Episode 2
The moderately warm, sticky cappuccino splattered across Pedro’s face.
“Ugh, ughhh!”
Blinded and struggling to open his eyes under the sticky coffee assault, Pedro frantically rubbed at them with his sleeves, fuming.
“How much did that hair cost!? Are you out of your mind, Ishael!? Have you gone mad or something?!”
Still unable to comprehend the situation, dark coffee dripped from his cheeks.
“Simple. I’m fed up with you, and I’m not giving you any more money.”
“W-what?”
“You’re dumped.”
You were dumped.
“Enjoy your cheap, tasty bread all you want.”
I’ll go treat myself to an expensive steak.
“Also, pay back the money you borrowed from me.”
Soon, I’d even be filing for damages for all the money you’ve drained from me—look forward to that.
“You! Your parents have told me to marry you countless times! Don’t do something you’ll regret!”
Of course, there was an immediate issue I needed to handle.
I was about to cut ties with my family who would leech off me, and leave home.
That meant I’d have to survive on my own.
Right now, I was penniless.
“Ah, speaking of regrets.”
He turned his body with the smug look of someone saying, It’s not too late—come beg me now.
Seeing that expression, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I threw the large round bread like a projectile through the air.
Whooosh!
The hard, rough bread arced through the air and landed squarely on his cheek.
Thwack!
“Ugh, ughhh!”
A perfect slap-shot.
“Since I poured liquid on you, I feel I need to hit your cheek too. Well then, really, goodbye!”
Having dumped my ex, it was now time to part ways with my family.
Even if I couldn’t secure a house immediately, leaving home seemed entirely possible.
I worked as an administrative officer at the Imperial Palace!
Palace employees had the right to use palace housing for free.
The accommodations were a bit leaky and sometimes rickety, but family intrusions were impossible.
‘It’s a little worn, but livable. Not bad at all.’
I cheerfully stepped into the palace residence, intending to apply for immediate occupancy—until…
[Reconstruction in 3 days]
I must have misread it.
I rubbed my eyes as I looked at the sign in front of the residence.
[Reconstruction in 3 days]
- The reconstruction of this building requires the final approval of His Majesty the Emperor.
Yep, I was doomed.
I suddenly remembered the residence had been shiny and new before I reincarnated.
How could it coincide exactly with now?
A small note next to the sign caught my eye:
[For administrative officers currently employed at the Imperial Palace, free residence is available if applications are submitted by 8/6, three days from now.]
I could live in the palace residence for only three days.
I had to find a place to stay in that short time!
No problem.
I survived death itself; surely I could manage to find one corner to rest in.
My motivation immediately plummeted the moment I entered the warehouse of the Knight Management Department, my workplace.
Just yesterday, I, the pushover, had my entire salary taken by my family.
So no chance of buying a place yet.
As I sighed heavily, oblivious Henry kept chatting beside me.
“Oh, right. Fiona’s getting married. Did you get the invitation?”
I see. Not particularly interested.
“Not yet.”
“You’ll get it soon! But didn’t she still live with her parents? Where’s she living?”
A sudden realization hit me.
‘Fiona… succeeded in getting a house even in the second life.’
More precisely, she had won a “special newlywed housing allocation” and moved into the Newlywed Town.
Newlywed Town!
A system where brand-new townhouses are given free to newlyweds.
Close to the palace,
new and modern buildings,
and even fully furnished!
Unfortunately, due to poor marketing at the time, very few knew about it.
Meaning, anyone who applied was guaranteed acceptance.
‘If I were a newlywed, I could apply immediately, cut ties with my family, and have a home…’
Nonsense, of course.
I’d just broken up with my ex.
How could I get married within three days?
“Oh… by the way, Fiona was handing out flyers for that special housing. She said you should try too.”
“Really…?”
I hurriedly grabbed the flyer from Henry.
[Phase 1 Newlywed Town Distribution Begins!
Affordable townhouses near carriage stations for newlyweds!
- Limited to couples married less than a year
(Submit marriage registration by 8/6)]
August 6.
Coincidence? The same day I had to leave the palace residence.
‘I won’t get married, but better keep this in mind.’
As I studied the flyer and slipped it into my pocket, Henry tapped me on the shoulder.
“Ishael? Time to check the swords now.”
I managed weapons and defensive magic tools in the Knight Management Department.
I yawned and asked casually,
“Who’s inspecting the swords today? Hopefully someone not too strict.”
Henry glanced at the checklist, puzzled.
“Who? The inspector from the knights… Sir Dylan?”
“Oh, really?”
I didn’t care much who it was.
“Not sure why a high-ranking knight is organizing the warehouse, but lucky you, huh?”
“Why am I lucky?”
“I’m asking why you’re lucky. Just speaking, you know?”
“Yeah. Just talking.”
Henry tapped my shoulder anxiously.
“Sir Dylan is the kind of guy every woman loves. A male idol too!”
“Hmm, maybe so.”
I’d never really thought much about Sir Dylan.
He was a commoner who rose to become an elite knight under the Emperor.
Ordinary commoners couldn’t enter the Imperial Knight Corps.
But Dylan was exceptional.
Once a year, winners of the Emperor’s sword tournament could join the Knight Corps regardless of background.
Dylan had won that tournament and was assigned directly to the Emperor’s Knight Corps—a prestigious knight.
Being a knight, he was over 190 cm tall, broad-shouldered, and well-muscled.
But that alone wouldn’t make him famous.
The real reason he was notorious in the palace:
“Insanely handsome. Black hair like the night, and red eyes that are dangerously perfect!”
Cold and taciturn, Dylan’s beauty was flawless.
An officer named Ellie once said, seeing his smile in winter was like spring flowers blooming.
His fame spread throughout the palace.
Expressionless and aloof, rumored to be uninterested in women, some even whispered scandalous theories.
Regardless, he was undeniably capable.
He quelled domestic terrorism and even defeated foreign dark mages in war.
It was slightly odd that a knight of his caliber was tasked with warehouse organization.
But…
“Well, maybe he enjoys organizing.”
I couldn’t afford to observe suspicious behavior now.
I had to defeat my parasitic family and secure a place to live first.
The sword inspection in the warehouse began with Dylan, Henry, and me.
Henry and I were inspecting a thousand épées, while Dylan handled a thousand rapiers next to us.
True to his reputation, Dylan meticulously and efficiently managed the rapiers.
‘These swords are amazing.’
From checking blades to rust removal, and reordering the swords, not a single error.
Suddenly, Henry whispered to me.
“Ugh, I’m so mad again. Pedro’s insane. Dump that idiot ASAP.”
I was about to reply that I already had.
Then…
“Wait, why did you take the Newlywed Town flyer? Planning to marry that idiot? Snap out of it!”
I opened my mouth to explain it was a coincidence.
But just then, from Dylan’s rapiers, a loud creak rang out—a sword bent sharply.
We both rushed over, startled.
“Sir, is there a problem?”
He avoided my gaze slightly and murmured,
“An accident. It’s… nothing.”
Bending one of the bent rapiers in one hand, he snapped it cleanly…
Crack!
His cold gaze swept over me.
Like a rabbit in front of a tiger, I froze.
He whispered quietly:
“Do not marry… that man.”
