Anything But Study - Chapter 8

“That’s why I haven’t been able to sleep lately.”

“Wh-what do you mean…”

Words that made no sense.

What did that have to do with his sleep?

“Trash like you who fuck around however you please. More trash being born from trash.”

Hailon wore a weary expression.

“Lately, I keep hearing my late grandfather crying in my dreams.”

Hailon Alfred’s maternal grandfather was the former emperor.

“Saying the Empire has become too filthy, telling me to clean up the trash.”

Hailon had never even seen his grandfather’s face.

“He shows up every day, making my dreams unbearable.”

But what did it matter?

“Because of trash like you.”

“N-No, that makes no sense. Why would that be because of me…”

It was utter nonsense. To say he couldn’t sleep because of them. But the boys didn’t dare refute his words.

Their pride was inflamed, making them fume, but at the same time, they trembled in fear of what he might do to them.

“Aren’t you sorry to me?”

“N-No, that’s not…”

Robin, unable to admit it out of indignation, was nudged by Valex beside him.

It meant to apologize properly.

Their opponent was Alfred. There was nothing to gain from offending him.

“S-Sorry.”

In the end, an apology spilled from Robin’s lips. The Alfreds were tied to the Easton family’s business.

If word got to his father and he was cast out, his life would be over. Robin, already treated coldly in his family for being a bastard, knew it too well.

Now all he could hope for was that Hailon would accept his apology.

“I’ll be careful from now on, I’m really sorry.”

As Robin stood there with a servile expression, ready to grovel, Hailon’s lips slowly opened.

“Well, fine.”

Hoo.

A sigh of relief escaped Robin. Sweat had already formed on his forehead. Even though it had been just a brief moment, his whole body had stiffened with tension.

“Of course, naturally.”

But when Hailon added a condition, Robin tensed again.

Wondering what he might say next, Robin’s fingertips trembled.

“If you have any conscience, you won’t do anything stupid that draws attention at camp.”

Camp was already an uncomfortable place to sleep.

Knowing that, Robin Easton’s face drained of color.

“If I see your face again and things get ruined…”

A bitter smile fell across Hailon’s lips.

“I-I won’t! I’m sorry!”

The two boys quickly fled the spot. Watching their retreating figures, Hailon memorized their names.

There was no way the Alfreds weren’t involved in the businesses of their families.

Because of the sin of having such sons, those two families would suffer for a while.

Once the two had vanished from sight, Hailon turned his head toward the library where Melia was.

“Melia, you almost got tangled up with those filthy bastards.”

Clicking his tongue with a displeased voice, Hailon’s face was full of barely contained anger.

He stood there for a moment, lost in thought, before finally heading toward the library.

To where Melia Anderson was.

A place he had never once stepped foot in since entering the academy.

He needed to know what those relics were.

Even if not those vermin from before, if any pests were to swarm around, the disgust would be unbearable.

‘Even if it’s bothersome, I’ll just have to take care of it myself.’

He had only wanted to watch from afar, but there was no way he could.

If other bastards so much as looked at her, he wanted to gouge out their eyes. What should he do, Melia.

And so Hailon arrived at the library.

Truthfully, he hadn’t needed to borrow any book.

But the moment he saw Melia’s face, he suddenly wanted to confirm it.

“I’d like to borrow this.”

To see if she recognized him.

But she seemed not to know.

The next day, Hailon had even outright asked.

“By the way, haven’t we met somewhere before?”

“I don’t think so. At least, not that I remember…”

But instead of recognizing him, she was even talking about withdrawing.

‘Who said you could?’

On his way out of the library, after proposing she tutor him since she needed money.

Closing his eyes and opening them again, Hailon saw in his mind Melia’s face as she accepted his offer.

‘After finally meeting again.’

Her light-colored hair brushed back neatly, those clear green eyes looking at him.

‘You’re still beautiful, Melia.’

Exactly as in his memory.

But Melia seemed not to know who he was at all.

Even when he had asked outright if they had met before.

But there was no trace of regret or disappointment on Hailon’s face.

Wearing a faint, complex expression, somewhere between pleased and sad, he hardened his gaze and muttered in a low voice.

“Good. That you don’t know.”

In Hailon’s hand was the withdrawal form Melia had written earlier.

He had taken it while she was away. After all, it was nothing but trash now.

But then.

His gaze fixed on the reason written in the center column.

[Reason: Marriage]

Hailon’s expression sank past cold into something abyssal.

So which bastard was it?

Looks like you’re hiding a lot from me, my Melia.

***

Class ended, and on her way home, Melia was still dazed.

Could it have been just a dream she had out of desperation?

To think that simply tutoring him would not only allow her to treat Ervan, but even pay off her uncle’s debt.

No matter how she thought about it, it was an outrageous offer.

For working two hours a day as a library assistant, she received 2,000 Erin a month, but for tutoring one to two hours daily, 2,000,000 Erin.

The same time investment, yet over a thousand times more.

No matter how wealthy someone was, they wouldn’t just throw around that kind of money. If that much value was being offered, then Melia would have to prove herself equally worth it.

‘First, I should start by preparing materials.’

As she worried over how she could possibly teach in a way that matched that kind of money, a shadow fell before her.

Melia stopped short and looked at the man who blocked her path.

“Excuse me. Are you Lady Melia Anderson?”

“Yes? I am… Who are you?”

The middle-aged man had a neat appearance.

His suit, buttoned to the neck, was so impeccable it gave off the impression of a wall. That was the thought that immediately came to Melia’s mind.

Introducing himself as Calix, he was clearly someone raised with long, proper training in a prestigious noble house.

“I am Calix, the head butler managing House Alfred. I was told you agreed to take on our young master’s tutoring.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Melia gave a short confirmation. But why had he come in person?

Perhaps because Hailon Alfred was the sole heir, this was to inform her of what to be careful about when dealing with him?

“The payment agreed upon for this month has already been processed. I came only to give you this notice.”

But Melia’s guess was entirely wrong.

To say the payment had already been handled—how? Melia’s eyes widened.

She hadn’t given them her bank account, nor had he handed her a checkbook.

And yet, the 2,000,000 Erin she needed immediately for Ervan’s…

“Your younger brother has been admitted to Alfred’s hospital.”

“Ah.”

A sound of realization slipped from her lips.

Of course. Melia had brought Ervan to the Empire’s best hospital, terrified of what might happen otherwise. That was why the fees had been so crushing.

And that place was under Alfred’s ownership. Melia hadn’t known at all.

“I see. Alfred’s…”

In that moment, she felt once again how truly overwhelming Hailon was.

She had nearly been dragged into becoming an old noble’s new wife just to pay for Ervan’s admission there. Yet he was the owner of that vast hospital.

They lived in entirely different worlds.

Even if they attended the same academy, there was no equality.

“…Thank you. Then my brother can receive treatment right away?”

“Of course. He has been placed in the best facilities. I have also instructed the medical staff.”

Relief washed over her.

The tension that had wrapped around her body ever since Ervan was admitted finally seemed to lift.

A faint smile touched her lips.

‘I can treat Ervan.’

Melia once again expressed her gratitude to Calix.

“Truly, thank you. Because of this, I can treat my brother.”

“There’s no need for thanks. It is simply the compensation for you becoming the young master’s tutor.”

“Even so…”

Melia wasn’t naïve.

2,000,000 Erin was a vast sum. Even nobles attending Erpen Academy would see it as such.

Unless it was Alfred.

“I ask you to take good care of him.”

Calix bowed politely to Melia and departed.

Left alone, Melia watched his retreating figure and made up her mind.

Since it had come to this, she would raise Hailon’s grades enough to pay off all of her uncle’s debt as well.

“…But Calix, huh.”

Melia murmured the butler’s name.

Because it had reminded her of someone else.

It had been a long time since she’d heard it.

It wasn’t exactly a rare name.

One could even say it was fairly common, and yet to Melia, it was a name she could never forget.