"Three."

"Four," Nolan replied.

[Graceful Accord Skill Activated]

Edmund’s eyes began emitting a powerful white glow as he stared directly at Nolan.

At its core, the Graceful Accord skill worked through Edmund’s intuition and determination to win arguments.

This time, he intended to use it against Nolan, someone with a higher position both socially and individually.

Nolan’s eyes widened in shock, locked onto Edmund’s glowing white eyes.

Silvana and Nash noticed the sudden change in Nolan’s behavior, something unusual in their eyes.

"She only wants to teach lowborn students because she believes the highborn students already have excellent mage class instructors," Edmund explained.

"No. Compared to Sera, the quality of our mage instructors is clearly inferior," Nash answered.

Even though Nash spoke up, Nolan, trapped under Edmund’s Graceful Accord skill, could no longer be influenced by Nash’s words.

Simply put, he could not clearly hear what Nash was saying anymore.

Unlike the bald man from before, Nolan seemed capable of enduring the mental pressure from the skill and still maintained his stance.

He continued resisting and occasionally closed his eyes. However, Edmund realized that.

To maximize the skill’s effectiveness, he needed to keep pressuring and intimidating him.

Disturb the heart. Shake the mind.

Under those two conditions, Nolan would no longer be able to maintain his argument and would eventually agree with Edmund’s decision.

"I heard Astra Academy is currently lacking mages. They might be willing to accept Sera’s wishes," Edmund replied.

"It would be a terrible shame if Livden Academy missed this opportunity. I can already see it now, Astra Academy’s mages could develop far beyond Livden’s."

"Do you really want that? Don’t you want to see someone from the lowborn class become a genius? What if they truly surpass the highborn students?"

Nolan became increasingly unstable. He collapsed weakly to his knees on the floor, shocking Silvana and Nash.

The middle-aged woman turned toward Edmund’s face, yet nothing looked unusual.

To them, they could not see the white glow in Edmund’s eyes.

The white light from the Graceful Accord skill only appeared to the skill’s target.

"A-Alright," Nolan said while gasping for breath.

"Lady Sera... will become a lowborn mage class instructor without conditions," Nolan declared.

Edmund smiled in satisfaction as the white glow in his eyes faded away and disappeared.

That immediately released Nolan from Edmund’s influence. However, the exhaustion on Nolan’s face was obvious.

"What exactly did you do to Senior Nolan?" Nash demanded, slightly raising his voice.

"I only asked him questions. Did any of you see anything strange about me?" Edmund asked.

"That..."

None of them could answer Edmund’s question. They helped Nolan stand and rest in his chair behind the desk.

Nolan stared forward and pointed toward Viscount Edmund.

"Leave, Edmund."

Edmund gave a small smile, lowered his head respectfully, and stepped backward before finally turning around near the office door.

The discussion with Nolan had succeeded.

Sera and the others were officially allowed to join as class instructors for lowborn students, meaning they would only teach subjects related to their respective classes.

For example, Sera would teach the mage class, and students who chose the mage class, including Leonor, would study under her.

"Edmund," someone called.

The Headmaster’s office door opened, and Vice Headmaster Silvana stepped outside to meet Edmund. The man immediately turned toward her.

"Earlier, you mentioned Natalie? Natalie Rein?" Silvana asked.

"That’s right."

"So it’s her," Silvana muttered while sighing.

"What’s wrong?"

"She’s a graduate of Astra Academy. She defeated Livden students several times during inter-academy events," Silvana explained.

"I’m worried... she might sabotage Livden Academy."

Edmund nodded. He was aware Natalie Rein graduated from Astra Academy, while Astra and Livden had always been rivals.

However, he was able to reassure Silvana that Natalie Rein would never sabotage Livden Academy, let alone harm the students there.

Silvana likely did not know the true reason they joined. That was understandable since Edmund intentionally kept their motives secret.

If Silvana learned the truth, it would only create unnecessary complications later.

"Master Silvana doesn’t need to worry. I guarantee she won’t act like that," Edmund assured her.

"Alright."

"I trust you completely, Edmund."

Silvana stepped closer to Edmund. Both her hands reached out and tightly held Edmund’s hands.

"Take good care of yourself, Edmund. I hope we can meet again another time," Silvana said softly.

"Of course."

Edmund parted ways with Silvana and left the fifth floor area, walking down the stairs alone.

The ringing of a bell echoed loudly throughout the academy building.

Edmund briefly stopped when he reached the third floor.

He turned to the side and watched the classroom doors of the highborn students open one after another.

The students stepped outside and looked shocked to see a handsome man standing at the end of the corridor near the staircase.

"That’s Viscount Edmund!"

"Wow, really? I want someone like him."

"He’s handsome and strong. He’s completely my ideal type."

Hearing comments like that made Edmund smile faintly in amusement.

He never expected academy students like them to say things like that, especially highborn students.

Edmund resumed walking downstairs until he completely reached the first floor.

The academy students began dispersing and headed toward their dormitory buildings.

When he finally arrived at the front courtyard of Livden Academy, Edmund suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing sharply as he stared ahead. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

A black carriage decorated with red patterns was parked in the middle of the courtyard road, and the flag waving above it looked very familiar.

Siegfried? Why are they here?

The carriage door opened, and a woman stepped out together with her daughter.

Oleander was there, with Clara standing beside her.

Clara looked ahead, her eyes trembling as though tears were about to form.

However, her mother tightly gripped Clara’s hand, as if aware the girl still missed her older brother.

"Clara!" Oleander warned firmly.

Clara obediently nodded, trapped within the artificial emotions her mother had built around her.

Edmund’s eyes widened in shock. He already knew that this year Clara would enroll at Livden Academy.

However, he never expected the dresses they wore.

Black with red patterns, the symbolic colors and design of the Siegfried Family.

Not only them, but Lara also arrived and stood directly beside Oleander, her aunt.

Edmund closed his eyes, clenching his fists tightly while trying to suppress the frustration in his heart.

He walked forward while staring at them once again.

People around them immediately began noticing the scene.

They recognized Oleander and Clara, but the Siegfried-style dresses looked strange to them.

"Isn’t Madam Oleander part of the Aschwin Family? Isn’t Lady Clara as well?"

"What exactly happened? Did something happen to them?"

"This isn’t normal. Something feels wrong."

Edmund stopped at a significant distance from them, staring at Oleander, Clara, and Lara.

"Mother, Clara," Edmund greeted them.

"So you came to register that child here? Truly a kind older brother," Oleander replied.

"She’ll stay in the academy dormitory instead of the Aschwin Mansion. So you can return there," Edmund pleaded.

"You truly are kind, Edmund," Oleander said with a faint smile and cynical eyes. "But we won’t move back. We’ve already suffered enough pain."

"Let people know us as Oleander Siegfried and Clara Siegfried, not Aschwin."

Edmund fell silent for a moment, his attention shifting toward Clara.

Her attitude had changed completely.

Before, she had been caring and friendly toward Edmund, but now she showed a cold expression full of hatred.

What did they do to Clara?

Edmund stepped forward and looked directly at Clara, lowering himself slightly so their eyes were level.

"I’m sorry. I hurt both you and Mother. I want... us to become a family again like before."

"No, Viscount Edmund," Clara replied, shocking Edmund.

"Mother was right... living with Uncle’s family is safer and more comfortable," Clara explained.

"Viscount Edmund?" Edmund questioned, bothered by the title.

"Yes," Clara answered. "To me... you’re no longer my brother, but Viscount Aschwin."