Carelia Academy is one of the domestic educational institutions established composing of kindergarten up to graduate school.
Unlike the educational institutions for commoners, who have to go to school while helping with trade or working young, the academy provides a place for thorough studying; different kinds of exams are also given to those students who want to advance to a higher level. However, it is for a fact that it's an academy for aristocracy and thus regardless of how low your grades are, all will be fine if you put a sum of money for donation
As a result of that management style, flattered by funding, the currently Carelia Academy is now composed of brainless children of aristocrats and smart heirs of a well known family. This makes the situation looks like various food are being cooked together.
――Instead of their academic ability, they prioritize their social standing; rather than scoring great in exams, they fight through the means of donations. Above all, this place is a miniature version of a place for social gathering where their parents create connections.
However, the story is different when it comes to the university department.
Those who are not an heir or those who are not smart enough goes back to their parents place right after their graduation of high school, some even married to a family of a decent status that they have met in the academy. The female who are admitted in the university level are reduced by half and even part of the group of males are filtered through.
――Although that filtering are through exams and donations so majority of it is also biased
However, that doesn't mean that the number of students decreases since children of low class nobles and merchants' enter as well so the total does not really differ to the total number of student in the high school department.
There are also some weak aristocrats who want to at least "put some dignity in the end of their academic career" or households who searches for a good match for their daughters, and within those people, some of them have daughters who was returned to their families after marriage and not knowing what to do with them, the household made them go to the academy even for a couple of years.
Of course it's also not uncommon for the heirs who does not have much mental capability to forcibly advance through by monetary means.
It's, without no doubt, a chaos. And things might get even more chaotic than in the high school department since the difference in status will be much more wider.
In such university department, there is a class that gathers only those who are excellent regardless of their financial capabilities.
That class called the "advance class" is composed of people who are talented and aware of their position as the heir of their household, those who aim for that said position, and those who want to be scholars— in other words, it is a class composed of a so-called elite group of people, full of ambition and excellent brains.
The lessons that are being thought in the university department are the history of various kingdoms and their etiquettes, a study of how to be a good emperor, on top of all that there's also diplomacy relations with the foreign country and various languages, the level of difficulty can't even be compared to other classes and, it is said that 30% of the students drop off before graduation. While on the other hand, being bale to graduate from the advance class is a form of status even among the nobility, it's being treated as a kind of status money can't buy.
"Ugh… I did not passed the special class…"
Holding the results in her hands, Alicia hang her head weakly.
On the other hand, Mary and Patrick, who were already convinced that they passed, was not pleased nor proud and was just nonchalantly taking a sip of their tea.
"Of course, just because you were able to study in the high school department doesn' mean you be able to go to the special class where all elites gather. That place is only for those who are aiming to be a scholar or for those who wants to overthrow their siblings and be the heir of their family"
"I know… but all of you passed right? That's amazing"
"It's only natural for me since I'm the heir of Dice household. That aside, Addie, you passed as well I see"
"Yes, since I'm my lady's follower I'll also be going to the advance class, it will defeat the purpose if we're not in the same class anyway"
"… you have a point"
Patrick gave out an evasive reply and then focused his gaze on Mary.
And of course, she as well is in the advance class. Not only that she got the same score as Patrick during the entrance exam that served as the class selection, she's also the first place in their whole grade, producing the best score in the academy's history.
Patrick called out Mary's name, thinking about the fact that her rank during in high school was ranging from second up to tenth place as if like she was playing with it..
"Mary, you're also in the advance class huh"
"Indeed, that's right. I'm actually more psychologically motivated to listen to those who are proud of their academic ability that those who boast their financial capabilities"
"… Is that all there is to it? You're not thinking of wanting to take the place of the heir of the Albert Household, are you?"
In the current times, the eldest son is normally the heir.
However, not all the eldest sons of the household are superior, in some cases, there are households where the second sons and third sons excels more than the first and to top it all off there are also instances where the daughter is much more fitted to be the family head. Considering the future and prosperity of the household, an age gap of a few years is not a big deal and it is not uncommon for the second son to surpass the eldest… but of course, the eldest will not back down without a fight. It's either he gather allies or he would ask help elsewhere. This is not known in the public since it's an internal conflict but the problem of choosing the heir is a serious and cruel one.