Raise Joan of Arc to be an empress, then discard her.

Few people know that the Tower family also has close ties with the Obsidian Knights.

Fifteen years ago, the Obsidian Knights were newly established. They believed they had the best group of knights in the kingdom, but lacked a place to put their skills to use. Meanwhile, the White Tower Holy Academy had the best teaching experience and facilities in the world, but no mentors with superhuman abilities. Before the Obsidian Knights appeared, superhuman abilities were monopolized by the Omniscient Knights and the Blazing White Knights.

Therefore, the two sides almost immediately reached an agreement. The Tower Family began sponsoring the Obsidian Knights, and the White Tower Holy Academy introduced instructors capable of teaching extraordinary powers. The two sides cooperated.

Joan of Arc was a student who enrolled this winter. She did not know the history of the Holy College, but as soon as she entered, the other party introduced her to this history through hints.

This is what they told her: "Miss Darke, with your grades, it's impossible for you to get into the Holy College. You got in through connections, and you should be well aware of that."

Joan of Arc was taken aback and felt guilty. She had indeed entered the school without taking any exams. The reason was that one morning Aaron told her that he had nothing to teach her for the time being and that she should go to school. So Joan of Arc came.

Joan of Arc never imagined she would one day be involved in backdoor admissions, but upon reflection, she did indeed have an excessively powerful teacher; otherwise, with her grades, she would never have been able to pass the exams and get into any school.

The first person she encountered through the back door was the vice-principal of the White Tower Holy College, a bespectacled woman who looked extremely stern. Just moments before, she had told her about this in an undisguised tone, giving Joan of Arc a slight shock at the back door approach.

The vice-principal placed two letters of recommendation in front of Joan of Arc and told her that one was from Aaron Brando, the Obsidian Knight, and the other was from Aurelia Bessett, the Grand Master of the Obsidian Knights.

Logically speaking, given the relationship between the Tower family and the Obsidian Knights, one letter of recommendation from either of them would be sufficient. In fact, Aaron originally intended to write just one letter himself.

But Aurelia saw him writing a letter of recommendation and insisted that Joan of Arc was also her student, and that she had watched Joan grow up, so she had to write one too. Thus, two letters of recommendation ended up on the vice-principal's desk.

Upon seeing the two letters of recommendation, the vice-principal fell silent. To be honest, with these two letters of recommendation, Joan of Arc could go almost anywhere in the kingdom, not to mention that she was going to the White Tower Holy Academy, and no one in the academy could stop her.

"So... what do I need to do in the interview?" Joan asked timidly.

“Interview? Miss Dalke, haven’t I made myself clear enough? You got in through connections, so there was no need for an interview at all. The reason you’re sitting here with me, enjoying some tea, is because we’re having a vice-principal’s tea party right now, and the reason you’re attending is because our school has a long-standing tradition of holding private meetings.”

"Hold...hold a small meeting?" Joan tried to understand the vice principal's words.

"Although the White Tower Holy Academy is known for its excellent academic atmosphere, every year nobles use their connections to get students into the academy. You can think of it as a meeting to give advance notice to those students who get in through the back door."

"We usually gather all these students with special backgrounds together before the main meeting for a preliminary meeting to confirm that they know each other and understand each other implicitly. This is beneficial for our subsequent teaching work."

Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate...? Joan of Arc had wanted to say that, but considering that she was also a beneficiary of privilege, she wisely chose to remain silent.

“Miss Darke, despite your powerful background, there are many students like you hidden in our school.”

"Let me be frank. Among your classmates, some are from the Ministry of Finance, and one is even the daughter of a duke. You are not special in this school, so please do not act recklessly because of your background. Please be careful."

"Okay, okay."

"Alright, besides that, the White Tower Holy Academy is one of the most academically diverse academies in Lucert, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's the best academy in Lucert. Since you have the opportunity to enter the academy, I still hope you can enjoy campus life." The vice principal's voice softened.

"The Holy College has always been favored by many nobles and has produced many famous graduates, including your teacher. Therefore, even if you are not good at studying, making friends at this college will be of great benefit to your future. I wish you a pleasant campus life, Ms. Dalke."

"Oh, by the way, this academy is a boarding school. After your student registration is completed, a nanny will take you to your dormitory. If there are no problems, you can go to the classroom to report in this afternoon."

"Speaking of which, where is your guardian? According to our requirements, a guardian should always accompany a student on their first day at school."

“My old…guardian said he had something very important to do, so he couldn’t come, but he said he would definitely attend the opening ceremony,” Joan of Arc replied.

*

Aaron held the invitation, looked up, and gazed at the century-old villa before him.

This ancient house is located on the outskirts of Esgard. From a distance, the mansion is hidden in the forest and looks like a haunted house at night. However, the mansion is not actually a haunted house because there is a straight road leading directly to the mansion. The road was built a hundred years ago and is as old as the mansion.

This is the Duke's residence.

This mansion is one of the Duke's modest residences in Asgard. It is said that on the Duke's own land, in the territory of their generations of monarchs, there is a castle that stretches like a mountain range, as a symbol of their family.

The person who invited Aaron to dinner at this mansion was the 14th heir of that family. Aaron had heard of the person's name, but had never met him. However, since the person had stood by him and helped him when he was in trouble, he felt it was necessary to repay the person.

Not only did the other party generously offer help, but they also showed her great respect. Without Joan of Arc's knowledge, the other party had been sending gifts to Aaron's residence. Today, the other party invited Aaron to have dinner together, which can be described as full of sincerity.

Looking at the invitation in his hand, Aaron walked towards the door of the luxurious residence. To show respect, he was dressed in formal attire today, wearing a dark black suit, without his sword, and his shoes were polished to a shine. This was one of the few times he was serious.

Many people are desperate to enter high society, but now that world has opened up to Aaron so readily, Aaron knows things won't be that simple.

The guard standing at the door examined the invitation he had handed over. The heavy stone doors were wide open. Aaron had expected to see a row of butlers and maids, but to his surprise, there was no butler or servant in front of him. Instead, a handsome man and a beautiful woman stood at the door.

“We have been waiting for you for a long time, Lord Aaron,” the handsome man said with a smile.

Chapter 15 Two Years Later

As Joan of Arc stepped out of the vice-principal's office, the clamor of voices rushed towards her, leaving her momentarily disoriented.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter passed, and she did indeed attend a prestigious school, where the campus was filled with students as soft and beautiful as jewels.

To help her adapt to school, her teachers trained her for a year, correcting her Orleans accent that had made her seem like a country bumpkin and teaching her aristocratic etiquette. In just three days, Joan of Arc had changed dramatically.

Everywhere she looked, the school was filled with gentle girls in academic gowns, their uniforms bearing the emblem of the Holy Tower College, carrying thick books, their gowns fluttering in the wind.

It was winter enrollment time, and Joan of Arc followed the students into the school's main lecture hall, where all new students needed to register.

Joan of Arc entered the lecture hall, chose an inconspicuous seat, and paused for a moment.

The person sitting next to her was not a student, but an elderly maid who was holding a girl wrapped in a blanket, who was sleeping in the maid's arms.

The girl was a little younger than Joan of Arc. The cashmere blanket was wrapped all the way up to her neck, revealing only her soft cheeks and serene eyes. She was sleeping peacefully, and seeing her face made one's heart soften.

*

Aaron followed the couple into the century-old house. After showing Aaron around the house, the couple invited him to dinner.

Dinner was very lavish, and both the food and the service were impeccable.

As for Aaron, he had attended everything from state banquets to private dinners. He was well-traveled and knowledgeable, so he wouldn't be impolite. He also showed full respect to the host, and the atmosphere between them was quite harmonious. Aaron had originally worried that they wouldn't have anything to talk about, but he later realized that he was overthinking it.

The Duke and Duchess quickly steered the conversation toward the White Tower College, telling Aaron that they were also among the college's patrons, having funded several churches. They added that the Duchess had even attended the college, making her Aaron's senior.

Their conversation then mainly revolved around St. John's College. The Duke talked about the famous people and interesting stories he encountered while sponsoring the college, and Aaron chatted about his experiences in high society. The Lady occasionally shared stories from her student days at St. John's College, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

When dessert arrived, they still hadn't gotten to the point. It wasn't until after dessert, when the Duke and Duchess invited him to go for a walk, that they revealed their true intentions.

“We have always admired the academic atmosphere of the White Tower Holy College and have always wanted to change the college into the way we hope it will be. This is driven by our noble aspirations, but also by our selfish motives.”

"To be honest, we have a daughter, and we've always wanted her to live happily in our improved world."

The Duke gazed lovingly at his wife and said, “For my wife’s health, I don’t plan to have too many children. So we only have two daughters. The eldest is already an adult, but the youngest is only 12 years old. This year she will be enrolling in the White Tower Holy College. We hope she can experience the path her mother walked.”

“It’s great to experience motherhood,” Aaron said.

The Duchess said, “Yes, and as far as I know, you studied at the White Tower College, and I’ve even heard about your deeds.”

"My deeds?" Aaron was taken aback at first, then immediately recalled whether he had done anything shameful at school.

"To rise from humble beginnings to become the third seat of the Obsidian Knights, as your senior, I think you are quite remarkable," the Duchess said. From the moment they started having dinner together, the Duchess had been trying to use this method to build a closer relationship.

"I am very grateful for the help you both gave me in Orleans. Being grateful is also part of the school's spirit," Aaron said.

“We have no demands, nor do we ask for anything in return. If there is any concern, it is about our daughter,” the Duke said.

"Although we may be worried, we only have two daughters after all. We hope that there is someone who can play a decisive role in critical moments and help take care of her. That person should be someone we know well, someone we can trust enough, and preferably someone with chivalry."

“In a sense, my wife has watched you grow from a poor family into who you are today. We have great confidence in you and believe that you have the spirit of chivalry.”

The Duke's daughter?

"So, what is your daughter's name?"

*

“Carol, that’s her name.”

At the White Tower Holy Church, in the main lecture hall, the girl next to Joan of Arc said to her happily.

The freshman orientation was about to begin, and the lecture hall was already full of students. Most of them were entering the campus for the first time and were all children of the same age. They were inevitably reserved at first, but Joan of Arc took the initiative to greet the people next to her.

Joan of Arc had a greater talent for socializing than she had imagined; she quickly struck up a lively conversation with the person next to her, who then told her the information.

"The girl sleeping in the maid's arms is called Carol. Don't let her young age fool you; she's actually the current duke's daughter," the girl said, as if showing off her knowledge.

"The Duke's daughter?"

Joan blinked, not thinking too much about it, only feeling that this campus was indeed as the vice principal had said, a place where hidden talents resided.

At the same time, Joan of Arc was also happy, because she was now a member of this academy. They wore the same school uniforms, ate the same food, and faced the same teachers. There was no difference in status. Moreover, she tried to believe what her teachers had told her: she was no worse than these nobles, and she would prove it with her actions.

*

Two years later.

Early morning at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica is located at the highest point of Esgard, on the Montmartre hill, and from a distance it almost looks like it's on a mountain.

As the tallest church in Asgard, its white dome can be seen from almost every corner of the city, making it a spiritual symbol of Asgard.

There is also a legend about the Sacred Heart Church: on prayer days or occasionally in the early morning, hymns that seem to come from heaven are heard there, followed by a group of elven maidens dressed in white holy robes emerging from the white tower.

Like angels of the morning, they wore white veils and white shawls, their entire bodies pure white, as they filed out of the Tower of Saintess. In the early morning sunrise, they sang hymns and performed Mass, and as they sang, it seemed as if holy light descended from the sky.

Some people consider this a mere urban legend, while others know the inside story. It's a tradition of the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Occasionally, on prayer days, these girls would appear from the Tower of the Holy Maiden. They are not white elves, but they are not ordinary girls either. Many of them come from prestigious families in Asgard, with renowned surnames. They are true young ladies of Asgard, but a distinguished background alone is not enough to make them white elves.

Only those who have passed the church's tests, are the most devout to God, and are the most beautiful girls can join. Simply put, only the most outstanding girls can join. They inherit the ancient traditions of Asgard day after day, existing both as a mysterious legend of Asgard and as a spiritual symbol of Asgard.

But few people know that there is still a hierarchy among these beautiful girls. All these white, elfin girls are candidates for sainthood, but only one girl can become a saint. She must be the most outstanding among all the girls and the most devout to God. She is often the exception among all the girls.

The girl leading the way this time was a student who had been nurtured by the Sacred Heart Church for three years.

The girl stood in the thick morning fog, wearing a laurel wreath on her head and a white veil, her long golden hair dancing slowly beneath it.

Golden chains adorned her wrists and ankles, and her face shone with a holy light as she prayed to God in the shimmering sunlight. As she prayed, the white light fell upon her light veil, creating a scene that seemed like a painting made just for her. All the girls behind her appeared vulgar in comparison.

Without needing anyone to tell her, people knew she was the girl chosen by God the moment they saw her.

The nuns of the Sacred Heart Church were also watching them from outside the church. The nuns of the Sacred Heart Church were known for their strictness and showed no mercy to these girls from noble families with excellent resources. Spoiled girls would cry and go home on their first day here, and even princesses would have to obey.

Even the strictest of them would find that girl perfect and flawless. She seemed to have been born for God. If you judged her by the standards of a perfect nun, you would get a perfect nun; if you judged her by the standards of a saint, you would get a perfect saint. The ceremony seemed to have been prepared for her. She sang hymns and prayed as she stood out from the other girls.

Chapter 16 The Conch Girl

“After all, she is a girl who possesses three blessings. From the moment she received the blessing, it was God’s will,” one of the nuns said.

“A girl like this, with such looks and the title of saint of the Sacred Heart Church, yet without a good family background, I really don’t know what kind of person she will marry in the future. I hope the person who marries her will treat her well,” another nanny said.

Although they are saints, they can still marry and have children just like ordinary girls. In fact, girls who practice in the Sacred Heart Church have always been popular choices for marriage in the kingdom. Nobles tend to favor girls who have studied in the Sacred Heart Church, and these girls usually come from prominent families and never have to worry about getting married. The men they marry are often young talents in the kingdom, and no one else has a chance to choose.

“Joan of Arc is a kind child, a girl we raised. She will surely marry someone who treats her well in the future,” the old woman said.

After the morning prayers, the girls returned to the Tower of Saint Mary to change their clothes. Afterward, the Sacred Heart Church would reopen to visitors, and the girls would continue their spiritual practice.

Many people might wonder what the saint does after she finishes praying, and whether she continues her spiritual practice. But the result is that after changing out of her white veil, the saint actually puts on a white school uniform. After finishing her work as a saint, she actually wants to go back to school.