“When was the Empire founded?”

The faces of the young ladies who disliked me darkened with disappointment. It seemed to be a really easy question. In particular, Countess Lamira’s young lady seemed furious, her fist tightly clenched, trembling.

Miss Potts, too, had apparently been a victim of the Duke’s letter campaign, and her eyes sparkled with an expression of having safely passed. Esmeralda also looked at me with a face full of confidence, smiling.

In this room, only me. Only me.

My mind was completely blank.

I knew the founding year of Korea was 1392, but I had no idea about the Empire!

I ended up randomly guessing a year with trembling lips.

“1392.”

The atmosphere soured in an instant.

Countess Lamira’s young lady looked surprised at first, but gradually her expression turned to ridicule. Miss Potts began to sweat profusely, looking baffled, and Esmeralda blinked her eyes as if she couldn’t believe I’d given such an answer and was waiting for my real one.

But I did not meet her expectations.

“Ha, an excellent answer.”

Miss Potts tried to clap with trembling hands, but kept missing. As the other students began to murmur, Miss Potts hastily added,

“Very, very, very minor difference. The Empire was founded in N.S. (novum saeculum) 1786, but there was a significant event in the Empire in 1392, so it makes quite sense.”

I couldn’t see how the difference between 1392 and 1786 was minor, but Miss Potts continued to sweat profusely, trying to defend my answer.

Then Countess Lamira’s young lady raised her hand.

“Miss Potts, how could there have been a major event in the Empire in 1392 when the Empire didn’t even exist then?”

I sighed softly and leaned back in my chair.

It’s already ruined. Let’s see how it goes.

“Ah, ah. Yes, yes, sharp point, Lady Lamira. Ve, very sharp indeed.”

I watched Miss Potts struggle in realtime between the Duke’s letter and the shame in front of the students.

“It, it’s the birth year of His Majesty the Emperor’s ancestor. Without him, there would have been no Empire?”

She seemed to have chosen the Duke.

The other students gradually calmed down as Miss Potts took a hard line, though the unkind looks towards me continued.

It’s as if I had become the stupid, lazy girl from the original work who only likes luxury.

Then Esmeralda quietly admired.

“Oooh. As expected, Your Highness had a purpose. The birth of His Majesty’s ancestor is as good as the founding of the Empire.”

Esmeralda looked at me with sparkling eyes.

I smiled weakly instead of answering, tears in my eyes.

No, it’s not that. There wasn’t a single person who understood me.

“Everyone is here.”

True to the Academy’s social rather than educational purpose, a garden tea party was held after school.

After an appropriate amount of meaningless small talk, the teacher who had gathered us struck a teacup with a teaspoon.

“Welcome to the Academy. I am Madame Zanevra. I will be one of the teachers looking after your overall Academy life.”

Polite applause followed, and Madame Zanevra smiled gracefully.

“You all know why I’ve gathered you here today, don’t you?”

The young ladies all nodded.

“Noblesse oblige is one of the Academy’s lessons, so this year, we will also hold a charity party. Specifically, the charity party that you will be organizing.”

The annual Academy charity party was quite famous. Nobles from various countries would attend, and it was often featured in newspapers.

Above all, it was an opportunity for young ladies, not yet adults, to demonstrate the essential virtue of a lady in hosting a party.

Thanks to this, an invisible and tense competition often arose among the young ladies over who would host the most successful party.

Two parties are scheduled. Since there are twelve young ladies present, it will be fine to proceed with six members each. A supervisor is needed for each team….”

As Madam Zanev trailed off, some of the young ladies seemed to tense, twitching their hands.

It was a great opportunity to significantly elevate one’s social standing. It was perhaps natural for everyone to keep an eye on Madam Zanev with fire in their eyes.

Madam Zanev smiled faintly at the tension surrounding the garden.

“Is there anyone who would like to volunteer?”

I calmly raised my hand.

“Me.”

As I raised my hand, the other young ladies began to murmur all at once.

“Princess Reina? I know you don’t usually enjoy parties….”

“Attending a party and hosting one are completely different.”

“Indeed. Money is the most important thing for hosting a party…. You brought five carriages yesterday.”

There were some who looked at me with envious eyes, but there were also quite a few who glanced at me with disdain.

“Princess Reina is obvious. She will probably show off her money, riding on the back of the Duke of Istira.”

“If it’s a charity party, money is important, but the ability to attract as many donations as possible is essential. Somehow I feel uneasy?”