Emilia smiled softly at the crowd as she gazed upon them from the stage.
'Pathetic...'
They all watched on as the student council president announced the chosen representatives.
That intrusive thought came out seemingly as she watched the actions of the most important students in the school.
This vote for the representatives of the student council was a complete farce.
It was merely a facade for the powerful to remain in power.
What was happening now wasn't the actual vote for the student council representatives, what was happening now was actually an inside job.
The student council president and vice president would choose candidates that they thought would be the best fit and bring them before the most important and influential students.
Then these influential students would vote to decide who they would vote for in the actual representative's vote while also bringing their circles to vote with them.
What this meant essentially is that by convincing the students before them that they should vote for them, they weren't only winning their vote in the actual election but also securing their followers' votes.
Therefore only those chosen by the most important and influential students of the school would ever be able to be elected.
'Truly Pathetic...'
While Emilia herself was an influential student, she by no means agreed with the way things were run.
Although she had been raised by a family who achieved their status using underhanded methods, that did not mean she was the same as them.
However, she had a feeling that if she stood up and spoke out against the current system it would not end well for her.
As her father was the Shadow Organization's head, she was always careful not to cross the wrong people.
The student council president was a good example of that.
He was born to one of the most influential families in the Alliance, his parents running the biggest guild in the country.
However, his personality was far from perfect. In fact, there were many rumors about his manipulative and scheming ways.
The vice president was also a rich girl who had been raised in wealth.
And the other two members of the student council were from the nobility class, meaning their parents were extremely high-ranking mages.
There was also the school principal, who was the headmaster.
He was the type of person that looked down upon all students who didn't come from wealthy families.
They all held a deep grudge against the students that weren't like them.
While Emilia herself had no interest in politics, she knew that if she wanted to get ahead in life she would need to be able to work with others.
Emilia knew that the student council was a way for the rich kids to use their money and power to get ahead.
This was why she had decided to join the student council to gain more experience and connections.
But unfortunately, it seemed that the student council was not working as it should.
Emilia knew that the student council was supposed to be there to represent the students, but it seemed that they were just using their position to benefit themselves.
In her eyes, it was truly pathetic to watch these people call themselves mages when all they did was participate in these shenanigans.
"Emilia." Came a sharp voice on her left.
Turning sharply, her luscious hair fluttered as her head swiveled focusing on the man next to her.
Fabien Von Hoffstein.
Schooling her expression, her lips drew a thin line as she waited for him to speak.
Scoffing slightly, he pursed his lips slightly before grinning.
"I knew I chose right, Candice told me that I was going to lose this year but it seems she was wrong."
Emilia silently stood, not responding.
Quirking his brow, Fabien chuckled lightly.
"I suppose you are probably upset by the way we do things, however, I will give you a piece of advice before you start going around making a mess of everything.
In order to make a change you must have the power to do it. You would do well to remember that." Coughing lightly at her lack of response, he nodded to her before walking off.
Emilia watched him go, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the back of his head.
He had always been the one who could get what he wanted, even if it meant using people.
A bitter smile touched her lips as she thought about how her sister was nothing more than a pawn in his game.
Raising her gaze and scanning for the familiar face who seemed to elude her at every turn, she spotted him conversing with Fabien.
A frown marred his oddly handsome face, it seemed they were exchanging volatile words as Fabien had on his excited expression which he only had when he was competing with someone.
A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the last time she had seen him. he had looked like he was going to kill her.
Once Fabien left Isaac's side she began walking over to him.
As his wintry gaze narrowed on her approaching figure, his frown seemed to deepen as his lips thinned.
"What do you want?" His voice was sharp and cold, but it did not deter her from approaching him.
She walked right up to him until she was standing directly in front of him, staring into his eyes with her own icy blue ones.
"You seem to be avoiding me lately, am I that repulsive that the thought of thanking me eluded your mind?" She said as she crossed her arms.
Isaac's face tensed as he stared at her, his jaw clenching tightly as he glared at her.
"I'm not interested in talking to you." He snapped before turning away from her.
His shoulders were tense as he turned back to face her again, his eyes once more narrow as he glared at her.
"Is the idea that someone is not interested in you that much of an illogical conclusion?" Isaac said as she folded her arms.
It was true, he never showed any interest in her, even when they first met.
There was no reason for him to try and talk to her.
Then why was she so adamant about talking to him?
What was it that egged her on and seemed to draw her to this boy?
Perhaps it had been that look in his eyes when they first met.
The look of a lost little boy who desperately just needed a hug and someone to tell him that everything would be alright.
She could still see that look in the back of his eyes, however, it seemed he had raised a mask of cool indifference to hide behind.
"In case you have forgotten, we have a project that is due soon and yet you have seemingly avoided us at every turn," she spoke harshly, her gaze narrowing on him.
"Cough.. Cough.." Breaking his gaze away he scratched the back of his head awkwardly for a moment.
"Sorry, I've been busy with classes and such..."
He quickly averted his gaze as if he didn't want her to see his expression.
It seemed he was at least slightly apologetic as he stared off at the mingling students awkwardly.
She sighed, crossing her arms and looking away from him.
"Are you going to help or not?" She asked him coldly as she looked over her shoulder at him.
Isaac glanced down at her, his eyes piercing through her. "When?" He asked.
Emilia sighed exasperatedly, How was it that he could look so serious and yet be so lazy at the same time?
'Seriously...' She thought to herself as she glared at him.
"Were meeting on the weekend, are you perhaps unavailable once again?" she asked spitefully.
"Ah... uh... no... yeah that works." He said hastily as he cleared his throat.
"Good... just remember that this is our first project and you are my partner, so I expect cooperation from you. If your work isn't up to par then you'll have to do it by yourself," she told him as she turned away from him and continued walking.
"Yeah... sure..." He muttered as he followed after her.
"Why are you following me?" Emilia asked exasperatedly stopping and swiveling her body to face him.
"Ooh..." he let out as he bumped into her due to her unexpected stop.
Emilia felt herself falling backward as she looked up at his pale face.
His usual icy facade had cracked and there was a slight panic in his eyes.
Time seemed to slow down as she felt her body become weightless.
The world around her grew silent as she stared into his eyes.
Her heart began to race as she felt her mind begin to go blank.
There was nothing else in the world but the two of them.
Thump--!
Thump--!
Thump--!
She could hear the sound of her heart beating as its erratic behavior echoed in her ears.
Suddenly, she felt her back touch something firm as her momentum halted.
Their gazes locked as they both came to a mutual understanding.
Quickly hoisting her up, Isaac let go of her as he turned his head to the side.
Patting herself down, Emilia turned to thank him however when she looked at his face she could see it was a bit flushed.
Was he blushing?
Something about this absurd situation made her mood lighten causing her to chuckle a bit.
So he had a side like this.
Unexpectedly her dislike of him lowered slightly.
"Oi! what are you looking at, stop laughing..." he began exclaiming furiously.
This only caused her to chuckle more.