Cledius glared at the school principal and officials seated before him with an openly displeased expression. Some professors also cowered under the emperor’s gaze.

The only ones who kept their backs straight were a few professors who had helped gather evidence and the students who had occupied the rooftop.

The hastily arranged meeting was sloppy at best. In front of the emperor, who sat at the head, was a red-covered book masquerading as evidence. An irritated voice flowed from Cledius’s mouth.

“Discrimination and corruption in the Imperial Academy.”

His crossed legs fully revealed his discomfort. Ilarid sat quietly next to Cledius, listening to the stuttering words of the flustered individuals.

“Your Majesty the Empress. How could such…”

“Please consider it an anonymous tip.”

Everyone was bound to be sensitive about grade issues. With their future careers at stake, they all had to devote themselves to their studies with burning passion.

Especially in the military academy, both physical abilities and academic grades are taken into account to select the imperial guard. They are then ranked and finally selected through separate interviews.

Here, one problem arises.

Kailem Western, who actually manages and supervises the imperial guard, could not be involved. Due to his clear limitations in origin and class, he was thoroughly ostracized from noble society.

Kailem was merely a powerless figurehead with only the authority to command the imperial guard within the palace, without the right to appoint separate imperial guard officers.

In the end, only those who pleased the military academy and suited the tastes of noble society could enter the imperial guard.

This was one of the reasons why the imperial guard was particularly unable to self-regulate. Their once lofty honor and pride had long since rusted away, and now they were nothing more than a group of well-fed pigs.

‘These stupid fools even manipulating grades…’

Cledius glared at those seated on either side of him. Why on earth would they create such an obviously detectable issue?

He had already noticed their corruption. But turning a blind eye was a kind of laissez-faire attitude that allowed them to do anything as long as they weren’t caught.

But these foolish ones had crossed the line too far in trying to satisfy their own greed.

‘They may have underestimated the solidarity of the other side too much.’

He had thought, what good would it do for the powerless to band together? It would be like throwing eggs at a rock. Would it even leave a crack?

Who would have known that the eggs were actually disguised stones?

One of the things the Empress Dowager feared most was their solidarity. Solidarity necessary to achieve freedom and equality. Cledius could now understand why his mother had been so irritated by their coming together.

First, he had to pick up the problems that had already spilled out. Cledius let out a heavy sigh and straightened his posture.

“We will address the academy’s responsibility later. For now, we must discuss how to handle the problems that have erupted.”

“If I may, Your Imperial Majesty,” Ilarid opened her mouth quietly without looking at Cledius.

“‘Problems’ should be solved, not just handled. The academy stained with discrimination and corruption will not change by merely picking up and dusting off the issues.”

“…Then let the Empress speak. How should we resolve this going forward?”

He was curious about what would come out of Ilarid’s mouth. The irritation he had felt earlier had long since disappeared. Now, only curiosity swirled around Cledius.

‘Why pass it off?’

The solution to such problems is simple and clear.

Punish those responsible and continuously monitor and observe to prevent the same incidents from recurring. There was no need to have someone else speak on his behalf. Was he planning to blame everything on the Empress later if any problems arose and pretend ignorance?

Ilarid never turned her head or gaze towards Cledius. Instead, she looked at each of the professors and students lined up beside her.

The students still had their heads bowed low, even though they were not criminals. An unspoken reproach – why did you create trouble when you could have just stayed quiet – weighed down on their heads.

If nothing is resolved, they will likely be branded as ‘whistleblowers’ for the rest of their lives.

The student who suffered violence will be thrown into an even worse cycle of violence using this incident as an excuse, and female students including Cecilia will not be able to escape the swamp of discrimination.

Although the image of the Empress had been greatly tarnished thanks to Cledius and Selina, Ilarid was still the Empress. The position of Empress that she had endured, protected, and polished until now. It was time for it to shine.

“Invalidate all the grades of students who took top ranks through manipulation. Of course, all those who contributed to grade manipulation should be summoned to determine the truth and receive appropriate punishment.”

The faces of the students, who had been staring at the floor, began to sparkle with hope. Cecilia inadvertently gasped.

Anyone could see that Cecilia deserved the top spot in the midterm exams.

She had proudly taken first place in the entrance exam, and in terms of physical abilities, she was never inferior to the male students. Among students and some professors, there was talk of her becoming the first female imperial guard officer.

But the published grade results were strange. Cecilia barely managed to stay in the middle ranks.

Instead, the title of top student went to her stepbrother, Paul.

Her mother must know something. She immediately went to the mansion to confront Riwena, but she replied as if it were natural.

‘There’s a limit to how high a female soldier can rise. But Paul is different.’

Since Jin would receive the duke’s title and lead the family, poor Paul would have to make his own way. If Paul could attain the title of ‘imperial guard officer’, he might receive marriage proposals from daughters of good families. That was the reason. Just for such a reason.

Feeling upset, she decided to gather evidence with her friends. At first, it was about raising issues regarding grade manipulation, but more and more incidents began to surface. When professors joined in, the evidence became as thick as a book.

How much anxiety they had endured until it was placed in that spot. There were many twists and turns before Cecilia and the students’ story could rise to the surface.

If Ilarid’s words become reality, Cecilia would regain the top spot. Just as a glimmer of hope began to rise on the students’ faces, one of the officials who had been watching spoke up with a nasal voice.

“Your Majesty the Empress. Forgive me, but I have one question to raise.”

Ilarid’s eyes narrowed. It was Viscount Birado, famous for his loyalty to the imperial family.

“I believe the top spot this time belongs to Miss Cecilia Gwen Icastel, a member of the same family. Though it’s just speculation, wouldn’t the sister have given up her grades to pave the way for her brother? There is such a thing as human goodwill, isn’t there?”

Ilarid barely managed to hold back a snort that was about to escape. Even if they are family, there are things to give up and things not to give up so easily, especially issues where one’s life is at stake.

Exasperated sighs burst out from among the students who had been listening quietly. Some were so upset they tried to leave their seats, but were barely calmed down by those around them.

“Viscount Birado. That’s not how you use the word ‘goodwill’.”

Ilarid cut him off firmly. It was as if a cool breeze had blown through the gaps in her words.

“It seems you’ve misunderstood due to not properly receiving others’ kind hearts.”

Unfortunately, that is. A genuinely regretful sound flowed from Ilarid’s lips.

But in the shadow of her lowered eyelashes, a pervasive smirk was visible. A blue vein momentarily throbbed on Viscount Birado’s forehead, as if he had taken a big hit.

Could the Empress make such sarcastic remarks? Even the academy faculty and students were dumbfounded and remained silent. Ilarid, undeterred by the atmosphere around her, opened her mouth again.

“And this issue should be asked of the affected party. Miss Cecilia?”

For the first time since entering the same space, she made eye contact with Cecilia. Her purple eyes were deep and clear.

They say to look at a person’s eyes first to understand them. Clear eyes filled with firm will and conviction, nurtured by much love, looked back at Ilarid.

Ilarid nodded and blinked, signaling that it was okay to speak. Cecilia immediately straightened her posture and answered.

“I absolutely did not change my grades of my own will.”

It felt like being robbed right before her eyes. Grades changed regardless of her intentions. Anyone who knew Cecilia even a little would have found it suspicious. She quickly continued speaking.

“It is solely the result of my efforts. I can prove it sufficiently in the next final exam, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“No. Show it right here. I’d like to hear your answer to the third essay question from this midterm exam.”

Cecilia closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Perhaps because she hadn’t eaten properly since last night, preparing for today’s events, a slight nausea came over her due to the oncoming tension.

She had also promised her father. That she would live according to her own will. Perhaps the words she speaks here will be the answer.

But contrary to expectations, Cecilia gave a completely unexpected answer.

“Your Majesty the Empress. I did not solve that problem.”

**

A small commotion arose. Those gathered in the makeshift conference room buzzed. They hurriedly called for the professor who had set and graded the question.

“Professor Aruel!”

It was a name familiar to Ilarid’s ears as well. Though they had never met in person, he was an academy professor of commoner origin with whom she had promised cooperation by letter. She had heard that while of common birth, he came from a family that had produced several educators.

Professor Aruel, looking quite disheveled compared to those around him, scratched his head and bowed slightly at the sudden flood of attention.

Ilarid struggled to hide her bewilderment and asked him.

“Professor Aruel. Did you grade Miss Cecilia’s exam paper yourself?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. I gave her full marks.”

Professor Aruel was confident and at ease, as if there was nothing to be concerned about. Viscount Birado and other officials who had contributed to grade manipulation saw their chance and began to denounce the two.

“Rather, Miss Cecilia seems suspicious. Full marks for a problem she didn’t solve!”

“Wasn’t there some kind of deal between her and Professor Aruel?”

It was the perfect situation to tear them apart. A professor of common origin and a student who exposed the academy’s hidden corruption. It was perfect for linking them together.

Ilarid raised her hand to settle the noisy situation. Then she signaled for Cecilia to continue speaking.

“I judged that the problem itself was flawed and did not solve it. Instead, I presented a different perspective.”

“Why did you think so?”

“Because I determined it could not be solved religiously.”

At the time of that tragedy, various religions were spread throughout the Western Continent. It was when conflicts between religions were at their most intense.

Countless massacres and wars were repeated for the reason of different beliefs. It was the most desperate and cruel period in the history of the Western Continent.

A dark age when people pointed swords at family and neighbors, treating each other as heretics. But as religion no longer weighed people down, the tragedy of that time gradually faded.

Cecilia continued her answer again.

“If we focus on religion, we forget the most important fact. For example, the logic that Karles cannot be executed because the religion he belonged to is right actually creates other problems.”

It wasn’t just a matter of religion. Judging in black and white creates another pretext for oppression. The people gathered began to focus on Cecilia’s words one by one.

“Regarding that problem, I refuted, ‘We should approach with the mindset that other people’s beliefs are as important as our own beliefs.’ Of course… I don’t mean we should be generous towards everything and consider everything right unconditionally.”

It was a familiar phrase. Where had I heard it before? Ilarid retraced her memories.

‘…Mother.’

The hem of Ilarid’s skirt crumpled slightly as she listened to Cecilia’s words. It was a sentence her mother had naturally uttered when she was young.

‘What others possess is also valuable, so cherish it. That is the source of love.’

“Since we cannot dare to argue superiority or inferiority among all things existing in this land, we also have no right to persecute others for small differences between them and us.”

Keira’s words overlapped with Cecilia’s language. Mother, who was dragged to the execution ground on charges of treason. The love that such a mother emphasized while holding Ilarid’s hand.

‘Brother.’

The magical words that no one could treat you carelessly.

It felt as if the torn pieces of Lebel’s slave document that Limless had ripped apart would stick to her cheek at any moment.

Keira and Limless existed at the foundation of the power that saved Lebel and made Ilarid stand up again.

And those words were flowing out of Cecilia’s mouth again. Ilarid had to struggle to hold back the tears that were welling up like a veil.

“…Quite an impudent and brazen answer.”

Cledius muttered as if to himself. Whether Cecilia’s words had made him uncomfortable, there was a deep furrow between his brows.