Chapter 16

"Well, then. I have to try my best."

While I continue to practice sword techniques, that alone is not enough.

I am to become the 'Countess of the Frontier' in the future, but if someone were to say, 'As expected, she's just a violent and unintelligent woman who married into the frontier...' it would be infuriating.

If I were to be seen as a barbarian who only knows violence because of the frontier, it would be terribly unfair.

If that's the case, what is needed? Yes, 'intelligence.'

I should make people think that Angelina Steizen is a woman who possesses intelligence.

No, this is not about whether Ash has intelligence or not.

He is simply straightforward and is by no means lacking in intelligence.

What I'm trying to say is that we should work hard for the 'final exam.'

At the Royal Academy, the top 30 students' grades from the final exam are posted.

Of course, it's a clear ranking, showing who is 1st, who is 2nd, and so on.

My goal is to be among these top 30.

More specifically, I aim to be even higher. It would be ideal to be in the top 10.

"Miss Angelina, you won't have any problems."

Misha says this, and I hope she's right.

Incidentally, my social circle is centered around my classmates rather than a faction.

I don't go around with a group of noble daughters.

Everyone is still evaluating the value of the 'duchess who will marry into the frontier.'

They are in a state of 'wanting to get closer, but not really...'

Students who are concerned about factions are also confused.

At least, I'm not being ignored or avoided.

At the very least, 'I don't want to be her enemy' is a common sentiment, and whether it will benefit their own family is still unknown.

"I still don't know the ropes. I want to know how much I can do."

This is the first-semester final exam for first-year students, so it's my first experience.

Now, how should I prepare?

The academy includes high-ranking nobles, and the school cannot tamper with students' abilities through favoritism.

If they did, it would cast doubt on the past achievements of the royal family and high-ranking nobles, the graduates of the academy.

For example, 'Maybe that noble actually faked his grades at the academy.'

Such a thing cannot be allowed.

"That's why the only way is to study hard. Let's do our best, Misha."

"Yes, Miss Angelina."

Because it's a strict exam with no favoritism or cheating allowed.

If I can rank high, it will be valuable.

Of course, I'm not the only one aiming for a high rank.

As a noble attending the academy, being a top student adds prestige.

There are many who, like me, are working hard to increase their value.

To rank high among such students, ordinary effort won't be enough.

Yes, I'll work hard. For my future, for myself, and for Baltsline.

I'll balance training and studies, but I won't immerse myself only in self-improvement. I'll also actively engage with other students. There are many noble children of the same age as the prince, so there are many rivals and potential friends.

I'll choose my friends, but I don't intend to cause any major waves.

I want to consistently show my value and connect it to my future.

In such a school life, I hear rumors. My friends know that I willingly agreed to marry Lord Ash, so they don't hesitate to share information about Prince Leonhardt, who is popular among everyone. However,

Prince Leonhardt seems to be interested in one of the noble daughters he met at the academy.

Oh, that's good. I also wish for a bright future for the kingdom.

"His Highness entered the academy a year before us. Is the lady an upperclassman?"

"It seems she's a first-year student who entered this year."

"Really? A first-year?"

"Yes, that's what I heard."

Our engagement was probably rejected by Prince Leonhardt himself. I don't know the reason.

In the year since he entered the academy, he didn't find anyone he wanted to marry.

Noble families try to have children around the time the prince is born.

Due to the plans of the nobles, there are more noble children younger than the prince.

So, the noble daughters Prince Leonhardt can choose from are mostly younger. One of them caught his eye.

"Miss Angelina, it's not you, of course."

"Yes, that's right. So, does that mean—"

Yes, that means? Based on the information so far, a certain speculation can be made about the noble daughter.

It's the existence of another duchess's daughter.

Sandyka Roddick, who is also a first-year student.

"Is it not Miss Sandyka?"

"Why not?"

"Because if he chose based on her being a duchess's daughter, then—"

"Oh, you're right. That's true."

If Prince Leonhardt chose a duchess's daughter as his fiancée,

then Angelina Steizen would also be a suitable choice.

Personally, I'm relieved that it's not me.

However, from a family perspective, it's a different story.

The Steizen and Roddick families are rival factions.

While they are not at war, it's still a tense relationship.

Ah, maybe that's why.

Maybe Carlos was angry with me because

he couldn't accept the idea of a rival faction's daughter becoming the queen?

Indeed, it wouldn't be pleasant for the Steizen family if a Roddick became the queen.

However, as soon as the engagement talks surfaced, the royal family canceled them.

What was I supposed to do back then? ...Yes, I'll leave Carlos's issue to Father.

Whether Prince Leonhardt's partner is Miss Sandyka or not.

Everyone is paying attention to the prince's partner.

If there's any movement, I'll hear about it.

"It's not confirmed yet. After all, there are still checks and balances between the noble families."

"Yes, that's true."

Every family has hopes.

So, it's not a situation where someone can get ahead unfairly.

If Prince Leonhardt makes a move and secures her, that's different. Or if her family is powerful enough to prevent interference.

I haven't heard that Miss Sandyka has a fiancé, but is it Prince Leonhardt?

"Will Miss Angelina take any action?"

"Nothing special against the prince. I'm more interested in ranking high in the final exam."

I'm not anyone special to Prince Leonhardt.

Even if Miss Sandyka is making a move, I can't do anything to stop her.

I want to focus on what's in front of me.

It will accumulate and benefit my future.

Even if I don't try to win the future queen, as a noble daughter, people might think I have my reasons.

Especially since we are of the same age and there was once a proposal.

...I can't afford to have poor grades.

If Miss Sandyka ranks high and gets all the attention,

my absence from the list will be noticed.

I continued to focus on my studies, training, and socializing. I think my reputation is good.

I avoid contact with the people around the prince to avoid rumors.

Thus, the first-semester final exam for first-year students began.

"Make sure to show your true abilities. Don't even think about cheating. The teachers are watching closely. Getting caught and having the rumor spread would be more damaging than a bad grade. Remember that. A bad grade is just bad, but cheating is unacceptable. Understand?"

Mr. Drought, one of the exam supervisors, sternly warned the students.

Cheating? I've never even thought about it. ...What kind of cheating is possible in an exam?

The answer sheets are distributed on the day of the exam, so you can't prepare a cheat sheet.

Mr. Drought must be warning us because something happened in the past.

It doesn't concern me. In fact, I don't like being suspected.

I should maintain a proper attitude during the exam.

I don't want to be accused of 'suspicious behavior.'

Being singled out after such a statement would be the worst, right?

'Especially you, Angelina!' I don't think any teacher at the Royal Academy would say that.

Anyway, I took the final exam seriously.

Yes, it's not as difficult as I thought. ...No, I can't be complacent.

It's just the first-semester exam for first-year students. The school might have prepared easy questions.

They might be gentle at first before getting tough.

The first final exam might be easy.

The exams for each subject ended smoothly. I made sure to review my answers.

I had some extra time. Yes, yes...

There were no oversights or misunderstandings. No basic mistakes or misjudgments. I felt confident in all subjects.

There were no particularly worrying parts in my answers, which made me a bit uneasy.

My answers were complete, and I felt confident in all of them.

...Hmm. Could I have gotten full marks in all subjects?

Confidence doesn't always translate to results. I should double-check.

This is probably because it's the first exam, and the questions are easier.

Thus, the first-semester exams ended.

Students sighed in relief. Everyone, well done.

Some students let out sighs of despair.

"Miss Angelina, it's over."

"Yes, Misha. Good job."

"Yes, Miss Angelina, good job. ...How did it go?"

"Pretty good, I think."

"That's great. ...Do you want to stop somewhere on the way back? Maybe for some sweets in the capital?"

"That sounds nice. Let's invite a few friends."

"Yes, Miss Angelina."

I went out for sweets with Misha and some school friends to relax after the exam.

We used polite language, but it was mostly a complaint session about the exam.

It was a new experience. Everyone had something to say.

Interacting with friends was quite enjoyable.

Finally, the day of the final exam results. My posted results were:

"Congratulations, Miss Angelina!"

"Yes! Thank you, Misha!"

"Still, it's amazing. Miss Angelina, you ranked first in the year. Impressive."

"Hehe. I'm genuinely happy. Thank you again, Misha."

1st: Angelina Steizen (800)

2nd: Dennis Colden (795)

3rd: Melk Schreigen (780)

4th: Sandyka Roddick (770)

...

I successfully ranked first in the first-semester final exam.

This is a desirable result. I'm very happy. Yes, really.

After the final exam, the Royal Academy enters the 'summer break.'

Of course, my summer break plan is to visit the Baltsline territory.

I'll go to meet Lord Ash with this wonderful result.