Ch.81Court (1)

“A university, huh. It wouldn’t hurt for my son, who will inherit the estate someday, to gain administrative knowledge. I should send him to Dijon. But this… hmm.”

The middle-aged nobleman carefully sets down Claude’s letter and sighs briefly.

‘If one completes studies in law and administration at the newly established university and achieves above a certain grade, they can receive additional points for official appointments?’

At first glance, it sounds good.

It means that the more capable one is, the more preferential treatment they’ll receive as a national policy, which leads to competition between individuals and ultimately improves the quality of officials. And the improvement in official quality leads to enhancement of national power.

It aligns with the social norm that more capable people should receive better treatment, and from His Majesty’s perspective, he would want to remove incompetent individuals from official positions.

‘He’s clearly setting a trap.’

Of course, that’s His Majesty’s situation, but from the nobles’ perspective, it’s completely a trap.

Why should merit determine additional points? Additional points should be based on nobility, not ability.

Except for positions that had to be filled by commoners, all official positions were occupied by nobles in order of their nobility, but according to His Majesty’s policy, that would be completely reversed.

A country baron with just 20 households could end up sitting above us. Or even someone more lowly—wait a minute.

‘Does that mean commoners could occupy high official positions?’

With this thought, the nobleman picks up the letter he had just put down and reads it again.

His Majesty’s letter simply states that better positions can be obtained according to ability, but there is nothing written about whether commoners are excluded from this.

Surely not… no, that can’t be. No matter how much he wants capable talent, the idea of placing commoners above nobles is too outrageous.

It’s probably not written because it’s so obvious that it doesn’t need to be mentioned.

I’m surprised by something so obvious—I must have been quite shocked by the statement about positions being assigned according to grades. I’m getting unnecessarily cautious as I age.

“Is anyone outside?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Go and call Louis. I have important matters to discuss.”

Though I don’t like it, I must follow His Majesty’s new policy. With His Majesty’s prestige reaching the heavens after winning various wars and establishing the kingdom, there’s little we can do in response.

If positions are obtained according to ability, I can’t just sit idle. If my son is too stupid to get a good position, it would be a disgrace to our family.

Of course, the estate is dozens of times more important than an official position, but if he receives a lowly position, we’ll become the laughingstock of society. Above all, as a father, I wouldn’t feel at ease.

Let’s start with preliminary education first.

……….

“Your Majesty, there are about 2,000 people hoping to enter the university.”

“…It seems everyone has high expectations.”

Of course, I didn’t set many conditions for university admission apart from tuition and verified identity.

Still, I didn’t expect as many as 2,000 to come.

“What’s the capacity of the university?”

“At most, the limit is 600 people.”

The palace, which was used as a residence when the Bourgogne ducal family’s power was weak hundreds of years ago, cannot accommodate all those people.

In Korea, there was an absolute standard called the College Scholastic Ability Test, which made it easy to cut off applicants… sigh.

“For now, we’ll have to put all commoners on hold and accept nobles first. And if there are siblings who have both applied, have them agree among themselves so only one applies.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

There’s no choice. If we push out nobles and bring in commoners, the nobles, who are already dissatisfied with the grade-based system, are very likely to be provoked.

That’s not to say we won’t accept any commoners at the university.

The vast majority of nobles are only interested in law, theology, and administration, and they won’t enter the remaining four departments—medicine, celestial physics, magical alchemy, and mechanical architecture—even if there are vacancies. That’s when we can accept commoners.

Of course, law, theology, and administration will become the exclusive domain of nobles, but that can’t be helped.

“After that, we’ll accept nobles first by rank, and among those of equal rank, by whoever pays more tuition. For commoners, we’ll need a simple test.”

“What kind of test…?”

“Knowing how to read is obviously basic, plus things like the history of Lotaring, moderately difficult math problems, or reading comprehension tests. Even though a university is a place of teaching, we can’t teach someone who’s completely blank.”

“Ah, for that, we could modify the criteria used when recruiting servants and attendants for the castle. I’ll bring the questions later for your review.”

“Yes, understood.”

As expected of Leclerc, it’s not for nothing that he’s managed servants and attendants for so long.

Hmm… should I just have Leclerc substitute for managing the attendants while Ines is pregnant?

‘I’m not sure how Leclerc himself would feel about it, but it’s the optimal appointment.’

To sit as a substitute in a position that was taken away—no matter how you look at it, it seems like mockery.

Of course, legally, the authority to manage the palace attendants belonged to the duchess, now queen, from the beginning, so strictly speaking, it wasn’t taken away but reclaimed… but still, the fact that Leclerc did that job for over ten years doesn’t change.

Above all, the problem is that Ines reclaimed Leclerc’s authority without any consultation.

Even if he doesn’t show it outwardly, he might be extremely angry inside. No, not “might be”—he definitely is.

…Still, there’s no choice.

“Leclerc.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ines is approaching a time when she shouldn’t be active, so could you manage the palace servants and attendants as a substitute until that time passes?”

“That is…”

Leclerc trails off after hearing my words.

Of course he’d be cautious. It’s a position he lost as a consequence of making a mistake and falling out of favor, and now he’s being asked to sit there again, even if only as a substitute.

“Has Lady Ines’s heart softened?”

“No, this is my unilateral decision. She absolutely refuses to rest even when told to, and it’s giving me a headache.”

“…I see.”

To ask if I, the king, had obtained the queen’s permission would be beyond rudeness and into insult, so instead he indirectly refers to her “heart.” Leclerc is indeed careful with his words.

“Yes, when should I start the duties?”

“From tomorrow. You can receive the handover from Ines tomorrow morning.”

With Chloe having quit all her duties and resting, I simply can’t stand by and watch only Ines working.

Of course, Ines will struggle not to let go of her work, but if I emphasize that it’s already decided and push through with affectionate pressure or whatever it takes, she’ll eventually surrender.

“And Leclerc, if one of your sons or grandsons enters the university, I’ll use my authority to give them first priority.”

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s favor.”

“It’s not a favor.”

Having had his authority snatched away so suddenly, almost to the point of insult, he must have complaints even if he doesn’t show them, and to suppress those complaints, I must definitely give him something.

For someone like Leclerc who isn’t in need of money, it’s better to give honor or rights rather than money.

Look at that, the corner of his mouth turned up slightly. Good effect.

……….

“Um… hello. I’m Jeanne, starting work today…”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Jeanne. First, take this bucket and mop and clean all the windows in this corridor.”

“What? Oh… yes. I understand.”

Having successfully changed her identity, Jeanne begins work at the palace without any training from her first day.

Of course, most of a maid’s work is physical labor and so simple that there’s no need for explanation, but still, it’s inevitable to feel a bit intimidated.

“Whew…”

Jeanne, who started cleaning windows in the morning, finishes her work just after lunchtime.

Though it’s slightly past lunchtime, it’s not a big problem given Jeanne’s status as a maid.

The dining hall for maids and servants, the lowest beings in the palace, is open all day because they rarely eat on time due to their busy work schedules.

Of course, most of the food is cold, but for Jeanne, who grew up seeing meals as merely a way to satisfy hunger, this is no problem at all.

“Hello, are you going to the dining hall?”

“Yes, to the dining hall—eek?!”

“Oh, I’m Jeanne, newly arrived. Please take care of me.”

“N-newly arrived? The manager didn’t—ah, no. The dining hall is this way.”

“Um… yes, thank you.”

Jeanne tilts her head at the servant who suddenly acts strange and seems flustered, but soon dismisses it.

According to the Saint, there were no plans to hire new maids, so naturally anyone would be surprised to see an unfamiliar face, she reasoned.

Of course, the real reason for his surprise was that he had seen her before while monitoring her at night as Ines’s underling, but Jeanne has no way of knowing this. She simply offers a prayer of blessing in her heart to the kind person who showed her the way.

‘I-I should report to Lady Ines quickly… report…? Huh? Should I?’

As a result, Ines’s underling who showed Jeanne the way becomes mentally [purified], losing his loyalty and fear toward Ines, and the emptiness left by these vanished emotions is filled with faith and loyalty toward God and the Saint.

Jeanne also meets Chloe’s underling in the palace, and once again, the same result occurs.