Sakuramoria Auto-translated

— Come on, how could a simple journalist like me possibly manage to secure an audience with a member of the royal family? Please, please!

My terms: 500 gold upfront, and no maid outfits, and I'll tell you everything.
"Well, she used a forbidden technique!"
-- So, maybe I should just ask Her Highness myself, in writing or something?
"She's just standing here, hunting in such a strange way... We could do everything properly."

— But what if she refuses or sets a later date? Then I won't have anything to pay for food and a roof over my head, and I'll have to either beg or sell my body to strangers to avoid starving.

Futaba had to make a tremendous effort to restrain herself from letting out a heavy sigh. The questions were both fair and completely inappropriate for the current occasion. It was as if Mana had decided to take advantage of the opportunity and subtly mock the queen by presenting her with these uncomfortable arguments. As if the president couldn't simply reject the entire idea outright, establishing a military dictatorship and entrusting the initiative to the loyal hounds, who were ready to appear instantly and carry out any order at the snap of a finger. As if this initiative was personally needed by Futaba to satisfy some of her own ambitions or, God forbid, to fulfill campaign promises, and not to try to help them, the poor saps, out of the mess they had collectively gotten into. Inviting Mana here was a mistake. The time spent together, the thick folder of her profile, and the results of the spies' observations of her – from the color of her underwear to the number of friendly contacts she made during the day – could not have predicted such behavior, but there was nothing to be done. This problem had been brewing for the past few weeks, and the people still hadn't received even a coherent account of what had happened. All these questions could have been asked now or later, so the sooner some answers were given, the better. But what answers? "First, let's address the last one, so we don't have to revisit it..." After a moment of silence, gathering her thoughts, Futaba began, placing her hands behind her back and making a slow, thoughtful half-circle around the office, during which she made sure that no one was listening at the door or window (but she did it in a way that wouldn't seem obvious, so that even the most intelligent, analytical, and sharp-eyed of those present wouldn't notice). "Until recently, there was no way. I come from a poor, incomplete family, and I don't have much to offer. And I didn't even know that Levisia Kaladiumovna was related to the dynasty... I don't read newspapers. But then... by a strange coincidence, about which I knew nothing and could not have influenced, I somehow came to the attention of the king. After that, using his will, he unilaterally... did me the great honor... of entering into a marriage with me..." The last words were difficult to say; Futaba said them standing facing the window – with her back to the office – and slightly tilting her head, so as not to let tears well up in her eyes. "...So, perhaps... Considering that he is the reigning monarch... de jure, addressing me as queen made sense for some of those involved..." After a moment of silence and regaining her composure, she turned back to the guests and dismissively waved her hand at the whole story: "I can't stage such a circus within the walls of the school. I am a classmate, at most – the president, and nothing more. I didn't live my life the way I did to suddenly change my mind and impose something on Risha at the whim of others." Returning to the head of the table, she continued, more confidently: "As for the rest – by an incredible coincidence, an episode of disastrous mismanagement occurred at the academy, the root of which was Carvia Imas. She has already been punished for her crimes. Even though it happened by chance... And what happened to Mandragora is a consequence of what I already told you, only multiplied by his incompetence. He was fired for that. And as for the most important thing – the future of the academy..." The president looked sternly, but persistently and firmly, at everyone present, stopping her gaze on Mana. "Right now, while I have the opportunity, I am using the suddenly opened powers to sort out these problems and fill the gaps in the system, so that they never arise again. That's why I'm trying to organize this committee here with you. Not with the king or his minions. Not with the teachers. But with you. You – we – all must study well and graduate successfully, and over the years, look back on this time as something unusual, sometimes difficult, but ultimately positive, helping us to get on our feet and giving us invaluable life experience. Ideally, they should pay me a full salary for this..." She murmured the last phrase almost inaudibly.

— But what if she refuses or sets a later date? Then I won't have anything to pay for food and a roof over my head, and I'll have to either beg or sell my body to strangers to avoid starving.

"Do you really have such a limited budget?" he thinks to himself, disbelievingly.
-- Then maybe another time? I just stopped by during a break, hoping to do something and then run to class... -- Varya replied awkwardly. -- Even so, you can give me the questions, and if I find the time OS, they will be reasonable, and I will be motivated enough, then at our next meeting, I will immediately answer everything after I've thought it over. Deal?

“Thank you for your honesty, Futaba,” Mana replied, her expression as serious as before. “And once again, I apologize. I have no further questions; I am ready to accept the powers and responsibilities you have outlined.”
The other NPCs exchanged glances (except for Elliot, who had been ready for weeks) and also expressed their agreement.

"Not a concubine, but a real queen..." - Varya wasn't sure how to react to this new information; perhaps it slightly improved Futaba's situation, but... all these other details, this one-sided marriage... it all seemed so wild now. In any case, from the perspective of today's meeting, nothing had changed; Futaba was well aware that she could only build normal relationships with students through other students, and she trusted those gathered here more than those imposed from above... or was it still a bit different? But in any case, those soldiers imposed on her. And she didn't want to establish a dictatorship; she wanted to be normal and equal in all respects within the academy. There were no more reasons needed to agree. Even without all these explanations, Varya's level of trust in her neighbor was high, but now it had become even higher.

"Do you really have such a limited budget?" he thinks to himself, disbelievingly.
-- Then maybe another time? I just stopped by during a break, hoping to do something and then run to my classes... -- Varya replied awkwardly. -- Even so, you can give me the questions, and if I find time for them, with a suitable OS, they will be adequate, and I will be sufficiently motivated, then at our next meeting, I will immediately answer everything after I have thought it over. Deal?

— And how can I contact you then? You see, I won't be allowed into the academy grounds...

Futaba's stories confirmed some of Leila's assumptions, but they didn't answer all the questions that had arisen during their time at NAILS. For example, her account didn't explain Yukka, Stella, and Jin's mysterious return at all. And it was impossible to attribute their current state to Carvia's actions – they had left the academy long after the sorceress's death. It was perfectly clear that Futaba was either not ready to share all the truth with them, or she simply didn't have answers to many questions. So, Leila wasn't going to make a fuss or ruin the progress they had made in reaching an understanding with the queen. Not that she expected to get any answers at all, so she was already happy with these crumbs of information. The current situation even provided an additional reason to agree to Futaba's proposal – the potential opportunity in the future, if she managed to gain her trust, to get more detailed answers to certain questions. Of course, assuming that Futaba actually had those answers, and that she herself wasn't planning to use the disciplinary committee to get them. Time would tell, but for now, all that remained was to express her agreement.

Eagerly awaiting the end of the meeting, Elliot secretly adds a new entry to the book. "Ixora – crimson... Patriotic, to say the least."

- Thank you all for this decision,” Futaba exhaled quietly with relief. “Levizia Kaladiumovna, if there are any remaining formalities, such as signing a form or something else, then I’ll pass it on to you… Otherwise, that’s all for today. The insignias will be distributed a little later, and for now – welcome to the committee.
After all the processes are completed and everyone goes about their business, Elliot stops.

Elliot looks at Futaba with puppy-dog eyes. "I-is it time?" he asks eagerly.

— But how will I contact you then? You see, they won't let me into the Academy grounds...

I don't know how you'll contact me, why are you so persistent? If I leave the grounds, you'll be able to see my head from 10 miles away.
— I don't know... I'll try to find you somehow in that case...

The President responds by glaring at him icily. - Are you at it again? - he nods vaguely in the direction where Elliot was hiding the book. - Breaking your word before you even give it? After all my efforts today?

The journalist's eyes fall on another guy in a NAILS uniform, and she immediately loses interest in the troubled Varya and runs over to him with the same questions.

Added 1 minute later

The President responds by glaring at him. - Are you at it again? - he nods in the direction where Elliot was hiding the book. - Are you breaking your word before you even give it? After all my efforts today?

— Well, I haven't even sworn allegiance yet, — Elliot scratches his head guiltily, — sorry...