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Chapter 8
“What the hell? What’s with that vulgar background with absolutely no roots?”
“I knew his reputation sounded full of cheap shit.”
“What would he have done if he wasn’t even smart? Hey, even if I were reborn, I’d just choose my ordinary family.”
“What’s ordinary about your family? You’re a Count’s son who goes to Orchen every summer to attend all sorts of social events.”
This wasn’t just the cute level of gossip I had with Alina; this was complete slander. She pressed her lips together tightly and fiddled with her juice glass. She felt even more uncomfortable than when she had received the summons from the Senior.
Come to think of it, Jeremy’s group were all nobles. Her gaze landed on the expensive accessories that didn’t match their school uniforms. Discrimination based on status was prohibited at Genios, so even royalty wouldn’t receive special treatment here. It was different from the Royal Orchen Academy, where only the children of nobles or the wealthy could enroll.
Because of the school rules, everyone restrained themselves on the surface, but there was no stopping the sense of superiority that leaked out when they were amongst themselves. Of course, there were often cases where nobles mingled so unassumingly with commoners that you wouldn’t know their rank until they told you. On the other hand, there were kids like these.
She gathered her snack wrap wrappers and lifted her head. She was about to say she had things to do and leave. At that moment, Jeremy, who had been chattering away for a while, suddenly turned to look at her.
“Right, Rosia. What do you think? You’re the one who’s experienced Senior Hayworth the closest here.”
Instantly, four pairs of eyes turned toward her. Swallowing a sigh, Rosia bit her lip lightly. Her peers were all waiting for her answer with interested looks.
“…It’s true that Senior Hayworth speaks a bit meanly. But I don’t want to judge people based on their background or whatever. How could I? I don’t even know Senior that well.”
Well, that didn’t mean the harsh words he said were all forgiven, though. An awkward silence settled over the table. It was something she had prepared herself for. Pretending to agree just to avoid a moment of discomfort didn’t fit her nature.
Just as she was pushing her chair back to stand up, Jeremy burst into loud laughter. Soon, the other peers began to giggle along with him.
“Ah, Rosia. You’re so innocent and kind.”
“How will you survive in this harsh world being so naive?”
Dumbfounded, she rolled her eyes with a slight frown. It was right then that a familiar figure caught her eye.
The person standing at the very front of the sandwich counter paid and turned around. Cold, sunken golden eyes swept over her and her four peers in turn. Rosia’s expression stiffened.
“Shit, hey. Isn’t that Senior Hayworth?”
Soon, the other peers who spotted him made a small fuss, glancing at each other nervously. She took that opportunity to successfully escape from them.
“Something urgent came up, so I’ll get going first. Thanks for lunch, Howard!”
Rosia immediately chased after the Senior. Strictly speaking, she was innocent. She hadn’t agreed with the slander. Rather, it was the opposite. Yet, for some reason, it weighed on her mind, and she couldn’t just stay put.
“Senior! Wait a moment!”
Naturally, he ignored her words. He didn’t even pretend to hear. Besides, why was he walking so fast? Does having a tall stature mean a wider stride? Probably, right?
He naturally ignored her call. Ignored? He didn’t even acknowledge her existence. Furthermore, his pace was incredibly fast. It was hard enough pushing through the bustling crowd; there was no way she could catch the Senior who had moved that far away in the blink of an eye. While she was catching her breath, he passed through the Teleportation Gate and disappeared somewhere.
A useless sense of stubbornness flared up. Rosia wiped the sweat lightly beading on her forehead and stepped into the gate. As soon as her vision cleared from the flash of white, she saw the Senior just passing the entrance to the Research Building.
“Ah, I said wait!”
Rosia ran at full speed, hugging her bag to her chest, and caught him on the landing of the stairs heading to the second floor. The Senior, having his sleeve grabbed, looked back with an emotionless face.
“What. Let go.”
He immediately tried to shake her off and start walking again. No, he tried to. He probably would have if she hadn’t abruptly grabbed Senior’s arm with both hands.
“I am really, truly sorry.”
At the frantic apology, his movement stopped. She swallowed dry saliva and waited for the Senior to say something. Fortunately, the Research Building was quiet during lunch hour. It was a relief that there was no need to be seen struggling.
“Why are apologizing? Are you a spokesperson or something?”
After a long wait, a blunt question flew back. Rosia let out a sigh of relief. Regardless of his tone, it meant he had the will to converse.
“Well, because Senior… You don’t have a reason to hear such words. And those kids have no right to gab about Senior like that either.”
She added quietly. Of course, receiving an apology from someone other than the person who swore at him wouldn’t be much help… But still, those words were too painful and cruel to swallow alone. Especially regarding someone’s life story that no one knew the truth about.
“I… I’ll pretend I heard nothing at all. It’s not polite to go around talking about personal stories.”
He slowly turned his head to look down at her. She thought he would be inwardly hurt, but his eyes were unexpectedly calm. A strange realization grazed her mind.
There were countless rumors with ‘Senior Hayworth’ as the protagonist. Numerous stories consumed as a handful of entertainment, followed by shock, laughter, and various reactions without malice.
He stared at her face for a long time before pulling his captured arm away. It was an unexpectedly gentle motion. Then, he turned and walked up the rest of the stairs as if nothing had happened.
The second-floor hallway was bright with the midday spring sunlight. However, the Senior walking there looked as if he were alone in winter. Watching that figure, she felt strangely unsettled.
Late that afternoon, he contacted her to postpone the meeting to the next day.
*
Rosia paced for a long time on the stair landing heading to the second floor of the Research Building.
Recalling yesterday’s events made her hesitant to take a step. At the same time, she was a bit confused.
But even if it wasn’t intentional, it was true that she was part of the group badmouthing him, so she was worried. She had to see the Senior until winter; what if their relationship completely fell apart before the Group Project even properly started?
Also, considering the severity of the words he heard. She bit her lip slightly and looked down at her toes. Despite all that, Jeremy’s group, whom she ran into in the lecture hall today, greeted her nonchalantly as if nothing had happened.
Even knowing she had chased after the Senior, they were busy giggling amongst themselves as usual, not asking a single thing about whether his anger had subsided. She expected as much from kids like them, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
A heavy sigh escaped through her lips. Her resignation came quickly. Though her head was still complicated.
Rosia moved her feet slowly. She climbed the stairs, walked down the quiet hallway, and stood before the lab door with the old nameplate. Feeling like she was going to receive punishment, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
*
Around the time the cautious knock was heard, Noah was busy working as usual.
In fact, his workload had doubled since yesterday. The cause was, naturally, his dear Professor Sidfell. Instead of returning from Orchen immediately, it was absurd that he had sent a person to deliver a pile of junk Magic Tools he had bought in the meantime.
The postcard that came with it was even more ridiculous. On the back of a painting depicting a canal in spring, famous for its beautiful scenery, a short message was written. ‘Sending this just in case you get bored. I’ll return soon.’
Noah’s face contorted. The errand boy, who had been subtly watching him while waiting for his payment, changed his posture and gathered his hands politely.
That happened around 4 PM yesterday. That was the entire reason he postponed the Group Project meeting. It was difficult to let someone into a lab cluttered with all sorts of boxes. That was the only reason.
However, Rosia, who entered with a sullen expression, seemed to be thinking something else. Seeing her trudge in silently and sit across from the workbench, she reeked of a gloomy atmosphere that didn’t suit her.
He stared blankly at her as she bowed her head while hugging her bag. His golden eyes narrowed in question. On any other day, she would have watched his work a little and started talking first, but today, the silence was strangely prolonged.
He put down his glasses and took off his gloves. Noah let out a smirk without realizing it.
And honestly, words of that level didn’t really deal any damage. That was why he just left it alone instead of storming in and flipping out.
Of course, he had been waiting to see how far they would spout their shit. He hadn’t intentionally eavesdropped, but the long sandwich line was close to the tables, so he could hear clearly even without trying.
The giggling of four idiots who seemed to be of noble background, and Rosia’s voice correcting them in an articulate tone about the general common sense they significantly lacked.
Consistent. Up until then, he had been nonchalantly thinking things like that.
It was a bit unexpected that she, having made eye contact with him, persistently chased after him to apologize. He intended to say something biting if she made all sorts of excuses and acted annoyingly, but she didn’t even let him do that.
Feeling his intense gaze, Rosia suddenly lifted her head. As if she had something to say, she licked her lips and hesitated for a long time.
