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Chapter 8
Ouch.
In a way, I also had a purpose regarding Liam and Noah.
Of course, it wasn’t because I liked them. It was more that I needed to keep an eye on them as potential brother-in-law candidates.
“Of course. I’m only interested in my sister.”
“Olivia….”
Moved to tears, my sister pulled me into another hug.
“Alright then. I’ll be in your care from now on, Emma’s little sister.”
Noah patted my back while I was still in her arms, giving me an enthusiastic welcome.
“Not Emma’s little sister. I’m Olivia Vardedore.”
“I know, I know. Nice to meet you properly, Olivia.”
At last, Noah called me by my actual name.
“Well, if Kongkong joins, it’ll at least get more interesting.”
Liam didn’t seem displeased either.
And just like that, I officially became a member of the Wildflower Lovers Club.
It felt good to have achieved one of my goals for entering the academy.
“Our club activities are after school, three times a week. We rest on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
Liam finally showed a president-like side of himself.
I listened carefully.
“There are currently five members. Including you, that makes six. The other two are practically ghost members—you’ll meet them eventually.”
I had never met the ghost members in person, but I already knew who they were.
I had read the original comic before coming here, so I knew all the club members.
Still, I simply nodded without acting like I knew anything.
“There’s only one club rule.”
Liam raised his index finger with a serious expression.
I became serious as well.
“Do not step on wildflowers carelessly.”
Don’t step on wildflowers?
Even though they were growing everywhere?
It sounded simple, yet difficult.
“What if someone steps on one by accident?”
“That depends.”
At the vague answer, I tilted my head. Noah added,
“We’re a club that exists for wildflowers.”
“Don’t overthink it, Olivia. Even if you make a mistake, I’ll correct it.”
I mean… how serious could stepping on a wildflower be?
The way they spoke, you’d think I’d be dragged to trial if I got caught doing it.
“Understood. I’ll be careful.”
I thought this club would be laid-back, but everyone seemed surprisingly serious about it.
I felt a little guilty for being the only one who had joined so casually.
Anyway, I safely became a member of the Wildflower Lovers Club.
“You accepted a new member?”
As soon as Liam arrived at the dormitory, two men appeared in front of him.
“I haven’t even told you yet.”
“It’s already all over the school. There’s no way we wouldn’t know.”
Liam brushed past the man with his arms crossed and headed toward his room.
The dormitory head’s room was located at the very end of the first floor.
In exchange for being assigned the duty of managing students entering the dorm, he had been given the largest room—and even had it to himself.
The two men naturally followed him inside.
“She’s Emma Vardedore’s younger sister. You both know about her, right?”
Since Emma talked about her younger sister more than half the time she opened her mouth, they were more than familiar with the name.
They also knew she had entered the academy this year.
“What does that have to do with anything? Why did you bring her little sister into our club?”
“I didn’t bring her in. She came on her own.”
“You approved her membership. That’s basically the same thing.”
“I just let her join the same club as her sister. The two of them seem close, so what’s wrong with allowing that?”
The man with folded arms let out a deep sigh.
“Did Emma agree to this?”
“She was against it at first, but she couldn’t stop her sister’s determination.”
“That sister’s pretty strange too. Why is she so desperate to join a club that just goes around picking wildflowers?”
“Maybe she loves her sister that much?”
The man snorted.
“She’s not aiming for you or Noah?”
“Not even slightly.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m certain.”
For a moment, the two exchanged looks.
Perhaps understanding the certainty in Liam’s eyes, the man uncrossed his arms and nodded.
“It’s already decided, so it can’t be helped. I’m just a ghost member—I have no place arguing about what the executives decided.”
Then his eyes sharpened.
“Does she… know what we really do?”
“Of course not.”
“And you still plan to accept her?”
“If we want to keep the club going, we need new members.”
“So the freshmen will just keep climbing the back hill and collecting wildflowers without knowing anything?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s exactly why I only put my name down and don’t participate. I absolutely hate wearing that tacky outfit and heading up the back hill.”
The man shuddered dramatically.
“It’s not like the club can’t function without you. Just focus on student council work, Aiden.”
“I’m already working hard. Where are you going to find a student council president like me?”
The man called Aiden shrugged confidently.
Liam tossed his bag aside and, without caring who was present, casually took off his uniform jacket.
His well-trained, muscular body was revealed.
“With muscles like that, and all you do is pick wildflowers. What a waste.”
Ignoring Aiden’s sigh, Liam continued changing into comfortable clothes.
The quiet man who had been watching finally spoke.
“…I agree to letting her join. But under no circumstances let her realize what we actually do.”
“Don’t worry, Lucas. There’s no way Olivia would notice.”
Even so, the unease did not leave the man called Lucas.
Homeroom was approaching.
Amid the excited chatter of the students, Ms. Karen trembled slightly as she wrote on the blackboard.
Freshman Welcome Party
“A party?”
At the unexpected words, the noisy students immediately focused on her.
Not used to so much attention, Ms. Karen panicked and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.
“Y-Yes… Once you’ve adjusted to academy life, we usually hold a party for the freshmen….”
“Is it just for first-years, ma’am?”
“N-No. It’s a party for the whole school….”
At her words, my determination ignited.
A party with the entire student body? This was the perfect opportunity.
After meeting two of the male lead candidates, I had been so busy with classes and club activities that I hadn’t properly sought out the others.
To make matters worse, aside from Liam and Noah, the other male lead candidates were ghost members, so I hadn’t even had a chance to see them.
Honestly, the author went through the trouble of putting them in the same club—making them ghost members was a bit much, wasn’t it?
Still, I was partly to blame for not tracking them down.
I had momentarily forgotten my purpose in entering the academy.
But I couldn’t miss this chance.
Now I could observe the remaining male lead candidates without awkwardly sneaking into other classrooms.
And a party!
Wasn’t it obvious that some kind of event would happen?
“Hehehe….”
“Olivia, are you that excited about the party?”
“Of course. It’s going to be a magnificent opening act.”
“You wanted to become famous at the academy that badly?”
At Siana’s comment, I raised my index finger and shook it.
“For a proper story to begin, all the protagonists must gather together.”
Since she didn’t know we were inside a romance comic, Siana probably thought I was talking nonsense again.
She was staring at me with a look that clearly said, There she goes again.
Ignoring her, I wore a sly smile as school ended.
“Something good happen, Olivia?”
My sister, who had come to pick me up as usual, asked.
“The thing you mentioned this morning—that’s the academy’s freshman party, right?”
“Yes. We should take this chance to order you a new dress and buy shoes.”
“You need one too, unni!”
She’s the female lead—of course she needs to show a new side of herself at the party and capture the hearts of the male leads.
Isn’t that a classic romance trope?
Appearing in an unexpected look and making the male leads’ hearts flutter.
“Oh, right. Kongkong, starting tomorrow you’ll have to come and go on your own.”
“Why?”
At Liam’s sudden remark, I tilted my head.
“Usually the upperclassmen prepare the freshman welcome party. Unfortunately, both your sister and I were selected for the preparation committee. So for a while, we won’t be able to walk to and from school with you.”
Judging by my sister’s apologetic expression, it seemed true.
Well, since they’re the main characters, it would be stranger if they weren’t involved in the main event.
“It’s only temporary. If you’re worried, should we send someone from home to escort you?”
“No, unni. I know the way between the academy and home now. Don’t worry.”
I patted her back confidently.
Even someone as bad with directions as me wouldn’t forget a route I’d traveled several times.
Still, I was a little uneasy.
So I decided to leave the house earlier in the mornings—just to make sure my sister wouldn’t worry.
