Episode 23

It’s a marriage between her ex-lover and her cousin. It was not something common. From Rebecca’s perspective, it feels like her world will be turned upside down.

‘Especially because Rebecca liked Caleb….’

The days when she had been in agony for several days after breaking up with Caleb were still fresh in Rose’s mind. Now she understood why Rebecca could only sit on the bench alone and cry.

Rebecca spoke with trembling hands clenched into fists.

“By the way, my uncle and cousin don’t know that I dated Caleb. They don’t even live in the capital. Keep it quiet about this news.”

Rose cautiously interjected.

“Shouldn’t you tell them the truth?”

“Yeah, Rose is right! Just spill the beans to the family!”

Rebecca’s face contorted as if she were about to cry again.

“My cousin has fallen completely for Caleb. Her letters are full of stories about Caleb! My uncle is looking forward to it too. At this rate, the engagement will happen soon. How can I sabotage it? And… It’s just so miserable!”

Rebecca covered her face with both hands. Then her anguished voice poured out randomly.

“But I can’t bear to see those two getting engaged! I’ll probably get invited to the engagement ceremony, right? How can I witness that? I might faint at the venue.”

Rose was dazed by the bewildering story. Rebecca’s uncle was the second brother of her father, Viscount Sherman, and although he hadn’t inherited a title, he ran a company with the Viscount.

Caleb was the eldest who would eventually inherit the title of Earl. The wealth of the Sherman family and the Earl title. Their marriage made sense in terms of their mutual interests.

Listening to Rebecca’s explanation, Briley shook her head in disbelief.

“No… even so. Caleb knew that she was your cousin, and he still accepted the engagement proposal. This guy is crazy.”

“He’s ignoring me!”

“He’s a jerk!”

“You’re right!”

Briley and Rebecca shook hands with each other.

Rose, silently observing them, cautiously offered her opinion.

“After they know all the circumstances, wouldn’t your cousin also have a change of heart about Caleb?”

“…Do you think so?”

“Is the engagement confirmed?”

“It seems almost certain. Should I just blow the whole thing up? What a playboy Caleb Sidoor is… Besides, Caleb wasn’t even into healthy relationships!”

Briley was completely engrossed in Rebecca’s words as she spoke.

“Yeah, he’s quite a jerk.”

“What if I spill the beans… will the engagement be off? Caleb’s image will also hit rock bottom, right?”

“Then do it! Get your revenge!”

“But… then… Caleb will suffer, won’t he? He’ll be hurt…”

“…Huh? What?”

Briley, who had been passionately venting her anger, suddenly looked deflated.

“Oh.”

Rebecca forcefully tugged at her neatly arranged hair with both hands.

“What should I do? I still… seem to like Caleb.”

Briley’s eyes widened, and Rose swallowed hard, feeling flustered. Briley shouted with her cheeks flushed.

“Rebecca, snap out of it! Just one guy? Forget about that guy. You like such a scoundrel?”

“But Caleb is handsome… and when we were dating, he was sweet…”

“There must be a reason you broke up in just a month. Try to remember that.”

“That is… “

Tears welled up in Rebecca’s eyes again.

“I don’t know the reason. We were doing fine, and suddenly Caleb said we should break up.”

“He even dumped you?! You don’t need to look any further!”

“But…”

“Oh, it’s so frustrating.”

Briley clenched her fist and thumped her chest.

“I feel like I’ve stuffed five giant jelly beans into my throat, Rebecca. Seriously? That’s why I don’t give dating advice.”

Rebecca mumbled with a melancholic expression.

“Do you think… my cousin and Caleb are in a serious relationship? Does Caleb love my cousin? Truly?”

“Whether he does or not!”

“But I want to know for sure…”

Rose looked at Rebecca with a puzzled expression.

‘It seems like she really likes Caleb.…’

Rebecca had been hurt to the point of tears, so why couldn’t she let go? Rose couldn’t understand it. The current Rebecca was far from the image of a noble lady.

Rebecca looked at Briley, who was getting angry even more than herself and asked.

“You… is it true that you’re dating Jasper?”

“Why?”

“Because Jasper and Caleb are roommates. Maybe… through you, I can find out more about Caleb.”

“Hmm.”

Briley placed her hands on her hips and stuck out her tongue. She had been playfully teasing about the rumors with Jasper, but now she spoke the truth.

“I’m not dating him. So, you should also stop caring about Caleb!”

“I know… I know how pathetic I sound. But, but what can I do when my heart keeps going there?”

Rebecca finally buried her face in her handkerchief again. As she sobbed and her shoulders trembled, Briley’s stern expression softened.

Rose and Briley exchanged awkward glances. What should they do? Even without words, their complicated feelings were apparent to each other.

Rebecca sobbed weakly and mumbled with a fragile voice.

“I’m even in the same club as Caleb… I couldn’t bear to see him. I ran away here and sat alone, wondering why I felt so miserable. What does Caleb Sidoor want me to do?”

“Just forget about that guy.”

“I can’t do that as I please! Caleb Sidoor was my ideal guy for a thousand years.”

“I know.”

“…I want to know Caleb’s true feelings. Why did he suddenly want to break up with me? It might help if I know.”

“Why don’t you ask him directly?”

“If he had just answered willingly, I wouldn’t be in this situation…”

Briley let out a soft sigh and gestured to Rose. They needed to help. They should help.

Rose bit her lip thoughtfully. It was unintentional, but she kept feeling involved in Berkley Academy’s love affairs. She might end up meeting new people.

She had been avoiding making friends as much as possible until now. But it was hard to ignore Rebecca, who was filled with regret and sobbing uncontrollably.

Rose hesitated before reaching out to put her arms around Rebecca’s shoulders and asked in a cautious voice.

“Um… should we try to find out a bit?”

Rebecca, with a bright red nose, lifted her face in surprise.

“I’ll ask Jasper. About Caleb… um, how he’s been lately.”

“…Really? Rose, are you close to Jasper?”

“We’re taking mineralogy together this semester.”

Briley chimed in from the side.

“They seem to have gotten closer recently. I’ll also try to gather information from here and there.”

Rebecca stared with wide eyes, then suddenly grabbed the hands of Rose and Briley.

“Are you helping me? Please… I’m begging you. Jasper shares a room with Caleb… Maybe he heard something.”

Rose nodded hesitantly.

“Mm-hmm. Don’t expect too much. But I’ll give it a try.”

“Yeah… Ah, I feel a bit relieved.”

Rebecca let out a sigh of relief and relaxed her stiff shoulders. The torrential stream of sobbing had finally subsided.

Rose also breathed a sigh of relief.

‘But… I wonder if Jasper knows anything?’

Jasper always seemed disinterested in others. Despite knowing Caleb for a long time, he rarely talked about him.

Rebecca tapped her eyes with the corner of her handkerchief and spoke.

“But what kind of club are you all in? Are you involved in any clubs?”

As if waiting for this question, Briley straightened her shoulders and enthusiastically answered.

“We’re in the Walking Club!”

“…What’s that? I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s going to be the best club at Berkley Academy this year, so remember it.”

“Who are the club members?”

“Briley Lawrence and Rose Bell!”

Rebecca’s expression turned uncertain.

“Why that face, Rebecca? Do you want to join our club too? I heard earlier you’re in the same club as Caleb’s. Will you keep attending there?”

“No… I can’t. I was planning to leave. But there was no space in other famous clubs… I should have reserved it as soon as the semester started. Ugh.”

“Then join our club!”

Briley stood up energetically from the bench, extending her hand toward Rebecca. She even flashed a confident smile.

Rose turned her head slightly. She wanted to escape this conversation whenever possible.

Rebecca mumbled with pursed lips.

“Well… I do owe you two a favor. I’ll think about joining the club a bit more…”

“Listen to what activities we do, at least.”

“…What are they?”

Rebecca raised an eyebrow and looked at Briley. Soon, Briley’s grand plan was eloquently laid out. Introducing the Lepti Empire’s Capital City Grand Exploration, led by none other than the three musketeers.

Initially skeptical, Rebecca’s face gradually showed signs of interest. Briley smoothly explained and promoted the idea, concluding with a shout.

“Alright, we’ll become a trio and rewrite the map of the capital city. We’ll revolutionize the walking paths!”

Throughout this, Rose had been silently listening. It might not be a full-blown revolution. She wanted to timidly object, but seeing Rebecca and Briley enjoying themselves, she decided to keep her mouth shut.

“Rebecca Sherman. Make your choice quickly. Are you in or out with us?”

Briley confidently extended her hand. Rebecca hesitated for a moment, then lightly grasped Briley’s fingertips.

“…Fine, I’m in.”

And just like that, the membership of the Walking Club, which had been a solo endeavor for an entire year, suddenly grew to three members. All of this happened in just one day.