Chapter 31

Karelia Academy is the nation's premier educational institution, established from kindergarten to graduate school.

Unlike educational institutions for commoners, where students must work part-time or help with family businesses while attending school, or leave home to work at a young age, Karelia Academy provides a thorough academic environment, and there are also various exams for advancement. However, it is a fact that, being a school attended by nobles, even if one's grades are low, they can still manage with donations.

As a result of this money-oriented management style, the current Karelia Academy is a melting pot, ranging from foolish noble heirs to intellectually brilliant successors of prestigious families.

--More than academic ability, family background is valued, and donations are more important than exam scores. Above all, this place is a miniature version of a social venue where parents form connections through their children--

However, the story is different when it comes to the university level.

Those who are not successors or do not have particularly outstanding intellect are sent back to their parents after graduating from high school, and some even marry into good families they meet during their studies. The number of female students, in particular, decreases to nearly half, and some male students are also screened out when advancing to the university.

--Of course, this screening is also based on exam results and donations, but the weight is significantly skewed--

However, the total number of students does not decrease much because children from minor noble families and merchant families enter, so the total number is not much different from the high school level.

While they cannot provide an escalator to the university, minor noble families who think "I want to give my child a prestigious degree" and families who push their daughters into the university for good marriages, and even those who have daughters returned from their marriages and push them into the university for a few years, are not uncommon.

Of course, there are also many cases where successors with less intellectual capacity are forced to advance through financial power.

It is truly chaotic. The gap in status is even wider, and the chaos may be higher than in the high school level.

In such a university, there is a class that gathers only the outstanding, regardless of financial power.

Called the "Advanced Class," it is a group of elites, full of ambition and intellectual prowess, including those who are aware of their role as successors of prestigious families, those who aim for the position, and those who aspire to be scholars.

The courses offered at the university level, including the history and etiquette of neighboring countries, imperial studies, and a variety of languages with an eye on international diplomacy, are far more challenging than those in other classes, and it is said that 30% drop out before graduation. On the other hand, graduating from the Advanced Class is a kind of status among nobles, a special status that cannot be bought with money.

"Ugh... I didn't make it into the Advanced Class..."

Alicia, holding the results of the entrance exam, hung her head weakly.

In contrast, Mary and Patrick, who were already confident of their success from self-scoring, sipped their tea calmly without showing any joy or pride.

"Of course, just because you studied for three years in high school, a country girl like you can't expect to get into the Advanced Class, which is full of elites. That place is for future scholars or for younger brothers to kick their older brothers out of the way to become successors."

"Yes... but everyone else passed. That's amazing."

"I'm the heir of the Dice family, so it's natural. By the way, Addy, did you pass too?"

"Yes, because I'm entering as the lady's attendant, it wouldn't make sense if we were in different classes."

"...That's true."

Patrick, who said "I see" with a somewhat hesitant response, then turned his gaze to Mary.

She, of course, was in the Advanced Class. In the entrance exam, which was a class selection, she scored the same as Patrick, not only the top of the year but the highest score in history.

In high school, she had moved between second and tenth place in the class as if it were a game... Thinking about this, Patrick called out to Mary.

"Mary, you're in the Advanced Class too, right?"

"Yes, I thought it would be less mentally taxing to hear about academic prowess rather than financial prowess."

"...Is that all? Could it be that you're aiming to be the heir of the Albert family?"

Currently, the heir is usually the eldest son.

However, not all eldest sons are excellent, and there are cases where younger brothers or even daughters are more suited to be the head of the family. Considering the future prosperity of the family, a few years' age difference is not a big deal, and it is not uncommon for younger brothers to push their older brothers out of the way to become heirs. Of course, the older brothers do not let this happen without a fight, gathering allies and seeking support from outside. Because it is an internal matter, it is not known to the public, but the issue of succession is a serious and messy one in every family.

On the contrary, the peace of the Dice family, which has an excellent eldest son and younger brothers who recognize and support him, is quite rare.

By the way, the Albert family has twin boys who are seven years older than Mary.

Both are excellent candidates for the Albert family's heir, but Patrick has always thought that Mary is even more so.

Mary is a girl, but even considering that, her talent is enough to push her brothers aside. Her occasional eccentric behavior is a drawback, but the same can be said for her brothers.

However, upon hearing Patrick's words, Mary shook her head and said it was out of the question.

"What are you talking about? I have my brothers. There's no way I could be the heir."

"But the Advanced Class has people who are younger brothers aiming to be heirs. I thought you and Addy would be competing for the position."

"Absolutely not! I'm studying to be able to assist the lords. I have no intention of doing anything to the Albert family!"

Denying it outright, Patrick sighed. Of course, he knew how difficult the Advanced Class was and that it was a class where those who bear the weight of their families or aim to change their status by pushing their siblings aside challenge with ambition.

Yet, one was entering for the reason that "it's better to hear about academic prowess," and the other for the reason that "I want to help the Albert family." How could this not be considered a waste?

"Mary, you can do it if you try. If you want to, you could become the heir of the Albert family."

"Someone who is told 'you can do it if you try' usually doesn't do it."

"......You're right, you are that kind of person. Mary Albert, who missed the valedictorian speech due to a careless mistake on the graduation exam."

"That's right. Patrick Dice, who got a perfect score on the graduation exam and gave the valedictorian speech. I'm glad you turned out to be as excellent as I thought."

With a refined laugh, Mary smiled, and Patrick returned a handsome smile.

If the conversation couldn't be heard, they would look like a perfect match, a beautiful couple in a painting. ...Of course, only if the conversation couldn't be heard.

Ady and Alicia, who were the only ones within earshot, were reading the enrollment documents, seemingly thinking, "Nothing has changed."

Unlike Mary and Patrick, who were welcomed to the university with open arms, even to the point of "We'll handle all the procedures for you!" Ady and Alicia, being from commoner backgrounds, had to go through the tedious procedures one by one.

As they spent what seemed to be an elegant lunch break, Alicia chuckled softly.

"I can spend time with everyone like this at the university too."

"...Alicia."

Hearing Alicia speak happily, Ady called out her name as if he had something to say. But upon hearing Mary's cough, he swallowed his words.

Neither Alicia nor Patrick noticed the exchange.

As Mary stood up and said, "I have something to do, excuse me," and left, Ady had no choice but to follow his mistress, glancing at the happy Alicia.

"Will they really decline...?"

Ady asked Mary, who was walking beside him, a few hours after the leisurely lunch break.

Classes were over, and they were heading to the courtyard, which was actually a bicycle parking area, to go home early as there was nothing much to do.

Without stopping, Mary glanced at Ady and said, "They have to."

It's a difficult question to answer if asked if things are going smoothly, but Mary's goal has not changed from the beginning. To cause a moderate decline in the Albert family by having Alicia appear as a princess at the graduation ceremony.

It is clear that Alicia harbors good feelings for Mary, and even the perceptive Mary has sensed this faintly.

The other day, Alicia, with a cute basket filled with homemade croquettes, attacked... I mean, visited the Albert family with a cheerful greeting, "Mary-sama, let's play!"

It would be impossible not to notice. Even Mary, who, as the daughter of the Albert family, is unfamiliar with ordinary friendships, could sense it faintly.

This is clearly different from the flow of the game.

According to the game's memory, at this stage, Alicia should fear Mary, and Mary should harbor humiliating hatred towards Alicia. The gap between their opposing positions should have already become irreparable.

It's impossible for them to be having a pleasant conversation about their enrollment like this while drinking tea.

However, if asked if they have deviated from the game's story, that would also be incorrect.

While the relationship between Mary and Alicia is the opposite of "DraGak," the story is still firmly following the plot of "DraGak."

At the ball, Patrick escorted Mary, and then the talk of their engagement came up. After that, Mary was criticized by the student council, and during the recent date event, the student council members appeared in the city despite not being particularly close to Alicia.

If the details are omitted and listed, it is precisely the Patrick route of "DraGak." Moreover, the words of Alicia and Patrick sometimes match the game's dialogue, and Mary even felt a sense of déjà vu.

This world is not exactly the same as "DraGak."

Still, the days are progressing according to the story of "DraGak."

"So, the Albert family will..."

"Whether the game's story will proceed as it is or not, at this point, we just have to wait for the final judgment. ...But, it seems there's still work to be done."

"Work?"

"Yes, important work to set the final big plan in motion."

Mary's gaze fell on Alicia, who was standing at the office window with a question mark floating above her head.