Chapter 42 (2/2)

“You don’t know, Miss Celestia, don’t you? There’s no one as thorough as our emperor. Isn’t it all for a good reason?”

A good reason?

As I looked at Serena, wondering what she meant, she held out a letter with a red seal. It must have come from the Academy. Her face was pleased.

After I tried on the dress, I returned to the seamstress and opened the envelope with trembling hands.

[Dear Miss Celestia.

I am happy to inform you of the results of the early graduation requirement review. As a result of the screening of eight instructors, Celestia’s early graduation was confirmed by a unanimous vote. Congratulations on becoming the fifth early graduate of the Academy.

Please visit to receive your diploma in the near future. There is a mixed feeling of regret and joy in sending out excellent students early. Congratulations again.

– Instructor Xerox-]

“Did you pass? Did you pass?” Serena asked excitedly.

“Yes.”

“That’s great! I really knew you were smart!” She hugged me tightly.

I was overwhelmed and hugged her back. The sense of accomplishment was indescribable after all the effort I had to expend.

“Thank you, Serena.”

“What for…?”

“For being there from start to finish. For all of it.”

“I’m proud of you, Celestia.”

She was one of the people who worried about me and sincerely congratulated me in the palace when I thought there was no one on my side. I ran outside, leaving a kiss on Serena’s cheek.

The emperor said I could visit at any time, but it was not an emergency and I did not know whether it would be okay. Fortunately, however, his servant came to find me while I was worrying repeatedly.

After reading the letter, he laughed heartily, smiling widely. That was all. He didn’t even say that I did a good job.

But it excited me more than hearing a hundred words.

Was it by nature that I kept trying to judge my values by others’ praise and favor? I probably hadn’t gotten better from that.

But it was different now than when I was with the Serengevan. At that time, I wasn’t being treated properly for my abilities. At the time, I was a stupid person who thought I had to do everything in the name of love.

I was no longer like that, at least.

My savior and my lord. This man and I had something to give each other, and we made a reasonable deal. No wonder I was genuinely happy after being recognized.

“I’m going to have an appointment today.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah.”

“I see,” I answered as if nothing had happened, but my heart was about to explode.

I decided to tell the incumbent secretary this good news. While teaching me in his spare time, he had been constantly asking me when I was going to take over.

His office was set up not too far from the emperor’s room. As with all the other ones in the palace, I opened the door several times my height, and the secretary, who was putting documents together, looked up.

I waved the letter in my hand. “I passed early graduation!”

“What? Really?”

“Yes, and the emperor will be in office today…”

Me taking over his position meant that the secretary would soon stop working. I hesitated, wondering if it would be a pleasure to tell him these words.

However, the secretary seemed to have inferred what I had not said. “Ah, finally! Finally, my day off is coming!” He coughed. “As I was working for His Majesty like this, ahem, I thought that I would die from overwork.”

Fortunately, the secretary was delighted.

Because of that, I felt more at ease, but I still worried about the job I would be taking on. Every time I saw him, his complexion was dark, cough nearly permanent, back perpetually stooped. I was a little afraid to see him so happy. I wanted to know just how much work was involved in being the secretary that made him so overjoyed to be getting out of it.

The secretary took out the key, opened a large drawer, and took out the bundles of papers in it all at once and piled them up in front of me. All of them were guides and contact information related to the emperor’s contacts and meetings, and the records they had accumulated so far.

He meticulously informed me of the location of each stack of papers and looked at the time. “You’ll probably take over starting today, so you have to attend the council.”

“Yes?”

“All positions above a certain level are given after the delegation ceremony.”

“Ah… Yes. Regardless, the emperor ordered me to attend later.”

“It seems that my duty will finally be accomplished once I see the position officially delegated to you, so I will guide you one last time today.”

I checked how long it was until the delegation ceremony as the secretary reminded me of the things he had taught me.

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