The Imperial Academy Entrance Exam was held at the Academy Annex in the capital city. The main building of the Academy was located near the palace for the convenience of the imperial family, and the Annex was mainly used for public events.
The Count took Misha and me there by carriage.
My face was as dry as straw even after washing, but Misha's skin was glowing on the contrary.
I wondered if she had gotten a massage yesterday, but then realized that she should have gotten one since it was yesterday. When I saw the luxurious carriages lined up in front of the examination room.
I became silent because I was about to do something bad. I got out of the carriage with a stern face and stood next to Misha while she acted cute and said things like, "I'll definitely come first."
The applicants looked similar. Some families were solemn, while others were cheering.
I stared blankly at the places where there were especially many people. There were many men with swords, so my eyes naturally went to them.
The luxurious carriage with the emblem of the fire-breathing eagle belonged to the Duke of Kydel. Someone from the Duke of Kydel was also starting today. I didn’t know the faces of the nobles, but I knew the emblems of the major families of the Empire by heart.
The person standing in front of the carriage was definitely the first messenger of the Empire, Duke Kydel. He had a strong body, black hair, and a thin beard growing along his jawline. He looked like he was middle-aged. There were so many people gathered around him that I couldn’t see anyone who seemed to be looking at him.
I turned my eyes and took in the Academy Annex building at a glance. The plain, light brown wall was so high that it reminded me of a fortress.
It was an early imperial building with a high wall surrounding the exterior and a detailed and complex interior.
I was unconsciously drawing a route to sneak away to avoid the Count’s eyes when the summons bell rang. Then Misha glared at me as if asking what I was doing instead of following her quickly.
I was the one who told her not to pretend to know me outside the mansion. Of course, I was also more comfortable with that.
I realized that Misha had no idea what the Countess had asked of me. It was a delightful sight to see the Countess fiercely protecting Misha.
My mother did the same for me. That’s why I was happy. I shouldn’t belittle other people’s happiness just because I’m unhappy. Just as it’s not my fault that I’m an illegitimate child, it’s not her fault that Misha has too much to digest.
When my life was thrown to the floor, my heart expanded to a surprising degree.
I followed Misha, ignorant and happy, from afar and headed toward the entrance. A carriage happened to be parked in the perfect spot to block the Count’s view. If I turn there...
Then someone grabbed my shoulder. When I turned around, it was the Count.
The Count didn’t say anything and just smiled faintly. Good luck with your exams, you’ll pass, he didn’t say anything.
However, I nodded toward him as if answering him, and walked under the heavy door.
Then I stopped.
Inside the dark brown brick wall, dense spaces spread out like spiderwebs around a large central hall. The entire view was revealed only inside the high fence.
At first glance, it seemed complicated and dense, but if you focused a little, the detailed and beautiful decorations seemed to draw people inside.
There was an arrogant intention behind this building, which was supposed to be used for external events, giving up openness like this. It was the premise that not just anyone could enter this building.
I knew that I would never forget the sight of this beautiful building for the rest of my life. This was the closest I could get to this bastard Lorisha since she was born.
Suddenly, I felt someone’s gaze and looked over there to see Misha staring at me. That proud and beautiful figure was something she had trained herself to do since birth. She looked unfamiliar all over again.
I instinctively took a few steps back and hid myself among the other examinees.
As I walked through the crowd of examinees, I recalled a few more faces. Mother, Count, Countess...
The door was still wide open for the examinees. I had to leave now.
I spent the afternoon at the apothecary. The apothecary grandfather laughed heartily when I told him I would come here often.
I found herbs that the clerks were storing incorrectly, and I pointed them out, I even tricked customers into buying more herbs that they didn’t plan on buying.
I had always thought of becoming a tutor like Miss Julia, but on second thought, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn the job here and open my own shop when I got older.
The apothecary grandfather’s son only knew how to spend money and was not very good at anything, so I thought that if I did well, I might be able to squeeze in a place.
As the late afternoon came, the number of carriages passing by the street increased. The examinees who had taken the Imperial Academy entrance exam were all heading home.
My heart ached as I watched that.
My original plan was to sneak out of the testing room around noon and return to the front of the testing room when the test was over.
However, after I came to the herbalist to kill time, I didn’t want to go back. Not to the testing room, not to the Count’s house.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t feed a kid like me.”
When I muttered, the herbalist shouted,
However, my appetite did not return. I ate a slice of bread, drank a glass of water, and fell asleep.
The results of the Academy entrance exam were announced a week later. As expected from the Empire’s highest-ranking educational institution, the results were delivered to the applicants’ homes.
While the Countess opened the envelope, Misha’s face was almost pale. But when the Countess saw the contents and screamed in delight, Misha also screamed.
It was the first time I had heard the Countess make such an inelegant sound. The Count also laughed heartily.
I quietly left so that my family could enjoy this moment. I already knew what was in my envelope.
The Count came to my room a while later. He had checked the notice of failure.
“Next year, the mansion will be quiet, so you will be able to focus more on your studies. I should make an appointment for lessons with the tutors who took care of Misha this year.”
“No, Ms. Julia’s skills are not at all...”
I said, then closed my mouth tightly. What could I possibly say?
Then the Count let out a heavy sigh.
“Lorisha, we can go slow and fast. There is no need to mistake slowness for failure.”
I stared at the Count and said.
“Um... are you going to give me an inheritance?”
“What?”
“That’s because I need to know in advance how much capital I need to save for business...”
The Count was clearly flustered by those words. When I thought about it, I was saying something I shouldn’t have. I wanted to slap my lips.
“I’m sorry. Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”
“...Take a rest.”
The Count looked at the wall momentarily as if embarrassed, then turned around.
“Whew... You really went around in circles, Lorisha.”
I cursed myself and slumped back into my chair.
At that moment, Misha came into the room, smiling brightly.
What the hell.
I clenched my teeth.
Let’s congratulate her sincerely. Let’s congratulate her. Congratulations, congratulations!
“Misha, congratulations on passing the exam!”
Misha sat down in front of me, rubbing her cheek as if the corners of her mouth were twitching from laughing so much.
“Well, it wasn’t anything special. The Loire family has always been smart. They say that it was thanks to my father’s intelligence that he was able to revive the family when it was in crisis during my grandfather’s time.”
It was a familiar story. The previous Count Loire had incurred the Emperor’s displeasure and was living a life close to exile in his territory.
It was at that time that the Count met her mother. And the political marriage with the daughter of a wealthy man who had won the Emperor’s favor was precisely the escape from that political isolation.
“I see.”
It was the first time I saw Misha smile warmly and sincerely at me. It was the kind of generosity that naturally comes from someone who has conquered the world, but anyway, it was like that. She even leaned in closer to me.
Don’t be like that, it’s scary!
“I saw your results report?”
“I... really?”
“You got zero points?”
“Ah... You know. Since I studied on my own, I guess I only looked at the wrong books.”
I broke out in a cold sweat. I thought they’d just tell me if I passed or failed, but I didn’t know they’d send me my grades.
Misha whispered with sparkling eyes.
“Did you take the test?”
“Huh...?”
“The teachers were so surprised when they saw your notebook. But you got a zero? I even saw you enter the exam room.”
The Count took Misha and me there by carriage.
My face was as dry as straw even after washing, but Misha's skin was glowing on the contrary.
I wondered if she had gotten a massage yesterday, but then realized that she should have gotten one since it was yesterday. When I saw the luxurious carriages lined up in front of the examination room.
I became silent because I was about to do something bad. I got out of the carriage with a stern face and stood next to Misha while she acted cute and said things like, "I'll definitely come first."
The applicants looked similar. Some families were solemn, while others were cheering.
I stared blankly at the places where there were especially many people. There were many men with swords, so my eyes naturally went to them.
The luxurious carriage with the emblem of the fire-breathing eagle belonged to the Duke of Kydel. Someone from the Duke of Kydel was also starting today. I didn’t know the faces of the nobles, but I knew the emblems of the major families of the Empire by heart.
The person standing in front of the carriage was definitely the first messenger of the Empire, Duke Kydel. He had a strong body, black hair, and a thin beard growing along his jawline. He looked like he was middle-aged. There were so many people gathered around him that I couldn’t see anyone who seemed to be looking at him.
I turned my eyes and took in the Academy Annex building at a glance. The plain, light brown wall was so high that it reminded me of a fortress.
It was an early imperial building with a high wall surrounding the exterior and a detailed and complex interior.
I was unconsciously drawing a route to sneak away to avoid the Count’s eyes when the summons bell rang. Then Misha glared at me as if asking what I was doing instead of following her quickly.
I was the one who told her not to pretend to know me outside the mansion. Of course, I was also more comfortable with that.
I realized that Misha had no idea what the Countess had asked of me. It was a delightful sight to see the Countess fiercely protecting Misha.
My mother did the same for me. That’s why I was happy. I shouldn’t belittle other people’s happiness just because I’m unhappy. Just as it’s not my fault that I’m an illegitimate child, it’s not her fault that Misha has too much to digest.
When my life was thrown to the floor, my heart expanded to a surprising degree.
I followed Misha, ignorant and happy, from afar and headed toward the entrance. A carriage happened to be parked in the perfect spot to block the Count’s view. If I turn there...
Then someone grabbed my shoulder. When I turned around, it was the Count.
The Count didn’t say anything and just smiled faintly. Good luck with your exams, you’ll pass, he didn’t say anything.
However, I nodded toward him as if answering him, and walked under the heavy door.
Then I stopped.
Inside the dark brown brick wall, dense spaces spread out like spiderwebs around a large central hall. The entire view was revealed only inside the high fence.
At first glance, it seemed complicated and dense, but if you focused a little, the detailed and beautiful decorations seemed to draw people inside.
There was an arrogant intention behind this building, which was supposed to be used for external events, giving up openness like this. It was the premise that not just anyone could enter this building.
I knew that I would never forget the sight of this beautiful building for the rest of my life. This was the closest I could get to this bastard Lorisha since she was born.
Suddenly, I felt someone’s gaze and looked over there to see Misha staring at me. That proud and beautiful figure was something she had trained herself to do since birth. She looked unfamiliar all over again.
I instinctively took a few steps back and hid myself among the other examinees.
As I walked through the crowd of examinees, I recalled a few more faces. Mother, Count, Countess...
The door was still wide open for the examinees. I had to leave now.
***
I spent the afternoon at the apothecary. The apothecary grandfather laughed heartily when I told him I would come here often.
I found herbs that the clerks were storing incorrectly, and I pointed them out, I even tricked customers into buying more herbs that they didn’t plan on buying.
I had always thought of becoming a tutor like Miss Julia, but on second thought, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn the job here and open my own shop when I got older.
The apothecary grandfather’s son only knew how to spend money and was not very good at anything, so I thought that if I did well, I might be able to squeeze in a place.
As the late afternoon came, the number of carriages passing by the street increased. The examinees who had taken the Imperial Academy entrance exam were all heading home.
My heart ached as I watched that.
My original plan was to sneak out of the testing room around noon and return to the front of the testing room when the test was over.
However, after I came to the herbalist to kill time, I didn’t want to go back. Not to the testing room, not to the Count’s house.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t feed a kid like me.”
When I muttered, the herbalist shouted,
“What?”
“No. I think I should go now.”
“Yes, yes. You’ll come back tomorrow.”
“I’ll come back. I don’t know if it’ll be tomorrow.”
I walked back to the Count’s house, my steps unsteady, but I thought the Countess might react sensitively if it seemed like I had run away.
Now, I had only one hope. I walked slowly and muttered forcefully,
“Misha. You come with me.”
When I returned to the Count’s house after the sun had set, the Count came to my room, but he didn’t ask me any questions after seeing my expression.
Instead, I asked,
“Did Misha do well?”
“I heard that there were a lot of past exam questions from tutors.”
“That’s good. Congratulations, Count.”
In the Empire, not all nobles were the same. Even among nobles, there were ranks based on their academic and non-academy backgrounds.
The Academy offered both honor and connections, and it was not uncommon for them to form relationships with the royal family and become masters and servants for life. Not to mention marriage. It would save the Count’s face, of course.
So it was something to celebrate.
“...Take a rest.”
The Count said only that and left. Instead, Teria told me to tell him whatever I wanted to eat.
“I’ll come back. I don’t know if it’ll be tomorrow.”
I walked back to the Count’s house, my steps unsteady, but I thought the Countess might react sensitively if it seemed like I had run away.
Now, I had only one hope. I walked slowly and muttered forcefully,
“Misha. You come with me.”
When I returned to the Count’s house after the sun had set, the Count came to my room, but he didn’t ask me any questions after seeing my expression.
Instead, I asked,
“Did Misha do well?”
“I heard that there were a lot of past exam questions from tutors.”
“That’s good. Congratulations, Count.”
In the Empire, not all nobles were the same. Even among nobles, there were ranks based on their academic and non-academy backgrounds.
The Academy offered both honor and connections, and it was not uncommon for them to form relationships with the royal family and become masters and servants for life. Not to mention marriage. It would save the Count’s face, of course.
So it was something to celebrate.
“...Take a rest.”
The Count said only that and left. Instead, Teria told me to tell him whatever I wanted to eat.
However, my appetite did not return. I ate a slice of bread, drank a glass of water, and fell asleep.
***
The results of the Academy entrance exam were announced a week later. As expected from the Empire’s highest-ranking educational institution, the results were delivered to the applicants’ homes.
While the Countess opened the envelope, Misha’s face was almost pale. But when the Countess saw the contents and screamed in delight, Misha also screamed.
It was the first time I had heard the Countess make such an inelegant sound. The Count also laughed heartily.
I quietly left so that my family could enjoy this moment. I already knew what was in my envelope.
The Count came to my room a while later. He had checked the notice of failure.
“Next year, the mansion will be quiet, so you will be able to focus more on your studies. I should make an appointment for lessons with the tutors who took care of Misha this year.”
“No, Ms. Julia’s skills are not at all...”
I said, then closed my mouth tightly. What could I possibly say?
Then the Count let out a heavy sigh.
“Lorisha, we can go slow and fast. There is no need to mistake slowness for failure.”
I stared at the Count and said.
“Um... are you going to give me an inheritance?”
“What?”
“That’s because I need to know in advance how much capital I need to save for business...”
The Count was clearly flustered by those words. When I thought about it, I was saying something I shouldn’t have. I wanted to slap my lips.
“I’m sorry. Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”
“...Take a rest.”
The Count looked at the wall momentarily as if embarrassed, then turned around.
“Whew... You really went around in circles, Lorisha.”
I cursed myself and slumped back into my chair.
At that moment, Misha came into the room, smiling brightly.
What the hell.
I clenched my teeth.
Let’s congratulate her sincerely. Let’s congratulate her. Congratulations, congratulations!
“Misha, congratulations on passing the exam!”
Misha sat down in front of me, rubbing her cheek as if the corners of her mouth were twitching from laughing so much.
“Well, it wasn’t anything special. The Loire family has always been smart. They say that it was thanks to my father’s intelligence that he was able to revive the family when it was in crisis during my grandfather’s time.”
It was a familiar story. The previous Count Loire had incurred the Emperor’s displeasure and was living a life close to exile in his territory.
It was at that time that the Count met her mother. And the political marriage with the daughter of a wealthy man who had won the Emperor’s favor was precisely the escape from that political isolation.
“I see.”
It was the first time I saw Misha smile warmly and sincerely at me. It was the kind of generosity that naturally comes from someone who has conquered the world, but anyway, it was like that. She even leaned in closer to me.
Don’t be like that, it’s scary!
“I saw your results report?”
“I... really?”
“You got zero points?”
“Ah... You know. Since I studied on my own, I guess I only looked at the wrong books.”
I broke out in a cold sweat. I thought they’d just tell me if I passed or failed, but I didn’t know they’d send me my grades.
Misha whispered with sparkling eyes.
“Did you take the test?”
“Huh...?”
“The teachers were so surprised when they saw your notebook. But you got a zero? I even saw you enter the exam room.”
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Where are chapters 7-10 of "Can You Stop with the Flirting," because they are missing?
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