In other words, the original ten slots were reduced to nine because Sistem placed herself in the tenth position.
Actually, this was still pretty considerate—at least she didn’t put herself directly into the top four.
However…
Even if she placed herself at the tenth position, starting from the bottom, there probably wasn’t anyone who could beat Sistem.
As for Liyakade, Sistem only put her on the Nominee List.
Whether Liyakade could get into the top ten depended on whether anyone supported her.
Once most of the students had arrived at the venue, Sistem began to speak on stage.
“Hello, everyone. Did you all have fun at this year’s Cultural Festival?”
Sistem smiled at the crowd below.
“Yeah!!!”
“Today is the final event of this year’s Cultural Festival—selecting one person from each year who performed best, is the most beautiful, and also the strongest in the academy to become the Festival Flower!”
“To select this year’s Festival Flower more fairly, the rules have also been changed. First, not only will I continue to score as a member of the judging panel, but I’ll also directly enter the second stage, challenging upwards from the tenth rank.”
“Her Highness Sistem! Go for it!!!”
Most people in the audience didn’t feel it was unfair that Sistem put herself directly in the top ten.
In fact, some even cheered for her.
Makes sense.
As the Second Princess, she’s both a Disciplinary Committee member and a Cultural Festival organizer—her popularity could never be low.
If Sistem started as a contestant from the first stage, getting into the top three wouldn’t be a problem.
So, putting herself near the bottom was actually pretty modest.
“Additionally, in recognition of Liyakade’s outstanding performance at the Cultural Festival, she is also added to the list of Nominees.”
Sistem continued unhurriedly.
“Eh? Liyakade… isn’t she the ‘Curse Child’?”
“Didn’t the rules say that Nominees couldn’t have committed any illegal acts? How did she get nominated?”
“Hey, you’re all misunderstanding Liyakade. Don’t just believe random rumors. I’ve spoken to her before, and she seemed like a kind person.”
“Yeah, yeah! You can’t discriminate against someone just because of their hair color! Didn’t you see her acting in yesterday’s play? It was so real and impressive! Why not give her a nomination?”
When Sistem announced Liyakade’s addition, there was clear commotion below the stage.
Some doubted her; others defended her.
But no one strongly objected—most were just watching for the fun.
However, just as Sistem was about to continue, a discordant voice cut through.
“I object!!!”
Since the election of the Festival Flower was a big event, nearly all students attended.
How could Eric not be present?
The moment he heard Liyakade was on the Nominee List, Eric was the first to stand up in protest.
“She was fighting and causing trouble two days before the festival started—how can someone like that participate?”
Eric angrily dug up past events.
“Plus, they sabotaged our shop and got us reported! How does such a violent schemer deserve the title of Festival Flower!?”
“I saw it too… Eric was trampled under Liyakade’s feet. It looked miserable…”
“Yeah, he was even forced to kneel and bow. Can such a violent person even be a candidate?”
“And according to Eric, Liyakade was scheming during the festival? Isn’t her character questionable?”
“How can someone like that participate!? Her nomination should be revoked immediately!”
Listening to those around him, Eric’s eyes twitched.
He hadn’t expected so many people to have witnessed his humiliation—and now it was spreading.
Still, at least his words stirred others’ dissatisfaction.
At this rate, Liyakade’s nomination would surely be revoked.
Thinking this, Eric felt secretly pleased.
After being punished by Liyakade so many times, how could he let her have it easy?
With Eric’s incitement, the voices of opposition grew louder.
But suddenly, another voice silenced the uproar.
“Lady Liyakade is not that kind of person!”
At this critical moment, the Brown-haired Girl stood up.
She even jumped onto the stage, shouting with all her might at the crowd.
The audience was stunned by her actions and voice, and after the hall quieted down, she continued.
“Lady Liyakade acted that day to save me! Ever since I enrolled, Eric has been bullying me and my friends. Lady Liyakade saved us and stopped the bullying!”
The Brown-haired Girl loudly defended Liyakade.
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Eric was shocked to see her stand up for Liyakade.
Fearing exposure, he hastily tried to argue.
“What proof do you have that I bullied you?”
“I can testify.”
The Green-haired Girl who had previously sought Liyakade’s help raised her hand.
“We can testify too.”
A few girls who had followed Eric before also confessed.
“She’s right. Ever since enrollment, Eric made us bully her. The incident a few days ago was also organized by Eric. Liyakade stopped us…”
“You traitors…”
Eric gritted his teeth in anger at those girls.
Once obedient, after being taught a lesson by Liyakade, they cut ties—and now they were betraying him.
Seeing his crimes exposed, Eric tried to shift the attack to Liyakade’s alleged scheming.
“She spread rumors about our Bakery on the first day of the Cultural Festival. That’s a fact. She slandered us in secret—how can someone like that have good character!?”
Eric snarled, his expression twisted.
“Heh. It was your shop’s own problem.”
At this, Field could no longer stay seated.
She walked onto the stage to confront Eric.
“Your back kitchen was unsanitary, and you blame us? All we did was capture the evidence!”
Honestly, the Magic Recorder recorded everything clearly.
Many people present knew the truth.
You couldn’t fake a picture.
Eric’s staff really weren’t wearing proper uniforms, and there was even hair in the bread.
Besides, with a Princess personally speaking out, everyone knew whether to trust a Princess or a bully.
Thus, after Field stepped up, the voices blaming Eric grew louder.
After all, Eric had been publicly exposed as a bully.
Now everyone knew he’d been beaten by Liyakade like a stray dog.
Moreover, as the one who saved the bullied, Liyakade’s popularity soared instead of being stripped of her nomination.
“Damn it!”
Eric’s face twisted.
He wanted to keep arguing, but before he could speak, Sistem cut him off.
“Eric, you’re disrupting the event. Please leave now.”
Sistem’s voice was calm and smiling, but the words brooked no defiance.
Eric’s face darkened.
He stood still for two seconds, then stormed out of the hall.
“Alright, now that the troublemaker is gone, I’ll explain the changes to the competition format.”
Sistem clapped her hands, and after the Brown-haired Girl and Field left the stage, she continued.
“This year, the second stage will also be different. In the past, it was two brackets moving forward by duels until the true winner was decided. But this time, it will change.”
“The final round will be a four-person free-for-all. The top two from the first stage enter the finals directly, while the lower-ranked compete for third and fourth place. The victor in the free-for-all becomes the final Festival Flower.”
As Sistem explained, the crowd grew restless.
A four-person free-for-all was unprecedented—there would be many variables, maybe even alliances.
In any case, it promised more excitement than simple one-on-one matches.
“Whoa… a free-for-all, huh.”
Liyakade sighed in the audience.
This would definitely even out the power gaps—anyone could win.
Of course, she hoped to be eliminated in the first stage, avoiding further fights.
“And most importantly, the Festival Flower winner can pursue any student in the academy. The other party cannot refuse and must maintain at least a three-month relationship!”
Finally, Sistem dropped a bombshell.
“No way, that reward’s insane.”
Liyakade couldn’t help complaining about Sistem’s high-handedness.
To think she dared set a prize like that.
But on second thought, all the participants were gentle, cute, and beautiful girls.
Wouldn’t the lucky ones be the boys chosen by them?
At this, Liyakade remembered what Sistem said last night about how she’d find this year’s prize interesting.
Nonsense.
She didn’t want to pursue anyone.
What use was such a reward?
“I will definitely become the Festival Flower!”
“This time, I must win the title of Festival Flower!”
Suddenly, Field and Alice’s voices rang out beside Liyakade.
Their eyes blazed with determination.
Seeing their fighting spirit, Liyakade nodded in satisfaction.
Hm?
Wait.
Do they have someone they want to pursue?
“Oh no!”
Realizing the implication, Liyakade sucked in a cold breath.
Then, her own eyes burned with resolve as she clenched her small pink fist.
“I won’t let you succeed. The title of Festival Flower is mine!”
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