Chapter 53: End of the semester Part 3

The procedures for the final exam were exactly the same as for the midterms.

The exam was from Monday to Friday.

The TAs finished grading over the weekend.

From the next Monday to Thursday, there was a period for raising objections, and the final grades were processed and finalized on Friday.

The final exam grade reports were ready by Saturday morning.

However, after the midterm exams, classes continued the following week, and the lessons went on, but that wasn’t the case for the final exams.

First, during the week, one of the two classes was entirely skipped in the first half.

If the class was on Monday and Wednesday, Monday was a day off, and if it was on Tuesday and Thursday, Tuesday was off.

Also, no subject had classes on both Monday and Tuesday in a row.

This meant that both Monday and Tuesday were confirmed days off for all students.

Some even took the entire weekend off and came back only on Wednesday morning.

“Wow!”

“Let’s play!!!”

Ellie and her friends came to the academy to hang out over the weekend.

They ate a lot of delicious food, looked at pretty things, and walked around wearing the necklaces they had all gotten together last time.

“By the way, wearing this necklace, I wonder how that man is doing these days?”

“If he’s still up to no good, I’m thinking of scolding him…”

But when they actually found him, the merchant saw Ellie and immediately ran out into the middle of the street and bowed.

“You! You are my benefactor!”

“…What?”

Even Ellie was caught off guard by the unexpected situation.

When she asked for details, he explained.

“After that incident, there was a large-scale crackdown on fake jewels…! If you hadn’t scolded me harshly, I would probably… sniff!!!”

“Aha… I see?”

“You… you must have known all along! You were trying to save me, a foolish and sinful man!!”

Ellie smiled gently without saying a word.

“Sob!!”

The former villainous merchant was so moved that he began crying.

However, after spending a considerable amount of time with Ellie, the four girls thought to themselves.

‘It’s a coincidence.’

‘It really is a coincidence.’

‘It’s just a coincidence.’

‘It’s really just a coincidence.’

But there was no one who would be happy if they pointed that out, so they remained quiet.

Philia, too.

“If you need any more jewels in the future, please come to me… sniff… I will get you the best ones without adding any profit for myself and sell them to you…”

“Yes, I will count on you next time.”

The merchant tried to offer something as a token of thanks right away, but since no one needed anything, they politely refused.

***

After finally leaving the bowing jeweler behind, Ellie cleared her throat and scratched her cheek.

Anyone could tell she was a bit embarrassed.

Philia casually commented.

“It’s been a while since I saw Ellie flustered.”

“What do you all think of me, huh?”

While having that conversation, they went to check on the current status of the Classman workshop.

The workshop was still closed, but they succeeded in meeting with a relevant person right in front of it.

“Garzan?”

“Huh?”

After that, they just hung out and walked around.

Eating delicious things, seeing pretty things, enjoying fun things.

In the middle, they stopped by the jeweler again to make a request.

Finally, Ellie hide a letter near the palace, one that could only be received by a specific person, and the five girls got into the carriage, heading towards the academy.

“Yawn…”

Clea asked, seeing Ellie yawn.

“Who was the letter for?”

“Hmm…”

Ellie hesitated for a moment.

“I’ll tell you next time.”

It wasn’t the right time to reveal she was royalty yet.

“But it won’t take long.”

Ellie smiled as the starlight hit her.

The plan for how she would become the emperor, or rather, the power plan, was almost complete.

Until Tuesday, the academy was full of a relaxed atmosphere.

From Wednesday to Friday, each professor taught what they wanted to, either what they missed during the semester or what they wanted to review before the end of the term.

And for the final farewell:

“Have a wonderful winter vacation.”

“Everyone, enjoy your break. Thanks for all your hard work this semester.”

“Have a great break!”

Every time they entered a class, they realized the semester was really over.

It was finally ending.

***

Saturday morning came.

Once again, the honor roll was posted at 7 a.m.

“Sorry! I didn’t see it!”

And, once again, the first to check was Ellie.

After confirming, she was the one to bring the others out to see it.

Of course, there were some differences.

Last time, most of them were still asleep, but this time, everyone was nervously waiting for Ellie.

“Uh, what happened?”

“It’s out!”

First, she grabbed Stella from the fifth floor, then brought Isabel, who was on the verge of tears on the second floor, and rounded up Philia and Clea, who were lingering outside their rooms.

“Everyone, move! Sorry, we haven’t seen it yet! Sorry!”

Once again, she dragged them all.

<Fall Semester Final Exam Top 20>

It was clear to everyone’s eyes.

[1st. Ellie]

[2nd. Isabel Shuker]

[3rd. Stella Blaze]

[4th. Philia Clyford]

[5th. Clea Lacostrin]

[6th Dein Edwick]

[7th. Mira Ravenhood]

“Wow…”

“Ah…!”

Everyone was in the top 5 of the entire school.

Just like Ellie said, they succeeded.

They received the reward for their hard work.

When the reality hit their minds, cheers erupted.

“Really… again…!”

“Wow!!!!! Waaaaah!!!”

After the shock, surprise, and joy faded, as usual, they went back to Isabel’s room, and Ellie’s friends each thanked her one by one.

It all started when Isabel threw herself at Ellie in a hug.

“Ellie!!”

She hugged Ellie tightly and jumped up and down, shouting.

“We did it again! We did it again! It’s all thanks to you, Ellie!”

“Hehe, no. You all worked hard too.”

However, Stella also placed a hand on Ellie’s shoulder and said:

“No. It’s all thanks to you. Thank you, Ellie, for everything you’ve done for us so far.”

Clea stood in front of Ellie as well.

“That’s right. I can’t even think of how to repay you… Thank you, Ellie.”

Finally, Philia, though awkward and unable to meet Ellie’s eyes, said:

“…If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have made it… So, I… thank you. For everything… so far…”

“Hehe.”

Ellie suddenly became embarrassed.

“Like I said, it’s because you all did well…”

Then, the girl blinked her eyes in surprise.

“Huh?”

She didn’t even realize it herself, but her eyes grew warm, and clear liquid started to spill out.

“…How embarrassing. Hehe.”

It feels good to have your efforts recognized.

Being thanked is even better.

It feels so good, it almost makes her heart swell.

“Actually, I’m the one who should thank you for sticking with me.”

Wiping her tears, she smiled.

“And thank you for becoming my friends, you guys.”

That day, they cried a lot.

They cried because they were so happy, and tears flowed as much as their joy.

Isabel bawled, Stella quietly cried, Philia turned her head away, and Clea sniffled.

It was clear, warm tears.

Tears that warmed their hearts.

After crying a lot, they still had red eyes but laughed, raided the student cafeteria, and played board games all night long.

***

After spending the weekend like that, Monday morning came, and the break ceremony was held.

“Everyone, you worked hard this semester. I hope you have a wonderful vacation. That’s all!”

The ceremony, reflecting the principal’s personality, ended in 30 seconds, and the students each got into the carriages waiting to take them back to their estates.

Some kids cried because they were parting from their friends after spending time together for a few months.

Sniffling, they said, “See you next semester. Have a good winter break,” while wiping their noses.

And Ellie and the four girls…

“Long time no see, Lady Isabel!”

“Huh… is this right?”

“Please allow us to take care of this. You and your friends please board this side.”

The carriage was too large to be called a carriage.

‘At this point, wasn’t it a hotel on wheels?’

“Here are the cushions and blankets. The snacks for the journey are prepared inside. After 3 hours, lunch will be served, followed by a snack 2 hours later, and dinner will be served 3 hours after that.”

Ellie looked around, wondering if she was just ignorant about this world, but her friends and even other students were all staring in awe.

Whispering. “What’s that? Is that a carriage? There are four horses… I’m scared…”

“If you need anything, please ring the bell. If we need to stop suddenly, ring the bell three times in a row.”

The Shuker Duke family was one of the wealthiest families in the empire.

Ellie realized that the title wasn’t just for show.

The girls entered the plush-carpeted interior, feeling the true hospitality of the family.

“Then, we’ll ensure you experience no discomfort for the next two days.”

With the Shukur Duke family’s sincere hospitality, the girls headed north.

“Is this because of Ellie?”

“It must be because of Ellie…”

“It’s because of Ellie.”

“I wouldn’t normally say this, but… I might be a little mad at my dad…”

Hearing her friends mumble, Ellie could only smile awkwardly once again.