CH 42

How To Remember Someone (6)

In Professor Hartz’s class, we decoded ciphertext, solved problems and conducted experiments as usual. Of course, it was uncomfortable to feel a few stares. It was because of the strange rumours that two freshmen had beat up a senior. I knew those two freshmen were Leto and me.

Initially, I wanted to publicise all the atrocities that senior did, but if I stepped up out of nowhere, it would only make matters worse. But I soon realised that my choice was wrong. Unlike us, the senior’s mouth was light[1]. He spread strange rumours that were a little excessive, no, it was really excessive, about being beaten by Leto and me.

[1] Light mouth: A person who likes to tell other people’s secrets and/or make false rumours.

I wondered if he still had feelings for Leto, since the more insulting rumours he spread were about me. Briseis is a poor, shameless and weird kid who came into this academy. She’s very violent, just like her parents, so she often threatens and bullies others. And so on.

Of course, the students and classmates who knew me well didn’t believe the rumour. They were even worried about me. The problem was the people who didn’t know me well and stared at me with stink eyes. But was I the type of person who cared about those gazes? Sorry, but it doesn’t bother me at all.

“It bothers me.”

Leto was different…He was upset about the bad rumours going around about me. Before entering Professor Hartz’s class, I stopped Leto from trying to seek out and threaten the guy again. Even after the class began, he sent a sharp look to the kids that glanced at me.

Even when I gently poked him on the side, telling him to cut it out, Leto’s eyes did not change. The people in the classroom began to be cautious of me under Leto’s gaze. Eventually, I gave up and focused on the class. Professor Hartz, who yawned while giving lessons with a bored expression, did not change a thing.

It didn’t seem to matter if we reported his activity to the academy or not. I had also forgotten about Professor Hartz’s matter because of the sudden events. The culprit who was chasing us was caught. So, does that mean Professor Hartz’s offer becomes futile?

“What is on your mind, Miss Pierre?”

As I was thinking about it, Professor Hartz pointed it out. Although it was fine for him to slack in class, it doesn’t seem like he tolerates students who did the same in his class. How is that fair? And I was spacing out because I was worried about Professor Hartz!

However, he was not a professor who would understand me.

“Get up and solve the problem on page 245.”

In the end, I felt resentful of the professor who made me stand up. There were already eyes on me, but when I stood up, it attracted even more attention. I almost let out a sigh when I saw the question at the bottom of the page. I don’t think I would be able to solve it quickly and sit down.

The hunch was not wrong. I stuttered several times and was scolded by Professor Hartz before I could sit down. After being tormented by the professor, the sympathy I had for him yesterday faded away.

“Class ends here.”

As soon as the professor ended his sentence, the students rose from their seats. Leto and I were no different. 

As I hurried out the classroom, I saw familiar faces at the door.

“Leah, Bree! Are you okay?”

They were my classmates. They looked worried and observed Leto’s complexion.

“It’s no big deal. We’re fine, so don’t worry.”

“Really? That’s a relief then. I heard that the senior told his family and that a family member came and made a fuss. So I was worried.”

“…What?”

What did you say?

Just then, I saw a middle-aged woman with a sophisticated appearance in front of me. A woman, wearing heavy make-up and a bright red dress filled with laces, was approaching us. Beside her, the pervert who had been stalking us this whole time, huffed along.

As though the rumours weren’t enough, he even brought his family member! Things were getting heavy.

“That punk…!”

Leto stared at the guy with his teeth clenched. At the same time, the guy spotted us, pointed his finger at me and opened his mouth. I couldn’t hear a single thing he was saying, but it was definitely not anything good. The moment the guy pointed his finger at me, the woman instantly glared at me and approached me with an even furious expression. It was obvious that things would get noisy. Sensing signs of a fight, the students began to surround me and Leto.

As the numbers of spectators increased, the guy stood with a confident look. He’s the one who’s been stalking and following us, yet he acts innocent! How shameless.

“Are you Briseis Pierre?”

The woman approached me with her head raised stiffly and asked. The way she looked at me made me feel sick. Her gaze, which was looking at me as though I was below her, was no different from her son’s.

“You’re the one who made my son’s face like this.”

“I did it.”

Leto stepped in. He stood in between me and the woman, protecting me. The woman was startled by Leto’s sudden intervention, but soon regained her composure. She cleared her throat and looked at Leto with a more aggravated gaze.

“So, you’re Leah Arsene?”

“That’s right.”

“From what my son said, he said that was the student that hit him.”

“I punched him first.”

“Really? My son can’t lie. Surely, you’re not covering for that child, are you?”

She was trying to orient her attack on me somehow. The action was both ridiculous and prejudiced. When the woman and Leto quarrelled, the guy who was watching them tapped his mother.

Then, he whispered in her ear while looking at Leto slyly. As the woman’s expression brightened, Leto and I were overcome with an unknown anxiety.

“Oh, the Arsene family doesn’t recognise you?”

That guy must have lost his mind even after being beaten before. I stiffened at the guy’s action of poking Leto’s sore spot again. Observing Leto, he was staring at them with a cold expression on his face.

It was a big problem.

“What do you want, then?”

As the woman beat Leto, I asked her.

“Now we’re on the same page. If you give me financial compensation and a polite apology, I won’t have to bring this to court.”

“Fine.”

“Good, the amount…”

“Let’s go to court.”

At my words, the woman became speechless.

“That guy stalked Leah all day long. I was there as a witness.”

I smiled faintly. It was my fault for hitting him, but I refused to apologise and give him a lot of money so easily. The woman’s expression crumpled, embarrassed by my confident stance. Hearing that I wanted to bring it to court, the guy’s face also shifted.

It was disgraceful for a noble to go to court. In particular, if a student from the prestigious Lexley Academy went to court, it would be published in the newspaper. More so, if they lost the case, they would lose their reputation.

“You’ll be fine, but would it be good for the Arsene family’s child to go to court?”

The woman looked at Leto.

“Didn’t you say it earlier? That I was the one who hit your son. So I’m the only one who has to go to court.”

“Come to think of it, I think Lady Arsene hit me first, mom!”

“Really?”

That’s nonsense! The guy changed his words to his advantage again. The students that were watching the scene began to whisper even more when Leto was involved. It was then, Leto, who had been quiet, opened his mouth.

“Why do we need to go to court? Once my family makes a move, it’s over for you.”

When Leto spoke with a sly smile, the woman and the guy flinched. Leto took a step forward and continued.

“You’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“You’re lying! You think you can inform your family? Think about how they’ll treat you at home if you let your family know about your actions!”

That guy knew more about Leto than I thought. He seemed to know how exactly Leto was treated at home and how traumatised he was. That’s how much he must have stalked Leto and chased after him. He was a complete pervert.

The guy who knew Leto well was not frightened by Leto’s threats. Unfortunately, the guy was right. If Leto’s action was spread to the Arsene, Leto would have more issues to deal with. That wasn’t all. I couldn’t imagine how the family would pressure me. Then, I figured he would have to end it on his own terms somehow.

“Listening to this is frustrating.”

I heard someone’s voice. Perhaps he had been watching this all along, Professor Hartz stood there with a blunt expression.

“Wh, Who are you?”

“It’s best if you leave. You won’t win if you go to court. Unless you want to lose your reputation and get your son expelled.”

“Ex, Expelled?”

At the word expelled, the woman’s expression became even more grim.

On the other hand, Professor Hartz continued to speak with an indifferent expression.

“I will report this to the security. After all, the fact that your son followed and chased after Miss Arsene still remains. The evidence would be the paint on his uniform. You can ask your son a detailed explanation of the paint. If you spread lies in our academy, you can be suspended or expelled.”

“But those kids used violence against my son, too!”

“They will also be punished, but it is less likely to be as severe as your son’s.”

“How do you know that?”

“Of course I would know. My family are lawyers. You’ll know it when I say it’s the McTiner.”

McTiner. Wasn’t that the greatest family of lawyers? It is a famous family due to their high winning rate of cases as well as producing large numbers of judges and lawyers. True to the family’s reputation, the woman immediately lowered her tail at the word McTiner.