Anything But Study - Chapter 52

***

Time passed like that.

The weather gradually turned chilly. The leaves, once richly colored, dropped to the ground on their own as they prepared for winter.

Which meant it was almost time for the Fireworks Festival to be held at Erpen.

The Fireworks Festival was part of the results of research into the mysterious power of the artifact.

Although the ancient power could no longer be used, by altering the energy contained within the artifact, they were able to perform a few light, magic-like feats, and fireworks were one of them.

Naturally, it wasn’t something that cost just a coin or two, so it was used mainly as entertainment for nobles.

For example, at events held by noble academies like Erpen.

“Fireworks Festival?”

When Catherine came running to her early in the morning to share the news, Anastasia asked back indifferently.

“Yeah, it’s at night, and beautiful fireworks keep bursting across the entire sky.”

“Really? That sounds pretty.”

Catherine kept chattering on about it, calling it one of Erpen’s main attractions, but Anastasia barely listened.

Then Catherine changed the subject.

“By the way, I haven’t seen Hailon lately. Do you know anything?”

A faint crack appeared in Anastasia’s expression. As if she disliked that Catherine dared to bring up Hailon’s name first.

“Of course I know.”

Anastasia sounded confident.

She’d heard Hailon’s destination directly from the Duke of Alfred.

“He’s the heir of Alfred. Of course he’s busy with important matters. There must be far bigger things than this little Erpen to deal with.”

A sense of superiority wrapped around her. Among all the students at this academy, she alone knew of his whereabouts.

But only for a moment.

Did he tell that Melia bitch too?

The unpleasant thought crossed her mind, and Anastasia’s face stiffened.

‘Why am I even worrying about that?’

She found it irritating that she felt this way at all.

I need to get rid of that girl soon. Then I’ll finally feel better.

“…When did you say the Fireworks Festival was?”

“Next week! Friday evening.”

Perfect timing.

The drug she’d ordered from Morain should be arriving soon.

During the festival, everyone’s eyes would be fixed on the brilliant fireworks.

Which also meant that no one would care what happened to someone like Melia Anderson.

And with Hailon away, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

It was a shame she wouldn’t be able to watch those beautiful fireworks with Hailon, but getting rid of Melia Anderson came first.

Anastasia smiled.

***

“Miss Melia. You’re aware that the library’s reopening is coming up soon, right?”

“Of course. About two weeks left, isn’t it?”

Melia had been summoned to the administrative office.

The matter concerned the library renovations.

In that case, they probably called her to coordinate when she would resume work.

“When should I start working again?”

“Ah, about that….”

“Yes?”

Was there a problem?

It was more of a formal question, really.

Wouldn’t she simply return to work on the day the construction was finished and the library reopened?

The staff member glanced at Melia’s puzzled expression before carefully getting to the point.

“There are some things that need to be prepared in advance….”

Her voice trailed off.

Melia immediately understood what she wanted.

“Is there something I can help with?”

When Melia asked first, sparing her the awkwardness, the staff member seized on her words as if she’d been waiting for them.

“Really? Thank you.”

This was the staff member’s main point.

With the expansion, new books were being brought in for the library, but there was no one to organize them.

“Then I’ll just ask for one day.”

At the staff member’s request, Melia nodded readily.

“When should I do it?”

“The books are scheduled to arrive next Friday morning! Please come then.”

The library’s reopening was the following Monday.

Since they had to open as soon as the construction was finished, she explained that the work had to be completed quickly once the books arrived.

“I’ll do that.”

“Thank you, truly. I heard that separate finishing work will be done on Saturday and Sunday, so access will be difficult. So everything absolutely has to be finished in one day on Friday. I’m counting on you.”

Melia smiled and said she understood.

It was a request she could handle.

Organizing all the new volumes in a single day wouldn’t be easy, but shelving books was originally her responsibility anyway.

Joking that she should eat a hearty meal that day, Melia left the administrative office.

A little while later.

A few minutes passed after Melia left. The staff member slowly opened the drawer of her desk.

Inside lay a checkbook with a large sum written on it.

Even at Erpen, where salaries were considered high, it was an amount one would have to work a full two or three years to earn.

The staff member recalled the face of the person who had handed it to her.

Anastasia, the daughter of the Marquis of Ribelline, who had recently transferred in.

The situation when she’d presented this large sum replayed in her mind.

“This is….”

“A token of my sincerity. I heard from my father that our Hailon put quite a bit of effort into the library expansion. I’ve donated some books.”

“I see. But why give this to me….”

Anastasia shrugged as if it were nothing. “I’d like the books I donated to go in together when the library reopens. I heard the construction is almost finished anyway.”

After hearing Anastasia’s explanation, the staff member looked troubled.

Ribelline’s book donation had been decided very suddenly.

Because of that, no internal manpower had been set aside to organize the collection.

Finding someone at this point was already work in itself, and now she was asking for it to be done in time for the reopening?

It was a request that made her sigh already.

The staff member checked the amount written on the checkbook and her eyes widened.

It wasn’t a small sum.

It was enough to hire dozens of people for several days.

If Ribelline wanted a swift reopening, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to provide the manpower as well?

With the amount written on this check, they could easily hire people.

That question had just crossed her mind when—

“Hiring people would be nice, but there happens to be someone suitable, doesn’t there?”

Ah.

Understanding flickered across the staff member’s face. She immediately realized who Anastasia meant.

“There’s someone who knows the library well, but if you leave it to someone unfamiliar, it’s a bit…. I simply hope the collection I donated will be organized properly. You understand, right?”

In other words, she didn’t want to entrust it to just anyone and risk it being ruined.

“Hm? So I’m counting on you.”

The staff member wasn’t clueless.

That was merely the surface reason.

The noble young ladies at Erpen tormented people in the most unexpected ways.

There were even staff members who ended up quitting after being singled out by a single student.

That was possible precisely because this was a school for nobles.

She sensed it instinctively. What this young lady truly wanted.

It seemed Miss Anderson had gotten herself caught up in something unfortunate. Whatever the reason, she must have earned quite a bit of Anastasia Ribelline’s hatred.

The staff member’s deliberation, having grasped the situation, did not last long.

Wasn’t it obvious? There was only one predetermined answer.

“I suppose so. I understand.”

There was no other choice but to nod at Anastasia’s request while pretending to know nothing.

As a result, hadn’t she obtained this enormous sum?

The staff member slipped the checkbook into her bag. She planned to take it to the bank immediately.

Thinking of Melia’s face, who had just sincerely offered to help, made her feel a little sorry, but….

In any case, even if it weren’t her, it was obvious Melia would be harassed in some other way.

If that was the case, wasn’t it better that someone like herself at least took the money?

***

Today, Catherine’s steps were light.

‘What could Anastasia want?’

The queen she always sought out first had come looking for her instead.

With excited steps, she arrived at the appointed place, an abandoned building tucked away in a corner of the academy.

It was no longer in use. A question rose in her mind as to why she had been called here of all places.

For a moment, she wondered if she’d come to the wrong location.

“Anastasia?”

There she was, her orange hair cascading beautifully as she waited for Catherine.

The moment Catherine confirmed her presence, she hurried over to Anastasia.

“You came, Catherine.”

“Yeah, what’s going on?”

“I have a gift for you.”