Rupert's art class continued smoothly after the first day.

Even for most professors, it was difficult to completely ignore the backgrounds of their students when teaching, but Rupert had no hesitation in evaluating his students solely based on their abilities.

Because of this, whether they were commoners or nobles, the art department students had to give their absolute best effort to finish class on time and avoid receiving additional assignments.

“I remember assigning ten sketches for homework. Why are there only seven here?”

“Professor, we’ve never had to draw so intensely before. It’s really hard. We’re so busy keeping up with the art assignments that we’re falling behind in our other classes.”

“Gal!”

One student, nearly in tears, begged Rupert to lessen the amount of homework after being tasked with drawing ten sketches in just three days.

But Rupert shook his head firmly.

“The uniforms you wear, the shoes on your feet, the meals you eat—none of it exists without the blood and sweat of the Empire’s people.”

• If you’re going to give up because it’s difficult, then quit the academy and go back to your family immediately.

 

For once, Rupert's voice carried a rare note of sternness.

"Neglecting your assignments means you are not fit to be at the academy, which carries the responsibility for the future of the Empire. The only way to repay the Empire is by learning and working hard.”

Hearing Rupert’s words, the students bowed their heads in silence.

Indeed, the Imperial Academy received significant funding each year from the imperial treasury to cultivate future talents, and that funding came from the taxes paid by the Empire’s citizens.

Every student here prided themselves on being the future of the Empire, so they couldn’t just complain about homework being too difficult.

‘Hmm, they can't afford to get lazy. You’ll all need to improve if you’re going to... No, if we’re going to share the same dream.’

Rupert was adamant about not compromising on sketching, which was the foundation of all drawing.

Many students who considered themselves naturally gifted at drawing tended to overlook the importance of basic skills like sketching. They would spend hours or even days completing a single drawing, proud of the final product.

While that might be acceptable for a hobbyist, it was not the right approach for someone serious about art.

Sketching helps train the eye to observe and capture objects. While the benefits might not be immediately visible, over time it builds a solid foundation that underpins all future drawings.

Rupert firmly believed that the difference between someone who practiced regularly and someone who slacked off would eventually be revealed in the subtlety of their strokes.

This was why he regarded sketching as a critical process in developing one's unique artistic style and insisted that it remain a non-negotiable assignment.

And sure enough, the students' skills were visibly improving as they tackled Rupert’s challenging homework.

Given that they were among the most talented young artists in the Empire, Rupert’s structured approach was exactly what they needed to fill in their gaps and further their growth.

However, the students themselves hadn't yet realized how much they were improving.

“Student Soria?”

“Yes?”

Rupert’s eyes gleamed as he reviewed the students’ homework.

Soria had submitted 20 sketches.

The assignment had been for just ten, yet Soria had gone above and beyond, submitting twice as many.

"Twenty sketches, impressive."

“Well, I don’t really have any other hobbies, so I end up drawing in my spare time...”

Soria’s response only made Rupert more interested.

Sketching isn’t about quickly filling in numbers; it’s about capturing the essence of the subject. While many other students’ sketches seemed rushed and careless, Soria’s 20 sketches were all well thought out, with the key elements carefully and skillfully captured.

“Do you have any plans this weekend, Soria?”

“…No, not really. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing too serious. I’d just like to invite you for a meal. It’s always nice to meet a dedicated student.”

With a bright expression, Rupert invited Soria to join him for a meal at the Somerset estate and to tour his book factory over the weekend. Soria's face lit up with excitement.

"Really?"

"Of course, I’ll send the invitation immediately.”

Seeing the excitement on Soria’s face, other students looked on enviously.

They were also readers of Rupert’s picture books and comics, so the idea of touring the workshop where those creations came to life was incredibly appealing.

‘I need to work hard on my assignments too so I can go see it!’
‘I might not like it, but Professor Rupert Somerset has close ties to the imperial family, so it’s definitely worth getting on his good side.’
‘I heard the Somerset workshop has a dwarf working there. I really want to see that.’

Unexpectedly, Rupert’s invitation had ignited a spark of motivation among the students.

Meanwhile, Rupert was quietly making a mental note to keep his tired artisans out of sight when Soria came to visit that weekend.

“Your piece feels a bit... difficult to understand, doesn’t it?”
“Really? Even I feel like it might be too complicated.”

While Rupert was busy teaching at the academy, Saint and Sena were deep in discussion in the third-floor workshop of the studio.

“Sena, your work has really improved!”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I think it’s a story that boys, and even adults, would enjoy.”

The two of them were helping each other refine their works.

Ever since Rupert had told them that their pieces would be included in the upcoming manga magazine, both Saint and Sena had been filled with excitement, pouring all their energy into making the best possible stories.

They had taken Rupert’s critiques to heart and were working hard to address them. For Saint, the challenge was balancing his creativity with readability, as Rupert had advised him to consider the audience more.

Saint's story about mechanical humans was unique and creative, but...

“I'm not sure if I’m reading a comic or a textbook,” Rupert had commented.

Perhaps because Saint had tried to pack in too much information, the comic was hard to read and required multiple re-reads to fully grasp.

So Saint had been tasked with reducing the number of panels per page and cutting down on the dialogue, a challenge that required a delicate touch in order to preserve the core of the story.

On the other hand, Sena’s critique was focused on pacing.

“Sena, who do you want to read this book?”
“I want as many people as possible to read it, like your works, Rupert.”
“Then why not add elements that would appeal to more people, like boys or even adults?”

Sena’s original story of a princess cursed by a witch had been compelling, but the audience was limited—it primarily appealed to girls, especially younger ones.

Rupert's picture books had always varied in their appeal depending on the theme, but with a manga magazine meant for a broader audience, the story needed to attract a wider demographic.

So, Sena had changed the protagonist from a princess to a hero.

The new plot revolved around a hero embarking on a quest to defeat the witch and break the curse that had put the princess into a deep sleep. Along the way, the hero would meet allies and face trials on their journey.

“What if the other stories end up being more popular than ours?”
“Well, there’s no guarantee we’ll be the best out there.”

Their drive to improve wasn’t just for themselves.

As Rupert’s direct disciples, they feared that if their works didn’t perform well, it could reflect badly on his reputation.

If people started to doubt Rupert’s ability to choose and train students, it would be a blow to his credibility as a professor at the academy.

Moreover, they knew how passionate Rupert was about this magazine project, so they were even more anxious about the possibility of it failing because of them.

Rupert constantly reassured them that their works were enjoyable and there was no need to worry, but as the creators, they couldn’t help but feel nervous.

So, they worked together, helping each other improve their stories as much as possible.

All they could do was create the most entertaining work they were capable of.

“Brother, aren’t you too busy these days?”
“Are you ready for your wedding, William?”

The crown prince and the second prince hadn’t had much time to talk lately, but now they finally had a moment to sit down together.

Not long ago, they had barely spoken to each other, but recently, they had started having more conversations.

In truth, William had always cared about his older brother, the crown prince, but it was the crown prince who had kept his distance.

That is, until the day the crown prince unexpectedly said to William,

"Shall we visit Mother together?"

William had been surprised. His brother, who usually gave indifferent responses to anything William said, had been the one to initiate the conversation. It was an unexpected change.

William had dismissed the rumors about the crown prince’s transformation as idle gossip. Yet, here his brother was, behaving in a way that was completely out of character.

Seeing how the crown prince was now making an effort to connect, William was sure of it: his brother had truly changed.

‘What happened to you?’

‘I realized the suffering I went through wasn’t special, and that people grow by overcoming it.’

The once impatient and immature child now seemed more mature and dignified.

The sharp edge that once surrounded the crown prince, keeping everyone at a distance, had softened. Now, he exuded the aura of a future emperor who was ready to embrace the entire Empire.

“Don’t even talk about the wedding. It’s all your fault, you know?”
“Hahaha, I’m sorry for making you suffer because of me.”
“As long as you know. But where were you all day yesterday?”

“Yesterday? Oh, I was at Eolin’s palace. She asked me to come over.”

“Eolin?”

William's gaze sharpened at the mention of Eolin’s name.

He had secretly investigated both Eolin and Edrick after they left the palace at the same time, and what he found had raised suspicions.

‘They’re both up to something.’

Eolin had been going for late-night walks more frequently. Moreover, she was keeping her attendants and guards at a distance, and there were reports that she was meeting someone in secret.

William’s own shadow guards had discovered that even Eolin’s shadow guards were involved in something, though the details were unclear.

As for the third prince, Edrick, he was equally suspicious.

It was no secret that Edrick had commissioned the palace workshop to make special modifications to his room. Even though he was now attending the academy, William had learned that before enrolling, Edrick had been conducting secret activities and had even joined a covert social group.

‘The Doujin Club, was it?’

The club was so secretive that William’s shadow guards had failed to infiltrate it. On the surface, it seemed like a gathering for hobbies, but its secrecy made it look suspicious.

‘What exactly are they plotting?’

Originally, William had no issues with either of them becoming emperor. But now, things had changed.

Seeing how much his older brother had matured and grown into a capable leader, William was convinced that the crown prince, Alex, was the right person to inherit the throne.

“Eolin saw my arm and got really excited. She asked if I could spare some time for her.”

“Your arm?”

William still had doubts about Eolin.

Sure, Alex’s new mechanical golem arm was fascinating, but had Eolin really asked to see him just to examine it?

His suspicions of Eolin were not easily dismissed.

“She was sketching something really intently while looking at me.”

But Alex, oblivious to William’s concerns, seemed happy to have spent time with his sister after so long.