Chapter 8

Then, as Chase was silently applying the ointment, he casually said,

“You’ll find out soon.”

“Huh?”

“They’re coming.”

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

No sooner had Chase finished his low words than the ground began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.

It seemed that a crowd of people was rushing in. Even from a distance, it was clear there were more than just a few.

Was there a war or something? 

It was really at that level, no exaggeration.

Unlike Judith, who was wide-eyed with surprise, Chase was calm as if it were a regular occurrence. He slowly pointed a finger toward the door.

“Act like my fiancée properly.”

Following his finger, she saw students clustered tightly together.

They were half-hidden behind the door, peeking out to look at Chase.

It was a strange sight she had never seen before. Even though their gaze wasn’t directed at her, Judith felt a chill run down her spine.

“Do you know them?”

“No.”

“Then why…?”

Chase ruffled his hair irritably.

“I don’t know, they keep bothering me…”

Thud.

At that moment, one of the students standing by the door clutched their heart and collapsed.

Then that student was quickly whisked away somewhere by the hands of other students.

Sighing, Chase furrowed his brows tiredly.

“See? Can you get rid of them for me?”

Judith was at a loss. She thought it would be an easy request, but it turned out to be this.

Glancing at the door, Judith shivered at the intense gaze she felt. She spoke softly to Chase, trying to ignore them.

“How am I supposed to deal with them? Can’t you do it?”

“If I even talk to them, they scream and faint. And then they come back the next day saying I talked to them.”

Chase grabbed Judith’s hand suddenly.

Earlier, when Judith touched Chase’s hand, he had shuddered, but now he seemed unfazed.

Apparently, it was fine for him to grab Judith, but not the other way around.

He seemed to live life quite conveniently.

Thud.

Another sound of someone collapsing came from the door. It seemed to be because Chase had grabbed her hand.

This time, Chase didn’t even look in that direction. His red gaze was focused solely on Judith.

“Just say one thing. As my fiancée, tell them it’s quite unpleasant that they’re eyeing your fiancé.”

“……”

“You said you’d help.”

Judith couldn’t easily answer. During the brief silence, Chase’s insides were burning black.

Was she going to refuse here?

Chase honestly thought it was a tough request, so he figured Judith might refuse.

But then Judith, who had been contemplating something, spoke.

“If I do you this favor, will you do me a favor too?”

Chase’s eyes widened momentarily. Her proposal was unexpected. But soon, he let out a soft laugh.

“Predictable. What you’re going to ask.”

Probably something like going on a date together.

Chase leisurely crossed his arms and looked down at Judith.

Judith’s golden eyes were filled with determined resolve. It seemed she had high expectations for the favor Chase would grant her.

Suppressing a smile, Chase arrogantly nodded his chin.

“Alright, if you succeed. But I wonder if it’ll be that easy.”

With that, Chase stepped back and began to watch the situation unfold like a bystander.

Judith cautiously approached the gathered crowd.

And with a face that clearly showed she didn’t want to, she said, “My fiancé wants to practice swordsmanship alone, so please don’t disturb him.”

Of course, the students just looked at each other and didn’t easily move. But Judith resolved the situation cleanly with just one line.

“I’ll give you Professor Karel’s advanced accounting practice notes if you don’t disturb him.”

As soon as Judith finished speaking, the students started murmuring.

At Prussian Academy, there were professors known among students as the “Big Three.”

Among them, Professor Karel was especially famous for setting exam questions at a devilishly difficult level.

He always set questions in ways students never anticipated, in new formats every time.

Perhaps because of this, there was even a rumor that Professor Karel enjoyed seeing students’ efforts go to waste and fall into despair.

During exam periods, his villainous laughter echoed through the halls, adding credibility to the rumors.

Judith was the only student to score perfectly on Professor Karel’s exams. The first perfect score since Professor Karel had joined Prussian Academy.

There was briefly a controversy about whether Judith had bribed Professor Karel, but it soon died down.

Judith, being an orphan and a commoner, couldn’t possibly have had the money for such a thing.

There was also a brief, sordid rumor about whether she had used something other than money to win over Professor Karel, but it quietly disappeared thanks to someone.

In any case, the advanced accounting practice notes Judith created were invaluable, something money couldn’t buy.

Even students who didn’t take accounting could trade them for sources in other subjects, so it didn’t matter.

It seemed the tempting offer worked.

Without hesitation, the students who had accepted the bait disappeared as quickly as they had come. Watching the entire process, Chase’s eyes briefly flashed with interest.

He had asked Judith to chase them away. But he hadn’t expected her to do it so quickly and effectively…

As Chase was inwardly impressed, Judith approached him with steady steps.

“You said you’d grant my request.”

Judith demanded as if she had been waiting for this. Watching her, Chase couldn’t help but chuckle again.

Yes, with this level of dedication, he couldn’t refuse her request.

Judith was now his fiancée, so it wouldn’t be bad to go along with her to some extent.

Moreover, her clever handling of the situation piqued his curiosity.

He leaned against the wall, crossing his legs as he gazed at Judith.

He expected the words from her red lips to be predictable.

“Try to like sweet things.”

“What?”

But Judith’s unexpected words caught him off guard.

So unexpected that Chase, without realizing it, voiced his thoughts aloud.

“You weren’t asking for a date?”

“Why would I suddenly ask for a date?”

Judith tilted her head, puzzled.

Then why was she telling him to like sweet things?

Chase was bewildered but soon understood.

Ah, maybe like last time, she wanted me to go to a dessert café with her.

Chase arrogantly crossed his arms. Looking down at Judith, who barely reached his shoulder, he shook his head.

But Judith didn’t stop and added another comment.

“And if possible, I’d like us to have lunch together from now on.”

“……You want to have lunch with me too?”

Chase uncrossed his arms and blinked. Whatever he thought of that reaction, Judith hastily added.

“I think it’s a good offer for you too. If I have lunch with you, I can fend off the students who bother you, like today.”

Chase shrugged, as if he couldn’t help it, while watching Judith explain her reasoning.

She was making excuses, but it was clear what Judith wanted.

Ultimately, she wanted to spend time with him.

Chase let out a small laugh.

“Slipping in two requests, you’re quite sly, aren’t you?”

“……”

Judith pressed her lips together, as if she had nothing to say.

“Was your indifferent attitude just to make me let my guard down?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Judith blinked, looking as if she didn’t understand why Chase was saying this.

Her large golden eyes and slightly drooping eyes made her look momentarily innocent.

But Chase thought he shouldn’t let his guard down and murmured to Judith.

“I’ll say it again, Judith. I have no intention of loving you.”

“……”

“So you should try not to love me either.”

Judith looked at Chase as if he was hopeless, her mouth slightly agape.

Receiving that gaze, Chase thought his fiancée was good at acting with her eyes too.

* * *

Chase, who had been harassed by people, was indeed pitiable.

But being pitiful and helping are on different lines. Judith wasn’t so generous and merciful as to step into such matters out of a momentary sympathy.

In fact, Judith was busy enough looking out for her own safety.

Thus, she couldn’t help but consider the repercussions of helping Chase drive away the students.

Even as his fiancée, if such things happened repeatedly, many students would harbor resentment towards her.

Some students might harass and bully Judith, just like when she first entered the academy.