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Chapter 02
In the courtyard in front of a beautiful building, students in academy uniforms were gathered in a circle, chatting excitedly.
“Wow…! Yulia! You really didn’t lose first place all the way to the graduation exams?”
“Politics, sociology, economics, herbal studies, mathematics, physics… I can’t even count how many subjects you got perfect scores in. Aren’t you basically a monster?”
“You’re so lucky, Yulia… As soon as you graduate, all the best companies will be desperate to recruit you, right?”
The person at the center of all this attention, Yulia, stood in the middle of the group with a proud expression unlike anyone else.
Ah… how long had she waited for this moment!
Only the countless nosebleeds, sweat, and tears she had shed could prove her efforts.
Yulia lifted her blue eyes—hidden behind large, round glasses that covered half her small face—and looked up at the school bulletin board.
[1st Place. Yulia Heybel.]
Her name shone in brilliant gold at the very top.
As the warm breeze fluttered the paper, her name swayed slightly up and down.
“Yulia was different from the moment she entered. She even ranked first on the entrance exam. And Professor Maibel’s ethics class—that super strict one—she got full marks there too! Not just written tests, even the physical exams!”
“Yulia, which company are you going to join after graduation? The Luibel Imperial Bank? The Shif family’s management firm?”
“Well… I haven’t really thought seriously about it yet, so I’m not sure.”
Yulia replied with a gentle smile.
Before she knew it, her friends were listing off the most prestigious companies in the empire.
In truth, she did have a rough list in mind. But since she hadn’t been hired yet, she didn’t want to get ahead of herself.
Still, one thing was certain—if she simply knocked on the door with her title as top graduate of Tritan Royal Academy, any company would gladly open its gates for her.
With a happy heart, Yulia lowered her gaze and slightly opened the navy-blue cover of her diploma.
[Top Graduate of Tritan Royal Academy. Yulia Heybel. Congratulations on your graduation. – Principal Isabel Tweed]
Ahh…
Yulia couldn’t stop admiring herself inwardly as she continued celebrating her achievement.
At this very moment, she couldn’t help but feel proud of herself.
Just as she had planned, the bright future ahead of her seemed to unfold like a finely painted picture.
After finishing her long student life and stepping into society, once she secured a good job, she would be able to enjoy everything she wanted.
Yulia thought about all the things she had postponed while studying.
Once I get a job, I’ll get a boyfriend and have a passionate romance! I’ll try all the delicious foods in the world! And I’ll bring Grandpa to live with me soon!
She swam freely in her endless stream of happy imagination.
“But… hey, maybe you should have…”
At that moment, Lily—who had been congratulating her closely—whispered in a voice so quiet no one else could hear.
Yulia, who had been lost in her happy thoughts, snapped back to reality.
“Hm?”
“…You should’ve let the Grand Duke win.”
Lily pointed toward a group approaching from the front.
Cassian was walking across the courtyard from the first-floor entrance, accompanied by several noble students close to him.
His black hair stood out above the group due to his exceptional height.
Even from afar, his sharp features were striking, and overall he gave off a cold and distant aura.
Yulia stared blankly at Cassian as he approached.
At that moment, as if sensing her gaze, Cassian lifted his indifferent eyes and looked at her.
Their eyes met briefly.
Startled, Yulia quickly lowered her head.
At the end of her lowered gaze, her navy-blue diploma gleamed.
Why did our eyes have to meet…
Feeling awkward, Yulia lifted her head again as naturally as possible and read the top of the bulletin board once more.
[1st Place. Yulia Heybel.]
And beside it, as if paired together:
[2nd Place. Cassian Isheide.]
“Still… he’s of imperial blood. Being second in the royal academy’s graduation exams… he might not take it well…”
Lily whispered nervously.
What? So it’s a world where a powerless nobody beating someone born with a diamond spoon feels uncomfortable?
Yulia fidgeted with the diploma in her hand.
“Cassian! H-hello!”
At that moment, Evan, who stood beside 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 others also greeted him one by one.
Even though they attended the same school, chances to speak with Grand Duke Cassian were rare.
Cassian didn’t stop walking—he merely nodded slightly.
Ugh, how arrogant.
Despite her thoughts, Yulia slightly bowed her head among her friends, trying not to stand out.
It was only a brief moment, but she could feel Cassian’s gaze linger on her face longer than expected.
Breaking into a cold sweat, Yulia stiffened.
Lily said something unnecessary… now I’m overthinking it.
Once Cassian passed them and completely exited through the school gate, Yulia finally let out the breath she had been holding.
Evan, standing beside her, also sighed deeply.
“Phew… Did you guys see that? I spoke casually to Cassian!”
“Evan, you looked pretty calm. My voice was shaking like crazy… I don’t even remember what I said.”
“And then at the graduation banquet, you’ll call him ‘Your Highness’ again, right?”
“Hey, do I look like that much of a coward to you? …If so, you’re absolutely right.”
Everyone burst into laughter at Evan’s joke.
Yulia also laughed lightly, trying to shake off her lingering unease.
“Yu… Yulia…!”
At that moment, someone called her from behind.
Turning quickly, she saw Jerome walking toward her, waving his navy diploma above his head.
“Oh, Jerome! You’re done? Guys, I’ll head off first!”
“Yulia, wait!”
Lily quickly grabbed her wrist.
“Hm?”
Yulia was pulled slightly as she looked up at her much taller friend.
“You have to come to next week’s graduation banquet, okay? It’s going to be huge since it’s replacing the ceremony! How can the top graduate not attend?”
“Mm… okay. I’ll think about it.”
“Is it because of a dress? I told you, I’ll lend you my prettiest one!”
“Isn’t Yulia’s problem not the dress, but her drinking habits?”
Chloe chimed in with a laugh.
“It’s neither! Lily, Jerome’s waiting—I’m going! See you all later!”
“We’ll see you at the banquet, Yulia!”
Yulia pulled her wrist free from Lily’s grip and waved goodbye before running toward Jerome, who was smiling brightly at her.
* * *
Yulia Heybel, the only granddaughter of a poor farmer, realized something earlier than most during her childhood:
“If you want to rise from nothing, studying is the only answer!”
It was an unchanging truth that applied to any world—the law of the universe.
The reason Yulia realized this so quickly was simple:
She had been reincarnated into a novel titled “The Stars Embroidered in Tritan.”
One day, when she opened her eyes, she found herself inside the story—as a completely insignificant extra.
“What is that…? That’s the exact flag from the novel’s cover I was reading recently!”
Flags were hanging everywhere—inside her house, outside, even at the neighbor’s house—reminding her of where she was.
“And this isn’t even the capital, Mondinium!”
Not the female lead. Not even a side character with a few lines.
Just an extra.
And not just any extra—a poor farmer’s granddaughter living in poverty.
“I only bought that novel because the title sounded pretty… I barely even understood the world and main characters!”
Lying on a thin mattress by a drafty window, Yulia grabbed her messy brown hair in frustration.
Her worn-out pajamas, patched in multiple places, came into view.
She felt even more despair looking at them and prayed to every god that this was just a dream.
She even pinched her cheeks hard to wake herself.
But even as her cheeks turned red like a chipmunk’s, nothing changed.
This was her reality now.
“Well… I’m screwed.”
But Yulia, being practical, quickly adapted.
Fortunately, she was still young.
Yes—young Yulia still had endless opportunities ahead of her.
