Anything But Study - Chapter 47

***

Today and tomorrow were the weekend.

It meant there were no academy classes, and it was also the day Melia went to visit Ervan at the hospital.

‘If I see Ervan’s face, will I feel a little better?’

Carrying the hope that her sunken mood might return to normal, Melia went to see Ervan.

But.

‘Ah, right. This hospital belongs to Alfred….’

The moment she arrived, he came to mind again.

It couldn’t be helped.

In the first place, the reason Ervan was even able to be hospitalized was because of Hailon.

Step. Step.

As she headed up to the ward, Melia tried hard to hide her stiff expression.

‘Ervan will worry. I can’t let him notice.’

It was something that started with her own expectations and ended with her own disappointment. There was nothing she could say to Ervan about it.

How could she possibly say that this happened because she came to like that Alfred?

Anyone who heard it would think it was ridiculous.

‘Let’s think about something good.’

Melia forced herself to recall happy things, hoping that remembering joyful moments might at least bring a small smile to her face.

However.

The problem was that the happy moments in her life lately were, once again, all related to Hailon.

Nothing else came to mind.

And so she ended up arriving at the hospital room like that.

“Did something bad happen, sister?”

She got caught by Ervan.

“Huh? No. Nothing happened.”

Melia shook her head in denial, but Ervan clearly did not believe her.

When it was written all over her face that something was wrong, it was hard to pretend not to notice.

“Has Uncle been coming by again lately?”

She thought there hadn’t been any news recently. Was that just her misunderstanding?

Ervan was worried about his sister.

“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just something that’ll get resolved with time. I just had something that put me in a bad mood.”

“What, did you get into a fight with a friend?”

“Huh? Well….”

It was one-sided, but since it was an emotional issue, it was similar in a way.

And if she denied it, she would have to come up with another reason, so Melia nodded.

“…Yeah. Something like that.”

“I see. Still, sister, no matter what it is, it might be different if you talk it out.”

“Talk it out?”

“Usually people fight because they don’t talk enough and end up misunderstanding each other.”

Talking.

Ervan was right. If it were a normal relationship where a fight or emotional rift had formed.

But would that really apply to Melia’s situation?

‘…That would probably be hard, Ervan.’

Hiding her true feelings, Melia smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Ervan.”

“Make sure you talk to your friend. Okay?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“For real?”

Melia only swallowed the bitterness in her heart.

On the way back home after finishing her visit.

Remembering how Ervan kept urging her to talk things out with her friend, Melia steeled herself.

At least so she wouldn’t worry Ervan, she needed to sort things out quickly.

Originally, Hailon Alfred was not someone who belonged in her life.

Let’s rest well over the weekend. After sleeping and waking up, I’ll feel better.

Repeating it to herself again and again made it feel as if her heart were settling.

Her steps gradually grew lighter.

Before she knew it, her house came into view.

But then.

Halt.

Just as Melia arrived in front of her house with a relatively positive mindset, her legs stopped short.

‘…Who is that?’

Someone was there to see her.

The owner of that familiar silhouette was….

“…Hailon?”

It was none other than Hailon.

Thump. Thump.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The moment she saw his face, the emotions Melia had struggled to calm down began to run wild again.

‘Why?’

Why’s he here?

Her shock refused to settle.

Step. Step.

“Melia.”

The moment Hailon saw her, he strode over. Stopping at a distance less than half a step away, he asked abruptly without even greeting her.

“Yesterday, why did you leave?”

Melia flinched, her body trembling.

But there was no way she could answer honestly.

“…I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything.”

She chose a vague apology instead.

“Not an apology. What’s the reason?”

Hailon pressed her, his voice clearly dissatisfied.

“That’s….”

Melia’s words trailed off.

How could she possibly say that finding out about his fiancée made it unbearable for her?

She knew from the start that the Alfred heir was destined to marry a woman befitting his status.

Her own presumptuous feelings were not something she could dare reveal. It would only burden Hailon.

What if he felt burdened and pulled away from her?

She was afraid of receiving a cold look like the girl who once confessed to him before.

So Melia had to hide it. So that not a single thread of her feelings showed.

Her powerless lips slowly parted.

“I suddenly felt really unwell. That’s why. I’m serious.”

At those words, Hailon’s expression softened a little. Concern filled his eyes instead.

“Are you okay now?”

But Melia knew now. That she must not lean on that gentle question.

“…No. I think I still need some rest.”

Melia shook her head, not bothering to hide the fact that she still looked unwell.

It was true.

It wasn’t her body, but her heart that was in pain.

She hoped Hailon would simply believe that she was physically sick.

Because she didn’t want the truth to be exposed.

“I’ll go inside. See you next week, Hailon.”

Afraid her lie might be discovered, Melia turned her back first and went into the house.

It was the first time.

For the first time, she expressed her own will before Hailon, instead of always following what he wanted.

Click.

Melia closed the door behind her. The sound felt as if it were announcing the severing of her heart from Hailon.

The moment she entered the house, Melia collapsed to the floor without taking another step.

Her vision blurred again. Hot tears welled up.

The truth was, she didn’t want this.

Even if it was one-sided love, she wanted to talk to him just a little more.

But she couldn’t.

The more she did, the more painful it would be for her.

“…Sob.”

In the end, the tears pooling in her eyes could no longer hold their weight and spilled down her cheeks once again.

Melia remained crouched there for a long time, crying without end.

She had no way of knowing that Hailon stayed outside the door for quite a while before finally leaving.

***

A grand banquet celebrating the return of the Marquis of Ribelline was held at the imperial palace.

The hall, decorated more splendidly than ever, was filled with countless nobles.

As it was a day when all the influential families known as the emperor’s closest confidants gathered, there were many who hovered about, hoping to form some sort of connection.

Given the occasion, the attendance of Alfred went without saying. Hailon’s presence was unavoidable as well.

He stood with an indifferent expression, casually ignoring those who approached him as he surveyed the banquet hall.

Then, a clear, ringing voice echoed through the space.

“Your Majesty, Anastasia Ribelline greets you.”

Dressed in a splendid gown, Anastasia bowed at the waist as she offered her greeting to the emperor.

The emperor looked at Anastasia with a pleased expression. “Yes, welcome. How was life in the Principality of Morain, Lady Ribelline?”

“It was enjoyable, but truly, there is no place quite like the empire.”

“Hoho. That is true enough.”

The emperor turned his gaze to the Marquis of Ribelline and chided him lightly.

“To think your daughter missed the empire this much, why didn’t you return sooner, Marquis?”

“Haha. My apologies. It seems my desire to expand our business in Morain grew a bit too excessive.”

Laughing it off with ease, the Marquis of Ribelline reached into his clothes, took out a document, and stepped forward to present it to the emperor.

“Still, we were able to prepare such a gift, so I ask Your Majesty to generously forgive the absence of a loyal subject.”

The emperor accepted it with a curious expression, his gaze lowering to the document.

“This is….”