Chapter 55
—
The dean and Duke Montella came to visit my father’s estate.
Valcares Academy.
The branch campus would soon open here.
They must have come to check if everything was properly completed.
Perhaps they also intended to convey their congratulations.
Since these were important guests, I thought about preparing a banquet, but Duke Montella adamantly refused, and the plan was scrapped.
“I am ashamed for not hosting you both properly.”
“Ashamed? It’s you who did all the hard work. Why should we be the ones to receive a welcome?”
The duke said this with a calm expression as he extended his hand for a handshake.
“I have high expectations.”
“You will not be disappointed.”
The three of us headed to the site where the finishing touches were underway.
“…This is incredible.”
Standing in front of the building, Duke Montella let out an exclamation.
He seemed genuinely shocked, his lips trembling slightly.
“Is this the academy?”
“Yes, it is.”
“…It’s far more astounding than it looked in the blueprints.”
The duke nodded repeatedly, his amazement clear.
The dean was no different.
This reaction was expected.
Who could see this and not be impressed?
The pentagonal outer walls, symmetrical to an almost unbelievable degree, defied the usual medieval architectural styles of this otherworld.
Five sharp corners.
On either side, there were lodges and a museum.
Upon entering, visitors were greeted by a massive theatre.
One side of the spacious area housed a garden and a fountain, along with booths for ticket sales and simple seating.
It was, in essence, a comprehensive cultural space encompassing all facets of capital arts.
“I already knew, but seeing it in person… the design is truly bold.”
“We owe much to the stonemason of the construction guild, Hugo Kahn.”
Without him, such an experimental design would have been unthinkable.
Experts are crucial no matter where you go.
This masterpiece was born from the meeting of craftsmanship and artistic creativity.
Anyone stepping into this place would surely be overwhelmed by its futuristic and sophisticated atmosphere.
You could tell just by looking at Duke Montella and the dean, who had completely forgotten their dignity and were gawking around with their mouths agape.
“It looks much better than the northern academy. You always find a way to surprise me.”
The two of them spoke almost simultaneously.
“You flatter me.”
“Ha-ha.”
Well, I don’t think they’re entirely wrong.
The northern academy is a cradle of knowledge that has endured through history.
It’s a place steeped in tradition and order, boasting a noble heritage that has served as the Empire’s pillar for decades.
In contrast, this branch campus we built in the capital has little to do with such orthodoxy.
We didn’t even try to present it as traditional.
We deliberately distanced ourselves from conventions.
A forward-thinking design.
We incorporated all kinds of new technologies into the building’s exterior construction, and the interior was adorned with magic.
That was Hugo’s suggestion.
When funds kept flowing, he enthusiastically brought one idea after another.
The ceilings featured lights instead of chandeliers.
Every wall and floor was soundproofed, and each lecture room was equipped with a large stage and a grand piano.
Each room could be seen as a miniature theatre.
A space designed solely for artistic innovation.
‘This is the gateway to a new world.’
I stood before the two men, who kept exclaiming in awe at the front entrance.
This was still only the tip of the iceberg.
“There’s something I’d like to show you.”
And something to propose.
***
We entered the academy building together.
Warm sunlight filtered through the stained glass, painting the atrium a shade of orange.
Passing by the tables and chairs scattered around, we climbed the stairs to the second floor.
“What is this place?”
Duke Montella asked.
“It’s a hall designed for cadets to freely practice their performances.”
“The more I see, the more fascinating it becomes.”
I can understand why he thinks so.
It defies common sense.
We walked between the pianos, which seemed to be arranged like decorations.
Someone was sitting at one of them.
When our eyes met, the person slightly bowed their head.
“This is my colleague, Erdi. You’ve met him before.”
“It’s been a while.”
The three exchanged handshakes and greetings.
The atmosphere was pleasant for now.
But what about this?
I planned to drop a bombshell at this point.
“Dean, and Duke Montella.”
I called them respectfully.
“I intend to appoint Erdi as a professor at the academy.”
As expected, both were startled and momentarily frozen.
Only briefly, though.
“That’s a good idea.”
Huh?
Duke Montella responded with a kind smile.
“I remember seeing Erdi’s performance at the competition you hosted long ago.”
Oh, right.
“That was outstanding. If I recall correctly, he won first place. He’s clearly very talented.”
“Yes, he’s one of the few I personally recognize.”
However, the dean’s opinion seemed slightly different.
“Hm…”
He narrowed his eyes, letting out a conspicuous sigh.
“But Erdi is…”
“A commoner.”
That must have been what he wanted to say.
“You say he is someone you acknowledge as talented, so I trust your judgment. But… appointing him as a professor without hesitation seems to be hindered by his status.”
That was quite a straightforward opinion.
‘It’s better to hear it laid out so plainly.’
I hadn’t expected immediate approval anyway.
Erdi must have anticipated as much as well.
It took months just to persuade him to this point.
“There will surely be strong opposition. You know this as well, don’t you, Young Master?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make it happen, no matter what.”
I lost count of how many similar conversations we had.
In any case.
I wasn’t planning to back down so easily.
“Even Sir Kosolin highly regards Erdi’s talent. He even admitted that Erdi was several steps ahead of himself. The original reason I planned this arts academy was to spread music to more people. With Erdi, it will surely be a great help.”
“I understand what you mean. However…”
Even after such a persuasive argument, the dean was still stroking his chin, deep in thought.
As expected, he wasn’t an easy person to deal with.
“This is not something that can be decided unilaterally. It’s not something we can settle on our own.”
So, that was the issue.
Getting approval to appoint Erdi as an academy professor didn’t solely depend on the dean or Duke Montella’s permission.
Of course, their approval was important too.
But the bigger challenge was persuading the cadets who would be enrolling here—and their families.
The first step was to provide a proper explanation to them.
If we couldn’t convince them with solid reasoning for why they should be taught by a commoner, everything would ultimately fall apart.
No matter how much we praised Erdi among ourselves, it would only seem like an unreasonable decision to nobles who value tradition and order.
I could already envision the kinds of complaints that might arise.
“When the theatre is completed, I plan to host a solo recital for Erdi.”
First, it was necessary to solidify his skills in everyone’s minds.
There was no better way than this.
“I’m sorry, but…”
For some reason, the dean’s expression didn’t change as he expressed his discomfort.
“Even if his skills are demonstrated, this won’t be resolved so easily. Being an outstanding performer and being someone worthy of respect are two different things. He is undoubtedly a talented artist, but can that alone earn him respect from the nobles?”
When I heard this, I realized he had a point.
Nobles showing respect to a commoner…
That was not an easy thing to expect.
They might become fans after hearing Erdi’s performance.
That much would likely be simple.
But would they go further and want to be taught by him?
I couldn’t be certain of that.
“A professor of commoner origin…”
“I admit his talent, but learning from someone below us…”
Responses like this could very well emerge.
This would turn into a serious headache.
‘This might be harder to resolve than I thought.’
You never know until you try…
But should I give up?
As I unconsciously tilted my head, deep in thought, the dean spoke up.
It seemed he had come up with something.
“If you truly want to run the academy alongside him, there is one way.”
***
“What will you do now?”
“Leave it to me. I have an idea.”
The dean had given me a suggestion.
Gathering signatures from nobles who acknowledged Erdi’s qualifications.
As many as possible.
It was indeed a solid plan.
If that could be achieved, integrating Erdi into noble society despite his commoner status might not be an impossible task.
Having names proven in social circles backing him would serve as undeniable support.
I began compiling a list of potential guarantors.
The first to come to mind were my father and Count Haverland.
These two would undoubtedly step forward to help us.
I also sent a letter to Iolin.
I was sure she would respond positively.
‘And Duke Montella can practically be considered an ally.’
This much should suffice, shouldn’t it?
No.
It wasn’t enough.
I needed to secure this more firmly.
Just in case, I decided to leave a message for Margrave Rosley as well.
And finally.
I had my trump card.
“I’ll have to visit the Imperial Palace.”
—
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