“Something impressive?”
“The statue of the founder in the hall on the first floor. It’s quite magnificent.”
At my sudden change of topic, the dean, who had been avoiding my gaze, blinked in confusion.
“That must be the first Duke of Biblos, correct?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“And you, Madam President, are the great-granddaughter of the first Duke of Biblos, the founder of the academy.”
I shrugged, recalling the face of the statue I had seen earlier.
“You resemble each other.”
The president blinked, unsure whether to thank me for the compliment or to feel suspicious.
“…I still have a long way to go compared to him, but I’m grateful for your kind words, Your Grace.”
After a brief pause, she gave a somewhat bewildered expression of gratitude.
My smile deepened.
I straightened up from where I had been leaning back and looked directly at her.
“Oh, I was referring to your appearance.”
Then, with a calm smile, I emphasized my tone.
“As for anything else, it seems the president has forgotten something quite important.”
She froze at my suddenly changing tone.
“…Something important?”
“The inscription under the statue was very striking. Do you know what it says?”
I tilted my head and crossed my legs in the opposite direction.
“‘No one shall be discriminated against in their pursuit of education due to their social status, origin, or background. Biblos Academy judges solely based on the student’s potential and value.'”
As I recited the founding principle of Biblos Academy written under the statue, both the dean and the president’s expressions became complicated.
There was no way they didn’t understand the implication behind those words.
The president sighed, closing her eyes tightly before speaking.
“However, Your Grace, this matter is tied to more complex interests. I fully understand what you’re saying, but…”
“Is there any interest more important than a talented student being unable to step into the doors of this academy?”
The president groaned, rubbing her forehead in distress.
“Wasn’t this the same student you praised so highly when you didn’t know their name? I’m not sure when a student’s name started to tip the scales.”
I trailed off, glancing between the two of them, both of whom averted their eyes with troubled expressions.
I knew well that this wasn’t an easy decision for the school either. The Marquis of Mary was a shrewd businessman. If they were to openly oppose the Marquis now, it would make it difficult for the school to obtain the books they relied on each year, affecting countless students’ education.
The school couldn’t sacrifice the learning opportunities of many students just to admit one.
‘Of course, I never intended to push this too far in the first place.’
“In that case, let’s do this.”
I uncrossed my legs, looking directly at both of them. Now that I had applied enough pressure, it was time to present the solution I had prepared.
Sensing that I was about to propose an alternative, the president looked at me, indicating she was ready to listen.
“This is on the premise that both of you have acknowledged this student’s ‘potential’ and ‘value.’”
I gestured toward the nameless portfolio in front of them.
“In truth, the owner of those paintings is not Brian Merry, the eldest son of the Marquis of Merry, but rather a street artist named ‘Ryan,’ who lives in the art city of Marisen in Levant. I saw him with my own eyes.”
“What…?”
“Although Ryan looks very much like Brian Merry, and their painting styles are quite similar, there’s no way Biblos Academy, which does not discriminate based on background, would know they were the same person, right?”
I shrugged nonchalantly.
The academy’s principle of not discriminating based on social status, origin, or background meant that even if a student concealed their name or origin, their ‘true identity’ wouldn’t matter.
Biblos Academy was a place that provided equal education to everyone.
“The Marquis of Merry is blocking Brian Merry’s admission, but they can’t stop the admission of the unknown artist Ryan.”
I’ll admit, this was wordplay. But there was no better solution.
It aligned perfectly with the academy’s founding principles and provided justification against any objections from the Marquis.
I smiled as I watched their complex expressions.
“I was on vacation with my husband in Marisen, where I happened to discover Ryan’s art. Since I had planned to visit Biblos, I decided to show his work to you, Madam President, and to the head of the department.”
I gestured toward the portfolio without a name.
“You’ve never met Ryan in person, but since you’ve recognized the value of his art, you could decide, after some deliberation, to send him an acceptance letter.”
“…”
“And since you don’t trace students’ backgrounds, there’s no way the school would know Ryan’s true identity until he decides to enroll. Perhaps even after admission, you still wouldn’t know.”
This was what I called the ‘who cares’ strategy.
“Even if, one day, it’s revealed that the young artist Ryan was actually Brian Merry, by then, you wouldn’t be able to expel a formally admitted student without just cause, would you?”
The president blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless at my audacious plan.
Of course, there were many loopholes to poke through, but there were also plenty of escape routes for the academy if the Marquis of Merry tried to make an issue of it.
‘If the Marquis truly wanted to block his son’s admission, he should have prevented the artist Ryan from being admitted as well. This is his mistake.’
I shrugged, as if to ask, “What do you think?”
The head of the department sighed softly, stroking his chin.
“Indeed, if we frame it that way, we could admit the student without directly defying the Marquis’ wishes.”
“However, we still won’t be able to avoid all the complications,” the president concluded.
I nodded in agreement.
“Yes, the Marquis of Merry might raise objections to the school. But since they won’t know the full truth, we could drag out the matter for quite some time while sorting out the facts.”
I recalled the determined face of Lady Maria, the daughter of the Marquis, whom I had met in the reception room of the grand duchy.
“Someone once told me that in exactly three years, one of the siblings from the Marquis of Merry’s family will inherit the title.”
“…”
“Are you really going to miss out on a talent who could change the next 30, or even 300 years, for the sake of just three years of stability?”
As I quoted the words Lady Maria had said to me, I could see the president’s expression falter even more. It was clear, even without looking closely, that she was shaken by my words.
‘This should be enough.’
I had presented them with a choice. Now, it was up to the president and the dean to make their decision, not me, an outsider. Pressing further would be overstepping my bounds.
I took a sip of my now lukewarm tea and rose from my seat.
“I trust that as wise educators, not businesspeople, you will make the appropriate decision.”
“Your Grace.”
I gestured dismissively at them as they stood up to follow me.
“I feel I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll take my leave now. See you at the centennial celebration.”
I placed a hand on my chest and offered a graceful bow before turning and leaving the president’s office without hesitation.
As I softly closed the wooden door and turned around, Kyle, who had been waiting outside, greeted me.
“Has the conversation ended?”
“Yes, it seems to have been resolved.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Who could possibly win in a battle of words against you?”
I shot Kyle a mock glare as he chuckled.
“Flattery.”
“Oh, come now, it’s not flattery.”
As expected, he responded with his usual glibness before asking a follow-up question.
“Do you have any plans after this? Shall I escort you back to your quarters?”
“Is Ian still in the meeting?”
“Yes, the professors from the swordsmanship department are so full of energy, it seems it won’t end until evening.”
Kyle shook his head in disbelief, a sigh escaping him, though it was unclear if it was admiration or exasperation.
‘He must be having a hard time.’
I couldn’t help but laugh as I pictured Ian surrounded by swordsmanship professors, likely looking utterly exhausted.
“Then let’s head back first. After all the preparations this morning, I’m feeling a bit tired. I’d like to rest.”
“I’ll escort you immediately.”
Kyle, ever polite, responded promptly and drew a magic circle. In an instant, the scenery shifted from the academy corridor to the entrance of my room.
“…It was so fast, I almost didn’t notice.”
“Well, we travel from one end of the continent to the other several times a day—this much is a piece of cake.”
Kyle playfully boasted, puffing out his chest.
“Please rest. If you need anything, just call for me.”
“Thank you, you’ve done well.”
With a polite bow, Kyle vanished along with the magic circle.
After staring at the empty space where he had disappeared, I opened the door and stepped inside. The room, which had been neatly tidied, greeted me.
“Somehow, the bedroom feels even more lavish than before…”
There were flowers that I hadn’t noticed earlier.
I glanced at the bedroom, feeling a bit unsettled, before slowly crossing the living room and lying down on the bed. As the soft, goose-feather-filled mattress embraced my back, the fatigue I had been pushing aside finally caught up with me.
“…Did I overdo it? I didn’t even do much, but I’m exhausted.”
I should change clothes before sleeping, but…
Before I knew it, my eyes fluttered shut.
I’m not sure how long I drifted in the darkness.
Through my hazy and blurred vision, something began to appear.
‘…….’
It was the image of ‘me,’ lying in a white, square hospital room.
♧♧♧
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