The Duty Of An Academy Student Should Be To Study - Chapter 52

Episode 52

Rose admired how Adela remained unruffled by Jasper’s chilly response. Despite her elegant and seemingly reserved appearance, Adela was forthright.

However, Jasper only slightly furrowed his brow and didn’t readily accept Adela’s gift. Adela’s outstretched hand toward Jasper looked awkward, and the surrounding atmosphere seemed to freeze.

Adela spoke calmly.

“It’s nothing special. I hope you’ll accept it. It’s a Central Train Station commemorative coin.”

Several decades ago, when the trains first started running, the royal family issued commemorative coins. Due to their limited production, they had become rare collectibles that were hard to find today.

A superstition had emerged that possessing this commemorative coin would bring luck and love, leading to an increased demand for it, especially after a popular romance novel was published about eight years ago.

In the novel, there was a commemorative coin related to the Central Train Station that appeared as a device for the main characters to confirm their love. Since the novel gained immense popularity, various products inspired by the novel were released.

Naturally, many people began collecting these commemorative coins. At some point, a story started circulating that if you sincerely gave this commemorative coin to someone you liked, it would make love come true. While there may not have been any credibility to it, the act of giving the coin itself became meaningful.

Rose, who had lived a life far removed from romance, only recently learned of this charming superstition associated with the commemorative coin. She had heard about it from discussions with Briley and various other dating stories.

‘Adela probably knows about this, too, right?’

Thinking like that, Adela seemed subtly adorable to Rose. She had dismissed it as nothing special, but the meaning contained in the commemorative coin was something different.

‘I wonder if Jasper knows what this means.’

Looking at Jasper, who stood there silently, it was impossible to discern his thoughts. When Adela didn’t back down, Jasper wordlessly grabbed the small box and placed it inside his jacket pocket.

Stepping back a pace from the two, Rose watched them.

‘…They look good together.’

Would the commemorative coin bring them closer? Considering Adela’s proactive attitude, it seemed like they would do well even without the coin. Although Jasper appeared gruff and cantankerous, Rose knew he was quite affectionate and caring. Adela’s continuous efforts might unknowingly shake Jasper’s heart.

Rose stood still for a moment, then suddenly glanced at the music box. A music box was placed on a cluttered shelf with various items. The peeling paint in some places showed the passage of time.

‘For some reason, old memories keep coming back.’

Meeting young Jasper at the party was undoubtedly a pleasant memory. Why, then, did a sense of loneliness well up when she dwelled on that memory here and now?

Rose sighed and shifted her gaze away from the music box. As she looked at Adela’s profile, a corner of her heart began to flutter.

‘…Why?'”

Adela’s hair was well-maintained and glistened as it cascaded down, with diamonds adorning her hairpiece. Jasper, who faced Adela, was flawless in every way.

Rose had a feeling she should step aside here. Even back at the party where she had met young Jasper, Adela Bluewood was the true protagonist. It was Adela’s birthday back then, but did it matter now?

Just as when the rumor of a love triangle had arisen between Briley, Jasper, and herself, Rose thought she was better off as a supporting character. It suited her, and it felt more natural.

‘If they do well together…’

Rose found herself clenching her fist involuntarily. 

‘…It’s a good thing, I suppose.’

She buried the undefined emotions, whether envy, jealousy, or wistfulness, deciding not to dwell on them.

* * *

That evening, Briley and Rose sat side by side on the sofa. 

“Rose! Look at this, it’s so pretty!”

“No, why did you buy so many hats…”

The coffee table was stacked high with hats. There were classic berets, small ones covered in flowers, and even some with wide brims adorned with feathers.

Briley’s eyes widened, and she spoke enthusiastically.

“They all have different styles. This one is a set with gloves. I think it will look great on you!”

“You’re at it again. I’m good.”

“Just try it on here!”

Briley held out a hat with a not-so-wide brim. It had a big ribbon decoration on the top and lace on the inside. It was a soft beige color that could go well with a school uniform, but Briley had added a crimson ribbon around the edge to match Rose’s hair.

Rose, as always, couldn’t ignore Briley’s sparkling eyes and reluctantly put on the hat.

“Wow, it looks beautiful! It suits you.”

“…Does it? Thank you.”

Rose absentmindedly touched the end of the hat, and Briley playfully tapped her nose.

“If you ever need to dress up, you can borrow it from me.”

Rose smiled faintly and nodded. In the past, Briley might have said it was a gift, but she knew Rose was uncomfortable with that, so she used the term ‘borrow.’ 

Rose understood Briley’s intentions and felt grateful. It’s not that Rose didn’t like dressing up like other girls her age; it’s just that her circumstances made her deliberately appear more uncomfortable with it than she was.

Briley looked at Rose’s face, where a faint smile had spread.

“Feeling better now?” 

“…Huh?”

Rose was taken aback by the unexpected question and removed her hat.

“I was worried because you seemed a little down.”

“Oh, did I?”

Rose absentmindedly scratched her cheek.

Was there something wrong with her mood? She had just visited a wonderful antique shop on Jasper’s recommendation and later joined Briley and Rebecca for a meal. It had been a peaceful and satisfying day of club activities. She had returned to the dormitory and even managed to finish her assignments. It had truly been a productive day.

‘Maybe it’s because I saw that music box at the antique shop earlier.’

Encountering an item that brought back memories always made her inner thoughts a bit noisy. But she had thought she quickly shook it off, yet it seemed like it was subtly noticeable on her face.

‘Briley is perceptive and attentive.’

Briley always seemed like someone who energetically jumped around, observing the surroundings more accurately than anyone else. Rose held Briley’s worried hand.

“I’m okay.”

“Did something happen with Jasper at the antique shop, by any chance?” 

“Jasper?”

Rose was surprised, her eyes widening.

“Your expression seemed a bit darker after visiting that shop. Rose, it seemed like a place you’d enjoy…”

“I think I was just a bit tired. The shop was nice. Don’t worry, Bry.”

“Well, that’s good then. Did you feel uncomfortable being in between Jasper and Adela? I was a bit concerned that you were left alone for a while.”

Rose tilted her head and smiled subtly. Despite Briley’s occasional clumsiness, she thought of her as a friend who was more meticulous than anyone else.

‘I’m really lucky to have become friends with Bry.’

Until she met Briley, Rose had never had someone at Berkley Academy pay attention to her emotions. Receiving comfort from Briley seemed to completely dispel the afternoon’s vague uneasiness.

Rose spoke in a noticeably brighter voice than a little while ago. 

“What could make me uncomfortable? Don’t worry.”

“Umm….”

Briley pouted her lips and then snuggled up to Rose playfully. Rose chuckled softly and patted Briley’s shoulder.

“Rose, I hope you’re not going through anything difficult.”

“I don’t have anything difficult. Besides, it’s just my body acting up; my mental strength is strong.”

Briley sighed.

“I know! I know you’re always acting like everything’s fine. Even when it’s tough, you don’t say it.”

“No, I’ll tell you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Somehow, the atmosphere between Rose and Briley shifted towards reassuring. While doing so, Rose contemplated Briley’s words inwardly.

‘Do I never show signs of being under stress?’

But there was nothing particularly stressful in her life now. Ever since her father’s disappearance, it seemed like luck was on her side. If things continued this way, she would graduate from the academy without any issues. To her, that was enough.

* * *

Two days later, on a Monday morning, something was delivered to Rose’s dormitory door. Rose woke up Briley, who was sleeping in, hurriedly ushered her into the bathroom, and was getting ready for school in a rush.

As she stepped out to the sound of knocking on her door, she saw Isabelle, the dorm supervisor.

‘Did my mother send a letter?’

However, contrary to her expectations, Isabelle handed her a rectangular box. 

“It’s an urgent delivery for Miss Rose.”

“Oh… thank you.”

Rose took the box in surprise and went back into her room. She felt a sense of déjà vu. There had been a similar incident before, like when Jasper had sent her a note to meet him outside.

‘This time, who could have sent it?’

Who would send a package so urgently? Was it related to her father, George Bell? Or was it something else?

Upon opening the box, she found a small note on top, and it contained the answer.

[J.]

The spelling on the note was the same as what had been written when Jasper sent her a note last time. The sender of the package was none other than Jasper Conway.

Rose examined the carefully packaged contents of the box with a puzzled expression. 

“Oh…”

It didn’t take long for a startled voice to escape Rose’s lips. She could quickly recognize what Jasper had sent her. It was the same lamp music box she had seen in the antique shop two days ago.