19 - Can I Cry Now?
Episode 19
The students' murmuring was soon quelled.
The permitted time at the Imperial Palace entrance had run out, and with many schedules remaining, they had to move again.
The only difference was that the students who had been near Ibi were now openly avoiding her.
Noble students, of course, and even commoner students were now subtly glaring at Ibi.
To the students who didn't know the situation, she just seemed like a child trying to attract attention with lies.
Ibi knew that the gazes directed at her had become sharper, but she didn't shrink back.
'It doesn't matter. I'm the one who got chosen to be here!'
Far from shrinking back, Ibi straightened her shoulders, her eyes shining even brighter than in the morning.
Compared to when she was in upper school, this was nothing.
Back then, she really did occasionally have stones thrown at her.
But here, the school rules were strict, and the Academy for the Gifted staff didn't favor anyone regardless of their status, so such things wouldn't happen.
The Academy for the Gifted staff took the students around various parts of the Imperial Palace.
Even the students who said they had entered the Imperial Palace with their parents during banquets were constantly exclaiming in admiration when they entered places they couldn't access back then.
Even though many parts had been damaged by war, the empire's Imperial Palace, with its thousand-year history, still retained its splendor and beauty.
The students' desires grew even stronger at the sight of the Imperial Palace, which was more beautiful than they had imagined.
In particular, everyone's eyes gleamed when they saw the ministers heading to the conference room.
Staying in the Imperial Palace to work wasn't difficult.
But rising to a high position was a different matter.
'Family background has a big influence, but individual ability is more important.'
As proof, even the State Affairs Minister, who was currently the Emperor's closest aide, was originally a humble noble, almost a commoner.
But after entering the Academy for the Gifted, he made a name for himself in the empire with his brilliance.
After deciding to stay in the Imperial Palace, he steadily rose through the ranks and was properly recognized for his abilities after the current Emperor Clois's enthronement.
That was why, despite being from a low-ranking family, he had risen to the position of State Affairs Minister, the highest among the ministers.
That fact was a great encouragement to the commoner students who had entered the Academy for the Gifted.
'I just need to do well.'
But there were also students who had other thoughts.
Limora glared at Ibi, who, despite the revelation of her Poorhouse background, was walking around as if nothing had happened, without being discouraged.
In fact, Limora hadn't liked Ibi from the start.
No, she hated her very much.
'I thought I would be the runner-up.'
Limora bit her lip when she confirmed that she had placed third in the basic exam.
She had no feelings for Arcel, who was the top student.
No, she even felt a liking for him. She wanted to get close to him if possible.
But not Ibi Elden.
'Coming from the Poorhouse.'
What did she mean, the same commoner?
Unlike the children of naturally noble families, she had worked hard.
She had studied to the point of death, and her family had high expectations for her.
She never put down her books at school or at home. She had the honor of a scholarly family, which was greater than the name of a noble family.
When she heard about Arcel going to the Academy for the Gifted, Limora had dreamed.
A dream where Arcel, a noble family, was the top student, and she, a commoner, was the runner-up.
So she was very humiliated by the fact that she was pushed down to third place by that girl.
Moreover, she was even more upset when she learned that Ibi Elden had received help from Arcel and Ruska on her way to the Academy for the Gifted.
'What's so great about her compared to me?'
Still, she couldn't openly reveal those thoughts. Besides, if Ibi Elden was really a child under the Emperor's protection, she had to get close to her.
But she knew that wasn't the case anymore.
'Then…'
The Academy for the Gifted had many awards for the top student and the runner-up, but rarely gave anything to third place.
So from now on, Ibi Elden would benefit from attending all sorts of Academy for the Gifted events as a representative alongside Arcel, the top student.
In doing so, she would not only become closer to Arcel, but also make an impression on the ministers of the Imperial Palace.
Thinking about that, Limora bit her lip without realizing it.
At that moment, the students next to Limora looked at another group with envious eyes.
"Irene is still surrounded by people."
"I know. Come to think of it, that kid was Irene's roommate, right? If that child leaves, will someone else take her place? The boys' dormitory has had a lot of people quit, so they've rearranged the rooms."
In the midst of her friends' chatter, Limora thought about what would happen if Ibi disappeared.
'If I'm lucky, I might become Irene's roommate.'
Wasn't the Academy for the Gifted assigning a commoner child as Irene's roommate to be wary of too many nobles gathering?
If so, if Ibi left, there was a high possibility that they would put another commoner student in her place.
If that was her…
The more she thought about it, the more Limora's lips curled up.
Attending Academy for the Gifted events with Arcel, and when she returned to the dormitory, she would talk to Irene Terrence.
In the process, she would be introduced to Ruska and naturally build friendships with other noble students.
That was the most perfect Academy for the Gifted life she could imagine.
In Limora's head, the fantasy became more and more vivid.
Limora thought as she walked through the Imperial Palace.
'If only Ibi Elden wasn't here.'
It felt like it could happen.
\ \ \
The students' schedule continued.
In the morning, they were moved by the sight of the Imperial Palace, and after eating at the Imperial Palace restaurant, they headed to the Imperial Palace Museum.
This place had also suffered great damage during the war.
"This was where many of the Imperial Palace's jewels were kept. But most of the jewels have been safely recovered."
The children couldn't take their eyes off the Imperial Palace's famous jewels displayed under the glass.
Sparkling here. Sparkling there.
Even for nobles, it was difficult to have such a wonderful and enormous amount of jewels.
So the students realized anew how much wealth the empire's Imperial Family had, and how much authority it had.
The gazes of envy towards Arcel and Ruska also deepened.
If they became the Emperor's adopted children, they could have all of this.
As the envy towards them deepened, there were more female students sticking to Irene.
The jewels seen in the museum, except for the crown and scepter, were mostly used by the Empress.
And women who were close to the Empress for generations could borrow the Imperial Family's jewels on important days.
People would look at that and guess how much trust the person had from the Imperial Family.
So if they became close to Irene Terrence, wouldn't they be able to borrow these someday?
While the students were lost in their imaginations, the three people who were actually receiving the attention had indifferent expressions.
As if these things were nothing special.
Like those three, Ibi wasn't looking at the jewels either.
To be exact, she couldn't see them.
Students were crowded around each of the wonderful jewels, and there was no space for her to stand and look.
Moreover, since it was the Imperial Palace Museum, the display cases were basically made for the height of adults, not children.
As Ibi, who was short even for a 7-year-old, could only barely see the side even if she lifted her feet, she couldn't see the proper appearance from above.
Besides, when Ibi tried to go to see, some children, instead of helping her, would giggle on purpose and push Ibi with their bodies, pretending not to notice.
In the end, Ibi couldn't see anything properly until the students left the museum.
Ibi's shoulders drooped as she came out of the viewing room full of jewels.
'I wanted to see more.'
It was the first time in her life that she had seen such jewels in person.
She wanted to see the sparkling and pretty things more, but there was an even bigger purpose.
'I wanted to explain it in more detail in my letter.'
She had promised the headmaster and her friends. That she would write a letter about all the wonderful things she saw at the Academy for the Gifted and send it to them.
How happy her friends were when she promised that.
Ibi wanted to let her friends know about the pretty and wonderful things she had seen.
"Next, we will move to the history hall. Everyone, please follow me."
But at the staff's words, Ibi had to turn her regretful steps.
According to the students, this was not a place where outsiders could easily enter.
Like the Imperial Palace, it was a place where even nobles could only enter with very strict permission or if they were qualified.
'When will I be able to come here again…'
Ibi couldn't hide her regret and looked back several times.
\ \ \
Next, the staff took the students to the museum's history hall.
There were precious relics of the Imperial Family, but this was also a place where portraits of the Imperial Family and historical records of important facts were displayed.
"This place is not yet finished, so there are many places where explanations are not yet attached. You will have another chance to come when the construction is completely finished and it is opened. Feel free to look around here."
At the staff's words, the students immediately scattered.
They were peeking here and there, but the atmosphere was not as excited as when they had seen the jewels a little while ago.
Everyone had been walking and moving around since morning, and they were tired because they had been so excited in the jewel exhibition hall a little while ago.
Besides, no matter how important the relics were, they all had burn marks or were old and dull, so they didn't attract the students' attention.
So most of the students sat on chairs near the wall and chatted with their friends, or went out to the terrace and looked around.
In the meantime, Ibi was looking around the exhibition hall.
Since she didn't see many jewels, she would have to see a lot of other things so that she could write something in her letter.
Then she entered a room full of portraits.
Looking at the explanation attached to the entrance, this was a room where portraits of past emperors were hung.
Ibi's steps stopped as she walked, looking at the nameplates from the front.
[Clois Arrelkian Harkias]
That was the name of the current Emperor. Ibi involuntarily raised her head and looked at the portrait above.
"Huh?"
A moment later, a flustered voice came out.
