Chapter 183
Mia’s groans resounded in the student council room. Her first task as the new student council president was to fill the officers of her council. For Mia, who basically had no administrative ability, this was an urgent priority.
An ordinary person would opt to staff the council with yes-men who would agree with all her decisions. This would ensure smooth sailing. However, Mia was not that ordinary. She was aware of her standing.
“If I choose the wrong people… my head will fly off.”
She meant this quite literally.
After all, this seat that she has was something that Rafina gave to her. It would have been nice if she won the elections normally; that way, she could blame the voters for choosing badly. But since Rafina entrusted to her this position, she was afraid to betray Rafina’s trust.
“I barely managed to make her forgive me for what I did at the Purification Fountain. If I mess this up… merciful moons…”
Mia trembled at the memory of Rafina’s bloodshot eyes.
To be honest, she didn’t know why Rafina gave her the president’s seat. What she does know is what will happen to her if she mess up as a president. She doesn’t just know, she can feel it in her neck!
“I-I’d better live up to Rafina-sama’s trust!”
Therefore, Mia must choose the student council officers that are as smart and competent as Ludwig. Mia’s ideal was that they could run the whole council on their own, and all that she had to do was to throw in remarks. Mia was not looking for yes-men, she was planning to be the yes-man.
“First of all, for vice-president’s seat, it can only be Rafina-sama.”
Instead of being blamed of her mistakes later on, it is better if Rafina can point it out to her earlier. Also, this means that Rafina was also partly at fault, if something bad happens.
“The other vice-president should be Sion.”
Mia decided to involve Sion for the same reason. If it wasn’t just Tearmoon who screwed up, but also Sunkland, then nobody can complain.
“I mean, I won’t let him take it easy!”
Mia’s real reason was to drag everyone else to deal with her problems.
“I would like Abel to be close to me as the president’s assistant.”
Mia slyly satisfied her own desires.
“Also, Tiona-san as a secretary… I guess. And Chloe as the treasurer.”
She was doing this as a sign of gratitude for their contributions during her election campaign.
“Somehow, it feels like the usual members who fight the Chaos Serpent… Hmm.”
So, Mia comes up with an idea.
“That’s right… it would be nice to have Sapphias join as an assistant secretary.”
Mia smiled with a nasty smile.
“It’s clear that this guy is related to the Chaos Serpent… If that’s the case, rather than letting him loose, I will bring him into the student council and where he will be under surveillance all the time. I’m sure he will be uncomfortable being surrounded always by the anti-Chaos Serpent faction.”
Mia was cheerfully humming because of her ingenious idea. By the way, it should be stated that Sapphias was definitely not one of the Chaos Serpents.
“I will surely work him to the bone. That way, he cannot hatch any evil plots.”
Mia said in a good mood.
Rafina readily accepted the position of vice-presidency upon receiving the request from Mia. In her opinion, it was an extremely sensible staffing decision that would ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities.
“Besides, this would also stabilize public sentiment.”
Originally, it would be a big deal if someone from the Duke of Belluga household was removed from the position of student council president. On top of that, if she wasn’t part of the student council, then it would produce even bigger problems because of her influence.
While it wasn’t ideal in reducing Rafina’s burdens, it will still be comfortable for her as a vice president compared to that of being the president.
“Thanks to Mia-san, I can feel more at ease now. I don’t mind staying around to help her out a little, but…”
Rafina’s gaze wandered upward as she pondered on Mia’s staffing decisions.
“You are sending one heck of a message with these choices, Mia.”
Basically, it was customary for the student council to choose students who had limited ties to Tearmoon and Sunkland. Mia’s choices, however, was clearly a denunciation of that custom.
“I didn’t think you would choose Prince Sion. Prince Abel as well…”
She heard later that the two princes cooperated in making Mia’s election pledges.
“These two helped her with the election pledges. Now she is asking them to help her deliver them as well. This is the same for Tiona and Chloe as well.”
Then Rafina narrowed her eyes.
“This is… Tearmoon, Sunkland, Remno and Belluga… This could be seen as a declaration of the fight against Chaos Serpent.”
For Rafina, this seems to be a gathering of the members of the anti-Chaos Serpent faction into the student council. This would make communication and coordination easy as they go about their student lives.
Rafina saw Mia’s intentions.
“And yes. That Sapphias Etoile Bluemoon in the student council…”
Rafina closes her eyes and thought of Sapphias’ face from the last time. He gave of time impression of being timid, unreliable and cunning. She had an unfavorable impression of him.
“I don’t think he is a desirable candidate… but by giving him this chance, he will have no choice but to work hard. I wonder if that was Mia’s intention.”
Mia didn’t blame him for what happened in the past, instead she gave him a position of responsibility. She was giving him a chance to redeem himself.
“For someone in Mia’s position, she would have to bring in someone from the Four Dukes. It makes sense that she would choose the one that is easiest to handle.”
By the way, the information that one of the Four Dukes was a Chaos Serpent had reached Rafina, but she definitely didn’t think Sapphias was it.
“The rest is… I wonder if it’s a message to the Tearmoon nobles and other students…”
Perhaps this was where Mia drew the line. She was making it clear how much preferential treatment the empire’s nobles could expect to receive. Doing absolutely no favors for her fellow countrymen would be bizarre.
It was possible for someone in Rafina’s position to be impartial, but a princess of the empire becoming a student council and not appointing any of her own nobles would be unnatural. While there was Tiona, but she had been supporting Mia since the start of her campaign, and was likely to be regarded as a direct subordinate. Someone else had to be selected alongside her to keep up appearances.
“Even if all Four Dukes were appointed, it wouldn’t be strange at all though it may cause some backlash.”
Rafina simply sighs at Mia’s decision which was clearly careful and comprehensive of the current political dynamics.
“Mia-san, so you’re someone who can do politics too…”
Rafina’s assessment of Mia has been upgraded to that of an “accomplished woman.”
… the accomplished woman in question had no idea that her perceived level of competence had just undergone a significant inflation.