Episode 6

Professor Greedy, who was in charge of “Social Dance Etiquette: Intermediate Class,” was famous for being strict. When the academy opened its doors not only to the gentry but also to commoners, she was one of the strongest opponents.

Although she was now in her 60s with white hair, in her younger years, Greedy had been one of the most successful matchmakers in the social circles. She knew better than anyone how to behave to fit into the high society and which young men were gaining the upper hand in the marriage market. 

That’s what she’s been all her life. Aristocratic society was where she was at her best.

Anyone would feel uneasy when their foundation was shaken.

Twenty years ago, the appearance of a brilliant engineer who revolutionized magitech rapidly changed the continent. New technologies created new markets and birthed new classes and social strata that didn’t exist before.

Greedy wasn’t particularly fond of magitech. She believed that sending a hand-written letter was more valuable than communicating with someone far away using magic.

The world was changing too ruthlessly. Customs that used to be highly esteemed were starting to be treated as old-fashioned.

That’s why Greedy thought that Rose Bell, a commoner who arrived at the exam venue in a disheveled state, was disrespecting her. Rose, who supposedly had a talent in magitech, had come to the exam looking a mess.

“Your uniform is dirty. Why didn’t you change? You must have a spare, don’t you?”

“I didn’t have a spare skirt. There were some circumstances I mentioned earlier, and I certainly didn’t intentionally…”

“Why didn’t you buy an extra set of uniforms? Didn’t you think to make an additional purchase to prepare for situations like this? ‘Maintain a neat uniform appearance.’ It’s even stated in the Berkley Academy rules.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Surely you haven’t neglected laundry as well?”

“I do laundry every day, without fail.”

“Well, if I were you, I’d buy another pair.”

“…”

“I hope you won’t say you can’t afford it. It’s not something to be proud of. ‘Maintain the dignity befitting of Berkley Academy.’ This is also a rule. If you can’t uphold the rules, then you shouldn’t be attending this place.”

“I’m really… sorry. But could you still give me a chance to take the exam?”

“No.”

“Professor…”

“Of course, clothing is part of etiquette as well. Taking the exam in such attire is an insult to this subject!”

“…”

“What’s that tie on your ankle? Isn’t that something the male students wear? A, a female student wearing a tie meant for male students… How could something like this…! My head is spinning. Miss Rose, leave the room! I will mark you as absent for the exam.”

Professor Greedy believed that her evaluations were carried out with the utmost objectivity and fair standards.

And so, “Social Dance Etiquette: Intermediate Class” became the only subject in which Rose Bell received a failing grade. Having an entire subject missing from her overall performance was quite a blow.

Rose Bell, who had always been the top student, had been pushed down to 14th place.

* * *

To my beloved mother,

Before receiving a reply, I hurriedly sent another letter. I wanted to quickly let you know that Father’s situation has been resolved.

After explaining the situation to Professor Magaret, she gave me the assistant stipend all at once. With that money, I placed an additional request at the charm store and was able to retrieve the house documents.

Father disappeared immediately afterward. I don’t know where he went. Should I try to find his whereabouts?

Honestly, I don’t want to. I apologize for writing something that goes against propriety, but I have reached the point where I don’t want to see Father again.

I have the house documents safely with me. They’re important, so sending them through magical mail seems like the best option. Quilts doesn’t have a magical communication office. Please let me know when Mother plans to visit the nearby city. I will send it over according to the schedule.

Fortunately, the troublesome matter has been resolved. The vacation has started now. I’m actively participating in assistant duties, and it’s proving to be a truly rewarding time. Amazing things keep happening in Professor Magaret’s laboratory.

And… After two months of assistant activities, I think I’ll be returning home. Because…

The fountain pen that had been swiftly moving across the paper came to a halt.

Rose was sitting in a corner of the central library at the academy, writing a letter. She paused her hand for a moment and took a short, calming breath. The academy, now in vacation mode, was relatively quiet. Most students had already gone to enjoy leisure in the capital and only exemplary students like Rose remained.

The central library was even quieter than usual. If she behaved oddly, she’d attract even more attention.

With her hand placed over her chest, Rose took a deep breath. She decided to practice writing on another piece of paper.

Rose’s pen came to a stop once again as she wrote. Her lips trembled slightly. She erased the sentence she had just written with her pen, creating a rough, scraping sound. She took a deep breath. In truth, if she were to send the letter exactly as it was, her mother would be greatly disappointed.

However, she couldn’t lie about her current situation either. It felt unjust. She had been grappling with these conflicting thoughts for several days.

If only her father hadn’t pushed her that day.

She had even attempted to apply for a grade correction with Professor Greedy, but it was naturally rejected. 

‘Do I have to leave from here?’

Her heart felt constricted. There was so much she hadn’t learned yet. From the ages of sixteen to eighteen, Rose had given her all to Berkley Academy. She hadn’t anticipated the results turning out this way.

Would it have been less painful if she had failed in another subject? Rose wasn’t one to show her anger easily, but lately, fiery emotions had occasionally welled up within her.

She didn’t want to give up like this. She desperately wanted to find a way, but the path ahead seemed obscured.

Plop.

As she was lost in thought, a droplet fell from Rose’s eyes. Plop, plop. It was only belatedly that she realized the letter paper was getting damp.

“Ah.”

It felt as though tears she had been holding back for three years were all pouring forth at once. It was the first time she had cried in the academy.

Quickly, Rose used her hand to wipe her eyes. Before anyone else could see, she left the library.

“Ugh, ugh.”

Suppressing her rising breath and tears as best she could, Rose hurriedly passed through the corridor. She didn’t want anyone to witness her in this state.

She was already aware that rumors about her circulated within the academy.

‘Rose Bell is dropping out.’

Though no one approached her directly, she could hear murmurs from behind her.

Rose had never paid much attention to how she was treated at the academy. She considered herself incredibly lucky to have been admitted to Berkley in the first place.

But this time was different. It hurt to think that a pivotal moment in her life could be a source of amusement for others.

Rose quickly moved to a place where no one would cross paths with her. She leaped across the bridge connecting the main building and the annex.

Rose climbed the spiral staircase of the annex building. Eventually, she stopped on the dimly lit seventh floor, where it felt particularly secluded.

Rose softly dabbed her cheeks with the palm of her hand, as if trying to wipe away her tears.

‘These are the old labs, aren’t they?’

She remembered that last year, with the introduction of new calculators and magic-cleansing stones, the old labs had been abandoned. She recalled reading a notice that said the seventh floor of the annex would be expanded into a multipurpose room sometime next year.

Approaching the end of the corridor, Rose reached the lab. In the quiet hallway, only the sound of her footsteps echoed. The lab door was unlocked.

‘Can I go in…?’

She hesitated briefly. Professor Greedy had scolded her for disregarding the rules, but in reality, Rose had always made an effort to adhere to every rule and regulation. It was to avoid any sort of reprimand.

However, right now, she felt an impulsive urge.

‘…I don’t know. I’m going in.’

Rose blinked her reddened eyes. The accumulated moisture on her eyelashes fell to the ground.

Creak. She pushed the partially open lab door.

‘Just like it was in my first year.’

Memories of taking basic magic engineering classes here came to mind. The various experimental tools she had used back then seemed familiar.

The interior was relatively neat and organized. She had expected it to be dusty, but it appeared that someone came in regularly to clean.

In a corner of the lab, there was a small leather sofa. It was big enough to fit two or three people comfortably.

Rose walked gingerly over and sank onto the sofa. The feeling of the soft cushions enveloping her back helped her relax. The more she relaxed, the stronger her suppressed emotions surged to the surface.

She could cry freely here. No one would know.

“Hmfh, ugh…”

Rose buried her face in her hands.

Determined to let it all out, a sorrowful sob finally broke free. It was the first time in her life she had cried so openly.

She thought it was unacceptable. Acting like a child, crying so uncontrollably.

But right now, she let go of all the restraint she had been holding onto. She cried hysterically, to the point where her breath became ragged.

She was probably making a pitiful sight. But she didn’t care. All the emotions she had bottled up were finally pouring out in the form of childish tears.

After crying like that for a few minutes, the lab door opened again.

“Ugh… Huh?”

Rose was startled, lifting her tear-soaked face. A small hiccup escaped her lips.

“That’s my spot over there.”

The person who entered the lab spoke in a subdued tone.

Despite her blurred vision due to the tears, Rose immediately recognized who was standing in front of her. Even amid the blur, his features were clear.

It was Jasper Conway.