Chapter 52
The news that I would be going to the academy sparked enthusiastic reactions—not just from my family.
“R-Really? Is that true?”
That was Raon’s reaction.
“How did you manage to persuade them so well?”
Ivharun said with a smile.
“That’s amazing!”
As always, Sern clapped her hands together in delight.
“I hope you all pass.”
And lastly, that was Lukran.
Twisting a strand of my hair around my fingers, I replied,
“Father and my brothers said I have to come home every weekend and holiday no matter what. So even though it’s a boarding system, I’ll still end up coming home a few times a month.”
“So you negotiated a deal, huh.”
“Um, but…”
Sern tilted her head curiously.
“Have you finished preparing for the entrance exam?”
A heavy silence fell over the sitting room.
“Well… about that…”
I gazed off into the distance.
I wasn’t the only one. Raon quickly pulled out his ever-present notebook—the one he proudly called his ‘Super! Foolproof Cheat Notes’—and began muttering to himself. Lukran crossed his arms, but there was the faintest twitch to his expression.
Yes.
The reputation of the world’s top academy wasn’t undeserved. The entrance exam for Lebekam Academy was on a whole other level.
When I first saw last year’s exam paper, my eyes nearly popped out. Was this really an exam for fourteen-year-olds? Endless essay after essay, followed by practical tests…
It was enough to make me groan.
“I really am studying hard right now. Honestly, today’s the first time I’ve had a break in ages.”
Since the exam was only weeks away, I was back to one-on-one lessons with my tutor, Lloyd. Father had gone out of his way to assign him to me, even though Lloyd must’ve been busy himself.
‘If you’re going to enter, then you might as well earn a scholarship too, don’t you think?’
…That was Father’s reasoning.
And he wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t about money. Father, my brothers, even my uncle—every one of them had entered with a scholarship. I couldn’t be the one to break that tradition.
After all, I bore the name of the Roshahil family. It would be unacceptable for anyone to whisper that I had gotten in with poor grades or through connections.
So the conclusion was…
Yes, I had Lloyd’s own foolproof study notes!
I automatically pulled out the past papers from my pocket and flipped through them. They were already tattered from overuse, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down until I had them completely memorized.
I don’t think I ever studied this hard in my previous life.
Clenching my fists, I silently declared:
Victory! Scholarship or nothing!
Watching me from the side, Ivharun chuckled softly.
“Seems like a lot will change in the new year.”
He was right.
Outside, snow was falling thick and fast. The fireplace crackled warmly, the table was piled with hot chocolate and snacks, Raon’s mystery novels, and Lukran’s chess set.
They were peaceful, blissful days.
And I prayed fervently in my heart.
This scene was so warm, so happy… I wished it could last forever.
Later that night…
—So it’s settled? You’re going to the academy?
“Yeah. But it’s not certain yet. I’m still studying with Lloyd, and I don’t know if I’ll actually pass the entrance exam.”
—You’ll do fine.
Thea’s short laugh filled the room.
I was clutching the magic-stone necklace, speaking with him through it.
“Thea, you don’t need to attend academies like this, right? You don’t really need a certificate anyway.”
—Princes are educated separately in the imperial palace.
“That’s a shame. It would’ve been great if you could’ve come too. Oh, Lukran and Raon are taking the exam with me.”
—…Lukran and Raon?
“Yeah, you know them. You saw them at the palace last time.”
—Of course.
Somehow, I felt like Thea was smiling on the other end.
—Are you close with them?
“Well…”
I was about to answer without much thought, but then I hesitated. Was it just me, or did Thea’s voice sound oddly sharp?
—I’ve changed my mind.
“H-Huh?” I blinked.
—I’ll visit sometimes.
“What? But didn’t you just say you’d be too busy? And isn’t it dangerous?”
—Did you forget who I am?
“O-Of course I know you’re an incredible magician, but still…”
His confidence made me sigh, but before long, I couldn’t help but brighten up.
“Fine then! Come visit often. I heard the academy has a lot to see, and sometimes there are festivals too.”
—Mm. I’ll definitely come.
“Promise? You promised just now!”
—Yeah. I promise.
Just hearing him say that made it feel like I’d already passed. Yes—no matter what, I had to pass. I clenched my fists tightly.
“…Hey, Thea.”
I could feel my cheeks heating up.
“…The Roshahil family can’t support you. We’ve always stayed neutral.”
The words came out haltingly, but Thea simply nodded as if it was nothing.
—I know. I don’t expect anything like that.
“…But still.”
I swallowed hard.
“…I may not be much, but I’ll try. I’ll work harder, so that I can become someone you can rely on. So…”
I felt my face getting hotter and hotter.
—…
“So, um… I don’t know how else to say this, but…”
After fumbling with my words for what felt like forever, I finally forced out a single phrase.
“Watch over me.”
There was a long silence.
—Alright.
“…!”
—I’ll wait.
Thea’s words resonated deeply within me. With an effort, I calmed my burning cheeks and smiled brightly.
“Mm.”
Not long after the new year, major news came from the imperial palace.
The First Consort had officially been crowned Empress.
The palace held a grand two-week-long banquet to celebrate, doubling as the New Year’s festival. Of course, our Roshahil family couldn’t be absent.
That was the first time I saw Alteo’s mother, Cardia.
She turned out to be far more ordinary than I had imagined.
As Ivharun’s maternal aunt and the former Lady Peregrine, I thought she would be especially sharp or intimidating. But instead, she seemed like a cheerful noblewoman—laughing easily, chatting warmly.
Her brilliant red eyes and hair only added to her lively aura, making her look almost girlish despite her age.
With his mother crowned Empress, Alteo practically floated around the ballroom, brimming with energy as he greeted every noble in sight. I couldn’t help but shake my head at the sight.
“Lady Roshahil, hohoho.”
It seemed Cardia had taken quite a liking to me.
Of course, the look in her eyes was that of someone evaluating a suitable bride for her son. Drinking kimchi soup before being offered rice cake, as the saying goes. With that thought in mind, I handled her politely but kept my distance.
Though the new year had already begun, the details of the rebellion still remained a mystery.
And so, the year started with many questions left unanswered.
By mid-January, it was time for the entrance exam to Lebekam Imperial Academy.
Since it was the coldest month of the year, I bundled up in heavy layers before heading out.
The “City of Scholars,” Lebekam—right beside the capital—was every bit as impressive as its reputation.
In the past, Lebekam had been an unremarkable town, apart from its proximity to the capital. But because ancient ruins and relics were so often unearthed there, the fourth emperor of the Ulysses Empire had decided to develop it strategically.
The land was excavated for relics, the roads paved for carriages.
Perhaps because it was truly a scholar’s city, everyone we passed carried books. Even in the cold weather, young men in the square recited poetry or offered to sketch portraits for free.
It was a fascinating city.
But above all else—its most striking feature was the massive Lebekam Imperial Academy that occupied half the city.
In awe, I looked up at the full view of the academy.
At the center of the square-shaped main building rose a great clock tower. The golden bell at its peak tolled twelve, resonating through the winter air.
Beside me, Raon and Lukran were just as awestruck.
“It’s incredible! This is the first time I’ve seen the Golden Bell of Lebekam in person!”
“Magnificent.”
But our wonder didn’t last long—we hurried into the academy.
The main lecture hall retained its old architectural style, exuding a dignified charm, while the annex—where the entrance exams were held—was a modern structure.
People had come from all across the empire. The carriages crowding the square were one thing, but inside the annex, there were already throngs of applicants waiting for their turn.
I spotted a few familiar faces but deliberately ignored them. With the exam ahead, I was too nervous to keep up my usual cheerful mask.
Finally, the entrance exam began.
Because of the word “exam,” I had imagined we would all sit in a single classroom, scribbling answers to the same questions. The reality was different.
Instead, it took place in a bright, cozy room resembling a parlor. We had interviews with professors and wrote essay-style papers.
The questions were tough, of course—but not impossible. I didn’t feel like I had failed.
Leaving the building afterward, my steps felt light. The snow crunched softly beneath my leather shoes.
If I could spend the next four years here, it would be wonderful.
I looked up once more. In the distance stood the dormitories—one for boys, one for girls. Below them stretched a wide training field, now bare in the winter cold, but sure to turn green again come spring.
Well then, time to head back.
I moved to climb into the carriage.
If only… I hadn’t noticed that.
