"Goldenlaw, I think we need to address the biggest issue in this year's students," Isadora said. She was reading a paper filled with information about the various students at the academy.
Fran's eyebrow twitched, knowing exactly what her mother was about to bring up.
"This is the year with the highest number of peasant students enrolling. Out of the many students in the first ye—"
"Isn't that a good thing, Von Themys?" King Nemeor interrupted the queen.
"I have to agree with King Nemeor…" the elven queen added. "Even the poorest children deserve to be educated in magic."
"Time is wasted teaching those children. There's a reason nobility stands above the rest." Isadora slammed her hand on the desk.
"That's just a theory that's never been proven," the lion prince shot back.
"If it weren't true, there'd be far more rebellions and coups around the world. Nobles have greater mana reserves than those of common birth — that's why we rule over everyone else. We were chosen by mana to stand above others," King Edgar commented in support of Isadora.
"King Der Botcam, Queen Von Themys, may I remind you that Aurum Academy was built by both nobles and non-nobles? The only thing that mattered was the desire to learn and experiment with magic," Goldenlaw's voice silenced the two rulers.
"The quantity and quality of new students vary each year. This year simply favors those who grew up on the lower social scale." With that, Goldenlaw put an end to that point.
"Then the problem must lie with the nobles themselves for allowing peasants to catch up to their children. I'll make sure to propose stricter regimens in my country so this doesn't happen again," Isadora muttered aloud, not really talking to anyone in particular.
"Is something bothering you, student Der Botcam?"
"Huh? N-no, Miss Goldenlaw," Theo shakily sat up straighter in his chair.
"Not you — the other student Der Botcam," Goldenlaw clarified, looking at Julius, who was sitting with his arms crossed, glancing around the room.
"Yes, something is bothering me…" Julius looked straight at Goldenlaw. "Mainly how bored I am right now."
"Julius!" Yulibeth exclaimed to the boy sitting next to her.
"We're supposed to come here with our parents to talk about how we're doing. Instead, you've all been talking about other students and academy matters," Julius said in a confrontational tone as he stood up.
"Julius!" Yulibeth gripped Julius's sleeve and yanked him back into his chair. "You're still as impatient as ever."
"Shut it, Yuli! You know we could be doing better things than sitting here listening to things that don't concern us."
"You're the worst…" the fox demi-human princess of the Viavoule Kingdom said dryly.
"I won't hear that from some weak nobody who had to be saved by an idiot," Julius shot back at the fox-eared girl, his tone dripping with venom.
"That idiot is my friend," the fox girl crossed her arms and looked away with a huff.
Although she couldn't show it, Fran felt grateful that someone was defending Alen at that moment.
"Friend? At most, he's an acquaintance to you, Princess Violet," Julius said sarcastically, shrugging.
"Student Julius Der Botcam, you should already know how these meetings work. You're a second-year student and have been here multiple times. Stay quiet if you can't contribute anything useful," Goldenlaw's voice came out firm and powerful despite her calm tone.
Julius simply clicked his tongue and crossed his arms again. Yulibeth gave him a soft slap on the back of the head for causing a scene.
"Hmph! Serves you right for saying such mean things to my precious daughter," the tanned king of the Viavoule Kingdom laughed and stuck out his tongue, using his index finger to pull down his lower eyelid to mock the prince.
"Doing that to a child isn't something a king — or a grown man — should be doing…" the elf queen sighed, disappointed by how Violet's father was acting.
"I wouldn't have done that if that sorry excuse of a king…" the tanned man pointed at King Edgar, "had actually raised his kids and taught them proper manners."
"Hey, if you want to blame someone, blame the woman who raised them. I was too busy being a king, you know," Edgar said, unfazed by the comment, treating it more as a playful jab than an insult.
"You're the worst…" the fox man said flatly.
"This meeting sure is going nowhere!" Cecil, who was standing behind Theo's seat, commented with a smile. "Do we really have to do this every month, my liege?" he asked in a whisper.
However, Theo didn't answer. He just kept frowning at his father and brother.
"We still haven't finished discussing the students," Isadora said firmly. "I don't know what's gotten into you, Goldenlaw. You've allowed people who shouldn't even dream of entering this academy."
"Are you referring to student Thican?" Goldenlaw asked.
The moment her name was mentioned, the entire room fell silent.
Fran tensed up, hoping her mother hadn't noticed how her and Kaida's points had risen the same day. The day Alen was asked to help deal with the bandit group and she only followed Alen so he can protect him from Kaida.
"You know the sins committed by that girl and her family. The mere mention of her name on the entrance exam list should've been enough to fail her," Isadora said harshly.
"I'm surprised she was even allowed to keep on living. After that night, the only outcome should have been a death penalty." Isadora glared at King Edgar with hatred, her brows furrowed, her voice rough.
"Despite what I may look like, I am a man who keeps his promises. Not only did that girl's father help the Raychmen Kingdom, but he was also a close friend. The least I could do was let his daughter live," Edgar explained, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
"Pray that not a single one of your soldiers or people wanders too close to Montanev Kingdom's border. The slightest hint of hostility, and my kingdom will retaliate," Isadora said coldly, her voice dripping with murderous intent.
"Be careful with those threats, Queen Isadora. You wouldn't just start a war with the Raychmen Kingdom, but with the entire world," King Nemeor said coldly, baring his sharp fangs at the ice-cold queen.
"I have no desire to show kindness to those who are comfortable letting a kingdom harbor a family of sinners — a family that nearly wiped out every royal family in the world while we were at the Raychmen Kingdom."
"I hate this as much as anyone else, but I have to agree with Queen Isadora. That girl is a bomb that could go off at any moment. Admitting her into the academy is something I cannot support," the elf queen said.
"She's done nothing but good deeds, though," Viavoule's king said while flipping through papers filled with student information.
"Diligent in learning — always participating in classes — stopping a bandit group terrorizing the outer parts of the city, exposing a corrupt teacher…" the fox man listed Kaida's accomplishments. "To me, it seems like she's trying to do the right thing despite her upbringing."
"That Alen student again. The others are unremarkable, but Alen was present at each of these events," the elf queen whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
At that, Queen Isadora flipped through the papers until she found what she was looking for.
The moment made Fran's stomach knot with nervousness and anxiety. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to know who she was getting involved with. In Alen's case, because she wanted to protect him. In Kaida's, because her mother would not react kindly.
"It seems he always turns up, one way or another," King Edgar said jokingly as he stroked his beard.
"Miss Goldenlaw," Violet raised her hand. "You said you have to keep Alen's origins a secret. Does that mean he isn't to be trusted? Because if that's the case, then I disagree. He saved my life in that dungeon."
"Don't worry, student Violet," Goldenlaw reassured the fox-eared blonde girl. "He is someone who can be trusted."
Fran then realized something important: she knew almost nothing about her only friend.
Sure, she knew what kind of food and sweets Alen liked. But everything related to his past was something she'd never asked about.
How could she call herself a good friend when she'd never made an effort to learn more about him? When he always made an effort to learn about her?
This moment of reflection did not go unnoticed by her mother, who stopped glancing at her daughter from the side and refocused on the meeting.
"That kid. It says here that he lacks the proper mana reserves and talent. Compared with the rest of the S class, he is the worst student" Kig Nemeor said as he eyed Alen's information.
"He may be weak, but he makes up for it by being smarter" Cecil finally spoke up into the main conversation. "You never know how strong he is unless you actually see him fight"