Episode 4

Rose blinked for a moment in disbelief at the unexpected appearance of a stranger. Tears that had been held back fell with a soft thud.

‘Why is Jasper here…?’

The sight of the Duke’s son in the slums was surreal. Jasper’s presence didn’t match the surroundings at all.

Bright blond hair and blue eyes. A cold yet beautiful face.

Despite delicate features, his body was strong and imposing. No one at the Academy could defeat Jasper in swordsmanship. It was common knowledge that the first son would inherit the title, so rumors spread that Jasper, the second son, would become an imperial military officer.

The Conway family held significant power in the Lepti Empire.

The House of Conway was one of the distinguished families of the nation, and the current queen’s cousin was a Conway. The middle-aged duke was known as the most skillful strategist in the empire.

Jasper was a fitting young man for such a family.

The vibrant colors of his uniform seemed to shine even brighter on him. Unnecessary words didn’t escape his smooth lips. He seemed like a living embodiment of the word “nobility.”

Reserved yet dignified aura, considered one of the most handsome in the empire, and the surname Conway was attached to his name.

While it was a rule to use informal language among peers during their studies, no one could comfortably approach Jasper. Even though they might be friends now, the moment they graduated and left the academy, Jasper became someone difficult to approach.

And that was especially true for Rose Bell, a commoner.

Even though they were peers and had shared classes, Rose had never spoken to Jasper.

Anyone standing next to Jasper would instantly attract the Academy’s attention.

Therefore, for Rose, Jasper was like an explosive to avoid. A presence as dangerous as it was beautiful and strong.

From the moment Rose entered the academy, she made a promise to herself. Not to stand out too much. To live as inconspicuously as possible, away from the attention of others.

Among the students, there were quite a few who had encountered Rose during her noble days. Jasper Conway was one of them.

Baron Verden’s family was quite distant from the mainstream, but thanks to Anna’s connections, they occasionally attended parties.

It was an incident from when she was about ten years old. Would anyone recognize the little girl who used to hide in the corners of the party? But being cautious couldn’t hurt.

If caught and reported for misbehavior, the entire family would be punished. It was due to tarnishing the honor of a noble society.

The appropriateness of this punishment was currently under debate in the lower house. The ban on mischief might be lifted or eased in the future.

But until that time came, concealing her former status was a must.

Rose Bell chose to isolate herself at the academy.

At some point, no one spoke to Rose anymore. She finally felt relieved, thinking she had escaped the children’s interest.

That’s why Rose was surprised that Jasper recognized her and called out to her.

“…Do I know you?”

Rose blurted out without thinking. Jasper raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“So you don’t?”

She thought he wouldn’t know. Well, he might have heard of the name Rose Bell, the top student of their year. But she assumed he wouldn’t connect the name to a face.

The aristocrat before her seemed indifferent in every way. He didn’t seem overly concerned about grades, and he had never been particularly active in campus life.

“What are you doing here?”

And now, of all people… Rose wanted to ask back, but she was too flustered to make her lips cooperate.

Rose held her breath for a moment. She could feel Jasper’s gaze on her. The indifferent corners of his eyes felt sharp, and her ankles trembled with tension.

The uniform, the hair, and even the face would all be a mess. Rose was certain that her appearance after entering the academy would be the worst it had ever been.

On the contrary, Jasper radiated brilliance. His imposing carriage was exaggerated to the point that it seemed as large as a commoner’s room.

Rose wanted to run away just like that.

“…It’s nothing. Just keep going.”

Rose tilted her head slightly to avoid Jasper’s gaze.

“You look like something’s wrong.”

Rose bit her lip, various thoughts swirling in her mind.

Of all days, why did she have to run into Jasper today? And why was he speaking to her? Just walk by. Pretend you didn’t see and go. It’s not like they were close friends anyway.

Rose’s face flushed with embarrassment and confusion.

Unbidden, memories of the day she had met Jasper came to mind.

It was when she was about ten years old, back when she was still Rosalie Verden. It happened at a party hosted by Lady Blueard, a friend of her mother.

It was the birthday of the Countess’ daughter. The party was of a tremendous scale, with every noble in the capital seemingly in attendance.

Rose and Anna didn’t have dresses to wear to the party, so they had to borrow from Lady Blueard.

It marked one of Rose’s final memories as a noble. Not long after, George sold their titles.

The dazzling and beautiful party, the melody of string instruments in the background, the sparkling chandeliers and delicious food, the soft dress that enveloped her body.

Usually, she would hide in a corner at parties, but that day had gone somewhat differently.

Lost in the garden due to a wrong turn, she had stumbled upon an incredibly handsome young man. Jasper Conway.

She remembered his shining golden hair. She even recalled the tears welling in his blue eyes.

“You’re like a fairy.”

A young Jasper whispered cautiously.

Rose felt a bit dazed hearing such words from someone who truly seemed like a fairy. Jasper, his teary-eyed self, was indeed as lovely as a fairy, both beautiful and evoking pity. She had tried various things to stop Jasper’s tears, driven by the mere thought of wanting to do so.

Playing in the garden in the middle of the night, or rather, one could call it a lesson. It was a brief yet fascinating and delightful moment.

But getting involved with Jasper Conway was good only up to a point. She wanted to avoid him, not just at Berkley Academy but also on the streets of the capital.

Rose composed herself and spoke softly.

“…It’s a personal matter. You don’t have to worry about it.”

She attempted to turn around and leave, but a calm voice stopped her.

“If you’re going to the academy, I’ll give you a ride.”

A jolt. A surge of pain shot through her ankle as if on cue.

“Why?”

“I’m headed that way too.”

Jasper answered nonchalantly. Rose was confused by the unexpected proposition.

‘…What should I do?’

If she took Jasper’s carriage, she would likely arrive at the exam venue on time. She wasn’t sure if she could dance properly, but she planned to explain the situation to the professor and try to make arrangements.

However, the idea of riding with Jasper was overwhelming. Just the thought of it made her nervous.

She was embarrassed by her current appearance. There probably wouldn’t be anyone who’d willingly showcase their most pitiful moment to others, especially not to someone who was currently one of the most popular figures in the empire.

Squeezing her dirtied skirt tightly, Rose clenched her fists.

That’s when Jasper spoke somewhat impatiently.

“Are you getting in or not?”

Rose lifted her bowed head. Her gaze met Jasper’s head-on.

Blue eyes almost piercing in their intensity. The emotions within them were unreadable. According to rumors, Jasper Conway was anything but a gentle person.

‘…Should I ride? Should I refuse?’

Rose swallowed her dry saliva as she pondered. Just because she hopped into the carriage for a brief moment, she didn’t think Jasper would suddenly recognize her after three years.

‘I almost didn’t recognize him either.’

The Jasper she saw after entering the academy was so different from the boy in her memories that it left her flabbergasted. He seemed to have grown twice in size. His once pretty and cute features had turned chilly.

If his name weren’t Jasper Conway, she might have thought he was someone else.

‘Well, my name has changed too…’

Riding the carriage seemed logical. All that remained was to overcome her embarrassment.

Rose clenched her fist tightly and spoke.

“Well then…”

After swallowing her dry saliva, she continued.

“I’ll accept your offer. Thank you.”

She wasn’t in a position to assert her pride. Pride was a luxury.

The door to the carriage was promptly opened. She could see the interior covered in luxurious velvet. She hesitated, wondering if it was okay to sit inside in her disheveled state. However, Jasper seemed relaxed enough that he probably didn’t care about such things.

Rose put some strength into her uninjured leg and managed to get onto the carriage by herself. Jasper didn’t watch her struggle. Her balance wavered briefly as she stumbled, but she settled into the carriage safely.

Thunk. The door closed, and the carriage started moving again. Rose pressed herself against the far end of the carriage, trying to put as much distance between herself and Jasper as possible. A moment of silence passed.

With her fingertips trembling slightly, Rose felt that it wasn’t polite to just remain silent after receiving help, so she spoke up.

“Thank you so much. Actually… it was a bit of an awkward situation.”

Rose’s voice resonated within the carriage. It wasn’t particularly loud, but her pronunciation was accurate, and her tone was clear.

Rose decided to be honest.

‘Yeah, anyway, Jasper won’t remember me.’

Jasper turned his head from looking out of the window to face her. His expression was cold yet somewhat languid.

A few seconds of silence followed. Rose found it awkward that Jasper was just staring at her without saying anything. His gaze felt piercing within the silence.

‘Why is he… acting like this?’

Rose tensed up.

Jasper had a significantly larger build than average, while Rose was the opposite. When they shared the same space, the difference in their sizes became even more apparent. She felt almost overwhelmed by Jasper as if he were pressing down on her.

After a while, Jasper, who had been wearing a peculiar expression, slowly opened his mouth.

“Yeah.”

“Um? Yeah.”

The conversation lapsed into silence again. Rose’s large, round pupils rolled nervously.

If Jasper had turned his head like this, Rose would have thought that continuing the conversation would be bothersome and quietly rolled her eyes. The issue was that Jasper’s blue eyes were still fixed on her.

‘Why… is he staring?’

Rose shook her head, trying to come up with a reason. There was only one possible conclusion she could reach. Maybe because her current appearance was excessively disheveled.

Rose cautiously spoke up.

“I might look a bit… untidy right now.”

Had the son of a duke ever been alone with a woman in such a state? Was he staring out of curiosity? Rose tried to interpret the gaze that was fixed on her in her way.

“Could I just quickly tie up my hair?”

Even if she tidied up her tangled hair, it might look presentable enough. Jasper’s short reply came.

“Go ahead.”

Rose blinked her eyes quickly. She was starting to feel a headache forming on her forehead.

Jasper still hadn’t turned his head and was still staring at Rose with a straight gaze.