I read the problem again with trembling eyes. It was roughly a proof of why the square root of 2 is irrational.

It was definitely higher than the level we had been taught in class, but it was not a big problem.

“It’s a perfect solution that could be published in an academic journal right away.”

The math teacher was still admiring my assignment.

“Would it be rude to try to submit it under your name, Princess?”

I was startled by the math teacher’s sudden proposal. I might be branded as a genius of the century.

If I become known as a genius, my name and, unfortunately, even my face may be sold, and then my plan to disappear quietly in a few years and live my life in relaxation will be ruined.

“Ah, no!”

I hurriedly stopped the math teacher and racked my brains for a good excuse.

“The truth is, I didn’t think of this solution myself. I asked someone I know personally to solve it. The Duke has so many acquaintances that he introduced me right away.”

“Ah, really? Can I know the scholar’s name? It seems like a famous person.”

“Ah… um… Archimedes?”

Despite my blatant lie, the math teacher admired it.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of him.”

“Of course… He lives a hermit life.”

“It’s a pity that he lives a hermit’s life. I really wanted to meet him.”

As the conversation flowed into a dangerous direction, I hurriedly gathered my assignment and books.

“It’s going to be difficult because he has a phobia of people. Anyway, I’m busy with exam study.”

“Ah, what a pity. I really wanted to meet such a great person. Can I inquire at the Duke’s house?”

Sweat started to pour out.

“AHAHA. It’s better not to meet him. He doesn’t go out so his hair and beard are shaggier than a primitive man, and he lives without speaking for months, communicating by screaming. Anyway, I’m busy with exam study.”

Fortunately, the teacher let me go easily.

“You’ll do well on the exam, Princess. If you have a chance to meet Archimedes, the mathematician, please let me know!”

I quickly left the classroom.

I guess it’s okay if I don’t do well on the math exam.

(This is a time separator.)

Finally, the day of the showdown had come.

With the determination to take revenge for my previous humiliations, I entered the exam hall.

Fortunately, the other students didn’t seem to have studied much, as they were spoiled with riches and didn’t need good grades.

Seeing the students still calmly chatting even 10 minutes before the exam, I began to be filled with groundless confidence.

I felt like I might actually become the top student.
The signs of the chief’s confidence became more definite as I worked through the test paper. Both history and literature were easily solved. There was a reward for cramming like hell.

I chuckled to myself, imagining myself receiving an award in front of the whole school at the end of the semester.

By the time I decided my acceptance speech as “I reviewed and prepared based on textbooks,” all the exams were over, and only the etiquette test remained.

It was the hardest test for me, and my concentration had already started to wane because of the previous exams, so I opened the test paper with a heavy heart.

“At what angle should you bend your knee when greeting a lady who has one higher rank?”

The first question was a stumbling block. I thought about what the only noblewoman I knew, the Duchess, would do in this situation, but as much as I thought about it, it seemed she would ask the Empress for a handshake.

I immediately moved on to the next question.

“Which tool, a fork or a knife, should you use to press down boiled potatoes?”

“How long should you converse in the drawing room after a meal?”

It was serious. No matter how I looked at it, all the questions were something I didn’t understand.

When I glanced around, the other students had already finished the test and submitted it, even though the test time was not yet half over.

That meant this was a very easy test. But to me, who had no basic knowledge, it was all unfamiliar content.

Before I knew it, I was the only one left in the classroom.

Seeing the pale face of the etiquette teacher supervising the exam, it was clear that she was worrying about being called back to the Duke’s house because of my stupidity.

To save the etiquette teacher, I tried hard to take deep breaths and painfully recall what I had learned.

“In Korea, a 90degree greeting is the most polite……”

Just when the contents vaguely scribbled in my notes were about to come to mind.

A murmuring noise came from the corridor.

“Gasp.”

“Really?”

“No doubt. I just saw it.”

The noise broke my concentration, and the content that was about to come up vanished like smoke.

The veins in my temples bulged automatically.

There’s no lack of manners as noisy as talking during an exam, and the thought of my etiquette score being lower than theirs raised my blood pressure.

As the murmur grew louder rather than subsided, I eventually kicked my seat and opened the door leading to the corridor. The corridor was full of students murmuring about something.

“Hey! I’m in the middle of an exam!”

I screamed. But my voice was soon drowned out by the other students’ voices. They all seemed to be distracted by something, and I was out of their minds.

Just as I was about to question them and hold them accountable if the noise caused me to ruin my test and get the etiquette teacher fired.

The crowd of students parted like a wave, and sunlight poured in through the window they had been covering.

The brightness made me squint, and a tall figure approached me and apologized calmly.

“Sorry.”

It was only then that I realized why the students were murmuring.

“Kirian?”