Chapter 266: Imperial Aldros Academy
As Leonard’s carriage continued to move along the past, he witnessed numerous similar incidents of the rich bullying the poor.
Their jarring remarks and arrogance know no bounds. The only thing they hadn’t done was physically harm them.
After all, this was still the capital. To directly harm another student admitted to the Imperial Aldros Academy was a challenge not just to the academy but to the empire’s authority.
"What great equality we’re seeing." Leonard snickered, his eyes gradually turning colder along the way. They had passed by some capital guards, but none of them did anything.
"Drop me off 3 meters away from the academy entrance." He closed the curtains and told Amelia.
"But that’ll be dangerous." Amelia quickly tried to advise him to reconsider.
"Dangerous?" Leonard stared at her with a cold gaze.
"Seems like this so-called equality promotion is nothing more than political."
He was probably the only foolish one to cling to the hope that equality might be promoted.
"There are still some who believe this is their chance, Crown Prince." Amelia softly spoke and pointed at a few individuals outside. Their uniform was clearly cleaned repeatedly, as their hands held some worn or torn textbooks.
The uniform was freely provided to all those admitted, so it was only natural that they looked good. But other than that, there was nothing else.
Or at least until the aptitude testing phase was over.
The aptitude testing phase determined what classes they were suited for and how many resources they required to study in the academy.
Leonard also understood this concept. He wasn’t fixated or stubborn on the words equal and fair. Things like aptitude tests were necessary because this world isn’t the same as his old world.
His old world didn’t have the presence of mana, much less anyone capable of real magic.
Therefore, everyone would learn the same school curriculum. But here, magic was a tedious process to learn and study.
If one accidentally studied something they were incompatible with, then they would have wasted their time for naught.
’Mirelle did an aptitude test on me as well, but nothing seems to be greatly suitable or terrible for me.’ Leonard wondered if the aptitude test in the academy could result in something fruitful.
Mirelle’s test was a basic one—not an in-depth version that tested one’s core attributes.
Sometime later, they arrived 3 meters away at the Imperial Aldros Academy’s entrance.
"Please be careful," Amelia bit her lips and advised him.
"Heh, you might not know, but there are a ton of Crimson Guards around." Leonard mused.
He might be in disguise, but because of his record in sneaking away to the slum last time, he was forced to wear an identification emblem.
This identification emblem appeared no different than regular decoration that people used to pin on their clothes, but in reality, it contained a secret detection spell.
Only those trained in the spell would be able to sense this.
As for how many of them knew in the Crimson Guards, not even Leonard had a clue about it.
The only thing he knew was that they were loyal and placed their lives above everything else.
’How did my mother get exiled if she could train such elite guards for me?’ To this day, Leonard still questions this issue.
It seriously didn’t make any sense when there were so many powerful people willing to offer their loyalty and services to his Mother. Yet somehow and someway, the original Leonard ended up being quite pathetic.
’Forget it, let’s not think about it.’ He shook his head and avoided thinking about something so complicated.
Instead, he gazed forward and began to walk toward the academy.
Needless to say, he quickly attracted quite a few disdainful gazes from the nobles.
Leonard ignored them and minded his own business.
By the time he reached the entrance, he could sense a powerful restriction surrounding the area. In fact, he noticed many people also frowned as soon as they walked past the entrance gate.
"The usage of magic spells is absolutely forbidden in the academy. You will feel like a shackle has been placed on you, and that is natural. This is the academy, and not a battleground for you to throw your weight around."
A pigeon-like bird echoed, explaining the changes in their bodies.
The pigeon would repeat the statement every 30 seconds to ensure nobody could miss it.
’A powerful restriction?’ Meanwhile, Leonard tilted his head in confusion.
He didn’t feel restricted in any way or like he had been shackled.
He was still the same.
"Stop blocking the way, peasant!"
While he was confused by the pigeon’s statement, someone from the back started to shout at him.
Leonard was jolted from his daze. He turned around and glanced at the speaker in silence.
One might have thought it was a rough-looking or unruly man, but it was actually a woman dressed in luxurious clothing. Their appearance was dignified, and their facial appearance was above average.
Many men would probably crawl on their knees for her, but not for him.
After all, the moment she opened her mouth, it was like chemical waste being thrown away.
"What are you looking at?" The woman snapped when she saw how Leonard seemed to be mesmerized by her beauty. She was the daughter of a Duke, and with her beauty, she always had many suitors and men flocking toward her.
At this moment, this mere peasant should have been drooling at his mouth and going on his knees to please her.
Yet not only did he fail to do any of that, he actually had the nerve to look her straight in the eyes.
How dare he!
"Are you a mute?" She hissed in anger when Leonard continued to stay silent.
Finally, Leonard took a deep breath, placed a hand by his chest, and bowed slightly.
The woman finally curled her lips upward and expected him to have learned his place.
Unfortunately, she would be incorrect.
"I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were that fat to not be able to walk in such open space and needed me to step aside!" Leonard apologized in an utmost respectful yet loud tone.