Chapter 22
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22
The Brillant Empire.
As the only empire on the Spring Continent, the Brillant Empire was supported by four massive pillars.
First was the Imperial Family.
Second was the House of Grand Duke Frezier.
Third were the four Ducal Houses.
And finally, the White Ivory Tower.
The Temple exerted its influence across the entire Spring Continent, transcending the borders of the Empire. However, it was an unwritten rule that they did not interfere in politics, meaning their secular influence remained relatively small.
The White Ivory Tower, one of the pillars supporting the Brillant Empire, promoted the Empire's development through the constant research and intellectual pursuits of its elite scholars.
Their influence was so great that every professor at the Academy—which was located in an independent region of the continent—hailed from the White Ivory Tower.
The scholars of the White Ivory Tower were only permitted to leave its walls after receiving the title of "Pneuma." Among all the Pneumas in history, the youngest to ever achieve the rank was Schuls Schmidt.
Possessing a naturally cold temperament and no interest in anything outside of academia, Schuls Schmidt stared intently at Grand Duke Asis Frezier.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier was a man like a crafty, aged beast.
A king of predators who commanded the vast plains.
He was the Empire’s greatest high noble, possessing exactly that sort of impression and aura.
Standing before such a man, Schuls Schmidt spoke in a flat, toneless voice.
"A perfect score."
"..."
"A perfect score."
"..."
"A perfect score."
At the very top of the exam papers, all marked with the highest possible grade and scrawled with a Pneuma’s unique signature, was the name 'Tulia Frezier.'
"It has only been two years since I was appointed as a Pneuma, and I have never taught any young ladies or lords from families other than the Grand Ducal House of Frezier."
"..."
"However, I have never heard of a student receiving a perfect score on the first exam administered by a scholar of the White Ivory Tower."
Grand Duke Asis Frezier leafed through Tulia’s exam papers without offering a particular response.
"It means Lady Tulia is a formidable talent, Your Grace."
Luc Kelposher, who was standing at attention by the office door, caught a fleeting glimpse.
The corner of Grand Duke Asis Frezier’s mouth twitched ever so slightly.
There was no grandparent in the world who disliked hearing their grandchild being praised.
But to think it was that Grand Duke Asis.
‘Then again, if it’s Lady Tulia, it’s understandable why His Grace would think of her differently.’
Out of the many children and grandchildren of this massive family, only Tulia had recently begun to treat Grand Duke Asis like a real 'grandfather.'
Luc Kelposher tactfully pretended not to notice the Grand Duke’s fleeting smile.
‘A lot has changed since Lady Tulia entered the main castle—no, since she had that formal banquet with His Grace in the warehouse the day before.’
To begin with, the very fact that these two were having a meeting was proof of that.
A one-on-one meeting between a scholar of the White Ivory Tower and the Grand Duke of Frezier was something that wouldn't have happened even if the world split in two.
If Schuls Schmidt hadn't unilaterally sought out Grand Duke Asis today, he would have left the Grand Duchy without sharing a single private word with him until the lessons for all the direct and branch members were over.
Furthermore, Schuls Schmidt was scheduled to leave the Frezier territory as early as next week.
"Currently, there are only two members of the direct lineage in the Frezier territory: Lord Tedric and Lady Tulia," Schuls Schmidt continued in a businesslike tone. "I have heard that Lord Tedric is undergoing advanced studies with no fewer than eight private tutors in addition to the regular classes he takes with me."
Such cases were common in most noble families.
Of course, only families of Ducal rank or higher could afford to hire as many as eight tutors.
Regardless, thanks to that, Tedric’s individual scores were top-tier—enough for Viscount Lilius and Viscountess Aubrey to feel confident.
"What I am curious about is what kind of private tutor was assigned to Lady Tulia."
Just what kind of teacher could they be for her to get every single question right, even the ones in the Ancient Language?
To be honest, Schuls Schmidt had nearly fainted while grading the papers, which was why he had sought out the Grand Duke immediately.
He expected that the Grand Duke must have told Tulia to keep quiet about such a talented individual, so he went straight to the source.
Wasting time was something the scholars of the White Ivory Tower, the Pneumas, loathed above all else.
"If you would connect us with that hidden sage, I will send Elders from the Tower—who boast the greatest knowledge even among us—to the Frezier territory in my stead as a token of gratitude. One of them even once tutored the Second Imperial Prince."
Unlike Grand Duke Asis Frezier, whose expression remained unchanged, Luc Kelposher’s eyes widened.
To send a Pneuma who had taught a prominent member of the Imperial Family—and an Elder at that—as a private tutor was an extraordinary proposal that even the Imperial Family would welcome.
It was even more shocking considering the strained relationship between the House of Frezier and the White Ivory Tower.
However, Grand Duke Asis Frezier did not answer immediately.
Instead, he flipped through Tulia’s exam papers one by one.
Thirty percent of the questions were in the Ancient Language.
Some of them were high-difficulty questions that even he found challenging to decipher.
They seemed to be questions included to differentiate the top students, yet she had answered every single one correctly. It was no wonder this cold-faced Pneuma had come rushing here in such a hurry.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier muttered to himself.
"I had a feeling, but it turns out I was right."
Tulia had been strangely brilliant since they were alone together.
It had been evident since she started rambling about difficult Ancient Language texts that hadn't even been fully decoded yet.
But he hadn't pressed her. Grand Duke Asis was well aware that his grandchildren were terrified of him.
He hadn't asked much, fearing that Tulia might shrink away again.
Yet Tulia had refused expensive gifts, asked for the Lineage Pendant instead, and then proceeded to take the exam without a fuss.
The result was beyond imagination.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier swallowed a strange sense of pride and spoke to Schuls Schmidt.
"Pneuma Schuls."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Tulia has no separate tutor."
Schuls Schmidt’s eyes widened.
"She has none? No, that can't be..."
If it had been anyone else—anyone even slightly more ordinary—he would have certainly judged it a lie.
He would have suspected they were lying to gain a more favorable hand in the negotiation.
But his counterpart was Grand Duke Asis Frezier.
A man who stood on equal footing with the Emperor. The old Grand Duke who firmly supported this massive family.
Schuls Schmidt’s ice-like eyes had widened more times today than he could count.
"Then are you saying the young lady is entirely self-taught?"
"I heard she has been frequenting the library alone."
"...I am aware that the special library of Frezier contains many rare ancient texts. However..."
"Pardon the interruption, Your Grace, and Pneuma Schuls."
Luc Kelposher stepped in at the right moment.
"Lady Tulia has never been granted access to any library other than the general library."
At those composed words, the expressions of Grand Duke Asis Frezier and Schuls Schmidt shifted in different ways.
The Grand Duke’s expression was particularly peculiar.
He muttered in a complex voice.
"So you're saying she has such overflowing talent and passion for the Ancient Language that she taught herself in the general library."
"..."
"Without making a single peep about it."
In contrast to the bold way she had attended the Frezier council meeting and cast her dissenting vote, the image of Tulia quietly studying by herself in the general library—a place even branch members could easily access—made his heart feel heavy.
Even Tedric Frezier had eight renowned tutors helping him with his studies.
No matter how much of a cold-blood Grand Duke Asis Frezier was rumored to be, he couldn't help but feel for his granddaughter.
An unexpected contrast can be a terrifying thing.
"Luc."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Bring me a Sunbyul's Access Pass."
After writing Tulia’s name on the Sunbyul's Access Pass, which granted entry to the special library at any time, and personally stamping it with the seal of the Family Head, Asis Frezier handed the plate to Luc.
The special library in the Grand Duke’s castle was rumored to house rare ancient texts that rivaled those of the Imperial Family.
Because of this, no one could enter unless they were great scholars specifically recognized by the Family Head.
In other words, this was an incredibly exceptional benefit that Asis Frezier was granting Tulia.
Among Grand Duke Asis Frezier’s grandchildren, only the exceptionally talented Lisian Frezier had received this Sunbyul's Access Pass.
The eldest of Tulia’s twin brothers.
He never imagined Tulia would be the second to receive it.
"Since Tulia is so passionate about the Ancient Language and academics, I must request a Pneuma from the White Ivory Tower again."
Luc’s eyes widened to a rare degree.
‘Today is just full of surprises.’
Asis Frezier was famous for never looking back once a relationship had soured.
However, those words just now meant he intended to show a gesture of reconciliation toward the White Ivory Tower, a relationship that had already reached a breaking point.
And the House of Frezier was the one making the first move.
Asis Frezier had no intention of maintaining a positive relationship with the White Ivory Tower during his lifetime.
He had planned to leave that issue for the next Family Head to handle.
In other words, it was a matter that had long been out of his concern.
Luc Kelposher had also never expected Asis Frezier to make such a decision.
And all because of Tulia.
‘This is going to cause quite a stir throughout the Empire.’
Maintaining a friendly relationship with the White Ivory Tower was, in the long run, very beneficial for the Grand Ducal House.
‘And according to His Grace’s decision now...’
"Luc."
Grand Duke Asis Frezier rose from his seat. In the hand that usually held a sword, a quill, or the Family Head’s seal, he now carefully held his granddaughter’s perfect exam paper.
To be honest, he looked a bit like a doting grandfather.
"Luc. Go to Tulia and tell her. The date for bestowing the Lineage Pendant will be tomorrow evening."