow, the situation was too absurd for anyone to interrupt.

Finally, Aron closed his eyes briefly and released a slow sigh. "...Give me the proposal."

The receptionist immediately handed it over with both hands, Aron read the first page and then the second.

Somehow, his expression became slightly more serious. "...You included budget calculations."

Noah nearly choked. "He what?!"

Asher nodded calmly. "I estimated student demand ratios by region too."

Adam stared at him in horror. "You weren't joking..."

Aria quietly covered her mouth for a second, trying very hard not to laugh.

Aron flipped another page, and the room somehow became even quieter. "...You also included projected morale improvements."

"It increases efficiency."

By now, the entire council room had fallen into complete silence.

Even the upper-year students looked mentally overwhelmed, as if they were witnessing something they had never been trained to handle.

Then a short laugh echoed from the upper-floor balcony and everyone immediately stiffened.

A young man with golden hair leaned casually against the railing above, his sharp golden eyes looking down at the scene with obvious amusement.

Unlike Aron, his presence felt lighter on the surface, but far more oppressive underneath.

Noah's voice dropped even lower. "...Crown Prince Lucien Voltaris."

The Student Council President, Asher only looked at him once, then turned his gaze back toward Aron.

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "...That's your reaction?"

"Should it be different?"

Several council members looked terrified at that response but instead of anger, Lucien laughed again.

"You walked into the Student Council to reform cafeteria spice levels."

"Yes."

Lucien's amusement deepened. "Why?"

Asher answered without hesitation. "The food disappoints me."

The Crown Prince stared at him for two seconds.

Then he looked toward Aron. "...Your brother is insane."

Aron replied calmly, "I am aware."

Noah silently nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Asher looked around the room as if the important part of the conversation had still not been addressed. "So is the proposal accepted?"

The entire Student Council fell into another stunned silence.

Lucien rested his chin against one hand while looking down at Asher. "You really care that much about cafeteria food?"

"Yes."

"...More than rankings?"

"Yes."

"More than academy politics?"

"Yes."

Lucien laughed quietly, the sound carrying clear interest this time. "That might be the most honest answer I've heard this month."

Meanwhile, Aron continued flipping through the proposal in silence.

Aria quietly looked away again, and at this point, even she was struggling to maintain her usual calm expression.

One of the council members cautiously stepped closer toward Aron. "...Sir, is the proposal legitimate?"

Aron remained silent for a moment before answering, "...Unfortunately, yes."

Adam covered his face. "This is actually happening..."

Lucien finally descended the stairs, and the atmosphere in the room grew noticeably tenser with each step he took.

He stopped in front of Asher, close enough that most students would have instinctively lowered their heads.

Asher, however, looked completely unaffected, Lucien studied him carefully.

Relaxed posture, no nervousness, no forced respect, nor the slightest fear despite standing before the Crown Prince himself he has seen in most people.

After a moment, Lucien's smile widened slightly. "Interesting."