*BADUMP! *
A single glare from his pupils sent shivers down her spine, stiffening her body like a statue.
I was as if a dark, ominous shadow was sizing over her whole being, engulfing her into an abyss so dense she couldn't move a muscle, so deep it felt like drowning in an endless swamp that could swallow her whole…
But what felt like eternity to her only lasted a split second.
"Oh! It's you, Charlotte," he exclaimed, face brimming with light and enthusiasm, "What brings you here at this hour?"
"…"
Charlotte's lips were sealed; her eyes fixed like a broken clock while her mind was trying to make sense of the vision of a nightmare she witnessed.
"Charlotte Evergreen?" he called out, making steps forward, "Is there perhaps something burdening you?"
It sounded like genuine concern, words from a courteous gentleman who preached equality of all students regardless of their social standing, ranks, and grades, ensuring the well-being of the school's morals and preserving its core values…
A true nobleman at heart.
At least that was the role he was playing at the moment and she was not convinced.
Her heart shrank, her body motionless, and her mind had concluded,
'I shouldn't be there… I'm in danger!'
Despite the constant warnings her instincts were sending her, the frail, passionate young lady who swore by love and harmony, decided to play the fool to preserve her peace and sanity, as she always did.
"H-Eh?!" She jolted, taking one step back, "O-Oh! Vice Prez!"
"Don't scare me like that," she putted, taking a little pose, hands held together while showing a cute face, all flustered, almost teary.
"…Sorry. Did I startle you?" replied Narugami, pursuing the act, further reinforcing his image as the good, caring classmate.
"You seemed absent-minded, so I was wondering if maybe you were having some troubles?"
His words were smooth and composed, his face harboring a warm, friendly smile as usual, but his true intentions were showing through his pupils, veiled behind his glasses.
This was a test to see if she was still an ally and usable paw or a potential threat to be discarded.
And, she passed with full marks.
"Oh! That's because I have never seen you smile like this before," she exclaimed, face brightening with sparkling eyes,
"You looked so handsome, like a domineering prince who had just regained his strength, like a monarch who descended from hell, preparing to overthrow the royalties and reclaim his rightful place…
Just like Sir
Or Duke
And also…
she yelled, told, narrated, pupils glittering like stars as she looked into his eyes as if seeing her favorite idol.
"…"
Narugami was utterly shocked, speechless even.
All his hypotheses, suspicions, machinations, and plotting his mind was armed with were shattered to pieces by a pure, innocent young lady blabbing about her favorite novels and characters…
This was who Charlotte Evergreen was on the outside.
The young lady of the Evergreen Family, a High-Class noble Family of foreign descent,
showered in love and attention even since her birth, receiving the best education and resources any girl her age could only dream of.
A pure, noble lady who tries her best to blend with her surroundings and understand the people around her, never feeling entitled and superior to anyone despite her upbringing and elevated status.
Which in return gained the hearts of everyone, making her the icon of innocence and pure love in the academy, a true princess that could melt the heart of anyone upon contact…
Even if they were the most ruthless beings in existence.
*Puff*
"Ha-ha," Narugami uttered a laughing sound.
It may have been small, it may have been short, it may have been insignificant to a being like him,
one whose heart was hollow, blackened by wild ambitions and a goal far beyond common understanding…
But it indeed happened.
For the first time in his bland life in this world, Narugami Tendo made a genuine smile.
'Charlotte Evergreen… You are something else,' he praised, aware of the irony of the situation and the event that led to it.
'If only you had enough potential where it's needed…' he sighed, staring at the two mountain peaks dangling joyfully at the mere tilts of her small-framed body, bustling with lovely curves.
The epitome of cuteness and elegance in one body!
At least in the eyes of the common people and lesser beings.
To him, it holds no meaning, as it was just flesh, bones, and blood, a figurative appearance that adds nothing to the meaning of life.
What he cared about was the inside, the latent talent and potential that the human mind holds.
Something that no one understood better than him.
For that very reason, he despised the weak-minded, the ignorant, and the innocent, the ones who only play around and act like fools, unaware of the power they hold within.
'In the end, you are just like them… a mere chess piece on the board,' he thought, bearing a slight taste of disappointment.
"Vice president? Are you listening?" the lovely Charlotte asked, looking with bristling green pupils, sparkling like precious gems.
"…Nothing. I was just fascinated by the nonchalant attitude you have in anything you do, "he complimented, reverting to his caricatured smile.
The playtime was over, and it was time to carry on to the real game.
"It was quite the passionate tale… but I have a pressing matter to attend to, I will take my leave."
"Oh, is that so? I was getting to the most exciting part, though," Charlotte acted surprised, playing the clueless maiden once again, then, with a sad puppy face, she added,
"What a pity…"
"Then, I won't hold you any longer. Good luck on your endeavor."
Sending out her wishes, Charlotte made a little gesture of the head as a proper lady, holding a gentle, heartwarming smile.
"… Yes. You two, have a nice rest," he replied, waving his hand before going on his way, leaving her alone in the hallway.
'Luck, huh… I don't need such a useless variable,' he disdained, 'If anything, he should be the one praying his lucky star.'
*GRIN! *
'Takami Daichi, from now on, your life will be a living hell!'
Narugami rejoiced, exalted at the thought of ending the stalemate and finally landing a strike on his opponent by destroying their most valuable piece, the weakest of the board he set.
'You only have yourself to blame for entering the battlefield without even knowing your place in the game,' he stated, smiling, laughing, grinning at himself under the veil of his well-polished mask,
One that no one else has seen except these two.
'What a freighting man…' expressed Charlotte, shaking inside out.
Not once in their short altercation had she looked away from his gaze, minutiously checking each of his moves, gestures, and change of tones.
This was Charlotte Evergreen's greatest talent: a keen eye for observation and deduction coupled with natural acting skills trained by countless interactions with people within the high society.
A world where every detail counts and any words spoken could turn into a valuable asset or lead to one's demise.
She understood that since her early years, and carried her role as the perfect young lady to blend in and stay away from unnecessary attention.
But right now, her heart was not still.
She realized that despite her efforts in maintaining appearances, a day would come were she couldn't hide anymore and everything she had built could crumble to pieces.
Before that time comes, she had to surround herself with strong allies and the best choice among them was no other than her.
*Pheeew*
Taking a deep breath, she stood in front of the huge door adorned with fancy patterns, and then,
*CLACK! *
Charlotte burst into the council room, a big smile on her rosy, soft face,
"PREEEZ! Look who's here to greet you!" she yelled, taking the other by surprise.
Nakajima Alicia, absorbed in her thoughts while checking the papers on the desk, raised her head in an instant, eyes locked on the intruder.
"Ah! Charlotte?" She swiftly turned back into a composed, serene face, only raising her lips a little, "What brings you here at this hour?'
"Really, Prez! Do I need a reason to visit a friend?" she replied, puffing her cheeks like a cute little hamster, "You are too much! Hump!"
"…Sorry. My mind has been in a slump lately,' she apologized, massaging her forehead to relax her nerves.
"Huh? What happened? Are you alright? You can tell me anything," she hurried, showing concern and care as a real friend.
*Sigh*
"It's nothing. Just… A little inconvenience." Alicia responded in a serious yet subtle tone.
But it was enough for Charlotte to catch on and understand.
"Is that so? Don't push yourself too hard. You need to take rest too," she firmly advised.
"Ok. I will be done soon."
"By the way, I saw the Vice President just now and he seemed to be in a very good mood," Charlotte told, casually bringing up the topic.
"… Is that so?" Alicia frowned slightly.
"Yes! I have never seen him smile like that! She further went down the line, subtly exposing the fact without revealing any major hints or hidden intentions.
"It looked so different from usual… Wonders what could be the cause," she concluded, looking at Alicia with curious eyes.
"I see… Sound… interesting.
The same voice, the same tone, the same demeanor, except one thing.
Something Charlotte had felt before.
"I'm wondering too, what could be the reason behind such excitement…"
*BADUMP! *
'This feeling of uneasiness…' She instinctively recognized it.
It was the same sensation she felt around the vice president, Narugami Tendo, yet seemingly different.
Contrary to the ominous, suffocating presence that seemed to drown her into an abyss swallowing her whole,
this one felt authoritarian yet passive, refined yet overwhelming, like an existence standing top of the world, observing, contemplating without exerting its power in fear of disturbing the regular flow of life.
'Even since that day, I knew you two were different…' she admitted, reminiscent of her first encounter with both of them,
And that first impression never left her mind till this instant in which every one of her suspicions and presentiments came true.
From that moment, she understood.
'You two… don't belong there.'
With that realization came a decision. One driven by neither fear nor instinct but a purpose.
If this academy were just a playground… If all the students and teachers were merely chess pieces…
If these two were the real
Then…
'This is the right thing to do,' she came to accept, 'this is… my role in the game!'
"Humm… I thought you would know since he came out of there. But I guess I was wrong. Hehe,"
Charlotte laughed, showing a nonchalant, childish smile filled with innocence while tapping her head like a dummy.
"Anyway! Since you looked busy right now, I won't hold you for long," she announced, waving her hand while spinning back gracefully, then going straight to the door.
"See you later! Take care!"
*CLANCK! *
"…"
"What an interesting girl," thought Alicia out loud, almost giggling after watching her little play.
It was a silly and comical, mindless and childish, especially coming from a lady of her stature.
Nevertheless, it was enough to make her who had closed her heart behind an impregnable barrier, chuckle.
Like he did back then.
'Sometimes, I wish I could live a normal life like them…' she yearned.
Alas, the game was already set in motion with all the pieces in place, ready for the players to make a move.
However, none of them could have predicted that the one who would get the chance to overthrow the board and alter the original fate of this world would be him.
The weakest piece in the game.