Chapter 1.5

Her uncle helped her up and showed a respectful attitude toward the man.

Regardless, the man with light blonde hair frowned as he looked at her. If he was the Marquis, he would be Enoch’s father, and his sharp eyes were just like Enoch’s.

“It didn’t seem like your handwriting, but… Isn’t this child a commoner? Enoch, did I raise you to lie to your father?”

Looking beside the Marquis, she saw Enoch standing there, his wrist tightly held. It felt strange to see him dragged in so helplessly, always so full of himself.

“It’s not a lie!”

Enoch shouted rebelliously and turned his head to glare sharply at her. His turquoise eyes were dark, as if they would pierce through her.

“Though you did the homework, tell him I didn’t copy the answers.”

He was certainly a boy of similar age to her, but somehow his fierce voice, perhaps due to the power difference from his status, made her hair stand on end. Moreover, she seemed to understand what the Marquis was saying, which made it worse.

It looked like she had been caught doing Enoch’s homework. Well, it was understandable to be angry if you paid expensive money for your son’s education only to find some random commoner kid did the homework.

But Young Master, is copying the answers not okay, but having someone else solve it okay? Or are you trying to drag me into this because you think you’ll get scolded?

Avoiding Enoch’s eyes, she ground her teeth and stood on her trembling legs.

“Did you solve this problem?”

The Marquis scattered the homework on the floor and asked. His voice had a strangely intimidating resonance that made her bow her head.

She nodded, stuttering her words.

“…Yes. I-I solved it.”

“Hmm.”

The Marquis stroked his chin and looked down at her. Receiving his scrutinizing gaze, cold sweat ran down her back.

Suddenly, she remembered what Enoch had said the first day she entered the room.

If she told him she had entered his room and touched his belongings, both she and her uncle might be kicked out.

Seeing the cold and sinister gaze of the Marquis, which seemed devoid of any warmth, made one feel that it might indeed be true. Being driven out in the harsh weather like this would surely make one shiver from the cold, but such considerations were not even a concern for the Marquis.

Damn it, why did I do that? I should have just slept instead of thinking about drinking water.

I’m sorry, Uncle. You took me in, but because of your foolish niece, both of us might end up being kicked out.

Fear made her mouth dry, and her palms were drenched in sweat.

They say courage arises when a person is cornered.

Where did such courage come from? Before the Marquis could speak to her, she shouted.

“I, I study well! I can be useful!”

She knew. At that moment, she must have been a little crazy. But given how desperate the situation was, it was understandable.

Looking up at the Marquis with a face that seemed ready to burst into tears, she pleaded.

“So, so… please don’t kick me out. Let me continue living here.”

“Raven, what are you doing! I sincerely apologize, Your Lordship. My niece is still young…”

Her startled uncle scolded her, grabbing her shoulder and pulling her back.

Startled by her usually gentle uncle raising his voice, she stood still, while the Marquis waved his hand in the air.

“Harold, enough. Let the girl go.”

“……”

Her uncle loosened his grip on her shoulder with a worried expression.

Then, the Marquis gestured towards the timid girl.

“How did you memorize those problems? Did you solve them all yourself?”

As she hesitantly approached, the Marquis asked her.

She fidgeted with her fingers and stammered her response.

“Yes, similar problems appeared in a book I read before. The… Young Master lent me some books. I solved the economics and culture-related problems that way.”

Her breathing stabilized, and her voice became clear, as if she had never stammered before.

“Math was something I already knew… As for history, I read the old editions of Herais Imperial History and Southern Continent History.”

“Oh, the old editions.”

The Marquis looked down at her with interest. The gaze that had been endlessly cold now held a hint of curiosity.

Encouraged by this, she hesitated before speaking.

“Yes, I memorized them all.”

Since it was one of the few books at home, it was natural that she had read it until it was worn out.

The Marquis frowned deeply, as if he couldn’t believe it, and asked again.

“…What did you say?”

“After reading it several times, it came naturally… I didn’t memorize it word for word, but I can solve most of the 2nd era Southern Continent history problems. If they’re at a similar level.”

Pointing to the homework scattered on the floor, she spoke, and the Marquis touched his chin with an intrigued expression.

“…My son attends the Imperial Academy’s Middle School. He’s currently on vacation, receiving lessons from a tutor, but you, a commoner, are smarter than my son, who has received the best education since birth.”

Enoch, who had been quietly sitting, frowned discontentedly. His turquoise eyes, identical to the Marquis’s, flickered darkly every time she answered.

Regardless, the Marquis looked down at her and asked.

“What’s your name?”

“Ra, Raven…”

She deliberately did not mention her surname.

Perhaps because there were commoners without surnames or simply because he wasn’t interested, the Marquis glanced at her uncle without saying anything else.

“Raven, from tomorrow, attend classes with my son.”

“Fa, Father!”

Enoch, who had been quietly standing by the door, protested against the Marquis’s command.

“I refuse. Why should the heir to the Chernor Marquis family attend classes with such a commoner?”

In response to the sharp voice, the Marquis turned to his son. Soon, the Marquis’s thick hand struck Enoch’s cheek.

With a sharp sound, she inhaled sharply, and her uncle pulled her back protectively, holding her shoulder.

“Impudent child, you pushed your homework onto a commoner child, yet you still don’t realize your mistake and dare to defy your father?”

“…But.”

When Enoch mumbled with his cheek flushed red, the Marquis commanded in a cold voice.

“Return to your room immediately. You’re grounded for a month.”

“……!”

Enoch’s face, which had briefly widened in surprise, turned red and then began glaring at her fiercely again. As if it was all her fault that he was scolded by his father and grounded.

She found it absurd. It was his doing in the first place, so who was he blaming?

* * *

After that incident, she was given a room of her own. The servants’ attitudes became much kinder, while Enoch, who attended classes with her, began to show hostility. He thinks she had stolen his father’s attention from him.

Apart from that, she thoroughly enjoyed the classes. It was her first time receiving proper lessons from a teacher, so she was eager and, as a result, always achieved good grades on tests that confirmed what she’d learned. She could read as many books as she wanted, and learning new things, reading, writing, and speaking were her greatest joys and pleasures.

It was also quite enjoyable to sneak a smirk at Enoch, who growled at her throughout class. Then Enoch would immediately get riled up and be scolded by the tutor.

One day, the Marquis summoned her to his office and said something unbelievable.

“I have a proposal. I’ll sponsor you to enter the National Academy’s High School in three years.”

“…Me?”

“There has never been a case of a commoner without even a nominal title being admitted to the academy. So, your entrance exam scores will be scrutinized more rigorously, but I intend to have you admitted. It would be even better if you could earn a scholarship. Achieving high grades goes without saying.”

“Y, Your Lordshiip…!”

The Marquis added to her, who was so shocked by the enormous news that she couldn’t respond and just gaped.

“You will elevate the honor of my family instead of my son.”

Sponsoring a bright student from a collateral branch or a poor family was common among nobles. If the sponsored student achieved good grades, it became a source of pride for the noble. Although it seemed rare for a commoner to be sponsored, what did it matter?

Anyway, accepting that proposal meant she could study as much as she liked and continue living here. She wouldn’t have to remain a burden and trouble her uncle.

And that’s not all. An academy diploma held immense value. Even as a commoner, she would be welcomed in most workplaces. After graduating from the academy, she could pursue whatever she wanted without the Marquis’s sponsorship.

Though she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do yet, well… a well-paid administrative position seemed nice! Continuing to work as an assistant for the Marquis, like her uncle, wouldn’t be bad either.

She answered immediately, her eyes gleaming with ambition.

“I’ll do it.”

Looking back now, it was a wise choice to accept it. Regrets… well, she occasionally had them when she was sleep-deprived from studying.

But those were nothing compared to the incredible opportunity she had gained.

Anyway, after accepting that proposal, four years passed, and time returned to the present, at 18 years old.