Chapter 30

Fortunately, as she had predicted, Riana was sitting in her seat. It wasn’t difficult to find her amidst the crowd from early on.

Even among so many people, she shone brightly. As expected of Axel’s fiancée.

The thought that Axel and Riana made a good pair caused an involuntary pang in her chest.

But she forced herself to ignore that fact and approached Riana. Riana tilted her head curiously as Judith, whom she had never spoken to before, came closer.

“Judith? Do you have something to say?”

Judith cleared her throat and spoke the words she had prepared.

“It’s about the accounting remedial class. I have something to inform you about.”

“Really? What is it?”

Riana said this while gesturing to the students surrounding her to give them some space.

Soon, only Riana and Judith were left.

Facing Riana alone, Judith felt her fingertips tingling. But she forced herself to remain calm.

“You received a notice regarding the remedial class before, right? The class time was written incorrectly. The actual class time is an hour earlier. So for the next class…”

“Oh, you came all the way here to tell me that?”

Riana smiled very kindly, as if expressing gratitude for Judith’s effort.

“Thank you for letting me know. I didn’t attend the class that day, so I ended up giving you extra trouble.”

Just as Judith was about to say it was okay, Riana continued with a regretful tone.

“But what should I do? I don’t plan to attend the remedial classes in the future.”

“Huh?”

Judith’s eyes widened at her words.

Did she decide not to attend because she thought the remedial class wasn’t helpful?

While Judith was speculating on her own, an unexpected answer came.

“…Actually, I’m aiming to repeat the year.”

Riana showed an awkward smile and pulled out an accounting quiz paper from her bag, handing it to Judith.

Looking down, she noticed a marked score that was quite high.

Considering the difficulty of Professor Karel’s quizzes, it was a score that could easily earn a good grade on the main exam.

Of course.

It didn’t make sense for someone rumored to be a top student to score low enough in accounting to need a remedial class.

But why would she need to get a low score with such skills?

Judith couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

“Can I ask why?”

Riana’s face stiffened awkwardly at that.

“Um… it’s a family matter, so it’s hard to explain, sorry.”

Whatever the situation, it seemed quite troublesome. Judith was curious but didn’t press further.

Soon, Riana shrugged her shoulders and concluded the conversation.

“Anyway, I won’t be attending the remedial class. Sorry for not telling you sooner.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Riana remained kind and gentle until the end.

For some reason, a part of her chest ached, but Judith quietly turned and walked back to the dormitory.

* * *

Meeting Riana in person was different from what she expected.

Even someone who seemed to have everything, like her, had deep worries.

If family circumstances were forcing her to repeat the year, what kind of story could it be?

Judith was curious but soon shook her head.

What did it matter? At least she wouldn’t have to encounter Riana in the remedial class anymore, and that was enough.

Lifting her head, she saw the hallway was bustling with people returning to the dormitory like her and those stopping to chat.

Amidst the noise, someone called her name loudly.

“Judith, Senior!”

The owner of familiar orange hair broke through the crowd and ran towards her excitedly, like a puppy meeting its owner.

“Rodein.”

He seemed to have been talking with friends, then spotted her and rushed over.

“Just in time. I had a question I wanted to ask you… Oh, are you busy today?”

He looked at her with drooping eyebrows, just like a puppy. The same expression he had when pleading to be included in the remedial class.

During the first class, because of Cedric, she hadn’t thought to question him, but seeing him now reminded her of the conversation with Professor Karel.

‘Hmm, that’s strange. For the top student in the first year to say such a thing.’

‘Top student?’

‘Yes, he answers questions as if he’s prepared for them.’

It was contrary to Rodein’s claim that he was struggling to keep up with the accounting class and needed the remedial class.

Moreover, if he could answer Professor Karel’s sharp questions without hesitation, the remedial class, which taught basic concepts, would be even less necessary.

Judith tilted her head and replied.

“Well, I’m not busy, but… do you really need my help?”

“Of course. I understood the last class so well. You seem to have a knack for teaching, unlike my sister!”

His sparkling eyes solidified Judith’s suspicion.

“Rodein, I actually heard you’re the top student in the first year…”

“That’s true.”

“Huh?”

Judith widened her eyes at his unexpected admission. From his previous behavior, she thought he would make excuses and deny it.

“But you said before that you were having trouble keeping up with the class?”

“Yes, that’s also true. Lately, it’s been hard to keep up, and I was afraid I might lose my top spot.”

“…Really?”

Even after hearing Rodein’s answer, doubts remained. With unresolved questions, Judith narrowed her eyes.

“But according to the professor, you answer questions well. At that level, you don’t really need the remedial class, do you?”

“Oh, that’s because.”

Rodein hesitated for a moment. He shifted his eyes and then opened his mouth.

“That’s because… I’ve been lucky enough to answer so far. But there’s no guarantee I can do it next time…”

Rodein subtly turned his head to the right. Then he began to gaze somewhere outside the window with a melancholic look.

“In fact, I’ve always been compared to my sister by our family. She was so bright that she could understand ten things when taught one since she was little.”

“I see.”

Nodding, Judith felt awkward. She didn’t know how to respond and just fidgeted with her fingers.

Why was he suddenly telling me this?

She ended up hearing Rodein’s family matters unintentionally.

Honestly, she wasn’t curious, nor did she want to know. She felt that hearing such things would only entangle her more deeply with Rodein.

But she couldn’t just leave someone who was confiding in her with a serious face.

While swallowing the sigh that was rising inside her, Rodein continued his story.

“Compared to my outstanding sister, I always feel inadequate and anxious. I wonder if I’m doing well, if I’m doing it right. Sometimes, I even cry before falling asleep because of self-doubt.”

“…”

“If I show such weakness, my family would be disappointed. So I have no one to talk to and just keep it to myself.”

Judith looked at Rodein’s profile as he gazed wistfully out the window. Come to think of it, his cheeks did seem a bit thinner.

Was it a sign of his inner struggle?

But how should I comfort him? No, before that, would my comfort even help Rodein?

While she was thinking about various things, he suddenly turned his gaze from the window. Then he met Judith’s eyes and smiled softly.

“But now I’m relieved. Because I can learn accounting from you, Senior. It feels like I’ve lifted a burden off my heart.”

At his words, Judith couldn’t say anything and just pressed her lips together. It felt like a heavy stone was weighing on her chest.

Judith cautiously opened her mouth, watching Rodein’s eager eyes.

“Um, it’s not that much. Of course, I’ll teach you diligently, but the remedial class is more about teaching basic concepts, so it might not be of great help to you. After all, you’re the top student in the first year, right?”

She said this to somehow shake off the burden, but Rodein shook his head and smiled gently.

“No. Building a foundation is incredibly helpful. Thanks to you, I don’t think I’ll have trouble sleeping at night anymore. Thank you in advance.”

“…”

Her needless words only increased the burden.

It seemed like accepting Rodein into the remedial class was a mistake.

Judith inwardly blamed her past self.

* * *

Prussian Academy has one distinctive feature that sets it apart from other academies. It holds club activities once a month.

On the Friday afternoon of the last week of each month, during the three-hour club activity time, students could participate in activities related to their personal interests, stepping away from academics.

And among the various clubs, Judith belonged to the reading club.