Volume 1 Chapter 108

Volume 1 + Chapter 108: Doing Someone The Honor

It also meant that the days of scraping by in this small shop, pinching pennies, unwilling to eat well or dress well, were finally coming to an end.

She might even be able to accumulate a considerable sum of wealth in a short time. In the future, when Umi was admitted to the Church Academy, there would be many expenses waiting.

The Church Academy was filled with the children of nobles. Umi’s mother knew very well that no matter how strong-willed her daughter was, she would inevitably develop a sense of inferiority in such an environment.

She wanted to make up for any possible gap her daughter might feel, and at the very least, she did not want to shortchange her child financially.

Thinking of this, Umi’s mother subconsciously looked toward Eve nearby, only to see her chatting with Old Master Reynolds about something. The two seemed to have found a topic they truly hit it off on.

That founding hero of the empire, General Reynolds whose stern image was etched into the bones of imperial citizens was now smiling as though he had returned to his youth.

Seeing Eve chatting and laughing so easily with General Reynolds, a founding hero of the empire, Umi’s mother could not help but wonder, just what kind of existence was Eve, really?

Before meeting her, Umi’s mother had felt that her life was nothing but endless hardship and toil.

But after meeting her, she felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance settle in her heart.

She didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because her daughter was slowly improving, and even had hope of getting into the Church Academy through her own efforts.

Perhaps it was because her business was finally flourishing and getting on the right track having even latched onto a great family like the Reynolds.

Or perhaps… It was because today, at the moment she was most afraid, Eve had stood up for her.

For a moment, the look in Umi’s mother’s eyes as she gazed at Eve grew dazed.

She even forgot to pull her gaze back, her eyes lingering on Eve without realizing it.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

Eve noticed Umi’s mother staring straight at her and asked curiously.

“N-No, nothing.”

Only then did Umi’s mother realize she had overstepped. She subconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear, her eyes darting away with a hint of evasiveness.

She only felt her heart beating a little too fast, her whole body flustered and at a loss.

“You don’t look very well. Are you feeling unwell?”

Eve noticed something off about Umi’s mother’s expression and asked instinctively.

“It’s nothing… I’m fine. I probably just didn’t eat breakfast, so my blood sugar’s a little low.”

Umi’s mother casually made up an excuse, hiding her unease and the slightly fervent look in her eyes when she glanced at Eve.

She’s so beautiful… After the shop is repaired, maybe I should transfer it to her.

“If you don’t mind, please come sit at the Reynolds family estate. As part of our apology, allow this old body of mine to host you properly.”

“N-No need.”

Umi’s mother hurriedly waved her hands, her face full of alarm.

To her, the towering walls of aristocratic estates stretching beyond sight were something she could only gaze at from afar for an entire lifetime.

Almost everyone had harbored fantasies about those noble mansions, imagining that behind those opulent walls lay the most beautiful scenery in the world. Umi’s mother, who had struggled alone for many years in the imperial capital, was no exception.

There was nothing wrong with such fantasies, after all, people naturally yearned for beautiful things.

But within that yearning lay a sense of unreachable distance, a height ordinary people could never attain, no matter how many lifetimes they struggled.

Once that truth was understood, the towering walls instead became a mountain standing between ideals and reality.

Smooth and lofty, with no possibility of being scaled…

“Please do grant us this honor. After all, the matter has caused quite a stir and has affected the entire commercial street. Of course, the Reynolds family will make full compensation for this. That good-for-nothing boy will also receive the punishment he deserves, we will absolutely not shield him.”

“Miss Eve… in a while, His Majesty will also be going to the Reynolds family estate. Originally, His Majesty was scheduled to visit another country today, but upon learning of this matter, he changed his itinerary at the last minute.”

“His Majesty specifically requested to meet you at the Reynolds family estate, so I ask that you do me the honor.”

Hearing Old Master Reynolds’s words, Eve felt a faint sense of surprise.

She hadn’t expected such a small matter to alarm the imperial Emperor into changing his schedule and making a special trip just for her.

Such an honor was no different from posting a nationwide announcement declaring that the imperial Emperor and Eve were practically family.

“I understand.”

Eve nodded. In a matter like this, she couldn’t very well refuse.

After all, she would be living in the empire going forward, and she still had a child to raise. More importantly, this would also help Umi and her mother gain some familiarity with the Reynolds family.

At the very least, it would ensure there were no complications when supplying meat to the Reynolds family in the future.

“This way, please. The carriages are already prepared.”

“I will leave a few trusted confidants of the Reynolds family behind to help handle matters on the commercial street and with this shop.”

“Rest assured, you will be satisfied. Judging by the time, His Majesty should arrive soon. We should hurry.”

As Old Master Reynolds spoke, he even tried to personally open the carriage door for Eve.

But it was clear that he was already advanced in age and frail. Forget opening the carriage door for Eve, simply lifting his withered arm looked exceedingly difficult.

In the end, with his son’s support, he barely managed to get seated in the carriage.

On the way back to the Reynolds family estate, Umi and her mother remained visibly tense. In contrast, Eve appeared quite at ease, casually chatting with Old Master Reynolds.

For some reason, Eve felt that the way Old Master Reynolds looked at her carried a sense of relief.

As though a massive stone that had weighed on him for a long time had finally fallen away.

Coupled with his repeated remarks about being old and no longer able to serve the empire, Eve couldn’t help but grow suspicious.

Just as she was about to ask a few follow-up questions, the carriage came to a stop in front of the Reynolds family estate.

Also parked at the estate’s entrance was another luxurious carriage. Eve recognized it at a glance, it was the imperial family’s exclusive carriage.

That carriage enjoyed an extremely high right-of-way on the roads. Unfortunately, this other world had no license plates, otherwise, not slapping on something like “Imperial A·00001” would feel almost wrong.

“His Majesty seems to have already arrived.”

Old Master Reynolds was helped into his wheelchair by the servants, his tone tinged with urgency.

After all, what His Majesty hated most was waiting, especially when a time had been agreed upon in advance, only for the Emperor to arrive before his ministers. That would surely incur his displeasure.

Thinking of this, even the usually composed Old Master Reynolds could not help but panic a little.

He urged the servants to quicken their pace, but the wheelchair could only go so fast. Any faster, and it might well fall apart.