The last day of class was approaching.

 

There were only six girls left. Nicole woke up early and had breakfast with Grace.

 

?Good job. I don’t think you’re going to get into too much trouble with Raul for this.? 

 

Grace said with satisfaction.

 

?But where did all the people who suddenly disappeared go? The examiners aren’t giving me any answers.?

 

Candidates like Nicole were getting restless. The women in her class had been disappearing one by one overnight.

 

?First, the ‘class’ weeds people out in three stages. The first to be weeded out are, as they say, drugged to erase their memories. The candidates who are dismissed at this stage are not talented or qualified.?

 

?…… I see.?

 

?And then there are those who are capable of doing the job, but whose use is limited. They’re sorted out, tested for loyalty, and then put to work. They’re the ones who won’t make it, so to speak, and will fall into the way of the mediocre.?

 

Grace added to Nicole. Those who make it through stage two will mostly live like ‘normal people’ and will be asked for information on the streets.

 

Like maids, shop clerks, waitresses, etc……..

 

But they would be a sort of standing army, collecting information from the streets for the Grand Duke, and digging for more information if necessary.

 

Most ruling families had one or two of these people, even if they weren’t as organized as the Grand Duke’s.

 

?And the rest??

 

?Children like you. Talented, clever, and capable of being sent on important missions.

 

?…….?

 

?In short, those who could become Shadows, the Grand Duke’s private knights, who are more closely vetted and saved for last.?

 

?I don’t think they’re looking for character.?

 

Of the candidates, Marlin’s domineering behavior was getting worse. Nicole frowned at the thought of her.

 

?If you hadn’t made it this far, the Grand Duke would have tried to kill you by any means necessary.?

 

Grace had referred to Nicole as her pupil to hide her identity.

 

‘There’s no way a pupil of Grace’s could be anything less than excellent.’

 

That was Raul’s logic. In other words, he doubted Grace’s words.

 

Nicole nervously put down the teaspoon she was holding.

 

?But don’t worry. With your skills, I’m sure you’ll pass.”?

 

?I’ll do my best.?

 

It was the only way to avoid giving Grace any trouble.

 

***

 

The next morning, Nicole headed to the training center early.

 

When she arrived at the training center, the first thing she did was go into the room called the classroom.

 

Today, the furniture in the room was different from usual.

 

All the clutter in the classroom was cleared away, and the chairs were arranged in a semicircle, as if surrounding something.

 

“What’s going on today?”

 

“It’s the final exam.”

 

The six women chattered among themselves.

 

Then, without warning, they all sat down in chairs.

 

Just then, the door burst open.

 

“Hi everyone!”

 

Nicole turned to see an unexpected figure standing there. It was Estok, looking like he was happy to be alive every day.

 

‘Why is he here?’

 

Nicole was stunned to see him. Wasn’t it a secret that these “interviews” were for selecting spies for the Grand Duke’s family?

 

Estok even showed up wearing the famous Grand Duke’s livery.

 

The Grand Duke, the treasure of the Empire. A war hero, a member of the House of Valentine, and a swordsman.

 

The black uniform of the Sith was a symbol of sorts.

 

‘You’re wearing your uniform in public like this?’

 

Moreover, all six of the last people left in this interview had eyes, so they recognized him immediately.

 

“As you’ve all noticed, you’re interviewing to become a member of the secret corps of the Grand Duke’s family, wielders of immense power. For those of you who are astute, you already know that.”

 

“…….”

 

Even if they did, none of them could say yes. Ignoring the silent candidates, Estok continued.

 

“Anyway, if any of you are eliminated at this stage, you’ll be given a pill that will erase your memories for a month or two, and that pill has a 5-10% chance of having a side effect called mania, so let’s see who survives to become my coworker or turns insane!”

 

Estok said in such a hopeful tone that Nicole didn’t even have the energy to be ridiculous this time.

 

“What is this……?”

 

“I didn’t hear about any side effects like that!”

 

“You signed a waiver, it’s part of the deal.”

 

Only Dahlia was calmer. But her face was dark as she thought about her daughter.

 

Then Nicole asked calmly.

 

“Since you’re here, does that mean you’re our final interviewer?”

 

“Uhhh…… this lady.”

 

Estok’s eyes widened at the sight of Nicole.

 

“You’re still cute and pretty, so has our Grand Duke taken notice?”

 

“What?”

 

Nicole jerked back involuntarily.

 

Estok was a character she could never get used to, even in her second life.

 

“Anyway, you’re right, I’m the one administering this final test. Everyone, follow me.”

 

Estok said, taking the lead.

 

“Oh, and before we do that, you should probably change your clothes.”

 

***

 

Afterward, they were taken to a floor they had never been to before, where there were dresses of all sizes and makeup supplies.

 

“Well then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see you soon.”

 

Estok said cheerfully.

 

“I’d like to see what you’ve learned about makeup. It’s part of the test.”

 

Nicole was genuinely curious about Estok’s gender. If she was a woman, wouldn’t she have to duck out of the way?

 

“What are you going to wear?”

 

The woman, who had only spoken a few words to Nicole, asked in a small voice. It didn’t take Nicole long to find an off-white dress.

 

The material was high quality, so she could blend in anywhere. At the same time, it was inconspicuous.

 

“Hands off, you’re last in line. No one wants to wear something that’s been touched by a private life slut like you.”

 

As Dahlia tried to pick out a dress without thinking, Marlin shoved her angrily.

 

‘I wish I could stop seeing her.’

 

Marlin was…… too loud. Enough to make Nicole, who had been hiding quietly in the mountains, feel murderous.

 

Dahlia turned away from Marlin, her face dark and wordless.

 

“Why the hell are you putting up with that?”

 

Nicole asked Dahlia quietly.

 

“You don’t know. Marlin’s a crazy bitch. That kind of girl, you never know what she might do.”

 

“Did you catch any weaknesses?”

 

“There’s a house where I leave my daughter, and Marlin knows where it is, and she’s the kind of woman who would do something to my daughter if she got into trouble with me.”

 

“Children are a huge weakness for a secret agent. How are you going to do this if someone finds out who you are and takes your daughter hostage?”

 

Naturally, Nicole’s voice was filled with concern.

 

“I want to pass the final exam to protect my daughter. The man who scouted me here said that if I survive to the end and can take on this job, he will send my daughter to a very safe place. A nice, temple-like place where she can grow up like a noble child and I can make a lot of money and provide for my family.”

 

Everyone was thinking the same thing. Nicole was thinking the same thing: she wanted to make a lot of money and have a stable position so she could take care of her younger brother.

 

One side of the room was partitioned off into a powder room, where she could change clothes and apply makeup with the tools at hand.

 

Marlin casually opened the door and stepped over the partition.

 

Soon, two of her followers entered and helped her get dressed.

 

“Do you need help getting dressed?”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

Dahlia said. She slipped quietly into one of the cubicles and didn’t come out again for a while. She was probably nervous.

 

***

 

“Wow, you’re really pretty.”

 

Estok clapped his hands as the women came out. But his eyes remained fixed on Nicole.

 

Marlin was the most gorgeous. Dahlia was also a beautiful woman with a certain allure, but Nicole was truly aristocratic and effortless.

 

Even in her simple dress, she exuded an air of neatness and softness that would make anyone walk into a mansion right now and think she was the honored daughter of the family.

 

“So, where are we going now?”

 

Marlin finally asked Estok, unable to contain herself.

 

“How do we get to and from here?”

 

“Blindfolded…… we’ll ride in a designated carriage.”

 

Marlin replied quickly, eager to be seen.

 

“Very well then. Why do you have to be blindfolded if you can tell where we’re going so easily? Of course it’s a secret where you’re going. This knight has a nice face but a bad head.”

 

At last Marlin blushed and said nothing.

 

‘I wonder if the master and the subordinate are the same.’

 

Nicole thought.