IHTN 01

Chapter: 01

In the courtyard in front of a beautiful building, students wearing academy uniforms had gathered in a circle, chatting excitedly.

“Wow…! Yulia! You really kept first place all the way through the graduation exams?”

“Politics, sociology, economics, herbology, mathematics, physics… I can’t even count how many subjects you got perfect scores in. Aren’t you basically a monster?”

“Yulia is so lucky… The moment she graduates, top companies will be desperate to recruit her.”

The subject of their conversation, Yulia, stood at the very center of the group, wearing a prouder expression than anyone else.

Ah… how long she had waited for this moment!

Only the countless nosebleeds, sweat, and tears she had shed could prove her effort until now.

Yulia lifted her blue eyes, hidden behind the large round glasses that covered half her small face, and looked up at the school bulletin board.

[1st Place. Yulia Heybel.]

At the very top of this year’s board, her name shone brilliantly in gold.

As the paper fluttered in the warm breeze, her name swayed gently along with it.

“Yulia has always been different since admission. She even ranked first in the entrance exam, got a perfect score in Professor Maibel’s notoriously difficult ethics class, and not just written exams—even the physical test, full marks!”

“Yulia, which company are you joining after graduation? The Luivel Imperial Bank? The Shif family’s management company?”

“Well… I haven’t seriously thought about it yet, so I’m not sure.”

Yulia answered with a smile.

Before she knew it, her friends were listing the most prestigious companies in the empire.

In truth, she already had a rough list in mind, but she didn’t want to get ahead of herself over companies she hadn’t even been hired by yet.

However, one thing was certain—

With the title of top graduate from Tritan Royal School, any company would open its doors wide for her the moment she knocked.

Yulia lowered her gaze happily and slightly opened the navy-blue cover of the diploma in her hands.

[Top Graduate of Tritan Royal School. Yulia Heybel. Congratulations on your graduation. – Principal Isabel Tweed]

Heh…

Yulia couldn’t stop admiring herself inwardly, continuously celebrating.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but feel proud of herself.

Just as she had planned, it felt like the bright future awaiting her was being painted before her eyes like a masterpiece under a fine brush.

After enduring her long life as a student, once she stepped into society and secured a good job, she would be able to enjoy everything she wanted.

Yulia began recalling the bucket list she had postponed for the sake of studying.

Once I get a job, I’ll get a boyfriend and have a passionate romance! I’ll taste every delicacy in this world! And I should bring Grandfather to live with me as soon as possible!

She swam in an endless stream of happy fantasies.

“But… hey, maybe you should have…”

At that moment, Lily—who had been congratulating her up close—whispered in a voice so quiet no one else could hear.

Yulia, who had been happily drifting in her thoughts, snapped back to reality.

“Hm?”

“…You could’ve let the Archduke win.”

Lily pointed toward a group walking toward them.

Cassian was crossing the courtyard after exiting the first-floor entrance, accompanied by several noble students he was close with.

His black hair stood out as he towered above the others.

Even from a distance, the tall man’s strikingly handsome features were unmistakable, though his overall aura was cold and distant.

Yulia quietly stared at Cassian as he approached.

At that moment, Cassian—neatly dressed in his uniform, hair smoothly swept back—seemed to notice her gaze and looked at her with indifferent eyes.

The instant their eyes met, Yulia flinched slightly and instinctively lowered her head.

At the end of her lowered gaze, her navy-blue diploma glimmered.

Why did our eyes have to meet all of a sudden…?

Feeling awkward, Yulia slowly lifted her head again as naturally as possible and reread the top of the bulletin board.

[1st Place. Yulia Heybel.]

And right beside it, like a pair—

[2nd Place. Cassian Isheide.]

“Still… he’s of imperial blood. Ranking second in the graduation exam at the Royal School… he might not take it well…”

Lily whispered anxiously.

What? So the world is one where a timid commoner should feel guilty for beating someone born with a diamond spoon?

Yulia fidgeted with the hand holding her diploma.

“Cassian! H-hello!”

At that moment, Evan, standing next to Lily, greeted him as he approached.

“C-Cassian! Congratulations on graduating!”

“Let’s keep in touch after graduation!”

“You worked hard, Cassian!”

Starting with Evan, the other students also added their greetings one by one.

Despite attending the same school, there had never been many chances to speak with Archduke Cassian.

Cassian didn’t stop walking—he only gave a slight nod.

Ugh, how arrogant.

Despite her thoughts, Yulia also slightly lowered her head among her friends, maintaining proper etiquette without standing out.

It was only a fleeting moment, but she felt Cassian’s gaze linger on her face longer than expected.

Feeling it, Yulia broke into a cold sweat.

‘Lily shouldn’t have said that… now I’m overthinking it…’

Once Cassian completely disappeared past the school gate, she unconsciously let out the breath she had been holding.

Evan, standing beside her, also exhaled loudly.

“Whew… Did you all see that? I spoke casually to Cassian!”

“Evan, you looked pretty calm. My voice was shaking so badly… I don’t even remember what I said.”

“And then at the graduation banquet, you’ll call him ‘Your Highness’ again, right, Evan?”

“Hey, do I look like that much of a coward? …Well, if so, you’re absolutely right.”

At Evan’s dry joke, everyone burst into laughter.

Yulia also forced a light laugh, trying to shake off the lingering discomfort.

“Yu… Yu… Yulia…”

At that moment, someone called her name from behind.

Turning quickly, Yulia saw Jerome walking toward her, waving his navy diploma above his head.

“Ah, Jerome! You’re done too? Guys, I’ll head off first!”

“Yulia, wait!”

Lily quickly grabbed Yulia’s wrist as she tried to leave.

“Huh?”

Pulled back by Lily’s firm grip, Yulia looked up at her tall friend.

“You have to come to the graduation banquet next week, okay? It’s going to be huge since it’s replacing the ceremony! How can the top student of the academy miss that?”

“Mm… okay. I’ll think about it.”

“Is it because of a dress? I told you I’d lend you my prettiest one!”

“Isn’t the problem not the dress, but her drinking habits?”

Chloe snickered from behind.

“It’s neither! Lily, Jerome is waiting! I’ll go now. See you later, guys!”

“See you at the banquet, Yulia!”

With a determined expression, Yulia pulled her wrist free from Lily’s grip.

After saying goodbye to her friends, she ran toward Jerome, who was smiling brightly at her.

* * *

Yulia Heybel, born as the only granddaughter of a poor farmer, realized something much earlier than others in her childhood.

“If you want to rise from nothing, studying is the only answer!”

It was an unchanging truth that applied to any world—a universal law.

The reason Yulia realized this truth so quickly was because—

She had transmigrated into the novel “The Stars Embroidered on Tritan.”

When she opened her eyes one day, she had become an extra with no presence in the story.

“What…? That’s the flag from the novel cover I was reading the other day!”

Flags fluttered everywhere—inside the house, outside, even at the neighbors’—making it clear where she was.

“And this isn’t even the capital, Mondinium!”

Not the heroine, not even a supporting character—just a complete extra?

And on top of that, the granddaughter of a dirt-poor farmer?

“It was just a novel I bought because the title was pretty… I barely even finished understanding the main characters and worldbuilding!”

Lying on a thin mattress near a drafty window, Yulia rubbed her messy brown hair in frustration.

Looking down, she saw her shabby pajamas full of patches.

Her despair deepened.

She prayed to every god she could think of to wake her up if this was a dream.

She even pinched her cheeks hard, trying to wake herself.

But even when her cheeks swelled red like a squirrel stuffed with acorns, nothing changed.

This was her reality now.

“I’m screwed.”

Being realistic, Yulia quickly adapted to her new situation.

Fortunately, she was still young.

Yes—young Yulia still had countless opportunities ahead of her.