Aria thoughts

Most first-years could barely speak properly around high-ranking nobles, yet Asher looked as if he was waiting in line at a grocery store.

Lucien observed him for a moment before a faint smile appeared on his face. "You know, most people who come here request favors, influence, or political support."

"I want better desserts," Asher replied without hesitation.

The council room went silent again, but this time Lucien laughed harder than before, while Aron briefly pinched the bridge of his nose as if he had expected this and still regretted hearing it.

"...You are still the same," Aron said calmly. "And here I thought you might have changed."

"Thank you," Asher replied.

"That wasn't praise."

"I know."

Noah looked like he was one conversation away from collapsing from mental exhaustion, while several council members had already started whispering among themselves.

"That's actually his personality…?" one of them muttered.

"I thought the rumors were exaggerated," another whispered.

"So it was true that he challenged Rank 10 just to skip classes…"

"And now he's submitting a dessert reform proposal to the Student Council."

The more they whispered, the less Asher sounded like a real person and the more he sounded like some strange rumor that had somehow walked into the council room with official paperwork.

Lucien finally controlled his laughter and glanced at the proposal again. "...Tiered spice distribution."

"Efficient," Asher replied.

"Regional menu rotation."

"Increases satisfaction."

"Seasonal dessert expansion."

"Necessary."

Lucien flipped another page, then paused for a second as his smile deepened. "...You even included emergency juice storage recommendations."

"That part is especially important."

Adam stared blankly at the proposal, then muttered, "There are emergency juice protocols now…"

Lucien looked genuinely amused for a few seconds before holding up the proposal slightly. "Very well. I'll approve the trial implementation."

The entire room went still.

Noah blinked as if he had misheard. "...What?"

Adam looked equally stunned. "You're accepting it?!"

Lucien shrugged lightly. "The proposal is absurd, but strangely well-written, and I am curious whether students will actually support it."

"They will," Asher said with complete confidence.

Aron glanced toward Lucien with a flat expression. "You are seriously approving cafeteria reform because you're curious?"

Lucien smiled calmly. "The academy has survived worse decisions."

"That is not reassuring."

Meanwhile, Asher looked satisfied for the first time since entering the building. "Good. Then I'm leaving."

Noah stared at him in disbelief. "...That's it? You caused chaos in the Student Council, got your cafeteria reform approved by the Crown Prince, and now you're just leaving?"

"My objective is complete," Asher replied, as if that explained everything.

Adam pointed at him accusingly. "You somehow treated the Crown Prince like a cafeteria employee."

"I treated him normally."

"That's the problem!"

Lucien laughed quietly again, while Aron looked toward Asher with the tired eyes of someone who had lived through this kind of situation before.

"That makes one of us," Aron said.

Asher began walking toward the exit, but just before leaving, he suddenly stopped and turned back toward Aron. "Oh right."

Aron's expression became even more exhausted. "...What now?"

"If the cafeteria adds mango ice cream, notify me."

For a moment, the entire room became completely still; even Lucien froze briefly, while several council members immediately lowered their heads and struggled not to laugh.

Aron stared at his younger brother with completely dead eyes before speaking in a low voice.

"...Leave."

"Okay."

And just like that, Asher walked out of the Student Council room peacefully, while Noah, Adam, and Aria hurried after him as if staying there any longer would damage their sanity.

Aria POV

The more I observed Asher, the more unique he seemed, though honestly, the word weird was probably more accurate.

But there was also something wrong with him.

That day, when he cut off his own hand without hesitation, he said it hurt badly, but complaining would not erase the pain, so there was no point in showing it. I was sure that was not the whole reason.

He showed no discomfort or annoyance. There was no fear, no hesitation, and not even the faint irritation a normal person would feel after injuring themselves.

That meant either he was too used to physical pain, to the point that losing a hand was no longer worth reacting to, or he had already felt something far worse.

Maybe emotional pain so deep that physical pain barely mattered anymore; I wondered which one it was, or if it was simply both.

Was it related to his mother's death?

I could not just ask him directly like last time. Strangely enough, I was almost certain he would answer if someone truly asked him, because Asher had that kind of personality.

Private matters seemed private to him only because no one asked properly, but I didn't want to be that person; as for why, I didn't want to.

This morning, when I met him, he had actually written the report. At that point, I didn't know why I was still surprised, but I was sure it would be entertaining, so I went with him.

After we reached the council room, everything was going normally, though perhaps that was not normal for normal people.

Wait, what am I even thinking? That sentence doesn't even sound right.

Maybe my common sense is really getting affected by Asher, though I don't think that is entirely a bad thing.

No, Aria, get a hold of yourself. You are getting weird, and why am I even talking to myself?

Before I could continue that strange train of thought, a composed voice came from above. It belonged to Aron Astrean, the next head of the Astrean family and Asher's older brother.

When I saw him, I was surprised, though I did not let it show on my face. The reason was simple: the moment Aron saw Asher, I sensed fear and confusion.

It was not ordinary nervousness; it was sharp, instinctive fear, almost like he was looking at a Grandmaster-rank beast that had suddenly appeared in front of him.

But why?

Did something happen between them?

That fear only eased after Aron heard Asher's reason for coming. When he realized Asher had only come to submit a cafeteria proposal, the fear turned into relief so quickly that I almost questioned whether I had sensed it correctly.

Is his whole family weird?

Well, that wouldn't be surprising. He had lived with Asher for more than a decade.

After listening to their conversation, I became almost certain that Asher had probably been like this at home too. That made Aron's reaction even stranger.

Their exchange soon ended, though calling it a conversation felt generous. It was closer to an interrogation that somehow lost to a dessert proposal.

The one who interrupted them was Lucien Voltaris; he was still the same. The moment I saw him, disgust rose inside me.

He wore a polite smile, spoke with amusement, and acted as if everything was light entertainment, but his emotions told a different story.

Curiosity, wariness and beneath both of them, a deep, unfathomable greed.

I hated people like that; until the end of the conversation, he never truly meant anything he said.