Chapter 04
I was in a daze as I left the shop, still thinking about what Julie had said.
I couldn’t even remember if I said goodbye properly.
And that’s when I saw her.
Estelle was standing there, staring off into the distance with a longing expression.
“Ah…”
I followed her gaze and let out a small sigh.
She was looking at a family.
A smiling child holding hands with both parents—each of them looking at one another with love and warmth.
A picture-perfect family full of affection.
At that moment, it felt like I’d been hit in the head.
I’d been wrong.
All this time, I assumed Estelle didn’t want anything.
In the game, she always did what I told her and grew exactly the way I wanted.
So I just expected her to do the same here.
But I was wrong.
And Estelle… had already seen through my selfish way of thinking.
I took a deep breath.
Then I quietly stepped up behind her.
“Estelle.”
She turned around when I called her name.
I gently pulled her into a hug and whispered,
“I’ll give you a family.”
And at that moment, I made a promise to myself.
That I would make her an empress.
Not because of my regrets—but because I wanted to give her back what had been unfairly taken from her.
A new, honest promise.
Estelle didn’t say anything while in my arms.
But somehow, as she looked up at me, I felt like her green eyes sparkled… like stars in the night sky.
****
The morning sun was warm and bright.
“Estelle, are you heading out alone again today?”
“Yes.”
“How about this? There’s an art contest happening at the festival today. Want to go see it together?”
I stopped Estelle just as she was about to step outside.
She was dressed casually, carrying a bag full of books.
She must’ve really liked the village library after visiting it yesterday—looked like she was planning to go again today.
But today… I didn’t want her to go.
Libraries are quiet places.
Yesterday I went with her, hoping we’d grow closer, but we barely even spoke.
It would probably be the same today.
So I figured we’d be better off going somewhere else.
“There’s both a drawing contest and a writing contest today. And they’re holding the award ceremony right after. I heard the prizes are amazing.”
It was a special day—the art contest was part of the big annual festival.
Lots of well-known authors and artists would be showing their work.
If we could walk around together and chat, we might get a little closer, right?
Talking about art would help us share our thoughts and understand each other more.
And also… the emperor and empress will be there today.
Because it was such a major event, important people from the Empire were expected to attend.
Including Estelle’s parents—the emperor and empress.
I couldn’t reunite her with them just yet, but at least I could let her see them from afar.
Estelle didn’t know any of this yet.
Heart pounding, I waited for her answer.
“Sorry, but no. I’m not interested in prizes.”
What?! That cold response caught me completely off guard.
I quickly tried to say more.
“I-I’m not interested in the prizes either! I just wanted to see the art…”
“Hmm. I am curious, but I can’t go. I need to return these books to the library. So, I’ll be going now.”
Estelle tilted her head slightly at me, then turned and walked out the door without a second of hesitation.
I reached out in a panic and chased after her.
“Wait, Estelle…!”
But she was just too fast.
Even though I ran after her right away, I ended up grabbing at nothing. The street outside was already empty.
“Ugh…”
This made rejection number 45.
The last time we spent time together, just the two of us, was our very first “date” at the clothing shop.
We hadn’t succeeded once since then.
Still, even if I felt lonely or sad, I wouldn’t cry.
Because they say, even the toughest tree will fall if you chop at it enough.
All I had to do was keep trying until Estelle got used to me and started to open up.
“So what if I’ve already failed 45 times?”
I had a goal.
To make Estelle the empress—and help her meet her family again.
“Even if every rejection breaks my heart just a little…”
I let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly.
That’s when—
“It seems things are still a bit awkward between you two.”
“Who… huh?!”
I turned at the voice—and froze in shock.
Black hair dark as night, shining under the morning sun.
A strong, well-shaped forehead, a sharp nose.
Eyes more like the deep sea than the sky—clear blue and intense.
It was Claude Zenopesia, commander of the royal knights, and the one who had entrusted Estelle to me.
He looks even more dangerous in the daylight…
He was dazzling—almost too much to look at.
I instinctively bowed my head.
“Y-Your Excellency… What brings you here?”
Ugh, now I am stuttering. How embarrassing.
But really, it wasn’t my fault.
It’s all because of that dangerously handsome face!
I bowed even deeper and tried to sneak a glance at him.
“I came to check on Estelle. Since I left her in your care, I was curious how she was doing.”
So he came because he was worried about her.
His voice was flat and blunt, but his words were surprisingly warm.
He really is the classic “cold on the outside, warm on the inside” type.
“She’s doing well. Though it seems like we still need more time to get closer.”
“I figured as much.”
Ugh. Hearing it from someone else really hurt more.
Maybe that’s why I felt so small all of a sudden—like I wanted to shrink into the ground.
“But that’s not the only reason I came to see you.”
“Huh?”
So he wasn’t just here to check on Estelle?
I looked up at him, curious.
“When I was watching her, even for a short time, I noticed she had a strong interest in learning. She picks things up quickly.”
“Yes! That’s exactly right! She learns fast, and if she doesn’t know something, she figures it out and tries it immediately. She loves reading and finding new information. She’s at the library again today.”
“As I thought. It would be a waste to leave such talent alone.”
Claude nodded slightly, as if he’d expected this.
Then he reached into his coat and pulled something out—handing it to me.
It was a sealed envelope, closed with wax.
“May I open it?”
I gently rubbed the wax seal, looking up at him.
Claude nodded, giving me permission.
Without hesitation, I broke the seal.
Rip—
I opened the envelope and found a single folded sheet inside.
“Wait… this is…!”
As I read the contents, my eyes widened.
“Y-You came all the way here to give me this?”
“Yes.”
Inside was a letter of recommendation for Pantora Academy.
Pantora Academy.
The Empire’s top school, where students can study everything from poetry and literature to science, martial arts, and magic.
Unlike other elite schools that only accept nobles, this one is open to commoners too.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get in.
Commoners need one of three things:
- A letter of recommendation from someone powerful.
- Outstanding performance in a major competition.
- Passing the entrance exam, which is held just twice a year.
The first option is basically impossible for a commoner—who would write them a recommendation?
The second is just as hard. You’d have to be a rare genius to stand out in a national-level contest.
The third has the best odds—but even that’s no walk in the park.
The test is famously difficult, and you only get two chances to take it in your entire life.
