Anything But Study - Chapter 80

“What?”

Melia asked back as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

“Come to think of it, that wasn’t really a question I should ask you! What kind of question was that to ask the future lady of Alfred.”

“What is that, Rosha? You’re the one who said you don’t want to get married.”

“That’s because I don’t have anyone special. Why, do you not want to get married?”

Rosha scolded Melia, saying her situation was completely different from hers.

She added that if she had someone good like Melia did, she might not be worrying about her future at all, and said she was jealous.

“Marriage with Hailon… I’ve never really thought about it yet.”

Even as she said that, Melia had secretly imagined it a few times.

A life together with Hailon.

Thinking about how happy she would be if she truly became family with him and spent her whole life with him.

Still, maybe it was a little too early.

“If you ask me, it’s just a matter of time. If you’re okay with it, how could Hailon possibly not be?”

That was truly how it seemed to Rosha.

The way the Duke of Alfred looked at her friend was astonishing to witness from the side.

“Hmm, maybe after we graduate first?”

But Melia subtly changed the subject.

It was not because she was worried about her relationship with Hailon. Now they trusted each other completely, so she didn’t doubt his feelings.

Still, in truth, the difference in their status lingered slightly in her mind.

She wondered if she might become a flaw for Hailon.

She knew he would dislike hearing something like that. Hailon would never think that way, but still….

From Melia’s perspective, it couldn’t be helped.

“For now, I’m thinking about what I want to do before marriage.”

“That’s true. You’ll succeed no matter what you do. Oh right, I heard the grades were posted. Let’s go check them.”

“Should we?”

As Rosha said, today was the day the results of the fourth-year final regular exam were announced.

Since entering the academy, Melia had never once lost her position as the top student.

So regardless of the result of this exam, her graduation as valedictorian was practically already decided, but she still wanted to finish beautifully.

If possible, first place was best.

She was not particularly worried. She prepared diligently, and the exam was not especially difficult for Melia.

Of course, the final exam at Erpen was always famous for its difficulty, and many students complained about it.

But then.

When Melia and Rosha went to check the results, their eyes widened in surprise.

“Huh, Melia. What is this?”

Rosha’s voice rang out loudly.

Melia also doubted her own eyes.

Joint 1st Place – Melia Anderson, Hailon Alfred

3rd Place – Glon Citrile

.

.

.

Hailon’s name was written right next to Melia’s.

Not above or below.

Right beside it.

‘Joint first place?’

In all the time Melia attended Erpen, something like this had never happened.

Melia rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

But no matter how many times she looked, it remained the same.

How could this be possible?

Now the two of them were only lovers. They were no longer tutoring each other.

On top of that, Hailon had an enormous amount of work to handle as the Duke of Alfred.

Nobles his age rarely held a title to begin with, and in most cases, people in that position did not even attend the academy.

Their family responsibilities alone kept them busy.

And this was the Duke of Alfred.

To handle the countless businesses belonging to Alfred and even the political issues tied to the duchy, even one body would not be enough.

And yet Hailon said he would keep attending the academy until graduation because he wanted to share academy life with Melia.

Because it was a place filled with their memories, he wanted to leave behind even more.

As he said, they certainly did that over the past year.

Though the problem was that they also did plenty of things all over the academy that they absolutely could not say out loud.

‘Th-they definitely did leave strong memories.’

Her face flushed red for no reason, and Melia shook her head quickly to drive away the obscene thoughts surfacing in her mind.

Anyway. Even more so, he shouldn’t have had any time to study.

So how exactly?

“Wow, Hailon is really amazing.”

Rosha exclaimed in pure admiration.

It was true.

Even today, Hailon couldn’t come to the academy because he had outside engagements as the Duke of Alfred.

“Yeah. Seriously.”

Melia chuckled lightly, saying she would have to ask him for his secret when they met later.

***

It was afternoon after classes ended.

When she arrived at the ducal residence in the carriage he had sent and faced Hailon, he was wearing a pleased smile.

Did something good happen?

He looked a little more excited than usual.

“Melia, the grades were posted.”

Ah, did he already find out the results? How did he know so quickly?

This was the perfect chance for Melia to ask him.

“How did you do it? Honestly, I was really surprised.”

It wasn’t that she was looking down on him. But thinking about it, Hailon’s grades had started at 150th place.

Although he had maintained a fairly high ranking since entering his fourth year, to actually take first place in the final exam like this….

It was impressive that he managed it in such a busy situation.

“First place? I told you, it’s all thanks to you.”

Yet what Hailon said was that, just like before, it was all thanks to Melia.

“It can’t possibly be because of me.”

They were not even doing tutoring anymore. Still, hearing it did not feel bad.

Then Hailon’s voice suddenly lowered.

“Melia.”

“Yeah?”

She knew by now. This was the reaction he showed when he was expecting something from her.

Maybe this time….

“You remember the promise, right?”

Of course she remembered.

Unlike last time, she hadn’t forgotten it even for a moment.

The two of them made a small bet about the final exam.

When Hailon asked what she would do if he placed first, Melia honestly thought that would never happen, so she said she would grant him any wish again.

And now it turned out to be joint first place.

“I-I remember. Go ahead and say it.”

She stammered from nervousness about what he might ask for.

“Promise first. No matter what I say, you have to agree.”

“What on earth is it?”

Melia was starting to feel uneasy. An embarrassing memory surfaced.

It reminded her of the time last year when she paid the price because of a similar situation.

Could he be asking for something like that again?

What if he asked for some obscene favor like letting him ‘eat’ anything to his heart’s content?

She still couldn’t get used to the stimulation Hailon gave her….

“Close your eyes.”

Melia swallowed and slowly closed her eyes.

When she could see nothing, the trembling only grew stronger. Especially because she did not know what kind of stimulation might suddenly come.

But then.

“You can open your eyes now.”

At the low voice, Melia’s shoulders flinched. Already? That could not be right.

She had not felt anything on her body yet.

Hailon always went beyond Melia’s expectations, so with a small sense of fear about what might be waiting this time, she slowly opened her eyes.

And right before her eyes.

“…What is this?”

A brilliantly shining ring was being held out to her. Her heart began to pound.

“Marry me, Melia.”

It was a single sentence filled with unwavering sincerity.

So intense that it conveyed every ounce of Hailon’s overwhelming emotion as he uttered those words.

“We promised. To become a family.”

Even though he had demanded an answer no matter what, the tips of his fingers trembled slightly.

Even this remarkable man was nervous.

Afraid that she might refuse him.

How foolish.

‘How could I possibly refuse?

At the same time, Melia realized something.

That she had also been foolish.

She had worried that she might become a burden because of their difference in status, even though this man looked only at her.

If it was truly for his sake, she should never have thought that way.

And how could she possibly forget the promise they made as children?

Even during those painful years filled with misunderstandings, the reason she could never forget the moments she shared with him.

Perhaps it was because she was destined to spend her life with this man.

“Of course.”

The answer overflowing from her heart left her lips.

Only then did Hailon finally relax, smiling brightly as he slowly slipped the ring onto Melia’s ring finger.

“I love you, Melia.”

The promise they made as children to become family was fulfilled eleven years later.

Now they envied no one.

Because they would always be by each other’s side. For the rest of their lives.

-End-