Chapter 4

After leaving the shop, Julie’s words kept echoing in my head.

I was so lost in thought that I couldn’t even remember whether I’d properly said goodbye before leaving.

Then—

“Ah…”

I noticed Estelle standing a short distance away, gazing at something with an expression of quiet longing.

Following her line of sight, I turned my head.

A small sigh escaped my lips.

She was looking at a family.

A child laughing brightly while holding the hands of both parents.

A warm, happy family overflowing with love for one another.

At that moment, it felt as though someone had struck me on the head.

I’ve been mistaken.

Until now, I’d assumed Estelle had no wishes of her own.

In the game, she’d simply done as I told her and grown into the person I wanted her to become.

Naturally, I’d unconsciously assumed that the real Estelle would also follow the path I wanted.

But I was wrong.

And somehow…

Estelle had already realized the selfishness hidden behind my actions.

I took a slow, deep breath.

Then I quietly walked over and stood behind her.

“Estelle.”

She turned around at the sound of my voice.

Carefully, I wrapped my arms around her and whispered,

“I’ll give you a family.”

At that very moment, I made a new promise.

Not that I would make Estelle become Emperor…

Not because I regretted never seeing that ending…

But because I wanted to return what had been stolen from her.

Her family.

A new resolve was born.

“…”

Estelle didn’t say a word as she remained in my embrace.

Yet somehow…

The pair of green eyes looking up at me seemed to sparkle like stars in the night sky.

* * *

The next morning was bright and warm.

“Estelle, are you going out by yourself again today?”

“Yes.”

“Instead of that… I heard they’re holding an art festival today. Wouldn’t you like to go see it together?”

I stopped Estelle just as she opened the front door.

She was dressed comfortably and carrying a bag filled with several books.

Apparently, she’d enjoyed spending the entire previous day reading at the village library after visiting it for the first time.

It looked like she planned to go there again today.

But somehow…

I didn’t want her to spend the whole day in the library.

Libraries were supposed to be quiet.

I’d followed her there yesterday in hopes of getting closer to her.

In the end…

We hadn’t exchanged more than a single sentence.

If I followed her again today, the exact same thing would happen.

In that case…

It would be much better to go somewhere else.

“I heard they’re holding both a painting competition and a literature competition today.”

“The award ceremony is today too.”

“And apparently the grand prize is incredible.”

Today was the day of the festival’s annual arts competition.

It was an opportunity to admire works by the Empire’s most celebrated artists and writers.

If we walk around together and chat about the exhibits…

Maybe we’ll become just a little closer.

Talking about the artwork would naturally reveal each other’s thoughts.

Surely that would help us become more comfortable around one another.

And today…

His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are supposed to attend.

Since this was one of the Empire’s largest competitions, many important figures would be there.

Including Estelle’s real parents.

I couldn’t reunite them yet.

But at least…

I could let her see them from afar.

Of course…

Estelle still knew nothing about her true identity.

My heart pounded as I waited for her answer.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll pass.”

“I’m not interested in the prizes.”

…What an unexpectedly cold response.

Flustered, I hurriedly added,

“I-I’m not interested in the prizes either!”

“I just wanted to enjoy looking at the exhibits.”

“Hmm…”

“I am curious about them.”

“But I can’t go.”

“I have library books that need to be returned.”

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

After thinking for a moment, Estelle gave me a polite nod.

Then she turned around without the slightest hesitation and walked out the front door.

“Wait, Estelle…!”

I reached out desperately and chased after her.

But she moved surprisingly fast.

Even though I followed immediately…

I grabbed nothing but empty air.

By the time I stepped outside—

She was already gone.

“Ugh…”

That made…

Forty-five rejections.

Ever since our first outing to the clothing boutique…

We hadn’t managed to go on a single outing together.

Still…

Even if I was lonely…

Even if I was sad…

I refused to cry.

After all, there’s a saying:

“No tree can withstand ten determined blows.”

Eventually, Estelle would get used to me.

I just had to keep trying until she did.

“I’ve already failed forty-five times…”

“But that’s okay.”

Because I had a goal.

I was going to help Estelle become Emperor…

And reunite her with her family.

“…Even if every rejection hurts.”

I let out a bitter smile and sighed deeply.

Just then—

“It seems things are still awkward between the two of you.”

“Who’s—”

“Huh?!”

I turned toward the voice and nearly jumped.

Jet-black hair that contrasted sharply with the warm sunlight.

A smooth forehead partially revealed beneath neatly combed bangs.

A straight nose.

Blue eyes that resembled the deep ocean more than the sky.

Standing there was Claude Xenophesia—

Commander of the Imperial Knights.

Seeing him in broad daylight…

His looks are downright criminal.

They were dazzling.

I almost felt guilty looking directly at his face.

Instinctively, I lowered my head.

“W-What brings someone as important as you here…?”

Oh no…

Now I was even stuttering.

It couldn’t be helped.

That overwhelmingly handsome face was entirely to blame.

Keeping my head lowered, I stole nervous glances at him.

“I came to see whether Estelle has been doing well.”

“I entrusted her to you, after all.”

“I was curious.”

So he’d come because he was worried about Estelle.

His voice was as stoic as ever…

Yet the concern behind his words was surprisingly gentle.

As expected of the official cool-and-collected type.

Cold on the outside.

Warm on the inside.

Just as I remembered.

“Estelle’s doing well.”

“Although… I think it’ll still take some time before we become close.”

“So it seems.”

Oof…

I’d expected that answer.

But hearing someone else say it out loud still hurt.

Maybe it was because my confidence had taken a hit.

My shoulders naturally drooped.

I felt myself shrinking.

“Actually…”

“That’s not the only reason I came.”

“Huh?”

There was another reason?

Curious, I cautiously looked back up at Claude.

“When I briefly watched Estelle after bringing her here…”

“I noticed she seems unusually interested in learning.”

“Wow, that’s right!”

“How did you know?”

“She learns incredibly fast.”

“Whenever she encounters something she doesn’t understand, she immediately looks for a solution and figures it out.”

“She also loves reading books and learning new things.”

“In fact, she’s at the library today.”

“I thought so.”

“It seemed like a talent that shouldn’t be wasted.”

Claude nodded slightly, as though his suspicions had been confirmed.

Then he reached inside his coat and pulled something out.

He handed it to me.

It was a sealed envelope, closed with wax.

“Am… am I allowed to open this?”

Holding the envelope, I rubbed my thumb across the wax seal while looking up at him.

Claude nodded as if it were only natural.

Receiving his permission, I broke the seal without hesitation.

Rip.

The envelope tore open.

Inside was a neatly folded sheet of paper.

“This is…!”

I unfolded it.

The moment I read its contents…

My eyes widened.

“Y-You came all the way here just to give me this?”

“That’s right.”

Inside the envelope was something incredibly famous—

A recommendation letter for Pantora Academy.

Pantora Academy.

The greatest academy in the Empire.

Every semester, it accepted new students into a wide variety of disciplines, including literature, natural sciences, martial arts, and magic.

Unlike other academies that admitted only nobles…

Pantora Academy was the only one where commoners were also allowed to enroll.

That didn’t mean admission was easy.

A commoner could only enter in one of three ways.

Receive a recommendation letter from someone of great authority.

Distinguish themselves in a prestigious competition.

Or pass the entrance examination held twice a year.

The first option was practically impossible.

No influential noble would normally write a recommendation for a commoner.

The second was hardly any easier.

Unless someone was an extraordinary genius capable of astonishing the Empire, standing out in a major competition was nearly impossible.

The third option was the most realistic.

Even so…

The entrance examination had a fearsome reputation for difficulty.

And to make matters worse…

A person was only allowed to take it twice in their entire lifetime.