NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22
The Imperial Rondalium Academy is flashy and massive.
Truly, it’s a building that embodies the pride of the Empire, generously pouring in the most advanced architectural technology. In some ways, it’s even more magnificent than the Imperial Palace. Though the palace has been maintained and expanded over hundreds of years, its foundation was built in medieval times.
However, the academy has only been around for about 30 years, and new buildings are still constantly being constructed. In fact, there is even a structure on the academy grounds similar to the Crystal Palace built in England, with streetlights illuminated not by gas but by magical stones. Not just the streetlights, but most of the lighting inside the buildings operates on magic.
Moreover, there are overwhelmingly more telephone lines installed here than in other buildings in the Imperial Capital, and a whole building is dedicated to the interpretation agency exclusively for the academy. This allows for almost perfect data processing at an incomparably faster rate than elsewhere. Since the agency runs on pure magic stones, there’s no black smoke either!
Additionally, the infirmary can handle even minor surgeries, and it’s connected to a university hospital. All essential items for daily living are provided as top-quality goods, courtesy of the Empire’s industrial production capabilities, and if a student needs it, personal weapons can be exchanged for imperial-grade ones.
Despite that, the tuition for attending the academy is fully covered by the imperial family for citizens of the Empire, and even for students from outside the Empire, the tuition is overwhelmingly cheaper compared to other academies. This academy is essentially run at a loss by the Empire.
The reason the Empire is so earnest about this academy is that it admits not only citizens of the Empire but also children from famous foreign families, and even royalty sometimes.
So that, after enjoying a good life here, they can feel discomfort when returning to their home. Additionally, to instill trust in the quality of goods produced by the Empire, this place has been made a “presentation room for the Empire itself.”
Therefore, the costs borne by the imperial family can be considered merely marketing expenses. There’s no reason to save money, as students who live here and return will come to use the Empire’s products in large quantities.
Paradoxically, that’s why it’s ideal for a child of the imperial family to attend this academy.
Whether Alice or I could achieve our original grades, it’s likely we could get in through special admission anyway. Who could complain about a place run by the imperial family in the first place?
“Valedictorian of Rondalium Academy, Alice Fanggriffon.”
Of course, Alice didn’t need such consideration.
With her snow-white hair perfectly parted in a precise 2:8 ratio, and a neatly curled mustache at the edge, the headmaster stood facing Alice.
Here, in this setting, neither Alice nor I are a princess. We are just ordinary students.
Even so, the students wouldn’t treat us casually, but the headmaster is different.
Abraham Fitzgerald Winterfield, a former Commander of the Imperial Army. He hails from one of the most renowned noble families in the Northern Region, producing three commanders of the Imperial Army no less. If this were in a romance fantasy, they’d say he’s from a duke’s family.
It’s no surprise that his granddaughter is at this academy. However, she is not a heroine. After graduating from this academy, she joined the military but gave up on that path and got a job as a teacher and instructor at this academy, appearing as a commoner class teacher.
While coming from a titled family, she has an open mind and rebels against her grandfather’s thoroughly aristocratic mindset, playing a typical yet classic good role.
Though she could later appear as a guest character and be used, typical of guest characters, her performance is outstanding, but her connections to other characters are limited, making it nearly impossible for her to be chosen in subsequent playthroughs. Besides, as a guest character, she wouldn’t be usable in the final battle.
“And the second highest, Claire Grace. Step forward.”
At the headmaster’s words, the two people who had been in front of me took another step forward.
I saw Claire go to the Grace Orphanage, but I never imagined she’d grow up so magnificently and even be adopted by the Grace family.
By the way, in the original work, Alice was the valedictorian, but the second highest was not Claire but a different character. That character was only a minor character and not important at all. After all, Claire didn’t even take the entrance exam for the academy.
If she’s been adopted by the Grace family, did she learn the swordsmanship of the Grace family? While her movements didn’t seem that impressive, she was called “a paragon of integrity” through the mouths of surrounding characters and impressed even the headmaster Winterfield in the story.
A whip sword… So, would she be using completely different sword techniques from the original Claire, who wielded a civil sword?
Though I was a princess, I wasn’t first or second, so I stayed with the other students. Sylvia, the character’s appearance, was beautiful, but that didn’t hold a candle to the looks of the two in front. In fact, saying she was beautiful was more a subjective view than an objective expression.
Upon reflection, both Leo and Claire have blue hair. While Claire’s is slightly darker… If the two said they were “siblings,” no one would suspect it. Among the nobles, rumors might already be circulating, but still.
“Both students have achieved much superior results compared to their peers of the same age. With that shining intellect, become worthy of the academy’s name and grow into great individuals who will command the Empire.”
What a funny story.
Both the valedictorian and the second highest are female, so in terms of rights, they might not even have voting rights. Since Alice is the next empress, it doesn’t really matter, but for Claire, from the noble perspective, “getting married well” is the best way to make a name for herself.
Fortunately, Baron Grace is not your “typical nobleman.”
Still, the Imperial Army claims to provide equal treatment to both women and men, so there’s that to consider. However, if the story doesn’t follow the original route and the emperor suddenly awakens and doesn’t become a saint, then that’s a different story.
Claire lightly bowed her head to the headmaster.
…But Alice didn’t…?
…Huh?
“……”
“……”
A moment of silence.
Alice, who must have felt the gaze on her, stood tall with her chest out, calmly staring at the headmaster without bowing her head.
Even the headmaster’s ice-cold expression briefly melted at that.
And, if my eyes weren’t deceiving me, I thought the headmaster smiled at Alice just a little.
A satisfied smile.
The “Chronicles of Aetherna” isn’t a strictly accurate historical simulation but rather a loose blend of the histories of several famous nations in Europe, closer to a fantasy of Japanese games with little basis in reality. However, to maintain the genre of “steampunk,” it significantly references the atmosphere of real historical nations.
Speaking of the atmosphere of those real nations, that is England’s atmosphere—
—If there is unjust treatment, one must never endure it and must voice up against it; in the end, one must claim their rights, even if it means risking their life for a duel, this was considered the “manly” spirit.
Of course, being a game, there are aspects that are exaggerated.
Alice wasn’t male, but from an external perspective, she was the only legitimate heir to inherit the nation.
The weight of the name “Fanggriffon” is not light. Even when combining the weight of every name in this nation, it wouldn’t surpass that of Fanggriffon.
Thus, Alice’s posture, holding her head high as the imperial heir, while not particularly good behavior according to the academy’s rules, was remarkably admirable, like that of a future empress in the eyes of a rigid-thinking old traditionalist who had just come down from the military’s peak.
If Alice were to become the empress in the future and the headmaster was still alive, the one giving orders would be Alice.
Perhaps that’s why the headmaster didn’t offer any special reprimand to Alice. If another student, for example, the duke’s child, had acted the same way, he would have surely scolded them.
The headmaster, with a satisfied expression, handed a plate he had been holding to Alice.
Alice took it up in a posture that seemed as if she had practiced this several times, standing very straight, and turned around militarily. Claire looked a bit flustered at Alice’s move, but soon followed suit.
Alice opened the plate and read what was written there.
“In this year of the glorious new century, 1901, the representative of the new students admitted to the Imperial Rondalium Academy, Alice Fanggriffon and 89 others solemnly swear to diligently uphold the academy’s rules, commit to learning, and forge friendships with fellow students, becoming individuals who will lead humanity.”
1901.
Both in the game and in reality, without a doubt, the era known as ‘Belle Époque,’ the good old days.
Though in reality, it wouldn’t be until over ten years later that the world war would break out, handling time like that in the game would likely become excessively loose.
Thus, in the game, events will start to unfold before we graduate from the academy.
That golden age would collapse in less than five years.
…And during that process, I intended to save every single heroine without leaving a single one behind. If necessary, I’d turn back time countless times.
“……”
The atmosphere in the auditorium was anything but light.
However, the existence of the headmaster and the princess before us is what caused that; among us, I’m sure everyone was eager to go back and relax. The academy’s dorms were luxuriously furnished, a rarity even for most nobles to experience.
After all, the new first-year students are just children who have just turned fifteen.
Actually, they might not even have turned fifteen yet; perhaps some are still a little younger.
They would want to make friends and experience romance too.
And… to be honest.
I wanted to make friends too, if not romance.
It’d be great if I could become friends with the original protagonists.
As I stood there absent-mindedly thinking, I suddenly felt a gaze on me.
“……”
I focused on the outer view while keeping my gaze locked on Alice. Though I didn’t see properly, it seemed—
—Claire, who was next to Alice, was looking at me.
…Did she recognize me?
That’s possible. Claire was extremely bright in the original work. Perhaps she’s even smarter now that she has grown up in a more relaxed environment, without any experience of opium addiction, nor indulging in alcohol or cigarettes, keeping her mind much clearer.
But that doesn’t mean I can reveal my identity right away…
…Huh?
Wait, what’s the reason I mustn’t reveal it?
If I just openly revealed it, it might feel awkward, but I don’t even know the reason for not doing so.
“……”
Maybe I’ll think about it a bit more.
Standing confidently, I watched as Alice took in the students’ gazes upon her.