Edith tried to assess whether the arriving guest posed any threat.
『 If the head of a family that could afford such a carriage were to arrive, they would likely be riding a carriage with the family crest on it.』
It seemed that the first guest was not the head of the family, as they had arrived in a nice carriage.
Nevertheless, they were likely important guests, so they would receive personal attention in a private room. Moreover, this academy did not permit any form of violence.
Edith was prepared for such a situation, having come with Walter. Instead of getting scared and backing down, she stood up.
“Let’s go, Walter. I’ve prepared the documents in advance, so it won’t take long.”
Edith picked up her bag and entered the office.
As expected, the guest who had arrived earlier had gone into a room for a personal reception, which allowed her to feel at ease and focus on her business.
She told Walter to wait a few steps behind her and then approached one of the office workers who was dealing with various administrative tasks.
“Good afternoon. I’d like to apply for a deferral of admission.”
Those working at the academy were often low-ranking nobles, so Edith treated them with courtesy without being overly formal.
“Deferral? Hmm…”
The employee, Johan, feeling displeased about the increased workload, looked Edith up and down.
“For what reason are you requesting a deferral of admission?”
“Because I got married. I’ve brought the necessary documents here.”
The documents Edith had prepared were impeccable.
『 Edith Fortrion.』
Fortrion was a family that was frequently mentioned in the capital these days, having received a decree order from the Emperor.
The academy had a system that allowed noble ladies of at least baronage rank to defer their admission for up to six years after marriage.
Noblewomen often had to focus on producing heirs right after marriage, so this system was designed to ensure that their studies didn’t interfere with this responsibility.
Although her husband, Viscount Nicholas Fortrion, had died, there were no procedural problems with her application for a deferral of admission.
Johan reviewed the documents once again and asked a meaningful question.
“Lady Fortrion, first of all, it looks like you’ve brought all the necessary documents… It’s quite a hassle to drop out after applying for deferred admission.”
Dropping out? It was something Edith had never even considered.
She had applied for the deferral of admission with the intention of resuming her studies once her situation had stabilized, even though she absolutely didn’t want to use the signature ‘Edith Fortrion.’
“I don’t think I will have to drop out, so please proceed with my deferral of admission.”
As Edith spoke, Johan began to babble with an annoyed expression.
“Maybe you don’t know, but whenever someone applies for a deferral of admission, everyone is burning with a passion for learning, but after half a year, they all drop out because they are pregnant.”
“…”
“If it comes to that, I’m telling you this, you would need to go through the registration process again and then withdraw, as others from even more distinguished families than Fortrion tend to do it.”
Although Johan himself was merely the third son of a baron, he had worked at the academy’s office for a long time and had dealt with countless high-ranking nobles whom he could not even make eye contact with.
They usually sent their servants or maids to handle administrative procedures. However, the woman before him claimed to be a Viscount’s wife and had come all the way to the academy with the documents in hand, so it was obvious what was going on.
『 Well. It was said her husband died, and due to the change of lordship made by the local residents, she was summoned to the capital.』
He found the woman rather annoying as she came to the academy and gave him more troublesome tasks. After all, she was just an ordinary woman who would surely return to request a withdrawal application later.
Just as Walter was about to take a long stride towards the incompetent employee, Edith stopped him and began to speak.
“I’ve prepared all the documents correctly; please proceed with the procedure.”
The employee frowned, noticing that her voice had become colder and more stern than before.
Rather than being scared, he found it a bit absurd.
He couldn’t fathom how a widow from a minor local house, with no influence in the capital, could make such demands.
“Yes, yes. If you ask me to do it, I have to do it… But I think some documents are missing.”
It was obvious why Johan, who had just said all the necessary documents were alright, changed his words.
『 He probably doesn’t want to accept my request for admission deferral, claiming that there are procedural problems because he finds it too troublesome.』
Edith was able to answer without losing her composure at all, as she had fully expected this kind of disregard when she had been accepted to the Capital Academy as a commoner.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the deferred admission system was designed by His Majesty Agnas XII.”
“What?”
When the late Emperor was suddenly mentioned, Johan’s body stiffened.
“I have all the required documents, and I qualify for a deferral. If you arbitrarily reject me, it would mean going against the will of the Emperor himself.”
“…”
“Fortrion has been ordered to have an audience with His Majesty as loyal subjects, so, in accordance with that loyalty, I will officially raise objections regarding any unfortunate events happening at the academy that go against the will of the Imperial Family.”
“Ah…”
The employee’s face, which had been triumphant just a moment ago, slowly hardened.
This was because he could not remember the last time he or his parents had entered the Imperial Palace.
However, the woman before him, for whatever reason, had caught the Emperor’s attention and was ordered to have an audience with His Majesty.
『 If she says something strange during the audience with His Majesty…』
Edith could see the man’s face filled with embarrassment.
『 It seems like you don’t know that you’re not the only one who can judge others’ status.』
Usually, nobles live off taxes collected from their fiefdoms.
Therefore, holding a clerical position rather than a teaching position at the academy was proof that he came from a low-ranking family without much power or influence.
He didn’t seem to be the type of person who found any sense of satisfaction in doing administrative work, so she could only assume he was doing it for a living.
However, Edith knew how important administrative work was, so she respected Johan, but it seemed like there was no need to do that anymore.
“Are there still any documents missing?”
When Edith urged him to make his point clear, the employee had no choice but to lower his tail.
“… The application will be completed within three days. Since you have all the required documents, after the application is successfully received, we will send a letter to Fortrion Manor.”
“Well then, thank you for your hard work.”
Edith left the office just like that. Walter stared at the nameplate of the employee.
The employee lowered his eyes as Walter’s sharp gaze seemed to say that he would certainly pay the price for this matter.
──────────✿◦•
However, it was not only the employee who was impressed by Edith’s application for deferral of admission.
“Thanks to the generous donation from His Grace the Duke of Lexion, the scholarship project is running very smoothly.”
Vane, the right hand of the Duke, had briefly visited the academy’s office as it was related to one of the scholarship projects supported by Lexion.
This was because the scholarship project was closely related to securing talented individuals and was one of the few tasks that the Duke directly ordered him to take care of.
“Then I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
Vane, who was about to get up after finishing his work, suddenly sensed something and frowned.
『 Why can I sense Lexion’s magic here?』
Vane had pledged loyalty to the Duke and had lived as his right-hand man and butler, but started out as a knight who was able to awaken his aura and received special appointments from Lexion.
Knowing that his instincts were not likely wrong, Vane refrained from leaving the room and concentrated on listening.
Just when he was getting irritated listening to an employee who didn’t want to work, he heard a calm yet elegant voice.
⋙“I have all the required documents, and I qualify for a deferral. If you arbitrarily reject me, it would mean going against the will of the Emperor himself.”⋘
This was a situation where one could easily lose their temper, but the way she calmly handled it and managed to silence the employee was quite impressive.
However, what truly piqued Vane’s interest came next.
As she exited the office building, he felt Lexion’s magic, faint but unmistakable, gradually fading away.
It seemed that she, or someone in her party, carried Lexion’s magic.
Screech―
Only after realizing that the situation he was hearing was completely over, Vane opened the door and come out.
A few steps away, a rather stiff Johan was handling some paperwork.
Vane approached the Secretary-general, who was confused when he did not leave the room right away and showed a strange reaction.
“I guess the woman who just left was right. It would be difficult to support an academy that has employees who want to go against the will of the Emperor.”
“Sorry?”
Vane spoke one more time to the Secretary-general, who, unlike him, was unable to grasp the situation due to his poor senses.
“Fire him.”
“Understood, Sir Vane. I will dismiss Johan.”
The notice of dismissal came out very simply from the Secretary-general’s mouth.
Johan also listened to it in real-time, but he couldn’t even say anything.
It’s a decision made by Franz Lexion’s right-hand man, so they had to accept it.
As Johan left, trembling, Vane examined Edith’s documents on his desk.
The family name Fortrion caught his eye as much as her excellent grades and neat handwriting.
『 Is Fortrion involved with Lexion again?』
Vane narrowed his eyes.
He felt like he would not only have to keep an eye on Fortrion, but also have to drag them into the Duke’s courtyard.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
