Anya cast Richie a pleading look. Richie, you have to pass Eden Academy's second round, or our family won't exist anymore.
Hope and sadness filled Anya's eyes. They brimmed with tears that refused to spill.
Richie heard Anya's thoughts, but he couldn't promise her that he would get into Eden Academy.
All he could tell her was, "Anya, Eden Academy will definitely accept you. Trust me!"
Twilight's confidence rekindled, and the worry vanished from Yor's face. Covering her mouth, she softly comforted Anya. "Anya, we don't need to go to a school like that! Your father and I can send you to a better one. That would be just as good."
The corners of Anya's mouth drooped, a dark cloud still hanging over her forehead. Without a word, she quietly retreated to the sofa.
Richie leaned close to Anya's ear and whispered something to her.
Under Twilight and Yor's watchful eyes, Anya first doubted Richie's words, then swept away the cloud over her forehead and broke into an excited expression.
Anya's eyes sparkled with excitement before she asked Richie, "Big brother, really?"
Richie nodded solemnly.
At last, Anya perked up too, her confidence restored. She lifted her head, straightened her back, and smiled.
Twilight and Yor looked puzzled. Twilight frowned and asked, "Richie, what did you say to Anya?"
Before Richie could answer, Anya happily told Twilight, "Papa, that's a secret between Anya and her big brudder! You can't tell secrets to other people."
Yor covered her mouth and chuckled. "All right, Anya! Make sure you keep your secret with Richie safe!"
Anya lifted her little face and nodded confidently. Happiness had replaced the shadow the morning had left on her heart.
Twilight rallied once more, looking ready for action.
Thanks to Richie's positive intervention, the Forger family's mood returned to normal.
Richie was worried about whether he could actually get into Eden Academy. No one could say for certain. He could only rely on himself, take a gamble, and face the second round with the conviction that he would win.
The time for the afternoon exam soon arrived.
Just as he had before Anya left that morning, Twilight checked their belongings, clothes, and what they would say.
Anya stood at the door, waving her little hands and cheering Richie on.
When they arrived at Eden Academy, Richie voiced the same astonishment Yor had on her first visit. "It's so big!"
Twilight explained just as he had last time. "Eden Academy is the country's finest school, after all."
Richie didn't follow up with another question, so Twilight continued, "Richie, there are just as many candidates for this afternoon's second round as there were this morning. Everyone is a competitor. Will you be all right with so many people?"
Richie's brow creased slightly, and he clenched both fists, ready for action. "No problem, Father, Mother!"
Just before they entered Eden Academy's gates, Twilight offered one final reminder:
"The exam begins as soon as we enter the academy. Examiners will be watching us, so we must do everything as we practiced. Maintain your appearance and bearing at all times, remain elegant, and make absolutely certain nothing goes wrong."
Yor and Richie both gave a low, deep "Mm" at the same time.
As they strolled through the solemn grounds of Eden Academy once more, Twilight exuded a commanding presence. The unique battle between him and Eden Academy's teachers had officially begun again.
Up in the academy's clock tower, Housemaster Henry, that elegant old gentleman, had been waiting for Twilight for quite some time.
Binoculars in hand, he had kept his eyes on the Forgers from the moment they entered.
Twilight was the one man he admired most. His elegance had reached its pinnacle, and the Forger family unquestionably deserved a place at Eden Academy.
When Henry learned that the Forgers also had a son who had passed Eden Academy's entrance exam and reached the second round, he was positively thrilled. He had even reassigned himself to interview the family.
Of course, that fat bastard Swan had also used his authority to tag along, running his mouth all the while. He was dead set on keeping the Forgers out of Eden Academy.
That fat bastard was simply jealous of Forger's happy, fulfilling life.
The other chief examiner was a mystery and had yet to make an appearance.
Henry was still the housemaster and hadn't been demoted yet, though the morning's events had certainly affected him somewhat.
A teacher beside Henry handed him Richie's exam papers. "Housemaster, these are candidate A319's papers."
"Sixty-one points, sixty-one points... sixty-one in every subject. Is this a coincidence?" Henry took Richie's papers and examined them closely.
He discovered that every answer Richie had written was correct. His score was sixty-one in every subject, almost as though he had done it deliberately.
Moreover, Richie's handwriting was graceful, and every exam paper was as clean and neat as new.
Henry couldn't resist stroking his swallowtail mustache. "Such elegant handwriting. Elegant, truly elegant! Far more elegant and beautiful than his sister Anya Forger's handwriting.
"I would call this the most elegant handwriting of any candidate."
The Forger family truly harbored hidden talents! Richie Forger was indeed a worthy son of an exceptional father.
"Tradition and culture are nurtured by elegance. It is elegance that makes this world a paradise. Eliminate every family that lacks taste."
With that, Housemaster Henry raised his binoculars again and continued watching the Forgers.
Below, the Forger family was approaching the statue of Eden Academy's first headmaster. Richie's face was bright red as he whispered to Twilight, "Father, Richie needs to... needs to..."
Twilight looked down, his expression grave. "Richie, what do you need to do? If it's... something inelegant, you absolutely must hold it in!"
A blush spread across Richie's cheeks, and his steps faltered. This is bad! Twilight cried inwardly, stopping along with him.
Under Twilight's anxious gaze, Richie let out a relieved breath and continued walking as though nothing had happened.
Twilight sighed in relief too. Yor watched the brief exchange, still not having had time to react.
Once everything had settled down, Twilight lowered his head again and asked Richie what exactly he had wanted to do.
Richie said quietly, "Father, Richie just wanted to... let... one..."
Twilight drew a deep breath and exhaled, then hurriedly stopped Richie from saying any more.
Yor was still scratching her head, unable to understand what Richie had wanted to do. But since Twilight hadn't questioned him closely, she assumed it wasn't anything serious enough to affect the interview.
They were almost at the statue when Twilight asked Richie again whether his stomach was upset today and whether he needed to use the restroom.
Richie shook his head and said earnestly, "I already let that thing out gently. It wasn't very smelly, just a perfectly ordinary one. It probably won't bother anyone else."
Twilight nodded and gave Richie an approving look.
The family of three arrived before the statue of Eden Academy's first headmaster and bowed elegantly.
Up in the clock tower, Henry once again lavished praise on Twilight. "Just what I'd expect from a truly elegant man!!!"
Before you continue