Translator: Nox

Chapter 21

“Lady Tulia?”

“Yes?”

I blinked, pulling myself out of a deep trance. Adel was standing there, extending a cup of steaming grain tea. I hadn’t even heard her approach.

“You should have a little of this before you depart.”

“I will… thank you, Adel.”

Gratitude had become a reflex for me, yet I still found myself feeling strangely bashful whenever she showed me such genuine care. The warmth of the drink settled in my chest, making me feel grounded and full.

---

The chamber designated for my examination felt less like a classroom and more like an ancient temple from another world.

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy; the space was far more grand than my own personal quarters. The room was a masterclass in marble—cream-colored stone stretched from the floor to the vaulted ceiling. When the light from the massive chandeliers hit the surfaces, the entire hall took on a celestial glow, as if I were strolling through a royal garden under a full moon.

There were no gaudy gems or gold leaf plastered onto the pillars. Instead, its beauty came from its restraint and architectural elegance. It reminded me of those high-resolution illustrations of legendary ancient academies. The specific shade of the marble kept the atmosphere from feeling sterile; instead, the room felt vibrant and welcoming.

Standing right in the center of this splendor was a man who looked as sharp and frigid as a winter morning.

I recognized him instantly: Schulz Schmidt.

I didn’t need to consult a status screen to know who he was. Even though he was technically a side character in the world of the game, he had a massive following among the players. The explanation for his popularity was simple.

He was breathtakingly handsome.

Everyone has their own specific tastes when it comes to looks, but for those who preferred the “icy intellectual” archetype, Schulz was the ultimate ideal.

More importantly, he was a vital link if I ever hoped to cross paths with the Crown Prince. In both gaming and life, the more useful a person is to your goals, the better you ought to treat them.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Teacher,” I said, gathering my skirts and sinking into a formal, elegant curtsy.

It was the kind of high-level etiquette one usually reserved for social equals or superiors—perhaps a bit too much for someone in Schulz Schmidt’s position.

He didn’t miss the gesture, and he didn’t hesitate to shut it down.

“Lady Tulia,” he began, his voice devoid of warmth. “I am merely a researcher from the White Tower who holds the rank of Pneuma. Within the imperial hierarchy, that is roughly equivalent to a lowly baron. A lady of your standing should not be bowing to me in such a manner.”

“I was under the impression that even the daughters of dukes show deference to a Pneuma when they serve as instructors,” I countered.

This wasn’t just a guess; it was basic social knowledge that every noble child was taught from birth. The information was etched into the memories I had inherited from the original Tulia.

“While that is generally the rule,” Schulz said, his tone remaining stiff, “the Grand Duke Frazier House is a notable exception.”

I knew exactly what he was implying.

The White Tower was the Empire’s premier intellectual hub, a sanctuary for the most brilliant minds in the land. High-ranking nobles were always desperate to have these scholars tutor their heirs. However, the scholars were notoriously arrogant and their numbers were few.

It was a classic case of supply and demand. Families with the rank of Count or higher might manage to secure a Pneuma for a season or two. Those with less power or smaller fortunes often had to pool their resources just to get a single scholar to teach a group of children—a sort of academic co-op.

Because they were so highly respected, the title “Pneuma” carried immense social weight. Even the Imperial family went out of their way to stay on good terms with the White Tower. There was, however, one glaring exception to this diplomacy: the Frazier family.

The history was messy. Grand Duke Assis Frazier and the head of the White Tower had shared some kind of bitter falling out years ago. It was the reason why the only grandchildren currently residing on the Frazier estate were myself and that irritant, Tedrick.

Everyone else was away at the Academy.

The fact that a Pneuma was even standing here in this house was a subtle flex of the Grand Duke’s lingering power. Despite the bad blood, he could still command their presence.

In the original story, Schulz usually ended up as one of Coriko’s primary allies. I studied the young genius, noting the cold precision in his gaze.

“If my formality bothers you that much, I suppose I can speak to you more casually,” I offered.

“I would prefer that.”

“But only when we are outside of this classroom,” I added firmly.

Schulz blinked, looking genuinely caught off guard. He didn’t look impressed or happy; he looked like a scientist who had just discovered a bird with neon feathers. He was baffled by my existence.

The confusion passed quickly, and he regained his composure. “Fine. We have an agreement.”

I remembered one of his core traits from the game: he despised nobles who used their birthright as a weapon or a shield.

“Here is your examination. Please, find a seat that suits you, Lady Tulia,” he said, his voice losing just a fraction of its edge.

“I’ll sit here,” I replied, taking the papers.

I also remembered his second major trait: he had a profound respect for intelligence, regardless of who possessed it.

I wasn’t worried. This test should have been effortless. Adel had been terrified for me, even going so far as to secure me a library pass so I could cram. I had played along and skimmed through some books just to be safe, but it had been unnecessary.

One look at the first page confirmed my suspicions. I knew every single answer.

It made sense; I had played this game thousands of times. Even though Coriko was the protagonist, she eventually moved from being a guest to being treated like a true granddaughter of the Frazier line. Because the exam was a pivotal early-game event, I had the solutions memorized.

“The test covers seven distinct subjects,” Schulz explained. “I will be grading them as you finish and providing your score immediately.”

I picked up my pen with total confidence.

The answer to the first one is B, I told myself.

But as my hand moved toward the paper, the nib of my pen swerved away from ‘B’ and marked ‘C’ instead.

At first, I froze, thinking my hand had simply twitched. It was a logical assumption. But when my hand refused to mark the correct answer for the second and third questions, the truth hit me.

You have to be kidding me.

As if sensing my realization, that annoying yellow star—my constant, unwelcome companion—began to hop around. A system notification flickered into existence before my eyes.

[Warning: Skill Penalty is active. You are unable to select the correct answers.]

[Warning: Favorability from nearby individuals will drop to the absolute minimum.]

My heart sank. The only “nearby individual” was Schulz Schmidt, and he was currently watching me fail the easiest questions imaginable.

The exams in this world followed a specific pattern. The first few questions were so basic that a commoner with three days of schooling could solve them. If a noble girl like me got them wrong, Schulz wouldn’t just think I was a bad student—he would think I was a complete moron. His respect for me would vanish instantly.

I wanted to scream. The Skill Penalty was a nightmare. First my hair, and now my brain?

I frantically pulled up my Status Window.

[System: Status Window]
Tulia Frazier (15)
- Coins: 1,005
- Personality: 1
- Beauty: 8
- Skill: -10
- Wealth: 0
- Luck: -10
Overall Grade: F

Those coins represented my life’s blood—the literal sweat and tears I had spent boiling jam all night just to please the Grand Duke.

[System: 1 Coin consumed. Skill is now -8!]

Wait.

[System: 1 Coin consumed. Skill is now -7!]

[System: 1 Coin consumed. Skill is now -6!]

The notifications kept rolling. I watched in shock as my Skill stat climbed.

[System: 1 Coin consumed. Skill is now 0!]

I was stunned. It only cost one coin per point to pull myself out of the negatives. When I had tried to fix my Personality stat, the system had drained me of a thousand coins in the blink of an eye.

I checked my balance again.

[System: Status Window]
Tulia Frazier (15)
- Coins: 995

Seeing 995 coins still sitting there felt like looking at a pile of gold. I felt a sudden, strange surge of affection for the Status Window. Maybe it wasn’t my enemy after all.

Since the penalty was still hovering over me, I decided to push a little further.

[System: 2 Coins consumed. Skill is now +1!]
[System: Remaining Coins: 993]

The world seemed to brighten. A new, glorious message appeared.

[System: Skill Penalty has been neutralized.]

[System: Status Window]
Tulia Frazier (15)
- Coins: 993
- Personality: 1
- Beauty: 8
- Skill: 1
- Wealth: 0
- Luck: -10
Overall Grade: F