Chapter: 01
A small general store in the village.
“Emilia, are you finished cleaning up?”
“Cough… Yes!”
From the back of the storeroom, a brown-haired young woman peeked her head out.
“I’m almost done!”
“Then finish that last bit and head home.”
Mrs. Anderson spoke while looking over the account book.
“Really? Is that okay?”
Emilia’s face lit up. It was much earlier than her usual time to leave work.
“Yes. There aren’t many customers today anyway. Besides…”
Mrs. Anderson hesitated before speaking again, wearing a slightly disapproving expression.
“Isn’t today the day Cedric’s exam results are announced?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Emilia nodded brightly.
Seeing her expression, Mrs. Anderson shook her head as if she simply couldn’t understand.
“What exactly do you see in that boy? All he ever does is make you suffer.”
“Well, it’s not exactly easy to pass that exam.”
“Even so, he should hurry up and pass for your sake. You’ve been supporting him for years now, haven’t you?”
Emilia gave an awkward smile.
“Anyway, if he fails again this time, give him a good kick in the rear and break up with him. Got it?”
“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t just think about it—actually do it! You’re such a smart girl, but when it comes to him, you act as stubborn as a bear.”
“Okay, okay. Then I’ll put my thoughts into action… by going home now.”
Before Mrs. Anderson could continue scolding her, Emilia quickly took off her apron.
“Good grief. Fine, off you go.”
Mrs. Anderson waved her away impatiently.
The little bell above the door jingled.
After leaving the general store, Emilia headed straight for the grocery shop.
But after only a few steps, she stopped, her expression turning gloomy.
Although she had joked around with Mrs. Anderson, she was actually extremely nervous inside.
What if he fails again?
To be honest, she felt lost.
Her fiancé, Cedric, had been taking the Grade 5 Administrative Official Examination for several years.
Only those from baronial families or higher were eligible to sit for it, and passing granted the right to work in the Imperial Palace. The competition was fierce, and the exam itself was notoriously difficult.
Because of that, most candidates hired private tutors.
Cedric, however, came from a fallen noble family and supported his widowed mother.
As a result, Emilia had taken complete responsibility for both his education and financial support.
Of course, she herself was nothing more than a commoner living in the countryside.
The only reason she could do all this was because she possessed memories from her previous life.
Well, I suppose the fact that this world exists inside a novel is unusual too.
Still, someone like her, living quietly in a tiny rural village, had nothing to do with the novel’s story.
The only thing that mattered now was whether Cedric had passed.
I’ll make an especially nice dinner today.
Massaging her aching shoulders, Emilia continued toward the grocery store.
“I’m home, Mother.”
“Come in.”
“Is Cedric still not back?”
After entering the house, Emilia looked around.
“If he were back, do you think I’d still be sitting here?”
Mrs. Romans replied irritably without even looking at her.
“I suppose you’re right. Sorry for asking.”
Emilia apologized with a gentle smile.
It seemed Mrs. Romans had been anxiously waiting ever since Cedric left.
If that was the case, then he was probably standing at the entrance to the village.
Once a week, the village’s mail carrier arrived.
Cedric was waiting there for the letter containing the results of the examination, sent from the Imperial Palace.
“Emilia.”
“Yes?”
“If Cedric failed… don’t you dare look disappointed. Understood?”
Mrs. Romans warned her sternly.
“Of course. I know.”
Emilia nodded calmly.
In truth, the one who usually failed to stay composed was Mrs. Romans herself, but Emilia didn’t bother pointing that out.
A little later, hurried footsteps approached, and the front door burst open.
“Cedric?”
Emilia turned toward him.
But there was something strange about his expression.
His face looked completely dazed.
Looking down, she saw a crumpled notification letter in his hand.
No way…
Emilia immediately hid her disappointment.
Forcing a smile, she reached out toward his shoulder.
“C-Cedric… It’s okay. Even if not this year, you can always try again next—”
Before her hand could touch him, Cedric suddenly lifted his head.
“I did it…”
“Huh?”
“I DID IT! I, Cedric Romans, have become a Grade 5 official of the Imperial Palace!”
Mrs. Romans, who had been standing there anxiously, widened her eyes in disbelief.
“Really? Is it true?”
“If you don’t believe me, read it yourself!”
His voice trembled with excitement as he thrust the notification letter toward her.
Mrs. Romans snatched it from his hand and hurriedly read through it.
“My goodness!”
Overcome with emotion, she threw her arms around Cedric.
“My son! My son! I knew you could do it! Well done! You’ve done so well! Now I can die without a single regret!”
“What are you talking about? From now on, you’ll finally be able to live comfortably!”
Cedric shouted, his face glowing with excitement.
“That’s right! Someone as talented as me was obviously bound to pass! I was just unlucky all those previous years!”
“Exactly! Exactly!”
While Mrs. Romans eagerly agreed with everything Cedric said,
Emilia quietly picked up the notification letter that had fallen to the floor.
His name was clearly printed on it.
Along with the official notice of acceptance.
He… he really passed…
The strength left her legs, and Emilia collapsed onto the floor.
It all felt unreal.
At the same time, the hardships of the past several years flashed through her mind like scenes in a panorama.
She had worked from sunrise until sunset to earn money at the store.
Every remaining hour had been devoted entirely to Cedric.
She cooked dinner for both him and his mother every evening.
She studied administrative law and legal textbooks herself, even creating practice questions to help him prepare.
She had made full use of the experience she retained from her previous life, when she had passed the civil service examination.
It would have been a lie to say she had never grown exhausted.
“Hey. Why are you crying?”
Seeing Emilia’s shoulders trembling, Cedric clicked his tongue.
“Seriously. It’s a happy day. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“I’m just… so happy.”
Embarrassed, Emilia hurriedly wiped away her tears.
Then she smiled brightly at the two people who would soon become her family.
Completely unaware of the words Cedric would speak after returning from the capital following his official appointment ceremony.
One month later.
Looking at the calendar with today’s date circled, worry spread across Emilia’s face.
“Why hasn’t he come back yet?”
The day Cedric was supposed to return had long since passed.
Even if the appointment ceremony and related events had taken longer than expected, this was far too late.
Did something happen?
The biggest problem was that he hadn’t sent any news whatsoever.
Emilia had no idea where he was staying, so unless Cedric contacted her first, she had no way of knowing what was happening.
After staring at the calendar for quite a while, Emilia suddenly stood up.
This won’t do. I should ask Mrs. Romans.
Knock. Knock.
Standing in front of the house, Emilia waited for Mrs. Romans to answer.
But even after a long while, there was no response.
Is no one home?
She glanced toward the window.
Bright light was spilling out from inside.
She could even hear voices.
Just as she was about to knock again, the door suddenly swung open.
“…Cedric?”
Emilia spoke in a stunned voice.
The person standing before her was the one she had been waiting for all this time.
“Uh… uh…”
“What is this? If you’re back, you should’ve told me right away! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”
She couldn’t help feeling hurt that he had returned home without letting her know.
Even so, she immediately looked him over from head to toe, checking whether he had been injured.
It doesn’t look like he’s hurt.
If anything, his complexion looked healthier than before, perhaps from living in the capital.
Emilia decided to be relieved that nothing bad had happened to him.
But something about Cedric felt… strange.
He awkwardly avoided her gaze.
Then, little by little, he slipped his arm free from her grasp.
What’s wrong with him?
Just then—
A woman peeked out from behind Cedric’s back.
Emilia’s eyes naturally shifted toward her.
“…Who is she?”
