ESBE 01

Chapter 1

“You really did graduate in first place… Theodora, you’ve brought great honor to our family.”

My strict father, Duke Alfred Ruen Hedesson, placed my graduation transcript on the desk in his study, yet he could hardly take his eyes off it.

I straightened my back and squared my shoulders proudly. Then I composed my voice.

“Do you remember promising that if I graduated from Elliot Imperial Academy in first place, you would grant me anything I asked for?”

My father slowly nodded, and his stern expression softened slightly. The corners of his lips curved gently.

He must have been very pleased with my achievement.

“Of course. Tell me your wish.”

At last, the words I had dreamed of hearing had finally come. I now had the chance to fulfill my lifelong wish.

I quietly breathed in and out.

“I heard that I was given a fiancé while I was attending the academy.”

“Yes. The son of a family that everyone envies is destined to become your husband.”

“Thank you, Father.”

My father’s expression seemed about to soften even further.

“But…”

I could not marry the Crown Prince.

“I want to decide my own marriage.”

My father’s thick eyebrows twitched upward.

“Do you even know who your partner is? I put a great deal of effort into choosing the right match for you.”

At last, the moment had come.

I had to answer carefully from here on out.

This wasn’t just any marriage—it was a match between the ducal family and the Imperial Family.

If I showed even the slightest curiosity, Father would probably push the engagement even more strongly.

“I don’t want to know who he is.”

Just as I was about to say the name of Crown Prince Havelon, I changed my target.

I needed an example who carried somewhat less pressure in terms of status, yet whose abilities were even more impressive.

“Even if he were the son of the Grand Duke of Wolverlake, who is considered the number-one eligible bachelor among the nobility.”

“!”

At my firm declaration, Father’s brow furrowed.

“You hate marriage that much?”

It seemed my message had gotten through, so I inwardly smiled in triumph.

‘If I say I don’t even want the Grand Duke of Wolverlake’s son, there’s no way I’d want the Crown Prince…’

Even so, my heart was pounding like crazy.

It was because, in my second life, I had never once rebelled against my father.

And when I recalled that one night with my archrival, the Grand Duke of Wolverlake’s son, I felt a little guilty, too.

‘But my life is at stake. I absolutely cannot back down.’

I put on a shameless expression and made my demand with confidence.

“Therefore, please cancel the marriage arrangement that already exists, as though it never happened.”

An oppressive silence settled over the study.

My father’s deep gaze grew heavy.

My heart sank. The longer the silence continued, the more nervous I became, fearing that a thunderous reprimand would come crashing down.

I lightly bit my lower lip and watched my father’s expression.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The pendulum of the grandfather clock in one corner of the study sounded unusually loud.

As the silence dragged on, sweat trickled down my spine. I prayed desperately inside my head.

Father, please, please, please make the engagement disappear.

I don’t mind being an extra in a book, or being a silver-spoon duke’s daughter who never has to worry about making a living for the rest of my life.

But I don’t want to play the role of someone who dies at twenty-five for the sake of the heroine!

How much time had passed?

Ding!

Along with the grandfather clock announcing the hour, the stern look in my father’s eyes finally softened.

“Phew… If that is truly what you want, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

One month later.

Grand Duke Aiden van Wolverlake received formal notice of the broken engagement, along with the detailed circumstances behind it.

“Ha. This is absolutely ridiculous.”

His brow crumpled together with the letter, and he bit down on his lips as if he had been betrayed.

When the Imperial Family and nobles of the Elliot Empire turned eighteen, they were required, without exception, to make their debut into high society.

Afterward, they were legally obligated to enroll in the Imperial Academy and spend three years there.

It was for the sake of improving their abilities, as well as learning politics and social etiquette.

For that reason, there was no grade retention at the Imperial Academy.

And no matter how exceptional an individual’s abilities were, early graduation was impossible.

The noble heirs complained about the compulsory education. At the same time, they made an effort to build friendships in their own way.

After graduation, they would have to take on roles appropriate to their respective statuses based on the connections they had formed there.

As intended by the Empire, the Imperial Academy fulfilled its functions and purpose quite well.

Among those within that system was Aiden van Wolverlake, from the northern mountain range, a land that possessed razor-sharp winds and vast underground resources.

Black hair like obsidian, deep violet eyes, a tall stature, and broad shoulders.

Aiden’s dazzling appearance and refined bearing, as though favored by the gods themselves, made the hearts of countless noble ladies flutter.

As the only son of the Grand Duke of Wolverlake, he was perfect in everything from theory to practical training in a place where everything was judged comparatively. In the two years since entering the academy, he had never once lost first place.

And then there was Theodora Ruen Hedesson.

She was the duke’s daughter from the southern plains, where golden sunlight poured endlessly down, living her second life after possessing a character from a novel.

In addition to her beautiful appearance, she had radiant orange hair and intelligent blue eyes reminiscent of the sea, making her a prodigy at Elliot Imperial Academy.

During her years at the academy, she studied desperately.

Yet by the narrowest of margins, she remained in second place year after year.

The reason was the difference in physical strength between the sexes.

When it came to actual combat training, it was difficult for her to keep up with Aiden, whose physical stamina was far superior.

Even so, she overcame that difference in strength through her own techniques.

But there was one person she could never defeat.

Aiden.

That was why everyone at the academy, as well as the nobility at large, was certain.

Unless something extraordinary happened, Aiden van Wolverlake would graduate in first place.

Aiden himself believed the same.

Until something extraordinary happened.

It was the day of the party celebrating their coming-of-age ceremony at twenty.

Once today was over, the noble youths who had officially become adults would enter their final year and complete their remaining year at the academy.

The party was filled with a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere. For tonight alone, everyone relaxed their guard and freely enjoyed socializing.

Aiden had been drinking while casually dealing with the noble youths who approached him when he began to feel the effects of the alcohol.

Just as he was about to step away to get some fresh air, he suddenly realized that he couldn’t see Theodora anywhere.

She had been in his field of vision the entire time, but at some point, she had disappeared.

‘Lady Hedesson seemed to be drinking quite a bit tonight, too.’

He was reminded that tonight was a social party celebrating their coming of age.

Unbeknownst to many, it was also a night when engaged couples—or men and women who had fallen for one another—might share their love.

“Perhaps tonight of all nights…”

Although she was normally cold and aloof, there was surely no shortage of men who would approach a woman like her with romantic intentions.

For some reason, Aiden felt a sense of urgency and grew restless.

“This won’t do.”

He immediately set out to find Theodora.

After searching for some time, Aiden found Theodora sitting on a bench in a secluded corner of the academy garden.

She had even brought a bottle of alcohol with her and was sipping from a glass beneath the streetlamp.

After downing another mouthful, Theodora let out a deep sigh.

She seemed drunk, swaying slightly even while sitting down.

“I understand that alcohol is permitted because this is a coming-of-age party, but you seem to be drinking rather excessively.”

At Aiden’s calm voice, Theodora lifted her head.

“Wha’… You’re the great number-one guy, aren’t ya?”

She looked at Aiden with one eye half-raised, her speech slurred.

Aiden was taken aback by the way Theodora referred to him so casually.

But she was different from her usual self right now.

He calmly settled his thoughts and spoke to Theodora again.

“Is it because of the alcohol? You seem rather rough in your speech today. What has put you in such a bad mood?”

Theodora grimaced and waved her hand dismissively.

“Whaddaya mean? It’s ’cause of you.”

He was secretly offended. But pretending not to notice her gesture, he asked again.

“Because of me?”

“Why’re you always in my eyes? Huh? Why’re you the only one who’s always first? So annoyin’.”

She was upset because she couldn’t get first place.

Her words, delivered with pouting lips, were filled with both hostility and frustration.

Aiden already knew that Theodora wasn’t particularly fond of him because of their academic rivalry.

But Theodora had been competing in a battle she could never win from the beginning.

No matter how strong Theodora was, Aiden was different from birth, starting with his exceptional bloodline.

He felt sorry for her.

And he found her cute, too.

Seeing Theodora with her lips pushed out in a pout, Aiden found her adorable and let out a small laugh.

Meanwhile, Theodora refilled her empty glass.

Aiden took the bottle and glass from her hands.

He didn’t think he should let her drink any more.

Theodora’s eyebrows twisted upward.

“What’re ya doing? Why’d ya take my drink?”

Even though she was drunk, Aiden found Theodora’s eyes, which were staring straight at him, incredibly beautiful.

“You seem to be excessively drunk.”

Aiden sat down beside Theodora.

Her blue eyes followed his every movement, and they looked strangely captivating to him.

“Come to think of it, we’ve hardly spoken since we entered the academy.”

With a charming lift of one corner of his lips, Aiden raised the glass filled with alcohol and made a toast toward Theodora’s eyes.

“If there’s anything you want to say to me, say it now. I’ll drink the alcohol for you in the meantime.”

Aiden downed the drink in one go.

The alcohol sent a pleasant warmth through him.

As Theodora stared at him, tears began to well up around her eyes.

“You need to graduate in firs’ place.”

“First place…?”

Theodora tapped her chest with her hand.

“I’ve got a really, really important wish, but Dad said he’d grant it if I graduate firs’.”

“So you need to graduate in first place to have the wish of Lady Hedesson granted… Is that it?”

“Yeah! That’s right!”

Theodora nodded emphatically.

Who would have thought that this side of the proud and beautiful Theodora existed?

Aiden struggled to suppress his laughter at seeing this side of her that was so unlike her usual self before asking his next question.

“What happens if you can’t graduate in first place and therefore can’t fulfill your wish?”

“What else could happen…? I couldn’t fulfill my wish, so I’d probably die.”

“You’d die if you couldn’t fulfill your wish?”

Theodora nodded emphatically once again.

“Yeah!”

Aiden covered his mouth with his hand to keep himself from laughing.

“That’s quite an extreme and unfortunate story. Is your wish really that important?”

“Very!”

Just as he was about to ask what her wish was, Theodora sniffled and lightly tapped Aiden on the shoulder.

“I worked my butt off for two years trying to fulfill my wish! But because of you, you ridiculously perfect bastard, I can’t do it!”

Tap… Tap…

Her fists had hardly any strength behind them and felt incredibly fragile.

Yet Aiden’s heart began to beat as though someone were knocking directly against it.

Aiden gazed silently at Theodora.

Her cheeks were flushed.

So red that he almost wanted to take a bite.

Theodora, unaware of the impulse stirring within him, continued tapping Aiden’s shoulder and began to sob aloud.

“I wanna be firs’! Waaah!”

Her crying wasn’t loud enough to attract much attention from the surroundings.

But her sobs were filled with desperation.

Aiden had never seen her like this before.

He was completely flustered.

“Please don’t cry.”

Without realizing it, Aiden became tender toward her and gently enclosed Theodora’s hand in his.

His kind voice, warmed by the alcohol, made Theodora stop sobbing and raise her tear-stained face.

Her blue eyes, shimmering like clear water, pierced straight through his heart.

And in that moment, Aiden realized that this feeling wasn’t unfamiliar at all.

He had already known it.

The feeling that had gradually accumulated as he watched Theodora, who had always been cold toward him.

He hadn’t known what it was before.

But now, he thought he understood.

Aiden reached out and gently brushed his fingers across her tear-streaked cheek.

“A wish…”

His thumb tenderly traced Theodora’s flushed lips.

For a moment, Aiden swallowed unconsciously.

It felt as though a hot breath was rising in his throat.

“…Perhaps you can fulfill it.”