The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Chapter 149

Episode 149

The second kiss was a bit longer. 

No, it felt like the longest kiss they’ve had so far. 

Rose had her eyes closed tightly as she placed her hand on Jasper’s shoulder.

As time continued with Jasper, Rose’s mind seemed to blur. A pleasant shiver ran through her entire body. A thrilling sensation spread from her heart as if she had just solved a challenging problem she had been grappling with for a long time.

Why does a kiss feel this good? Just lips touching each other. It was a strange thing to ponder, no matter how she thought about it.

Because of the strange happiness that had clouded her mind, Rose didn’t pay attention to how much time had passed.

She only snapped back to reality when a familiar voice rang out loudly.

“What’s going on, Rose? Is that you?”

It was only then that Rose opened her eyes wide. She was met with the sight of Jasper’s long, golden eyelashes shimmering in her vision.

But this wasn’t the time to be lost in such beauty. 

Rose urgently wriggled away from Jasper and whispered as she scrambled to her feet.

“Jasper, let me down quickly.”

Jasper opened one eye with a discontented expression. Rose anxiously looked around as she got to the ground and glanced to the side.

Coming in their direction was Briley, running haphazardly, with a surprised-looking Rebecca following behind. And it wasn’t just the two of them.

As the ball was coming to a close and couples were leaving the ballroom one or two at a time, Rose realized that she had quite a few pairs of eyes directed at her. 

She was taken aback, and quickly pulled her hood down again.

“Ugh, this is bad. Jasper, I think the others saw us.”

Rose’s face turned bright red, and she muttered under her breath, but Jasper replied casually.

“I told them to look, and now no one can deny our relationship.” 

“You…ugh!”

Rose turned to Jasper to argue but was interrupted by Briley hugging her tightly. 

Briley held Rose and spoke loudly.

“What on earth happened? I was so worried! Jasper, you said you knew where she was, but you disappeared without a word! Ugh, even after the ball started, you didn’t come back!”

Rebecca, who had just arrived, approached, and the three of them embraced each other. Rose found herself squeezed between Rebecca and Briley, unable to escape.

“Uh, well, it’s a bit of a…”

Before Rose could finish her response, Rebecca’s quivering voice murmured.

“The graduation ball… I wanted all of us to enjoy it together…”

Rose felt overwhelmed by her two friends, but her heart warmed. It felt like she had truly come back to Berkley Academy unscathed.

After a while of standing quietly between her friends, a large hand suddenly came down from above. It was Jasper.

“Can you let go now?”

Jasper’s voice was flat. Briley, who had been embracing Rose noisily, turned her head sharply and glared at Jasper.

“We were so worried about Rose that we couldn’t even eat. And you’re here kissing her! Thief!”

As soon as Rose heard the word “kissing,” her face blushed.

“Oh, right. They saw everything…”

She had declared her serious relationship with Jasper directly in front of their peers. It was a rather unconventional and spontaneous way to enter the ball with a partner, unlike the traditional method.

While Jasper and Briley exchanged heated words, as they often did, Rebecca carefully removed specks of dust from Rose’s hair.

“Rose, what happened that made both of you look so disheveled when you arrived?”

“Well… it’s a bit complicated to explain.” 

Rose said with an awkward smile. It would take quite some time to unravel everything that had happened over the day.

Rebecca poked Rose’s side with her finger.

“You were pretty hot earlier, Rose.”

“Oh… um… did you both enjoy the ball?”

“How could we enjoy it when we couldn’t see you and Jasper? Not just us, but the whole atmosphere of the ball was a bit off. The main characters we were waiting for didn’t show up.”

“Really?”

“Yes! It won’t do. We should host a party at our place soon. You must come, Rose.”

Rose nodded with a faint smile.

Just then, Jasper, who had been engaged in a heated argument with Briley, approached Rose and spoke in a determined tone.

“It won’t do, Rose. Let’s have an engagement ceremony as soon as possible.”

“…Huh?”

“We need a more solid declaration.”

Was the proposal for an engagement ceremony serious? 

Rose was taken aback, and Briley grumbled with annoyance.

“He thinks she’s his, he’s an asshole.” 

“Is she yours then?”

“No. If it weren’t for me, you two would have taken another 500 years to get together. You ungrateful….”

Rose watched Jasper and Briley banter as they usually did and chuckled softly. 

Her body was weary from fatigue, but her heart felt lighter than ever.

Just a few hours ago, she had felt her life was in danger, but now, surrounded by her loved ones, she had a vague sense of optimism. Life after graduating from the academy was likely to be more vibrant, warm, and enjoyable than ever before.

* * *

[Nobility Act Amendment Approved by 61% in the Upper House, Paving the Way for Substantial Political Reform]

[In-Depth Exploration of the ‘Retro-Wave’: Why Have They Taken to the Streets?]

[Is the Leader of the ‘Retro-Wave’ the Hidden Cousin of the Emperor? Official Statement from the Imperial Family…]

On the day of Berkley Academy’s graduation ceremony, behind the stage in the waiting room, rustling sounds filled the air as Rose rapidly scanned through newspapers, focusing on the headlines. 

She hoped that reading the print would ease her nervousness.

Rose had achieved her original goal and secured the position of the valedictorian. Today, she was also scheduled to represent the students and receive her diploma. The fact that the valedictorian of Berkley was a commoner had already become a widely discussed topic. 

Lately, Rose Bell has been receiving a lot of media attention. Even today, several reporters attended the graduation ceremony to cover Rose.

‘I’m nervous.’

Rose sighed as she put the newspaper down on the table. She rubbed her cold fingertips together, trying to suppress her anxiety.

In truth, standing in front of others was still uncomfortable for Rose. However, she was trying to adapt to the situation since she knew that the attention focused on her was a natural phenomenon.

Shortly after Edwin’s arrest, the Lepti Empire had been in turmoil. 

The Emperor did not hide the fact that Edwin was her nephew and had publicly disclosed the details of Edwin’s actions. 

From attempting to sell the empire’s technology to private companies to the kidnapping of a civilian girl, the evaluation of Edwin was decidedly unfavorable. The momentum of the Retro Waves who had been considering Edwin as their leader, had also rapidly declined.

The slogans that Edwin had promoted, such as upholding traditional values and preserving the caste system, were losing credibility.

 Of course, there were still those who supported Edwin, but as time passed, public opinion shifted towards the Emperor’s side. Especially after the Nobility Act Amendment was smoothly passed in the upper house, the radical conservative factions were losing their influence.

In this context, Rose Bell’s story was quite appealing to the public. 

Her background as a member of a noble family who had struggled in her life and achieved great success had become widely known, and it made her the face of the new era.

While there were still people who looked down on Rose, her supporters were growing exponentially. 

Occasionally, while walking on the streets, she would meet people who recognized her. Moreover, since it was revealed that she was in a relationship with Jasper Conway, she was bound to become a famous figure in the capital.

‘I never thought I’d become this famous.’

Whenever her stomach churned with anxiety, Rose would try to recall the advice given by the Emperor. She had to endure it. She needed to make a name for herself and establish her influence.

With her heart racing, Rose’s turn to step onto the stage arrived. 

“Miss Rose, you can go out this way.”

Following the guidance of the school staff, Rose took a step forward. When she would pull back the curtains, she would see the auditorium filled with graduating students.

Rose took a deep breath and moistened the curtains. 

She knew that countless eyes were focused on her. For a moment, her body froze, and she almost stopped in her tracks.

Then, she saw familiar faces in the front row. Jasper, Briley, Rebecca… As she noticed their presence, the tension in her body began to subside gradually.

“Rose!”

As Briley raised her hand and shouted, Rose couldn’t help but smile. Rebecca, a bit shy, eventually waved her hand along with Briley.

Beside them, Jasper’s gaze met hers directly. He silently stared at Rose, nodding his head briefly. His blue eyes radiated trust.

It was only then that Rose’s frozen legs began to move. She took one step at a time toward where the school principal stood. 

As Rose delivered a short speech and received her diploma, there was a simultaneous burst of applause and flash.

Rose swallowed her dry throat, and her eyes widened. Now, it was time for her to turn around and address the audience with her graduation remarks.

‘Don’t be afraid…!’

Rose gathered herself and faced the many people looking at her. 

She suddenly remembered the time when she had stood on the stage as the top incoming student during the freshman induction ceremony. Back then, she had received attention as well, but it was nothing like the fervor surrounding her now.

Above all, the current attention was filled with more warmth and support. The icy stares she had experienced earlier seemed to have changed.

‘Things have changed.’

She felt that the gazes directed at her had become noticeably warmer. There were still those who disapproved, but there were also curious and supportive glances.

With the diploma and award clutched firmly in both hands, Rose slowly began her speech.

“I’ve learned so much at Berkley, not just academically but also about what it means to live with others.”

Rose briefly looked at her friends and then towards Jasper.

“I’ve made my first friends here, and I’ve met people who truly believe in me.”

She had prepared words for her speech when she stood on the stage, but now, she couldn’t recall any of them. So, Rose spoke from her heart.

“So… in the end, we can’t help but live together. I hope we can make the world kinder to each other. Regardless of someone’s status or profession… in reality, we’re all striving to survive in our own ways. Everyone is.”

Rose took a short breath and delivered her final words.

“All this time… I’ve been happy. Thank you.”

* * *

After the graduation ceremony had concluded, everyone dispersed, saying their goodbyes to one another as they went to meet their families. 

However, Jasper stayed by Rose’s side, helping her correct her slightly crooked academic cap. 

Rose’s tension, which had been building throughout the ceremony, suddenly dissipated as soon as all the formalities were over. Her entire body felt drained.

With a voice that lacked a little energy, Rose asked.

“Lord Ethan is still not back? It’s the graduation ceremony, after all…”

“I told him not to come.”

“Why?”

“I think there’s finally some progress happening.”

“Oh, with Lady Charlotte?”

Rose’s face flushed slightly. 

It had become widely known throughout high society that Ethan Conway had been staying in the northernmost region to reunite with Charlotte Atwood. 

Rumors were circulating that Ethan Conway was declaring his undying love for her.

Ethan, however, appeared unfazed by such a reputation. It was a time in his life when, for the first time, he seemed to be consumed by something other than his work.

Jasper shrugged.

“Something about… helping a cat and becoming friends with her?”

“A cat?”

“I’m not quite sure, either. Regardless of the reason, the relationship is healing, and he should be back next month.”

“That’s a relief…”

“Rose, but right now, it’s not the time to worry about my brother. Aren’t you concerned about my worry?”

“Huh?”

“Look at this. My fingers have gone cold.”

Jasper puckered his lips and extended his hand towards Rose. His hand, which had always been warm, now felt like ice. Rose was startled and quickly grabbed Jasper’s fingertips, squeezing them firmly.

“Did you get this tense?”

“Of course. I’m meeting your mother for the first time.”

“It’s just a simple greeting. It’s not like it’s a formal event.”

Today, Rose’s mother, Anna, had come to the academy to congratulate her on her graduation. 

Anna currently lives in a suburban area about a 30-minute carriage ride from the capital city. It wasn’t just Anna but also Rose’s grandmother and her other siblings who had moved there.

Rose’s family had moved to the house she had purchased with the prize money she had won in the contest. It was an older house, so it was reasonably priced, but after some renovations, it turned out quite well.

Rose had also planned to stay there until she entered the Royal Research Institute after leaving the academy’s dormitory. Having her family live nearby was comforting to her.

The family’s move to the capital’s vicinity was partially due to Rose but also because of Anna and George’s ongoing divorce proceedings.

Anna had officially filed for divorce from George. 

It would be a lengthy and challenging process, involving numerous visits to government offices in the capital and various legal battles. 

Divorce in the Lepti Empire was never straightforward, and the process ahead was daunting. However, Rose hoped that Anna could part with George the way she wanted so that her remaining family could find happiness.

Jasper, who was next to her, had been heaving sighs of concern continuously. 

Rose, flustered, tried to warm up Jasper’s cold fingers.

“You don’t need to be nervous, Jasper. If it’s too overwhelming, do you want to head back on your own?”

Jasper raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

“No, we should meet her today. I’m worried. I need to make a good first impression, so she’ll allow our marriage.”

Rose was momentarily flustered, her lips freezing for a second.

“Are you already thinking that far ahead?”

Jasper took a deep breath and firmly held Rose’s hand.

“All right, that’s enough. Let’s go.”

Rose looked at Jasper’s determined profile, which seemed more resolute than usual, and couldn’t help but smile. 

It was as if he were preparing for a battle.

‘Mother will most likely approve if I say you’re the one.’

Rose knew that Anna always prioritized her happiness, and in Rose’s happiness, Jasper Conway couldn’t be left out.

Hand in hand, they walked together, leaving the graduation hall behind, and heading towards the place where their new life would begin.

<The End>