The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Chapter 147

Episode 147

The calm voice of Ethan continued to resonate from the receiver.

-Abolishing the amendment now is difficult. It’s best to wrap things up by compromising on a few clauses. The Earl shouldn’t overburden himself in his final years. You don’t want to go out in disgrace, do you?

Earl Hendricks chewed his lips, eyes widened. Jasper watched him intently, realizing once again that a new generation was taking over.

Those who, like the Earl, couldn’t escape their past glory would continue to fade away one by one. The commotion that had occurred today was nothing more than the last gasp of those who had swum against the current of the times.

-Since you’ve had your merits, I’ll give you a fair settlement. If you spill all the information you know about this meeting and step down from your seat, how about that? Is that acceptable to you?

“I… I don’t know anything!”

The Earl began to tremble uncontrollably, losing his composure. Jasper picked up the receiver and brought it close to his ear, attempting to end their conversation.

“Brother, I think that’s enough.”

Ethan’s deep sigh could be heard.

-Jasper, is that you? I was surprised to receive your message.

“When did you last communicate with the Bluewoods?”

-Just a little while ago. It seems the situation has changed a lot while I was away from the capital.

“If you know, return quickly.”

-That’s a bit tricky right now. Charlotte’s cat is sick.

“What are you talking about?”

-The cat she’s been raising since she was a child has fallen ill. Charlotte is deeply distressed, and she can’t leave it alone. Since the regular council seems to be a lost cause this time, I’ll stay here until spring.

“What? Then I’ll have to take over your role in handling the paperwork, won’t I? Do your duties properly.”

-Please bear with it a little longer. That’s it for now.

“No, brother.”

It seemed like Ethan had disconnected the communication first. 

Jasper let out a bitter laugh, bewildered. He knew Ethan had wanted to go after Charlotte, but he didn’t expect him to cling on for so long.

What on earth was happening in the Atwood Estate? For the time being, it appeared that Jasper would have to work a little harder as Ethan’s proxy.

The fortunate thing was that even though Ethan had been away from the capital for a long time, his influence had not waned. 

Without Ethan, they wouldn’t have been able to pressure Earl Hendricks.

As a result of the conversation with Ethan, the Earl now realized that he had been completely pushed to the sidelines of the political arena. Even the leader of the conservative faction only intended to keep the emperor in check; there was no intention to confront the emperor.

Jasper tapped the table to get the Earl’s attention.

“The imperial guards have already raided the meeting place and captured Edwin.”

“Edwin? I don’t know such a person…”

“You claim not to know, but I’ll inform you. Edwin is a wanted criminal with charges of leaking classified information, kidnapping civilians, identity forgery, and causing civil unrest. The severity of the punishment for the Earl depends on how detailed your testimony is regarding Edwin.”

“…?”

“It’s over already. It was a futile battle from the beginning, Earl.”

The Earl’s aged face turned even paler.

* * *

Rose swallowed nervously, her throat dry with tension. 

While receiving treatment and resting at the security bureau, an officer called Rose.

‘We want your testimony regarding the abduction.’

They had reported that Edwin was apprehended on the outskirts of Brittel. Rose still didn’t know exactly who Edwin was or what his purpose was. Everything had unfolded in a whirlwind.

From what she had gathered from the officer, it seemed that Edwin had been attempting to create a political group opposing the current regime.

‘So that’s why he needed the new weapon. How did I get mixed up in all of this…’

As she followed the officer, Rose’s head throbbed. Her life was far removed from politics, but she had almost become entangled with a subversive group in addition to confronting the emperor.

‘Escaping was fortunate.’

Somehow, Edwin had made an unfavorable impression on her from the very beginning. She didn’t want to see his face again, but in front of the officer, she had to testify that the person who had ordered her abduction was Edwin.

‘I just want to go back to the capital… The ball is probably already over.’

With a slightly despondent mood, Rose arrived at the special detention facility where Edwin was held. 

She saw Edwin sitting dejectedly behind the bars, looking much more exhausted and defeated than when she had seen him in the underground chamber. 

He seemed like a person who had given up on everything, yet he didn’t appear particularly fearful even while inside the prison.

“Hey, who’s this?”

Edwin, who had been sitting listlessly, noticed Rose and got up to approach the bars. 

Rose involuntarily stepped back a few paces when he came closer. Just as she did, hurried footsteps approached, and someone grabbed Rose’s arm.

“Jasper?”

With an irritated expression, Jasper addressed the officer.

“What are you thinking, bringing a patient in here alone and telling her to confront the assailant?”

Though Rose didn’t feel comfortable in this place either, Jasper’s strong reaction oddly helped soothe her nerves.

“I’m not badly injured…”

Edwin, who had been watching the two from inside the cell, suddenly burst into laughter and spoke.

“As expected, it was the real deal.”

Jasper, with a scowl on his face, moved closer to the bars. Through the bars, they were close enough to reach each other. 

Edwin spoke in a familiar, jovial tone.

“Long time no see, Jasper. Can you take a look at my leg, which you messed up?”

“Shut up.”

As the atmosphere in the detention facility grew more tense, the responsible officer stepped in.

“First, please provide a brief testimony and then you can leave. The rest of the statement can be written separately in the capital…”

Jasper and Edwin paid little attention to the officer’s words, instead growling at each other while facing each other. 

In the meantime, Rose quickly explained the situation of her abduction to the officer.

The officer pointed at Edwin and asked.

“Have you suffered any physical violence from that man?”

“Oh, about that…”

Before Rose could answer, Edwin interjected.

“Violence? That’s absurd, Rose.”

“Don’t mention her name.”

Jasper, as if he might jump into the cell any moment, responded aggressively. Rose didn’t look in Edwin’s direction and told the officer.

“No, there was no additional physical violence besides the use of sedatives during the abduction.”

Even though Rose completely ignored Edwin, he continued to taunt her, undeterred.

“Yeah, that’s right. I was lucky to serve you. A lady with enough power to capture the Conway’s young master.”

Suddenly, a loud noise and Edwin’s groans filled the air. 

Jasper abruptly reached through the bars, grabbed Edwin’s collar, and yanked him closer, causing Edwin’s head to collide with the bars. 

Blood trickled from Edwin’s nose.

Rose and the officer rushed over in surprise.

The officer, with a pleading tone, tried to get Jasper to let go, but Jasper paid no attention. Instead, he tightened his grip on Edwin’s collar and spoke.

“What… What did you do to Rose?”

The officer who had been trying to restrain Jasper quickly gave up and stumbled away, exhausted. The only person who could stop Jasper in this situation was Rose herself.

Rose held onto Jasper’s forearm.

“N-Nothing happened, Jasper. He just grabbed my chin, that’s all.”

Jasper’s fierce gaze, previously directed at Edwin, now turned toward Rose. Edwin, still recovering from the shock of his face hitting the bars, began to laugh.

Jasper looked down at Rose, holding her arm, and hesitated for a moment. 

As if he were about to step away from Edwin, he suddenly pulled Edwin’s face back against the bars without warning. There was a loud thud, and the air resounded with the noise.

Only after Edwin’s nose had been dislocated did Jasper release his grip. Edwin staggered to the ground, coughing up blood.

Jasper took a step back from the bars and approached the bewildered Rose. He then spoke with a calmer tone than before.

“…Sorry. I was supposed to ask your permission before hitting anyone, but I forgot. I was just too angry today.”

The expression on Rose’s face, as she glanced at Jasper, briefly softened. 

Normally, Rose would have scolded Jasper, but after hearing Edwin’s words and seeing him cough up blood, any such sentiment quickly faded.

“Fine, ignore me all you want. But history will prove it. The world has gone mad because of people like you… Commoners walking with pride, women becoming emperors, this godforsaken…”

Edwin muttered to himself, his face devoid of interest, clear conviction, or anger. 

His words lacked a sense of urgency, serving as evidence that Edwin wasn’t particularly invested in what he was saying. He was just a person swept away too far by the currents of his time.

It was an era of rapid change, societal turbulence, and a moment that would later be recorded as the age of the industrial revolution. 

Amid the complexity of various changes, there were those like Edwin being swept away by the tides, as well as those who adapted to the currents of change and entrusted themselves to it.

But Rose Bell was neither of those. 

She was someone firmly standing in the middle of the current, like a rock embedded in a stream. She was an entity that could change the direction and flow of the current passing through her, like a rock in the middle of a river.

Rose absentmindedly watched Edwin, who seemed to personify the vices of the past era and unconsciously spoke up.

“Yes, it’s true. We can’t judge what’s right immediately. But one thing is certain. History won’t have any interest in you.”

“What?”

After a brief silence in the prison, Rose’s voice echoed resolutely.

“You’re ultimately someone who hasn’t accomplished anything. You’re not worth judging.”

“…?”

“No matter what someone like you says, I’ll find a way to carry out my duties.”

With a clear statement, Rose distanced herself from Edwin.