The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Chapter 38

Episode 38

Rose made an effort to hide her nervousness as she greeted with proper manners.

“Yes, my lady.”

The Countess had a subtle smile on her lips, but her sharp natural features gave her an imposing presence.

“It sounds like a name I’ve heard before.”

“…Yes?”

Rose felt like her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. If the Countess knew that she had changed her last name to Bell, she would surely realize who she was.

“You’re quite famous. A rising star in the field of magic engineering. Your name has even reached the social circles.”

As the Countess continued to speak, Rose relaxed her tense shoulders.

“Oh… you’re too kind. Thank you.”

Rose was eager to leave this situation. Of all places to run into each other, why did it have to be on the promenade?

Even if she were to be recognized, the Countess wouldn’t push the matter. There should be no reason for her true identity to be revealed. Rose reassured herself with the words she had said to her mother.

However, despite her rational thoughts, when faced with the Countess in person, she couldn’t help but feel afraid.

Even those who recognized the Countess approached. Rebecca greeted them with familiarity, suggesting that they were all prominent figures in the social circles of noble families.

Among them, there were even a few faces that seemed vaguely familiar. Rose’s eyelashes trembled. Sweat began to form in her palms.

‘No, they won’t recognize me.’

The name Rosalie Verden had long been erased. She had few acquaintances even when she was a noble. So, nobody would recognize her. Nobody…

Suddenly, Jasper crossed her mind. Would he remember the encounters they had when they were children?

‘Given that he hasn’t mentioned anything until now, he probably hasn’t figured it out.’

If he had recognized her, Jasper wouldn’t have kept quiet.

Rose’s body tensed with an unfamiliar intensity. While she had been preoccupied with adapting to the new semester at the academy, she had let her guard down in situations like this.

Once again, reality seemed to pound her head. Her temples throbbed.

Rose recalled what she had said to Jasper yesterday. The Lepti Empire was a society based on social hierarchy. But the strict control extended even to relinquishing one’s given status, which felt oppressively sad.

Just as a wave of melancholy was about to engulf her, Briley, who had been silent until now, spoke in an unusually calm tone.

“We’re planning to have lunch now. Do you happen to have any restaurant recommendations? We would trust the Countess’ recommendation.”

“Oh, Miss Briley. Of course. Feel free to ask anything. It must be difficult adapting to the empire after being away for so long, right?”

Briley casually gathered a few restaurant recommendations from the Countess, subtly indicating that it was time to go for lunch.

In just a few minutes, they were able to move away from the Countess. Rose took a deep breath, holding her breath for a moment, then exhaled slowly. Her heart was still pounding.

Rose stood a step behind her friends and followed them. Rebecca and Briley seemed excited at the prospect of enjoying a good meal. Rose alternated between looking at the two of them, who were smiling brightly without any worries.

Then, both of them turned around simultaneously and reached out their hands to Rose.

“Why are you walking behind? Come here.”

“That’s right, Rose! Are you hungry?”

Rose squeezed in between Briley and Rebecca, feeling the warmth of their bodies on both sides. She smiled faintly and replied.

“Yeah, I’m a bit hungry.”

Rose suppressed the melancholy that had surged when she unexpectedly encountered the Countess. As she heard the laughter of her two friends, she got lost in a strange feeling.

If she hadn’t become close to them, she might never have ventured to the riverside. She might never have encountered Countess Bluewood either. She would have led a much quieter life, like a shadow.

That’s why she had avoided making friends all this time, out of fear that it might become risky.

But she had already grown close to them. She had even started to imagine herself walking alone, distancing herself from them.

‘Oh…’

Her heart twinged. She had thought she could handle being alone, but now it was different. Overwhelming emotions welled up within her.

‘It’s okay. It’ll be fine… Nobody knew for three years.’

Rose whispered to herself, trying to reassure herself. It would be okay. She had promised her mother to keep her secret from the Countess.

So, she didn’t have to let go of these friends. Rebecca and Briley’s laughter echoed in Rose’s ears. She wanted to live, even if only with this level of warmth. If even that wasn’t allowed…

‘I might cry.’

That would be too sad and miserable.

* * *

After the Saturday club activities, Rose Bell spent the entire weekend holed up in the library. She quickly completed her assignments and delved into various academic textbooks.

She chose to bury herself in the printed word as a way to clear her mind. Ever since her encounter with the Countess, the anxiety that had been buried within her kept resurfacing.

During short breaks to cool her mind, she read newspapers and magazines that were delivered to the academy for free every week.

The newspaper for the week contained a mix of good and bad news. Rose skimmed through the headlines.

Northern Railway Line Expansion – Is it Profitable?

In-Depth Investigation: Uncovering the Empire’s Neural Network and Communication Exchange Stations

Weir Company’s Exhibition a Success, Attracting Foreign Investors

Law on Censorship and Amendments – Divisions in the House of Commons…

There was a movement to repeal the Prohibition Act as part of the broader agenda to abolish aristocratic conservatism. The law’s provisions on punishment were also quite ambiguous.

The legal text stated, ‘In cases of extreme unavoidable circumstances, such as being forced to perform the act, the level of punishment shall be adjusted at the discretion of the judge.’

The question of what exactly constituted “extremely unavoidable circumstances” was open to interpretation and varied from person to person. Punishments ranged from imprisonment to fines, depending on which public safety judge one encountered.

“Ugh…”

Rose sighed and pressed her hand to her forehead.

Losing her wealth through gambling and selling her title, was that truly an “extremely unavoidable circumstance”? It didn’t seem like it.

Rose simply hoped that the reformists would gain the upper hand in the House of Commons and repeal the Prohibition Act. However, the process of deleting a legal statute was not something that could happen overnight.

‘My head hurts.’

Her father, George Bell’s face came to mind, and she felt a sense of melancholy.

Rose rummaged through the items she had picked up from the free display shelves once again. Besides newspapers and magazines, there were also advertisements and even gossip magazines, including some that covered social circles.

‘So much of everything is coming in.’

The estate manager would have cleared them out, but Rose had brought them in before anyone noticed. Rose originally had no interest in gossip magazines and was about to pass them over, but the first line on the front page caught her eye. It was about Lady Conway.

Rose unknowingly picked up the gossip magazine and started reading.

[Lady Conway’s giddy escapades?

Ethan Conway’s wife, the future head of the Conway family, had just returned to the capital from a vacation home. According to our sources, the couple hasn’t had a day of peace since their marriage. Who’s to blame, we dare say, Lady Conway?

The Duchess, who passed away a few years ago, fulfilled her role as hostess. But Lady Conway, who took over the role, never seemed to fit in. There’s also been no news of their second child, which has caused some concern.

In our last issue, we speculated that Lord Ethan Conway might have a mistress. Hear that, hear that. This time it’s about Lady Conway’s infidelity.…]

Rose couldn’t finish reading due to its salacious nature. 

‘They publish things like this?’

Who exactly was this so-called source, and where was the evidence for these rumors? It all seemed like baseless conjecture.

‘No wonder Jasper is so sensitive…’

She now understood Jasper’s words about not liking people. The fact that they could keep prying into sensitive family matters like this without getting tired of it was strange. Bringing up the late Duchess’ story was also quite disrespectful.

With a sigh, Rose turned to the next page. There, she found another sentence that caught her attention. This third-rate gossip magazine seemed to know how to pique people’s curiosity well.

[The brush turned out to be a sharp sword… The painter who betrayed his patron: on the marriage of a nobleman and a commoner

The second son of the Viscount of Chardin secretly entered into a marriage vow with the mistress of a commoner painter. You’re not reading that wrong. They didn’t make it official, but they did become husband and wife. The painter had been under Viscount Chardin’s patronage for a decade, and his daughter had stolen him away.

Is this morally right? It’s a betrayal of the sponsor. Who would be willing to sponsor anyone if this is how they repay their benefactors? The viscount went ahead with the ceremony despite the family’s objections. The officiant and witnesses were paid for. I am appalled by this arrogant behavior.

The couple’s whereabouts are currently unknown. According to one of their acquaintances, they truly loved each other. Of course, love is sublime and beautiful.

But not all love is like that.]

There were several other columns, but Rose didn’t bother to read further. Suddenly, her head throbbed. Was their marriage such a terrible thing that it had to be printed and criticized in the press?

She tried to cool her head but only ended up feeling worse. Her gaze dropped downward.

Thud. Someone lightly tapped the desk where Rose was sitting. She turned her head toward the sound and saw Jasper standing there.