Dien headed to his first lecture.
“Understanding Kingdom Administration”
When he opened the door to the lecture hall, many students were already seated. These were the talents who would one day be responsible for the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Delos. However, they all wore expressions of sheer boredom.
Dien gave a brief nod and quietly entered the room.
However, as a member of the Portran family—already famous as a lineage of administrative officials—Dien’s appearance was enough to draw everyone’s attention. While some students cast curious glances his way, others of higher status didn’t even bother to look.
Regardless, Dien didn’t care. He knew that his indifference toward them would eventually pique their interest.
“I’ll just sit here.”
Generally, young nobles maintained their social hierarchy even more strictly than adults. As proof, the sizes of the desks in the lecture hall were all different.
“I suppose the seats and desks differ according to one’s title.”
The quick-witted Dien realized the reason immediately. The children sitting in the center looked particularly haughty compared to those sitting on the edges. Dien took a seat in a corner as if it were nothing.
“We will begin the lesson.”
A professor of commoner origin, like Helena, entered the room and began the lecture without so much as a greeting.
“Our Kingdom of Delos is composed of six departments: the Chancellor’s Office, the Royal Office, the Imperial Household Department, the Treasury, the Marshal’s Office, and the Steward’s Office. Among these, the Chancellor’s Office and the Treasury are the primary departments responsible for administration…”
The lecture continued without a hint of humor. it was a rote-style lesson where the professor at the podium and the students across from him were separated by an invisible wall. No one asked questions, and the professor expected no answers from the students. In fact, he didn’t even look at them.
In a lecture hall where rapport had vanished, academic passion was nonexistent. It felt like watching an online lecture on a giant monitor. Could this really be the state of things when ninety percent of the students were from administrative families?
“The Chancellor’s Office specifically places First-rank Secretaries under the Chancellor. They handle nine types of duties, including education, diplomacy, planning, environment, and public works. Second-rank and Third-rank Secretaries work under them to handle practical affairs. Furthermore, each task requires the final approval of the Chancellor…”
While the lesson was in full swing, the professor in charge, Rapi, noticed a student with his hand raised, looking straight at him.
“What is it this time…?”
Rapi’s expression darkened instantly. Usually, in these cases, it was nothing more than the trivial complaints or baseless nitpicking of an immature young lord.
“Yes. Young Lord Dien. Is there something uncomfortable…?”
Rapi spoke with difficulty as he looked at the boy’s face. He was aware that the student raising his hand was a scholar who had just enrolled today.
“Another troublemaker has arrived, I see.”
Thinking it a stroke of luck that he had familiarized himself with Dien’s face and name before class, he waited for the boy to speak.
“No, Professor. I’m not uncomfortable. Regarding the content of the lecture…”
Soon, several students looked at Dien in surprise at the word ‘Professor’ coming from his mouth. No one ever called Professor Rapi ‘Professor’; they simply addressed him as ‘Rapi.’
Rapi was just as surprised.
“I was wondering what the difference is between a Second-rank Secretary and a Third-rank Secretary. They both hold the title of Baron, and it doesn’t seem like there’s a superior-subordinate relationship between them.”
Many students who knew the answer snorted. Some even shook their heads at the low-level question.
“The difference between a Second-rank and a Third-rank Secretary is a matter of seniority. After twenty years as a Third-rank Secretary, one is promoted to a Second-rank. The number of aides also increases from two to four. Of course, there is an increase in salary as well.”
“So it’s a classification based purely on years of service…”
Dien nodded silently at Rapi’s words. He didn’t care in the slightest about the pathetic looks the other students were giving him.
“There are no special promotions or merit-based advancements. The only way to move up is through a seniority promotion after twenty years of service. If that’s the case, is there any motivation to work…?”
After a brief internal thought, Dien immediately spoke again.
“Professor! Are there any cases where someone with the rank of Baron has moved from Second-rank Secretary to First-rank Secretary, or perhaps became the Chancellor, which is a Count-level position?”
“Hmm… there is no such precedent. However…”
Rapi smiled at Dien’s question and continued.
“There are cases where a high title was granted to someone for great merit during a war or a national crisis, and they became the head of the Treasury.”
“That means… there is no precedent for a position or rank being raised through administrative merit alone.”
“That is correct, Young Lord.”
Dien clicked his tongue at Rapi’s words.
“I think I understand why the children of noble families only learn swordsmanship and magic.”
Instead of answering, Rapi’s eyebrows twitched.
“One won’t find any proactive administration here.”
Administrative nobles had to stay in the same rank and position for their entire lives. However, if a mage or a knight reached a high level or achieved great feats, their title would rise. It was obvious that administrative officials would have no attachment to or enthusiasm for their work.
“Life as an otherworldly civil servant might be even harder than my previous one.”
Since Dien had decided to become a Secretary, Rapi’s words were not pleasant to hear.
Dien’s questions continued throughout the subsequent lecture.
What are the approval regulations of the Kingdom of Delos?
Please teach me the standard document formats and writing methods of the Kingdom.
What kind of supporting documents are required for expenditures?
What are the main taxes, and how is the budget allocated?
“That… that is…”
The mouths of the mocking children snapped shut, and Rapi’s hands and mouth became busy. Unlike the first question, the level of the following questions was not that of an academy student.
“The question you just asked is at the level of a graduating senior, but I will tell you.”
Rapi was shocked dozens of times over. Not only was the level high, but Dien’s questions were so close to actual practice that the answers couldn’t even be found in theoretical textbooks. Rapi felt as if he were meeting a sharp junior aide and conducting a handover of duties.
“That is a piercing question.”
“You’ve looked into the very essence of it.”
“I thought you might ask that, Young Lord.”
“It is important, but… you don’t necessarily need to know this yet… No, I’ll just tell you.”
Vigor returned to the face of the previously troubled Rapi. Some of the questions Dien asked weren’t included in the curriculum, but they were things Rapi had studied ten years ago when he was working because they were unconventional.
Answering the questions was like being asked about his own past, so naturally, he responded with excitement. No one dislikes talking about their own experiences.
Rapi added more explanations than necessary, even going so far as to explain grandly to the other students why Dien’s questions were so important. Before they knew it, Rapi was conducting a lively lecture, and there wasn’t a single listener with their head bowed in the hall.
“The time is already…”
Rapi clicked his tongue in regret as he saw the progress he hadn’t made, but his expression was flushed with excitement.
“We will stop here for today.”
Unlike his usual lectures, Rapi’s voice was hoarse from speaking loudly. For years, he had felt as if he were lecturing to a wall, but today, for the first time, he felt that wall crumble.
Calming his excited heart with a deep breath, he left the lecture hall.
“I’ll have to think of some expected questions before the next lecture. This is going to be quite exhausting.”
Contrary to his words, there was a newfound strength in Rapi’s previously sluggish footsteps.
***
“The next class is in the same lecture hall.”
Dien didn’t move after checking his schedule, while other students began to move one by one.
“Hm?”
As a new figure changed the atmosphere of the lecture hall, interest began to shift. Thanks to that, Dien had to endure the burdensome gazes directed at him.
“You’re the eldest son of the Portran family, right? I’m Baran Cropat of the Cropat family.”
A boy sitting near Dien spoke to him. He had a sociable air about him. He greeted Dien with a bright smile, and Dien welcomed him with a smile of his own.
“Nice to meet you.”
Friends were what made school life shine. He didn’t think of the Academy as a place for socializing, but he didn’t want to be an outsider either. Several noble children listened in on the conversation between Dien and Baran.
“Dien, you’re learning swordsmanship too, right? Who do you learn from? I learn from Baron Nkerdi of the North!”
“I see. I don’t practice swordsmanship. I was very sick until recently.”
“Aha! Then you must be learning magic!”
“No. I don’t learn magic either.”
“Huh?”
He looked at Dien with a puzzled expression. There was nothing like magic or swordsmanship to break the ice… but the young lord sitting here strangely didn’t fit into either category.
“Then… are you not even interested?”
Baran’s voice grew louder, as if he had met a strange person.
“I am interested.”
The common interest of the children was magic or swordsmanship. Even though they were all from administrative families, they dreamed of being Sword Masters or Archmages and admired them. It was natural, given that most folk tales were about Sword Masters or Archmages.
“Then…”
As the chatter with Baran grew longer, a boy who was a full head taller than Dien stopped in front of him.
“Young Lord Baran. One moment…”
“Ah… Hello, Young Lord Zalz.”
Baran bowed his head at Zalz’s appearance. From Baran’s behavior, it was clear that Zalz’s rank was higher than a Baron.
“Hello.”
Dien also gave Zalz a polite nod.
“Nice to meet you, Young Lord Dien. I am Zalz Cherbil.”
The Cherbil family. The Chancellor’s family of the Kingdom of Delos and the most powerful household in the kingdom. Furthermore, since they were the Chancellor’s family, he was likely to be Dien’s superior after Dien entered government service.
“Young Lord Dien. Do you not know that you must maintain the dignity of a noble even during class?”
A provocatively sharp tone burst from Zalz’s mouth.
“Why do you say that, Young Lord Zalz?”
Dien did not lose his faint smile even at those words. Instantly, a chill began to flow through the lecture hall. However, Dien looked directly up at Zalz, who was looking down at him. Zalz was trying to show a dignified appearance, but to Dien, he was just a sixteen-year-old child.
“You were asking Rapi questions during class. Do you happen to be unaware that Rapi is a commoner?”
“I am aware.”
“And yet you behaved like that?”
Zalz was actually flustered by Dien’s confident behavior.
“What is the problem?”
Dien also slightly sharpened his tone in response to Zalz’s behavior.
“We are nobles. Asking such questions is an act that reveals our secrets to a commoner! They look down on nobles who are ignorant! Young Lord Dien, you seem not to know because it’s your first time, but a noble must always strive to maintain their dignity, even during lectures.”
His gestures were overbearing, and his tone was one of reprimand. It seemed he acted like the boss around here. Though he was just a kid, he did carry a fair amount of intimidation.
“Tch, elitism is rooted deep in his bones.”
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Dien lowered his gaze and nodded.
“I see. My thoughts were shallow, Young Lord Zalz.”
Zalz nodded in satisfaction at Dien’s apology. However, Dien’s words didn’t end there.
“I am truly sorry if it was unpleasant to watch. However, there was a specific reason why I questioned Professor Rapi.”
“What is it?”
“It was an act to ensure I wouldn’t be ashamed when I am eventually appointed as an administrative official.”
“To not be ashamed? Isn’t it a shameful act for a noble to ask a commoner questions?”
Dien nodded. Zalz’s words made sense in this environment. It was simply that the values they prioritized were different. Dien respected Zalz’s opinion and opened his mouth carefully so as not to hurt his feelings.
“The commoner instructor, Rapi, is a veteran who served as an aide for thirty years. While asking him questions now might be embarrassing, I believe Rapi’s experience will be a great help when I am appointed as an official in the future. If I were to cause damage to the Kingdom due to a lack of learning, what could be more shameful than that? It would be a shame on a completely different level than what I feel now. Furthermore, if my skills are lacking after entering the palace, it would blacken my family’s name. I hope Young Lord Zalz understands my heart.”
Zalz let out a low groan at Dien’s words. He couldn’t think of any rebuttal, so he just scanned his surroundings.
“When I work under you in the future, Young Lord Zalz, you wouldn’t be able to trust me if I possessed shameful skills, would you?”
Dien then showed a polite attitude, showing Zalz respect. Since there were others watching, he had to save the “boss’s” face. Above all, he couldn’t afford to make an enemy of a member of the Cherbil family, who would receive a high title. That was why he spoke the last sentence loudly enough for those around them to hear.
One had to be able to save the face of their future superior to survive as a civil servant here, right?
“Ahem. Well, if that’s the reason… I suppose…”
“Thank you.”
Fortunately, Zalz’s expression looked brighter. He wasn’t offended.
“I look forward to working with you!”
He had taken a liking to Dien. He nodded and reached out his hand, and Dien took it with a bright smile.
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