When Eleanor returned from the Duke's Castle, she began spending more time at her desk.
She couldn't put it neatly into words, but she felt something inside her had changed. She wanted to live more meaningfully. Things she had never paid much attention to before now began to catch her eye one by one. No doubt, the recent events she had experienced had influenced her.
So many people can't read… Chloe couldn't, and neither could Kaidel's nanny.…Not to mention her father in her previous life.
Eleanor rested her chin in her hand, deep in thought. In Korea, illiteracy had been rare, but here it was shockingly common.
"Reading and writing…" she murmured.
There was no system of compulsory education, and a single book cost nearly as much as a week's wages for a laborer. For families without means, buying a book was unthinkable.
Eleanor didn't believe that everyone had to devote themselves to education the way they had in her previous world. But she was certain that knowing how to read and write, and being able to do basic arithmetic, could provide tangible help in life.
"It would be nice if it were accessible to everyone. Affordable and not burdensome."
She tapped her fingernails lightly against the desk. Everything still felt vague.
"For now, I should focus more on the children's studies."
Eleanor shuffled through the list of interview questions she had prepared. The entrance exam was just around the corner. Damian and Siena, of course—and even Lucas, whom she had worried about—were now all within passing range.
What remained was the oral examination, the interview. Compared to the written test, its weight wasn't as heavy, but it was an excellent chance to leave a strong impression on the academy faculty—just as Eleanor herself had done with Aster.
Why did you choose to apply to the Academy?
What do you most want to do if admitted?
What do you hope to do after graduation, and why?
What book has impressed you the most, and why?
Who is the person you most respect?
The questions were the usual, predictable sort. They weren't much different from what she had been asked in her previous life. Such questions weren't particularly difficult—annoying, yes, but predictable and therefore something one could prepare for.
"The problem is the final question. That one I can't guess."
The last question in the Academy interview was notoriously difficult. It changed every year, making it impossible to prepare for completely, and sometimes the interviewers would pepper in additional questions based on their mood.
Most children stumbled and left the room dazed, and some even burst into tears. It was, in a way, a pressure interview.
But Eleanor wasn't the sort to simply throw up her hands.
"I may not be able to predict the questions, but I can at least train their mentality."
Even if one did nothing more than listen calmly and answer steadily, half the battle was already won.
"What I need is someone to play the villain."
Eleanor's request was answered at once by three willing villains.
"Your Highness, do you have time?""I've got loads of it."
Villain #1: Ismel.
"Kaidel, do you have a moment…""As much as you need."
Villain #2: Kaidel.
"Lian.""Yes."
Villain #3: Adrian.
Recruiting them had been easier than eating rice cakes. She didn't even have to finish her words before they volunteered.
They think they know what I'll ask of them already. One day they're going to regret being so hasty…
Eleanor clicked her tongue. All three lacked the virtue of caution by a wide margin. Outwardly they seemed composed, but inside, they were softer than anyone else.
At the appointed time, the four of them gathered in the reception room of the Crown Prince's palace. Curiously, it was Eleanor, not Ismel, who sat alone at the head seat.
When the three men began a childish contest over who would sit beside her, Eleanor declared:
"In that case, I'll just sit on the floor!"
Thus, the matter was settled: Eleanor alone at the single seat, and the three men sharing the long sofa.
Looking every inch the company president, Eleanor handed each of them a sheet of paper. On it was the list of expected interview questions.
Adrian raised his hand as if to ask something. Eleanor nodded lightly.
"So, we just toss these questions at the children one by one?""There's no need to ask them all. Just pick two or three and ask them, like it's the real interview."
Kaidel lifted his hand quietly. Eleanor responded, "Yes, Kaidel."
"What's this 'special question' at the bottom?"
Eleanor snapped her fingers with a crisp click."Excellent question."
At her praise, Kaidel's lips curved faintly upward. Ismel and Adrian glared at him, annoyed.
"That's the reason I asked you all here. You've heard that the final question in the Academy's oral exam is anything but easy, haven't you?"
The three men nodded. Adrian and Kaidel, who had both graduated from the Academy, recalled the memory of sitting in that interview room. It had been ages ago, but they still remembered the bewilderment clearly.
"The difficulty isn't only in the questions themselves. It's the way they bombard you with the unexpected, trying to fluster you. What they're really watching is how you handle an unprepared crisis."
"Isn't that a bit harsh for nine- and ten-year-olds?" Kaidel asked.
Eleanor shrugged. "I don't like that kind of interview either, but what can we do?"
Ismel raised his hand."Yes, Your Highness?""This is surprisingly fun," he muttered under his breath, seeming pleased with himself for remembering to raise his hand before speaking.
"It's impossible to predict the final question, isn't it? So how do you mean to prepare them?""We can't prepare the answers. But we can train them to listen carefully, stay calm, and express their own thoughts clearly."
Eleanor met Ismel's eyes as she spoke."In the end, the exam is hard for everyone. No one expects earth-shattering answers from nine-year-olds anyway."
Adrian, who had been lounging lazily, asked for confirmation:"So… you want us to throw the children off balance?""More or less."
Ismel raised his hand again."Yes, Your Highness?""Can I ask any question I like?"
Eleanor felt a flicker of unease but nodded. How strange could their questions possibly be?
Kaidel lifted his hand. Eleanor tilted her head."So I'll be the one questioning Damian?""Another excellent question."
Eleanor smiled warmly at him. Ismel and Adrian pouted in jealousy."Excellent question, my foot…" Ismel grumbled.
Eleanor snapped her head toward him, eyes sharp."What was that?""Nothing. Go on."
Defeated, Ismel retreated at once. There was no winning against Eleanor.
"Having someone less familiar ask the questions is more effective for catching them off guard, don't you think?"
Adrian tilted his head lazily."But I'm close with all of them."
Eleanor nodded vigorously."True. You're so good with the children that I did wonder what to do."
Adrian grinned, clearly pleased. Kaidel looked on, envious.
Eleanor announced the partner pairings she had decided on."Your Highness with Siena, Kaidel with Lucas, Lian with Damian. I think these combinations will work best."
It was certainly an unusual mix. The three men nodded slowly.
Eleanor clapped her hands twice to get their attention."Alright then, shall we begin?"
The first room belonged to Kaidel.
Lucas entered boldly, saw Kaidel, and waved. Kaidel gestured toward the chair."Sit."
But Lucas trotted over, clambered up onto Kaidel's lap with a grunt, and perched there like it was his rightful seat.
Flustered, Kaidel gestured again toward the chair."…Not here. On that chair.""I like it here better."
Lucas beamed up at him, bright and innocent.
In the end, Kaidel lifted him up and set him on the proper seat. Even getting the boy to sit in a chair wasn't simple.
Steeling himself, Kaidel asked the first question."Why did you decide to apply to the Academy?"
Lucas tilted his head."Why did you go to the Academy, Duke?""To broaden my horizons, to study freely…"
Kaidel stopped short. No, this wasn't right. He donned a stern expression."I asked you, Luke. You should answer.""I want to go for the same reasons."
Lucas grinned, shameless as could be. At first, he had been frightened by Kaidel's stern face, but now it no longer fazed him at all. Lucas knew perfectly well how fond the Duke was of him.
"But Duke, did you eat?"
The question came out of nowhere. Kaidel tried to brush it aside."Yes. The second question—""What did you eat?""Steak.""I love steak too! Does eating steak make you grow taller?""You have to eat a lot of different things, not just—"
Kaidel found himself answering sincerely, out of habit."When did you get tall?""I was always tall, even as a child.""When did you get strong?""After I started training.""Do you still train a lot these days?""I practice steadily, two to three hours every day."
Lucas's eyes sparkled. He scurried over to Kaidel's side and touched his muscles. The hard, solid feel amazed him.
When Kaidel flexed slightly, Lucas's eyes went wide."Can you lift this sofa too?""…I could.""Show me!"
Really? Did he have to lift a sofa now?
Kaidel's mind spun. This was supposed to be the time to stay strict… but he couldn't bring himself to ignore those round, expectant eyes.
Forget it.
With a resigned sigh, he lifted the sofa briefly before setting it down. Lucas gasped loudly."Can Teacher lift it with one hand too?"
Kaidel nodded. Carrying Eleanor off a horse required only one arm."Yes.""Have you lifted her before?""Yes."
Lucas's eyes went wide."Why did you lift her? Were you curious how heavy she was?"
The door burst open. Eleanor, who had been listening outside, finally stormed in. If she let this go on, there would be no end to it.
"Luke! Kaidel!"
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