Anything But Study - Chapter 72

The person who appeared was a male student with gray hair.

‘Who is that?’

A puzzled look appeared on Rosha’s face. Seeing that he was asking for Melia right away, were they acquaintances?

She had never heard that Melia knew someone like him.

“She can’t come to the academy for a while. Her younger brother… is sick.”

“I see.”

The male student slowly nodded.

It didn’t look like he intended to borrow a book.

Was that all he wanted to ask? Maybe he was just curious about how Melia was doing.

‘He must come to the library often.’

If someone hadn’t shown their face for two weeks, it would make anyone curious. Since the male student’s purpose was resolved, she thought he would just leave, but he spoke again.

“Um, well… I hurt my hand… could I ask a favor?”

“Hm? What is it?” Rosha asked casually.

“I was originally going to ask Melia, but she isn’t here.”

His hesitant voice was somewhat frustrating, but since she didn’t have anything urgent to do, Rosha decided to hear him out.

“My friend is having a hard time, so I want to give them some encouragement.”

“And?”

“Could you write here that you’re always cheering for them, and to stay strong.”

What the male student held out was a small card about half the size of a palm.

“Here? Sure.”

It wasn’t anything difficult.

Rosha willingly wrote the message on the card.

She also wanted to cheer Melia on, so she thought maybe this boy also had someone like that.

“Th-thank you.”

After receiving the finished card, the male student rushed out of the library as if he had something urgent to do.

Tap, tap, tap-

With hurried footsteps, the male student disappeared from sight.

Silence flowed through the library where Rosha was left alone again.

“Phew, Melia. I hope you come back soon.”

Rosha could only let out a deep sigh, once again filled with worry for Melia.

***

News of Duke Alfred’s death also reached Melia.

‘Duke Alfred… passed away?’

Even if she didn’t want to know, this was a hospital affiliated with Alfred. That meant rumors spread here faster than anywhere else.

Even aside from that, the Duke was such a famous figure that even a vagrant on the street would eventually hear of his death.

Melia had just come up to Ervan’s hospital room after hearing people talking about the Duke’s death on the first floor.

“Oh my, then what about the Young Duke?”

“He’ll become the Duke, of course.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Does that mean someone that young has to take responsibility for that huge ducal house?”

“Well, yes. I heard he hasn’t even graduated yet. It’s quite pitiful.”

Melia tried to ignore it, but her attention was naturally drawn to their conversation.

‘So that’s what will happen.’

A corner of Melia’s heart tightened with worry for him.

‘Will he be okay? Hailon.’

It was one thing that he had to become Duke and bear all that weight, but Hailon would probably manage it well.

What Melia worried about was his heart.

After all, Hailon had no mother, and now he had lost his father as well.

She knew the hatred he carried toward his father since their days at the orphanage.

But when someone actually leaves this world, the shock that comes is different.

Melia, who had lost both of her parents, knew that pain better than anyone.

Hailon didn’t even have siblings. At least she had Ervan.

‘…He’ll have no family left.’

That thought made her feel deeply sorry for him.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced.

“Then when we grow up, me, Ervan, and you, Calix. The three of us will live together like this.”

“Okay. But… later on, you can’t go back on your word, Melia.”

“Yeah! I promise.”

So we made a promise, but in the end I couldn’t keep it.

‘No, what am I doing?’

Melia let out a hollow laugh. Even she found it ridiculous.

She was the one who said goodbye first. Yet why does she keep thinking about him and worrying about him?

He was the one who made Ervan end up like this. He even lied to her.

Even so, she couldn’t understand why she keeps feeling this way.

The heart isn’t something you can blow out like a lantern with a quick puff.

If she endures a little longer, it will gradually fade as time passes.

Just as Melia was trying to calm her complicated feelings….

“Ugh….”

A small groan echoed in the silent hospital room.

Melia’s head immediately turned toward the source of the sound.

No way. No way.

Her heart pounded.

“E-Ervan?”

Melia jumped to her feet and hurried to Ervan’s side.

The face of her younger brother, who had been asleep without moving at all, twitched slightly.

His fingertips trembled as well.

Even seeing it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it.

With desperate hope, Melia called his name once more.

“Ervan, Ervan!”

At the same time, she didn’t know whether she should shake him or what she should do, and she fidgeted anxiously.

Then.

“Sis…ter?”

His eyelids lifted, revealing green eyes that resembled Melia’s.

“Are you… awake?”

Melia raised her hand and covered her mouth, tears spilling from her eyes.

She was so happy, overwhelmed with emotion.

It was a miraculous moment.

***

With Duke Alfred’s death, Hailon, the only blood relative and heir, inherited the title of Duke Alfred.

Because the succession was so sudden, Hailon has recently been so busy that he barely has time to close his eyes.

Knock, knock. Calix knocked on the office door.

“Come in.”

A short permission followed.

Click. When the door opened and he stepped inside, Hailon was reviewing documents at his desk without lifting his eyes.

“What is it?”

“Something that requires your additional review.”

A pile of documents was already stacked high, but Calix still handed over the papers he brought.

They were matters related to repairs of the estate and procurement of supplies. Calix felt uneasy.

Normally, these kinds of tasks should be handled by the Duchess.

But since Hailon was unmarried, even internal family matters that would normally pass through the Duchess are now handled directly by him.

“Your Grace, for you to worry about things like this as well….”

Calix’s concerned gaze followed. Wasn’t he far too busy already?

Recently, he looks extremely busy. Does he even sleep for a few hours?

“Wouldn’t it be better to call the Dowager Duchess?” Calix suggested cautiously.

After his father’s death, Hailon immediately sent the Dowager Duchess to a provincial territory.

However, Calix still wonders whether that was the right decision. After all, she had handled the affairs of the ducal house without any issues until now.

He knows she siphoned off a little money here and there for her party funds. But compared to Alfred’s total fortune, it was a small amount.

Even if they accept that loss, it is more important that the Duke himself not deal with such trivial matters.

If that were the case, he could at least sleep one more hour.

“There’s no problem. I can handle everything.”

The answer that returned was a firm refusal.

“…Is that so?”

Calix, the butler who had been with Hailon since childhood, was doing his best to assist him after he inherited the ducal title.

He even stepped down from his position as head butler to become his aide.

Every time he looked at his master, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Recently, whenever he saw Hailon, he seemed constantly on edge.

He could tell just by watching.

Something must have gone wrong with Lady Melia.

Perhaps the reason he was burying himself in work like that was to forget the pain.

Perhaps he was forcing his body and clinging to work so he could endure the grief.

He didn’t know exactly what had happened….

Just as his sympathetic gaze lingered on Hailon….

“Looks like you still have something to say. Speak.”

When Calix didn’t seem ready to leave, Hailon ordered.

“There is one more thing I should report.”

Calix’s voice carried more strength than before as he answered.

If he delivered this news now, perhaps the Duke might change a little. Calix held onto that hope.

“Lord Ervan has regained consciousness.”

Pause.

Hailon’s hand, which had been turning the page of a document, froze in place.

His head slowly lifted. Calix suddenly felt that it had been a long time since he’d met those black eyes directly.

And also since he’d seen even a faint spark of life in them.

“Is that… really true?”

“Yes. That is what I was told.”

A smile of joy formed at the corners of Calix’s lips.