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Chapter 46

***

Cahir decorated the garden path into the First Star Palace with various flowers. In addition, the imperial magicians stood side by side, shooting fireworks into the sky in broad daylight.

“It’s beautiful. Even though it’s still bright out, the wizards worked hard to make it visible.” Hui, who participated as Rosaline’s maid, clapped her hands in delight.

As she said, the colorful fireworks were indeed beautiful.

“His Majesty put all his heart and soul into welcoming the young ladies.”

“Is it really because of the young ladies?”

“Hm?” Rosaline tilted her head in confusion, which elicited a dismissive wave from Hui.

But strangely, whenever she walked, the fireworks burned even brighter.

“The timing is incredible.”

Hui was saying something more, but Rosaline’s attention was no longer there. It was probably just a coincidence that the explosions broke out when she passed by, like flowers blooming behind her.

***

“It’s working well, right? This is what His Majesty wanted to see, right?”

“I think so. I don’t think pale purple hair is common. Besides, everyone else rode the carriage to the entrance.”

Huddling behind a juniper tree was a group of people, well-known wizards, sitting and gossiping.

“That’s her. I’ve seen her before.”

“Whew, what a relief. Sir Derek asked me to make sure the timing was right. Azalan, you’ve worked hard today,” said the one in a white robe, tapping the magician in question on the shoulder.

Azalan’s face, which had been tense, finally relaxed. Making the fireworks stand out against the noonday sky required lots of attention to detail. Adding timing and location into the mix required the highest level of concentration and skill. Those explosions that were only embellishments to the untrained eye were their main cause of nervousness.

However, he found strength when he imagined the cold look in Cahir’s eyes if he failed.

***

The empress selection was truly a grand affair. Traditionally, only five candidates were ever taken into consideration. Now, there were nearly a hundred.

This was surely something that would go down in history.

Due to the huge number of guests, there were many things to prepare, including a place for all of them to stay. Cahir was willing to dedicate the First Star Palace for the entire process. Considering the scale of the event, it was nowhere near excessive.

A hundred young ladies meant a hundred noble families because there was an additional clause in the agreement that only one young lady from each family could participate.

Still, many of them entered the palace with one or two maids, which meant that around three hundred new people in total had arrived. While the palace was large, it was not possible to give a room for each lady. There were only forty or so available rooms.

They had to share. Of course, some of them refused.

It was a headache for the senior nobles who were handling the selection.

“Why are you so worried? We can just send them away if they don’t want to comply.” Cahir looked at them pityingly.

So now, on the first day, an informal gathering had to be held to accommodate the drastic changes the plans had undergone.

“It’s an honor to be here. I didn’t know there were so many beautiful young ladies in Aetheus. I’m certain His Majesty was deeply moved by your family’s interest and support. In fact, so that we save time, he has ordered that we proceed directly with the first test as soon as tea time is over. Thank you for your consideration…” Paulo, the administrator who was currently in charge of hosting, was the only one grateful for this development.

The faces of the participants darkened. It was the first test, and they knew too little about it. It would have been easier to glean information if the nobles who had planned this were there, but they were, as of present, holed up in the main palace.

The assumption was that they’d have a few days to get used to the environment and prepare themselves. What did this mean? What did it mean to ‘save time’? Did failure mean going home immediately?

Noise buzzed through the hall.

“The test consists of two subjects: Aetheusian history and general culture, also known as liberal arts. Does anyone have any questions?”

Sighs of dissatisfaction erupted. Young ladies were usually educated by tutors. Even though Rosaline had revised the law to allow entrance into the academy regardless of gender, most families preferred tutors for their daughters.

They were likely unfamiliar with the concept of one-on-one testing, so it was difficult to even know what to ask.

‘What are you planning, Your Majesty?’

Eventually, Rosaline raised her hand.

“Secreta—no, Lady Rosaline, please speak.” Paulo had experienced working with her, and he thought she was an excellent colleague, but it was awkward to meet like this. He even made a mistake with her title.

“I need more information about the exam. How many questions are there? Are they answerable by multiple-choice or by personal perspective? By saying ‘culture’, what is it really about? Some scholars viewed rhetoric as part of the liberal arts, while others think it is more along the lines of recognizing the exact order of meals. How are the test results be used in the overall grading? Will we be sent back immediately?”

‘Please, let it not be too much to handle.’

Paulo wrote the questions down, cold sweat beading on his brow. He didn’t actually know anything about the test questions. His eyes darted back and forth, lamenting all the gazes on him. In the first place, he had entered the academy and become an administrator despite his rather noble background because women made him anxious. Politics and socializing in banquets just didn’t suit him.

“Haha… Well, His Majesty was adamant that the test questions are not leaked. Instead, he said that the answers would be revealed and the young ladies themselves would grade them. After the test, only about fifty would remain, and the other fifty will return and…” His voice got smaller and smaller.

If there weren’t enough rooms, then only the ones who were serious about being the empress would have to remain. In the end, those who couldn’t handle the questions would have to go back on the first day?

‘I need to speak with His Majesty right away… Oh, right, I can’t meet him.’

Rosaline swallowed a groan. Throughout the empress selection, access to the First Star Palace’s gates was prohibited except for those who received special permission. Not to mention the candidates themselves, their parents could not go in and out either.

‘Even if I don’t like it and it seems unfair, I’ll do what I’m told first.’

She puffed her cheeks.

Should she just submit a blank paper? If someone didn’t want to be the empress, they could just deliberately fail the first test.

Rosaline discarded the idea immediately when she saw Ella glaring at her.

Derek had told her in advance that Ella Paulos would be the empress dowager’s candidate. It confounded her that the woman wanted to win Cahir’s heart and still sided with the dowager, but it was probably the last resort. If she went back with a blank sheet, then those two would be the ones to benefit the most.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

At least, she had to stop the dowager from gathering power.

***

“Has it started?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Cahir and Derek were taking a walk, leaving behind the mountain of reports along with the books borrowed from the library…

This wasn’t really something to clear the mind. It was more like… a surveillance mission pretending to be a relaxing walk.

Derek knew very well how his employer worked. Cahir had called him in with a contemplative face this morning, saying that something seemed wrong and that he needed to make a strong impression. The expression on his face and his words were a double-whammy shock, and the third time was from his words again.

“I should impress Rosaline.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

“The book you borrowed said to impress a lover when something goes wrong by making something big, expensive, and unique. We should call the imperial magicians again.”

Fortunately, the fireworks were all perfectly timed according to Rosaline’s entrance. Cahir’s gloom finally lifted.

“She must have been touched. Ah, what if she wants us to meet secretly later tonight?” The corners of his mouth twitched.

Derek bit his tongue, trying not to speak. He ended up having to pinch his thigh.

“Oh, right, Derek.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Did you confirm that whatever question the nobles prepared was discarded and replaced with mine?”

“Yes, I confirmed it. Also, why did I have to be the one to tell them to change it?”

“If I say that I want to change it, I’ll be suspicious.”

“Thanks to you, I was criticized a lot by the elders, Your Majesty.”

“So that’s why you’re being so grumpy today.”

“No, that’s just how I am.”

When the nobles concluded that it was difficult to accommodate all the empress candidates, it was a struggle to proceed with the plans. That was when Cahir appeared and shone a ray of light on them.

The empress would need to be skilled and learned, but she also needed to be well-versed in the liberal arts. Testing that would be the best way to eliminate the unqualified young ladies.

A new problem soon arose, though, because Cahir rejected all their proposed questions.

“Do you mean that the woman who will be my empress only needs this level of knowledge? Derek had looked at this problem and laughed at it.” Anger blazed in his voice. “Change the exam question to this one.”

***

“If you had to build the Temple of Berlios in the capital of Aetheus, where would it be built?”

Groans and sighs erupted from the candidates. Rosaline also gripped her paper tightly, crinkling it.

‘I heard it was a liberal arts problem’

She unknowingly glared at Paulo, who handed out the sheets.

He smiled awkwardly and quickly moved away.