TL: Etude


    The sun was already skewing westward and under the lingering glow of the sunset, avish carriage slowly made its way from the south into Lakeheart Town. Traveling along the main street that ran through the center of the city, it then crossed a stone bridge to reach an ind situated on the northernke.


    To be precise, only the built-up area on thiske ind was the true “Lakeheart Town.” Three years prior, the vast area on the southern shore of Lake Weiss had been farnd and forest. Now, it had been reced by numerous buildings and streets. The continuous influx of immigrants and newly built factories were rapidly expanding the size of the town.


    The Administration Council had already proposed renaming this emerging city, with the ind’s Lakeheart Town to continue as the name of a district within the new city. However, Paul was undecided among the many naming options, leaving the city’s new name yet to be determined.


    Since the ind on theke was home to the castle where generations of the Grayman family had resided, many offices of the Administration Council and various military departments also surrounded the castle. Thus, the isle had be the center of power for the three mighty territories of Alda, Baylding, and Emden.


    The three mighty territories—Emden had always been a strong domain, especially in the northwest bay, while Alda and Baylding had shown their growing strength to the surrounding regions in recent years.


    With the continued expansion of the “telegraph” lines, Lakeheart Town sent out new directives to its jurisdictions daily and received various kinds of feedback incessantly from them.


    Because of the ind’s special status, it became a hot spot where officials and nobles vied to move in—who wouldn’t want to be closer to the center of power? In addition to senior officials from various military and government departments, there were also rising factory owners and merchants. Even if they didn’t reside in Lakeheart Town permanently, they sought to establish a foothold here.


    And, of course, the Emden nobles and lords who had sworn fealty to the Grayman family were also eager to purchase properties in the area.Propelled by these individuals, thend prices on the ind skyrocketed. Although the original residents were mostlymoners, and many were strictly speaking serfs of the Grayman family, everyone knew Count Grayman prided himself on protecting themoners, so no one dared to forcibly upy or purchasend under his watchful eye. The original residents seized this opportunity to make a fortune, happily moving to the newly built districts on the southern shore with their money bags in tow.


    The carriage continued its slow progress, turning into a wide alley and eventually stopping in front of a modestly sized mansion.


    Already waiting at the entrance were two individuals—an older man and a younger one.


    As the carriage door opened, the young man stepped forward respectfully and greeted, “Uncle.”


    “Ondo,” the person inside the carriage responded, then stepped out.


    This was a tall middle-aged man with neatly trimmed beard and well-cared-for skin—a clear sign of wealth and nobility.


    He was Sir Eugene Herson, lord of one of Emden’s vassal territories who hade to Lakeheart Town after a journey of more than two days.


    Originally a vassal of the Kent family, he was now a vassal of the Grayman family, at least nominally so.


    The young man who weed him at the door was his nephew—Ondo Herson. Beside Ondo stood the butler appointed by Herson to manage the household of the Lakeheart Town estate.


    Having lost his wife after she bore three daughters, the Viscount had consistently remained a widower out of devotion to her memory. Therefore, he named his brother’s son as the heir to the family.


    He had great expectations for his nephew and, not long after swearing fealty to Paul Grayman on behalf of the family, sent him to Lakeheart Town for education.


    Sending the heir of the family to the lord’s side for education was amon way for vassals to demonstrate their loyalty in that era.


    However, there were no knights in Lakeheart Town to instruct Ondo in martial arts, nor courtdies to guide him in etiquette. There were only two means of education—in the Weiss Academy where cultural knowledge was imparted, and in the Grayman Military Academy where military knowledge was taught.


    Viscount Herson had chosen the Weiss Academy for his nephew. As a nobleman who had received quality education from an early age, Ondo did not need to start from “elementary school.” He breezed through the “middle school” entry exam without any fuss. Evencking some of the novel knowledge taught in elementary schools, he was able to master it easily through auditing sses or attending night school.


    The uncle and nephew entered the mansion, where avish dinner had been prepared. The two conversed while enjoying the meal.@@novelbin@@


    “What brings you to Lakeheart Town this time?” Ondo inquired.


    “I’vee to purchase a batch of farming equipment and to take a look at some of the technologies that Count Grayman is making public, to see what might be useful for us,” the Viscount replied casually swirling a ss of red wine. “Ondo, you’ve been living in Lakeheart Town for a while now. What do you think of it?” Р????Ｂ??


    “Uh…” The young man chewed his mouthful of meat before swallowing quickly. “How should I put it… it’s a very vibrant ce, I suppose.”


    “Vibrant?”


    “Yes. Count Grayman seems to have instilled in everyone here the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, you’ll be rewarded. You might not believe it, but even the serfbor that lords usually employ hasn’t been seen here for a long while. Instead, it’s been reced by employment—Count Grayman also summons people to work, but he pays them wages.”


    “Oh?” Herson’s eyebrows rose slightly, “Quite novel.”


    He asked further, “What do you think about the academy?”


    After some thought, Ondo responded, “Unlike other ces that focus on literature, arts, and etiquette, this ce emphasizes practicality, with mathematics at its core. Much of the curriculum is organized by Count Grayman himself, and I really have learned quite a bit of novel yet efficient theory here. I heard that the Count is working on a profound textbook called ‘Advanced Mathematics’, though I wonder when it will be published. Ah… there’s also alchemy—here, we call it ‘chemistry’. It’s strange; alchemy is usually handed down in small-scale master-apprentice settings, and I’ve never seen it being taught on such arge scale like in the Weiss Academy.”


    “Hmm, you better study well, study well,” Herson nodded continuously, his eyes narrowed. It seemed that his new liege preferred practical technical talents.


    “I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Ondo looked at his uncle.


    “What is it?”


    “I know you sent me here to study so that our family might secure a firm standing under the new system…”


    “Yes…” the Viscount didn’t deny his nephew’s statement.


    “So why not let me directly take the civil service examination? Those bumpkins who’ve barely learned a few words can pass, so I certainly wouldn’t have a problem. It might seem beneath a Viscount’s heir topete with them, but I’m confident in my abilities to quickly secure a prominent position.”


    In other domains, for a noble’s son like Ondo to hold any official post, a simple rmendation letter from his family would suffice. But in Alda, one had to pass exams.


    “Ondo…” the Viscount exined, “From what I observe, the Count probably had no choice but to incorporate these varied individuals into his administrative system. You know, in this era, how many people can actually read an entire article? Being in the academy, do you feel Count Grayman attaches importance to you students?”


    “Quite a bit. He personally inquires about every exam result.”


    “That’s it. The current Administration Council’s exams are merely a stopgap. Those who enter will eventually hit a promotion ceiling. However, Weiss Academy students are the ones Count Grayman relies on for the future. Without this status, even if you join the Administration Council and perform outstandingly, you will be somewhat eclipsed.”


    “I understand,” Ondo nodded. “Actually…”


    “Actually what?”


    “I have thought about transferring to the military academy.”


    At this, a look of longing shed in the young man’s eyes. He had seen Alda’s army drills from afar—the neat formations, uniform movements, and the impressive marching—it was truly stirring.


    “Sigh…” The Viscount shook his head with a slight smile, understanding the young man’s eagerness for horseback riding and battles.


    “If there’s war, the military is naturally the easiest ce to make a name for yourself. But the Count is not a warmonger. The eradication of pirates, the rebellion in Baylding, the war against usurpers—all actions taken out of necessity. Do you want to slowly climb the ranks in the military? Besides, it’s not so good to be vassals under a warlike lord, like Marltz Kent. And our status as surrendered nobles is somewhat delicate. Best not to touch the hilt of the Count’s sword unnecessarily.”


    “Er… Okay!” The young man nodded dejectedly. “I was really just saying… You know, it’s not easy for me to enter the Grayman Academy?”


    “What do you mean?” Herson was puzzled, given his nephew’s excellence.


    “It seems… no, definitely, the Grayman Military Academy leans towards enrollingmoner’s children. While there’s no formal rule, from our private observations, less than a quarter of the students are from the upper-ss families, and this ‘upper-ss’ doesn’t only refer to the legitimate nobility like us but also includes the wealthyndlord families from rural areas.”


    “Oh? That’s quite surprising,” Viscount Herson was astonished.


    “Yes, many children from upper-ss families in our academy are discontented and often conflict with the neighbouring academy. Fights and brawls are not umon… Uncle?”


    Ondo noticed his uncle lost in thought.


    Called back to the moment, Viscount Herson replied, “Ondo, you haven’t been involved, have you?”


    “I…” The young man hesitated, mumbling, “Just a few times.”


    If this were anywhere else,moners brawling with real-power nobles withnd ownership would not end well. But Ondo was facing fellow students of his own liege—Paul was simultaneously the principal of both the Grayman Military Academy and the Weiss Academy.


    “Listen, stay out of such matters in the future and keep your distance.” The Viscount sternly warned his nephew.


    “Er…Yes!” Noticing the expression on his uncle’s face, Ondo was somewhat surprised.


    Eugene Herson eyed him sharply, “Although I do not know what the Count’s intentions are, we should not pry into matters that do not concern us. You are the heir to our family, and I do not want you toe to any harm.”


    “I’ve noted it, Uncle.” Ondo nodded gravely.