The officials couldn’t hide their embarrassed looks. They only exchanged glances with each other, keeping their mouths shut without making any excuses.

“… Isn’t the Empress asking a question?”

Cledius spat out, seemingly displeased.

In an effort to eliminate discrimination, they had started accepting female students into the military academy this year. Although the number of admitted students was small, it was quite symbolic. Wasn’t it the first time they welcomed female freshmen?

However, it was strange that not a single one was visible.

“Don’t tell me you weren’t planning to even introduce them because I didn’t give advance notice?”

“No, Your Majesty! We will contact the female students immediately and have them prepare.”

“… So you had no plans to present them at all.”

The Empress’s cold voice made those gathered flinch. The backs of the military academy officials became damp with sweat.

Ilarid stepped forward without adding any more words.

Cledius’s interested gaze followed Ilarid’s navy blue dress. Perhaps it would be good to do such inspections together occasionally. The sight of officials sweating profusely every time she asked questions was quite entertaining.

Soon it was time to meet the representative of the new students. A male student paid his respects in front of the Emperor and Empress standing side by side.

“A talented individual who will succeed the Viscount from the Icastel family has enrolled.”

“I greet the supreme sun and the brilliant moon of the Empire. I am Paul Katia Gwen Icastel!”

He was certainly the youngest son of the Icastel ducal family. And also the cause of Cecilia losing her top rank. Ilarid smiled faintly and asked Paul.

“I heard the midterm exam was quite difficult, but you proudly took first place. Congratulations.”

“It’s an honor, Your Majesty!”

“By the way, I have a question. The essay question number 3 in this exam was quite impressive…”

A look of bewilderment crossed the faces of Paul and the surrounding officials and some faculty members. Surely she didn’t expect him to answer here.

“How did you answer it?”

When faced with an unexpected question, it was best to deny it outright. Paul, with his waist bowed, answered while trying to suppress his trembling voice.

“It’s been a while since I took the exam, so I don’t remember the question.”

“Is that so?”

The Empress’s gentle smile reached Paul. He thought it was fortunate, thinking it might pass like this, but she immediately caught them off guard.

“… There was a man named Carles living in a rural village. This man had a young son who believed in a different religion, and one day he took his own life by hanging himself with a scarf…”

The content of question 3 flowed smoothly from Ilarid’s mouth. The faces of Paul and the academy officials gradually turned ashen.

“… At the time, people accused Carles of murdering his son to prevent his conversion, and he was soon sentenced to death. Describe your view on this incident from a religious perspective.”

There was no way he couldn’t remember. No, he probably didn’t even read the question. She glared at the youngest son of the Icastel family, who was fidgeting nervously.

Although the name ‘Carles’ was used in the question, Ilarid immediately recognized it.

Essay question 3 was about an incident that actually happened long ago in a small suburban area of the Empire.

Currently, as the power of religion has greatly diminished in the Empire, it naturally caught her attention.

It was strange to suddenly discuss religion in a military academy exam. She had heard that everyone had struggled with this peculiar question that was hard to grasp.

Perhaps one of the professors who noticed the Empress’s intention deliberately included it. A question that would be difficult for them to answer properly. Or a question that even they hadn’t yet clearly concluded.

Either way, Ilarid was grateful. She calmly waited for the words to spill out of Paul’s mouth.

The officials urged Paul with their eyes, but his closed mouth showed no signs of opening. His face, flushed red, was pitiful.

Finally, Ilarid broke the awkward silence first.

“… I understand. Let’s consider silence as your answer.”

The Empress’s attitude, as if she knew something, began to make those gathered anxious.

Cledius quietly approached Ilarid’s side. And in a lowered voice, he gave a warning mixed with caution.

It was the Icastel family, not just any other family. If they unnecessarily fell out of favor, it might cause problems with funding for the next conquest war.

“You seem to be pushing too hard just because he’s the top student.”

“If he’s shaken by just this much, how will he assist His Majesty the Emperor in the future?”

A sneering voice followed the cold smile, involuntarily coming out. A dark shadow settled under Ilarid’s eyelashes as she glanced at Cledius.

Perhaps Cledius was an accomplice too. He might have turned a blind eye to noble children manipulating their grades to secure top positions and naturally enter the Imperial Guard.

They always stand in solidarity. To make their power and material benefits even more solid.

‘What about us?’

Now it was time to hear that answer. Ilarid looked at the academy official and said with feigned composure.

“Would you please guide us to the next location?”

The next stop was the main building. The schedule was to receive explanations about the military academy there and observe the students training.

Heading to the main building, many spectators and reporters were already in position. A short press conference with reporters was scheduled separately after the inspection. If nothing unusual happened, all schedules would proceed as planned.

Lynette and Alice glanced towards the main building, checking if the person they were waiting for might be there.

But nowhere was there anyone with navy blue hair. Had something gone wrong? If they were caught even before it started, it would be a big problem.

As Alice was looking around for a while, a familiar figure caught her eye.

“Gasp…”

“What’s wrong, Miss Alice?”

“Oh, oh, I just saw someone I know, but it’s not really a situation where we should meet.”

She had contacted Jake using the name Allen, but she didn’t expect to cross paths like this. She had told him to come to the military academy inspection no matter what. She had even earnestly asked him to report on it if anything happened.

“I hope this succeeds…”

Those gathered at the academy focused on the movements of the Emperor and Empress. The crowd that had fiercely gathered was getting closer to the main building. It was busy and noisy, but the silence contained within was heavy.

At that moment, when even the second hand of someone’s pocket watch seemed audible.

“Now!”

A cry that sounded like a scream echoed across the campus.

The academy officials looked around to find the owner of the suddenly heard voice. At the sudden situation, the Imperial Guard immediately stepped forward to protect the Emperor and Empress.

The gazes of people who had scattered in all directions to find the source of the cry soon turned to the main building. One person raised a finger pointing to the rooftop.

“Look over there! People on top!”

There were clearly people standing on the rooftop of the main building. Judging by their uniforms, they were indeed students currently enrolled in the military academy.

The students were holding large rolled-up cloths in their hands. Soon, these bundles of cloth began to fall down one after another.

The sentence written in red and black was striking enough to catch the eye at once. The expressions of the people gathered below the main building changed to shock. Especially the academy officials turned pale and shouted.

“Stop those guys right now!”

The officials, along with security guards, rushed up to the main building. Worried sighs mixed with premature screams, fearing the students might fall.

The front of the main building became chaotic with reporters and spectators. Cledius’s face, who had been quietly reading the content of the falling cloth, also hardened.

The cloths that fell to the bottom of the building waved, creating a huge wave. The cloth had sentences exposing the corruption and irregularities of the academy written in large letters.

The anger of female students excluded from classes. Violence against scholarship students from commoner backgrounds. Embezzled public funds by executives. Changed rankings with manipulated grades…

A tidal wave rode the wind.

When all the cloths were spread out, they covered the entire front of the main building.

“It’s flying in the wind! We need to secure it more heavily from below!”

At someone’s shout, several people ran out from the crowd.

They were current academy students wearing the same uniforms, and professors were also visible. Those who couldn’t just stand by gathered to hold down the fluttering cloth with their bodies.

The first floor and rooftop of the main building became chaotic as students rushed in and those trying to stop them mingled together.

The gazes that had been poured on the Emperor and Empress all turned to the main building of the academy. Even ordinary spectators were shocked and took in all the scenery.

The reporters were the ones who moved ahead of anyone else.

The hands of some reporters were already busy moving across their notepads. Jake, with a pen cap in his mouth, quickly wrote down the series of events.

“Illustration! Sketch the illustration first!”

“Interview the students right away. Set up appointments, hurry!”

“Who’s up there? Students? If they get detained or something, all our interviews and everything will be for nothing.”

Some academy executives tried their best to snatch the pens and notepads from the reporters. Loud voices asking what they were doing were exchanged several times.

The biggest problem wasn’t the reporters or the students who staged this. It was the numerous ordinary eyewitnesses who had gathered to see the Emperor and Empress. How could they block their eyes and ears?

Ilarid looked up at the top of the main building. Unfiltered intense light pierced her eyes.

And she saw the figures of students mixed with the early summer sunlight. Although she couldn’t meet them directly, the student with navy blue hair fluttering up there must be Cecilia.

The eyes of the four people who had conspired together shone brightly in the sunlight. Her hands involuntarily clenched as she was overwhelmed by an indescribable elation.

We did it.

It was clearly heard even through tightly closed lips.

The rooftop door that had been blocked with abandoned desks and chairs broke with a loud noise. The students standing on top were subdued by security guards hired by the school.

But it wasn’t to stop the students, but literal ‘suppression’. Among the female students who came down, some were even dragged along the floor with their hair grabbed. The students linked arms to avoid being dispersed, but it wasn’t enough to resist.

Ilarid stepped forward to stop them, but Cledius’s arm blocked her.

“… It’s dangerous.”

It was a small voice, but it was clearly heard even amidst the noise. Is this his way of showing concern? But Ilarid pushed his arm away with a smirk.

“Since when have you cared so much about me?”

“Ilarid.”

“Your Majesty’s concern is unnecessary. I’ve lived without it, so what difference would it make to receive it now?”

Above all, I don’t really want to receive it. Ilarid stepped forward without hesitation.

On the rooftop, academy officials could be seen struggling to collect the fallen cloth. Students began to be dragged out one by one from the main entrance of the main building. They were all forcibly suppressed and their bodies were in tatters.

“Everyone stop!”

A firm and powerful voice echoed vividly as it hit the main building. The gathered crowd murmured without distinction. It was none other than the Empress who stepped forward. How could such a voice come from that thin body?

The moment they saw Ilarid’s figure, the crowd felt a strange sense of déjà vu. And they recalled one person etched in their minds.

Keira Rowen Melpiram.

The woman who brought waves wherever she went.

The dragged-down students focused on Ilarid. Some had their uniform buttons and cuffs torn, but their eyes were upright. A strong spirit that had bet everything in life enveloped Ilarid and the students.

“Please prepare a separate place. Right now.”

“Y-Your Majesty the Empress. But the next schedule…”

“I heard the remaining schedule was to observe the training of the military academy students. Wouldn’t it be appropriate to see it after hearing from these students and faculty members here?”

It was a calm but firm tone. The officials sensed that they could never persuade the Empress. Nearby reporters quickly wrote down the Empress’s appearance.

‘Tomorrow’s front page will be worth seeing.’

Although his wrist felt like it might fall off, an undisguisable satisfaction hung on Jake’s lips. The usually reclusive Empress stepped forward in this chaotic scene. What other article would be needed?

Ilarid deliberately ignored their reporting fervor and reminded the school officials of what to do next.

“So move quickly. I must hear their stories.”

And as if seeking agreement, she turned to look at Cledius. Unlike her slightly smiling expression, a cold wind blew in her tone.

“Both academies are official educational institutions to nurture talent for the Empire. I think the more such issues are raised, the more thoroughly we need to investigate and grasp the truth.”

Cledius’s Adam’s apple stiffened. He belatedly realized that he was nervous.

“Don’t you agree, Your Majesty the Emperor?”

“… The Empress is right.”

He agreed with Ilarid’s words as if possessed, not knowing what to do.