Chapter 54

“However, didn’t they prepare any measures in case Axel couldn’t participate, like a substitute?”

“I don’t really know.”

Well, it was unlikely that Hannah, who wasn’t part of the Student Council, would know such details.

Suddenly, she felt a sense of pity for Axel, who had to take on all the responsibilities due to his exceptional abilities.

“But Judith.”

“Yeah?”

While Judith was lost in thought, Hannah was watching her with a serious expression. Judith tilted her head in curiosity.

Hannah hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

“……?”

Hannah continued, looking at Judith with a curious gaze.

“Judith, do you… still love Chase?”

“……”

Why were so many people asking me this question today?

Judith blinked blankly for a moment, then kindly replied.

“No.”

“……What? But you said you have a crush on someone. If it’s not Chase, then who is it?”

“I clearly said no last time, too. And why are you suddenly asking again?”

Then Hannah met her gaze with an unusually determined look.

Unlike her usual self, who would swallow her questions if Judith seemed troubled, Hannah pressed on. While Judith was feeling tense, Hannah finally spoke.

“……It’s said that sharing secrets makes you closer.”

“Is that why you’re asking?”

“Yeah.”

Judith suppressed a sigh that almost escaped. Then she answered.

“I don’t really know my own heart. Whether this is love or not.”

She lied again. But she had no choice.

She couldn’t possibly reveal to Hannah that she loved someone other than her fiancé.

If Hannah knew about this feeling, she would surely despise her.

Judith was certainly in love. It couldn’t be clearer.

But the object of her affection wasn’t Chase.

At some point, her feelings for Axel began to change.

When she used to think of Axel, she always felt a ticklish excitement in her chest, a warm, fluffy feeling like cotton candy.

It seemed like it was that way, but at some point, those overwhelming emotions disappeared.

Now, all she felt for Axel was a heartache that made her feel pained, and that was it.

Of course, she didn’t know why she kept thinking of Axel despite the pain……

Hannah didn’t give Judith a chance to get lost in thought and asked again.

“Then, if you had to love someone, wouldn’t it be better to choose someone who is polite and likes you, rather than someone rude who doesn’t?”

“Is that something I can choose?”

“I mean, if you could choose to love someone.”

If love were a matter of choice, she wouldn’t be suffering like this.

Judith answered without hesitation.

“I don’t want to choose either.”

“What? Neither? Then what’s your type?”

Judith lowered her gaze silently for a moment. Soon, a breath escaped from between her dry lips.

“Someone who isn’t kind to me.”

“What? You said you don’t like Chase, though?”

“Yeah.”

Hannah looked at Judith with a bewildered expression, not understanding.

Judith also thought Hannah was saying particularly confusing things today, and she met her gaze calmly.

* * *

Professor Karel raised an eyebrow.

With his arms crossed and leaning back in his chair, he looked quite displeased.

He was quietly recalling a conversation he had with the astrology professor during lunch.

He wasn’t particularly close with that professor, but since the professor had the most assistant professors under him, Karel decided to approach him.

“Ahem, I have something to ask.”

“Hmm?”

The astrology professor was startled that Professor Karel had spoken to him. Seeing this, Professor Karel scratched his chin awkwardly.

“It’s nothing much, just a question about assistant professors.”

“Ah, I heard you took on a new assistant professor, right? Her name was Judith, wasn’t it?”

The astrology professor was very sociable.

Though they had never exchanged words before, he spoke to Professor Karel as if they were old friends.

“That student is famous. She doesn’t take my class, but I’ve heard endless praise about her being bright enough to be the top of her year and having a commendable attitude in class.”

The astrology professor had always been overly friendly to the less sociable Professor Karel, which made him uncomfortable.

However, the moment the professor praised Judith, all those feelings of discomfort vanished.

This professor seemed to know something.

Professor Karel cleared his throat unnecessarily.

“Ahem, Judith is indeed impressive. But she hasn’t fully accepted the assistant professor position yet.”

“What? She’s still refusing the offer?”

The astrology professor blinked, puzzled. Professor Karel defended Judith.

“Judith is cautious and prudent. She’s the type to check everything thoroughly before crossing, so she just needs some time.”

“Really? That kind of careful personality seems perfect for a trainee in accounting.”

“Exactly!”

Professor Karel snapped his fingers without realizing it.

At the same time, he decided that the astrology professor was quite a decent person.

In over ten years of working at the academy, it was the first time he had given such a high evaluation to a colleague.

The astrology professor seemed momentarily surprised by Professor Karel’s enthusiastic reaction but then smiled warmly.

“Haha. Anyway, you said you had something to ask. What is it? I’ll answer anything I know.”

“Ah, well – what do you usually put on a assistant professor’s desk?”

“Oh, you’re planning to prepare it yourself?”

The astrology professor blinked and asked.

Isn’t it usually the professor who prepares it?

As Professor Karel pondered this internally, the astrology professor nodded as if he understood.

“I remember ten years ago. I was just like you when I took on my first assistant professor. I wanted to do everything for them.”

He then enthusiastically recommended various items.

Having listened carefully, Professor Karel found himself in this situation.

“……So what’s better?”

Professor Karel was seriously contemplating. It was about the color of the bookend for Judith’s desk.

Since she would spend a lot of time at the desk, it needed to be neatly organized.

He was hesitating between two colors.

Black seemed safe but dull, while white seemed like it would get dirty quickly.

Professor Karel’s eyebrow twitched. He sighed.

“What on earth……”

Professor Karel’s head ached. He briefly considered asking Judith directly but then shook his head.

For a moment, he had a weak thought. A gift’s secrecy is crucial.

He couldn’t reveal his dilemma to Judith.

Professor Karel recalled Judith’s surprised rabbit-like eyes when she sat in the custom chair he had prepared for her. Her golden pupils had trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.

Judith hadn’t verbally thanked him for the gift, but she was undoubtedly thrilled beyond words.

He had anticipated her sitting for long periods and given her a perfect gift, so she must have been deeply moved.

Of course, despite that, she hadn’t accepted the assistant professor offer yet. So he had to be even more careful with this gift.

From the morning when the sun was in the east to the afternoon when the sky turned crimson.

Professor Karel’s intense deliberation continued.

White and black. The two contrasting colors were in a fierce battle of self-assertion.

At that moment, someone knocked on Professor Karel’s office door.

Knock, knock, knock.

When he opened the door, the astrology professor appeared. Before he could ask what was going on, the professor entered the office with a serious expression.

He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret and whispered.

“Did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“Something related to that student you have your eyes on as a assistant professor.”

……Could something have happened to Judith?

Recently, he had heard about a sudden chandelier fall at the party hall injuring the Student Council president.

Could Judith have been caught up in that as well……?

Recalling this, Professor Karel’s face turned pale.