Chapter 169: President 2


    ?


    Days passed, and the academy''s atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the elections finally reached their critical stage.


    The tension among the students was palpable, with every hallway conversation and


    ssroom discussion inevitably circling back to the same topic: who would emerge victorious.


    The initial consensus seemed to favor Princess Snow, the clear front-runner who had garnered widespread support.


    However, as the days went by, the race took an unexpected turn.


    Three names now dominated the conversation: Snow, Rose, and a surprising contender who had surged ahead in thest week-Dorothy, the ex-president.


    Her rise had caught many off guard, especially considering theck of momentum she had early in the campaign.


    But everything changed when ra, a key figure with significant influence, threw her full support behind Dorothy.


    ra''s endorsement had an immediate and electrifying effect on the student body. Interest in Dorothy skyrocketed, and students began to see her in a new light.


    The potential benefits of supporting Dorothy, especially with ra''s backing, became too enticing to ignore.


    Families with ties tomerce and trade saw an opportunity to gain favor, and Dorothy''s campaign began to draw in a new wave of support from those who valued strategic alliances over ideology.


    The sudden shift in ra''s position, stepping down from her own candidacy, had been another surprise.


    ra had been a favorite in the race, and her decision to back Dorothy instead of running herself raised many eyebrows.


    But for those who understood ra''s mindset as a merchant, the move made sense. Her withdrawal wasn''t seen as a retreat but rather as a calcted decision to support someone who could offer tangible benefits in return.


    The question on everyone''s mind now was how Dorothy had managed to secure ra''s support.


    What had transpired behind closed doors that had led to such a powerful alliance? Students spected endlessly; their curiosity piqued by the mystery.


    Dorothy, who had once seemed like a fading star, was now a serious contender, her campaign fueled by newfound energy and resources.


    -----


    "I can''t believe you''d hit me like this, Riley... especially after denying my invitationst time..."


    Princess Snow''s voice held a sharp edge, her words dripping with both reproach and a hint of wounded pride.


    The room around them, bathed in the shimmering light of ornate magic chandeliers, reflected her dual nature-extravagant yet restrained, a blend of royal opulence and personal modesty.


    The space was undeniably grand, filled with luxurious furniture and rich decor, yet it retained an air of careful elegance, a reflection of Snow''s personality.


    Riley, seated in one of the three avable chairs, looked almost out of ce in thevish surroundings.


    The chair itself, more akin to a small sofa due to its size, cradled him infort, but Riley seemed more focused on maintaining hisposure than enjoying the luxury.


    This was the royal office of Princess Snow, located within the prestigious royal halls of the academy-a ce few could ever hope to enter.


    The room was reserved for royalty, nobility, and those of status nearly equal to Snow''s.


    Even then, an audience with the esteemed princess was a rare honor.


    But the tension in the air suggested that this wasn''t just a formal visit.


    Snow''s expression, usually calm andposed, was tinged with frustration, her icy blue eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded Riley.


    Her outfit, a blue-cored shirt paired with her iconic white cardigan, added ayer of softness to her appearance, but her stance and the subtle tightness in her posture spoke of her displeasure.


    Riley, sensing the growing anger beneath her polite facade, calmly sipped the freshly brewed tea that one of Snow''s servants had provided.


    The rich aroma filled the room, but the warmth of the tea did little to ease the chill in Snow''s gaze.


    He deliberately avoided making eye contact with her, focusing instead on the tea as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about, Your Highness," Riley replied, his tone deliberately neutral.


    His words only seemed to aggravate her further. Snow''s fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her desk, the subtle movement betraying her inner turmoil.


    "At least look me in the face if you''re going to deny it... and it''s Snow, remember?" Her voice was both yful and firm, the slight edge in her tone hinting at her impatience.


    "I am not exactly lying, Your Highness," Riley replied, his gaze still avoiding hers, his tone careful.


    Snow narrowed her eyes, her annoyance masked by a teasing smile. "Do you want me to kiss you in public again?"


    The room fell into a tense silence at her words. Riley''s expression stiffened, and he finally looked up, meeting her gaze directly.


    The memory of that public disy, a bold move by Snow that had taken everyone-including Riley-by surprise, hung heavy between them.


    It wasn''t just a kiss; it was a statement, a im in front of the academy''s eyes.


    "...Snow..." he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the situation settling over him.


    Seeing Riley''s troubled expression, Snow''s smile grew, a satisfied glint in her eyes.


    She watched as he meticulously scanned the room, taking in the presence of her servants and the knights stationed at their posts.


    He was clearly ufortable, caught between the formalities of their surroundings and the personal nature of their conversation.


    In truth, Snow didn''t care much about Riley using ra, one of her most valuable assets, against her in the election.


    That was politics, after all—an expected part of the game they were both ying.


    No, what really bothered her was something far more personal: the fact that Riley had


    declined to partner with her in the recent Duo matches.


    Even now, the sting of that day lingered.


    Despite her confession and even kissing him, Riley had chosen to team up with another girl,


    leaving Snow feeling slighted and, more importantly, left out.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With a gentle lift of her arm, Snow dismissed her servants with a wave, the knights taking


    their cue to exit the room as well.


    The door closed behind them, leaving the two alone in the vast space.


    Snow''s demeanor shifted slightly, her teasing smile softening into something more genuine


    as she focused on Riley.


    "Did you do that on purpose?" Riley asked, his voice tinged with frustration as he finally allowed himself to meet her gaze without the burden of onlookers.


    "Whatever could you mean?" Snow replied, her tone light and airy, deliberately ying coy


    as she leaned back in her seat, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    Riley sighed inwardly, understanding Snow''s grudge against him.


    He knew his refusal to partner with her during the duo matches had stung, especially with all


    the rumors swirling around them.


    Being denied so publicly, especially in front of so many students, must have been humiliating


    for her.


    "Riley, will you partner up with me-"


    "Ah, I''m sorry, Snow. I''ve already made ns with Rose..."


    That moment yed over in his mind. He knew it wasn''t just that rejection that brought him


    here today, though.


    "So, why did you call for me, Snow?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track.


    "Being quick on matters isn''t exactly a good thing, you know~," Snow teased, her voiceced


    with yful mockery.


    "But it is efficient,"


    "Are you saying spending time with me is a bad thing?"


    "No... but each of us has our own responsibilities. We have to keep up with our academic schedules, right? And coincidentally, I have a practical exam happening today... during this


    exact moment."


    "Fufu... coincidence can be quite amusing, isn''t it?"


    "I don''t think any of this is amusing, though..."


    Snow''s smirk deepened, her blue eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and something else


    -something Riley couldn''t quite ce. It was as if she was toying with him, enjoying the


    little power y between them.


    Riley nced at the clock on the wall, subtly reminding himself of the time.


    He knew Snow was aware of his exam; she always seemed to know everything.


    Yet, here they were, locked in this verbal dance, and he couldn''t help but feel a little trapped.


    "Snow, I really should be going soon..."


    "Hmm, what''s the rush? Don''t you want to spend more time with me?"


    Riley sighed again. "It''s not that, Snow. I just—"


    "Just what? Feel guilty for turning me down? Or is it something else?"


    Riley paused, searching for the right words as he realized why Snow was acting this way.


    He knew he couldn''t win this battle of words with her, not when she was in this kind of mood.


    "It''s not about guilt. I just have to prioritize what''s important right now."


    "And I''m not important?"


    "That''s not what I meant."


    Snow''s expression softened slightly, her teasing demeanor fading as she looked at him with


    genuine curiosity. "Then what did you mean?"


    Riley met her gaze, finally giving her the attention she wanted. "I meant that I value our time together, but I also have obligations I can''t ignore. We both do."


    Snow studied Riley for a moment, her yful smirk lingering as she let out a small, almost inaudible sigh. "Fine. Go take your exam. But kiss me first...."


    "..." Riley blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request. "On second thought... maybe it''s


    toote for me to take it," he muttered, his resolve wavering under the intensity of her gaze.


    "Fufu, you really are quite indecisive, even after everything..." Snow teased, her voice a mix of amusement and something more tender.


    He sighed, knowing he was treading on dangerous ground.


    Snow had a way of drawing him in, making him second-guess himself with just a few words.


    "Although I want to tease you a bit more, I''ll forgive you for now~" she added, her tone


    shifting to something lighter.


    "Don''t worry about you''re ss I''ve already informed your professor about your time here... your exam is probably going to get reschedule at ater day maybe tomorrow perhaps~" Riley let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding, relieved by her sudden change in


    demeanor.


    This was Snow''s office so there was bound to be shadow knights surrounding her right now... watching and listening closely to their conversation, any form of mishaps with her could trigger something he really didn''t want from the emperor.


    But before he could fully rx, Snow''s next words pulled him back into the depths of their


    ongoing power y.


    "Anyways.... Did you know, Riley, most of themercial district is controlled by ra?" Snow began, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Even with all the other merchantry businesses being ced there, the true owner of most of them is likely her. They are all quite


    literally right under the palm of her hands."


    Riley''s eyes widened slightly.


    He knew ra was powerful, but hearing it spelled out like this made the reality sink in even


    deeper. Snow continued, her gaze never leaving his.


    "In a literal sense, almost everythingmercial-wise is right under ra''s control. That''s why she''s such a popr candidate in the run for student council president. Some even hoped


    for her to actually win against me, in the hopes of getting a part of her absolute control and monopoly over the market."


    Riley nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of what Snow was saying. ra''s influence wasn''t just about wealth; it was about power, connections, and the ability to shape the very structure of the academy''s economy.


    And now, by aligning with Dorothy, he had essentially handed that power to another faction.


    Snow leaned back in her chair, her blue eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and something else-something darker.


    "Despite her greedy nature, ra isn''t exactly one to just leave her people behind either... and now, Riley, you''ve given the support and power of that person to another."


    Riley felt a cold shiver run down his spine.


    Snow''s words wereced with an unspoken warning, a reminder of the delicate bnce of


    power within the academy.


    He had made a move, one that had shifted the scales, and now he had to deal with the


    consequences.


    He met Snow''s gaze, trying to gauge her true intentions.


    Was she upset with him for this decision, or was she simply testing him, seeing how far she


    could push him before he broke?


    Either way, Riley knew he had to be careful.


    Snow was a master at this game, and one wrong move could tip the scales entirely out of his


    favor.


    "I can understand you using ra for Rose''s sake as she''s your partner but for it to be the Ex- president... what exactly are you nning Riley?"


    The chaos he brought for doing something like that was something Snow clearly can''t


    ignore... but that wasn''t all.


    Rose, Seo, ra and Alice... there were already too many girls surrounding Riley.... and right now it was clear that another power was probably going toe at y with his heart. Snow''s eyes couldn''t help but look at Riley with a raised brow wondering just how many more


    girls he''s nning to seduce.


    ''As the future first wife I need to be prepared!''