As Count Cordelia was telling stories about Ivan, Arabella learned from Ivan's thoughts that when he was younger, he believed he would be able to succeed as an official in Riva without having to be a noble. Thus, he refused to be adopted.
Ivan believed in the meritocracy policies of Valeria that allowed even commoners to be part of the governing body as long as they had the knowledge and skills. That was what the Imperial Civil Service Exam was for, after all.
Regardless of his ancestry and bloodline, Ivan believed that as long as he continued to learn and maximize his knowledge and skills, he would be able to do well in Riva.
As far as he was concerned, performance was more important. He could show what he could do and things would work out.
Thus, he fully thought that once he passed the exam, he would be able to work in Riva and perform well.
But after he passed and tried to apply for jobs, Ivan realized that the reality was harsher than he thought.
