Why You Should Be Responsible For Him - Chapter 2 Part 3

“Is he?”

I wondered why Mr. Clean, who normally would have gone into the kitchen as soon as he saw me take my seat, was looking in our direction more than necessary.

Anyway, just because a man and a woman go out together doesn’t mean they’re lovers, but why do people always think it’s that way?

“No?”

Ash crossed his arms and answered instead.

“We’re just friends from school.”

“I thought you brought a lover because it’s the first time you brought a guest here.”

“No one wants to come here, how can I bring someone? He’s a bit of a special case.”

I nodded.

Ash shook his head eagerly, enthusiastically.

“I’m kind of… yeah.”

Whatever. I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or an insult, but he took it well enough.

Well, let’s call it a compliment, because a curse word would put me, a frequent diner, in a strange category.

While Clean went to the kitchen to prepare the food, the restaurant made ominous noises as if it were warning, “I’m about to collapse. Is it now? Or now?!” Because of this, Ash constantly kept an eye on the surroundings and reached out his hand towards me as if he might grab my wrist and run away at any moment.

As Ash’s long arm reached for me once more, I swatted it away with the top of my knife.

“Don’t worry, you don’t need to be on edge; even if the restaurant collapses, I’ll make sure to take you and escape.”

Truth be told, I don’t know. What if, in a moment of surprise, we’re all crushed under a rotten log? I casually tossed out those words to stop Ash’s irritating behavior that constantly got on my nerves.

Although Ash probably didn’t understand my real intention, he looked deeply moved, and the tension in his shoulders, which had surged up, seemed to ease. It was quite easy.

The cooking was completed quickly. The rising steam and the savory smell of frying stimulated my nose.

From that moment, it felt like I lost my sanity. Without a word, I stuffed the food into my mouth as soon as it was handed to me. The taste of the crispy fish and the warm potato, combined with the slight tanginess, danced a lively waltz on my tongue. The thrilling sensation of sweet and salty overwhelmed me like a rushing tide.

Clang! Clang!

The loud noise of forks clashing against empty plates resonated in the restaurant. When I felt reasonably full, I noticed that Ash’s plate still looked the same as when it was first served.

He looked over at me, nudged the food with his fork, and took a bite of fish fillet.

No, he pretended to eat it. When he put the fork back down, the fish was still there.

If he wasn’t going to eat, why did he follow me here? If he doesn’t eat, he’s the only one hungry. Well, whatever.

Ignoring Ash’s antics, I quickly finished my plate.

“Senior, your beard…”

“Hm?”

Ash reached out and stole the corner of my mouth, shoving a wiry brown beard in front of my eyes. It was the same color as Mr. Clean’s beard.

Pluck, pluck.

After removing the beard, he continued to stare at me for a while. It wasn’t a scrutinizing gaze, but more like a restless puppy who couldn’t sit still and kept fidgeting, drooling like…

“Do you have something to say?”

“Senior, I have a favor to ask.”

Ash spoke as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Even if you hadn’t asked, it would have been disappointing if you were upset.

I nodded for him to continue. I knew we weren’t close enough to ask each other for favors, but here goes.

“Do you think you could tutor me?”

“I can’t.”

I didn’t say I would do it; don’t misunderstand. It was a pointless statement at this moment, given that time is precious. What’s the point of tutoring? I had nothing to gain.

“Senior, I know you’re busy, but I don’t know anyone else to ask but you, so can you please think about it?”

“How do you know I’m busy? If you knew, you would never have made such a request.”

“I need a teacher to teach me imperial history. I received a failing grade this time, and my father said that if I don’t rank within the top 10 in the next exam, he’ll pull me out of the academy or whatever it is and make me return to Imperial City. But I really want to graduate from the academy.”

Because of that fool’s foolish actions, I keep forgetting the fact that he’s a prince. When he says ‘father,’ it obviously refers to our Imperial Majesty, the emperor.

My mind whirled for a moment. If I ever interview for a major position in the empire, I could say, “I tutored Prince Ash in Imperial History when he was at the academy, and I’m sure he’d appreciate the extra credit.” People would be interested. They’d be interested, but the response would be, “So what.”

It doesn’t suit my style to allocate my precious vacation time just to provoke him for a momentary satisfaction. It would be a tremendous, exceptionally significant loss for me. There’s no need to think about it any further.

I held up my index finger and said.

“I don’t know.”

Ash pleaded, almost crying.

“Senior, I’ve heard you’ve been the top student in imperial history for five years. Moreover, during vacation, the only people left at the academy are the seniors in the graduating class… and the only person who can tutor me is Senior Yveline.”

“Go back to Imperial Academy and get a tutor there. Besides, I’m busier than the seniors in the graduating class. Got it?”

“…I can’t go back to Hwangseong.”

He said gloomily.

I’ve never seen any news articles about the youngest prince being expelled. Instead, it’s been boasting about him excelling in the magic department at the Royal Academy, attracting only the most talented individuals. It’s been a headline for two years now.”

He continued in a hushed tone that I could barely hear.

“…I fought with my father.”

What? Such an answer, seemingly going through a storm of rage.

“My father keeps insisting that I quit the academy and instead earn the title of Grand Mage at the Tower within the imperial capital. We argued about it.”

Crazy. This guy, right now… to give up the position of Grand Mage just for the sake of graduating from a single academy?

Even if he graduates as the top student from the academy, becoming a Grand Mage requires spending decades at the Tower! And that’s only if the abilities match, or else you just grow old and die at the Tower! I’m sitting here with my stomach so full that I don’t even know if it’s going to burst!

Oh, blood pressure, the feeling of inferiority roaring within me.

Calm down, calm down, let’s stay composed.

I managed to steady my trembling voice and asked.

“Ah, why do you want to graduate from the Academy?”

“I want to wear the graduation gown, receive flowers on graduation day, and get my diploma.”

Quang!

“Senior?”

I slammed my hand down on the table.

Just for such a reason. Ugh, I really dislike this guy. He doesn’t even know how to appreciate what he has.

“…A quarrel is a quarrel, but why can’t you go back to Hwangseong?”

“…We argued about various things, and because my father kept ignoring that history is not my forte… This time, I boldly declared that I would stay at the academy and ace the imperial history exam through my own efforts.”

“You’re going to get a perfect score when you’re not even tenth in the whole school, and you’re a flunkie?”

“Top 10 is just the baseline; getting a perfect score is a matter of pride…….”

I can’t believe it, I was furious.

I study to survive and work my ass off until my nose bleeds a dozen times a day and I can’t tell if I’m writing my answers with ink from my nib or blood from my veins… and he’s simply a matter of pride.

There was no way I’d accommodate the petty rebellion of the immature prince.

“Handle your pride issues on your own. As I said, I’m too busy to spare even a minute.”

“Really, can’t you make an exception?”

“Really, I can’t.”

“I can follow you around during your commute and learn. I won’t disturb your work at all.”

“Oh, it’s already interrupting me.”

“Senior, please.”

“It’s not a matter of begging.”

Ash finally realized the impregnability of my defense. His resolve withered, and his eyes drooped like a puppy’s tail.

“… I should probably cancel the request to borrow tutoring fees from my brother. Senior, I’m sorry. I wasted your time.”

“Wait, wait a minute. What did you say before?”

“I apologize for wasting your time…”

“No, before that.”

“… Requesting tutoring fees from my brother…….”

My eyes widened. He’s not doing it for free, he’s getting paid?

I remembered this morning when Ash handed me an astronomical amount under the pretext of medical expenses. Medical expenses are a one-time thing, but what about tutoring fees? It’s a fixed salary until the tutoring is over!

He knows nothing about the world and probably has the most money within the empire, or even the continent. I don’t see any problem with charging him a lot of money for tutoring.

Oh, what a delightful resonance of a good catch!

Stay calm, Yveline. It might be a bit embarrassing to firmly reject his request, but let’s handle it gracefully.

“Well, you extended your hands to Judiver Prince as well? If you show that level of passion, I can’t just ignore it.”

“I just mentioned it casually to my brother…”

“No, no, it’s fine. After thinking it over, considering your circumstances, even though I’m an extremely busy person, I’ll give it some thought if you promise not to interrupt my plans, of course…”

“Me, really?!”

“Seeing you so enthusiastic, I can’t refuse. Well, my heart is already soft because I’m too kind. Are you prepared to work hard?”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

“However, I won’t let you off the hook for the tutoring fee. No matter how much I give you, time is irreplaceable. Still, for both your sake and mine, it’s better to exchange something, don’t you think?”

“Yes, you’re right!”

He jumped up from his seat and bowed deeply. Seeing this, Mr. Clean muttered under his breath.

 “He’s more like a puppy than a boyfriend.”

He mumbled, but his voice was loud enough that Ash and I heard him.

Regardless, I was quite satisfied with this unexpected job. I had to restrain the urge to burst into laughter. I had to act as awkward as possible in front of Ash.

* * *

“Both together, that’s 60 rupees.”

At the marketplace, Ash hesitated and fidgeted, running his fingers through the 30 rupees he took out. Love, coughing, and poverty are things that can’t be hidden. I knew how it felt to be poor because I had no money, and his appearance matched the anxiety of the financially troubled.

‘Surely the prince doesn’t have thirty rupees?’ I thought… and then I remembered that he had paid me a week’s pocket money.

I can’t do that. He’s given me a huge medical bill and a job, so I’ll give him thirty rupees for an investment.

“Here.”

“…….”

When we paid for our food and left, Ash spoke in a slightly reminiscent tone.

“It’s my first time. I’ve never been without money.”

“Oh, that’s tough.”

He seemed to be experiencing the unease of a poor person. Having been through financial difficulties myself, I could relate to the restlessness.

So this is what it’s like to have no money! What a wonderful, refreshing shock!

Ash couldn’t keep his mouth shut and kept clenching and unclenching his empty hand, describing over and over again how it felt to have no money all the way back to the academy. It was the last thing I wanted to hear.

“I thought money was always around me, like air, and when I realized I didn’t have it, my heart dropped and the hairs on my back stood on end. It was a profound experience.”

“Yes, yes, Prince.”

“If it weren’t for you, I wonder what would have happened to me…….If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, I will definitely help you. Like you did for me today.”

Ash said with a smile, but there was a firm determination behind it. I thought it was fussing over something trivial.

“You shouldn’t be so grateful.”

“You saved me!”

“Well, if you’re so grateful, you should make me a plaque.”

“…….”

* * *

I had underestimated the fact that Ash Kindroper was not an ordinary person. I had to regret the words I had thrown out half-jokingly.

Just because I paid for a meal that cost only 30 rupees for Ash Kindroper, a life-size gold statue in my likeness was erected at the entrance of the Royal Academy. In the wind, the cloaked figure with one hand on the waist and the other holding 30 rupees swayed, standing proudly in my golden statue.

I had enlisted the most skilled and famous sculptor in the empire, and under his meticulous craftsmanship, the statue and my face were undeniably lifelike. To make matters worse, below the statue, a kind explanation was written.

Yveline Rovensdi, Ash Kindropper Penterion, paying the bills for my meals, year 000, month 0, day 0 of the Empire.

“…That crazy bastard.”

Grumbling, I clenched my fist and violently scratched the statue with a stone to the point that my face and name couldn’t be recognized, but it only left a slight scratch. Recognizing me was not a problem at all.

After a while of struggling with the statue, I was eventually grabbed by the guards within the academy.

“I’ll cover my face, why is this happening!”

The next day, the statue was surrounded by guards from east to west and north to south.

Later, the statue was considered the guardian of the academy, and students were told, ‘Watch your mouths.’ I’ll see you again, even if it’s a bad joke.