Sealed Encouragement

The Royal Academy, where various social classes converge, requires a pledge similar to a vow during the freshman entrance ceremony.

It’s a vow not to exploit one’s social status or position in the pursuit of academic learning.

Under the sacred education, everyone is equal, and inherent superiority does not prevail; it’s the only world where this principle is engraved upon entering the Academy.

Thus, one enters at 16 and graduates at 19.

At the age of 20, leveraging the knowledge and wisdom gained from the Academy, one formally debuts in society, stepping into the adult world.

Therefore, the Academy also serves as a place to preview and accumulate experiences of that world.

Communities form based on social class, promising exchanges among similar regions, selecting partners for the debut into society, and even flattery and tribute begin in pursuit of ascending in high society.

A place where learning and life lessons occur simultaneously.

Yet, among such intense learning, there was someone who couldn’t find any common ground.

Ariel Elrond, a countess.

Despite being a high noble, she paid no attention to the flattery and tribute from those below her rank.

Ignoring the life lessons for progressing into adulthood, the academic learning to become an excellent individual, and even her parents’ hopes for her to be the valedictorian of the Academy, Ariel spent her three years solely focused on the Academy’s library.

Naturally, she had no close friends, belonged to no community, and knew nothing of mingling with the upper class.

A student whose presence was nearly non-existent.

A student with no interest in academics or socializing.

Yet, always enjoying her time alone with a smile.

A student who filled her backpack with novels instead of textbooks.

Despite warnings from her maid that she might end up as an ignorant dwarf, she found her greatest happiness when cramming novels into her backpack.

It was inevitable for Ariel Elrond to have no friends during her school days.

Her grades were so low they couldn’t even dream of achievement amidst fierce competition.

Being the youngest of six siblings, she had no responsibilities and could escape her parents’ strict scrutiny.

Over those three years, she read every novel in the Academy’s library and even sought out new books from nearby territories on days without lectures.

The Royal Academy is located in the capital, at the heart of the kingdom.

It was unlikely for her to know anyone in this desolate, far-flung land of harsh winters, and even if there were [Royal Academy classmates] here, there was no reason for them to seek her out.

While she didn’t struggle with social interactions and wasn’t difficult to get along with, making friends would’ve been possible anytime, but she didn’t want to waste her reading time on such activities.

Instead, she delved into the depths with a few fellow avid readers.

Regrettably, they all favored romance novels, so she couldn’t share her thoughts with them.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t hard to guess who the late-night visitor was.

Unaware that the rules of the final evaluation prohibited candidates from leaving at night, it was natural for Ariel to deduce that it was Elden.

“The guest has been led to the parlor.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

What could it be at this time?

Wait, hang on.

I hadn’t told anyone my lodging’s location, had I?

How did they know to come here?

With each step towards the parlor, Ariel’s curiosity grew.

Reaching the place guarded by two knights, she entered through the opening doors, naturally calling out his name.

“Elden…?”

Her lips sealed before she could utter the question of what brought him here.

It was a woman.

Standing by the window, looking outside, the woman had taken off her hood.

A woman with the symbolic white hair of the northerners, her back to Ariel, seemed unfamiliar at first glance.

An unsettling feeling for reasons unknown.

Ariel cautiously inquired.

“Who… are you?”

There were no northerners among her Academy classmates.

Not all northerners had white hair, of course; only those of northern descent bore it as a symbol.

Moments later, the woman turned around.

Dazzling white hair, refreshing blue eyes, a pointed nose, and red lips, with a sharp jawline and slender neck capturing the view.

A familiar face.

Yet, that face was definitely sporting red hair.

A matured shade of red.

“Ho-ho. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Miss Ariel.”

“Uh……”

The voice brought back a name that seemed almost within grasp but remained elusive.

As Ariel struggled to piece together the name, the woman spared her the effort, gently brushing the end of her white hair.

“Ah, the hair color must be confusing. It’s me.”

“Wait, just a moment.”

The name finally clicked together.

The student with contrasting bright blue eyes against her red hair.

The one who, unlike Ariel, was passionately devoted to her studies.

The name of the student, who was fundamentally different from her and lived far enough to make their reunion nearly impossible, finally surfaced.

“Er, Erensia…was it?”

“Ho-ho. I’m delighted you remember me. It’s an honor to greet you like this. I am Baroness Erensia Belroc.”

The optical enthusiast Lemian and the bookworm Ariel.

The reunion of the two, seemingly different yet similar, began like this.

**

“Inferior.”

“……”

Was there really a need to look down on me to that extent?

It was just a minor contact accident, thanks to my overwhelming reflexes.

Thud Thud.

Dusting off and getting up from the spot.

“It was an accident.”

“Still, you handled it quite naturally.”

“Originally, it was the master who executed a surprise tackle, wasn’t it?”

“It was merely to check your reflexes.”

Not really.

It was clearly a reprimand for not giving a cold shoulder to the embarrassing fanfic reader.

Rachel, pretending not to notice my accusing look, averted her gaze.

Walking the path of righteousness, she clearly wasn’t good at lying.

Of course, that’s a commendable trait for a bodyguard sworn to protect their employer.

“So, did you get your confirmation?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

“That’s a relief. Then let’s continue.”

“Yes.”

Exhausted from the training that continued late into the night, I was returning to the annex with Rachel.

How rigorously(?) she had trained me, my limbs felt like jelly.

A few more days of this, and I might evolve into a mollusk.

Whether that’s evolution or devolution, I’m not sure.

“You worked hard, Rachel.”

“Will we continue tomorrow?”

“If the evaluation ends early.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare.”

Struggling to the annex and entering through the main door, the butler Rendler approached me briskly.

Behind him, Central Aide Gelwood was visible.

Approaching Gelwood whispered close to me.

“Sir.”

“What.”

“Aide Gelwood has something to deliver to you.”

“…Something to deliver?”

“Yes.”

“Couldn’t you have received it yourself?”

“Well… it’s from the Duchess, and she insists it be delivered directly to you.”

…Hmm.

What kind of strategy is our heroine planning to encourage participation this time?

Since it’s not likely the approval of my abstention has arrived, I looked at Gelwood with some indifference, and he greeted me.

“Heh. We meet again, Sir Elden. Seeing you soaked in sweat, it seems your training was quite rigorous.”

“It wasn’t easy. But what brings you here at this late hour?”

Responding to my query, Gelwood politely gestured towards a walk.

To the garden inside the annex.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I have a moment of your time?”

While I wanted to decline, curiosity got the better of me.

What he intended to convey in this late hour was of interest.

What our heroine wanted to communicate through a third party intrigued me.

Thus, I followed Gelwood into the moonlit garden of the night.

**

Step Step.

In the garden where birds retire and crickets sing for life under the ambitious night, tranquility and peace fill the air.

Strolling here under the moonlight proved to be a fine rest.

If only Gelwood hadn’t brought something, I would have wandered aimlessly, lost in thought, in this cozy and comforting garden.

Gelwood’s voice broke the silence.

“Among the four annexes, this garden is said to be the most beautiful.”

“Only today did I walk through it, but it’s certainly splendid.”

“Heh. I’m glad you like it.”

Second only to the king in power.

True to its reputation, the garden of the annex boasted a grand scale.

Its magnificence and opulence could rival that of any high-ranking count’s garden.

Perhaps because it’s a land where life struggles to root in the harsh winter, the garden’s design differed from the norm.

Coniferous trees instead of deciduous or evergreens, and snowflakes adorning the paths rather than flowers.

Enjoying this view, Gelwood’s voice reached me again.

“Tomorrow marks the last evaluation before the face-to-face meeting.”

“Well, it seems so.”

“You’ve had a tough time participating in evaluations you had no interest in, as the Duchess’s partner.”

“It’s not hard. Just fulfilling the minimum duty required of me.”

“Have you thought about withdrawing your abstention?”

With my indifferent reply, Gelwood directly asked that question.

And this question, the first since my declaration of abstention, seemed to carry a certain hope.

The hope for a withdrawal.

Regrettably,

“I have no plans to withdraw.”

“Is that so? That’s unfortunate.”

Gelwood stopped walking.

Unfortunate, huh.

Quite a biased sentiment for a Central Aide who should maintain neutrality in any situation.

“What exactly do you find unfortunate?”

Smiling, Gelwood handed me something.

A neatly folded note.

I took it.

“It’s my first time seeing a candidate receive a note from the protagonist after five engagement battles. My task here is done, so I’ll take my leave.”

Bowing his head, Gelwood retraced his steps.

…So, withdrawing my abstention means becoming a strong candidate for victory and joining the ducal family?

Among the things I’ve heard recently, this might be the most chilling.

One more reason not to withdraw, I thought as I unfolded the note.

[At 800M northeast of the starting point, there will be a cave. I sincerely hope you win tomorrow’s evaluation. In fact… I fell for Sir Elden at first sight]

I folded the note back.

After looking around, I dug up some soil.

Placed the note inside.

Made a small cross with thin twigs on top, then covered it with soil.

Pressed down hard with my hands to ensure it wouldn’t resurface.

Then, I fled back to the annex.