It has been eight years since my first Feast of Maidens. Today was the day I would meet with the headmaster of Nobility for an interview to see if I was worthy of entering the school. I am personally proud of my achievements within these eight years. The Feast of Maidens was an opportunity for the princesses to choose apprentices, as I found out during the third year.

A smile formed on my lips as I remembered. I had been chosen by the seventh princess, Rosalind. Being chosen as an apprentice was a big deal because it meant that even if I somehow failed to enter the school of Nobility, I would be able to work under Rosalind until she retired. Not to mention that Rosalind is married to the Head Magician!

Thanks to my apprenticeship I had been able to meet with both of them once a week. I am forever in awe of the complete serenity of the Head Magician’s expression. I can feel subtle emotions from him now, but not a single one ever shows on his face.

Due to my incredible luck, I am not nervous at all about the interview with the headmaster. My future is sure to be filled with magic no matter what happens.

Rosalind and I were sitting in a carriage on its way to the school right then. “You seem rather calm,” the seventh princess commented, “That is good. Anxious people tend to make mistakes. Be sure to get in. I want to invite you over for dinner.”

“I will,” I promised.

Rosalind chuckled with a gleeful expression. “Ah, the way my dear husband panics when he sees your glittering admiration never gets old. I hope my little boy grows up to be just like you.”

The seventh princess and the head magician had one child, a son. He was only four years old and very cute. For some reason he was also convinced that I am his sister. My family was a little nervous when they found out and made me promise not to let myself get adopted, even if it is the head magician’s family.

“He can’t be just like me,” I told her, “After all, boys can only be aids to the queen.”

“As bold as ever,” Rosalind commented, “Well, that is fine. I don’t mind what he grows up to be as long as his life is happily filled with magic.”

“Magic is the best,” I agreed with a smile.

The carriage pulled to a stop and I gracefully stepped out before giving Rosalind a polite goodbye. It wasn’t necessary, but it was always good to show your talents when you are an apprentice.

The headmaster’s office was in a logical place, providing both practicality and safety, not to mention a touch of grandeur. It was absolutely everything you should expect from the headmaster of a school like Nobility. That was why we were having the interview in the headmaster’s private break room.

The headmaster of Nobility was the kind of person who liked to mess with people’s heads. That being said, the breakroom was a square room with a large window overlooking the garden. It was small for a room in the academy, but reminded me of the dining room in my house. The headmaster sat in one of the four chairs happily sipping on a teacup filled with eggnog.

“Greetings, headmaster,” I called out and gave him a curtsy, “I am here for my interview.”

“Yes, of course,” he replied, waving her to a seat, “Call me Oscar.”

“Headmaster, your name is Osmond, isn’t it?” I asked.

“It is, but today I feel like going by Oscar. Yesterday it was Albert.”

“I will call you Headmaster,” I replied.

The headmaster gave me his best depressed face. “No playing along today? That is no fun at all. Interviews are such boring things, don’t you agree?”

“Then why have them?” I asked. Of course, I had my own thoughts on why they were important, but that didn’t change the fact that all those small details were up to the headmaster.

“I have to use some means of finding out how much of the reports I am sent are true,” he replied, “Your reports are wonderful. That cunning sharpness would make you a wonderful headmaster candidate, you know.”

“No thanks,” I said.

“I was going to choose you back then, but the queen was rather attached. It is a shame she won you over before I even had a chance.”

“I have no interest in running a school. It is a lot of work and the rewards aren’t interesting to me.”

The headmaster burst out laughing. “You really are something else,” he chuckled, “Once you are accepted into Nobility there is no such thing as ‘queen candidate’ or otherwise inside the school grounds. Use this opportunity to win people over to your side, because I guarantee I will be doing the same to you.”

I couldn’t tell if he made a mistake in his wording or if he was trying to send a message he hadn’t given up on me with that last line. Either way, that sounded like an acceptance to me. I had better double check, though.

“Does that mean I passed?”

“If you didn’t pass I would barely be able to accept anyone this year,” the headmaster said, “Here is a list of classes. Three of them are pre-assigned but you can choose the rest as long as they don’t conflict. Most people choose to do up to six classes, but be sure not to go over ten.”

“That depends on the magic classes,” I replied, accepting the form, “When does this need to be turned in by?”

“The end of this week at the latest. If you don’t want to travel you can fill it out in one of the empty rooms nearby and hand it over to one of my assistants.”

“Thank you,” I said and got up. He probably had another interview lined up so I should get out of his way. Besides, I had no interest in being headhunted as a headmaster candidate.

I took a look at my preassigned classes. “The Art of Politics, Magical Research Fundamentals, and Hidden Weapons for Self Defense.”

Naturally, I had already passed courses like ‘math’ and ‘language’ during my eight years of training.