EEBT CHAPTER 5: Digging Deeper

About half a month after her first encounter with Alex, Adelaine was living a life that was both leisurely and busy.

 

It might sound strange, but it was true.

 

On the surface, she was recuperating from the shock and memory loss. All social activities had been suspended during this time.

 

*‘If I don’t do this, the Army Headquarters or the Defense Force will keep bothering me.’*

 

When Adelaine announced that she would refrain from social activities and focus on rest, the Duke nodded in understanding.

 

The Duke still believed Adelaine was acting, and she was deliberately encouraging that misunderstanding.

 

She needed to buy as much time as possible until she was fully prepared.

 

During this period, Adelaine had been steadily reading books and newspapers. Having narrowly escaped danger once, she had become even more cautious.

 

Today, too, she went to the study right after breakfast and began reading the delivered newspapers. Advertisements, articles, editorials—everything was in English, so she couldn’t read quickly, but she could still grasp the general information.

 

Then, Adelaine’s eyes landed on an article in one corner of the newspaper.

 

It was about a royal ball hosted by the imperial family.

 

“One thing’s for sure, if things continue like this…”

 

The incident that would wound the male lead, the Crown Prince. A fire at the royal ball a month from now would claim the life of the Crown Prince’s mother, Empress Ceria.

 

As the novel progressed, it would be revealed that the fire was actually a planned assassination, but the novel itself wouldn’t start until about two years from now.

 

At that moment, a thought crossed her mind.

 

What if she saved Empress Ceria from the fire?

 

Couldn’t that improve her relationship with the male lead? At the very least, wouldn’t it prevent her from falling out of favor and meeting a terrible end?

 

Adelaine’s mind began to spin with hopeful thoughts.

 

But those thoughts quickly came to a halt.

 

“…How do I stop it?”

 

Knowing about the assassination in advance and actually preventing it were worlds apart. Right now, she had no means to stop the incident.

 

Especially since she had halted all social activities under the pretext of memory loss to avoid investigation.

 

Just then, a servant approached Adelaine as she was reading the newspaper in the study.

 

“My lady. The Duke has asked you to personally select the new servants.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. It’s to fill the vacancies left by servants who are too old to work anymore.”

 

The servant placed a stack of resumes on the desk.

 

“The employment agency has sent over only those with verified backgrounds. You may make the final decision.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

Adelaine nodded and began alternating between the resumes and the list of vacant positions in the household.

 

“Three maids, one coachman, one gamekeeper. We also need a new tutor.”

 

She wasn’t sure why the Duke’s only daughter needed to study military science, but a new tutor for that subject was also required.

 

As she skimmed through the resumes, one person’s profile caught her eye.

 

“Naya Lake…”

 

Lake… Lake. Rolling the surname around in her mind, a memory flashed through her thoughts.

 

“That person from back then…!”

 

If her deduction was correct, this person was likely a family member or relative of the sniper who had been shooting beside her on the day she first met Alex.

 

The man who had successfully made long-range shots one after another.

 

‘Good shot. Here’s the next rifle.’

 

‘Wind and distance?’

 

‘380 meters, blowing from behind.’

 

Bang.

 

‘Got him. Looks like you’re not dead yet, Sergeant Lake.’

 

‘What use is that now? Thanks to that lady, I’m a cripple. My discharge date’s been set, you know.’

 

‘End of the month?’

 

‘Yeah. I’m really worried about how I’m going to make a living from now on.’

 

Bang.

 

The sound of gunfire brought Adelaine back to reality from her thoughts.

 

Sergeant Lake, who was being discharged because of injuries sustained because of her.

 

Her conscience pricked at her chest. Of course, it was the original Adelaine, not her, who had caused the injury, but she still felt uneasy.

 

“Hmm…”

 

She set down her pen and pondered. What if the shared surname “Lake” was just a coincidence?

 

With that thought, she focused on the resume and realized that this Naya Lake was quite impressive.

 

She had studied at the capital’s academy from age thirteen to eighteen, publishing several literary papers and works. She was also good at mathematics, having participated in annotating several math papers. Her resume even mentioned her involvement in annotating astronomy and chemistry papers.

 

With credentials like these, she was more suited to be a lady-in-waiting or a tutor, yet she was applying for a maid’s position.

 

“There must be a story behind this…”

 

She agonized over it. None of the other resumes caught her eye. As Adelaine stared intently at Naya’s resume, a maid attending to her approached.

 

“Is something the matter, my lady?”

 

“Ah. This person’s background is unusual. She has an outstanding academic record, yet she’s applying to be a maid.”

 

Adelaine handed Naya’s resume to the maid. However, the maid immediately cleared up her confusion upon seeing the name.

 

“This person is a commoner. It’s rare for a commoner woman to study like this.”

 

“Rare?”

 

“Of course, noble ladies study as part of their education. Some even become ladies-in-waiting for the imperial family. But…”

 

The maid placed the resume on the corner of the desk and continued.

 

“She’s not even from a minor family, just an unknown commoner. What household would hire her? It doesn’t seem like she has any connections with other households either.”

 

Adelaine looked at the nameless maid. Her eyes held a strange, dark emotion, almost like disgust, as if she didn’t want to associate with commoners.

 

That sentiment struck a rebellious chord in Adelaine—no, in Han Yeeun, who had lived as an ordinary citizen in South Korea.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes, my lady.”

 

Adelaine pushed the resume aside.

 

Deliberately, while selecting the remaining six candidates, she paid no attention to that lone, isolated resume.

 

As if she had lost all interest in Naya Lake.

 

Meanwhile, an idea was forming in her mind. If Naya Lake was connected to “Sergeant Lake”…

 

Even if it’s a long shot, she needed Alex’s help.

 

* * *

 

Southern residential district, capital.

 

“Loyalty.”

 

“Enough with the ‘loyalty.’ You’re a civilian now.”

 

“It’s only been a week since I took off the uniform. The years I spent as a soldier feel longer than the years I didn’t.”

 

Alex removed his hat and stepped into the apartment. The small, shabby house felt cramped as he entered.

 

Sergeant Lake, now discharged for just four days, still carried the aura of a soldier. Now called Andrei Lake, his military demeanor was unmistakable.

 

Alex handed Andrei a tin of tea leaves and said, “I’m not sure if I should be visiting someone who hasn’t even settled in yet. Here, a housewarming gift.”

 

“You didn’t have to bring anything…”

 

Despite his words, Andrei accepted the tin of tea leaves. He could sense the guilt in Alex’s expression when offering the gift, making it hard to refuse.

 

“What brings you here? You’re in uniform, so it doesn’t seem like you’re off duty.”

 

“Supplies. We need to prepare before winter hits. And we should also prepare for the rainy season.”

 

“True, it’s harder to prepare for winter once it’s already here. Let me get you some tea.”

 

Andrei limped toward the kitchen. Though it was just a small space with a stove and a sink, it had the essentials.

Meanwhile, Alex looked around. A diploma hung on the wall.

 

“Naya graduated?”

 

“She received her diploma earlier this year.”

 

Looking at the portrait of her wearing a graduation cap and standing alone, Alex spoke in a regretful tone.

 

“…You should’ve told me. I could’ve pulled some strings to get her a position.”

 

“What difference would one person make?”

 

Andrei brought over two teacups and some snacks, placing them on the table before sitting across from Alex.

 

When winter passes and spring arrives, the ground thaws.

 

This phrase referred to the time when the harvested grains from autumn ran out, and spring, when barley could be harvested, had not yet come.

 

As food supplies dwindled and the frozen ground thawed, the northern district of the capital, filled with slums, turned into a living hell plagued by epidemics and ground subsidence.

 

Buildings collapsed by the dozens each day, and hundreds died. The first to bring order to this hellscape were fewer than a hundred riflemen.

 

“Even if it was just a three-hour lecture, only you, Pack, and I had completed the field medicine course. How could I have left my post?”

 

Andrei had kept his mouth shut, fearing his sister might contract the disease and that the already insufficient medical personnel would become even scarcer. Hearing this, Alex felt even more regret.

 

He was a good comrade.

 

“…So, have you thought about what you’ll do next?”

 

“I’m thinking of going back to my hometown. It’s a mining town, so there’s not much there, but it’s still better than the capital, where I know no one and everything’s expensive. Naya’s old enough to take care of herself now.”

 

Despite his words, Andrei’s eyes were filled with concern and guilt for his sister.

 

Guilt over not being able to help her.

 

“Does Naya have somewhere to go?”

 

“She says she’ll manage…”

 

Andrei’s face was full of worry. Having experienced the stark difference between those with education and those without, he had sent his sister, a commoner, to the academy to study.

 

But now, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of doubt. What could a commoner woman do with her education, even in a world that was progressing?

 

The distinctions between men and women, nobles and commoners, were still clear.

 

“…If it doesn’t work out, let me know. I know someone at the Winchester Armory. I heard she’s good at math.”

 

Sensing his worry, Alex reassured him. Andrei nodded.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Hey, out of all the orphans, no one’s worked as hard as you. Seriously.”

 

Alex patted his shoulder. Andrei, a commoner and an orphan, had risen to become a non-commissioned officer and sent his sister, also an orphan, to the empire’s top educational institution, the academy.

 

“It’ll… work out. It’ll work out, she’s your sister after all…”

 

Andrei’s voice choked up as he nodded at Alex’s words.

 

Just then, the sound of someone running up the apartment stairs reached them.

 

The footsteps stopped at their door, and the sound of a key turning in the lock followed. The door swung open.

 

A woman who looked just like Andrei—Naya, who had been a child the last time Alex saw her but had now grown up—burst in with a bright smile, bearing good news.

 

“Brother! I got a job!”

 

At her words, the two men in the room shot to their feet. Andrei, slightly slower than Alex, frowned for a moment but quickly brightened and asked her,

 

“A job? Where?”

 

“The employment agency contacted me. The Lopitz Ducal House is hiring maids, so I sent in my resume, and they even accepted me as a lady-in-waiting!”

 

At that, the joyful expressions on their faces froze.

 

“What? Is something wrong?”

 

Confused by their unexpected reaction, Naya tilted her head, looking at Alex.

 

Simultaneously, the two men clutched their heads and let out a sigh.

 

“Sigh…”