Whoever Said You Could?
My brain was running at full throttle.
Pour everything out. Every last drop.
Only then would the answer reveal itself.
My mind accelerated. I even mobilized my mana to wring every ounce of power from my brain.
‘Cheating’s out of the question.’
The proctoring was far too strict. Even with my Mind’s Eye fully open, I couldn’t peek at anyone else’s test paper.
That left me with no choice but to rely on one of the academy’s classic clichés.
If I just spouted some profound-sounding nonsense...
The professors would overinterpret it and hand me a perfect score. That kind of cliché.
— Eh? Amazing. How did you come up with an answer like this...?
— This is impossible. This is nothing short of revolutionary!
I even pictured the professors gasping in shock inside my head before I finally picked up my pen.
Then I started scribbling down answers without hesitation.
I solved every single question.
Tap.
I set the pen down.
A satisfied smile crept across my face.
[Professor, I’m sorry. I love you.]
I copy-pasted that exact sentence for every single answer.
From the professors’ perspective, it would look like:
[Professor, I’m sorry. I love you.] [Professor, I’m sorry. I love you.] [Professor, I’m sorry. I love you.] [Professor, I’m sorry. I love you.] . . .
Wouldn’t they see it that way? At the very least, they’d probably give me extra points just for the sincerity.
And that was how I managed to score a solid high mark (zero points) on the written exam.
‘It’s fine. The written exam only counts for twenty percent of the total score.’
If I crushed the practical portion—the White Night Festival—I could snatch the top spot as easily as slicing cake. Not that I absolutely had to come in first, but it was a matter of pride.
I’d already built up an image with Isana that I was some genius who won the Fields Medal at age seven. Failing to take first place would cause problems in its own way.
Besides, I was going to score perfectly at the White Night Festival anyway.
If I didn’t end up as top student, everyone would realize just how badly I’d bombed the written test.
“Did you do well, my lord?”
By pure coincidence—or perhaps fate—I ran into Isana right after.
“Of course. Like I told you before, I’ve mastered everything.”
“Still, I’m a little worried. The test covered material we focused on heavily in class.”
Why tell me that now?
I felt a twinge of resentment.
‘Well, it’s not like I was paying attention anyway.’
“Ah, yeah. There were definitely some things that weren’t in the textbook. But I had enough knowledge to work through them.”
“You’re incredible.”
Isana’s eyes sparkled.
I couldn’t bring myself to meet that shining gaze.
“It’s tomorrow. The day of the White Night Festival.”
“Yeah.”
“I wish I could participate, but I’ll be cheering for you from the stands.”
Isana smiled bitterly.
Now that she was a slave, she could attend the festival—but only as a spectator.
She couldn’t participate as a student.
The same went for Linea.
“Winning.”
“Huh?”
“If I win for you, that should be enough, right? In your place.”
“Pfft. What are you even saying?”
Isana gently placed her hand over mine.
“Still… if you give me victory as a gift, I think I’d be really happy.”
She smiled brightly, like an innocent child, her eyes curving into soft crescents.
*****
The academy was buzzing from the crack of dawn.
Countless people had gathered here.
Since Rosewood Academy was known as the exclusive domain of nobles, the majority of attendees were aristocrats and their entourages.
“We’re Master’s family.”
“My lord, please don’t be too disheartened.”
The orphan family had assembled.
Just me—the original orphan—along with Linea and Isana, both of whom I had turned into orphans.
…That sounded weird even to me.
Anyway, the three of us were strolling around the academy grounds.
Seah and Erde were busy preparing for the White Night Festival and had no time to spare. Katrina had gone to have an audience with the Emperor.
And since Ceres was the Saintess, she wasn’t someone we could casually meet whenever we wanted.
“Well, it can’t be helped. Even if I had a family, they probably wouldn’t have been allowed to come. I’m a commoner, after all. This isn’t a festival commoners can afford to attend.”
“Master…”
Linea’s eyes grew misty with sympathy.
Was this Stockholm syndrome?
The victim was feeling sorry for her abuser.
Still, I was grateful.
I gently stroked Linea’s hair.
“Don’t be sad. As long as I have you two, that’s enough.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Hehe.”
I scratched under her chin as she beamed.
She must have liked it; she started purring contentedly, her expression turning languid.
“M-my lord… me too.”
“What a strange sense of rivalry.”
Even as I said that, I gave her the same treatment.
“Isana, you’re second?”
“The order doesn’t matter. What matters is that you listened to my request, my lord.”
“Hmph. Master did it for me because he wanted to.”
As always, the two of them bickered.
What were they going to do if they kept this up during the White Night Festival?
I gave them each a light flick on the forehead, then continued walking through the academy.
The opening ceremony was approaching, so everyone was moving with purpose.
“I should head over soon.”
Free time was over.
All students had to gather at their assigned spots and follow their supervising professor for the opening ceremony.
After all, the White Night Festival was both an exam and a festival.
“Take care!”
“Master, do your best!”
I headed to the assembly point amid their cheers.
The first-year Magic Department students were already lining up in front of their supervisor, Seah.
I joined the line and glanced around at the familiar faces.
The students’ expressions were all over the place.
Some were clearly excited for the upcoming festival.
Others looked so tense they were almost comical.
As for me?
I was perfectly normal.
“I’ll now take attendance.”
Seah pulled out the roll sheet.
She didn’t even glance at the students, simply reading through the names one by one.
“Everyone’s accounted for. Follow me!”
All the first-year Magic Department students trailed behind Seah as we moved toward the main venue.
The venue was the largest place I had ever seen in my life.
Every student in the academy.
Nobles seated in the VIP section.
Even spectators who had come just to watch the White Night Festival.
The crowd was absolutely massive.
Yet on the highest platform, only two people sat with solemn dignity.
Jeron Berk, the principal of Rosewood Academy.
And Valdehak Aurel Romenheim, Emperor of the Romenheim Empire.
Just their presence alone dominated the entire hall.
‘My chest feels tight just looking at them.’
The same principal who had been cracking jokes with me was sitting up there like that.
Just as I was beginning to feel a spark of respect for the principal, he rose from his seat.
He walked to the front of the dais, cleared his throat, and slowly began to speak.
“I offer my gratitude to everyone gathered here today, and to His Imperial Majesty, the Sun of the Empire, who graces us with his presence.”
The principal’s low but powerful voice commanded the entire space.
“The White Night Festival is an undying sun. Held every year, it has illuminated the Empire and brought glory to our Rosewood Academy. This year will be no different. Through this festival, we shall proudly display the Empire’s strength and its brilliant future. There is only one thing I desire: that you all simply enjoy it. Forget yesterday’s pain, and let it become fertilizer for tomorrow. While the White Night Festival lasts, I hope you will witness the Empire’s treasures shining with dazzling brilliance.”
The opening speech was short.
Perhaps because it was an annual event, the script had been refined to perfection.
But the real highlight was the address that would follow.
After finishing his speech, the principal returned to his seat.
Then the Emperor, whose rear had grown quite heavy with age, rose with dignified grace.
With every step he took, an overwhelming aura spread from the high platform throughout the entire venue.
“I am the 37th Emperor of the Romenheim Empire, Valdehak Aurel Romenheim.”
The Emperor closed his eyes.
It was a moment of remembrance.
For those who had died in the recent rebellion.
“The Empire is the sun. The Empire is the shelter of its people. Like the sun, it shines upon its citizens and provides the sustenance they need to live. That is why the Empire is eternal. As long as its people exist, the Empire shall never fall.”
Every time the Emperor spoke in his calm tone, sniffles could be heard from various places in the crowd.
Many had lost family in this rebellion.
“Rosewood Academy is a place where outstanding citizens gather to shape the future. At the White Night Festival, we catch a glimpse of that future.”
The Emperor, who had been delivering his address, gave a solemn smile.
“And I have seen a clear vision of that future in one exceptional citizen of the Empire.”
Wasn’t this straying from the original speech?
The moment that thought crossed my mind—
“The one who severed the Empire’s pain. The talent who will one day lead the Empire forward.”
His voice grew louder.
For some reason, all eyes turned toward me.
“Ethan.”
Seah gave me a small nod.
‘So this is the reward.’
Why give it in the middle of an address?
I was confused, but standing there blankly would only earn me the title of the greatest fool in imperial history.
That was something I couldn’t allow.
Under the weight of everyone’s expectations, I walked forward with steady steps.
A path opened before me.
The Emperor and the principal’s gazes fixed on me.
I stepped onto the high platform and offered a light bow.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
Normally one would kneel, but since I was here to receive a reward, excessive formality probably wasn’t what they wanted.
“Raise your head.”
I met the Emperor’s eyes directly.
He looked at me and declared in a loud voice.
“You, a mere commoner, have removed the moon that obscured the sun. Thanks to your achievement, the sun that had been hidden by the moon now shines once more. Because of you, the Empire can see another day. I do not turn my back on the Empire’s hero.”
The Emperor smiled faintly.
“I hereby bestow upon you the title of viscount.”
Wow. Somehow I’d become a noble.
It wasn’t unusual to grant peerage for great service, but I never expected to receive it during an address.
‘I’ll just dump the territory management on someone else.’
I still had no desire to fulfill any noble obligations.
As I entertained such idle thoughts, waiting for the ceremony to end—
“And I grant you permission to marry the Imperial Princess. From this day forward, you are bound to the imperial family by marriage.”
“…?”
What the fuck?
I never agreed to this?