The term academy might sound grand, but in reality, the academies depicted in gas, manga, and light novels are not much different from a typical high school.
In fact, the Imperial Rondarium Academy follows a Japanese high school-style curriculum. While the classes themselves are quite different from those of a regular high school, the academy's schedule is almost identical.
Of course, this year, that schedule had been completely disrupted due to a major incident. The winter break had been drastically shortened, and even after the new year began, we were still at the academy.
The Cultural Festival, originally scheduled for late October, had been pushed back indefinitely. Given that the school only returned to normal in November, there was no helping it.
And since it had already been delayed, the student council proposed moving the festival to late December. If it was going to take place in the cold winter anyway, they figured they might as well schedule it during the ti of year when the most people were celebrating.
Simply put, the festival would be held from December 30th to January 2nd.
Even if the academy was effectively a high school, the concept of high schools barely existed in this world. In other words, Imperial Rondarium Academy was one of the very few institutions capable of hosting a cultural festival. The few other schools that resembled high schools were rely larger-scale tutoring centers or academies.
That was why the Imperial Rondarium Academy’s Cultural Festival was practically a festival for the entire capital city. While it wasn’t truly an event for everyone—since only invited guests could attend—even the streets surrounding the academy would take on a festive atmosphere, and students would mingle with the celebrations. So, in a way, the description wasn’t entirely inaccurate.
Though, Alice and I had never attended before. We could have, if we wanted to, but neither of us had the ti.
Cultural festivals in Japanese subculture are often depicted as far more extravagant than actual school festivals, but in this world, it was even more extre.
And the event organizers? The children of noble families.
Since this era still retained aristocratic and masculine pride, many noble families considered it humiliating not to contribute financially to such festivals. While the amount varied by social class, any parent who sent their child to the academy generally made a large donation to ensure the festival was even more grand.
Managing and efficiently distributing that massive budget was one of the student council’s responsibilities.
"This year’s donations are particularly generous. Compared to last year, we received nearly 40% more. At this rate, we’ll have a surplus even after expanding the festival."
One of the student council mbers comnted. She was a girl with round glasses. Despite her modest appearance, she was also from a high-ranking noble family. After all, only those recomnded by other student council mbers could join.
"We don’t have to spend the entire budget. We can save so and allocate it elsewhere if needed."
The student council president shrugged as he spoke.
"Since the festival overlaps with New Year’s, it’d be wise to keep so ergency funds. We never know when unexpected expenses might arise."
Another student at the table raised a hand slightly as he spoke.
"……."
"……."
"……."
Alice, Charlotte, and I simply sat in silence.
The term nobility was often used as a catch-all, but it didn’t exclude royalty and imperial family mbers. In theory, nobles, royalty, and the imperial family were distinct, but in practice, imperial and royal families often integrated into the nobility through marriage or the granting of noble titles.
Moreover, in terms of society, royalty and the imperial family were too small a group to form a separate social class. Naturally, to function within society, they had to associate with the nobles.
And among them, the ones who had to uphold their pride the most were, without a doubt, the imperial and royal family.
Both the Imperial Household and the Royal Family of Belvur had donated enormous sums. In truth, the academy was already funded by imperial money, but that wasn’t enough—they had to contribute even more.
Saying sothing like "We can’t donate this year due to financial difficulties" was simply unacceptable.
This pride wasn’t a personal sentint—it was a mathematical equation among nobles. It wasn’t explicitly quantified or written down, but it existed as an unspoken rule.
And that pride included the imperial and royal families.
Both the Imperial Household and Belvur’s Royal Family had recently suffered financial setbacks, yet they still provided huge contributions to maintain their dignity.
Moreover—
"…Have you given any thought to the budget allocation?"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
After finishing their discussion, the student council president cautiously turned to us, noticing that we had remained silent the entire ti.
Lately, the student council had beco extrely careful around us. They had always been sowhat cautious, but now, there were even so who couldn’t et our gaze.
Well, it was no surprise. Alice wasn’t just a princess anymore—she was now the Crown Princess. And I was second in line to the imperial throne. This dynamic would remain until Alice eventually had children.
"…I have no objections. Use it as you see fit."
At least here, we remained silent.
Because appearing petty was out of the question.
If the person donating the money also started interfering in how it was spent, it would co across as petty. It was far better to say nothing at all.
Had Alice still been just a princess, she might have been able to voice so opinions. In that case, she would have simply been the daughter of the donor, no different from the other students here.
But Alice was now the head of the imperial family. She was the one who approved the donation.
"I don’t know what last year’s festival was like, so I’ll leave it to you."
Charlotte added.
Charlotte wasn’t quite the head of her royal family yet, but she was here as Belvur’s representative. As a student and not the direct donor, she had so grounds to speak, but she likely refrained out of awareness of her position.
"……."
As for , well, even if I had the right to speak, I had no intention of doing so.
In the original story, the festival proceeded just fine. Even if I didn’t co up with so grand plan, these guys would inevitably craft sothing straight out of a manga.
"Then, we’ll proceed with this plan."
The student council president, who had been extrely tense, responded with a look of relief, as if he had been holding his breath the entire ti.
"Sotis, I envy the way Iberia handles things."
"But you guys think their thods are underhanded, don’t you?"
"Isn’t the Empire the sa?"
Charlotte countered Alice’s remark and let out a small sigh.
"Still, I can’t deny that their approach seems efficient at tis."
"…I agree with that."
Alice sighed as well.
Unlike the Empire and Belvur, where people believed in openly voicing grievances and fighting for justice, Iberia valued results over thods.
There, people who single-mindedly pursued their goals were respected, regardless of the morality of their thods. In the Empire and Kingdom, a man using poison to kill his enemy would be seen as a coward, but in Iberia, as long as the target was eliminated, no one cared how it was done.
They called it Vendetta.
And this philosophy extended to money—contributing more than one could afford was seen as foolish.
"But at the end of the day, we live in the Empire. We follow its laws."
"And yet, are those sa people respecting Belvur’s laws?"
Charlotte’s words were a pointed jab at the forr Emperor’s ongoing legal troubles.
"……."
Alice averted her gaze.
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