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chapter 15
“Now then, this can clearly be considered intentional ledger tampering. Guests who weren’t recorded in the ledger brought horses that also weren’t listed, and more feed was provided than what the ledger states. It seems the person who manipulated the ledger didn’t have time to coordinate with the one managing the stables.”
Looking at Hyegwang, Seorin finished her explanation.
“The corruption caused by falsifying the ledger—wasn’t that the purpose of this exam?”
At Seorin’s words, Hyegwang burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha! How refreshing! Correct! Absolutely correct! Hahahahaha!”
The examiners and applicants looked at Seorin with amazement.
Once all tests had concluded, the examiners gathered in one place.
“For this selection, the top scorer is… well, practically decided already, isn’t it?”
The selection for the Wonri position also required choosing the highest scorer to award a prize.
Most examiners agreed—except a few who clearly didn’t.
“To be frank, this exam wasn’t conducted fairly!”
The loudest dissenter was Deputy Cook Doksu.
Hyegwang looked at him curiously.
“In what part do you believe that?”
“Well—! Ah! Even from the first practical exam there were issues!”
“The first exam… you mean the cooking test?”
“Yes! There were already rumors among the candidates. Isn’t it strange? Why did the cook tell that one candidate hints about the exam?!”
Hearing this nonsense, Cook Go Jangnam erupted.
“What?! Are you saying I intentionally kept it from the others?! How is it my fault when they didn’t even think to ask?!”
Instead of responding to the ridiculous accusation, Hyegwang simply gave Doksu a disappointed, pitying look.
“T-Then what about the second exam! How do we know Oh Seorin didn’t eavesdrop on the test instructions outside the office?!”
“So she supposedly overheard the instructions outside and responded accordingly—is that what you’re claiming?”
Starting with Euncheon’s cold retort, Gwak Ilbeon—the proctor for the second test—and the other examiners couldn’t help scoffing.
“How could she eavesdrop? Do you think that hall is tiny?”
“You speak nonsense!”
“N-No, that’s not—”
The backlash made Doksu flinch, but he stubbornly pressed on.
“A-Anyway! If she heard the instructions beforehand, she would’ve had plenty of time to prepare!”
“So you are saying Seorin overheard what the divine official candidate was doing and prepared herself?”
“Well—I’m not saying it was necessarily her in mind but—well—it’s not impossible…”
Euncheon looked straight at Doksu.
“And conversely, you’re saying your niece was disadvantaged for going first.”
“Y-Yes!”
Doksu swallowed hard.
This was Euncheon. That Euncheon.
A brilliant mind, flawless work ethic, articulate tongue, striking looks, and combat skills so exceptional that even as a civil official, he enjoyed the emperor’s deep trust.
Not to mention, his father was Duke Yi Gongsu—the Grand Marshal, one of the highest-ranking officials in the empire, rivaling even Lee Jaseong in influence.
Doksu shrank back without meaning to.
“Your niece was candidate number 15, correct? Then she should’ve scored higher than anyone who went before her. According to your logic, she watched the interviews of applicants 11 through 14.”
Euncheon held up the evaluation sheets.
“But among the five, she received the worst score. And because of the unreasonable scoring you and a few irresponsible examiners gave her, she barely managed to pass.”
Euncheon shot a sharp glance at Junkyung.
“Ahem.”
Junkyung coughed guiltily.
“T-That’s because my niece—no, that candidate—was simply nervous—”
“I anticipated someone might try to nitpick the testing order, which is why we used a random draw for interview order. And the final exam was taken individually. And what happened then?”
Wang Anhyuk, standing beside Euncheon, smiled gently and handed over the evaluation sheet for the management exam.
Euncheon unfolded it for all examiners to see.
“Candidate Oh Seorin scored the highest. And that was the case for every exam. And your niece? Must I read her scores aloud as well?”
“N-No… that won’t be necessary.”
Knowing better than anyone how poorly his niece performed, Doksu shrank into the corner.
Watching this, Junkyung chuckled and slapped Euncheon’s shoulder.
“Your sharp tongue stings every time I hear it.”
“If examiners were graded, you’d be just above Doksu.”
Euncheon shot a withering glare at him.
“H-Hey now! Anyway, that interesting girl got the top score just like you wanted, didn’t she? Relax, hm?”
“That wasn’t what I wanted. Candidate Oh Seorin earned it herself.”
“Yes, yes, of course she did.”
Much later, an official returned to the waiting hall carrying a scroll with the list of successful candidates.
As the official unrolled it, tension rippled through the crowd. Some swallowed dryly, others twisted their fingers or opened and closed their fists, and a few clasped their hands in desperate prayer.
Seorin, Gabi, and Dasim held hands tightly, eyes fixed on the announcer.
At last, the final results were announced.
As everyone expected—Oh Seorin passed! Gabi and Dasim also safely made the list.
Shin Yi’s group, thanks to the desperate efforts(?) of Doksu and a few partial examiners, also passed, earning many hostile stares.
“Kyaaah!”
Regardless of that, Seorin, Gabi, and Dasim hugged each other and screamed with joy.
“The highest scorer of this year’s selection is Candidate No. 11, Oh Seorin!”
When Seorin’s top ranking was announced, the examiners broke into applause and cheers.
“The top candidate will receive a reward. Oh Seorin, step onto the platform.”
The moment her name was called, Seorin’s mind went blank. Gabi and Dasim, more excited than she was, pushed her forward.
Seorin froze for a moment, then awkwardly took a step.
“I… I really passed?”
She felt tears prick her eyes.
“Not just passed… but first place…?”
Overwhelmed, she moved stiffly—so stiff that her left foot and left hand swung forward at the same time like a malfunctioning robot. Seeing this, Jung Junkyung burst into explosive laughter.
“Haha! Why is she moving like a rusty hinge?! She was so different during the exam!!”
Euncheon glared at Junkyung for causing a commotion, but even he couldn’t help smiling at the sight of Seorin awkwardly clanking her way up the steps.
Unable to hold back, Junkyung rushed up to her.
“Come on, say something as the top scorer!”
Pushed to the very front of the platform, Seorin gripped her sleeve cuffs tightly and trembled like a leaf.
