Alvano and his two friends walked casually, though their pace was slightly faster than usual. None of them wanted to be late, but they also didn't want to look too eager on their way to the Student Council room.
As they walked, Theo slipped his hands into his pockets and said in a relaxed tone, "If they start intimidating you too much, Van, I won't hesitate to pull you out of that room."
Alvano broke into a cold sweat at that statement. He could easily imagine Theo actually doing it, without caring about the consequences.
Joshua chuckled at Alvano's reaction. "Hahaha, if you guys end up picking a fight with the Student Council, you might be living a nightmare for the rest of the school year."
Alvano raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
Joshua folded his hands behind his head as he explained, "The highest hierarchy among students lies with the Student Council. The elite students may act like they're the best, but even they're afraid of the Council. Why? Because the Council isn't just a group of regular students. They're the children of famous businessmen, judges, government officials, politicians, and many more. They hold a lot of influence."
Theo snorted, his tone laced with envy. "Yeah, I know that. That's exactly what I told Alvano."
Alvano let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I know, Theo. I just thought Joshua had another reason."
They finally arrived at Velmont High School's main building, a magnificent structure with seven floors. Each floor had its own specific function. Here were the principal's office, the foundation head's office, administration, staff rooms, teachers' offices, and, of course, the Student Council room.
Without wasting time, they entered the building and headed straight for the elevator. Joshua pressed the button for the fourth floor, where the Student Council room was located.
Inside the ascending elevator, Joshua leaned against the wall and said, "So I really have to wait outside, huh? Fine, I just hope you guys don't get into trouble."
Theo grinned confidently. "As long as I'm here, you don't need to worry."
Joshua rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, hero. Go already before I change my mind and tag along."
When the elevator doors opened on the fourth floor, Joshua pushed Theo and Alvano out as if shooing them away. Theo chuckled, while Alvano only sighed.
Now, they stood in the corridor leading to the Student Council room. The atmosphere was awkward and tense, but they had no choice but to move forward.
Alvano knocked on the door marked "Student Council Room – Velmont High School" in elegant English lettering. The sound of the hinges creaking open echoed softly through the quiet hallway, heightening the tension.
Without overthinking, Alvano grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. The room was spacious, decorated in elegant neutral tones that reflected how exclusive it was compared to a regular classroom. The soft lighting gave it a formal atmosphere, while the faint scent of tea lingered in the air.
Inside, two figures were already seated gracefully in chairs labeled Chairman and Vice Chairman.
The young man in the main chair had neatly styled grayish-black hair, his gaze sharp and filled with an air of superiority. His lips curved into a polite smile, yet there was something sly hidden behind it.
Nathaniel Vaughn — President of Velmont High School's Student Council.
Beside him sat a silver-haired girl with her hair tied in a low ponytail. Her face was small, her eyes sharp yet calm, radiating extraordinary intelligence. She looked very familiar to Theo.
Amelia Veil Azhbertz.
Theo and Alvano immediately greeted them politely before sitting down on the soft sofa provided. They sat across from the two council leaders, trying to read the atmosphere.
Amelia, ever polite, stood up briefly to fetch some light snacks — cookies and a few candies — and placed them on the table.
Nathaniel, speaking with a composed tone, began the conversation with a bit of small talk, introducing himself to Alvano. "I heard you're from class 10-B, Alvano. This might be our first time meeting face-to-face."
Alvano nodded politely. "Yes, I believe so."
However, from the start, Theo's expression was already cynical and alert. His eyes never left Nathaniel, as if he were analyzing every movement and word the young man made.
His instincts screamed — Nathaniel was dangerous.
Alvano, who didn't want to drag things out, finally asked, "May I know why I was called here?"
Amelia smiled softly, looking at him calmly. "We just wanted to discuss something rather important." But her smile faded slightly when she glanced at Theo. "Though... it seems we can't have that discussion since you brought a friend along."
Theo let out a low scoff, his expression turning cold. "And why is that a problem?"
Nathaniel, who had been observing calmly, finally spoke. "Because this is a private matter for Alvano. No one else is supposed to know about it."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Theo leaned back casually against the sofa, but his gaze was piercing. "Oh? So you're saying I should just walk out and let my classmate get intimidated alone in this room?"
Amelia tried to stay composed, though her voice grew slightly sharper. "We mean no harm, Theo. But there are certain matters better discussed without a third party."
Theo narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like a convenient excuse to get rid of me."
The tension began to rise.
Nathaniel, still maintaining his calm expression, replied, "We're only following proper procedure, Theo. If you're uncomfortable, you can wait outside with your other friend."
Theo chuckled coldly. "Oh, of course. And just let you do whatever you want to Alvano without anyone around to make sure he's okay? Sounds like a very fair offer."
Amelia sighed, trying to remain calm. "We're the Student Council. We wouldn't do anything to harm a student."
Theo shot back immediately, his voice slightly raised. "Student Council? You think that title automatically makes you trustworthy?"
Alvano, sitting between them, began to feel uneasy. He could sense Theo's emotions gradually rising, and it worried him.
"Uh... Theo, maybe—"
"Hold on, Vano." Theo interrupted firmly, his eyes fixed sharply on Nathaniel and Amelia. "I'm not letting you stay here alone unless they give a proper explanation."
The room grew hotter with tension. Nathaniel finally smiled faintly, though there was a glint of something sharp in his eyes.
"Interesting..." he muttered quietly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
Nathaniel kept smiling, though his gaze hinted at something deeper. It was filled with interest, yet behind it lay something undeniable — like a predator watching its prey.
He leaned back in his chair, speaking in a calm tone. "So, Theo, you're staying here because you already know what we're going to discuss with Alvano?"
Theo returned the smile, though his eyes stayed sharp. He wasn't stupid. Nathaniel was trying to bait him — whether into showing weakness or making a mistake, Theo couldn't tell.
Still, he kept his tone polite. "Of course," he said lightly. "I just don't like it when someone gets summoned without a clear reason. Especially when I'm told to leave without a reasonable explanation."
Nathaniel chuckled softly, his expression calm. "In that case, it's fine if you stay."
Amelia glanced at Nathaniel doubtfully but eventually gave a small nod. "Alright, if that's what you want."
However, Theo didn't feel relieved. On the contrary, it only made him more suspicious. The Student Council wasn't the type to give in easily, especially not after a bit of arguing.
Trying to find a gap, Theo finally asked, "Since when did you know about Alvano? And me too?"
Amelia and Nathaniel exchanged a look. For a moment, silence filled the room.
Nathaniel finally answered in a calm voice, "Recently."
Such a simple answer — yet it felt deliberately vague.
Theo didn't buy it. Something was off. It was as if they were hiding something. Alvano sensed it too, but chose to remain silent.
Nathaniel kept smiling, observing the two of them as if waiting for their next move.