Chapter 1
A small general store in the village.
“Emilia, are you done cleaning up?”
“Cough, yes!”
From the back of the storage room, a brown-haired young woman peeked her head out.
“I’m almost finished!”
“Then finish that and head home.”
Mrs. Anderson said as she looked over the account book.
“Really? Is that okay?”
Emilia’s face lit up. It was much earlier than her usual quitting time.
“Yes. There aren’t many customers today anyway. Besides…”
Mrs. Anderson frowned slightly before continuing.
“Isn’t today the day Cedric’s exam results come out?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Emilia nodded brightly.
Mrs. Anderson shook her head as if she simply couldn’t understand.
“I really don’t know what you see in that boy. All he ever does is make you suffer.”
“Well, passing that exam isn’t exactly easy.”
“Even so, you’d think he’d hurry up and pass for your sake! How many years have you been supporting him now?”
Emilia let out an awkward laugh.
“Anyway, if he fails again this time, just kick him in the butt and dump him. Got it?”
“Mmm… I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t just think about it—actually do it! You’re such a smart girl, except when it comes to things like this…”
“Okay, okay. Then I’ll put my thoughts into action and head home now.”
Before Mrs. Anderson could continue scolding her, Emilia quickly untied her apron.
“Good grief. Fine, off you go.”
Mrs. Anderson waved her hand as though shooing her away.
Jingle.
Leaving the general store, Emilia headed straight for the grocery shop.
But after only a few steps, her cheerful expression faded.
Although she’d joked around with Mrs. Anderson, she had been anxious the entire time.
What if he fails again?
The thought honestly terrified her.
Her fiancé, Cedric, had been taking the Level 5 Civil Administrator Examination for several years now.
Only those from families of at least baron rank could take the exam, and passing it granted the right to work in the Imperial Palace. Because of that, the competition was fierce and the exam notoriously difficult.
Most applicants hired private tutors to prepare.
But Cedric came from a fallen noble family with little money, and he also had to support his widowed mother.
As a result, Emilia had been solely responsible for both his education and financial support.
Of course, she was nothing more than a commoner living in a rural village.
But she possessed memories of her previous life.
That was what made it possible.
Well… I suppose the fact that this world is inside a novel is unusual too.
Still, she herself had nothing to do with the novel’s story.
Right now, all that mattered was whether Cedric had passed.
At least tonight I’ll make a nicer dinner than usual.
Rubbing her sore shoulders, Emilia continued toward the grocery store.
* * *
“Mother, I’m home.”
“Come in.”
“Is Cedric still not back?”
As Emilia entered the house, she looked around.
“If he were, do you think I’d still be sitting here?”
Mrs. Romans snapped irritably without even looking at her.
“I suppose that’s true. Sorry for asking.”
Emilia smiled gently in apology.
Ever since Cedric had left, his mother had been anxiously waiting for him.
If that was the case, Cedric was probably standing at the entrance to the village.
Waiting for the postman who visited once a week.
The letter he was waiting for was the exam results 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.
Truthfully, the one who always failed to stay composed was Mrs. Romans herself.
But Emilia said nothing.
A moment later—
The front door burst open with hurried footsteps.
“Cedric?”
Emilia turned around.
Something about his expression seemed… vacant.
Her eyes dropped to the crumpled letter clutched tightly in his hand.
Don’t tell me…
Emilia quickly hid her disappointment.
Forcing a smile, she reached out and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
“C-Cedric, it’s okay. Even if it’s not this year, you can always try again next—”
Before she could touch him, Cedric suddenly looked up.
“I did it…”
“Huh?”
“I DID IT!”
“This Cedric Romans has become a Level 5 official of the Imperial Palace!”
Mrs. Romans’ eyes widened in disbelief.
“Really? Is that true?”
“If you don’t believe me, read it yourself!”
He excitedly thrust the letter toward her.
Mrs. Romans snatched it and quickly read through it.
“My goodness!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, she pulled Cedric into a tight embrace.
“My son! My wonderful son! I knew you could do it! Well done! Well done! I could die happy now!”
“What are you saying? From now on you’ll only live comfortably!”
Cedric shouted, his face glowing with excitement.
“Of course they accepted me! A genius like me deserved to pass! I was just unlucky before!”
“Exactly! Exactly!”
While the two celebrated together…
Emilia quietly picked up the letter that had fallen onto the floor.
Sure enough.
Cedric’s name was there.
And beneath it…
PASS.
He… really passed…
The strength left Emilia’s legs, and she sank onto the floor.
It didn’t feel real.
At the same time, the hardships of the past several years flashed before her eyes.
She had worked from sunrise until sunset every day to earn money.
Every remaining hour had been devoted to Cedric.
She cooked dinner every night for both him and his mother.
She studied administrative law and legal textbooks herself.
She even created mock exam questions for him.
All while making use of the knowledge she’d gained in her previous life—
where she’d passed Korea’s notoriously difficult civil service examination.
If she claimed she had never grown exhausted, she’d be lying.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
Seeing Emilia’s shoulders trembling, Cedric clicked his tongue.
“Seriously. Today’s a happy day. Pull yourself together.”
“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
As Emilia stared at the calendar with today’s date circled, worry filled her face.
“Why hasn’t he come back yet?”
Cedric was already long overdue.
Even if the appointment ceremony had taken longer than expected…
This was far too late.
Did something happen to him?
The bigger problem was that she hadn’t received a single letter.
She had no idea where Cedric was staying.
Unless he contacted her first, there was no way for her to learn what had happened.
After staring at the calendar for a long while, Emilia suddenly stood up.
I can’t just wait anymore. I’ll ask Mrs. Romans.
* * *
Knock. Knock.
Standing outside the house, Emilia waited for Mrs. Romans to answer.
But after a long while…
Nothing.
Is no one home?
Looking toward the window, she noticed bright light spilling from inside.
She could even hear voices.
Just as she was about to knock again—
The door suddenly swung open.
“…Cedric?”
Emilia blinked in surprise.
Standing before her…
…was the man she’d been waiting so desperately to see.
“Uh… uh…”
“What? If you’d come back, you should’ve told me right away! Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
A little hurt that he’d returned without letting her know, she immediately began checking him over from head to toe.
At least he isn’t injured.
If anything, he looked healthier than before.
Perhaps life in the capital had agreed with him.
Relieved that he seemed safe, Emilia smiled.
But…
Something about Cedric felt strange.
He awkwardly averted his eyes.
Then, little by little…
He gently removed her hand from his arm.
What’s wrong with him?
Just then—
A woman peeked out from behind Cedric’s back.
Emilia’s gaze naturally shifted toward her.
“…Who is she?”
