Chapter 36: Cedric Struggles with the Written Exam
Cedric Evern had been hailed as a magical genius since childhood. His magical power was evidently greater than that of his peers, and he had a remarkable aptitude for learning spells. His parents doted on him, convinced that he would undoubtedly become a court magician one day.
However, being spoiled in such a manner had left him devoid of compassion, nurturing a selfish nature instead. Yet, his magical talent was indeed genuine. The fact that his half-brother, who was the same age, possessed no magical power only fueled Cedric’s pride. Following the example of his father, who despised his incompetent son, and his mother, who loathed the child of her lover, Cedric began to abuse his brother, losing any hesitation about hurting others in the process.
Had Cedric truly become a court magician and attained the title of viscount, a haughty, arrogant, and wicked noble would have emerged, causing trouble for many.
Yet, it seemed that divine judgment existed in this world. On that day, a reckoning was about to befall Cedric, who had always acted with impunity.
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“Damn it! Damn, damn, damn it all! Why is this so difficult?!”
At the Royal Academy, on the day of the entrance exam, Cedric Evern silently cursed as he faced the written exam questions in the auditorium. The spacious hall was filled with the children of nobles, all taking the test. Today was the exam for the noble slot at the academy. The people around him were all well-dressed, exuding an air of privilege. Among them were both new aristocrats like Cedric and the clearly noble offspring of higher-ranking families.
“Damn it… I swear this question was in the reference book… Ah, damn it! I can’t remember!”
The sound of pens scratching against paper around him only heightened Cedric’s anxiety. Yet, no matter how much he panicked, it wouldn’t help him solve the problems. The answer sheet before him was nearly half blank, and the time until the exam’s end was slipping away.
“How can I, a magical genius, be struggling this much? It’s all that incompetent failure’s fault! Ever since he was taken in by the marquis family, I haven’t been able to concentrate on my studies…!”
The face of his half-brother, Rest, floated to the forefront of Cedric’s mind. Since childhood, Cedric had taken pleasure in casting spells on Rest, using him as a target for his magical experiments. Whenever he learned a new spell, Rest was the first to be subjected to it. Even when he faced unpleasant situations, he would relieve his stress by tormenting Rest. Although Cedric possessed magical talent, he was not particularly adept at academic subjects like history or mathematics. He had relied on abusing Rest to alleviate his stress while studying, but ever since Rest was taken in by the Rosemary Marquis House a year ago, that routine had been shattered. Consequently, he found himself unprepared for the entrance exam.
“Why the hell did that worthless brat get taken in by the marquis family? He’s probably just doing menial work… But the thought of that failure being so close to Viola and Primula makes me furious!”
Cedric had once met the sisters of the Rosemary Marquis House and had taken an immediate liking to them. He envisioned a future where he could marry one of them—or ideally both—and indulge in their beauty. However, ever since he had led them into the forest and put them in danger, he hadn’t seen them. Even when he requested to meet them to apologize, the marquis family had dismissed him without a second thought.
“If I can just get into the academy, I’ll have a chance to see them again. There’s no need to rush.”
“That’s right. You’re a chosen child, unlike that stray dog. If you show them your worth, they’ll surely come to like you.”
Though his parents had reassured him, the mere thought of Rest being so close to the beautiful sisters ignited a simmering frustration within Cedric, making it impossible for him to focus on his studies. Even in the midst of the exam, the image of his brother flashed through his mind, fueling his boiling anger.
“There are five minutes left until the exam ends.”
“Ugh…!”
“Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn it! Damn it all to hell!”
Hearing the proctor’s voice, Cedric grimaced and desperately tried to solve the problems.
In the end, Cedric managed to answer only about seventy percent of the questions on the exam. And there was no guarantee that all of those answers were correct. He had been informed beforehand that the minimum passing score for the written exam was sixty percent, leaving him teetering on the edge as he finished the first half of the test.