The King stood in front of William holding a ceremonial sword in his hands.
The students looked at this scene with envy and jealousy, for they, too, wanted to be recognized by the king and granted peerage. One could say that it was every "commoner's" dream and the main reason why they did everything they could to be enrolled at the Hellan Royal Academy.
They hoped that by showcasing their abilities, the King would be able to discover their talent and take him under his wing. Their second option was to be recruited by one of the prestigious noble houses and serve their heirs as retainers.
The students from the First Martial Class Division felt proud and, at the same time, regretful. Proud because the one being knighted was their Head Prefect, and regretful because they didn't formally join his Knight Order when he had first announced it.