The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Chapter 44

Episode 44

“…Adela Bluewood?”

Jasper mumbled in a low voice. His forehead wrinkled slightly. Rose glanced at Jasper’s reaction before explaining.

“I saw both of you in the corridor yesterday…” 

“Yeah, you were there too.”

Jasper tilted his head curiously, shooting a look at Rose, as if saying, ‘You knew I was there.’

It felt like their eyes had met briefly during that moment. Perhaps it wasn’t a misunderstanding.

Jasper let out a short sigh and spoke.

“I’m not on those terms with Adela.”

Rose nodded slowly. Jasper’s attitude towards Adela didn’t seem particularly friendly, but Jasper was generally brusque with everyone.

“I just thought you looked good together.”

“Why do you think that?” 

“Hmm…”

Rose hesitated for a moment before answering. There were plenty of reasons why the two of them seemed to get along. It was probably why rumors about them had become so hot at the academy.

‘But why did I bring this up?’

Rose wondered, slightly scrunching her nose in self-discomfort. It didn’t concern her who Jasper associated with. However, the scene she witnessed in the corridor had stayed with her. Rose hesitated before speaking.

“You both seem to have a similar vibe.” 

“I don’t know.”

“You’re both strikingly good-looking, so…” 

“Do you wish I got along with her?”

Jasper fixed his gaze on Rose’s face. His voice was low and his tone was stiff.

Rose flinched for a moment at Jasper’s question. She didn’t particularly wish for them to get along. She had just realized that someone like Adela Bluewood seemed to suit Jasper Conway. It was as if she couldn’t forget that fact, and the words came out inadvertently. Rose placed her hand on her knee and tightly gripped her skirt.

Jasper continued to look at Rose’s profile without averting his gaze. 

“It’s just my brother causing trouble.”

“…Huh?”

“He’s involved with the thing about Adela Bluewood.”

Rose briefly met Jasper’s gaze. Jasper’s face showed a subtle hint of discomfort.

“Word has been going around within the families.”

Considering that Adela had sought out Jasper personally, it seemed like there had been significant discussions. Rose was well aware of how noble arranged marriages worked. Unless something unusual happened, they would get engaged first and then have a formal wedding once both reached adulthood.

Jasper bit his lower lip lightly and mumbled.

“I don’t care what my brother says. Engagement means nothing…”

“Don’t you like it? Adela is quite a beauty.”

“Well…”

Jasper made a somewhat sullen expression. Rose looked puzzled. 

“Isn’t that setting the bar too high?”

It was an undeniable fact that Adela Bluewood was exceptionally beautiful. The rumor that the daughter of Count Bluewood was quite the beauty had been circulating for a while. Rose’s impressions of Adela, having seen her in person, confirmed this. She was stunning to the point of being unattainable.

The fact that Jasper’s reaction to Adela was so indifferent was surprising. 

‘Is it because he looks at his face every day?’

In truth, Rose thought that among all the men she had seen, Jasper Conway was the most handsome. When she set aside all emotions and simply judged, no one could surpass Jasper’s appearance.

Jasper looked at the bewildered Rose with a bemused expression.

 “Is it wrong to have high standards?”

“It’s not wrong, but…”

“If she’s pretty and the daughter of a Count, does that mean I have to like her? Ridiculous. It almost seems like you have a crush on Adela.”

Jasper chuckled lightly. Rose blinked a few times before responding.

“No, it’s not like that. I don’t know what kind of person Adela is, but when it comes to first impressions, looks play a significant role. When you talk to her, do you find her incompatible with your ideal type?”

“Yeah, and she’s too young.”

“A three-year age difference doesn’t seem that significant, though.”

“I don’t like people younger than me.”

“So, you prefer older people. I didn’t know that.”

“I’m not particularly into older people either. I usually prefer people around the same age.”

“I see…”

Rose awkwardly rolled her eyes. She felt like Jasper’s gaze had been intensifying gradually since earlier. Rose subtly shifted her body away from Jasper.

“Anyway… Jasper, you might find it awkward in the middle of all this. If there’s talk of engagement… But as you spend more time together, could you possibly develop a liking for each other?”

“Why should I go out of my way to do that? It’s just an engagement, I can cancel it.”

Rose was surprised by Jasper’s firm response. Engagements among noble families were never taken lightly. Especially if the prospective head of the Conway family was pushing for it more aggressively.

‘Is it okay?’

Rose worried about Jasper, who seemed to have strong reservations about the arranged marriage. Suddenly, she remembered an article she had seen in the gossip section not long ago. It was a story about a noble who had fallen in love with a commoner and escaped.

The last sentence from the gossip article kept lingering in Rose’s mind. The author strongly criticized their love. Rose didn’t necessarily agree with the author’s opinion, but she knew that this would attract a lot of attention and scrutiny.

If the Conways, particularly Jasper, became the focus of gossip, it would undoubtedly create quite a commotion. Jasper was likely to face harsh criticism. Would Ethan Conway allow the breakup in the first place?

‘It’s a tough path they’re on.’

Jasper, who was known for his strong convictions, appeared both surprised and anxious. 

‘Well, it’s Jasper’s business to handle.’

After all, it was Jasper’s private life. Rose realized that she was probably giving this matter more attention than it deserved. She awkwardly smiled.

“I’m worried too. I hope everything works out the way you want, Jasper. It’s been quite a while; should I start tutoring now?”

Rose was about to get up from the sofa when Jasper’s large hand once again caught her wrist.

“Rose Bell.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you worried about me?”

Rose sat back down on the sofa, feeling the grip of Jasper’s hand guiding her.

“Oh, did I go too far? I’m sorry. It’s not easy to go against your family’s wishes…”

Jasper stared at Rose intently. 

“No. Keep worrying.”

Rose momentarily wondered if she had misheard. Jasper’s voice shook more than usual as if he were throwing a tantrum. His tired eyes looked distant. 

‘Why is Jasper acting like this?’

Jasper gripped Rose’s wrist and muttered.

“It’s better to worry than to be scared.”

“I’m, I’m not scared.”

Rose replied, her tone a mix of concern and affection as if comforting a younger sibling.

“Jasper, why are you so down today? Did something happen during the day?” 

Rose couldn’t imagine Jasper being this gloomy just because she was late for tutoring.

Something significant had occurred, something that even Jasper Conway found distressing. Rose couldn’t fathom what it could be, but it must have been something grave.

After a brief silence, Jasper spoke slowly.

“Just… well, something like that.”

“There must have been something going on.”

Jasper nodded without saying a word. Rose’s expression grew worried. Her large pupils seemed to well up with tears.

If Jasper was already a delicate person, it would be one thing, but seeing someone usually strong and tough like him act like this was even more concerning.

‘Of all days to be late…’

Especially on a day when he was already feeling down and waiting alone. It made her spirits sink even further.

Jasper stared at Rose’s face, filled with concern, and then said.

“I have a headache.”

“…A headache?!”

“Yeah.”

“I wonder if we can still have the tutoring today…”

“It doesn’t seem like it. I want to rest.”

“Should we go to the dorm? Let’s skip tutoring today and do it tomorrow or the day after.” 

Jasper weakly nodded in agreement.

“If I go to the dorm, my head will hurt even more. Caleb is there.”

“Why Caleb?”

“He’s too noisy, always nagging like my big brother. It’s better to rest here instead. I want to sleep a bit.”

Jasper made himself comfortable on the couch, so Rose got up right away. However, her posture was awkward because Jasper still had a hold of her wrist. Rose rolled her eyes and subtly tried to free her wrist.

“Jasper, just lie down comfortably by yourself. I’m going.”

Jasper tilted his body slightly, raising an eyebrow. 

“Where are you going? You should stay here too.”

“…Me too?”

“You’re going to have to wake me up before curfew, aren’t you?”

“Oh, right.”

Rose nodded in agreement. Although the academy-wide alarm would go off just before curfew, there was still a chance he might oversleep.

She thought she could work on her assignments while Jasper slept. However, Jasper still hadn’t released her wrist.

Jasper looked at Rose intently for a moment and then said.

“You can stay here too, you know.”

“It’s not big enough for you to lie down. How could it be?”

Jasper muttered so quietly that he was barely audible.

“Well, stay nearby then.”

“Okay.”

Only then did Jasper slowly release Rose’s wrist. Rose rubbed her stiff wrist and stood up from the couch.

‘He’s acting like a stubborn younger sibling…’

That’s probably evidence of how much weaker Jasper was today.

Jasper glanced at Rose and then lay down on the couch, his long legs stretching out beyond the edge. Rose sat at the nearest desk.

“Sleep comfortably.”

Rose said quietly, and Jasper, with a soft smile, closed his eyes and finally agreed. 

“Don’t go anywhere.”