Chapter 6: Secrets of the Castle

The imperial academy entrance examination was held at the academy's annex in the capital city. The main building of the academy was located near the royal palace for the convenience of the royal family, and the annex was primarily used when there were public events.

The Count took Misha and me to the place by carriage.

My face was sallow like straw even after washing, while Misha's skin was shining.

I wondered if she had received a massage yesterday, and thought that she must have, given the luxurious carriages lined up in front of the examination hall.

I lost all words as I was up to no good. With a stern face, I got down from the carriage and just stood beside Misha, while she was playfully saying things like "I will definitely come first" to the Count.

The scene among the examinees was quite similar. Some from certain families were solemn, while others were noisy with encouragement.

I particularly gazed at a place where many people had gathered. There were many men with swords, which naturally caught my eye.

The carriage adorned with the emblem of a flaming eagle was that of the Duke of Kaidel's family. Someone from the Kaidel family was taking the examination today. Though I didn't recognize the faces of the nobles, I had memorized the emblems of all the major families of the empire.

The person standing in front of the carriage was undoubtedly the first lion of the empire, Duke Kaidel.

With a sturdy build, black hair, and a shallow beard along his jawline, he looked the perfect image of middle aged.

People were crowded around him, so I couldn't see anyone who appeared to be an examinee.

I turned my eyes and took in the academy's annex building at a glance. The dull gray walls were so tall that they briefly reminded me of a fortress.

The exterior was firmly surrounded by high walls, and the interior space was intricately and complexly arranged, in the early imperial style of architecture.

Unaware, I was secretly planning an escape route to avoid the Count's gaze when the summons bell rang. Misha then gave me a sidelong glance, as if asking why I wasn't following her quickly.

The person who warned me not to acknowledge her outside the mansion was that same person. Of course, it was convenient for me too.

I realized that Misha was completely unaware of the request the Countess had made to me. It was gratifying to see the Countess fiercely protecting Misha.

My mother would have done the same for me. That made me happy.

I must not ruin someone else's happiness just because I am unhappy. It's not Misha's fault that she has more than she can handle, just as it's not my fault that I am an illegitimate child.

My heart had broadened to a surprising extent since my life had hit rock bottom.

I followed Misha's blissfully ignorant lead toward the entrance, keeping my distance. A carriage was parked in a perfect position to block the Count's view. If I changed direction there...

At that moment, someone grabbed my shoulder. Turning around, I saw it was the Count.

The Count just smiled faintly without saying a word. No words like "Do well on the test," or "Make sure you pass."

Yet I instinctively nodded to him and walked under the imposing archway.

And I stopped.

The interior, with its dark brown brick walls, consisted of dense spaces radiating out like a spider's web around a large central hall. Only from inside the towering fence could the entire view be revealed.

At a glance, it seemed complex and crowded, but with a little focus, the detailed and beautiful decorations seemed to draw people inside.

This building had given up an open feeling for an arrogant purpose, the premise being that not just anyone could enter this building.

I knew I would never forget the sight of this magnificent building. It was the closest glory that this illegitimate child, Lorisha, could ever approach in her lifetime.

Suddenly feeling someone's eyes on me, I saw Misha staring at me intently from across the way. That proud and beautiful figure, trained from birth, seemed strangely unfamiliar to me.

I reflexively moved a few steps back and hid myself among the other examinees.

Walking among the examinees, I recalled several faces once more. Mother, the Count, the Countess...

The door was still wide open for the candidates entering. I had to leave now.

(This is a time separator.)

I spent the afternoon at the herbalist's shop. The old herbalist was delighted, laughing as if his mouth would split when I said I would visit more often.

I discovered herbs that the clerks were storing incorrectly, pointed them out, and even added more herbs that they had no plans to sell, to sell them.

I had always thought of becoming a home tutor like Teacher Julia, but thinking again, it seemed not bad to formally learn a trade here, and open my shop when I grew old.

Since the herbalist's son was not particularly competent, only spending money, I thought there might be a place for me if I did well.

Late in the afternoon, the number of carriages passing through the streets increased all at once. The test takers of the Imperial Academy entrance exam were returning home together.

Looking at it made my heart race.

My original plan was to sneak out of the examination hall around noon and return to the front of the hall when the test was over.

But coming to the herbalist's shop to pass the time, I didn't want to go back, no matter what. Not to the examination hall, nor to the Earl's house.

"If it were me, I wouldn't feed a kid like me."

When I muttered, the old herbalist shouted, 'What?'

"No, I think I should go now."

"Yes, yes. Come again tomorrow."

"I'll come again. I don't know if it'll be tomorrow."

I walked slowly back to the Earl's house. I couldn't step forward, but I didn't want the Countess to react sensitively as if I had run away.

Now I had only one hope. I staggered and muttered with force.

"Misha, you pass at least."

When I returned to the Earl's house after sunset, the Earl came to my room but did not ask when he saw my face.

Instead, I asked.

"Misha did well, right?"

"They say many of the past exam questions that the home tutors taught appeared."

"Thank goodness. Congratulations, Earl."

In the Empire, not all nobles were the same. Among nobles, they were divided into grades by Academy and non Academy graduates.

The Academy provided both honor and connections, and there it was common to establish lifelong relationships with royalty, and of course marriages.

It was a matter of course for the Earl's honor.

So it was something to congratulate.

"...Rest."

The Earl just said that and left. Instead, Teria told me to say anything I wanted to eat.

But I had no appetite. I only drank a piece of bread and water and fell asleep.

(This is a time separator.)

The results of the Academy entrance exam were announced a week later. As befitting the Empire's top educational institution, the notification was delivered to the examinee's home.

Misha's face was almost pale while the Countess opened the envelope. But when the Countess screamed with delight after reading the contents, Misha screamed along.

I heard the Countess's inelegant scream for the first time. The Earl also laughed joyfully.

I discreetly left the scene so the family could enjoy the moment together. I already knew what was in my envelope.

The Earl came to my room much later. It was after confirming the notice of failure.

"You'll be able to concentrate more on studying next year since the mansion will be quiet. I need to book lessons with the home tutors who took care of Misha this year."

"No, Teacher Julia's skills are not at all...."

I stopped talking. What did I have to say?

Then the Earl sighed heavily.

"Lorisha, we sometimes go slow and sometimes go fast. There's no need to mistake going slow for failure."

I stared at the Earl and said,

"Um.... Will you leave me an inheritance?"

"What?"

"That is, I need to know how much money I need to collect for my business in advance...."

The Earl was clearly flustered by that. I realized that I was saying something wrong. I wanted to slap my lips.

"I'm sorry. Pretend you didn't hear that."

"...Rest."

The Earl looked bewildered at the wall for a moment, then turned around.

"Sigh... You've gone completely mad, Lorisha."

I slumped into the chair, cursing myself.

Then, Misha came into the room, smiling broadly.

Damn it.

I gritted my teeth.

Let's sincerely congratulate her. Congratulate her. Congrats, congrats!

"Misha, congratulations on passing!"

Misha laughed so much that her mouth seemed to twitch. She sat down in front of me, rubbing her cheek.

"Oh, it was nothing. The Roar family has always been smart, you know. My father's intellectual ability was what resurrected our family from the brink of ruin since my grandfather's time, remember?"

It was a familiar story. A time when the former Roar Earl was living an almost exiled life in his fiefdom, hated by the Emperor.

The Earl met my mother during that time. And the strategic marriage with the daughter of a wealthy businessman, who had won the favor of the Emperor, was the way out of political isolation.

"I see."

For the first time, I saw Misha sincerely smile warmly at me. Was it the generosity naturally exuding from one who had won the world? Anyway, that's how it was.

She even leaned towards me in a friendly manner.

Don't do this, it's scary!

"I saw your result notification, you know?"

"Is... that so?"

"It was 0 points."

"Ah... You know, I guess I only read the wrong books since I studied almost on my own."

I broke out in a cold sweat. I thought they'd only tell me if I passed or failed, not send my scores.

Misha's eyes sparkled as she whispered.

"You did take the exam, right?"

"Huh...?"

"The teachers were so surprised to see your notebook. But you got 0 points? I saw you go into the examination room."

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This novel has been translated up to chapter 100.

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