At the edge of the royal capital lies a small, unassuming secondhand clothing shop in the craftsman district. A carriage, rarely seen in these parts and marked with the royal crest, is parked outside.
People walking by are intrigued by the unusual visitor.
“A delivery from the royal palace. Is Miss Martina here?”
A man dressed in an official’s attire calls out as he steps out of the carriage. From within the shop, hurried footsteps echo before a petite girl emerges.
“Yes! I’m Martina!”
The man holds out an ornate envelope. Martina, seemingly aware of its contents, accepts it with trembling hands, her large eyes shining.
“C-could it be… I passed?!”
“Yes. Receiving this letter means you’ve been accepted. Congratulations.”
“Thank you…!”
Martina clasps the envelope close to her chest, bowing deeply.
“Please check the contents carefully and complete the necessary procedures,” the man instructs.
“I understand. Thank you for going out of your way to bring it!”
As the man departs, Martina spins around and dashes back into the store. She holds up the letter proudly to show her mother, who is busy mending clothes behind the counter.
“Mom, I did it! I passed the official’s exam!”
Her father bursts out from the back room at her exclamation, nearly breaking the door off its hinges.
“Martina, what did you just say?!”
“Dad! I passed the official’s exam!”
Martina raises the letter for her father to see, and he stares at it in disbelief before sinking to his knees.
“I never thought you’d actually make it. They always said commoners couldn’t pass…”
In this kingdom, the gap between nobles and commoners had narrowed over the past decade, allowing commoners to pursue any career without discrimination. Yet, passing the official’s exam required extensive knowledge and resources, often out of reach for commoners.
“Now I can read all the books in the royal library…!”
Martina, oblivious to her father’s dismay, blushes with excitement. Her mother, meanwhile, beams with pride.
“You took the exam just for that. I’m so happy for you.”
“Yeah! It’s all because Dad said I should become an official when I’d finished all the books in the commoners’ library. Thanks so much, Dad!”
Her father’s expression grows complicated.
“…I only suggested it because I thought you’d never pass.”
He mutters under his breath, unheard by anyone.
Martina, who was practically a resident at the library, had finished all the books there and was disheartened. Out of sympathy, her father had told her about the royal library. He hadn’t really thought she’d become an official, assuming she’d be disappointed and move on if she failed.
“You really are smart, Martina,” her mother praises.
“Yeah. I never forget what I’ve read or seen, even once.”
“Use that gift to serve our country.”
“Of course! And to read lots of new books!”
While Martina and her mother chat happily, her father remains in shock, because…
“The thought of Martina leaving us… it’s too much. I can’t bear it!” He adored her so much that he had even considered marrying her off within the family to avoid her ever leaving.
“Let it go, dear. Martina only has eyes for the royal library now,” her mother consoles him.
Martina, lost in dreams of the royal library, sparkled with the glow of a young girl in love. Her father’s tears went unnoticed.
♢ ♢ ♢
A few weeks later, the entrance ceremony for officials was held at the royal palace. Among the line of new recruits, Martina stood, eyes shining with excitement.
“…She doesn’t look like a noble,” one of the senior officials murmurs, noticing Martina’s modest, shoulder-length hair, unlike the longer styles common among noble ladies.
“Oh, she’s a commoner.”
A man from the HR department’s comment startles those nearby.
“Wait, really? It’s been three years since a commoner passed, hasn’t it?”
“Actually, four. And get this—she scored a perfect mark.”
“…A perfect score? Even nobles don’t manage that.”
The exam had a maximum score of 100, with an average score around 60. A perfect score was rare, making Martina’s achievement historic for a commoner.
“And isn’t she pretty young?”
“Fifteen, I heard. She took it as soon as she became eligible.”
“…A fifteen-year-old commoner girl scoring perfectly to become an official. Unreal.”
As Martina’s remarkable feat leaves everyone speechless, the Minister of Internal Affairs takes the stage, and the ceremony begins. New officials, eager and anxious, focus their attention on him.
“The twelve gathered here today have passed one of the most rigorous exams. Use your intellect, recognized by the kingdom, to serve our nation wholeheartedly. Now, I shall share our country’s founding history…”
The minister’s customary lengthy speech concludes after about thirty minutes. Then, the new officials are called up to the stage one by one to receive their official mantles and brooches, symbols of their rank.
“Next, Martina.”
Called by the minister, Martina steps onto the stage, nervous but with eyes full of excitement.
“Miss Martina, we anticipate your great contributions to our nation.”
“Yes!”
Martina receives the mantle and brooch with both hands, and, though fumbling slightly, she fastens the mantle over her official uniform.
The color of Martina’s mantle is fresh green, indicating her assignment to the Department of Administration.
