CICN 03

Chapter 03

Was it the power of the shooting star? Or perhaps the fact that, for the first time, she had prayed while thinking of her parents?

A few weeks later, she received the news that she had been accepted.

Ebi stared at the acceptance certificate in her hands, unable to believe it. She read it again and again.

Then her eyes landed on the name written at the bottom.

Clois.

“…Clois…”

Though it was a name she had already learned about at school, Ebi kept staring at it until she fell asleep.

While the headmistress excitedly boasted about Ebi, the carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Normally, the front of the palace would be quiet and heavily guarded, allowing only those with permission to pass. But today, it was swarming with people.

“My goodness, it’s like the entire Empire has gathered here.”

The headmistress, mouth agape in amazement, gripped Ebi’s hand tightly.

Ebi, who had never seen so many people before, held the headmistress’s hand and looked around.

In front of the palace gates were countless carriages and finely dressed individuals.

“Oh, my son. If you miss me, write a letter anytime. I’ll apply for a visit right away. Or should I just apply for visits every day?”

“My daughter, I believe you’ll do better than anyone else in the Academy.”

“Big brother! Do your best! I’ll study harder and get accepted next year!”

In front of the gates, families sending their children to the Academy were in a flurry of emotions.

Ebi and the headmistress stood off to the side, waiting for someone from the Academy to come out.

‘They said someone would come out to guide us at the main gate.’

Right at the designated time, people in the Academy’s uniform came out from the palace accompanied by guards and shouted,

“We will now be moving inside. Please follow our instructions. And once again, we remind you—no one aside from the students is allowed past this point!”

At those words, the children waved goodbye to their families and approached the staff.

Some children clung to their parents in tears, afraid to go in alone.

Amid the commotion, Ebi looked up at the headmistress and said,

“I’m going now.”

She was only seven years old.

The youngest among all the new Academy students.

And yet, Ebi showed no sign of fear, let alone tears.

She had always been that way.

While other children would cry multiple times a day, she had never once shed a tear.

The headmistress still remembered seeing the innkeeper smack Ebi on the head and mutter, “She doesn’t even cry. What a stubborn little brat.”

A child who doesn’t cry.

The headmistress understood why Ebi had turned out that way.

When no one responds, no matter how much you cry, a child learns to give up—fast.

Before arriving at the orphanage, Ebi had already learned to give up. That’s what made the headmistress care for her even more deeply.

Ebi always wore a bright smile, and after starting school, her brilliance surprised everyone.

She tirelessly cared for the other children and helped the adults.

It was admirable, but also heartbreaking.

She should have been able to act more like a child—throw tantrums, cry.

The headmistress opened her arms and hugged Ebi.

“Ebi. We’ll always be thinking of you. If you ever have a hard time, contact us right away. We’ll come get you, okay?”

Surprised by the sudden hug, Ebi smiled and wrapped her arms around the headmistress’s neck.

“Okay. Thank you, Headmistress.”

Even at the moment of parting, her words were so mature that the headmistress gently patted her back.

“It’s time to head inside. Everyone, please get ready!”

At the urging of a staff member, the headmistress let Ebi go and stood up.

Though Ebi wasn’t crying, the headmistress’s eyes were tinged with red.

“Go on now.”

“Yes! I’ll write letters often!”

Ebi waved with a smile and walked toward the staff.

Watching her small figure disappear, the headmistress prayed.

That Ebi would do well in the Academy.

And that, there, she would learn to cry.

Entry into the palace happened quickly.

Except for a few children who suddenly started crying and clung to their parents, everyone else followed the staff inside.

Ebi held her bag tightly, her face tense.

She had acted brave so the headmistress wouldn’t worry, but standing in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by nobles, made her nervous.

Then, nearby, a boy kept glancing at her.

‘That must be the commoner the Emperor personally selected.’

He was the youngest son of a noble who had crumpled up Ebi’s application.

On the day the council meeting ended, his father had returned home ranting about the presumptuous commoner who had dared to apply.

The boy clenched his teeth.

Among all the students, she was clearly the most shabbily dressed.

To a noble like him, she looked nothing short of a beggar.

‘She’s grinning like she won the lottery just because she got lucky.’

He recalled how worried his father had been about possibly falling out of the Emperor’s favor over something so ridiculous. Anger flared inside him.

And wasn’t she rumored to be smart, too?

‘She might even catch the Emperor’s attention.’

Sure, it was unlikely the Emperor would adopt a commoner, but if she gained his favor, that alone would be annoying.

She had no one to back her. A lowly child with no support.

So even if someone picked on her, no one would complain. After all, weren’t they all competitors here?

‘Other people didn’t seem happy about a commoner joining either.’

Indeed, several others had noticed Ebi and purposely kept their distance, frowning.

If he helped drive her out, maybe the other nobles would thank him.

Smirking, the boy reached out and yanked the bag Ebi was holding.

“Ah!”

Caught off guard, Ebi instinctively hugged her bag tighter.

But she was no match for the taller and stronger boy.

As she stumbled and was about to fall—

Thud!

With a kicking sound, the boy who had grabbed Ebi’s bag let out a groan and fell. At the same time, Ebi felt herself being steadied.

Someone had caught her before she hit the ground.

‘Who just helped me?’

When Ebi turned her head, blue eyes were looking at her.

“Are you okay?”

The one who had caught her was a boy with black hair and blue eyes.

“Huh…?”

For a moment, Ebi stared at him, forgetting what had just happened.

His blue eyes were cold, but as calm and beautiful as his neatly styled black hair. His skin was pale and flawless.

Well-groomed eyebrows, slightly long hair swept back.

Rather than “handsome,” the word “beautiful” came to mind first.

But the strong features in his beauty made it impossible to mistake him for a girl.

Still stunned, Ebi finally came to her senses and stood upright.

“Y-yes! Th-thank you!”

His outfit wasn’t flashy, just neat, but even Ebi, who knew nothing of luxury, could tell.

His clothing was far more expensive than anyone else’s.

And the way he carried himself—poised even when just standing—made it clear.

He was someone of very high status. Far beyond her reach.

Flustered, Ebi quickly lowered her head.

Then, from where the boy who had bullied her had fallen, a lively voice called out.

“Arcel! What should we do about this?”

From that voice, Ebi learned the name of the boy who helped her: Arcel.

Arcel turned his gaze away from Ebi and answered the red-haired boy.

“Lusca, we don’t have the authority to punish anyone inside the palace.”

Lusca, the red-haired boy, clicked his tongue in disappointment and gave the fallen boy a couple of light kicks.

‘Right, I heard a groan earlier…’

It seemed Lusca had kicked the boy who tried to steal Ebi’s bag.

Realizing this, Ebi’s face went pale.

This was the Imperial Palace.

To cause a commotion here—

If the fallen boy made a complaint, she might get expelled before even entering the Academy.

Sure, the other boy had started it, but who would believe a commoner like her?

‘What do I do?!’

While Ebi stood frozen in fear, the fallen boy sat up and, upon seeing the two boys who helped her, stammered,

“A-Arcel? Arcel Kaelen? And Lusca… Lusca Ragselv?”

“Oh, you know our names? What an honor.”

Lusca smirked.

The fallen boy’s face turned ghostly pale.

‘No way. Of all people…’

Arcel Kaelen and Lusca Ragselv.

They were names no incoming Academy student could be unaware of.

Because they were the top candidates rumored to become the Emperor’s adoptive children.