Chapter 43 (2/2)

The Minister of Interior Affairs and the Minister of Industry were already familiar with me. So, they were puzzled that I became the emperor’s secretary, as someone who had come in as a slave, but they were not opposed to it. However, the advisors, prime ministers, and ministers who were in charge of working under the emperor looked at my face and remembered that they had seen me as a student of the academy in the banquet hall, nodded their heads at first, but hardened their expressions once they heard of my origins.

‘Do you think I will become the emperor’s weakness?’

I laughed bitterly. It was comforting to know that the emperor still had a relaxed face. “Not anymore.”

“Right. What country are you from?”

“I came from Golddina.”

“Which academy did you graduate from?”

They probably expected that I had not completed or that I had completed at an academy from a foreign country. I answered Burtin, looking straight into his gleaming eyes. “My early graduation from the Central Academy of the Burg Empire has been approved as of today.”

He bit his lip in protest. I could feel the gaze around me changing a little in favor.

However, the atmosphere still wasn’t very approving because the idea of me ​​being a ‘slave’ was still in their heads.

At that moment, a familiar and clear voice called out to me through the voices that were getting louder and louder. “Come closer.”

I snapped out of it, inhaling deeply and straightening my posture. As if it were nothing special, the emperor was languishing in his chair and beckoning to me, ignoring the dozens of eyes staring at us. I walked slowly down the long path between the two huge tables and drew closer.

The emperor reached out. Everyone else would think that the emperor was offering the badge to me, but in fact, he only handed me the badge that I had already kept.

I’ve always had it in my possession. It showed me the direction I was going to take, where I should be. If not for this, how could I have tried so hard? How could I have worked so hard to graduate early?

The silver, lion-shaped badge was turned over in the palm of my hand, revealing the half painted yellow and the other purple. He personally put it on my chest. The raised hand symbolized a secretary.

Finally, I was officially able to serve him.

“Will you serve me?” His red eyes crinkled into a smile as he looked at me, his eyes shimmering with amusement.

As I had pictured in my head over and over again, I put my right hand to my heart and recited the oath. “I will serve you in the lowest position from the nearest place.”

“Good.”

I wasn’t just saying it because it was a procedure. I didn’t care if no one here welcomed me. For as much as he had given me, I’d be sincere to him. From now on, I would do it so well that no one would be able to complain.

I would protect my lord.

11. Academy Banquet

Taking advantage of the occasion, the emperor seemed to have decided to make his wish come true.

I had to move from my quarters. For once, there was no plausible justification for me to refuse. He didn’t just want me to move my room for his convenience, I knew he was worried that the one who broke into my room would show up again.

After the meeting, I tried to go back to my old room and get some stuff to move, but everything was already gone. The original room was already empty, and the blanket and bed that I loved were gone.

I hurried to find the new assigned room.

A short maid met me at the door, bowing and laughing softly. She was a maid who had worked with me in the laundry.

“This way, Miss Celestia.”

“Please, there’s no need to fuss.”

“You’re a secretary now.”

“Don’t mind that, by the way.”

“And now your quarters are so close to the emperor. You really aren’t informed about these things, are you? That’s what Luana always said.”

Standing at the entrance to the room she showed me, I waved my hand quickly. “Let’s put an end to that misunderstanding. Right now, His Majesty is not married, so it’s fine, but it’s going to happen sooner or later.”

Then the maid laughed and stuck out her tongue at me, making me sigh.

The emperor had always jokingly asked me to move into the next room, but I really didn’t expect him to make good on it. The room used by the former secretary was farther away. No, this was why even the empress dowager misunderstood me…

I opened the door, silently complaining all the while, but even my internal monologue sputtered silent.

The window was as tall as a person, right across the door. Two pale yellow curtains adorned it, fluttering, and the wallpaper was a dark blue. Most importantly, bookshelves were packed into the room, much taller than me.

“Wow…”