The female teacher did not even bother to lower her voice. Even if the table she was a few tables away from Eli, with the caliber of the people in the third floor, they could hear her words clearly because of their enhanced senses.
"Professor Alicia, would you mind to calm down? I know you are frustrated with how you have lost to Zeke but then, why should you vent your anger to Lady Eli?"
A haggard looking professor from the next table immediately reprimanded the female professor, Alice. He was wearing a black gown with red stripes symbolizing that he belonged to the magical research school.
"You…" Professor Alicia was speechless as she didn't expect that someone would reprimand her publicly. Her eyes were blazing with irritation as she clenched her fist to hold back exploding from being insulted.
Aside from being a professor of the renowned institute, she was also the precious daughter of the Cross family, another aristocratic family of casters. It was also known that her aunt was married to the Duke of Vesala, and the sister in law of the Empress.
Thus, she always enjoyed the special treatment her fellow professors gave her.
They avoid opposing her especially publicly so as to not offend the Cross family. However, there were known exceptions and that was the eccentric professors under the magical research institute.
"What? If you don't like losing, then work double the effort you are currently giving. Perhaps, you would one day attain the qualification to finally be a dean!" the eccentric professor didn't let go of the chance to let her permanently shut-up.
There was an awkward silence on the third floor.
Almost all the professors knew that Alicia and Zeke actually competed for the position of deputy dean under training with Vice Chairman Bramwell. They also trained under the seasoned deans and went through a tedious and extremely competitive selection process.
After battling head to head with each other, Zeke turned out to be the one who was chosen to hold the position as the deputy dean for Magical Research School.
Back then, Alicia was not able to take her loss with grace.
She could not believe that she was beaten by a teacher with a commoner background. What's more, in only five years, he skillfully led the research team to attain phenomenal achievements such as the enhanced function of communication stone - the invention of notification papers!
His achievements as a deputy dean, enabled him to become the full fledged dean he was known today, even more as the youngest dean ever conferred in the history of Prasinos at the age of thirty one.
There was also an unusual atmosphere around Eli's table.
That was because it was only Eli who was visibly worried when she heard the discussions about Zeke. The rest of the people at her table all had uncaring expressions as they proceeded with their meal.
"Do not bother about the discussions, this is already a normal scene in the Institute." Zeke comforted Eli as he apologetically glanced at her.
Raising her brows in surprise, Eli looked at Bramwell and Grandpa Ben with an inquiring expression, as if saying, 'I could understand if it was Zeke's choice not to resolve this matter, but why do you not address this issue as the people of the highest rank in the campus?'
"Leaders see things differently." Grandpa Ben cryptically commented, as if answering Eli's inquiring look.
Eli decided not to dive into the question further since Grandpa Ben already gave her the hint. She could always ask him in the future anyways.
And so, the eventful lunch was done so quickly. After finishing the second half of the tour, Eli bid her goodbye to Dean Zeke.
"Thank you so much for giving me your precious time to guide me around the campus, Dean Zeke. I had a pleasant time!"
"I am glad to hear it! I couldn't wait to see you next week and introduce you to the junior and senior research teams!"
"I look forward to it too!" Eli replied with a smile. She also said her goodbyes to Dean Athena and Simone before leaving the campus with Bramwell and Grandpa Andi.
"So.. how do you find the institute?" Bramwell excitedly asked Eli as they traveled back to the Farauld estate.
"Although I already knew that the institute was prestigious, I still feel amazed seeing it in person! Truly it was one of the best!" Eli gave her honest evaluation. "Uncle, I really had a great day today, seeing the institute you and Grandpa Ben preciously cared for!"
The two men were touched at Eli's words as they tried to avert their gaze towards the carriage windows while awkwardly clearing their throat. "Well.. it's good that you like it."
"If you don't mind, I would like to ask for an answer about Zeke's situation earlier." Eli couldn't let go of Alicia and Zeke's matter.
"Well, actually… It was Zeke who pleaded to us and the other deans to let the matter go." Bramwell explained.
"It was because he was worried that the Cross Family would use their influence to damage the reputation of the academy just because he was a commoner."
"Since the Cross Family had deep connections with the Empress, Zeke didn't want to cause trouble for the academy and disrupt the students' learning just because of Alicia's attitude. He said that at the end of the day, Alicia was still considered one of the strongest contenders for the dean position. She had abilities and it would be a great loss for the academy to lose a teacher like her."
"Hmm, I see.. But knowing Grandpa Ben's personality, would you really don't care?" Eli asked Grandpa Ben straightforwardly, as if she already knew the answer.
"Of course! Such a small Cross family? I wouldn't care. If I am in the mood, I can fire Alicia anytime of the day!" Grandpa Ben replied proudly.
"Then why listen to Zeke's request then?" Eli was now utterly confused. Grandpa Ben was not really someone who would be afraid of status and turn a blind eye to the wrong.
"That was simply because we wanted Zeke to learn from this predicament. We wanted to see how he handles the situation with his capacity as dean. He was still too young and soft hearted. Although his qualifications were already more than enough for his position, his guts were really lacking big time!"
"As a normal educator, one is required to handle and manage the youth of tomorrow. But as a dean, you have to learn to keep the institute that enables it! Matters such as reputation, politics and so on must be handled decisively. There's no room for uncertainties, because one move not taken will affect the future of the students."
"In Zeke's case, his sense of inferiority due to his background made him deeply believe that it would actually be for the greater good of the academy for him to sacrifice. He did not even consider who his superiors were, that they were the kind of people who would not care to offend big names. Because if we are afraid to do that, then we should have long banned giving students a failing grade!"
"True enough!" Eli understood Grandpa Ben and Bramwell's line of thought.
"So that was why we chose to watch from the sidelines and carefully let Zeke look at the situation with a renewed mind. Of course, we cannot make a good leader overnight, so we are being patient with the situation!"
Meanwhile, Alicia was on her way to the palace to accompany her aunt, Madame Vesala to visit the Empress.
In Empress Carolina's Palace, the two gracefully curtsied to greet the regal looking woman on the wheel chair.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, Empress!"
"Hmm, sit down, it's been a while since I shared tea time with you. Finally after many months, I was allowed to receive visitors. I immediately had you in my mind to share tea with." Empress Carolina smilingly replied.
Her appearance was quite surprising for someone who was well cared for in the palace.
Unlike her usual graceful and regal appearance as the Empress, she was pale white and frail looking as she sat on the wheel chair. If not for her requesting her servants to put rouge on her face, she would definitely look like a vampire exposed in the sunlight.
"Your Majesty, how are you feeling right now? Please don't push yourself too much!" Alicia attentively replied.
"Compared to the last few months, I am feeling much better. It was only because I could only eat and drink what ws prescribed that made me look like I lack energy." Empress Carolina replied.
She had already recovered her ruptured receptors so she was already free from pain. But because of being immobile for so long, the doctor opted to let her move around with a wheelchair until she finished her rehab.
"I have been really bored these days. I would really like to hear from you what was happening outside the palace walls." She straightforwardly asked the two.
"Well, I am sure you know about the sudden changes that happened because of the Emperor's decree. Everything seemed to be smooth sailing these days, surprisingly. There was really minimal resistance from the nobles…" Madame Vesala helplessly sighed.
"I heard that one of the reasons why the matter was smooth sailing was because of the release of the new inventions from the institute?" Empress Carolina then looked towards Alicia.
Seeing the Empress's glance, Alicia finally understood why she was called so suddenly for this meeting.
The Empress wanted to get insider information about who the inventor was. Lucky for her, today was also the day Eli visited the institute.
"Well the matter is like this, the Faraulds and Forgeworns sponsored the mysterious inventor to create new innovations to mass release for the people. Although I am not aware as to when the Emperor caught wind of this information so fast, fret not Empress!"
"For the mysterious inventor Eli, had already appeared today in the institute. She will be staying there as an honorary councilor!" Alicia proudly declared with delight.. It was completely the opposite of her sour face back in the academy upon meeting Eli.
