Chapter 716: What do you have to say?

"That’s a total lie!!!"

Prince Charles Aethelmont stood up from his seat angrily and shouted.

His sudden outburst drew several students’ attention.

Some turned towards him, while others looked between the two princes.

The discussion had already grown tense, but Charles’s reaction made it clear that he had no intention of allowing Tristin’s accusation to pass without a response.

"We of the Golden Circle will never stoop so low to do such a thing. The girl isn’t even from our faction, so how can we get involved in something like this?"

He stepped a little forward, pointing at Prince Tristin Aethelmont.

His finger remained directed at his younger brother as he spoke.

The anger on his face was difficult to hide, and a few students from the Golden Circle frowned. They weren’t pleased with the accusation either, but Charles was the one standing before everyone and answering it.

"You are not fooling anyone, Charles."

Tristin shot back sharply, looking at his brother with a smirk on his face.

"I mean, let’s all really think about it, everyone."

He turned back towards the crowd of students, spreading his arms again.

His attention had already moved away from Charles.

There was little reason to continue arguing with his brother when he could address everyone present instead. After all, it was the students listening to them who would eventually cast their votes.

"Right now, if you check the Fair Tellers Broadcasting Group Linsta page and search for the article, you wouldn’t see it there. Meaning that the Ashenlockes have made them erase the article, and that can only mean one thing, my fellow students of Royal."

Tristin paused, allowing his words to settle properly.

Several students glanced at one another.

Some seemed to be considering his explanation, while others looked towards the Ashenlocke members present.

The disappearance of the article had become another point of discussion, and Tristin was making sure that everyone understood the conclusion he wanted them to reach.

"Ezra Ashenlocke is guilty of his crimes, and that is clear evidence. But do you know why I’m very worried about this situation?"

He lowered his voice, making his next words sound more concerned.

"This two-faced murderer has, for some reason, gotten really close to our Kingdom’s precious Flowers."

Tristin said lightly, looking around at the students.

Many students glanced at each other.

The fan-girls standing around Selena Galehart all turned towards her.

Their expressions carried a faint sense of worry, as though they were trying to understand what Tristin’s words meant for the lady they admired.

Selena remained where she was.

Willow frowned while her hands rested elegantly on her lap.

Her gaze moved towards Vera, who continued to look bored with the whole speech.

Vera didn’t react or show any emotion towards the accusations Tristin was throwing at Ezra.

She simply sat, watching.

One arm rested on the table, while her cheek was supported by her palm.

Her dark dull eyes remained on the Prince, but there was little interest in them.

She didn’t even bother to change her expression when he called Ezra a two-faced murderer.

Perhaps she was waiting for something.

But no one could tell.

Willow, on the other hand, was getting increasingly irritated by Prince Tristin Aethelmont’s words.

Her fingers rested against her lap, and her frown remained.

Still, she kept quiet and continued watching the show.

She wasn’t going to interrupt him.

"He’s right!"

A first-year noble boy shouted, raising his hand.

"Time and time again, he has been getting close to the flowers, and isn’t that risky?"

He looked at the students around him, seemingly expecting them to agree.

"Yeah, how can we let someone dangerous move around the Flowers so closely?"

Another boy joined the conversation.

"You boys are just jealous it’s not you."

"A very disgusting display of jealousy."

"What would happen if he ends up hurting one of the Flowers?"

"How would you know that?"

"The proof is there! He is a killer!"

"He is not!"

The argument erupted almost immediately after Tristin spoke.

Different voices rose from the crowd.

Some students supported the accusations, while others defended Ezra.

A few boys who had remained quiet earlier began speaking up, and the discussion soon spread beyond the people standing closest to the stage.

The students were no longer simply listening to the candidate.

They were arguing among themselves.

"Quiet!! Everyone!!"

Clive Morgan shouted firmly.

The noise that had risen from the crowd settled down almost immediately.

Some students stopped speaking halfway through their sentences.

Others turned towards Clive, who remained focused on the crowd until the noise had died down.

"Everyone, you don’t need to argue."

Tristin stepped further forward before Clive could follow up after silencing the crowd.

"I understand why there are some of you who believe he is a good person, and I blame this not only on the Golden Circle Faction, but I also blame it on the Flowers and the people who move around him."

He raised his voice again.

"Lady Vera Ashenlocke has a lot of influence within the hearts of many of us, yet she flocks around that murderer for some reason. Even clips of Lady Willow Derlis are out, where she was in close range to him. Lady Selena Galehart is the same, and even Lady Diane Bergwyn is also the same."

He paused again.

His gaze moved across the students, giving them time to consider the names he had mentioned.

Vera’s hand remained against her cheek.

She shifted her gaze slightly towards Willow when Tristin mentioned her, then returned her attention to the Prince.

Her expression hadn’t changed.

Willow’s frown deepened.

The accusation was no longer directed at Ezra alone.

Tristin was now using the girls’ association with him to question their judgement and influence over the students.

"And because of their constant involvement with him... they have created this reputation that surrounds him, which makes many of you see him as the only one who can hang around the Flowers because of his composed and calm, whatever personality you thought he had. Even some boys see him as their idol because of this."

He pointed at some of the boys who had been defending Ezra during the argument.

"Everyone’s mind has been clouded because of this. And that is why you all should be very careful about casting your vote for Lady Vera and Lady Willow. Those two have been caught under the illusion of that killer’s good mask."

Tristin lowered his hand slightly before continuing.

"As for my brother Charles..."

He looked at Charles with a faint smirk.

"He’s just a weakling who can’t even stand up for what is right."

He said mockingly.

Charles gritted his teeth in anger.

His jaw tightened as he stared at his brother.

He wanted to answer him, but he couldn’t say anything in response because it was against his right to cut into Tristin’s speaking time.

And he had already done so once.

That interruption had earned him a warning from Eleanor Tempest.

So, he wasn’t going to risk another one, especially with the Student Council members watching.

Tristin continued without giving him another glance.

"The rest are also carefree people who wouldn’t fight for justice, but I, Prince Tristin Aethelmont, will fight for the justice and peace of my fellow first-years!!!"

He raised his right hand.

"YEAHHHHHH!!!!"

Some of the students, especially those from the Royal Blue Faction who supported Tristin, shouted cheerfully together.

"Prince Tristin Aethelmont!!"

"Prince Tristin Aethelmont!!"

"Prince Tristin Aethelmont!!"

They chanted his name loudly.

The cheers spread through the group of supporters.

Some raised their hands, while others repeated his name with growing enthusiasm.

Their voices carried across the gathering, drawing the attention of students who had been watching the argument from a distance.

Because of this, a few students from other factions also began to think about the words he had spoken.

Not everyone was convinced, but the uneasiness surrounding Ezra’s presence in the Academy was still there.

If he was capable of killing his own family, what was stopping him from killing them too?

This was the Royal Academy.

And the fight to become the best was nothing short of brutal.

Students competed for recognition, status, and opportunities.

Some were willing to go to great lengths to get ahead of their peers.

The idea of one student planning the death of another wasn’t entirely far-fetched, especially with the history of similar situations within the Academy.

For some students, the accusation was enough to make them question whether Ezra was someone they could safely be around.

Prince Aldric Aethelmont glanced at Ezra before looking at the students shouting Tristin’s name.

His gaze lingered for a moment before returning to the crowd.

Eleanor Tempest looked at the situation with an amused smile.

She adjusted her sitting position while watching the students.

The other Student Council members present also followed the scene with interest.

The argument had gone beyond the usual exchange of words between candidates.

Tristin had managed to turn the discussion towards Ezra, the Golden Circle, and several of the girls whose names carried weight among the students.

Then...

Clap!

Clap!

The sound of hands coming together echoed within the crowd.

Several students turned towards the source of the applause.

As they did, the people standing along the way began to part, making room for the person who had clapped.

"You have said well, my younger brother."

Prince Daniel Aethelmont said with a pleased smile.

His four main followers followed him at his side and behind him.

Daniel walked forward with his attention on the stage.

His arrival drew the eyes of several students, and the applause that had brought him into the open gradually faded.

He didn’t seem bothered by the attention.

"And you can all see that the Royal Blue Faction has chosen the perfect candidate to represent you first-years!"

His voice rose confidently.

"Tristin is a prince, the son of Alexander and Althea Aethelmont. Royalty runs through his veins, as well as the integrity of a Royal line. If he is not worthy to be your leader, then nobody is worthy."

He looked around at the students.

His words carried the confidence of someone who believed the matter should have been obvious from the beginning.

A few Royal Blue supporters nodded, while others watched him closely.

"As for that Lowline who has caused the hearts of my dear students to waver, and the schemes of the Golden Circle Faction..."

Daniel turned towards Aldric, a smirk appearing on his face.

"The Golden Circle should step down from any candidacy position and pay ten thousand Dals for trying to defame not only my faction’s name, but also trying to ruin a potential heir to the Count House of Evermont, and..."

He paused.

His gaze moved towards Ezra with a cold, calculating look.

"The Student Council should write to the Academy Board for the expulsion of Ezra Ashenlocke. A murderer doesn’t deserve to stay in the same Academy as us. He can go and become a Guard of Ash or even a Local Guard for all I care, but we should get rid of this stain that taints our Academy’s reputation."

He said in a cold tone.

The cheering that had erupted moments ago settled down completely, with the students all feeling the pressure.

The Expulsion of Ezra Ashenlocke.

It wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

A demand for an apology or a fine was one thing.

Expulsion was another matter entirely.

It meant removing a student from the Academy, and Daniel had made that demand in front of everyone.

Several students looked towards Ezra again.

Others turned their attention to the Student Council members, waiting to see how they would respond.

The atmosphere had changed, and even the students who had been cheering Tristin moments earlier seemed to understand the weight of Daniel’s words.

Felix really couldn’t stop smiling at the whole situation that had transpired.

He had finally put Ezra in a position that wasn’t easy to maneuver out of.

From Felix’s perspective, the board was falling into place.

Tristin had made his move, and Daniel’s demand had put even more pressure on Ezra and the Golden Circle.

He watched the situation with satisfaction.

Thank you to whoever set-up that accusation up.

Haha...

I finally got you, Lowline maggot.

Grandfather will be so proud.

Felix thought to himself proudly.

His smile remained as he watched the stage.

To him, Ezra had finally been pushed into a difficult position.

The accusation had become a weapon, and the demand for expulsion had placed another piece on the board. It was a position Felix had been waiting to see.

Eleanor adjusted her sitting position.

"The time of Tristin’s addressing has come to an end, and we have heard everything you have to say."

She said calmly before turning to Prince Daniel.

"An expulsion for Ezra Ashenlocke."

She said lightly.

"Well... this is why we brought him here to address this situation. So..."

Eleanor turned towards Ezra with a simple look on her face.

Her attention settled on him, and the students gradually followed her gaze.

The Second Prince had made his demand.

Now the person at the center of the accusations had been given the chance to respond.

"What can you say to all of this surrounding your article, Ezra Ashenlocke?"

She asked in a calm tone.