ESML 22

Chapter 22

Just then, Emilia finally admitted defeat.

“I really can’t eat another bite.”

She stared longingly at the table, regret practically dripping from her eyes.

There were so many dishes that she hadn’t even managed to taste all of them.

But if she forced herself to finish everything, she would definitely end up with an upset stomach.

Reluctantly, she set down her utensils—

Scrape.

The sound of a chair being pulled back echoed through the dining room.

When she looked up, Kaiden was already on his feet.

Meeting her questioning gaze, he spoke.

“Since you’re finished eating, let’s go.”

“Huh? Go where all of a sudden?”

She blinked in confusion, and Kaiden answered as though the answer were obvious.

“To my office.”

They still had a contract to write.

* * *

A short while later, they arrived at his office.

Kaiden walked straight to his desk and picked up a neatly prepared document resting on top.

“Here it is.”

“…All right.”

Before Emilia had even managed to sit down on the sofa, he was already holding the papers out to her.

Still slightly dazed, she accepted them.

The contract was densely packed with neatly written clauses.

We came back to the mansion together yesterday…

So when exactly did he find the time to draft all of this and finish his morning training?

She had already known he was diligent.

But this man truly took it to another level.

Taking his seat, Kaiden began,

“For now, the contract will last until the Founding Festival.”

“The Founding Festival?”

Emilia looked up curiously.

She had expected the duration to depend on Ivan’s progress in learning the Empire’s language.

Why had he chosen such a specific date?

Kaiden answered before she could ask.

“For certain reasons, the child won’t be staying at my estate after that.”

Emilia froze for a moment at the unexpected explanation.

Rather than asking for details, however, she simply nodded in understanding.

“I see.”

So… about eight months, then.

Which meant that by next year—

No, by this coming winter—

Ivan would already have left the Empire.

The Holy Kingdom of Hiphri was not only far away but also extremely isolated.

Once he returned there…

She would probably never see him again.

Then I’ll make sure he leaves with as many happy memories as possible.

So that his final memories of the Empire wouldn’t be entirely painful.

Quietly making that promise to herself, Emilia tightened her grip on the contract.

Still…

Until the Founding Festival…

The Founding Festival was exactly what its name suggested—a celebration commemorating the founding of the Empire.

This year was especially significant.

It marked the Empire’s five hundredth anniversary, and the festivities were expected to be grander than ever.

It was an event the entire nation eagerly anticipated.

For Emilia, however…

It carried a very different meaning.

Because the Founding Festival Ball was where Reina and Kaiden first met in the original story.

Originally…

That was where Reina proposed a contractual engagement to Kaiden.

Lowering her gaze, Emilia murmured softly,

“The ball…”

Then what happens now?

Would Cedric show up with Reina instead?

The thought alone dampened her mood.

At that moment, Kaiden caught her quiet whisper.

His eyebrow lifted.

“Do you want to go?”

“Huh?”

She looked up.

“To the Founding Festival Ball.”

Her eyes widened.

Did she want to attend the Founding Festival Ball?

“In that case, we could—”

“No!”

Emilia frantically waved both hands.

“Absolutely not.”

“…”

If Reina and Cedric attended together…

Then she would inevitably have to watch them dance together.

She had no desire to witness that with her own eyes.

Besides…

The imperial ball wasn’t the sort of event anyone could attend simply because they wanted to.

It was an exclusive gathering for the nobility.

As a commoner, she wouldn’t even be allowed near the palace, let alone inside the ballroom.

Actually…

Maybe that’s for the best.

If she had been born a noble lady…

She would have been forced to watch that scene unfold in person.

The mere image made her frown.

Then she suddenly remembered she was still talking to Kaiden.

“Oh.”

Quickly composing herself, she looked back at him.

“But… what were you about to say just now?”

She had interrupted him before hearing the rest.

“…Nothing.”

“Really?”

Kaiden remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

Then he spoke again.

“I dislike them as well.”

“Hm?”

“Balls are pointless gatherings attended only by fools.”

Interlocking his fingers over one knee, he stated the words with complete conviction.

“So I have absolutely no intention of attending.”

“Oh… I see.”

Emilia awkwardly shifted her gaze.

At that moment, Kaiden gestured toward the contract in her hands, clearly changing the subject.

“You should finish reading it.”

“All right.”

Nodding, Emilia began examining the document.

Flip.

Flip.

She turned the pages one by one, carefully reading each clause.

Most of it consisted of the standard rules expected of a private tutor.

But…

One clause caught her attention.

“What does this one mean?”

She pointed to a particular section.

It read:

The tutor may freely utilize any necessary material and personnel resources.

Kaiden glanced at the clause she’d indicated.

“You’re bound to need various things while teaching.”

“So I wrote that in so you could use whatever you require.”

He added casually,

“That includes the carriage, of course.”

“…Thank you.”

Surely…

He doesn’t mean himself when he says “the carriage,” does he?

For some reason, her face grew warm.

She simply nodded.

“Ahem… I’ll keep reading.”

Clearing her throat, Emilia hurriedly turned the page.

Three hours of work per day…

Ten gold per week.

The working hours were much lighter than she’d expected.

And considering the schedule…

The pay was incredibly generous.

Even taking into account that she could speak Hiphri, it was nearly double what an ordinary private tutor would receive.

Then another line caught her eye.

“…Severance pay?”

It was written directly beneath the salary.

Kaiden, who had been waiting for her to sign the contract, frowned slightly.

“It’s a legal right. Is there a problem?”

Emilia tilted her head.

“Considering the size of your estate and the number of permanent employees here, I know severance pay is mandatory under Imperial labor law.”

“But it doesn’t apply to me.”

“You have to work at least one year and six months to qualify.”

She paused.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Kaiden had been staring at her the entire time.

“There was something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

“What is it?”

“What did you do before coming to the capital?”

“Huh?”

She looked puzzled by the sudden question.

“I just worked at a general store.”

“For someone who merely worked at a general store…”

“You speak Hiphri.”

“And you seem unusually knowledgeable about the law.”

“Oh…”

Emilia gave an awkward smile.

“You could say it’s just a personal hobby.”

There was no way he’d understand if she told him she’d learned everything to support her fiancé.

“I see.”

Satisfied with the answer, Kaiden continued.

“And your age?”

“I turned twenty-one sometime this spring.”

“Sometime?”

“I don’t know my exact birthday.”

“I grew up in an orphanage.”

Her voice remained calm.

Perhaps…

The reason she’d devoted herself so completely to supporting Cedric…

Was because she’d always wanted to experience that kind of unconditional devotion herself.

When you had nothing…

Failure hurt all the more.

So she had wanted him to chase his dreams without fear.

Without hesitation.

…

Though she certainly hadn’t meant for him to chase another woman.

Her gaze drifted toward the man quietly listening across from her.

Was there anything else he wanted to ask?

Then suddenly…

Something about this conversation struck her as strange.

“Wait a second.”

“What is it?”

“Isn’t the order of things backwards?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shouldn’t you normally ask these questions before handing someone the contract?”

Now that she thought about it…

Shouldn’t he have verified all of her personal information before offering her employment?

“Because I felt like doing it this way.”

Kaiden looked at her incredulous expression.

“And…”

“For someone like you, this seemed like the right order.”

“Huh?”

Emilia blinked.

She had no idea what he meant.

But Kaiden showed no intention of explaining.

Instead, he pointed back at the contract.

“As for the severance pay…”

“I’ll decide on an appropriate amount myself.”

“So don’t concern yourself with that.”

Then he continued,

“Just sign it already.”

The woman sitting before him would never know.

That he had already repeated those words to himself a hundred times in his head.