111. One Day, Love Returned

Meanwhile, the Autumn Palace was in utter shock due to the radical reform policies announced by Nikolai.

Considering the elderly nobles might faint from shock, Nikolai recited the policies in order, starting with the least shocking ones.

First, regarding education, he would establish several new schools in the provinces in addition to the Academy, which was called the highest institution of higher education in the Grand Duchy.

Learning from how nobles made up the majority of students due to expensive tuition, he planned to lower illiteracy rates by introducing a public education system where the state would cover most of the tuition.

“From now on, Hersen will pursue educational equality. Any student, regardless of status, will receive state support to study abroad in Arsetia if their grades qualify.”

While some nobles worried about closing Molnitsky Girls’ Academy, which had been a hotbed of corruption, Nikolai brought a different solution instead.

He planned to prevent students who weren’t nobles or came from humble noble families from being looked down upon by having the Grand Ducal family sponsor them from admission until they settled after graduation.

Career paths after graduating from Molnitsky Girls’ Academy were almost predetermined.

Noble daughters got married, and commoner graduates could basically apply to become teachers at Molnitsky Girls’ Academy, but even this was fiercely competitive.

Even that opportunity was corrupted by wealthy merchant parents bribing for job placements, leaving students without money or connections with no way to utilize their knowledge from school.

The neighboring country, Arsetia, was already practicing equal education, but students who couldn’t afford to study abroad there ended up becoming secretaries at small companies or returning home to help with housework.

“After examining the curricula of both schools, I found their education levels to be similar. Molnitsky Girls’ Academy graduates will receive additional points when applying for teaching positions at the new provincial schools we’ll establish, just like Academy graduates.”

It was shocking news for the education sector.

Until now, except for girls’ academies, teachers had consistently been only men.

Though the provincial schools Nikolai mentioned weren’t higher education institutions like the Academy, it was still revolutionary content.

His reform policies included the religious and legal sectors as well.

“I found that doctrine books are all written in ancient languages or Arsetian, making them difficult for common people to access. That’s why they were easily deceived by clergy making up stories claiming they were from doctrine books. Therefore, from now on, we will translate Hersen’s law books and doctrine books into Hersenian and distribute them to each household.”

This was to prevent more victims like Brunhilde, who lived being mistaken for a witch in a closed-off village, due to arbitrary and incorrect interpretations of doctrine.

While nobles could hire translators and pay to create complete Hersenian translations, commoners couldn’t afford that.

After the state distributed law books and doctrine books for free, they planned to teach literacy not only to children but also illiterate adults through after-school education at provincial schools.

And Nikolai said he would conduct a census to distribute law books and doctrine books fairly to each household.

Nobles who frequently evaded taxes using false names had opposed this, saying a census would cost too much, but now the Grand Duke had found a plausible justification.

“And I will completely reorganize the military structure. From now on, regardless of status, everyone will start from the lowest rank and only those with ability will be promoted.”

At those words, not only the military but also nobles with second sons and below felt the heat.

In fact, they had all been helping each other’s sons become knights or officers like a mutual aid system, negatively affecting Hersen’s military power.

Because of this, capable people who failed military and knight entrance exams ended up wandering as mercenaries in foreign wars, then becoming fighters in illegal gambling arenas to make a living.

Still, the policies Nikolai had mentioned so far were somewhat acceptable from the nobles’ perspective.

Just as the nobles were wiping away cold sweat thinking it was over, Nikolai revealed the policy he had saved for last.

“Finally, I will abolish the title of boyar along with all privileges obtained from that rank.”

“What……. what do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Exactly what I said. From now on, the noble rank of boyar will disappear from Hersen. This decision was made after long deliberation, and I have no intention of reversing it.”

This was the most important core of this policy reform.

It was time to root out the problems caused by boyars in Hersen society, which was rotting from various corruption and tyranny.

Though strong opposition was expected, it was a mountain the Grand Duchy of Hersen had to overcome to get closer to the equality Nikolai pursued.

***

“How joyous that His Highness the Grand Duke is to be married. I have much I’d like to hear, but I’ll ask the details inside the palace.”

“Please do.”

“The sun is still harsh. Let’s move to Spring Palace together by carriage. There happens to be room for both of you.”

The imperial noble pointed to the carriage standing at the back and offered seats to Klavdia and Katya.

They had walked here taking a shortcut to hurry, though it was originally a route taken by carriage.

“Thank you then.”

The two followed behind the noble’s guidance.

Katya stuck close to her sister-in-law who was taller than her, like a cicada on an old tree, and spoke in a small voice.

“What did you mean by what you said earlier?”

“What?”

Klavdia replied, playing innocent.

“You introduced me as his fiancée.”

“Should I say you’re already married without the family’s permission? Want to turn the Grand Ducal family into a laughingstock?”

“That’s not it, why did you say a state wedding is coming when you’re so opposed? As if you’ve approved?”

“Nikolai would have introduced you that way later anyway. No point in saying something different and making the Empire think the Grand Ducal family can’t get their story straight.”

Though she spoke indifferently with her chin up, Katya knew she had been thoughtful.

It was her sister-in-law’s repayment for offering to get her out of there, even giving up the chance to announce herself as the future Grand Duchess abroad.

Seeing Katya looking up at her with eyes twinkling like they held the starry night sky, Klavdia cleared her throat and said:

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I haven’t taken your side. I won’t write you a recommendation letter either. Earlier, I just made something up because I didn’t know how else to introduce you. Engagements get called off sometimes anyway.”

“Yes, I know!”

“And don’t act so friendly and clingy.”

“Now that it’s come to this, won’t you write me a recommendation letter?”

Katya who had been walking beside her linked arms and pressed closer.

“No.”

“Aww—”

“What’s with the sudden act of cuteness?”

“Huuung.”

“Won’t you get away?”

Though Klavdia jumped back in disgust, she didn’t push her away forcefully.

She tried to justify that it was because the nobles in the carriage were watching and she couldn’t make any dramatic actions, but that wasn’t the only reason.

She kept finding herself smiling at how cute this grown lady was, like a rabbit snuggling and seeking refuge in her arms.

But she couldn’t easily admit that.

“Do you make those nasal sounds with Nikolai too?”

“What?”

“So you seduced that seemingly bloodless man with those skills?”

“I’ve never done this with the Grand Duke? He’ll probably be jealous knowing Your Highness got it first.”

“Hah, really. How inappropriate for siblings to be romantic rivals.”

“It’s true. The Grand Duke tends to get quite jealous.”

As she laughed in disbelief, the noble walking ahead stopped and opened the carriage door.

“Please get in, both of you.”

When Klavdia stepped on the portable steps installed in front of the carriage, escorted by the noble, it happened.

She froze like ice when her eyes met with the man sitting inside the carriage.

Was this what it felt like when your heart drops?

“Have you been well, Ladia?”

He smiled gently as he looked at her.

Looking back and forth between her sister-in-law who had stopped in her tracks and the man who called her by an affectionate nickname, Katya realized something was not quite right between them.

“……It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you walking from afar through the window. How many years has it been?”

“Ah, so you two were close. How fortunate.”

The noble was blameless.

Their relationship had happened before he worked at the imperial court, and was something even the imperial family kept quiet about.

So he, like Katya, had no way of knowing.

Klavdia stepped back and away from the door.

“I think I’d better walk, as I’m not feeling well. Please go ahead.”

“Then let’s walk together. I was getting motion sickness anyway.”

The prince didn’t just stand by as she tried to draw a line and step back.

He smoothly got out of the carriage.

With black hair and blue eyes symbolizing the Charmente Empire’s imperial family, he was Duke Norbert Aldoreo, the emperor’s beloved late-born younger brother.

And he was also Klavdia’s first love whom she had parted from 13 years ago.

“You never know when love will find you. It could even be today.”

Katya’s words from earlier had come true like a prophecy with exquisite timing.

He was the reason she hadn’t married despite being well past marriageable age.

One day, the love that had left returned.

The bride-to-be’s heart began to beat again.