Chapter 6.3

“I wouldn’t have taken this on if I knew you’d be so much trouble,” Jeras grumbled.

This was the most welcome thing I’d heard all day. I wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. I quickly responded, “That’s good. I felt uncomfortable keeping a busy person here, anyway. I’ll find another tutor, so don’t worry about me anymore.”

“I keep my word,” he said, cutting me off with a resolute tone. I had no idea what to make of him. Why was he so intent on doing something that made both of us uncomfortable?

Besides, I was starting to feel antsy. My nosebleed had stopped a while ago, and the feverish feeling from my first serious study session in ages had subsided. I thought it would be fine to get up.

As I wiggled to sit up, Jeras’s hand gently pushed down on my forehead. My body sank, and the plush bed sank with it.

“Hey! Let me go! I’m getting up now.”

“Your schedule for today is over. Just rest and don’t do anything.”

“Why do you get to decide my schedule? People get nosebleeds when they’re tired. It’s your fault, anyway. You gave me so much homework.”

“Blood doesn’t just come out of a person’s body for no reason. And I told you to study, not to abuse yourself.”

“Then what was I supposed to do? There was so much to memorize and so little time. Of course, I had to cut back on sleep.”

I’d worked so hard I even skipped meals to study with bread in my mouth, and he couldn’t even give me a word of praise.

Still, I got a perfect score on the quiz, so it was worth it. With this, Jeras wouldn’t think I was a total idiot, right?

I was satisfied with how my last-minute cramming skills had paid off. I closed my tired eyes and asked Jeras, “I can pass the entrance exam, right?”

“With a capable teacher like me, what’s there to worry about? You just need to follow my lead.”

“But the homework is too much. Do I have to do this for a whole month?”

“I said don’t worry. If you really can’t do it, you can always get in with a donation.”

“And tell my parents, ‘I failed the exam, so please pay the donation fee!?’“

“You don’t have to. I’ll pay it.”

What kind of nonsense was this?

I opened my eyes and glared at Jeras. He was looking elsewhere, lost in thought. He probably wasn’t saying this for my sake; there had to be some kind of motive.

Maybe he’d make me pay it back with a huge amount of interest.

I resolved to pass the entrance exam and earn the respect of my parents and Sion. I would repay the trust they had in me by sending me to Rivai. After all, why else would I have been studying so hard, sacrificing even my sleep?

That said, seeing Jeras still here so late at night made me uneasy. Should I ask? I hesitated several times before finally speaking up. I needed to understand the situation.

“Did you find the person who drugged you at the ball?”

Jeras’s head snapped toward me. His red eyes were asking why I was asking that. I tried to sound as casual as possible and gave him a prepared answer.

“I was there, too. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to help.”

“Is that all?”

“You don’t still suspect me, do you?”

“I’m not suspicious.”

After a pause, Jeras’s eyes crinkled in a smile.

“I was just wondering if you were taking an unusual interest in me. If you had other feelings for me.”

Oh, for goodness sake. This guy is truly a lost cause.

I was so dumbfounded that I didn’t even respond. Jeras crossed his arms and the smile vanished from his face.

“It’s the Empress’s palace, so it’s not easy to investigate. Besides you and me, no one else knows about the incident, so we don’t have a good reason to investigate.”

“The person who drugged you… do you remember them?”

“Only a vague idea. It was a face I hadn’t seen before. Do you know who they are?”

I shook my head. Eloe and Siliya had no connection, so I couldn’t say I knew anything.

But it was so strange. This was the time when Siliya and Jeras should have met, but not only had they not met, Jeras didn’t even seem to know she existed.

‘Jeras doesn’t seem to be lying. What is going on?’

“Of course, I don’t plan on letting it go. A demon could be hiding in the Imperial Palace. I’m just waiting for the right moment.”

“Right… let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Just focus on your studies, Student. And build up your stamina.”

Jeras scoffed. While I glared at him, the anxiety that had settled in my heart wouldn’t go away.

Where was Siliya, and what was she doing?

***

The current hot topic for the servants and maids working in the Sword Palace, where the princes live, was Jeras’s outings.

Ever since Jeras started swinging a sword at the age of 14, he had been absent from the Imperial Palace frequently. Even after returning from a demon subjugation, he would often disappear and reappear just as suddenly. The chances of a regular servant running into Jeras in the Sword Palace were lower than getting struck by lightning while asleep.

However, Jeras had recently been living an unprecedentedly regular life. His morning schedule was packed with training and breakfast, followed by handling the state affairs the Emperor had foisted upon him. In the afternoon, after lunch, he would meet with nobles or attend external events. For dinner, he would have dinner with whoever he had an appointment with at the time.

Yet, once every four or five days, there were days when he would leave the palace without making any dinner plans. No one knew where Jeras was going when he left the palace without an attendant or a carriage. This was because he would vanish the moment he stepped outside the palace gates.

The servants and maids came up with various theories. The most plausible one was that Jeras was going on a secret rendezvous with a lover.

The theory wasn’t entirely baseless, as Jeras’s expression was always bright when he left the palace. Sometimes, he would even hum a tune. Just like now.

“Your Highness, for dinner…”

“I’m going out.”

“Yes. By any chance, may I ask when you’ll be returning?”

“I’ll be back when it’s time.”

He gave a light and unhelpful reply, as if he were talking about someone else. The attendant, who had hoped to find a clue, hung his head, watching Jeras’s back.

Jeras paid no mind to the disappointed attendant, casting off his cumbersome outer robe and quickening his pace.

There was one week left until the entrance exam. He told himself that the reason for his impatience was not because he wanted to see Eloe but because he couldn’t waste any more time.

“Brother! Are you on your way back from somewhere? How’s your health?”

Jeras ran into Kieryk face to face at the palace entrance. Even though they shared the same palace, they hadn’t seen each other since the ball because Jeras was busy and Kieryk wasn’t feeling well.

The expression on Jeras’s face, which had been bright with joy, was quickly clouded by a shadow.

At a glance, Kieryk did not look well. The area under his eyes was hollowed out, making his cheekbones protrude, and his pale face had no color at all. His lips were parched and cracked in places, and blood was visible.

He hadn’t been this bad at the time of the ball. Jeras grabbed Kieryk, who was stumbling badly.

“How sick are you? Have you received treatment? You look terrible. Where were you going by yourself…”

“You’re being noisy, Jeras. Just be quiet. Your voice makes my head ring.”

“Huh? Oh, yes. I’m sorry… I was just worried about you, Brother.”

Jeras, taken aback by the gentle rebuke, immediately fell silent. Was he just sensitive because he was sick? He tried to think positively and supported Kieryk more cautiously than usual.

Kieryk didn’t push Jeras’s hand away. It seemed he didn’t even have the energy to do so. Jeras’s suspicion grew as he noticed Kieryk’s visibly thin arms.

“Thank you. You must be tired, too.”

Kieryk, who had safely laid down on the bed, said in a small voice. He closed his eyes immediately, as if from exhaustion. It seemed he had been momentarily upset earlier due to his poor health.

My kind and gentle brother wouldn’t act that way. Jeras was relieved and asked as gently as he could.

“If you’re in a lot of pain, should I call a priest, Brother?”

“My mother calls a priest every day. I’m fine since I just saw one.”

“Are you receiving treatment? What did the priest say? There must be a reason why you’re sick.”

“You’re so talkative today. If I say I’m fine, then I’m fine. Why do you keep arguing? Are you ignoring me? Am I a joke because I can’t even handle simple state affairs properly?”

“…Brother?”

Words he never expected came pouring out. Jeras stared at Kieryk with a dumbfounded expression. Kieryk sighed deeply and covered his eyes with his arm.

“…I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I must be so tired that I’m talking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart. I think I need to rest now.”

“I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so I was being a nuisance. Please get some good rest, Brother.”

“I’m sorry, Jeras. You get some good rest, too.”

Jeras quietly left Kieryk’s room and closed the door. He had to go to Eloe, but he couldn’t bring himself to move.

Even though he had been weak and sickly since he was young, he had never been so aggressive. The Empress was looking after him, so nothing serious should happen…

As Jeras left the Sword Palace, he turned back several times.

***

“Is the Lady inside?”

“Ah, Your Highness! I’m sorry. I didn’t notice you were here.”

The maid, who was about to knock on the study room door was startled and bowed deeply. In her hands was a tray with simple food like bread, stew, and smoked ham.

Jeras’s eyes narrowed.

“Has she not had dinner yet?”

“No… I was waiting, as the Lady didn’t respond. I didn’t want to disturb her while she was studying.”

“I understand. You may go.”

Jeras took the tray and entered the room. Eloe was slumped over her desk. From a distance, she didn’t look like she was studying.

As he approached, he saw that she had indeed fallen asleep with a pen in her hand. She was sleeping soundly, using a thin piece of paper as a pillow.

“Student.”

“…Mmmph.”

“Squirrel student, wake up. You can’t be sleeping when you’re supposed to be studying.”

“Chicken… in ganjang… no… mister, gangjang not marinated…”

‘What is “ganjang”?’

It was an unfamiliar word. Jeras tilted his head for a moment but quickly moved on.

The Empire and the Grand Duchy were separated by a sea, so there were many differences in culture and language. It was common for a word used in the Empire not to be used in the Grand Duchy, and vice versa.

What was more interesting than the word he had never heard before was from Eloe, who was lost in her dream world. Jeras put the tray down and sat on the desk, looking down at Eloe.

Today, Eloe had her forehead exposed with a hairband. A typical young noblewoman wouldn’t even dare, but Eloe didn’t hesitate, saying it would get in the way of her studying. Not that it diminished her beauty.

In fact, Jeras thought Eloe was much prettier without any fancy adornments than the elegantly dressed noblewomen. It made sense that the aloof Sion had cherished and hidden her away like a treasure.

‘This is an objective fact, not a personal bias.’

After rationalizing by bringing Sion into it, Jeras gently poked Eloe’s cheek with his fingertip. She didn’t react at all, as she was in a deep sleep. It was obvious she had been struggling with the books until dawn.

He had told her to eat and sleep on time.

“What’s the point of having a capable teacher if the student insists on doing things their own way? Isn’t that right?”

Despite his sarcastic tone, Jeras’s eyes were soft.

Jeras had a new perspective on Eloe during their exam preparations. To be honest, he was more than just impressed; he was a little moved. He never thought she would study so hard that she’d get a nosebleed.

Eloe had no reason to do this. No matter how great Haiola Academy was, her status and wealth could get her into any place she wanted.

Yet, Eloe worked so hard, gritting her teeth and persevering. She somehow managed to get through the massive amount of homework, like a squirrel stuffing its cheeks with sunflower seeds for the coming winter.

Her greatest strengths were her excellent learning and application skills. Eloe herself preferred to understand rather than simply memorize, and when he tailored the lessons to her style, she made rapid progress. It was also a stroke of luck that her math skills were unexpectedly good, allowing them to focus on history and language.

Of course, none of this would have happened without Eloe’s fierce determination.

“I told her that from now on, managing her stamina would be key.”

“…Why… why am I still eating and not getting full? …I’m not… full…”

Eloe moaned and smacked her lips.

Is she an idiot? She’s not getting full because she’s not eating anything.

Jeras stared at Eloe’s parted lips and clicked his tongue.

“I’ve never seen such an ugly squirrel.”

His voice was lighter than a feather, but it held no convincing power whatsoever.

Jeras quietly took in the sight of Eloe until she opened her eyes.

Her long eyelashes, her hair that shimmered with a transparent quality, her delicate features, and her peculiar sleep-talking that would make you burst out laughing—he took it all in.