Episode 8

Rose tried to gather herself. She had already shown Jasper her messy side several times. Another instance of her appearing even more pitiful wouldn’t make much difference. Jasper wouldn’t pay much attention to it.

With her throat slightly tight, Rose spoke, 

“I don’t mind. Actually… I’m thankful.”

At that moment, her mother Anna’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

“Rose, don’t throw away your dignity just because you’ve lost your status. If you do that, you’ll become truly insignificant. Keep your pride. You are a Verden.”

Her mind spun. Could it be that way, Mother? She wanted to hold onto her and ask. It felt so difficult to live while preserving her dignity.

Even if she were a poor subject, she didn’t want to become a pitiful person. It felt like being under someone’s pity. She was thankful and relieved, yet her heart shrank.

Rose bit her lip tightly, then spoke with a dampened voice.

“I’ll repay you after I graduate. Even if it takes a long time, I promise.”

“Do you have to?”

“It’s a request.”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard a request to repay money.”

“It’ll put my mind at ease.”

“You’re quite stubborn too.”

Rose chose a middle ground between her pride and practicality. While she was worried that getting too involved with Jasper might reveal her previous status to him, it was better than dropping out of the academy.

Leaving Berkley meant all possibilities would vanish. The future would converge into one path – going back to Quilts and helping with subsistence farming, then eventually getting married to a suitable man.

‘Don’t make any mistakes and just keep your distance… and do well in tutoring.’

Rose made an internal commitment. Since things had turned out this way, she decided to approach it with the mindset of showing Jasper the enjoyment of magic engineering.

Speaking in a serious tone, Rose said, 

“I’m not sure if teaching by me will be helpful, but I’ll do my best.”

Jasper let out a faint breath, almost like a sigh.

“You’re overly diligent.”

“…It’s both my strength and weakness.”

“Well, it’s not a bad thing. Have the tears stopped?”

Jasper’s casual words made Rose hurriedly touch the corner of her eye with her fingertip. They were slightly puffy. Talking to Jasper had somehow stopped the constant stream of tears without her even realizing it.

‘Why didn’t he ask why I was crying…?’

It might have been due to her naturally indifferent personality towards others, but she was grateful to Jasper for not asking that question. If he had asked why she was crying, she might not have been able to hold herself together.

Jasper gazed at Rose for a moment before speaking.

“See you here after the semester starts.”

“Here?”

“A good place for secret tutoring, don’t you think? And you don’t like being seen with me by those gossiping kids. Right?”

His tone was slightly teasing. Rose recalled the scene from before when Jasper had impatiently closed the carriage door and left. She wondered if he’d been offended that she’d rejected his advances as an honor.

‘Could it be…? Does he dare to have… such feelings?’

She couldn’t help but think that way, considering Jasper had lived his whole life in the realm of attention.

Rose’s cheek twitched.

“It’s not so much that I dislike it, but I find it awkward. Both you and I…”

“Well, for both of us, it’s better if our tutoring arrangement remains a secret.”

“Yeah.”

“The tuition fees will be taken care of by today.”

“So quickly?”

“There’s no harm in putting it off. Well then, I’m leaving.”

Jasper walked past Rose and headed toward the door. After a few seconds of stiffness, Rose hurriedly spoke up.

“Th-thank you! For everything since last time.”

Jasper glanced back at Rose with a tilt of his head.

“…I didn’t know you were so good at helping people.”

“Did you hear rumors that I’m unlucky or something? It’s not entirely false.”

“But you’ve helped me several times.”

“Well, you’re interesting.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m leaving. See you after the semester starts, teacher.”

While Rose blinked, Jasper had already walked out of the laboratory.

“Interesting?”

Rose pondered over Jasper’s words. She couldn’t grasp their meaning. What did he find interesting? Was it because they were from different classes? Was it amusing to him? It was an ambiguous expression that left her unsure whether she should like it or dislike it.

“Haah… I don’t know.”

Rose plopped back down on the sofa. As the tension left her body, her shoulders relaxed, and a shiver ran through her.

Jasper Conway was an unpredictable person. The more she tried to understand him, the more her head would ache. And there was no need to understand him.

‘Just focus on the tutoring… But then, why would he find introductory magic engineering difficult? No, no… Let’s not try to understand… Yeah…’

Rose covered her throbbing forehead with her palm. It felt like a storm had swept through her entire body and passed. Still, she tried to focus on one fact.

She didn’t have to leave Berkley Academy. She could continue her studies. That was enough.

* * *

Dear Mother, who I always miss,

Just last week, the capital was covered in thick snow, but these days, the weather is getting warmer. The ice that covered the academy grounds has melted away, and little sprouts are popping up here and there. My work helping Professor Margaret has come to an end today. She suggested I continue during the mid-term break, but I’ve decided to head home then. I miss my family so much.

The spring semester starts tomorrow. I always feel nervous when a new semester begins, but receiving your letter has made me incredibly happy. The way you described the scenery in Quilts, the playful behavior of the three-month-old calf, Grandma’s and my siblings’ daily lives… It’s all so vivid in my mind.

The best news is that a communication station is being set up near Quilts. Can you believe it’s only a 30-minute walk away? Once the station is up and running, I’ll be able to talk to you in real-time, right? I’m looking forward to that day. I want to hear your voice.

I’m doing well and staying healthy. During the break, the academy was quiet, which was quite nice. It felt like I had the whole building to myself. I could concentrate better, too.

Since yesterday, students have been returning to the dormitories one by one. Oh, by the way, I’ll be staying in the newly built senior dormitory for fourth-year students. I heard the facilities there are excellent. My previous roommate was a good friend, but I’m excited to find out who my new roommate will be.

At the beginning of the semester, things might get a bit hectic, so my replies to your letters might be a little delayed. I’ll keep it short for now. I hope you’re doing well and taking care of yourself.

With love,

Rose Bell

P.S. I received the herbal medicine you sent along with your letter. Thank you.

***

“Can’t you move any faster?”

A sharp voice pierced through Rose. She was in the process of packing up her belongings to move to a new dorm room.

The one irritating was none other than Rebecca, her roommate for the past year. Rebecca Sherman, the prodigy of the famous Viscount Sherman.

“I’m doing it as quickly as I can.”

Rose replied calmly. She had learned to keep her composure around Rebecca’s short temper.

Rebecca plopped down on her bed, lips pursed. Her brown hair was adorned with various ornaments, and she always changed her hairstyle extravagantly. Collecting accessories seemed to be one of her hobbies.

The Shermans were once a branch of the Bluewood Marquises, but that was a story from two generations ago. Now, they maintain a friendly relationship with the Bluewood Marquises while running their independent businesses.

Even among the nobility, some embraced change and adapted to the times to amass wealth. The Shermans were like that. And Rebecca, their youngest and only daughter, had been born to them at a later age.

While the Sherman family had been progressive in their pursuits, Rebecca was obsessed with aristocratic values. She was impulsive and demanded to have what she wanted. She chased after anything glamorous and glittering.

At the beginning of their third year, when Rose Bell became her roommate, Rebecca had spent days complaining.

“I want my roommate changed!”

Despite her protests to the housemistress, Rebecca couldn’t change her roommate unless there was a clear reason.

“I can’t stand living with a lowly commoner like her! Do I need any other reason than that?”

Rebecca Sherman had protested for days, but she was unable to switch roommates in the end. The academy didn’t bend to the will of the Shermans. Rebecca couldn’t have everything she desired.

Her feelings of injustice and anger were naturally directed at Rose Bell.

‘So, we’re finally splitting, huh?’

Rose pretended not to hear Rebecca’s words. While Rebecca continued to vent her frustrated complaints, Rose tuned out the noise.

Rebecca’s outbursts were familiar by now. Rose listened with one ear and let it go with the other. It seemed Rebecca was used to being ignored, as she grumbled to herself without expecting a response.

“Who could the new roommate be? I’m so excited. Anyone is fine as long as it’s not Rose Bell!”

Clapping her hands together is the only way to make a sound. Rose Bell consistently showed no response to Rebecca’s torment. In reality, she wasn’t bothered.

‘She’s on the cute side, isn’t she, Rebecca?’

She would just grumble like a complainer and had never done anything beyond that. Even when she shouted that she didn’t like it, Rose knew that Rebecca couldn’t be up to something.

Intentionally breaking rules for Rose or falsely accusing her, for instance. Then she could request a roommate change.

However, irritation and throwing tantrums were all that Rebecca Sherman did. She was incredibly simple-minded.

“Your hair looks pretty today.”

For instance, just saying a word of praise like this would instantly make her face turn pink.

“What, really? You, you’re capable of seeing?”

“I couldn’t see that pin before. Did you buy it?”

Rose thought of Rebecca as if she were the youngest in the Quilts. She liked compliments and threw tantrums when she got annoyed.

“This is a precious item. It’s a limited edition from Madame McSeper!”

“It must have been hard to find.”

“Well, of course. But our dad bought it in no time.”

“Wow. It must have been nice.”

Rose mechanically replied as she packed her things. Rebecca spent a long time murmuring to herself about why this hairpin was so special, and how famous Madame McSeper’s craftsmanship was.

‘I’d prefer the new roommate to be a quiet friend.…’