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Chapter 52
Neither I nor Duke Valent could respond immediately to Hestina’s declaration.
“Take a title… by force?”
└ [Mother’s footwork is just different]
└ [Imagining her snatching a title in a back alley]
└ [Does she slap someone every time she claims a title?]
└ [Elder abuse ㅠㅠ]
A noble title… isn’t something you can just shout “Give it!” and grab, right?
I was uncertain what to ask first, but fortunately, Hestina began to explain on her own.
“The Linward Count title will go to either my older sister or brother. I never had any intention of competing for it.”
As it turns out, she’s the youngest of three siblings in the Linward family—one older brother and one older sister.
One of them is set to inherit the countship, and the other would receive the barony previously held by their grandfather, the former Count Linward.
“But I needed a title, so I asked for it. I told them not to worry—I wouldn’t go after the countship. Of course, the competition between my siblings might get more intense now, but oh well.”
└ [You can’t say no when the youngest asks]
└ [Sibling trait: tease the youngest but still give them everything]
It’s refreshing that mature Hestina is actually the youngest in her family.
Still, though she made it sound like a casual family squabble…
‘Wasn’t this more of a political move from her household?’
If Hestina becomes the Duke’s closest confidant, it could be seen as the Linward family officially aligning themselves with the Duke’s faction.
That would’ve been burdensome. So they probably compromised by giving her the barony, not the Linward name.
‘I thought it just took a month to travel back and forth from the Linward domain…’
Who would’ve imagined she’d return with the title succession all wrapped up?
I thought I had been through a lot in the past month, but maybe it was nothing compared to Hestina’s month…
“Anyway, that’s how things turned out for me. I’m more curious about what happened in the duchy while I was gone.”
“Ah! We started classes at Noil Academy—”
Chatting over our recent updates, we passed through the academy’s main gate.
In the auditorium, teachers gave briefings about how the students had spent the past month and their achievements.
The students, who had been sitting properly as if fully initiated into academy life, erupted into chatter the moment the presentations ended, scattering to find their parents.
“Father! Mother! And… Rose?”
Among them, Damian found his family quickly.
With Duke Valent towering over the crowd, he was easy to spot.
Damian ran up, forgetting to even greet me properly, tilting his head as he looked at my hair.
“Why is your hair bright red now?”
“It’s dyed, not burned, Damian.”
“Did you eat too much red food?”
└ [So Damian got black hair from eating beans?]
└ [Guess I’ll bleach my hair by eating more bread]
└ [I had rainbow rice cake yesterday lol]
Someone needs to teach this child at the academy that food doesn’t travel to your hair…
While the comment section buzzed about whether we’d been dissed, I continued the reunion chat—hair color wasn’t the main focus.
“I just styled it. You seem a bit taller, Damian.”
“Yeah? You haven’t grown at all.”
He compared his chin to the top of my head with his hand.
Well, if both of us grew, the difference would stay the same…
Apparently done with the hair, he turned toward his parents.
“Did you come together?”
“No, I came straight from the Linward household,” said Hestina.
She then explained to Damian that she was now Baron Evnil.
“I see. That’s cool.”
He nodded quickly, showing how natural he found Hestina’s presence—he’d grown up under her care, after all.
Then his gaze moved to Duke Valent.
“I made some subordinates here.”
Was he reporting in?
He must’ve wanted to act knightly in front of his father, the former head of the imperial knights.
Though the Duke seemed more interested in the content of the report.
“You mean you made friends, not subordinates?”
“But they said they liked being subordinates.”
“Hmm…”
So it was mutual consent?
Damian looked around and waved at someone.
“Subordinate No. 3! Over here!”
“It’s not polite to call people by numbers.”
“Yes, Sir! Wigen Conil!”
Following his gaze, I saw a boy with fluffy brown hair and freckles turn around.
He looked happy even when called No. 3, and when his name was called, he beamed and walked over with his parents.
“Yes, Damian! You called?”
“Greetings, Duke! I’ve heard a lot about you. Your son is exceptionally brilliant and wise—he’s been a great guide to my boy—”
The parents seemed even happier than the child.
Even though it’s a school, noble status can’t be completely ignored.
Judging by the introduction, they were a minor viscount family from the countryside, clearly thrilled their son had made such a valuable connection.
While the parents chatted, the kids introduced themselves to one another.
“This is Subordinate No. 3, Wigen.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Wigen ranked first in the entrance exams.”
└ [Wait—wasn’t Damian supposed to recruit from the bottom of the rankings?]
└ [Did he conquer them by strength?]
└ [I mean… maybe?]
└ [Maybe Damian is the legendary rank zero?]
└ [No, that’s just failing lol]
The commenters were as confused as I was.
If the top scorer is a subordinate, then what was the basis for recruiting them?!
“Uh, how did the top scorer end up as Damian’s subordinate?”
“Huh? If the top guy becomes a subordinate, then that makes me the boss of everyone, right?”
Well, now I see how he thought it through.
Wigen probably couldn’t resist the charm of having the young duke personally ask him to be a close aide.
But still—how were Damian’s own grades?!
“Is she your sister?”
The top scorer asked, bringing me back to the present.
“No, she’s not my sister. She’s Subordinate No. 1, Rose.”
“No. 1…!”
Wigen’s mild eyes suddenly sparked with fire.
└ [He’s jealous lolol]
└ [Let the battle begin]
└ [Is this… harem drama politics?]
└ [Let’s gather 101 and have a survival round]
└ [So who’s No. 2?!]
No, I only became No. 1 because I got there first…
If he’d asked why I was No. 1, I would’ve explained, but he just glared at me with burning eyes.
“We’ve taken too much of your time. The campus has many scenic spots. Please enjoy your time here.”
Viscount Conil knew when to politely take his leave.
Held back by his father, Wigen disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind a piercing gaze.
…And just like that, I gained an unwanted rival.
‘Let’s deal with that later.’
For now, something more important:
“Damian, how were your entrance exams?”
“Didn’t I say I’d do well for you?”
His confident voice calmed my anxiety.
Could it be that he really did well?
Having overheard, Hestina offered the fastest way to check.
“Viscount Conil just mentioned that the rankings are posted after every test. Want to go look?”
└ [Omg public humiliation]
└ [This system is too cruel T.T]
└ [I’m suddenly feeling for whoever’s last…]
Usually, the bottom ranks are filled with nobles who are just here to network.
They might feel shame, but it won’t scar them.
If anything, this public ranking might motivate them. That’s probably the academy’s goal.
‘Still, if he has at least two subordinates, he must not be dead last, right?’
Please, let at least one subordinate be grade-based!
I looked up at the ranking board with hope.
There are 50 students per class at the academy. Damian’s rank was…
<History>
1. Wigen Conil – 100 points
…
17. Damian Valent – 75 points
└ [Whoa, 17th out of 50 is actually good!]
└ [Hestina genes activated!]
└ [Though entrance ranks often reflect pre-studying. Long-term results may vary.]
└ [No, no—our Damian’s a genius!]
The efforts of Noil, mine, and Damian’s weren’t in vain!
I was moved seeing his name ranked higher than expected.
Then—I saw it.
Just below Damian’s name—
<18. Gerold Torto – 74 points>
“!!”
└ [Whoa, that was close!]
└ [Almost lost to the troll kid]
└ [And he’s literally #18… yikes]
The commenters were relieved, but that wasn’t why I was surprised.
Sweat formed on my palms as I looked over to the next subject.
<Literature>
20. Damian Valent – 69 points
21. Gerold Torto – 67 points
└ [Oh???]
└ [He must have actually studied hard?]
And then…
<Mathematics>
15. Damian Valent – 83 points
…
17. Gerold Torto – 80 points
A two-place lead!
“Damian…!”
I looked at him, overwhelmed with emotion.
