Chapter 117
***
As lody stroked Loretta’s head, which was nestled in her embrace, sothing suddenly protruded in front of her eyes.
It was a pocket watch.
It was familiar to lody’s eyes because she had borrowed it several tis from Butler Higgins when she was young.
“But that’s an incredibly precious watch to your father. It was handed down from your grandfather…”
Back then, she didn’t know and simply borrowed it as a ‘toy’ to play with.
Seeing lody hesitate, Higgins offered the watch again.
“You’ll need a good watch for the exam.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Soone accompanying you to keep track would be ideal, but my daughter does not wish for that.”
Most of those taking today’s exam were either children of noble families or the wealthy who could afford education.
For this reason, it was permitted to bring along a servant during the exam.
However, lody felt more pressure with soone by her side and decided to go alone.
“An old watch knows how to calmly asure ti. It will surely be of help.”
Persuaded by his advice, lody carefully accepted the watch. Perhaps because of the familiar touch, her heart cald sowhat.
“…Thank you.”
The watch strap had a cute lace ribbon attached, and lody quickly realized it was Mrs. Higgins who had added it.
“Thank you for the ribbon as well. Mother.”
“Ah, that damn watch…”
Mrs. Higgins, surprised by her own use of ‘damn,’ paused for a mont.
“Oh, I must be mad.”
She quickly waved away the word she had blurted out, swirling her hand in the air.
“Ahem, anyway, it would be troubling if the young one were to be teased for carrying around such a cursed item. Tsk, so I suggested we buy a new one. Tsk.”
It seed there had been a small conflict between the two over which watch to give to lody.
“I really like this watch.”
It was also the watch that had counted many joyful monts in her childhood.
“Of course, I also like the lace ribbon you added.”
lody wrapped the precious watch in a handkerchief and quickly put it away in her embrace.
It was about ti to leave, so she hurriedly exchanged goodbyes with the others.
After that, she went out to the entrance and boarded the prepared carriage.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
Bowing slightly as she said her final farewell, everyone waved their hands lightly in response.
***
The recruitnt exam was held in the archives located inside the imperial palace.
Given the venue, it took quite a bit of ti just to pass through the small gate entering the palace.
Of course, proving one’s identity was necessary, and after going through the process of checking each item brought along, an hour had swiftly passed.
Given these circumstances, several candidates couldn’t even arrive on ti.
A conference room in the archives prepared for the exam was completely closed at the appointed ti.
Those who arrived even a second late were left to explain their unavoidably delayed circumstances to the administrator, but the already closed door did not open.
“Do you know who I am to treat
with such disregard at the door!”
One man shouted, but it likely did not intimidate the archivists.
They would not bow even in front of the emperor’s reprimands.
They rely politely wrote down everything the emperor said.
Anyway, lody was grateful for having followed the Duke’s advice to leave with plenty of ti to spare.
She would have been very upset if she hadn’t even gotten the chance to take the exam.
While the officials were sending away those who arrived late, the candidates who arrived on ti were sitting at their desks, each finding their own way to relax their nerves.
lody cautiously observed each one of them.
‘There doesn’t seem to be anyone my age.’
Most of the candidates appeared much older than lody.
Naturally, her presence stood out sowhat, and occasionally there were people who sent her interesting looks quite openly.
But was being young enough reason for such curious stares?
lody realized the true intent behind those looks after a bit of ti.
“Are you okay?”
A kindly-looking young man approached her to start a conversation, his face showing concern.
“Yes?”
“Soone supposed to help you ca late and couldn’t enter, right?”
“Soone to help…?”
lody looked around.
Indeed, it seed that all the candidates, without exception, had brought soone along behind them.
Naturally, she thought everyone had brought soone to do simple errands like fetching tea according to the regulations. However, upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem exactly like that.
Right behind the young man who had spoken to lody stood another young man, holding nurous notebooks he seed to have organized himself.
“So, bringing a servant ans…”
Was it ant that they were to take the exam together?
When lody couldn’t continue her words, the young man shrugged his shoulders, appearing sowhat apologetic.
“In essence, that’s what it ans. It’s… Ah, seeing your reaction, you really didn’t know.”
As lody nodded slightly, he encouraged her by patting her on the shoulder.
“Well, you’re disqualified then. It’s regrettable, but that’s how it is.”
“…….”
lody couldn’t say anything else. Seeing her head bowed as if she looked pitiful, the man offered a bit more consolation.
“It can’t be helped. You’re still young, so there’ll be another opportunity in a few years.”
“I’ll lend you my smart servant then,” he said with a laugh.
His expression seed sowhat relieved.
Perhaps he was thinking that at least one competitor had been eliminated.
It wasn’t just him; the looks from others around her seed to carry a hint of sympathy.
Not knowing how to react, lody just fiddled with the watch she had placed on the desk.
After a bit more ti passed, five officials dressed in black suits entered the front of the conference room.
They looked over the candidates one by one with a stern expression, as if assessing sothing.
Finally, one of them stepped forward. It was a woman with her white hair neatly tied up.
“The exam will consist of three stages.”
She slowly explained the exam process. There would be two written exams for the first and second stages, and in the evening, each candidate would be tasked with organizing a storeroom.
Thus, the final stage of the exam would conclude the following morning.
There was a stir around when it was ntioned that there would be eliminations at each stage, with so candidates returning early.
However, the official continued in a solemn voice, undisturbed.
“Then, we will start the first exam.”
Everyone organized their writing utensils.
Since it was stated that consulting brought books or notes was allowed, there was nothing special that needed to be put away.
Soon, the test papers were distributed.
There were twenty descriptive questions, and candidates needed to answer at least eight. They could write more if they wished, but it was not mandatory.
As the exam began, the candidates picked up their pens, and their companions started to efficiently search for the necessary information in books or notes.
Faced with an unexpected exam scene, lody was montarily flustered and found herself unable to move her pen.
However, as she looked at the needle of the pocket watch laid out in front of her, her heart gradually began to calm down.
‘I might be at a slight disadvantage, but.’
She decided to focus on writing down what she knew and her deductions based on that knowledge in neat handwriting without shaking.
Complaining wouldn’t change anything, after all.
***
The first part of the exam ended after three hours.
While most candidates managed to answer about fifteen out of the twenty questions, lody completed exactly eight.
It took her so ti to co to conclusions on her own by searching through the book.
And it was all the more difficult because she had to write neatly, enduring the pain in her hands.
lody massaged her sore hands joint by joint, sighing.
Just when she thought she could rest, the officials who received the exam papers did not hesitate and began to call out so nas imdiately.
“Those called, please stand up. Chris Barton, Henrietta Erson, and…”
What criteria were they using to call out nas?
The officials had just received the answer sheets and hadn’t had the chance to read through them in detail yet. Still, they were calling out nas, which confused everyone.
“lody Higgins.”
Suddenly, lody’s na was also called.
The mont she stood up, the atmosphere in the conference room sharply divided.
Everyone seed convinced that those whose nas were called were the ones who failed.
And it made sense, since lody’s answer sheet had fewer answers than anyone else’s.
Those whose nas were called started to look despondent.
“That’s all.”
The official, having quickly checked, finally finished the announcent.
Soon, a voice exclaiming ‘Yes!’ in joy was heard beside lody.
It was the man she had talked to earlier, relieved that his na hadn’t been called until the end.
Feeling lody’s gaze, he scratched his head and turned to look at her.
“Uh… um, sorry for celebrating when soone who failed is right next to .”
What an annoying person.
lody had nothing else to say, so she turned her gaze away.
The official who had finished the announcent was pointing towards the door of the conference room with his hand.
“Well then.”
She raised her chin high and declared to all the candidates.
“Those whose nas have not been called until now may now return ho.”
Suddenly, the surroundings beca silent.
Reviews
All reviews (0)