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Chapter 22
Briyang Empire.
Even in this “Continent of Spring,” the Briyang Empire stood alone as the only true empire, supported by four great pillars.
The first was the Imperial Family.
The second, the Grand Duke’s House of Frezier.
The third, the four ducal houses.
And finally, the White Tower.
The temples wielded influence across the continent, but they adhered to a strict rule of non-interference in politics, so their secular sway was limited.
Among the pillars of the Briyang Empire, the White Tower represented the pinnacle of scholarship. Its scholars drove the empire’s advancement through relentless research and intellectual pursuit.
So influential was the White Tower that even professors at the Academy—situated in a separate, independent region—were all graduates of the Tower.
Scholars of the White Tower were known as Pneuma, and only with this title could they step outside the Tower. Among them, the youngest in history was Schulz Schmidt.
Cold by nature and utterly uninterested in anything beyond scholarship, Schulz Schmidt now gazed steadily at Grand Duke Asis Frezier.
The Grand Duke was a figure of seasoned, beast-like authority.
A king of beasts commanding the vast plains.
Exactly the impression and presence one would expect from the empire’s greatest aristocrat.
Before such a man, Schulz Schmidt spoke in a calm, unmodulated tone:
“Full marks.”
“…….”
“Full marks.”
“…….”
“Full marks.”
At the very top of the test sheets, each bearing the unmistakable signature of a Pneuma, was the name Tulia Frezier.
“I was appointed a Pneuma only two years ago, and I’ve never taught the children of noble houses outside the Frezier family.”
“…….”
“But in all my years, I’ve never heard of a student achieving full marks on a first exam given by a White Tower scholar.”
Grand Duke Asis Frezier examined Tulia’s test without responding.
“You’re saying Miss Tulia is extraordinary, Your Grace.”
At the doorway, Lerke Kelpösher, who had been standing by, noticed something: the slightest twitch at the corner of the Grand Duke’s mouth.
Everyone loves a compliment to their grandchildren, but from this Asis Frezier?
“Well, if it’s Miss Tulia, I suppose it makes sense Your Grace would see her differently.”
Among the many children and grandchildren of this enormous house, only the recent Tulia had begun to treat the Grand Duke like a true grandchild.
Lerke Kelpösher deliberately ignored the fleeting, subtle smile.
“Since Miss Tulia entered the household—or even since she had dinner with Your Grace in the warehouse the day before—much has changed.”
The very fact that these two were having a one-on-one meeting was unprecedented.
Had Schulz Schmidt not insisted on meeting Grand Duke Asis, he would have left the Frezier estate without a single private word, waiting until all lessons for the direct and collateral family lines were complete.
Moreover, Schulz Schmidt was scheduled to leave the Frezier estate the following week.
“Currently, there are only two direct heirs here in the Frezier estate: Tedric and Miss Tulia.”
Schulz Schmidt continued in a businesslike tone:
“I hear that besides regular lessons with me, Tedric has no fewer than eight tutors for advanced studies.”
Such arrangements were common among noble houses, though only families of ducal rank or higher could afford eight personal tutors.
Thanks to this, Tedric consistently ranked among the top students—enough to give Lilius and Aubrey, the Viscount couple, confidence.
“What I’m curious about,” Schulz Schmidt said, “is what kind of private tutor Miss Tulia has.”
What kind of teacher could have enabled her to answer every single question—including those in ancient languages—correctly?
Half-fainting while grading the exam, Schulz Schmidt had immediately sought out the Grand Duke.
If such a talent existed, surely the Duke would have kept her under strict supervision—so Schulz went straight to the source.
Wasting time was something Pneuma scholars despised above all.
“If you could connect us with this hidden sage, as a token of gratitude, we would send one of the White Tower’s senior scholars—among the most knowledgeable—to the Frezier estate. One of them has even taught the Second Prince.”
Unlike the expressionless Grand Duke, Lerke Kelpösher’s eyes widened.
Sending a senior Pneuma who had instructed a prominent royal was an unprecedented and generous offer, even by imperial standards.
Especially considering the historically tense relationship between the Frezier house and the White Tower.
Yet Grand Duke Asis Frezier said nothing immediately. Instead, he flipped through Tulia’s exam sheets.
Thirty percent of the questions were in ancient languages.
Some were truly challenging, even for him.
And yet she had answered them all correctly.
The cold, precise Pneuma who had rushed to his office was clearly justified.
Asis Frezier muttered to himself:
“I suspected as much.”
Tulia had always been remarkably intelligent, even when he had first encountered her, speaking in difficult ancient tongues he hadn’t even decoded.
Yet he never pressed her for answers. He knew his grandchildren feared and respected him.
He hadn’t asked for fear that Tulia might shrink back.
But she had declined expensive gifts, requested a direct-family necklace, and had taken the exam voluntarily.
The result was beyond expectations.
Grand Duke Asis Frezier inwardly swallowed a strange sense of pride and said to Schulz Schmidt:
“Pneuma Schulz.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Tulia has no private tutor.”
Schulz Schmidt’s eyes widened.
“No private tutor? That can’t be…”
If it had been anyone else—any more ordinary noble—he might have suspected a lie, perhaps to gain leverage.
But the man before him was Grand Duke Asis Frezier.
A man whose status rivaled the Emperor, the patriarch of a vast house.
Even Schulz Schmidt’s icy gaze could hardly hide its astonishment.
“So you’re saying Miss Tulia is entirely self-taught?”
“I heard she spent her time alone in the library.”
“……Of course, the Frezier special library has many rare texts, but…”
“Pardon me, Your Grace, and Pneuma Schulz,” Lerke Kelpösher interjected at the perfect moment.
“Miss Tulia has never had access to the special library.”
The words shifted the expressions of both Grand Duke Asis Frezier and Schulz Schmidt—but in different ways.
Most intriguing was the Duke’s reaction.
He muttered in a complex tone:
“So she has such talent and passion for ancient languages and scholarship… and studied entirely in the common library.”
“…….”
“And without ever showing it.”
Contrasting sharply with her bold participation in Frezier meetings, imagining Tulia quietly self-studying in the ordinary library—even accessible to collateral branches—made him uneasy.
Even Tedric, with eight renowned tutors, received far more guidance.
No matter how reputedly cold Grand Duke Asis Frezier was, he couldn’t help but worry about his granddaughter.
Unexpected preparation was a formidable force indeed.
“Lerke.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Prepare a special library pass.”
He handed Lerke the pass, bearing Tulia’s name and sealed with his personal signet.
The Frezier special library was rumored to rival the imperial collection in rare texts. Only scholars personally approved by the head of the house could enter.
This was a highly exceptional privilege for Tulia.
Until now, only the outstanding Lysian Frezier, Tulia’s eldest twin brother, had ever received one.
No one had imagined Tulia would receive it too.
“Since Tulia shows such passion for ancient languages and scholarship, we must summon a Pneuma from the White Tower again.”
Lerke’s eyes widened in surprise.
‘What a day of astonishing events.’
Grand Duke Asis Frezier, known for refusing to revisit broken relationships, was now extending a gesture of reconciliation toward the White Tower—on his own initiative.
In the past, he had dismissed the White Tower as a lost cause, leaving it to the next Frezier Grand Duke.
Lerke Kelpösher had never anticipated such a decision—especially because of Tulia.
“This will certainly stir some commotion across the empire.”
Reestablishing friendly ties with the White Tower promised long-term benefits for the Frezier house.
“And according to Your Grace’s decision…”
Grand Duke Asis Frezier rose from his seat, holding Tulia’s perfect exam sheet carefully in one hand.
To be honest, he looked somewhat like a doting grandfather.
“Lerke. Go to Tulia and inform her: the date for granting the direct-family necklace will be tomorrow evening.”
