Anything But Study - Chapter 69

Instead of Melia, who always sat at the desk with proper posture reading a book, only her friend whom he’d seen a few times in passing was there.

“Ah, you’re here. Melia said she wasn’t feeling well today, so she went home early. She asked me to tell you if you came looking for her.”

“She’s not feeling well?”

Melia said she liked the job as a library assistant. Moreover, from what he had observed for nearly three years, she had never missed a single day.

If she had left the work to a friend and gone home, how sick must she be?

Concern appeared on Hailon’s face.

With his emotions plainly visible, Hailon left the library immediately.

Anyone could see that he was heading toward Melia.

Rosha watched his back with a pleased smile.

“Ah, I’m jealous, Melia.”

To see Hailon Alfred show that kind of expression. The world really is full of unbelievable things.

Who could have imagined it?

Who would ever have thought that the person who ended up with Hailon would be my friend Melia?

Unaware of what would happen to the two of them a few hours later, Rosha simply watched with satisfaction.

***

Thanks to Rosha, Melia was able to avoid running into Hailon, and the place she headed for was the hospital where Ervan was.

‘I should go see Ervan.’

She considered going straight home, but if she stayed alone, it felt like her tangled thoughts would only grow worse.

Since Ervan had gotten better, she thought seeing him might calm her mind a little.

They said he might be discharged this month.

And maybe, like last time, she might be able to reflect on herself through what Ervan said.

Just like how she only realized later that they hadn’t talked enough.

‘This time, I should listen to what Ervan says from the start.’

Without sorting out the chaos in her mind, Melia headed toward the hospital once again.

Even though she’d visited Ervan just yesterday.

She simply could not calm this unexplainable confusion by herself.

And since it was something she couldn’t confide in her friend Rosha, even more so.

Of course, seeing Ervan would not actually change anything, but still… she just needed somewhere to lean.

‘…Huh?’

But then.

The inside of the hospital was noisy.

“Emergency situation!”

“Get the doctor! Right now!”

What’s going on?

Judging from the urgent medical staff and their conversation, it seemed a patient was in critical condition.

Right now, it didn’t look possible to stop by the desk first.

Melia decided she should just go straight up to the fifth floor where Ervan was, and her feet moved toward the stairs.

“Fifth floor! Bring the medication and follow me!”

What?

Melia’s legs froze.

Meanwhile, the medical staff hurried up the stairs.

‘Just now… they said the fifth floor….’

She hadn’t imagined it. She definitely heard it.

Was there another patient on the fifth floor besides Ervan?

Melia searched her memory.

‘…There wasn’t.’

Every time she visited, she had never seen another patient there besides Ervan.

Which meant….

Melia’s face turned pale and her heart pounded violently.

‘Don’t tell me… Ervan?’

Melia’s legs moved again.

To pull out the root of this anxiety, she had to confirm it.

She ran up the stairs like a madwoman. Hah, hah, her breath grew ragged, but Melia did not stop.

No, it can’t be.

There must be another patient on the fifth floor.

Maybe I just didn’t know about them.

It can’t be Ervan.

They said he had improved enough to be discharged this month.

Please, please.

When she finally reached the fifth floor with desperate hope in her heart, it was even more chaotic than the first floor.

“Check his breathing! Hurry!!”

“I brought the medication!”

Melia fixed her dazed gaze on the source of the commotion.

It was Ervan’s hospital room.

This can’t be.

Why, why?

Her heart dropped heavily.

Soon, Ervan began to be wheeled out of the room, lying on a portable bed.

Watching the scene, Melia felt as if her own heart were being pulled out of her chest.

Her younger brother’s face was pale and he appeared unconscious.

Unlike a few days ago, there was not a trace of color in his complexion, and an oxygen mask covered his mouth.

“Ervan! Ervan!!”

Melia ran toward him. Even as she did, she couldn’t believe it.

Why had Ervan suddenly become like this?

They said he was improving.

Just yesterday, he was smiling.

“Ervan! Ervan!”

Melia’s voice echoed loudly through the corridor. At the commotion, the medical staff blocked her.

“You can’t!”

“He needs treatment right now! Please step back!”

Melia knew it too. That even if she went to him now, she would be no help at all.

But, but!

“Move aside, guardian!”

“Here, administer the medication quickly!”

“Yes! Understood!”

Clatter-

The nurses rushed back and forth.

Someone was busy supplying oxygen to Ervan, who still seemed unconscious.

Watching the scene, Melia felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.

Thud.

Melia collapsed to the floor where she stood, her face blank like someone whose mind had gone empty.

What is this? Why, how?

How did Ervan end up like that?

They said he would be able to leave the hospital soon. What about that now?

She wanted to deny reality.

She wanted to believe she had only fallen into a ridiculous dream for a moment.

But Melia knew.

This was reality, and Ervan’s condition was extremely serious.

“Please wait outside for a moment, guardian.”

Melia’s entire body trembled.

What if something happened to Ervan? Then she would be alone in the world.

Hadn’t she always realized that painfully?

In the end, the only person Melia had was her younger brother Ervan.

But if Ervan disappeared from this world.

The memory of the flames rising in the past surfaced again, and her body shook uncontrollably.

She was afraid.

I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to.

Tears streamed down Melia’s face without stopping.

There was no one beside her.

Even in this moment, Melia was alone.

***

The Alfred carriage stopped in front of a small house located on the outskirts of the capital.

Click.

The carriage door opened, and Hailon stepped out, stretching his long legs as he descended.

The small house that had now become familiar came into his view.

He’d heard that she would be moving soon. Melia’s words from some time ago crossed his mind briefly, but soon Hailon’s thoughts were filled with concern for her.

‘Is she that sick?’

If she was unwell, he was certain she would be at home.

But there was no sign of anyone inside.

‘…Not here?’

Was he mistaken?

Just as he leaned closer to look inside with a puzzled expression, someone came running toward him in a hurry.

“Young Duke!”

“I told you not to come looking for me unless it’s urgent.”

A crease formed between Hailon’s brows.

Right now, Melia was the most important thing, and anything else could wait.

“Th-the younger brother… Lord Ervan has collapsed!”

In the next instant, Hailon’s expression froze.

Who collapsed?

Just last week, they said his improvement was certain.

It was sudden news.

At the same time, the only thing that came to his mind was the face of his lover grieving.

“I’m going to the hospital right now.”

“Y-yes! Understood.”

Carrying his worried thoughts, Hailon headed straight for the hospital. She would probably be there as well.

Please let nothing serious have happened.

***

He hoped it was nothing serious, but the hospital he arrived at was in an uproar.

“What happened to the patient on the fifth floor?”

“For now, the urgent crisis has been contained. But we still need to keep observing him.”

Judging by the overall atmosphere, it seemed the situation was quite serious.

“Hah.”

A short sigh escaped from Hailon’s lips.

“Young Duke. You’ve arrived.”

At that moment, the doctor who had been informed of his visit approached Hailon and bowed politely.

“What happened?” he asked immediately.

Why had Ervan ended up like this?

With an awkward expression, the doctor lowered his gaze and explained the situation to Hailon.

“It appears to be because of the new medication we recently developed. At first, there was clearly improvement, and according to expectations, he was close to being discharged….”

“And?”

“There had never been any side effects before, but it seems that unfortunately, it didn’t agree with Mr. Ervan’s constitution.”

After finishing his explanation, the doctor fell silent.

“Fix it. Do everything you can. No matter what happens.”

“We will do our best.”

The doctor bowed deeply and hurried away.

Hailon let out a low sigh. He raised a hand to his forehead and pushed his hair back. That brief motion carried many emotions.

If Melia lost her brother, she would collapse. No matter what happened, that could not be allowed.

‘Where is Melia?’

His steps moved in search of her.

She must be suffering greatly, so he couldn’t leave her alone. He had to be beside her.

He immediately began looking for Melia and found her without difficulty.

‘Melia?’

Not in a room on the fifth floor, but crouched in a corner on the first floor. Her face looked empty, as if she’d lost the entire world.