Chapter 19

“Then does that mean you really might not graduate?”

Chase, with a sulky face, bowed his head as if he had nothing to say. Judith, looking at the dejected Chase, muttered to herself.

“Should I look for another fiancé…?”

“What?”

Chase jerked his head up.

“What do you mean? Another fiancé?”

“Yes, Judith. What do you mean by that?”

Professor Karel interjected subtly.

“Rather than looking for another fiancé, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to accept the probationary teaching offer first?”

“It’s not broken yet.”

Chase gritted his teeth. The sound was so intense that Judith wondered if his molars were intact.

Soon, Chase glanced at Judith with eyes that seemed somehow hurt.

He looked as if he might crumble if lightly touched.

Feeling a headache coming on, Judith turned her gaze away from him.

Then she met the eyes of Professor Karel, who was staring intently at her.

“Anyway, Professor, I appreciate the offer, but no matter how I think about it, I don’t think I’m suitable for that position.”

“Why is that? Are you disregarding my judgment?”

Professor Karel spoke sharply, seemingly trying to intimidate her. Judith flinched.

Still, she had to say what she needed to, so she cautiously opened her lips.

“It’s not that, but… I have a friend who is more suitable for the probationary teaching position in accounting than I am.”

Judith thought of Rodesha, who had eyes full of enthusiasm.

Someone like her, with passion, would surely be better suited for the probationary teaching position than someone like herself, who lacked it.

“A friend who takes accounting with me, Rodesha…”

“Stop.”

However, her attempt to recommend Rodesha was immediately blocked.

“If you’re going to recommend someone other than yourself, stop.”

While Judith hesitated in surprise, Professor Karel clicked his tongue.

“As you just heard, your fiancé is on the verge of failing. If he fails, it will be difficult to marry, and you wouldn’t want to accept a fool as a husband, would you?”

“A fool…”

Chase murmured to himself, seemingly shocked by the harsh words. Professor Karel, ignoring Chase, continued.

“The main things holding Chase back are his accounting test scores and attendance.”

Why was the professor telling me this? 

Judith was momentarily seized by a foreboding thought.

It soon became reality.

“So make sure Chase graduates safely.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll set up a remedial class for accounting, so try running it.”

Judith felt as if she’d been hit on the head with a blunt object. But Professor Karel didn’t stop and added another shocking statement.

“Include others who need the remedial class, not just Chase.”

“Me?”

Judith couldn’t understand why Professor Karel was making such a proposal to her.

What did he trust about me?

But Professor Karel spoke firmly.

“You don’t want to be a probationary teacher, right? Isn’t that because you want to get engaged that much? Think of it as indirect experience as a probationary teacher. It might surprisingly suit you.”

“…”

“Of course, I’m not planning to have you work for free. The academy will provide fair compensation.”

Judith blinked at the sudden proposal, lost in thought.

She imagined herself preparing for classes, with dark circles shadowing her eyes. It made her dizzy. Just imagining it, she could see the hardship ahead.

No matter how much the professor asked, she couldn’t accept such an unreasonable task. Judith valued a comfortable life at the academy over money.

Should I look for another fiancé besides Chase?

But now, she was concerned about Axel’s reaction if she chose another fiancé.

He would probably realize that she had entered into an insincere engagement.

If the situation with Madame Fedelian were to be exposed, it would be a significant problem.

And… somehow, Chase, who was waiting for her decision with red eyes flickering, seemed pitiable.

Feeling Chase’s persistent gaze, Judith sighed deeply to herself.

She slowly closed her eyes and then opened them, finally speaking.

“Professor, I’ll give it a try.”

“Good decision.”

Chase seemed to let out a small sigh of relief at her answer.

He picked up a glass of water from the table and pretended to drink. But the water in the glass didn’t decrease at all.

After a moment, Chase put down the glass and spoke.

“…Do you like me too much?”

“Who knows.”

Judith gave an ambiguous answer, neither confirming nor denying.

“It’s not that I like you, but I don’t think you’re bad as a fiancé. So I’ll help you graduate safely.”

“…Judith, you.”

Chase, who had been moving his lips, spoke softly.

“You’re a better person than I thought.”

Judith blinked, looking at Chase.

When their eyes met, Chase quickly looked away, pretending to drink from the cup again.

She felt certain this time. He was embarrassed.

Though the responsibility had increased, she thought that if this incident allowed him to open his heart to her even a little, it wasn’t a bad outcome.

Maintaining a close relationship with him would be beneficial, especially because of Axel.

“Of course, no matter how hard I help, if you don’t make any effort, it will all be in vain.”

Chase nodded quickly, his face reddening.

“I’ll try my best too.”

* * *

Though it added to her burdens, there was no choice.

Taking on the remedial class was such a hassle that she briefly considered giving up on Chase, but he was a fiancé worth keeping in many ways.

Firstly, she liked that he didn’t force affection on her… and there was no more effective chess piece to block Axel’s advances.

In conclusion, when considering various factors, her judgment wasn’t wrong.

Thus, Judith tried to convince herself.

As the conversation continued, dishes that made her mouth water appeared one by one.

Chase, with his head down, mechanically cut and ate his steak, while Judith poked at her salad with a fork. The tangy dressing filled her mouth.

As a gentle song played between them, Professor Karel broke the melody, speaking quietly.

“By the way, Judith. My proposal must have felt like an imposition to you.”

So he knows. She thought he didn’t realize, given his consistently brazen expression.

Judith wore an awkward smile.

Professor Karel looked at her with his gray eyes, then turned his gaze to the window, muttering.

“Still, thank you for going along with my selfishness.”

* * *

How did it come to this?

Attending the accounting class as usual, Judith alternated her gaze between the people sitting beside her.

Chase on her left, and Rodesha on her right.

It felt like just yesterday that she listened to classes alone, and such a sudden change made Judith feel awkward and flustered.

Judith turned her head toward the person sitting next to her.

Chase, attending this class for the first time, was resting his chin and staring intently at Judith.

Judith was the first to speak.

“Chase, you came to attend the accounting class, right?”

“Of course.”

Chase straightened his chest and answered. At his confident demeanor, Judith pointed to his empty desk and asked.

“Without books or writing tools?”

“…”

He had a look of realization as if he hadn’t thought that far. Chase bit his tongue.

At that moment, the whispers grew louder. Since Chase opened the classroom door, students had been whispering and watching.

It was understandable. Someone who hadn’t shown up in four years suddenly appeared and sat in the classroom.

After moving his lips silently for a moment, Chase suddenly stood up and shouted fiercely.

“Is this a spectacle?”

The gathered students dispersed.

Judith sighed inwardly at Chase’s outburst. She gently tugged at his sleeve.

“People find it curious that someone comes to class empty-handed. Sit down first.”

Fortunately, Chase sat down quietly. Since the meeting with Professor Karel a few days ago, his attitude seemed to have softened a bit.

Meanwhile, Rodesha, who had been chattering beside Judith, focused on her book and studied diligently after Chase’s appearance.

Was she uncomfortable with Chase?

But there was nothing she could do, as Chase had barged in without giving her a chance to ask for understanding.

Judith was contemplating whether to ask Chase to change seats when a quiet voice reached her ears.

“See, I told you I’d try.”

“…Is that why you came?”

“Of course. You said you’d help.”

Unable to tell him to go away when he said that, Judith sighed softly.

She took out an extra pen and notebook from her bag and handed them to Chase.