Episode 55
The students were bewildered as they looked over the exam papers.
“What is this…?”
“Are we supposed to solve this…?”
Their faces were filled with confusion and disbelief.
Elonia felt the same, but for a different reason.
‘…This is too easy.’
What happened to the legendary difficulty?
Elonia was disappointed.
Of course, she had been studying diligently for the past month, but these questions were solvable even with just a basic understanding of the textbooks.
There were a lot of questions, but since it was an exam for children, it wasn’t overwhelming.
Elonia, focused on the exam, didn’t even notice the reactions of the other students. She was the first to pick up her quill and began filling out the answer sheet.
‘Hmm, interesting.’
Caroline, observing the students from her seat at the front, finally noticed Elonia and was impressed.
Four years ago, when Elonia had visited the academy,
Caroline had received a prior notice.
She hadn’t been particularly interested and had been going about her day as usual when she sensed an immense amount of mana emanating from one of the buildings. She had followed the trail, drawn to its power, as if in a trance.
And when she saw the source of that beautiful mana, she was speechless.
It was Elonia.
She had instinctively rushed towards her, her eyes blazing with excitement.
‘I wondered if her intelligence was just an exaggerated rumour.’
But it seemed like the effort she had put in over the past four years to secure this talent, preventing her from being snatched away by other departments, especially the Academic Department, had paid off.
A lack of theoretical knowledge wasn’t a dealbreaker.
She could always teach her the theory later.
What Caroline was truly interested in was Elonia’s raw magical power.
‘But that’s only if she passes the exam.’
If she couldn’t even pass this exam, then it was over.
No matter how powerful someone was, teaching a fool was a waste of time.
But judging from her current performance, it seemed like her worries had been unfounded.
Unlike the other students, who were struggling, their faces pale and on the verge of tears, Elonia was diligently working on her exam.
Caroline couldn’t see her answers yet, but her focus and speed were enough to satisfy her expectations.
Three hours passed, feeling like an eternity, and Caroline finally tapped her staff on the lectern.
“Time’s up. Put down your pens.”
“Gasp…”
“No…”
Some students, their spirits crushed, started crying, their faces buried in their arms.
The assistant, trying to comfort them, began collecting the tear-stained answer sheets.
And then it was Elonia’s turn.
“…!”
The assistant froze, staring at her answer sheet.
“Assistant?”
Elonia called out, puzzled by his reaction.
The assistant quickly adjusted his glasses and took her answer sheet.
He was in a state of panic as he finished collecting all the papers.
‘Is this cheating?’
Was this what they called entrance exam fraud?
Had Professor Caroline given the princess some hints?
There was no way a nine-year-old could solve all the questions Caroline had designed, especially with such ease.
But he quickly dismissed his ridiculous assumption.
‘No, Professor Caroline would never do that.’
She was notoriously harsh towards those she deemed incompetent.
And even from a quick glance, he could tell that Elonia’s answers were not only correct but also exceeded Caroline’s expectations.
They were answers that even he, a current student at Gaia Academy and a teaching assistant striving to become a professor, couldn’t come up with.
His ten years of pride and confidence crumbled before a single answer sheet written by a child.
Meanwhile, Elonia, oblivious to his inner turmoil, was feeling anxious.
‘The exam was too easy. Was it a trap?’
Worried about a potential trap, she had written both the standard answers and her own interpretations. Was that a mistake?
The only one with a satisfied smile in the entire examination hall was Caroline.
She placed the answer sheets in an envelope, then addressed the young students with a warm smile.
“Good work, everyone. I’ll see you at the entrance ceremony.”
Her gaze lingered on Elonia, a glint of anticipation in her eyes.
Elonia, feeling a shiver run down her spine, left the examination hall first, a sense of unease lingering in her heart.
And a week later,
The results of the entrance exam were announced.
***
Elonia, clutching the score report that had arrived at the Imperial Palace, went to Artius’s office.
“Elonia?”
“…I’m too scared to look at this alone.”
Artius, seeing her uncharacteristic nervousness, chuckled inwardly, thinking that no matter how mature she tried to act, she was still a child.
“Alright, let’s look at it together.”
“Okay.”
“Do you want some pudding?”
“…I’ll eat after I see the results.”
“Alright.”
But Artius discreetly instructed Aaron, who was standing by like a loyal guard dog, to bring some pudding.
He casually placed a teacup and a paper knife in front of Elonia and sat down beside her.
Elonia hesitated, staring at the envelope, unable to bring herself to open it.
Artius blinked, then suggested gently,
“…Would you like me to open it for you?”
“…Put sugar in my tea if I failed.”
Pudding if she passed, tea with sugar but no milk if she failed.
To an outsider, both options sounded like rewards, but Artius knew better. Elonia loved pudding but hated tea with sugar and no milk.
Stifling his laughter, he took the envelope and carefully slit it open with the paper knife.
He already knew the results, though.
He remembered their conversation after picking her up from the exam a week ago.
“I think I failed the exam.”
“Why do you think that?”
“The exam was too easy for Professor Caroline’s reputation. It feels like a trap.”
“…?”
Artius had been baffled.
He had already received a report on the atmosphere of the examination hall.
He had also heard that Elonia was the only one who had completed the exam without any signs of struggle.
But Elonia, lacking confidence, had continued to complain.
And she had remained gloomy for the entire week, uncomforted by Artius’s reassurances.
‘She’s definitely going to pass.’
She had studied so hard for a month.
Even if she failed, so what?
She had countless opportunities ahead of her.
But Artius, knowing how much effort she had put into this exam, had simply patted her back, offering silent support.
And now,
The moment of truth had arrived.
Artius, his expression unreadable, finished reading the report. Elonia, growing impatient, demanded,
“Well? What does it say? What’s the verdict?”
“…”
“Come on, tell me! Sugar or pudding?”
She pounded on his arm, frustrated by his silence.
Artius chuckled, letting her hit him, then slowly opened his mouth.
Elonia stared at his lips, trying to decipher his words.
He seemed to be enjoying her anticipation, prolonging the suspense. Just as she was about to grab his hair in frustration,
Aaron entered the office, carrying a plate of pudding.
Artius took it and presented it to Elonia.
“Here you go, Elonia.”
“…Then!”
“Congratulations, Elonia.”
Artius smiled, showing her the report and patting her head.
Elonia’s face, which had been clouded with anxiety, lit up with joy.
***
A small party was held in the Imperial Princess’s Palace to celebrate Elonia’s success.
Lady Asta, upon hearing the news, arrived with a large gift box.
“Congratulations on passing the exam, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Lady Asta! What’s this?”
“Books. I’ve collected some rare books that you won’t find in the Magic Department library.”
“Lady Asta…! Thank you, I love it!”
Elonia hugged the gift box, her face beaming with happiness.
Lady Asta was truly the best.
Her thoughtfulness was unmatched.
She smiled, her voice laced with both joy and a hint of regret.
“But I’m a little disappointed… I thought you would join the Swordsmanship Department, considering your talent.”
Elonia mainly learned swordsmanship from Ethan, but she also received occasional lessons from Lady Asta when she was available.
Lady Asta, of course, was a graduate of the Swordsmanship Department.
Elonia, who had once criticized the Swordsmanship Department for being loud, sweaty, and filled with aggressive students, quickly showed Lady Asta the class schedule she had planned with Artius.
“I can still take swordsmanship classes, even as a Magic Department student, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
Lady Asta chuckled, but she still seemed disappointed.
She must have wanted to see Elonia in the Swordsmanship Department uniform.
While Elonia could take swordsmanship classes, the only uniform she was allowed to wear was the Magic Department uniform.
Then, as if remembering something, Lady Asta asked,
“Have you gotten your uniform yet?”
“Yes! It arrived today.”
Elonia’s excitement was evident.
She looked much more like a child her age now, compared to when they first met. Just looking at her brought a smile to Lady Asta’s face.
“May I see you in your uniform? My dear niece.”
“Of course, Lady Asta.”
She hadn’t even shown it to Artius yet, but showing it to Lady Asta first was fine.
Elonia nodded eagerly, then went to change.
The Magic Department uniform was a robe.
The short mage robe, reaching just past her hips, looked adorable on her, complementing her bright mint green hair.
Lady Asta, her eyes filled with emotion, watched Elonia, marveling at how much she had grown.
“My, my… You look like a proper Lucid Academy student now.”
“I’m showing it to you first, Lady Asta.”
“Oh my, you haven’t shown it to His Majesty yet?”
“No.”
“I’m afraid I’ll be in trouble with him.”
“We’ll just keep it a secret.”
“Shall we?”
Lady Asta chuckled, meeting Elonia’s gaze.
Elonia smiled back playfully.
***
That evening,
Elonia, as usual, welcomed Artius to her room.
With Elonia’s upcoming enrollment, Artius had become increasingly clingy, so their nightly ritual of sharing hot milk and chatting before bedtime had become a routine.
But tonight, Artius seemed unusually sullen.
‘That’s strange. He was fine during dinner.’
Had something happened?
Elonia briefly wondered, but her attention was quickly drawn to the object he was carrying.
She jumped up from the sofa, where she had been sprawled, and rushed towards him.
“What’s that? A gift? It looks like a sword, right?”
Artius was carrying a long, cloth-wrapped bundle.
It was too small for him to use but looked like the perfect size for Elonia.
She immediately guessed it was a sword for her.
Artius hesitated, then nodded slowly, unwrapping the bundle.
As expected, it was a sword.
She had broken so many swords during her time on the battlefield that she hadn’t developed any particular attachment to them, except for her mother’s heirloom dagger.
But this sword was different.
It was the first sword made specifically for her, for Elonia!
Elonia excitedly snatched the sword from him and drew it.
It was a beautiful sword, not only elegant in design but also clearly high quality.
And it was a rapier, a light and agile sword perfect for her current lack of strength.
“I love it! Is this my entrance gift?”
“…”
But something was wrong.
Artius was silent.
And his expression was unusually dark.
“…What’s wrong? Why do you look so upset?”
Elonia raised an eyebrow, looking up at him.
He looked so pitiful, as if he had been wronged.
But the only one who could possibly mistreat Artius was Elonia, and she swore she hadn’t touched him today.
She soon learned the reason for his sullen mood.
Artius pouted, then finally spoke, his voice heavy,
“…Elonia, you showed Lady Asta your uniform before showing me?”
He was sulking.