Hlavny Academia, the only institution among the Beispielhaft League to be under the direct control of the Emperor. As such, it received the most support from the Monarchy and was considered the best out of the five institutions.
They only accepted the most exemplary of aspirant students. Even the royal children were barred from entering Hlavny Academia if they weren't qualified.
Six out of the eight Knight Order Commanders graduated from the aforementioned academia. The previous Prime Minister and his cabinet members, the Court Representatives, and even the Emperor himself were all part of its long list of prominent alumni.
Be that as it may, the honour was not what Ilya coveted the most.
Marquis Benedict was quick to be on his feet, clicking his tongue as he spoke, "Lady Gertrude, are you, perhaps, trying to catch the worst criminal of the century in the act?"
Instead of giving a rejoinder, Ilya simply looked at the Marquis. Seeing her unfading grin, Marquis Benedict couldn't help but shake his head.
"No, it's too dangerous, more so if we don't know their identity. I can recall a lot of instances wherein you almost lost your life because of your persistent pursuit. Can you just sit back and order your subordinates to do the job on your behalf?"
Herkel Benedict placed a hand on his waist, using the other to ruffle his hair. He began pacing back and forth all the while clicking his tongue repeatedly.
Ilya, in the meantime, didn't mind the Marquis' act of reproaching her. She acknowledged the worry behind his uncompromising will, and she was appreciative of it.
"I've already talked about this with Commander Vatar Halkias. Different from you, he ex-"
"I knew it!" The Marquis exclaimed as he grabbed a handful of his hair, "That b*stard has been suspicious lately. No wonder he escorted you personally during the trial. I should've known it. I would've told him to stop you from being reckless again."
While the Marquis was preoccupied with his musings, Dantalion had her eyes on Ilya. Her head was slightly crooked to the side, her mouth agape.
In good time, she sat on the edge of the bed and held Ilya's hand.
"Your Grace, this is not the time for you to be stubborn. You know it yourself. Our enemy isn't someone you can confront with sheer will." Dantalion uttered, lightly tightening her grip on Ilya's hand.
Ilya looked at their joined hands, making Dantalion loosen her grip in an instant. Viscountess Dantalion proceeded to stand up and took her place a short distance away from the bed.
"Viscountess Dantalion, seeing that you're all apprehensive of confronting the culprit, I'm afraid of the future. If no one steps up, then we're all going to relieve the hell we experienced in the first timeline."
"But that doesn't mean you're the one who has to step up, Your Gr--"
Interrupting Dantalion's speech was Ilya's deed of slamming her hands on the bed. She went on and clenched the sheets as tightly as she could, glowering at Viscountess Dantalion at the same time.
"No, as long as I'm alive, it will be my duty to capture that hell reincarnate." Ilya muttered through her gritted teeth, "The humiliation that I felt after allowing them to escape my surveillance several times, do you know how excruciating it was? Do you know how much guilt I'm burdened with?"
In lieu of another attempt of convincing the Lady, the three kept their mouths shut. As a matter of fact, Ilya was also speaking on their behalf. They had encountered the culprit as well, yet no one was successful in capturing them.
Ruefully for them, Ilya wasn't done with her self-castigation that in turn castigated her companions.
"Yes, I burned down the Gertrude Dukedom myself. It was to taunt this attention-seeking criminal."
Albeit news to them, the three weren't surprised by her confession at all. If anything, they had the slightest of expectations that the arsonist was one among those gifted with the memories of the first lifetime. It's because Brahm and Sorsiana Gertrude were revealed to be in cohorts with the criminal.
"Since I initiated the challenge, shouldn't I see this through myself? Are you trying to make me a coward in the face of a criminal who doesn't deserve our half-heartedness?"
From that point on, Ilya withdrew herself from the conversation. She leaned back on the pillows and closed her eyes, feeling the beginning of a headache that would rattle her entire being.
The quietude merely lasted for a spell. Marquis Benedict ceased pacing and went back to his seat. He then crossed his arms as he started tapping his foot.
"Alright, I understand. Your decision is final and you're just relaying it to us." Marquis Benedict said, his tone nearly contemptuous, "However, bear in mind that the criminal might change their tactics. They might not set the academia's main building on fire this time. As an alternative, they might perpetuate something worse. We should be prepared for anything, even those that are beyond our imagination."
Baroness Corvich nodded in agreement to the Marquis' words and gave her input next.
"We will have to gather a lot of people on our side. With that being said, it will be a good move for us to assemble all of the individuals who have memories of the first timeline. We might not be able to convince everyone to participate in our agenda, but it won't hurt to try."
Marquis Benedict stood up from his seat and approached Ilya. He then placed his hands on the bed, leaning his head towards the lady.
"We will do the preparations on your behalf, so you better do your job of returning to a healthy condition. We need you to be in a fit condition, or else I won't approve your application to enter the academia."
Finally, Ilya opened her eyes after hearing the favorable words of the Marquis. Once again, she engaged him in a staredown, smiling once she'd had enough.
"Let's shake hands to this, Marquis Benedict, Viscountess Dantalion, Baroness Corvich."