‘See, I knew this would happen!’

As expected of Baron Baden. There’s no way he would send a decent tutor.

What kind of bastard is it? I bit my lip and quickly turned around.

I will drag him away and cause trouble right now. I absolutely won’t let this slide…

“I have some muscle pain from physical training after a long time. But what’s the matter?”

Huh?

‘Wait, then that ‘bastard’ is Lord Joseph?’

I take it back. I got too excited.

Suddenly my mind became calm. Sword training is originally tough.

Muscle pain, Lord Joseph must have trained him well today.

“No… It’s nothing. Were there any problems with other classes?”

“There wasn’t anything that special.”

Is that true?

Could it be that the tutors have silenced him? Or is this mature boy hiding it so I won’t worry?

I stared at Kardiel for a while, weighing various possibilities.

But Kardiel, as if uncomfortable with this attention of mine, took a step back.

“The smell of sweat is strong, I’d like to wash up first.”

“Ah, is that so…?”

Let’s send him away for now.

The door closed with Kardiel’s light bow.

I felt like I had become a dog chasing chickens, but I wasn’t the type to just blink stupidly.

I immediately moved on to my next destination. It was Euphemina and Chersion’s rooms, located a bit further inside.

The two children’s rooms had entrances close by. I could call them both at once while standing in the hallway.

“Euphy, Chelsie! Are you done with your studies?”

“Oh! It’s Mother. Motheeer!”

“Mom!”

Fortunately, both children seemed to be done studying, as quick footsteps crossing the rooms could be heard from both sides.

Oh dear. I’m sure I told them not to run inside the house.

“Mom, I’m so tired. I don’t want to study.”

“Mother, today Miss El…!”

“Alright. I’ll listen to everything, so don’t cling like that.”

The children instantly latched onto my neck and waist.

I wondered who Miss El was, but it seemed to refer to Miss Ernestine.

They must have become close already. I thought Chersion’s lively personality would allow him to get along well with the tutors quickly.

I calmed the children down as I entered Chersion’s room.

My steps are heavy, moving with the children attached. Kids, when did you grow so big?

“So, today we learned the names of musical scales…”

“You know, Mom. Today Baroness Baden…”

“Speak one at a time.”

Unlike the blunt Kardiel, the two children chattered excitedly without anyone going first.

Only after I intervened did the children start talking about what happened today in order.

Hmm, but.

‘It’s more ordinary than I thought?’

Surprisingly, the children’s class reviews were quite good.

Except for Baroness Baden forgetting about Euphemina’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, there was nothing special.

I should remind her about that again later.

“Was that really all? Don’t you remember anything the teachers said?”

“Ah, that’s right!”

Yes, Chelsie!

“Um, Mr. Jeff gave us a really difficult problem to solve at first…”

Who is Mr. Jeff? Is it Mr. Jepetto?

“I thought I couldn’t solve any of it, you know? But it turned out the test paper was switched. Mr. Jeff apologized and changed it, and that one was a bit easier so I got 90 points!”

“90 points? That’s amazing!”

“Hehe.”

But why do I feel like those words mean Mr. Jepetto prepared various test papers to check Chersion’s learning level?

Could it be that saying the test paper was switched was also to consider Chersion’s feelings?

Anyway, while patting the youngest’s head and praising him, I turned to Euphemina.

“Umm… I don’t remember well. But I think she said we’ll learn the waltz next time, so we might have to match schedules with Big Brother Kar…”

I could understand immediately why they needed to match schedules with Kardiel.

The waltz is basically a dance for two people.

‘She remembered?’

Euphemina extremely dislikes contact with anyone other than a few specific people.

It seems Miss Ernestine was well aware of this point that Baroness Baden had forgotten.

Of course, I don’t intend to let go of my suspicions towards the tutors just because of this.

This much is only natural!

‘Right. They can’t cause problems from the first day.’

Maybe they’re watching my reactions now. To reassure me and do bad things to the children behind my back.

I got up with the children, not letting my guard down. It was now time to prepare for dinner.

Dinner was set in the dining room, but the only people gathered there were me, the children, Lord Joseph, and Baroness Baden.

The other two tutors wanted to have their meals in their own rooms.

Of course they would. It’s not like they have close acquaintances here, and they probably wouldn’t want to dine in a place with only unfamiliar people of different social status.

By the way, Mr. Rozier is someone who prefers to eat alone in his room.

He hardly even comes out for breakfast.

“So you received an offer for the Academy entrance exam?”

“Yes, Stepmother.”

Only at the dinner table could I finally hear about Kardiel’s classes.

The most interesting part was the Academy admission that Mr. Jepetto had suggested to Kardiel.

“The period for taking this year’s entrance exam has unfortunately already passed, but he said I could apply through the recommendation process next year.”

“Even if it’s next year, Kar, won’t you be sixteen by then?”

The Academy’s admission age starts from 10. Kardiel is already 15 now, so it’s too late.

But hearing my words, Kardiel added with an “Ah.” as if he had forgotten to mention:

“It’s for the university course.”

“What?”

At that point, my eyes truly couldn’t help but widen.

The university course at the Academy basically starts from 18 years old.

The basic education course at the Academy, which can be entered from age 10, has no particular grade restrictions.

However, students who prove results above a certain score for 8 years can apply for the full-fledged university course.

‘If I remember correctly, I think they said you need to get at least a B.’

Anyway, there’s an important reason why the university course at the Academy holds great significance.

First, those who pass the university course like this receive the title of Imperial Baronet upon graduation and are appointed to positions that can attend the Imperial Grand Assembly.

In other words, if you can just enter the university course, you become a central noble of the Empire.

For reference, if your graduation grades are excellent, you get a higher position.

It’s hard to believe, but Baron Baden became the Chairman of the Privy Council thanks to getting high scores here.

Second, there’s the case of achieving exceptionally high results even in the university course.

It’s receiving an offer to enter the ‘Tower of Honor’.

Of course, not everyone who receives an offer can enter the tower.

You must receive recognition from at least ten out of the twelve sages in the tests they each prepare.

Because the process is so rigorous, news of someone entering the Tower of Honor is heard only once every 3-5 years at best.

And Mr. Jepetto is a scholar of this Tower of Honor, so there’s no need to further explain how great a person he is, right?

‘Ah, didn’t they say Lord Joseph received an offer to enter the tower?’

Let’s set that story aside for now.

Anyway, the important thing is that Kardiel received an offer to enter the Academy’s university course! And through a recommendation process at that.

‘He even said it was unfortunate that it was too late for this year!’

That means Kardiel’s current level is enough to start the university course.

I’m truly overwhelmed with emotion. I’ve always felt guilty for not being able to give proper educational opportunities because of that damn husband.

If this isn’t a tiger cub born under a cow, then what is it?

“I declined.”

“Yes, of course you should enroll… What?”

I almost spit out the juice I was drinking.

“Puhwup!”

What? I really held it in, though?

When I turned my head, it was Baroness Baden who spat out her drink. Water drips from her table.

“My, my goodness. Such an unseemly act…!”

Servants hurriedly approached to clean up the Baroness’s place.

Still, it’s fortunate. Unlike me, it was water, not juice.

“Ugh. How unsanitary, my lady.”

“Eu, Euphy sister. Even so, to say it like that…”

Some time was needed to settle the surroundings.

Euphemina said she lost her appetite and got up from the table first, and immediately Baroness Baden went to fetch her, saying that behavior was not proper.

They probably won’t return, so it seems we’ll need to send meals up to their rooms.

Chersion was restless but didn’t leave his seat.

Only Kardiel and Lord Joseph were quietly continuing their meal at this messy table.