Chapter 68
—
“Are you truly prepared?”
Lea quietly nodded at the duke’s question.
Viscount Belmond cast a sidelong glance at her.
She did seem noticeably calmer.
Before, she had exuded a much more mischievous air.
It wasn’t uncommon for those observing her to think, “Does this young lady have any sense of responsibility?”
Even when she was banished to the monastery by the orders of her father, Duke Dressel.
Most of the retainers had similar reactions at the time.
“I knew it would come to this.”
She had assaulted a commoner and disrupted a public square performance, prompting even the crown princess to intervene.
No matter how much protection the Dressel Ducal Family—one of the most prominent houses in the capital—offered, there were lines that should not be crossed.
Lea was a young girl who did not understand such boundaries.
It often felt like she exploited her status to act recklessly.
But now…
“She seems to have changed.”
The problem child who had caused so much trouble had returned completely transformed.
Perhaps she had finally realized the disappointment and distrust she had caused for her father, the retainers, and those who knew her name.
Her eyes were resolute, and her expression showed determination.
“If you give me one last chance, I promise I won’t ruin it.”
Lea bowed her head as she made her plea to the duke.
The duke let out a quiet sigh.
A chance?
How could he claim to be the one granting her a chance?
“When you meet Erdi, ask him again.”
If she truly sought forgiveness, it was only right to receive it from Erdi.
Everything rested on his decision.
***
“Today is finally the test day.”
Victor, walking beside me in the hallway, spoke with a cheerful expression.
“Are you that happy about it?”
“Of course! Though not because of the test, but because of the festival afterward.”
“Ah.”
This time, he had volunteered to guide visitors coming from afar, explaining the academy and escorting them to the event grounds.
Naturally, he had taken on this role himself.
“But don’t get too excited in front of the students.”
“I understand.”
Victor immediately changed his expression, as if my concern had never existed.
Had he been practicing acting lately?
It was almost method-level.
“Well then.”
We parted ways at the midpoint since our classrooms were different.
***
“I will now distribute the test papers.”
At my words, the students stood one by one to receive the sheets handed out at the front.
“You will each receive three sheets. Please check that nothing is missing.”
After a brief period of preparation, the bell rang.
The students lowered their heads in unison, focused.
Only the faint scratching sound of pens filled the room.
“Once you’ve completed your answers, you may submit your papers and leave.”
Of course, speed was not part of the evaluation criteria.
What mattered was how many correct answers they provided and how accurately they solved the problems.
This theory test, despite being meant to intimidate the students, was relatively easy by my standards.
Reading notes and rests.
The order of basic scales.
The fundamentals of key signatures, intervals, and chords.
If this were modern-day Earth, it would be equivalent to an elementary school-level pop quiz.
Of course, not all of it was that simple.
I had included some challenging questions here and there.
For instance, understanding diminished and augmented intervals.
“What is the note a diminished fifth below A?”
“And what is the note an augmented fourth above A?”
The answer to both was A#.
These questions tested whether they understood semitone intervals and could accurately apply the concepts of diminished and augmented intervals.
Some might still call this a joke of a test.
But this was the introductory class.
This level was appropriate.
As expected.
Even Diana or Erdi, who had been receiving private lessons from me for some time, clung to their test papers for over 20 minutes.
Well.
Even knowledge that one is familiar with can seem to disappear when the word “test” is attached to it.
Practice and actual performance are different beasts.
I wondered who would be the first to submit their answers and leave the room.
Just as I was pondering this, someone stood up abruptly and walked toward me.
Selena Winter.
She wasn’t the only one.
Several other students followed behind her.
“Please leave quietly so as not to disturb others.”
“Yes.”
After exchanging those whispered words, I immediately began reviewing the submitted papers.
Would their scores be as high as their speed suggested?
“…Missed the very first question.”
The first question asked for the exact name of a note.
I had thought it was so easy that I placed it at the beginning.
However, as I checked the rest of the answers, it became clear that this was an isolated mistake.
Overall, three answers were incorrect.
Unfortunately, not a perfect score.
But still, a high one.
The students who submitted their answers after Selena showed similar scores.
It seemed everyone had studied diligently, which made me pleased.
Satisfied.
Not long after.
Everyone had finished the test and left the classroom.
It had taken exactly 40 minutes.
After carefully organizing the test papers, I headed to the lounge.
Victor and I planned to grade them together.
“How was the atmosphere on your side?”
He asked me.
“Everyone seemed to be putting in quite a bit of effort.”
“We were about the same.”
The second exam is held after lunch.
With plenty of time, I carefully reviewed each question and checked the answers one by one.
It would be troublesome if I made any mistakes.
“…It’s a bit exhausting to check the exam papers for hundreds of students all at once.”
“Let’s look at the rest after dinner.”
By the time we had finished about half, it was already lunchtime.
We had a quick meal in the cafeteria and then returned to the lecture hall.
***
“Phew…”
The second exam was a random sheet music performance evaluation.
Each student came forward to play their assigned piece, and scores were recorded simultaneously.
By the time it ended, it was already evening.
Both the cadets taking the exam and Victor and I, who had just been sitting and observing, were utterly drained.
“Let’s split this into two days from next time.”
Victor slumped onto the sofa, his body completely limp.
I understood his exhaustion.
“That’s not possible. Exams must be conducted in the same space at the same time for everyone.”
That’s the only way to ensure at least some fairness.
Fortunately, the exam results are scheduled to be announced after the festival, so there’s no rush to finalize everything.
There’s no way to rush, in fact.
Without the internet, this is the problem.
Everything has to be checked and marked manually, circle by circle.
“Well, at least it’s over.”
I had been worried that in their excitement for the upcoming festival, someone might make a mistake.
But surprisingly, everyone performed beyond expectations.
At this rate, I might raise the difficulty level of the lectures next semester.
“By the way, how is the selection of students for the festival stage coming along?”
This time, I asked Victor.
“We haven’t even gotten to the selection process yet. There are over sixty applicants.”
“…”
I had expected as much.
“We can’t send all of them up, so I’ll narrow it down to about ten.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
Victor agreed to handle this part.
I have too many other tasks to take care of.
It’s exhausting.
***
Five days later.
On a day when summer was just around the corner.
The long-anticipated festival finally began.
“…What is all this?”
Knowing there would be crowds, I stayed at the academy instead of returning to the estate yesterday.
It wouldn’t do to get stuck in traffic on my way to work.
Traffic exists in this world too.
Not cars, but carriages.
Anyway.
The moment I woke up in the morning, I opened the window to check outside.
‘Why does it feel like there are even more people than at the square concert?’
This festival was planned to allow not only academy cadets but also outsiders to visit and enjoy.
In other words, the advertisement essentially said, “Anyone who wants to come is welcome.”
I didn’t expect that to actually come true.
I quickly dressed up and went outside.
“Good morning, Professor.”
“Good morning, Professor.”
I met cadets who were already out at the event venue.
After exchanging brief greetings, I headed towards the entrance.
The benches and tents that Hugo and his guild members had set up were already packed with people.
The stalls and shops lined up in front of the buildings had already started their business.
“Wild boar skewers, only one silver coin for today!”
A restaurant owner I often saw during visits to my father’s estate stood on a wooden box and shouted, attracting a crowd.
‘Wild boar skewers are irresistible.’
And only one silver coin.
A very reasonable price.
It seems they decided to sell more for less rather than sell fewer at high prices.
‘This side seems to be doing well.’
Academy staff appeared to be helping with management here and there, so there shouldn’t be any major issues.
I headed to the theatre to meet Edward first.
“You’re here?”
Edward greeted me warmly as soon as he saw me.
“Did you see the crowd outside?”
“I did.”
How could he remain so calm?
I’ve been to theatres, academies, and concerts many times and seen large crowds, but today feels like an entirely different world.
Honestly, even at the Imperial Knights’ departure ceremony, the turnout wasn’t this overwhelming.
“Well, that’s only natural. There’s a rumour that His Majesty the Emperor will visit tomorrow. Everyone must have come early to wait.”
“…What?”
That’s news to me.
“Edward, did you send an invitation to the Imperial Family?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“What a strange question. Isn’t it obvious? This is an event hosted by the Capital Academy.”
“That’s true.”
In any case, Edward was in charge of handling the invitations.
That effectively meant he had full authority.
If the Emperor comes in person, the Crown Princess, Elize, will likely accompany him.
Will I get to see Luhan after a long time?
That much is uncertain.
“Oh, right.”
“What’s the matter?”
“A sudden ominous feeling came over me.”
—
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