TPCF 15

Chapter 15

If he was going to be like that, why did he even come to class?
Based on what Anita had figured out about Edmund’s personality so far, he should’ve stormed out of the lecture hall already.

“Having fun?”

“Not really.”

His eyes, which had been fixed on the professor’s balding head, had somehow shifted to Anita.

“This is my first time sitting in on botany, and man, it’s boring. Don’t you feel sleepy?”

“This is your first time?”

“Yeah. I always wondered who’d listen to a dull subject like botany. Turns out it was you, huh?”

He grinned like someone who had just caught a criminal. Anita could only stare, dumbfounded.
It was already surprising enough to find out he was auditing this class—but on top of that, he was being shameless about it.

Anita opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again. She was already overwhelmed and busy; she didn’t have the mental space to deal with Edmund’s nonsense.
And judging by the playful tone in his voice, she was sure he had brought it up just to mess with her.

“Isn’t this the part where you ask me why I’m here?”

Anita really didn’t care.
The sudden frequency of their encounters since yesterday wasn’t welcome, and him constantly striking up conversation was burdensome.
But if she didn’t ask, he would obviously keep pestering her, so Anita finally opened her mouth.

“Why are you here?”

“Good question. Why am I here?”

“…Are you asking me?”

When no response came to her seemingly simple question, Anita turned to look at him.
His calm gray eyes, like a sky clouded before rain, were fixed squarely on her.

“Alright, I’ll tell you.”

“The reason I’m here is—”

Just then, the composed and sharp look on Edmund’s face vanished in an instant.
Back to his usual playful self, he drooped his eyebrows, clearly trying to act pitiful.

“Don’t you remember?”

“……?”

“Riche. And you.”

As he said “you,” Edmund’s long finger pointed directly at Anita.

“Not only did you abandon me, but you also left me in the bushes.”

That had happened.
Anita had indeed been worried about his safety.
But once she was face to face with him, those concerns had evaporated.
For someone who got wasted and spent the night outdoors, he looked shockingly fine.

His soft, golden hair was as flawless as ever, without a speck of dirt.
His skin had a healthy glow, as if it had never been touched by the cold dawn air.
Naturally, Anita had assumed he had returned safely to the dormitory that night.

“Anyway. The caretaker heartlessly locked the main door and went to sleep, so I couldn’t get in.”

“…….”

“So…”

He scratched his cheek, trailing off like he was embarrassed to say more. Anita’s mouth dropped open.

“Don’t tell me… you slept here?”

“Well, not exactly.”

Edmund stared intently at the corner of the book Anita had open, then raised his head again.

“Professor Evan, the one who teaches botany, is kind of absent-minded. He often forgets to lock the lecture hall door, you know?”

“That’s… unfortunate.”

Though his situation—having to sleep in an empty classroom because the dorm was locked—was quite pitiful, Anita couldn’t bring herself to offer comfort.
She had always been awkward with such things since she was young.
She thought for a while about how she could respond to make him feel less bad, only to realize that the delay itself might come off as rude.

“I mean it.”

Worried he might misunderstand her attitude, Anita emphasized her words.

“You really don’t have to. I just made that story up. And now…”

“Edmund?”

Just as Edmund lowered his voice to continue, the professor’s voice suddenly cut in.
In an instant, Edmund wiped the smile from his face and stood up straight.

“Yes?”

“Why are you still here? Class ended a while ago. Are you waiting for a special session or something?”

At his words, Anita looked around.
The lecture hall that had been bustling with students was now completely empty.
She had missed an entire lecture while chatting.

“Actually, that’s not possible. You’re not even on the attendance list.”

Judging by the way Professor Evan frowned and spoke seriously, this probably wasn’t the first time.
Anita didn’t care what kind of conversation Edmund and the professor were having.
She quietly closed her book, trying not to make a sound, and slowly got to her feet.

She was planning to slip out the back before they noticed, but then locked eyes with Professor Evan.

“Miss Lodel.”

“…Yes?”

Trying to slide out without pulling back her chair, Anita froze awkwardly.

“Judging by how little you paid attention to my lecture, I’d say you didn’t hear a word of it. This may not qualify as punishment, but I need you to run an errand.”

“…….”

“There’s something I need delivered. Take that troublemaker with you while you’re at it.”

And just like that, Anita found herself burdened with a thick file folder—and an oddball senior as a bonus.

Despite getting scolded thoroughly by Professor Evan, Edmund looked completely unfazed.
In fact, he even had a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“I don’t care about the other professors, but I do wish you’d behave in my class. I’m too old to be summoned by the chairman again.”

“If I didn’t attend, this class would’ve been canceled…”

With that, Professor Evan smacked Edmund on the back of the head with the stack of papers he was holding.
It didn’t seem that hard to Anita, but Edmund grabbed the back of his head dramatically, acting like he was in pain.

“If I report this to my grandfather, you might get in trouble.”

“Oh dear. That’s unfortunate. I heard you were kicked out because the chairman didn’t like you.”

“…Let’s just say it was a tragic tale not to be told without tears.”