Anything But Study - Chapter 27

Step. Step.

Only the sound of Hailon’s footsteps echoed through the cold, silent corridor, devoid of any warmth.

‘Melia. What kind of meaning does that time hold for you?’

To Hailon, Melia was like proof of those happy days.

Because of her, he was able to taste happiness.

The only light in this life.

If so, then perhaps Melia was the one and only person he could truly call family.

‘You’re different from me.’

At least, Melia would be.

That was why Melia had to remain unaware.

Of the bond between the two of them.

Of the fact that they had spent three years together.

Thankfully, Melia hadn’t recognized the Hailon who had changed so much.

He had never revealed his surname, and he had used someone else’s name, so it was only natural.

While lost in memories of his childhood, Hailon arrived at the duke’s study.

The Duke of Alfred’s study was located in the sunniest place within the estate.

It was a fitting location for someone who loved to show off and valued his own dignity above all else.

The reason Hailon deliberately maintained low grades was simple.

Because he knew his father’s nature.

In noble society, Erpen’s grades carried considerable weight.

Of course, even if a low-ranking noble who drew little attention in noble circles took first place like Melia, it didn’t mean they would suddenly be revered.

Still, among high-ranking nobles, maintaining a certain level of grades was one way of preserving one’s standing.

It was the mindset of not wanting to appear inferior or lacking compared to others.

Yet Hailon’s most recent ranking was 150th.

Seeing a report card even worse than the previous exam, the duke flew into a rage.

“You call this a grade?!”

Naturally, it wasn’t because he was worried about Hailon’s future.

It was because he didn’t want to become the subject of gossip among nobles and have his dignity dragged through the mud.

Watching that display, Hailon felt rather satisfied.

At this level, it was worth the effort of deliberately scoring low.

After all, avoiding the correct answers required knowing them in the first place.

Seeing his father explode in anger like that was a rare sight.

Even with grades scraping the bottom, Hailon was the sole heir of the Alfred family. He knew his father couldn’t truly do anything to him.

Because he wouldn’t be able to endure hearing people say the family had no heir.

Knock knock.

With a blank expression, Hailon knocked on the solid door made of fine oak.

“It’s me.”

From inside the study came a voice telling him to enter.

When he opened the door and stepped inside, his father, the Duke of Alfred, stood with his back turned, gazing out the window.

“What did you call me for?” Hailon asked, his voice clearly tinged with annoyance, directed at that back.

Only then did the duke turn around.

“Are you paying attention to your grades at all.”

Hailon let out a scoff.

The first thing he said upon seeing his face was about grades.

Maybe there had been talk at a recent noble gathering, people picking at his grades. It seemed he’d earned himself proper ridicule.

“I’ll handle it myself, so stay out of it.”

“How insolent. If nothing improves, you’ll really end up expelled.”

Hailon let it go in one ear and out the other.

He knew that if he were actually expelled, it would hurt the family’s reputation even more.

It was obviously just empty talk.

Still, because his father had brought up expulsion, he’d been able to start tutoring with Melia, so the outcome wasn’t bad.

Perhaps because of that, his mood wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

But then.

“Looks like you’re being taught by that librarian girl. They say she’s top of the class.”

When Melia’s name came out of his father’s mouth, Hailon’s eyes turned cold.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know that librarian position was something you created?”

Hailon had expected as much.

There was no way his father wouldn’t know.

The librarian work Melia was doing.

In truth, there was no real need for a student to hold such a position at Erpen Academy.

They could simply hire outside staff.

The reason the Alfred family used its power to create that position at Erpen was because of Melia.

Because he knew her circumstances and wanted to help her.

As a scholarship student at Erpen, Melia already received a full tuition waiver.

But Melia still needed money for her sick younger brother’s hospital bills and for living expenses.

Thanks to that position, Melia was able to attend the academy and live at the same time.

The Duke of Alfred brought up another matter.

“Count Taven came to me begging. Pleading for his life.”

Count Taven. The name was familiar. He was the old noble who had dared to covet Melia.

Hailon had dug up his corruption and taken it to his uncle, the emperor.

He’d subtly framed it as though the man had ties to the former noble faction.

The former noble faction, which had led the rebellion, was like touching the emperor’s raw nerve.

There was no way the emperor would leave such a man alone.

“So, what did you do?”

“That’s none of my concern. One such family disappearing is nothing.”

The Duke of Alfred spoke with a tone that showed genuine disinterest.

“Well, as long as you raise your grades, I won’t bother with such childish games.”

As if what followed was the main point, the duke’s voice dropped another notch.

“Count Ribelline will be returning to the empire soon.”

Ribelline?

Even to Hailon, who knew most noble names within the empire even down to baronial and viscount ranks, it was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time.

Which made sense, since that house might as well have not existed within the empire.

After all, it was one of the families said to have fled abroad during the civil war.

And now they were returning?

That didn’t make sense.

“Ribelline didn’t flee when the rebellion broke out. That’s just how it was reported.”

Hailon’s brief confusion began to clear as the duke continued, “He didn’t run like the other exiled nobles. He left on His Majesty’s orders. The empire was in chaos, and we needed a reliable supporter abroad.”

Hailon’s expression gradually hardened as he listened.

There had to be a reason his father was telling him this.

Only one possibility came to mind.

He had a bad feeling.

Ignoring Hailon’s stiffening expression, the duke went on.

“In the end, after we won, His Majesty called Count Ribelline back, but he said he’d remain in Morain for the time being, so he was left there.”

The Ribelline family claimed they wanted to focus on their business in Morain.

“And now they want to return to the empire. Seems their ventures in Morain were quite successful.”

The emperor was delighted and welcomed the Ribelline family’s return.

As a contributor to victory and one of the closest members of the emperor’s faction, there was no reason not to be pleased.

And the fact that they had accumulated immense wealth in Morain only made them more reliable.

Now came the real point of the conversation.

“You remember Anastasia, don’t you?”

Displeasure showed openly on Hailon’s face. His brows knit together.

The fact that this name came up meant his suspicion had been correct.

“With the Ribelline family’s return, that girl will also be transferring to Erpen Academy.”

He clenched his jaw. An irritated voice slipped out between his teeth.

“Don’t tell me you’re about to say what I think you’re going to say.”

“That’s right. Your fiancée.”

“Now? After all this time? From when?”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

It had been over ten years since there’d been any contact with the Ribelline family.

And Anastasia? He vaguely remembered seeing her face when they were very young, but she was someone he couldn’t even recall clearly. And now she was suddenly his fiancée?

“We never broke off the engagement.”

That was absurd.

“Choose your words carefully. There wasn’t even time to break it off because of the rebellion, wasn’t that it? I refuse.”

But the duke continued as if Hailon’s wishes were irrelevant, “When Ribelline returns, they’ll stand at the center of the emperor’s faction. They’ll be elevated to marquis the moment they return. Only someone of that level is suitable for House Alfred. It was a good decision to push for that engagement back then.”

The smile on his face, as if every choice he’d made in the past had been correct, made Hailon feel sick.

It was the same smile he’d worn when he said abandoning his wife and child and choosing assets instead had been the right decision.