The students in class A were generally fully focused on their studies, and did not pay attention to the useless gossips and 'current events' that would just end up wasting their precious time.
So it was no wonder that they weren't very enthusiastic when Penny first approached them with an offer to join the so-called "Princess Emilia's Royal Guards" club.
To begin with, none of the students in class A would join a club that didn't reflect well on their resume later on.
Every second they spent in this school was to add bricks to the foundation for their future. And every second they wasted was one brick less, leading to a shakier foundation.
A single one of these 'bricks' could make the difference between getting their preferred course in the top universities.
After all, when you're competing with geniuses, you have to work hard even if you're a genius. And if they're all working hard, only the one that is willing to sacrifice the most will stay ahead.
If it was someone like Emilia, or even Dixy, then it would be difficult not to pay attention. And it was not just because they looked good.
The students in class A were well aware of how the society worked. And they knew that it was better to stay on the good side of people like Emilia and Dixy, who could very well be their future employers.
As for Penny, as someone from class C, she could neither be their employer nor their colleague in the future. To the class A students, socializing with someone like her was just a waste of time.
That is until the top student herself called her over to have a talk.
Crystal was someone most of them looked up to. Not as someone to worship, of course, but someone to imitate and overcome. Both her performance in the entrance exam as well as her diligent behavior in class left them with a profound impression.
So if Crystal was willing to listen to this middle-school looking girl, perhaps it was worth it to spare her a few minutes.
----------
Emilia smiled as she watched Dixy pack up her books for her. The girl's mother really did hit the bullseye when she said that her daughter was a tsundere.
Even though Dixy was petulantly giving her the silent treatment, she still refused to let her carry her own bag herself.
Emilia did not insist on it too much either, as she had discovered that this normal looking girl was actually quite strong. She could carry both of their bags in one hand without an issue.
She really did come from a family of fighters.
Besides, when a knight offered their hand to the princess, it would just sully their honor if the princess refused their help.
Most of the students had already left, and a loud thwack echoed through the almost emptied classroom as Koko clutched her arm with tears in her eyes.
"Dixy you meanie… why do you always hit me!"
The short haired girl rolled her eyes as she flung the two bags over her shoulder, as if they weighed nothing.
"Because you're a moron! Why are you always trying to cling to Emily?"
The bespectacled girl gave her a pitiful look. "Wuuu… I just think she looks sad with both her hands empty! It's better to walk hand in hand with me!"
"I'm not carrying two bags so you can hang off of her instead!"
"Uwaa…"
Emilia was already quite used to their impromptu arguments that started and ended before she sometimes even realized.
Even if Dixy was giving her the silent treatment because she went to fight the bullies without telling her, Emilia knew there weren't many legitimate excuses she could come up with. So it was better not to make any in the first place.
Since Emilia knew that she was cold outside but warm inside, it was better to just let Dixy express her anger and then settle down.
Koko quickly forgot about the dark haired girl's warning shot, and this time Dixy actually let her hold Emilia's hand while rolling her eyes as if tired from dealing with kindergarteners.
As the three of them headed for the exit, the freckled girl happily kept blabbering nonsense, as was her duty as an unfiltered live broadcast of the school rumor mill.
"And then I heard that Mrs. Macmillan was once a part of a biker gang too! But that makes no sense, because what ex biker gang member comes to school in a pink scooter, right? So I told my friend, you have to look deeper, and then—"
Emilia automatically filtered out the rest of her words, because they were quickly approaching the gate to class A, and she wondered if she should check to see if the heroine had already left.
Although she had ended up agreeing to tutor them on weekends, Emilia didn't know how the heroine really felt about it. Crystal did look quite reluctant that day, and it was entirely possible she regretted her decision by now.
Should she make sure to hammer the nail in today, so that there aren't any excuses tomorrow? Or should she keep herself from interfering too much in the heroine's busy study schedule?
"Emilia~ Why do you care so much about her anyway?!"
'If I want to complete your missions, of course I have to care about her.'
"But there's only one mission that involves her, right? And that's to make the hero and heroine hate each other! Why do you have to get closer to her to do that?"
Emilia sighed. 'Cynthia… I obviously can't manipulate their feelings directly. So I can only use myself to fester hatred between them.'
Her system's voice was slightly uneasy. "And… how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Emilia's thoughts wandered back to her first life, to the time when she was executed by orders of the prince despite her lifetime of faithful service.
'Tell me, Cynthia, who do people hate the most in their life?'
Of course, her system was no expert in emotional matters. Although she had witnessed many things, she would be the last to claim understanding them all completely.
"Uh, I guess… someone who killed their loved ones, or caused them great harm?"
Emilia gave her approving hum. 'Not wrong, but do you think the hero or the heroine would do that to each other for no reason?'
Cynthia shook her head. "I guess not?"
Emilia smiled. 'Right… but what if there was someone that the heroine loved that the hero constantly tried to harm, wouldn't that work?'
The emerald eyed girl seemed to realize her plan, but disapproval was clear in her voice.
"But Emilia, you have to remember that the hero fell in love with the heroine at first sight. It's a very unreasonable and obsessive kind of love. There's no way he would hurt the heroine's mother, right? He must know it would really sour their relationship."
And Emilia agreed. 'Of course he would never hurt the heroine's mother.'
There was a gasp of excitement from her system, and Emilia wondered what absurd thought she had just come up with.
"Then… do you plan to frame him for trying to do so?! Ah, how villainous! I like it!"
Emilia rolled her eyes as Cynthia met her 'expectations' spot on.
'Your imagination is very active, but no… I don't need to harm the heroine's mother and then try to frame the hero for it. There's too much that can go wrong that way. Instead, isn't it easier to make the heroine love someone that the hero is always going to try to harm?'
"You mean… you?!"
'That's right.'
There was sulkiness in her voice that even Cynthia failed to realize.
"But you said 'someone she loves', so… will you… become her lover?!"
Emilia felt a headache coming as she listened to Cynthia's whiny tone. Just why was it that her partner found fault with the most minor things?
'I didn't say that. I just have to make sure she falls in love with me. Whether it's as a sister or a lover, I don't care. Depends on her attitude.'
"But Emilia…"
'Yes?'
"No nevermind."
'Just ask.'
Cynthia didn't want to ask what was really on her mind, which was 'what about how you feel?', so she hurriedly came up with another question.
"Why not go for the hero instead?"
Emilia rolled her eyes, thinking she really shouldn't have expected a good question out of this airhead.
'Are you an idiot? The hero hates me. And even if I can make him fall in love somehow, how would I get the two of them to hate each other? That's not even mentioning that the other missions include making sure the hero's company goes bankrupt—'
Her lecture was interrupted by Dixy's hesitant voice.
"U-Uh, Emily… are you okay?"
It was only now that Emilia realized she had been staring blankly at class A's door while arguing with Cynthia in her mind.
'Idiot Cynthia! Why do you always distract me like that?! Talk to me when we're alone!'
"I-It's not just my fault! Don't always blame me, you villainess! Uh, although that's just right… no, wait!"
Unfortunately, just as Emilia was prepared to quickly leave and then come up with an impeccable excuse for Dixy, the heroine exited the door along with a… middle schooler?
"E-Emilia…?"
"PRINCESS!"