Royal Secret: I'm a Princess!

1,000 Questions from Hell.

That was what Royal Moon Academy's written exam was known for.

The test was divided into five subjects, and each subject had two hundred questions. Then the student applicants were given two hours to finish each exam.

In the morning, the student applicants would take two subjects.

The morning entrance exam would begin at exactly 8am, and it would end at 12nn. Then the student applicants would be given an hour-long lunch break. Food would be served in the school restaurant, and the proctors would supervise the applicants even when eating.

After the lunch break, the afternoon exams would begin at 1pm. There would be three subjects left to take, so the afternoon exam would end at 7pm.

Of course, the student applicants weren't required to follow the schedule.

For example, if an applicant finished their first exam early, then they could request their proctor to hand them the next exam. But most applicants wouldn't rush to take the exams. Most of them would often take their time double or triple-checking their exam papers before submitting them to the teachers.

[I'm in a different classroom from Neoma.]

Hanna remained calm, though.

Neoma was in the classroom supervised by Headmaster Salvatore himself.

She, on the other hand, was in the class supervised by Lord Herman Johanssen– the Vice-principal who was younger yet looked stricter than the Headmaster.

It had been a while since the applicants occupied each seat in the classroom.

But there were still a few minutes left before the clock hit 8am. Thus, the Vice-principal left the classroom first and told them to keep quiet until he returned with the exam papers.

A room full of arrogant noble children couldn't be quiet, though.

"That's Hanna Quinzel."

"Oh, the Crown Prince's alleged fiancée?"

"Yes, and she's also Duke Rufus Quinzel's only child."

Hanna heard the young lords literally talking behind him.

It was obvious that the immature boys wanted her to hear them. The young noble's voices were loud enough for everyone in the classroom to hear. And now, everyone was "discreetly" watching her. The kids were probably waiting for her reaction.

She couldn't say she didn't expect to be the center of attention. After all, she went to the academy with the "Crown Prince." It was as if she and the "Crown Prince" were announcing their engagement to everyone.

[Let's just ignore the kids.]

The "kids" in question were noble children her age. But Neoma's way of addressing everyone around her as "children" had rubbed off on her.

"Didn't Duke Quinzel appeal to the Ministry of Education for the noble ladies to get a similar passing test score as the noble lords?"

"Well, the Ministry of Education dismissed the duke's appeal."

"Of course, it would be dismissed. The fact that girls were allowed to take the exam was already an honor for them. Any more than that would be too much already."

The boys' ignorance and misogyny were so ridiculous she didn't have the energy to get mad.

[If Neoma was here, she would have already "killed" these kids with her sharp tongue.]

The thought of Neoma putting those ignorant boys' in place with her sarcasm made her laugh softly.

Oops.

Her soft laughter caught everyone's attention. Most of them were probably wondering why she laughed in that situation. And even though she couldn't see the noisy boys' reaction behind her, she could already picture them getting taken aback by her reaction.

She wasn't really laughing at the boys, but everyone was probably thinking that she did.

[Oh, well.]

"Did she just laugh at us?"

"The audacity! The lady must be acting arrogant because she's being backed up by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Let's see if she could still laugh after the exam."

"The fact that Duke Quinzel appealed to the Ministry of Education must only mean that His Grace isn't confident that his daughter would pass the entrance exam."

[I know I shouldn't react, but I can't let them insult my father any further.]

"I would agree with you, but we would be both wrong," Hanna said in a gentle yet clear voice that seemed to surprise everyone. Then she turned her head to face the ignorant young lords, who flinched when she met their gazes. "If that's all, then this "conversation" is finished. Let's just let our exam scores do the talking later."

The boys glared at her, but they didn't talk back to her.

She just smiled at them, then she faced the front again. Her fellow student applicants immediately avoided her gaze. It was as if the kids didn't expect her to talk back, and the fact that she did seemed to scare them.

[They're probably afraid to cross me because I'm the future Crown Princess.]

It was a shame, but it seemed like she couldn't make friends here anymore.

"Lady Hanna should have just kept her mouth shut."

It was Lady Vivienne Cornwell, her deskmate, who said that.

[Lady Vivienne is the youngest daughter of Count Cornwell. If I remember it correctly, Lady Vivienne is also one of the candidates to be the Crown Princess.]

Shiny blonde and curly hair, sparkling blue eyes, milky white skin.

Lady Vivienne Cornwell was known for her beauty. But her reputation wasn't that good because apparently, she was condescending towards nobles who didn't meet her standards.

"The young lords weren't wrong, after all," Lady Vivienne said without even turning to look at her, even though she was talking to her. The lady's head was also held high, as if she was showing her that she wasn't afraid of her, despite the fact that she outranked her. "We should be thankful that the Royal Moon Academy opened its door for the ladies. We should be satisfied to have been allowed to take the exam, and we shouldn't ask for more."

Before meeting Neoma, she had the same mindset as Lady Vivienne.

She didn't question why the ladies enjoyed less privilege than the noblemen. Her mother also taught her to never complain. To keep her mouth shut when men were talking. She was also told to never share her opinions.

And all her young life, she thought it was the right way to live as a noblewoman.

She would be honest– she hadn't gotten rid of her strict upbringing completely. But she was trying. She wanted to share the same mindset as Neoma.

"Why should we be satisfied with less human rights just because we are women?" Hanna asked Lady Vivienne, who turned to her with a shocked look on her face. "Lady Vivienne, women deserve more. And we don't need men's validation for anything."

Lady Vienne looked horrified by what she said. "Lady Hanna, you–"

"Everyone, settle down."

The young lady was interrupted when Vice-principal Johannsen finally returned to the classroom with their exam papers.

Everyone turned ahead.

But she could still feel the awkwardness in the air.

Hanna let out a sigh.

[I guess I won't be a popular Crown Princess now.]

***

"STUDENT applicants, don't be surprised."

Hanna, who was about to leave her seat to have lunch, sat down again when Vice-principal returned to the classroom.

Her fellow applicants also went back to their seats.

A while ago, the vice-principal already dismissed them. Then he went out of the classroom after telling them to get their lunch at the school restaurant. But a moment later, Vice-principal Johanssen returned with an excited look on his face.

It was strange to see the stoic vice-principal suddenly get excited like that.

[Ah, it must really be big news.]

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already finished all his exam papers," Vice-principal Johansse said in disbelief. "And His Royal Highness wasn't the only one who finished his exam in such a short time– another student applicant named Calyx Dalton submitted his exam papers at the same time the Crown Prince did."

A collective gasp was heard.

Then it was followed by loud whispers.

"Lord Calyx?"

"Isn't he the young lord from the countryside who resembles His Royal Highness a lot?"

"It turns out that Lord Calyx just doesn't look like His Royal Highness– he also seems to be as capable as the Crown Prince."

"Quiet, children," Vice-principal Johanssen said, but he didn't sound that convincing. It seemed like the vice-principal partially agreed with what the other kids said. "The Headmaster himself will grade His Royal Highness and Student Applicant Calyx's exam papers. Everyone is free to skip their lunch to watch the result of the two's exam if you want."

Hanna didn't feel hungry anymore.

[I must be there.]

***

NEOMA had a tutor when she was preparing for the entrance exam.

But aside from her official tutor, she was also taught by William, Delwyn, Mochi, and some of her Papa Boss' Soul Beasts.

And what do her unofficial tutors have in common?

[They lived during the time our empire's History books were written.]

That meant the Spirits were living witnesses of the empire's history. Thus, even unknown history was drilled into her mind when they were teaching her. Because of that, she felt a little guilty because she thought she was cheating by having great Spirits as her tutors.

On the other hand, that was the reason she was confident she would ace the exam.

But she didn't expect this kind of outcome.

"Magnificent!" Headmaster Salvatore exclaimed. "Both His Royal Highness and Calyx Dalton got perfect scores in every subject!"

Neoma clenched her hands tight.

[We both aced the exam…]

"This is the first time that two students got perfect scores after a long time," Headmaster Salvatore continued. "The last person to ace the exam was His Majesty Emperor Nikolai de Moonasterio."

Calyx smiled brightly. "I'm glad that I continued His Majesty's legacy."

Huh?

Neoma turned to Calyx with a raised eyebrow. "His Majesty is my father, though?"

[Why would you continue the legacy of someone else's father?]

***

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