A Matter of Class
As expected, their business was with Bayul. Having spent their time picking on Quinn, they were only now getting around to the main event of the day. Jared planted one leg forward, crossed his arms, and looked Bayul up and down with a posture of pure, unadulterated arrogance.
His name was Jared von Hector, wasn't it?
For someone his age, he was fairly tall and solidly built, and his looks were decent enough. But the unpleasant way he looked down his nose at people, the nasal drawl in his voice, the sneer tugging at his mouth — all of it made it clear that his character left a great deal to be desired.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? I never heard anything about you being a mute."
Snickering rippled through Jared's lackeys at his needling. It felt like a rehearsed script — when I say this, you all laugh. Something like that.
"Hello."
Speaking to him at all made Bayul's skin crawl, but ignoring him was no longer an option. Not only the students mid-meal but everyone in line, even those still loading their trays, had turned to stare as if on cue.
Understandable, really — this was a meeting of duke's house against duke's house. The Academy's rules declared all students equal, but these were children raised in a class society that drew its first line between noble and commoner.
Naturally, a hierarchy had formed among the students as well, measured by the one standard that always mattered: their backgrounds — the reach of their families' power.
Jared was the eldest son of House Hector, whose star was rising higher than ever these days. Bayul was the only son of House Randert, a house even the Emperor dared not treat with less than full respect. It was only natural that all eyes should fix on them.
Which of the two would claim the upper hand? The whole hall held its breath and watched.
"That was a rather short greeting, don't you think?"
Bayul had nothing worth saying, so he kept silent. Apparently taking that as being snubbed, Jared's voice sharpened.
"Ugh, did I get brushed off again? That's really too much, even for a first meeting."
"Ah, I was just a little taken aback... I didn't expect you to come find me like this."
"Exactly. You should have come to me first. Would've been nicer."
"...Me?"
"Yes! You think people like us can go around mingling with just anyone? The classes have to match."
"Classes?"
When Bayul asked him to repeat himself, Jared clicked his tongue in exasperation.
"Oh dear, oh dear. I'd heard you were a sheltered little thing, but this is a bit much. Are you naive, or just plain stupid?"
Sheltered? What on earth is he talking about?
Bayul genuinely couldn't make sense of Jared, who had appeared out of nowhere and was spouting nothing but nonsense.
"Tsk, tsk. Looks like I'll have a lot more than one or two things to teach you."
"One or two things? That's rich. What could you possibly teach anyone besides how to be a jerk?"
"Aidan!"
The owner of that icy voice was Aidan. Looking at Jared as though he were the most pathetic creature on earth, Aidan strolled over and planted himself at Bayul's side.
"Hey there, friends. Did I keep you waiting?"
"Oh, what now? You again?"
"That's me. What, aren't you happy to see me?"
Aidan's taunting twisted Jared's face into an ugly scowl. Bayul didn't know it, but lately the person most skilled at rubbing Jared's temper raw was Aidan himself.
The fact that a runt who stood barely a hand's length tall kept popping up at every turn to wreck his schemes was insufferable beyond words.
"Stop dragging decent kids into your weird little games. Go play with each other. Though honestly, if you'd all just quietly keep to yourselves, that'd be even better — but that's not going to happen, is it?"
"I believe I warned you to watch your mouth."
"And I believe I told you to get your head on straight. Remember that?"
"You little punk — who do you think you're talking to—!"
"That's enough!"
When one of the lackeys lunged at Aidan, Jared raised a hand and stopped him.
"The little whelp got in on talent alone and now apparently can't see what's in front of him. Keep indulging him like this and that ego of his will ascend straight to the heavens."
"Indulging? I never asked you to."
"Let's just say there's something about you worth looking into, so I'm keeping an eye out."
A thin, cold smile curled across Jared's lips. The way his eyes gleamed at Aidan was laden with meaning.
"So wait for it. The day I properly deal with you is coming soon enough."
"I don't know what you're trying to figure out, but go right ahead. A challenge is always welcome."
Aidan wasn't scared one bit. Jared was everything Aidan despised most in a human being, and he absolutely refused to lose to that kind of man.
"Will you be staying over there?"
Jared's attention swung back to Bayul.
"I told you to associate with your own class. You really think you'll find people like that over there?"
"What are you—?"
"Someone at your level should be standing with me — that's how the picture fits. One of them is a lowborn gypsy, and the other's a deranged pauper who carries a bird around on his head. Does that make any sense to you? You think creatures like that belong at your side? When Duke Randert hears about this, he'll probably faint from shock. So I'll make a special exception and let you into our circle — how does that sound?"
Only now, hearing Jared's proposal, did Bayul finally understand what he'd meant by class. Judging from everything so far, he'd had a rough guess about what kind of person Jared was — but this was far worse than he'd imagined.
To be so already enthralled by the privileges of nobility that he measured people and treated them differently by rank. It was something Bayul couldn't even comprehend.
Though his relationship with his father had been a distant one, if Bayul had learned anything properly from Duke Randert, it was this: never treat anyone carelessly, no matter who they were. You may take pride in yourself, his father had said, but considering yourself special and growing arrogant over it is never right.
"What, don't tell me you've actually grown attached to them?"
When Bayul didn't answer, Jared gave an exaggerated shrug of mock surprise.
"Or did they butter you up something fierce? What on earth did you two do to win this kid over? Come on, share the secret. I could use it myself."
"There'd be no point in telling you."
"What?"
The one who'd spoken in that calm, even tone was Bayul himself. The boy who until now had only offered brief, half-hearted objections opened his mouth as if striking back.
"Because you'd never understand."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jared's eyes narrowed to slits.
"There's something Aidan and Eli have that you and yours don't."
"And what would that be?"
"Sincerity."
"Sincerity of what?"
"Sincerity. A relationship without sincerity never lasts. Sooner or later, it comes to an end."
"Why do you have to talk in circles like that? So what's your answer?"
If he liked them, say he liked them; if he didn't, say so — what was with all this convoluted nonsense? Jared barely managed to smother the irritation rising in his chest.
"I don't want to walk into something I can already see the end of. Thanks, but I'll pass on your offer."
So that's a no, then?
Jared's expression warped ever so slightly. He had come all this way, in person, deliberately offering a favor he'd assumed would be snapped up — only to be flatly refused, in front of everyone watching.
"You'll regret this. I never offer twice."
"I won't regret it."
"Is that so?"
We'll see about that, won't we?
Jared's chilly smile laid his inner thoughts bare. It would have been a lie to say Bayul felt no fear. A flash of anger at the way Jared spoke of Aidan and Eli had driven him to stand his ground, but his heart had been taking a pounding ever since the confrontation began.
Then, as if sensing exactly what Bayul was feeling, a gentle pressure settled on both his shoulders.
It's okay. We're right here.
Aidan and Eli. Neither of them said a word, but their eyes said it all. You're not alone. It's the three of us together. They smiled bright and sure, as if to say, trust only us, their eyes shining.
Thank you.
His breath eased. The fear drained away. Bayul lifted his gaze and stared straight back at Jared, who was still glaring at him with hard, forceful eyes.
"What a shame, truly. Throwing away a fortune that rolled right into your lap without even recognizing it."
"That's not a fortune — it's a disaster. Let's at least speak plainly to each other, shall we?"
"Heh. Hey, shorty. Want me to tell you something?"
As if a thought had just struck him, Jared bent forward toward Aidan in an exaggerated lean.
"It's about your little friend there. There's something wrong with his body. Frail as glass, just look at him. Word is his special talent is collapsing on the spot, over and over."
"...Collapsing?"
"Actually, now that it's out in the open — that's why I came. I was trying to help him with it. It's pitiful, isn't it? How hard must it be for him, suffering from an illness no one can even explain?"
Anyone who wasn't a fool could see it: Jared was deliberately raising his voice for the whole hall to hear.
"So take good care of him. You two matter more to him than I ever will. Just don't go dumping him by the wayside when he becomes an inconvenience, all right?"
— Chapter 5: The Roommate's Secret —
By around four in the afternoon, all classes had ended for the day. The hours had flown by so fast it felt as though the whole day had vanished without his noticing. Ever since the incident in the dining hall, Eli and Aidan had seemed oddly self-conscious around him, which left a weight on Bayul's heart — but he smiled and acted like nothing was wrong, and bore it.
They had every reason to be curious about his illness, yet neither asked a single thing. It was more like... a quiet worry that he might suddenly collapse at any moment. Almost as if the two of them were standing on full alert, ready to carry him off to the temple at a heartbeat's notice, no matter when or where he fell.
For that, Bayul was truly grateful. They treated him — someone they'd only met today — as though he were a friend of ten years.
What kind of luck was this, really? Making not one but two wonderful friends on his very first day.
Bail, I finally have friends.
If his brother were alive, he would have wanted to brag about it. Bail would have been so happy for him. He was still afraid of becoming alone again someday — but for now, having friends by his side made him feel nothing so much as safe.
Should I tell them now, even this late?
Since they hadn't asked, Bayul hadn't found his opening to bring up his illness either. In his heart, he wanted to reassure them — that it wasn't nearly as serious as they might imagine, that he was receiving steady treatment, that there was no need to worry.
But with so much time already passed, raising the topic now somehow felt like it would only make things more awkward, and his mouth refused to open.
"S-see you later, Aidan."
In the end, he never seized the moment, and had to settle for a simple goodbye when he and Aidan parted ways at their different dormitories.
There'll be a chance to tell them someday.
"Well then — guess it's just the two of us now?"
Eli abruptly stopped walking.