You've known for a while that you wouldn't want sex and romance in your life. A marriage of convenience could work, if you found a friend who felt the same; or you can make your name in some other way.
Marriage, of course, is the most frequent destination for Gallatin students, whether marrying for romantic reasons or more practical ones. A few Gallatin graduates move from finishing school to university; still fewer move into a career. Although some students do not marry straight out of college, engagements at this age are common.
Plenty of people marry to secure comfort or luxury, or to further their goals. In your social circles, it's common. Lady Renaldt doesn't go so far as to say it's the normal way of operating, but "marrying well" almost always means "marrying up."
And so the class continues.
In the fortnight since Blaise's resignation, none of the teachers have mentioned them, and the other students are wary about discussing them, as though their bad fortune is contagious. Delacroix wears the garnet necklace daily beneath their shirt, and if the teachers have noticed the rule infraction, they have not brought it up.
The false meal finishes with marzipan fruit—Max throws a peach in Hartmann's direction—and Lady Renaldt rings a tiny crystal bell for quiet.
Next
Competition is a healthy way of improving motivation," Lady Renaldt says, "and this Saturday, we will be starting the Crème de la Crème contest between Gallatin College and Archambault Academy. Mx. Hartmann, please explain to those who may be unaware."
Hartmann sits up very straight in their seat. "Archambault Academy is a college on the other side of the valley. It's for the titled aristocracy."
Delacroix yawns behind their hand. "So of course everyone wants to marry an Archambault student," they murmur.
"We do a competition with them each year. Etiquette, sports, and that sort of thing—"
"And we haven't won for ten years because Archambault are filthy cheaters," Max mutters, too quietly for Lady Renaldt to hear.
Hartmann glares at him. "And we'll do our best, as we always do."
"At the end of the week," Lady Renaldt says, "we will attend dinner at Archambault Academy, where you will put the lessons from this class into practice, and I expect exemplary behavior from all of you."
Excited chatter spreads through the classroom.