A Third-Rate Villain Tries Her Best Today 49

Chapter 49

“……”

It wasn’t a valid reason. Granhyut knew it, but she was trying her best to express her thoughts.

“Lady Byron will only act in her own self-interest. She always has.”

Sue’s mouth went dry. She felt like a condemned prisoner on death row.

‘I never imagined it would turn out like this.’

She had been anxious. She had wondered if ‘Sue Byron’ would be able to fit in with the representative committee.

But she hadn’t expected to be rejected outright.

It wasn’t about whether her suggestion would be chosen as the theme for the September Festival, or whether Enzhe would approve of her temporary committee position.

‘It’s just Sue Byron that’s the problem.’

She almost wanted to laugh.

No one at the round table seemed to notice her inner turmoil. Fritz tilted his head, his expression skeptical.

“Granhyut, that’s just your personal opinion.”

“What?”

Fritz continued, ignoring Granhyut’s flustered reaction.

“Even a five-year-old can make baseless accusations and demand that Sue Byron be removed from the committee.”

“No, that’s not…”

“I don’t know Byron well. So I can’t just believe your one-sided story. I chose her to be on the temporary committee. There’s no need to discuss anything else.”

Fritz looked bored, as if the lack of progress in the meeting was frustrating him. There was no refuting his condescending words. And Granhyut couldn’t provide any ‘evidence’ to support her claims. But surprisingly, she didn’t seem to have given up on removing Sue from the committee.

“…To begin with, the idea of masks is so common that someone would have suggested it during the meeting, even if it wasn’t Lady Byron.”

Her voice trembled with uncertainty. Fritz looked at her with a disappointed expression.

“That would make every discussion pointless. Byron was the one who first suggested it.”

“…I heard it for the first time this morning.”

“Even if she’s on the temporary committee, it’s just a formality.”

“I don’t think she’ll be of any help.”

“Are you always this unreasonable, Granhyut?”

“The masquerade ball… the idea didn’t come from this meeting room.”

“I heard it.”

“She didn’t say it in front of me.”

“It’s fine because I heard it and I saw it.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“……”

Granhyut’s audacity was impressive. To argue with the man who would rule not only Full Bloom, but the entire Atlantis Empire. The only person Sue knew who could stand up to Fritz like this was the protagonist, Halo.

‘That’s how much she hates me.’

Sue chuckled hollowly.

It was a bizarre situation. People who had nothing to do with her were arguing about her. And both sides were being unreasonable. Sue wanted to join the conversation, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so.

The argument went around in circles, unproductive and repetitive. Acrea finally intervened, unable to watch any longer.

“Hold on a moment, Lady Granhyut.”

Everyone looked at him. Acrea’s gentle voice had a persuasive power.

“I apologize for not mentioning Lady Byron’s involvement from the beginning. But we don’t know why you’re so opposed to her. That’s why we’re going in circles and not reaching a conclusion. You agree with that, right, Lady Granhyut?”

“…Yes, Master Acrea.”

Granhyut nodded reluctantly.

“At least from what I’ve seen, you’re only objecting to Lady Byron based on personal feelings. The September Festival is less than a month away. If you continue to waste the representative committee’s time like this, you’re not qualified to be a student representative.”

Acrea calmly persuaded Granhyut. He was making a valid point. If only her anger wasn’t directed at Sue Byron.

‘Granhyut… Granhyut… Ah, didn’t Granhyut have a younger brother?’

Sue suddenly remembered something vaguely. Her eyelids drooped heavily.

She had seen a young boy named ‘Granhyut’ in the basement of the glass garden. She couldn’t remember anything else. But she seemed to understand why Granhyut was glaring at her with such disgust.

One of Granhyut’s round glasses slipped down her nose. Sue opened her eyes slightly, watching her bite her lip.

She could just tell them everything.

But she wouldn’t. Sue knew that.

Because Enzhe’s name would inevitably come up.

What would happen if Enzhe’s name was mentioned at the round table, and Granhyut exposed Sue’s, and ultimately Enzhe’s, evil deeds?

Putting aside Enzhe’s retaliation, would Fritz and Acrea even believe Granhyut? Would they take her side, enraged, and abandon their childhood friend?

Even the suggestion to simply remove Sue from the committee had been dismissed.

That was why Granhyut had avoided mentioning the root of the problem with Sue Byron.

Publicly, Enzhe was the poor young lady who had to deal with the troublesome Sue because of their alliance, but it was also undeniable that Enzhe was the one who had chosen Sue as her subordinate. The students of Full Bloom knew that Lady Lopetrefer was behind the unpleasant Byron girl.

Silence filled the room.

“…Shall we resume the meeting?”

Fritz sighed deeply.

The argument should have ended with Granhyut’s crushing defeat. But it seemed like justice still prevailed in the world.

“Master Fritz, I also object to Byron’s participation in the committee.”

As if to prove that point, the boy sitting across from Sue raised his hand politely.

“…Silent.”

Sue whispered his name, her voice strained with distress. Because he was Count Catus Silent’s son, the representative of the sixth-year Black Eagle Class.

“I, I also…”

“I object as well.”

“Me too!”

One by one, the other students joined Granhyut’s side, starting with Silent.

Fritz stared at them in disbelief. He wouldn’t understand this situation, knowing nothing about Sue Byron. He was probably only starting to realize that she was “unpopular”.

That was the kind of person he was. The son of a grand duke who lived his life based on his own interests. In a good way, he only saw what he wanted to see, and in a bad way, he avoided anything he didn’t want to deal with.

I’m fine with it, so why aren’t they? Why are they being so difficult? He was quick to forgive others, but he was also terribly insensitive and self-centered. Enzhe had taken full advantage of his personality. And Halo was the one who changed him.

Sue stared blankly at the ceiling and started tapping her fingers on the table.

“…Master Fritz.”

Granhyut, who had started this whole argument, broke the silence. Her voice was calm, no longer laced with anger, like a model student who was loved by her teachers.

“I apologize for being rude. Personal feelings… You’re right. I don’t like Lady Sue Byron.”

“……”

“But if the other students find out that Lady Sue Byron was involved in the September Festival, no one will attend the ball.”

“……”

“I’m not saying this out of spite. These are the words of the heir to the Granhyut family, representing the Blue Sharks.”

Granhyut’s eyes were calm and resolute. What she said was probably true, and it would probably happen. Well, maybe not no one would attend. But that was Sue Byron’s standing at Full Bloom.

Fritz stared at Granhyut. So did Sue. Because Granhyut wasn’t just speaking out of personal feelings.

A faint smile appeared on Sue’s lips. But her eyes weren’t smiling. For the first time in the meeting room, Sue Byron spoke.

“I apologize for disrupting the atmosphere, representatives.”

I should have done this sooner.

Sue stood up quietly. She looked around the round table and smiled, her usual brazen self.

“Lady Granhyut is right. I also think it’s presumptuous of me to take on the role of temporary committee member. So I’ll withdraw.”

Her eyes met Fritz’s. She continued, her voice subdued,

“As Lady Granhyut said, a masquerade ball is something anyone could have thought of. Someone else would have suggested it, even if it wasn’t me.”

“…But you were the first one to say it. Or rather, I was the first one to hear you say it.”

Fritz frowned, frustrated. Sue stared into his emerald green eyes, so beautiful and blessed.

She hated looking into people’s eyes.

“No, it’s better not to do it if it’s going to ruin the ball. Lady Granhyut’s words are perfectly valid. There are many students who would be willing to help the representatives.”

“……”

“Someone else will take my place. Don’t worry.”

There was no reply, but Fritz was still unconvinced. But he wasn’t upset because he was worried about Sue, but because his pride had been hurt.

No one in this room wanted Sue Byron.

“I’ll definitely attend the ball. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Those words were genuine.

What kind of dress should I wear? What kind of mask?

Sue left the meeting room, pondering those pleasant thoughts.