Chapter 40: The Weight of a Title

Maplewood City, Southwest Saint Academy, Principal’s office.

“But you promised my father you’d find a way, didn’t you?” Camilla Dumpty demanded, standing before the desk and staring intently at Principal Nabo.

“Oh dear, your mother has already approached me about this countless times,” Principal Nabo said, spreading his hands. “This matter, you see, was merely a jest between your father and me after a few drinks. I’m not the one who recommends candidates for Saint Academy’s admission; how could I possibly dictate who gets in?”

‘Hypocrite!’ Camilla seethed inwardly.

She refrained from voicing her true thoughts, partly because Principal Nabo was a prominent figure in the city, and partly because she still needed his assistance, however reluctantly.

“My father spoke to me about this quite seriously at the time, even saying you were the most reliable among the influential people he knew in this city. Now that he has died in the line of duty, is this truly how you treat his family?” Camilla stated coldly.

“I am deeply saddened by the Viscount’s passing. Who could have foreseen such an accident?” Principal Nabo sighed with a look of regret, deftly sidestepping Camilla’s accusation. “As the Viscount’s only daughter, I would certainly do my best to help with any needs you might have here at the academy, but some things are simply beyond my capabilities.”

He continued, “How about this: once you graduate, tell me which civil service position in the city interests you, and I’ll write you a letter of recommendation?”

‘Old fox!’ Camilla gnashed her teeth inwardly, yet she was utterly powerless.

Viscount Dumpty and Principal Nabo had enjoyed a close relationship during the Viscount’s lifetime. In the past, Principal Nabo had adamantly promised to find a way to secure the Viscount’s daughter a place at Saint Academy. Of course, the true value of this favor was almost entirely dependent on Viscount Dumpty’s position as Maplewood City’s Chief of Security.

However, events had taken a sudden turn. A month prior, Viscount Dumpty had unexpectedly perished during a prisoner riot at the detention center. The riot was ultimately suppressed by expeditionary forces, who happened to be passing through Maplewood City, with the assistance of the security guard—or so the Inquisitors announced after imposing a news blackout.

To fabricate the incident, they even executed several suspects from the detention center and convicted them. The true circumstances remained unknown to anyone in the city; those who did know had been silenced by various means.

The Viscount’s family received a pension that had passed through several hands from the security department, unaware that the funds actually originated from the Church’s Inquisitors.

Yet, the Dumpty family was not lacking in money. Money alone could not resolve the crisis of their declining family fortunes following Viscount Dumpty’s death.

Camilla had now been designated as the heir to the viscounty, but this title served only to distinguish her from commoners.

Viscount Dumpty possessed no fiefdom; his viscount title could, at best, barely serve as a facade in aristocratic social circles. The family’s ability to thrive in Maplewood City was, in fact, entirely due to Viscount Dumpty’s role as Chief of Security.

Alas, while the viscount’s title could be inherited by his children, the position of Chief of Security was not hereditary.

Upon the Viscount’s death, the Dumpty family’s value plummeted instantly, and the network of connections drawn by his status was severed. Principal Nabo was one such connection.

Camilla and Principal Nabo engaged in a futile back-and-forth for a while, but the Principal remained unyielding. Eventually, Camilla reluctantly gave up, maintaining surface-level civility as she bade him farewell.

‘Hmph, utterly clueless. Can’t they even use their brains to think?’ Principal Nabo muttered inwardly after Camilla’s departure.

Now that the Viscount was dead, what benefit could he gain from investing resources to elevate Camilla? While the Dumpty family might offer a sum as compensation, if it came down to sheer wealth, the Dumpty family couldn’t compete with the city’s several magnates. If admission slots were to be auctioned off in secret, the Dumpty family wouldn’t even get a chance to bid.

This was such an obvious truth, yet these people kept bothering him repeatedly. Some things, you just understand without needing to say them aloud, didn’t they?

****

Fifteen minutes later, the door to the Principal’s office was knocked upon once more. This time, the school’s Dean of Academic Affairs entered.

“Principal, someone from the post station sent word: Duke Liddell’s daughter has entered the city,” the Dean reported.

“Oh? Did they say when she would arrive at the school?” the Principal asked, his expression serious.

“They said around noon,” the Dean replied.

“Oh dear, that leaves less than an hour. We must prepare immediately. Go and arrange a proper reception at the entrance!” The Principal rose from his seat at once.

“Are you planning to greet her personally?” The Dean sounded somewhat surprised.

Even if the visitor came from a distinguished family, she was still merely a student. The school certainly didn’t lack students from influential families. For the Principal to personally greet a student upon their arrival might give off an improper first impression.

“Even though she hasn’t formally inherited yet, she is almost certainly the future Duchess Liddell. If I didn’t greet her personally, it would be a breach of etiquette,” the Principal frowned. “You must come along too!”

“Ah, that’s right,” the Dean realized with a start.

Alice Liddell, the transfer student, was not merely the Duke’s daughter. After Duke Liddell’s death, she had been designated as the heir to the title by the Duchess, who held actual power.

Maplewood City was an un-fiefed territory, with no direct liege lords other than the Emperor. The future Duchess Liddell differed vastly from Camilla, who had inherited only an empty title. Alice would become a great feudal lord, presiding over vast territories on the Empire’s southern border. Indeed, the entire Maplewood City likely harbored no figure of higher status than this young woman.

Such a person enrolling meant the Principal would undoubtedly go to great lengths to curry favor.

Meanwhile, in the school building, several noble students gathered, also discussing the arrival of the new, important figure.

“The Duchess of the Southern Border? Is that true?” Camilla’s face was etched with disbelief.

“Absolutely true. She’s the heir to Duke Liddell’s territory,” the noble girl standing before her affirmed with a decisive nod.

“I heard my father say that after Duke Liddell passed away, it was the Duchess who held the real power, wasn’t it? Many people wanted to get acquainted with her then,” another girl remarked. “It’s still uncertain whether that illegitimate daughter, suddenly brought in, is truly the Duke’s child.”

“But nominally, that territory is hers. No matter what, she can’t have absolutely no status,” another noble boy analyzed. “To put it bluntly, even if she’s just a pawn, none of us here can probably compare to her.”

Listening to the others’ discussion, Camilla couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy toward the future Duchess.

They were both heirs to titles, yet why was there such an enormous disparity?

“I heard from the academic office that she’s expected around noon,” a girl said.

“Then we absolutely must go and pay our respects. Who wants to come with me?” Camilla quickly took the initiative,毫不犹豫地 volunteering to lead the effort.

The Dumpty family now faced a crisis of declining fortunes and desperately needed external support.

It was imperative that she forge a strong connection with this Duchess Liddell.