Academy

And here he was sitting in the middle of the loud class, waiting for the instructor to come.

This was his first day in the military academy and the class was already split into its niches.

First were the commoners who joined the officer's program through a much more difficult test and were resented by the nobles, making their own niche. Even amongst Britannia Social Darwinism was present.

The nobles fought tooth and nail to hold on to their powers and as a monarchy that followed Social Darwinism they had much more power than other monarchies. This in turn led to them populating the upper strata of society and preventing other non-nobles from reaching that high.

Of course, there were many commoners who rose the ranks some even gaining titles despite this, leading to the nobles to be even more ruthless.

Then there were multiple smaller groups with nobles from the same Area talking to each other as they already knew each other. Each of them was led by the heir of the most powerful family in the area.

Finally, there were the Area 1 nobles who all flocked around Princess Cornelia, Leylin himself was technically one of them but kept his interactions to a minimum for now so as to get a better understanding of the people.

There were many people in the class yet everyone knew that would soon be split up. Each of the students had to pick a specialization, like infantry, artillery, explosive, and the recently added Knightmare branch.

This was the most wanted branch and was filled with the top scorers of the exams, of course, Leylin was one of them. Each branch was taught mostly the same stuff, however, they each had a different strategy class for their branch.

And soon the door opened revealing a tall yet lanky person in military uniform.

"Close your damn mouths or the emperor help us I will close them permanently" shouted the man in a deep baritone voice, startling most as the voice did not match the face at all.

Immediately the class fell into silence and the teacher started his lesson. And so the day went with different classes on different subjects, some taught by generals and some by professors.

Soon the classes were over and all the students went to their dorm, Leylin bunked with a person named George, another noble from Area 1.

The group from Area 1 was the one Leylin paid most attention to, it seemed that Princess Cornelia was not interested in politics and so the current group was lead by George himself, of course with the acknowledgment of Cornelia.

"So Leylin, mind introducing yourself, you were unusually quiet this day," George said.

George and Leylin had met before the academy began as both their families were of much importance in Area 1. While George's family were marquises and controlled much of the corn belt.

"Just observing the people, you are more appropriate to be the talker."

"And you the thinker. I had heard princess Cornelia was unconcerned with politics but to not even care of the group?"

"She does not need to, you realize this is a monarchy, even if it is unlikely that she may become the next empress, she still has more power than most Dukes. She seems like someone who focuses on military matters and is focussing on those."

"Even then you realize what happened after the last emperor died, I thought that would lead to the princes and princesses to be more involved if not for the crown then for their own life," George stated.

The Emblem of Blood era was one not discussed much in history but was the reason why the heirs had no uncles and why many nobles had more area under them than their title would suggest. His family had supported King Charles themselves and had made many contributions leading to them gaining the territories of all the nobles around them who did not.

"That might be so, however, the royal family seems closer together now than then, and also the power is currently only under two people who are in an alliance and everyone knows who's in charge," Leylin said.

"First Prince Odysseus and second prince Schneizel" George nodded.

"It also seems like Cornelia is under the second prince's protection by the recommendations she received," Leylin replied grimly.

"Well I know who I am to chase this whole time, who knows I might become the princesses consort," George said, lightening the mood.

"Do as you wish, though my instinct tells me you will most likely fail" Leylin said and went to the cafeteria for dinner.