Side Story 3.1

“Administrator, your food is getting cold. Please come eat!”  

“Ah, yes. I’m coming.”  

Ella, who had been processing documents without realizing it was already lunchtime, looked up at the voice of her senior colleague, Rosa.  

As the end of the year approached, the workload had continued to pile up. This was her third year-end as an administrator, but she still wasn’t used to how busy this time of year could get. For weeks, she hadn’t even been able to make time to visit the dining hall, instead eating boxed meals in a corner of her office.  

Ella joined the three administrators who were seated around a square conference table for their meal. While massaging her slightly numb hands, sore from holding a pen all morning, she asked, 

“What’s on the menu for the boxed meals today?”  

“I heard your stomach’s been upset all week, so I ordered something simple—crab soup, rye bread, and a salad. It’s from a famous place in the capital, so give it a try.”  

“Wow, that sounds delicious just hearing about it. Thank you!”  

She hadn’t felt particularly hungry before, but hearing the menu suddenly made her stomach growl.  

Excited, Ella picked up her spoon and scooped up a steaming spoonful of soup. Just as she opened her mouth to take a bite, the fishy scent of crab hit her nose.  

*Ugh….*  

“Ah, it’s happening again….”  

Lately, she had been feeling nauseous and her chest felt tight.  

Ella paused mid-meal and patted her chest, trying to ease the discomfort. Rosa, who had been biting into her sandwich, looked at her with alarm.  

“Administrator, are you okay?”  

“Ah, it keeps happening. I think my stomach’s upset. Maybe I drank too much coffee?”  

“Could it be that you’re overworking yourself and making yourself sick? You should go to the palace’s healer and get a check-up, just in case.”  

“Oh, it’s nothing serious….”  

“If you collapse… we won’t be able to handle all this work on our own.”  

At Rosa’s solemn words, the other administrators also set down their forks and nodded in agreement. The sharp gazes of her three colleagues bore into her across the narrow table.  

On top of that, she was worried about how her husband would react when he saw her. He would undoubtedly scold her, asking why she had lost so much weight while he wasn’t around.  

Adolf had been away for weeks on a mission, escorting delegates from other continents to the Empire’s New Year’s celebration. She recalled his face, sighing heavily as he reluctantly left for the assignment.  

‘Now that I think about it, this is the longest we’ve been apart since we got married.’  

It had been nearly two years since Ella and Adolf tied the knot.  

Their marriage had caused quite a stir in the palace at the time. Despite Ella being an administrator, the union between a Sword Expert and a commoner was shocking—especially since Adolf belonged to the prestigious Ludwig Ducal family.  

Those who didn’t know them well criticized Ella, claiming she was an ambitious commoner who had secured a powerful connection. Meanwhile, others, aware of Adolf’s reputation, pitied him, saying he had taken advantage of a poor woman.  

From beginning to end, Ella and Adolf paid no mind to the rumors. They had grown accustomed to being the subject of gossip since their university days. What they were truly concerned about was convincing their respective families.  

‘Will the Duke’s family even accept me?’  

Contrary to Ella’s worries, the Ludwig Ducal family didn’t have much trouble accepting her. While they didn’t exactly welcome her with open arms, they didn’t outright oppose the marriage either.  

The family’s acceptance stemmed from several factors. The eldest son and heir, Lorenz, was already married to a Marquis’s daughter and had a son, so Adolf’s marriage wouldn’t disrupt the line of succession. Additionally, the Duke himself had been in poor health since the war and hadn’t shown any signs of recovery.  

In such circumstances, the marriage of the troublesome second son was seen as a relief.  

Moreover, the union symbolized the Imperial policy of integrating commoners into noble society, which had been implemented the previous year. Adolf and Ella’s marriage became a symbolic event, demonstrating that even great noble families could embrace such changes.  

The real challenge lay with Adolf.  

Ella’s father, Becker, was just an ordinary Imperial citizen, a junior administrator at Eren City Hall. Like any father, he had doted on his daughter and found it hard to accept that she was old enough to marry.  

To make matters worse, the man his adorable daughter had chosen wasn’t just any man—he was the most intimidating man in the Empire, with a reputation to match.  

It was no surprise that Adolf’s dream of marrying Ella was delayed for nearly a year.  

“Father, I’ve met someone I want to marry.”  

“W-What did you say…?”  

Becker, who had been beaming with joy at the sight of his daughter visiting home during her long holiday, was utterly shocked. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.  

Still in disbelief, he managed to ask again, his face filled with doubt.  

“You’re just a kid. What do you mean, getting married…?”  

“I’m twenty-four years old. I’m not a kid anymore.”  

“Not a kid, you say!”  

Becker was at a loss for words as he looked at his daughter’s confident expression. To him, she still looked like a little girl who needed candy to cheer her up. But his shock quickly turned to anger.  

Who dared to lay a hand on his precious daughter?  

*Bang!*  

He slammed the table and demanded, 

“Who’s the scoundrel that said such nonsense to you? Didn’t I tell you? All men are wolves—”  

“I was the one who proposed first.”  

“What?!”  

“You know I never change my mind once I’ve made a decision, right? I’ll bring him over this weekend.”  

Guh….  

Becker clutched his neck in disbelief at his daughter’s shocking declaration. He looked at her with betrayal in his eyes.  

“I raised you with so much love….”  

“Yes, you raised me with so much love. That’s why you’ll like the person I chose.”  

Her confident demeanor softened Becker’s glare just a little.  

Right. My daughter doesn’t make bad decisions. And twenty-four is about the right age to start thinking about marriage….  

In a gentler tone, he asked, 

“Alright, I’ll meet him. What kind of person is he? Does he look honest and kind?”  

“Well, about that….”  

For the first time, his confident daughter hesitated.  

What’s this?  

Sensing something amiss, Becker narrowed his eyes. Ella quickly stammered, 

“He’s honest and kind.”  

“Is that so.”  

Becker felt a mix of pride and sadness as he thought about his daughter growing up.  

What should I talk about with my future son-in-law?  

But his concerns turned out to be unnecessary.  

“Greetings, Father. It’s an honor to meet you.”  

“T-This is….”  

Honest and kind?  

Honest and kind?!  

What’s wrong with my daughter’s eyes?  

As he opened the door, Becker froze. Standing outside was a massive man with a scar running down his face, exuding an aura of menace. His sheer presence filled the narrow alley, making Becker momentarily long for his late wife.  

But his hesitation was brief. The thought of this thug marrying his daughter made his blood run cold.  

What’s going on here?  

Becker’s sharp gaze shifted to Ella, silently demanding an explanation. But his daughter wasn’t on his side.  

In a pleading tone, Ella said, 

“Let’s talk more inside, okay?”  

“…Alright. I need to lock the door anyway, so go ahead.”  

Fine. Looks aren’t everything….  

Becker hesitated, debating whether to call the city guard or let the man in. In the end, he couldn’t ignore his daughter’s hopeful gaze and reluctantly stepped aside.  

“Thank you, Ruby. Let’s go in.”  

“Thank you for having me.”  

Ella smiled gratefully as she entered, and Adolf stiffly followed her inside.  

‘What’s all this about…?’ 

Becker, still unable to shake off his first impression of Adolf, stared blankly at the two figures heading into the house.  

But there was something oddly unsettling about the way the two walked side by side.  

‘Why does it look like they’re moving the same hand and foot together?’  

Sigh. I must be seeing things because I’m out of my mind.  

Becker shook his head and locked the gate. At that moment, a loud crashing sound came from inside the house.  

“What’s going on? What happened?”  

Could that guy have hurt my Ella?!  

Grabbing the rake he had propped up next to the flowerpot by the gate, Becker rushed into the house. But what he saw was far from what he had expected.  

“What are you doing…?”  

“Nothing at all!”  

What Becker saw was a massive body sprawled across the living room floor. Judging by the shattered entryway step, it was clear the man had tripped and fallen. His petite daughter stood beside the fallen figure, flustered and panicking.  

Seeing this scene, Becker realized he hadn’t imagined the odd gait earlier.  

“Are you… unwell, by any chance?”  

Adolf jumped to his feet and answered, 

“No, I’m in perfect health! Are you alright?”  

“You’re the one who fell—why are you asking me that…?”  

“My apologies!”