Maria - The Blind Princess

Chapter 4

The first step of the test registration was profile checking and get the candidate number.

Gerald's profile had been fine and he could enter the entrance test. However, when they looked at Maria's profile...

"I'm sorry, this profile cannot be accepted."

"Excuse me? Is there something wrong with his profile?" Gerald and Maria were nervous if they found out she is a girl.

"We don't have any educating program for student with disability yet." The judges answered "We're afraid if he could follow our study or not."

"I'm his brother. I have experience working with the blinds so can teach him all of the lessons." Gerald gave them a letter "This is the introducing letter from our father Mr.Tranchant at Greenwood town. If you know this famous gentleman, you will know us."

The group of the judges read the letter and discussed each other for a little moment. Then, they answered.

"Alright, we will have an exception for student Richard Tranchant. If he passes the entrance test, he can become student of Eurydia academy. However, at every classes, you must be present as well to support him the studying progress."

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

"And please kindly accept our entrance test's fee."

Both Gerald and Maria bowed in front of the profile judges. After getting the candidate number, they happily entered the academy area. The judges once again checked their profile and resumed what they discussed.

"Richard Tranchant... He registered to enter Advanced Martial Arts. Will it be possible for a blind boy to become a Royal Knight?"

"Well, let's see."

***

Eurydia Academy was the education environment of every noble's sons from age 14 to 18. They will be educated with general knowledge at the first 2 years. At the 3rd year, the students will follow one of three options depend on their family's specialty: Land Management (for nobles who determined to manage their family's land), Academic/Magic Management (for nobles who wish to stay at the academy and become professor) and Advanced Martial Art (for nobles whose family work at national defense). This year, the academy also hires the ones who aren't noble to study, they will have exception that at the 3rd year, they can freely choose any option as they wish. The ones who excellently completed the study program can be accepted as a member of a noble family of their corresponded specialty. But the chance for this honor is extremely low.

"Wow..." Maria said "So all of the teachers here are the royal members as well?"

"From what the introduction, yes." Gerald carefully read the academy's description on the board for Maria "Wait, we can also see the list of royal families as our professors: House of Earl Rohand, House of Marquess Balony, House of Viscount Egerton, House of Viscountess Lumierre,... Oh god!"

"What's wrong Gerald?"

"There is also... the eldest prince William Abraham Alexandre?! He will teach mathematics for 1st year student. But why does the eldest prince have to be a professor? Doesn't he have to become the next king..?"

"I think there must be a reason." Maria wondered "But it's better if we don't know too much their internal problem."

Gerald and Maria entered the testing room. The first part they had to surpass was IQ test. The judges doubted that Gerald could guided the answer for Maria, not the question. So they had to do the test separately, while Maria had another young teacher to explain to her the questions, and guide her where to mark the answer she chose.

"What a pretty boy he is, it's sad that he cannot see anything..." The support teacher thought.

To Maria, the test wasn't hard, but it was challenging too. However, she was proud of herself that she didn't skip any question. She already tried with her best so she wouldn't regret if got disqualified.

"You have done very well." The support teacher praised her after she completed the test.

"Thank you very much guiding me, professor."

"You're welcome, my duty today is guiding you to complete the entrance test as the principal's order." He gently answered.

"Can I know your name, teacher?"

"Hmmm... it's better if you call me as... hmmm... 'Nerd with glasses' then?"

"Nerd With Glasses?" Maria was confused.

"Yeah... Well, the time for the second phase of the test is near. Please follow this way."

Maria didn't know why she could hear many of whispering discussion around her everywhere she was...

Meanwhile at Gerald's side, he already fainted outside of the testing room because he had maximized his brain's function for long duration. 

***

In Maria's life, she had encountered many of "difficulty bugs" and she was very confident at solving any problem. However, she never expected that she would have been in this state.

The second test was... physical checking. And all of the candidates had to strip their shirt to examine their health and their sickness.

Maria suddenly thought... being blind was also a luck for her...

Now the problem, how could she strip the shirt without being find out she is a girl?

"Ahh~ Wait professor!" Gerald stopped the support teacher to follow her "My little brother is very shy. Let me help him getting the health statistics at other room!!"

Gerald then guided Maria to another place. She gave a relief sigh and tightly grabbed Gerald's hand.

"Thank you so much for saving me Gerald."

"No problem." He undressed her shirt "Please give me allowance to measure your body."

"Of course."

Gerald recalled himself since the moment he was a newbie servant at Beauvallet castle, it was the first time he could see Maria's shirtless body.

Mostly of the girls he had ever known had the thin and fragile body, but Maria was completely different from them. She had thin body shape, but her shoulders were very solid. Her arms appeared a layer of muscle. When he noticed more carefully, he could even see abs under Maria's belly, they unclearly appeared and disappeared following her breathing pulse. Gerald blushed, of course training battling with her for 6 years, she would have this such ideal body. He bet if Maria was a guy, there would be many girls chasing her charm.

"Are you done, p*****t?" Maria calmly asked, when she could hear Gerald's breath become heavier.

"I'm... I'm sorry! I'm done!" Gerald panicky answered "Your height 159cm, weight 52kg. No sickness. Everything is perfect."

"What? 52kg?!" Maria cried "Oh my god I have to watch my diet now...."

"No no no you aren't fat!!! Most of your weight are from your muscles actually!!!"

Next is testing the physical strength, it was an exclusive test for anyone who follow the specialty Advanced Martial Art.

"The rule is very simple." The support teacher explained "There is a special magic devise which can score your inner physical strength. The range from lowest to highest is 0 to 10. You just need to punch at its red glove."

"Professor, how can he distinguish where the red glove is?" Gerald asked with poker face.

"I can guide him."

Ignoring the other guys talking, Maria was a little nervous. She is a girl, so of course her base physical strength will be lower than other male candidates.

"6 units.... 8 units... 7 units... 7 units..." Gerald dropped his mouth when seeing the score recorded on the board "God... full of strong candidates..."

"Candidates number 133." It was Gerald's candidate number.

"Go go Gerald!!" Maria cheered him up. He just responded her with a pathetic smile and a thumbs up, despite Maria didn't see him doing that.

Gerald's hand was sweated because of being nervous. He took a long breath, and gave one punch, very eventually, in the middle of the red glove.

"9 units!"

"What???"

The crowd was surprised by the confirmed score written on the board next to the name "Gerald Tranchant", even Maria herself. She had always thought Gerald was a weak guy because almost his main battling skill relies on assassination. This night, Maria would have a very long conversation with him.

"Candidate number 134." Maria's turn has come.

"Maria, you can do it. Believe in yourself." Gerald whispered beside her ear. At least having Gerald's support, she felt more calm.

She remembered what Gerald used to tell her, to focus everything on our hand, and act eventually. She slowly walked to the testing area, thanks to the guide of the support teacher.

"I have left the magic mark at the center of the glove. It will make a heartbeat sound, punch at there."

"Thank you professor."

After determining the exact location of the sound, Maria raised her punch, tried with her strength and focus at the sound.

Her punch touched the red glove, it was when the magic mark stopped making the sound. Everything around her was so silent, so calm. She couldn't hear anything, except the familiar noise caused by the headache.

When Maria's breath become stable, she got her consciousness back. And the result had been announced...

"4 units!"

Both Gerald and Maria went speechless. The score 4 appeared next to the name "Richard Tranchant" had already confirmed and nothing could be changed anymore.