Chapter 62: The Four Houses

Arriving at Eidelgard Academy and entering it were two entirely different matters altogether.

By the time their carriage reached the northern district, the road had become completely impassable. Hundreds of carriages crowded the avenue leading toward the Academy, many bearing the crests of noble families across the kingdom.

With no sign that the congestion would clear anytime soon, Rian, Alicia, and Charlotte were eventually forced to continue on foot.

Most incoming students appeared to have done the same.

Young nobles and prospective students stood around the entrance with their attendants gathered behind them, surrounded by mountains of luggage.

’Huh? Are they planning on going to vacation or something?’

Rian himself didn’t actually bring anything, with Alicia carrying his single bag while Charlotte carried one of her own.

Yet, instead of excitement or nervousness, all Rian heard were complaints.

"How the hell am I supposed to live without my servant?!"

"Aren’t you supposed to let them through? They are registered members of my household! Surely those are permitted?"

"Ugh...who is going to dress me every morning...?"

Rian watched the commotion with an amused look on his face. "Did none of them know this would happen?"

"They knew," Charlotte answered. "Most of them simply believed the rules wouldn’t apply to them. That was how they behaved at the Preparatory Academy as well."

"Now I’m glad I was bedridden."

"No kidding."

Charlotte then glanced toward Alicia, who was sticking behind Rian like they were glued together. "Were you planning on making the same complaint?"

Rian looked at Alicia, already knowing what would happen from the original novel. "Of course not, we already prepared for this."

"Really?"

Rian pointed toward another road branching around the Academy’s outer wall. There, several servants ranging from butlers to maids were already being directed down it.

"Eidelgard Retainer College, right?" he asked. "Any attendant who wants to remain on Academy grounds must enroll there and receive official certification."

Charlotte looked at Alicia up and down. "Are you sure she actually needs to enroll? I’m fairly certain she could pass their certification examination without attending a single class—"

"I wish to be there," Alicia cut her off. "There are always things to be learned when it comes to household duties."

"Alright..." Charlotte shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Alicia then handed Rian his bag before bowing to her Young Master. As soon as the bag touched his hand, he swayed, the weight catching him off guard.

"What is this?"

"Your luggage."

"Aren’t you at least going inside the gates with me?"

"I must report through the eastern entrance."

"You haven’t even enrolled yet, and you’re already neglecting your duties?"

"Until my registration is complete, I am not permitted to perform those duties on Academy grounds."

For the first time, Rian found himself sympathizing with the other nobles. Alicia started heading towards the eastern gate, leaving Rian to stare at her as she walked away.

"Ready to go in, Young Master Rosenheim?" Charlotte bumped him with her elbow. "Beginning to regret coming?"

"I’m beginning to appreciate everything she does for me."

"Because you already miss her?"

"Because this is heavy."

Charlotte simply nudged her head at the entrance. "Then you had better get used to carrying it. You can’t play the sickly-young-master card anymore."

"How the hell are you faring so well?" Rian asked, his face perplexed.

Charlotte simply shrugged. "My dad was a military general before taking his Seat, after all. So I learned to be self-reliant and do everything on my own."

"That sounds horrible."

"Eh, you’ll get used to it."

"Ugh..." Rian frowned, dragging his luggage across the floor rather than picking it up. "Let’s go inside before I embarrass myself any further."

As soon as they made it through the entrance, everyone was directed into a grand hall. Outside, it had been more hectic, but the moment he stepped inside, Rian found that everyone had kind of separated into their little cliques.

For gigantic banners hung from the walls, each depicting one of the mythical creatures representing Eidelgard Academy’s Houses.

The first displayed an elegant, white unicorn with a golden horn—House of the Unicorn.

Most of its students came from the kingdom’s highest-ranking noble families, particularly those who had graduated from Eidelgard Preparatory Academy. The unicorn represented purity, elegance, and the pride of inherited bloodlines.

Unsurprisingly, its prospective students had already occupied the most prominent section of the hall.

The second banner depicted a blue dragon curled around a silver star—House of the Dragon.

Its students were consisted of apprentices sponsored by various Magic Towers around the country. The dragon represented ancient wisdom, magical power, and an endless thirst for knowledge.

The third had a crimson griffin standing before a black shield—House of the Griffin.

Most of its students arrived through knightly orders or were squires from private armies with potential. The griffin represented courage, vigilance, and discipline.

Finally, there was a blazing phoenix rising from the ashes—House of the Phoenix.

The House had originally been created for exceptional students who lacked the sponsorship and conditions of the previous three Houses. Its namesake represented rising beyond the circumstances of one’s birth.

At least, that was the official purpose.

Over the years, Phoenix had also become the place where Eidelgard sent students who failed to satisfy the requirements of the other Houses. And consequently, it contained an unusual concoction of extraordinary hidden gems...and academic disasters.

Purely on paper, the distinction made competition be able to foster growth. But in reality, it separated the students and encouraged close-mindedness and sticking with your own Houses.

And well, even before Houses were assigned, most students knew where they belonged and formed cliques based on that.

Still, Rian knew what House he belonged to anyway. Even if he didn’t study much in Eidelgard Preparatory Academy, there wasn’t anywhere else but Unicorn.

’I mean...I’m the son of Duke! And all the siblings that went before me got sent to Unicorn instantly. Hell, even Felix was a Unicorn—’

’Surely, it’s the same for me as well...?’