As I listened, it was quite irritating.

Cecilia’s response was radical, implying that since there is no superiority in all things in the world, one being cannot persecute or discriminate against another.

Of all people, the emperor who heard those words was Cledius.

An emperor obsessed with war who loved his power more than anyone else. An absolute being with noble blood flowing through his veins, in a position where he could commit murder without trial and be forgiven.

The words Cecilia uttered were like statements that instantly dragged the emperor down. Those gathered held their breath and watched Cledius’s reaction.

“Why are you all like this? Are you afraid I’ll immediately draw a gun or sword and dispose of the young lady from the Icastel family?”

Of course. The officials and others present kept their mouths shut. With all the issues they were already facing, if the emperor’s immediate execution was added, the academy would truly be finished.

“…So the Icastel family had another talented individual.”

Cledius leaned back loosely against the backrest with his arms folded. People scrambled to find words to say, flustered by the emperor’s sudden change in temperature.

“It’s much better to have someone who answers boldly than someone who can’t even speak properly and just hangs their head.”

Was it simply a whim of the picky emperor, or a kind of curiosity about a fairly substantial character? In any case, they had passed one hurdle. The students and faculty breathed sighs of relief.

“Since His Majesty the Emperor says so, I too feel at ease.”

Ilarid agreed with the emperor’s words in a businesslike manner. It was quite difficult to calm her stirred heart.

‘Mother’s legacy… was everywhere.’

When had she taken root in so many people’s hearts? The love and solidarity that Keira Rowen Melpiram had sown grew in the warm May sunshine.

And now, it was with Ilarid at the most crucial moment.

“I think Cecilia’s answer just now has solved one more problem.”

The issue of overt discrimination against female students and commoner students excluded from military classes was immediately raised.

“Discriminating against them and drawing lines does not match the perfect answer given. As an imperial institution, we should provide the same quality education to all enrolled students.”

The academy officials showed reluctance at the empress’s unobstructed attitude. They had all overlooked the fact that she was ‘Ilarid Rowen Melpiram’ before being the empress.

Was her silence after the family tragedy not simply for self-preservation?

“…Reduce the salary of those responsible for intentionally excluding female students from some classes.”

In fact, the pay cut was a kind of warning. Originally, she wanted to expel them immediately, but it was giving them one last chance.

“And we need to conduct a special audit to thoroughly investigate the status of classes, including embezzled budgets. It would be better to do it irregularly and unexpectedly.”

Once is a mistake, but twice is a fault. Of course, they probably didn’t commit such acts only twice, but if they got caught and suffered greatly, ordinary humans would be cautious and watch their step.

Ilarid deliberately stretched out her hand to grasp the armrest of the chair where Cledius sat. He flinched in surprise and looked at the empress.

Had there ever been a time like this?

It was truly a welcome reaction. Ilarid’s gesture was like sweet raindrops approaching in a moment of burning thirst. He wanted to immediately pull her close and press his lips to her hand to cool the unbearable heat.

“What is Your Majesty’s will?”

Ilarid’s outstretched hand was a gesture urging agreement. He should have flatly rejected the empress’s words, saying it was still premature. It could cause cracks in the solid tower he had built up until now.

But Cledius wanted to believe in Ilarid’s false appearance.

“…I agree with the empress.”

He wanted to be the owner of Ilarid’s smile. The scales had already lost their balance and tilted to one side.

**

It was natural that it took time to try to solve all the problems at once. Although it wasn’t quite appropriate to call it a break time, Ilarid went outside for a moment to get some fresh air.

Many conversations had taken place. When the suggestion came up to hand over the authority to select the imperial guards to Kailem Western, the captain of the imperial guard, most of the noble-born officials vehemently opposed, even raising their voices.

“Do you intend to maintain the current situation even after recognizing that there is a problem?”

Ilarid looked at the emperor and nobles with genuine regret.

In fact, everyone knew Kailem’s abilities. Rather, this incident increased the possibility of reviving the imperial guard. It was an opportunity for it to become an elite unit of the empire, not an agency where riffraff stayed put relying on their family backgrounds.

‘It will be troublesome if the imperial guard grows, but…’

However, at least Kailem didn’t forget what he received from others. Whether it was good or bad. It was a stepping stone for the day when Kailem Western would help Ilarid.

‘When I return, I should tell Lebel first. That we need to be more wary of the imperial guard from now on.’

They said there were still many reporters outside. Coming out to the 2nd floor balcony at the back of the main building, it was both sparsely populated and suitable for clearing one’s head.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

A man bowed deeply in greeting.

“Professor Aruel.”

“We’ve only exchanged greetings by letter, but it’s an incomparable honor to meet you like this. Thanks to Your Majesty, the students must feel a little more at ease.”

“This is just the beginning. I’m worried that they might face other discrimination just for exposing corruption…”

“It’s the job of educators to prevent such things from happening.”

Ilarid asked the question she had wanted to ask most since the meeting room.

“I’m curious about something. The essay question number 3 that you said you directly created… Wasn’t there another intention?”

She hit the nail on the head. Aruel bowed again towards where Ilarid was standing.

“I would give Your Majesty a perfect score as well.”

He leaned against the balcony railing a little distance from Ilarid. If it had been another noble, they would have called Aruel’s attitude impudent and immediately slapped his cheek, but Ilarid was not the type to add harsh words to such matters unnecessarily.

“Actually, I deliberately set the question in the wrong direction. I wanted to see if there would be any students who would point out the problem with the question and refute it, and if there were any students who thought the same as me.”

So if there were students whose thoughts aligned, he planned to subtly suggest that they join his research lab after advancing to the higher academy. But judging from the empress’s expression, it seemed the atmosphere was becoming quite difficult.

“Your Majesty the Empress. I’m truly sorry, but please let Cecilia stay at the academy.”

“It seems we both recognized the same talent. What should we do, I’m quite greedy too.”

Gazes that couldn’t yield to each other clashed. An empress who could push back against the nobles without being overwhelmed, and a commoner-born professor who could match such an empress. They both judged each other as no ordinary figures.

“If you were hoping for internal strife among the nobles, this choice was the right one.”

Ilarid’s eyes narrowed at Aruel’s words.

“My outward intention was to bring Cecilia to my research lab, but… in reality, the intention to filter out the noble children from the capital was much greater.”

Occasionally, some professors with connections to the capital would secretly leak exam questions to them. Aruel had prepared a few new questions in anticipation of the exam questions being leaked.

Essay question number 3 pierced that gap at the right time. Later, even that was about to disappear meaninglessly, blocked by grade manipulation.

“The influence of the capital nobles was growing. There was even talk of making admission through donations possible.”

“Such nonsense for an imperial institution…”

Professor Aruel shrugged lightly with a brief laugh. Of course, after this incident, such talk would be completely silenced.

“This is something I can only say in front of Your Majesty the Empress, but… Keira Rowen Melpiram was like a storm that shook the world.”

Hearing her mother’s name from a stranger. It was quite awkward, but it felt different. A gleam momentarily rested on Ilarid’s eyes.

She was too great a person to be hidden behind the title of Countess. She was a person too regrettable to simply purge because she could be harmful to the emperor’s power.

The empress resembled Keira a lot. Although she might not realize it herself, it was present in every action she showed.

“Do not do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.”

Aruel quietly recited the words Keira had shouted. The spirit of tolerance that embraces all. The words that spread from Keira were enough to shake people.

Even if the person to convey the message disappeared from the world, how could one block the blowing wind?

“…Please keep the fact that I said this to His Majesty the Emperor confidential.”

“I understand.”

“And if I may add a word, Your Majesty the Empress should also be careful.”

It must be a sight of embers reigniting that they thought they had completely stamped out. It wouldn’t look too good to those who rule.

“Thank you, Professor Aruel.”

Ilarid gently bowed her head.

As she left the balcony, she saw Lynette and Alice. It was time to return to the meeting room.

On the way back, somehow reporters were coming up the stairs. The two maids tensed up and blocked Ilarid’s front.

“Everyone step back. This is the path Her Majesty the Empress is taking!”

At Lynette’s shout, the reporters hesitated and stepped back a few paces. But the questions didn’t stop.

“Your Majesty the Empress. What do you think about the corruption case at the academy! Are you discussing solutions and punishments?”

“Is it true that the student who exposed the corruption is the second daughter of the Icastel family!”

Ilarid stopped after descending one floor of stairs. Then she looked at the reporters gathered around her.

“I will hold a separate press conference. Until then, please refrain from speculative articles.”

And she immediately broke through the crowd. The people crowded on the stairs couldn’t easily make way. To avoid any accidents, Ilarid deliberately walked slowly.

“…Excuse me.”

As Ilarid passed by, she bumped shoulders with a man. As she was about to stagger from the difference in strength, Lynette quickly embraced her side.

“Everyone, please watch your step and make way!”

After chaotically breaking through the crowd, they finally managed to reach near the conference room.

If they had known it would be like this, they should have received an escort. Who on earth authorized the reporters’ entry?

As soon as Ilarid returned to the conference room, she expressed her intention to resume the meeting.

The academy inspection had somehow turned into a countermeasure committee to resolve internal corruption issues and punish those involved.

By the end of the meeting, everyone looked visibly exhausted.

Was it from sitting for so long? Ilarid felt a dull pain in her waist area.

‘It must be because of the corset.’

It was also a struggle not being able to openly show signs of discomfort. There was no particular other way except to slowly regulate her breathing.

But if they stopped here and passed it over halfheartedly, the same problem might repeat. Ilarid bit her lower lip firmly and tried to forget the oncoming pain.

Finally, after establishing protection measures for the students, the blood-red of twilight was already seeping through the windows.

“That’s enough for today.”

When the emperor’s words ended, the conference room was filled with sighs mixed with various emotions.

Ilarid barely shook off the dizzy feeling and tried to stand up.

“Your Majesty the Empress!”

The strength suddenly left her legs. She staggered and grabbed the armrest of the chair. The pain that she thought she had forgotten for a moment dully made its presence known.

When Ilarid removed her hand from her waist area and opened it, there was a clear dark red mark.

Short screams were heard from people one after another. But it sounded like echoes coming from far away, not nearby.

Only the question ‘What is this?’ floated in Ilarid’s mind. Her breath gradually rose from her solar plexus to just below her throat. She hadn’t felt any health issues, so when on earth…

For a moment, there was one person that came to mind.

When going down the stairs, the person whose shoulder she bumped into in the crowd. Who was it? She couldn’t remember the face. Did they approach disguised as a reporter and strike?

“Ilarid, get a hold of yourself.”

Cledius’s voice was heard. His arm and hand supporting her back felt unfamiliar.

Ilarid wanted to shake him off and stand up immediately, but her body wouldn’t listen.

Voices calling “Your Majesty the Empress” from all directions and the cries of Lynette and Alice rang out.

Red eyes entered her blurry vision. Of all things, the last thing that came into view before her eyes closed was Cledius’s eyes.

She wanted to laugh hollowly and tell him to get away, but even the corners of her mouth wouldn’t help Ilarid. She collapsed into the darkness that was coming over her.