Chapter 19

“Welcome! It’s good to see you. Family should live seeing each other’s faces.”  

“Are you eating properly? Surely, you’re not still living alone without even a single maid?”  

Sabrina, who visited the Wintlet estate for the first time in ages, was taken aback by her family’s unexpected reaction.  

‘What is this? Why are they acting like this?’  

Having never experienced such hospitality since childhood, Sabrina’s guard went up.  

‘I thought it would be uncomfortable.’  

She thought there must be a reason for their sudden change in attitude.  

“We prepared mostly meat dishes that you like. No matter how good food outside is, nothing beats a home-cooked meal.”  

However, as the meal progressed, Sabrina began to let her guard down little by little.  

“I hear you’ve been recognized quite a lot at work these days?”  

“Well, sort of.”  

“Is the work manageable?”  

The food prepared to suit her taste, and even the unexpectedly smooth flow of conversation—  

She had come with her heart tightly closed and her defenses up, but the situation was so uneventful that it left her feeling deflated.  

‘…Can people really change?’  

While Sabrina was bewildered by the unfamiliar atmosphere of the household, the meal was slowly coming to an end.  

Just as a dessert, so sweet it felt like biting into sugar, was served and Sabrina picked up her fork, Archer, who had been silently sitting the entire time, suddenly spoke.  

“Ahem, so, you’re quite close to His Majesty, the Emperor, aren’t you?”  

“Professionally, yes.”  

“If His Majesty has entrusted you with such an important position, it means he trusts you quite a bit, doesn’t it?”  

Sabrina slowly nodded her head.  

“Well… that’s true.”  

Despite her answer, Archer hesitated for a long time, unable to continue.  

What on earth does he want to say?  

Feeling an ominous premonition, Sabrina narrowed her eyes. Just as she was about to speak out of frustration, Archer’s question came flying at her like a stone.  

“So… do you happen to know any information or something like that?”  

Information?  

A faint frown appeared on Sabrina’s brow. As her expression darkened, Archer cautiously brought up the main topic, sensing her mood.  

“The family’s situation hasn’t been the same lately. As you know, the maritime trade situation hasn’t been great recently…”  

“…”  

“We tried our best, but things don’t always go as planned. Life has its ups and downs, doesn’t it?”  

It turned out that the family’s financial situation wasn’t very good these days.  

Leaving the family finances to Archer, who was naturally dull and not very bright, was bound to lead to such a result.  

Sabrina sharply asked, 

“So what’s your point?”  

Startled, Archer avoided her gaze and replied, 

“You’re always so impatient…”  

“…”  

“Isn’t family supposed to help each other during tough times? If you have any useful information, share it so we can all do well together.”  

The moment Archer finished speaking, Sabrina firmly rejected him.  

“Don’t be ridiculous.”  

Looking directly into Archer’s eyes, Sabrina spoke clearly and deliberately.  

“If it’s a social gathering, you can’t resist, but have you not heard what happened to Joel Dowd? All the information I learn from my work is classified. Don’t ever bring this up again.”  

Archer, surprised by Sabrina’s unexpectedly resolute reaction, hesitated and retreated slightly.  

“Well, I suppose you have your own position to consider.”  

Just as he seemed to be backing off, Archer suddenly brought up another request.  

“Then at least help Frederick and Jonathan find jobs. Surely, you can manage that much?”  

As soon as Archer finished speaking, Frederick and Jonathan looked at her with eyes full of expectation.  

Sabrina let out a deep sigh inwardly. It seemed they had heard about the open recruitment starting in a month.  

Once again, Sabrina firmly shook her head.  

“His Majesty is someone who judges people solely on their abilities. I can’t help with that.”  

At that moment—  

Bang!  

The sound of a fist slamming onto the table echoed loudly in the dining room.  

Startled, Sabrina turned her head.  

“How dare you…”  

The Viscount, his face flushed red with anger, glared at her with a face full of fury.  

“You ungrateful wench! Now that you’ve got money, you think you’re above us?”  

The Viscount raised his voice, veins bulging in his neck.  

“Do you think you’ll never have to beg for help? Do you think you’ll always succeed without failure? You’re just an unmarried woman—do you think you can escape my grasp?”  

“…”  

“Get out of here. I don’t want to see your face again!”  

The Viscount’s firm order to leave left Sabrina feeling as if her heart had crumbled into dry sand. She thought she would be unaffected, as it was a familiar sight, but strangely, her chest ached.  

Memories of the day she was kicked out of the house after passing the aide exam a few years ago overlapped with the current scene.  

‘What was I expecting? People don’t change that easily.’  

Had they changed?  

Had they worried about me, even just a little?  

Like Chase and the late Emperor, was there some misunderstanding between me and my family?  

The faint hope that had bloomed deep in her heart from the moment she received the letter seemed to be uprooted entirely.  

“You’re right. It seems I misjudged.”  

Sabrina stood up and spoke calmly.  

“I won’t visit again.”  

“Let’s see how well you’re doing now. You’ll regret it soon enough.”  

As Sabrina walked away, the Viscount of Wintlet’s murky blue eyes glinted with malice. Grinding his teeth, he muttered ominously,  

“I’ll make sure you come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.”  

***

‘D-DAY.’  

Sabrina stared blankly at the bold letters written in her notebook.  

Ten stars and an underlined line—it was a record that even felt solemn.  

Although her heart still hadn’t completely settled after the events at the Wintlet estate a few days ago, she didn’t want to be swayed by such distractions today.  

Sabrina guessed that today was going to be an exceptionally important day.  

“Sabrina?”  

A low voice from behind made Sabrina slowly turn around.  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

As she turned, Chase’s face filled her vision.  

Dressed up more than usual, Chase seemed to shine.  

With delicate yet sharp features, flawless, radiant skin, and a perfectly tailored outfit that accentuated his well-toned physique—  

The word “protagonist” seemed to suit him better than anyone else.  

Wherever he stood, he seemed to turn that place into the center of the world.  

“What are you thinking about so deeply? You seem different today.”  

Chase, who had been watching Sabrina, asked sharply.  

Sabrina, startled, replied, 

“Me?”  

“Yes, you.”  

“I guess I’m a bit nervous since it’s my first time serving as an interviewer.”  

At her words, Chase nodded as if in understanding. Recalling the past, he chuckled softly.  

“Now that you mention it, I remember. When we first met—it’s been five years already, hasn’t it?”  

Sabrina pulled out a chair next to him and sat down, replying.

“That time, I was sitting in that seat. You have no idea how nervous I was.”  

“Really? You didn’t seem that way.”  

Chase spoke as he quickly flipped through the documents containing the applicants’ personal details and various information.  

“If the talents we bring in this time are even half as good as you, I’d be satisfied. Can I expect that?”  

“Of course.”  

Sabrina confidently smiled at Chase’s words.  

And why wouldn’t she?  

Because today, her perfect superior was about to begin his love story.  

Sabrina’s hand, flipping through the papers one by one, suddenly paused. A faint smile appeared on her lips.  

‘Elena Evenheim.’  

The second protagonist of this world.  

The heroine of the novel, who was destined to fall in love with Chase, was about to make her entrance.  

This was the point where the original story would finally begin.  

Elena Evenheim, with her light pink hair and green eyes, was a lovable heroine.  

Bright and quirky, she was soon to become Chase’s youngest aide and embark on a chaotic romantic comedy with him.  

‘How will it feel to witness Chase and Elena’s romance unfold with my own eyes?’  

Having gone through countless ups and downs as Chase’s aide, Sabrina momentarily forgot that this world was part of a book.  

She had lived fiercely in every ordinary day that wouldn’t even warrant a single line in the original novel.  

She had come to know the Emperor, who was described only in passing, and had witnessed Chase, who seemed so perfect, falter and crumble.  

It was only natural that she would become more and more immersed in this world.  

‘Ah, there’s no need to overthink it. As long as Chase is happy, that’s all that matters!’  

Shaking off her complicated thoughts, Sabrina tore her gaze away from Elena’s name. She turned her head to once again check on Chase, who was seated beside her.  

It was her job to ensure that he was in a perfect state when he met his destined partner.  

At that moment, Sabrina noticed his slightly crooked cravat. Sliding her chair closer to Chase, she turned toward him.  

“Your Majesty, excuse me for a moment.”  

Sabrina reached out and carefully adjusted his collar. Her touch, fixing the disheveled cravat, was more meticulous than usual.  

‘That should do it.’  

Tilting her head slightly, Sabrina looked up, only to find Chase’s gaze fixed on her.  

“……”  

The distance between them was so close that she could see the intricate patterns of his irises.