Confess Carefully – Chapter 6
“…What?”
Did he just suggest we work on the assignment together? Leonard… you?
I was about to refuse outright without a second thought, but I kept my mouth shut to figure out his true intention first.
Why me of all people? What is he trying to do by putting the top scorer and the runner-up in the same group? Does he want us to submit some insanely perfect assignment?
Suppressing the rising questions in my mind, I forced a blank expression and said,
“No. I already have a group.”
Hearing that, Leonard released the shoulder he had been holding.
“I see. That’s a shame, but I suppose there’s nothing I can do.”
Even after I refused so plainly, Leonard didn’t lose his smile. His otherwise neat eyebrows slanted down slightly in disappointment, but that was all.
I was about to snap at him, asking if he had anything more to say, when he turned his body and smiled warmly before speaking.
“Do your best, Raven.”
He even waved a small hand as he walked away. I scoffed loudly.
“…Ha!”
Is he messing with me right now? That’s what this is, isn’t it?
If it weren’t that, then why—after what happened this morning—would he follow me here just to say that?
Of course, Leonard wasn’t the type to deliberately annoy anyone, but thinking of it as a purely sincere remark only made me more frustrated.
“Do my best? Oh, I’ll do my best, huh?”
He probably meant to encourage me, but unfortunately, I couldn’t interpret the words of the top scorer—someone who always beats me—innocently. If I had been the type to take his words at face value, I wouldn’t have kept this distance from him in the first place.
Fine. I won’t just do my best—I’ll submit the best assignment possible.
I straightened my back, steeling my mind as I continued walking.
The next day was the one with the most classes overlapping with Leonard, which made my mood even worse. How bad was it? Bad enough that passing students in the hall would flinch at the expression on my face.
Entering the classroom, everyone was already gathered in the groups formed during the previous class. The stress of the group assignment, which I had briefly forgotten, immediately started pounding in my head.
As soon as my group was together, I spoke in a firm, unwavering voice.
“Who wants to be the group leader?”
“….”
Everyone avoided my gaze. I wasn’t surprised, so I continued.
“Then I’ll take it. No complaints, right? First, let’s divide the tasks. Don’t think about slacking off.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than the girl who had suggested we work together yesterday confidently raised her hand. She had been silent when deciding the leader, but now she eagerly volunteered as if nothing had happened.
“We’re presenting on the culture of Julius Caesar’s era, right? I’ll handle the research.”
Sure enough, she would probably go to the library a day before, pick a book based on the title alone, and bring back half-baked notes. I’d end up redoing all the research myself.
I muttered silently when a dark-haired boy spoke up boldly.
“I’ll make the report. I’m good at writing.”
He’d probably procrastinate, then I’d end up writing the report more fluently than he would.
Adjusting his glasses, a boy with a particularly loud voice said,
“I’ll do the presentation. Who else would do it but me? Haha.”
…100 percent, I’d end up doing it.
I rubbed my temples, feeling completely drained.
“…Ha. Then let’s all prepare our tasks by the next class. I’ll help with research, so make sure it’s thorough.”
I’d judge how hopeless they really were once I checked. Spoiler: they’d be completely hopeless. It always happened, but today it felt especially exhausting.
“Make sure it’s done by the next class.”
I emphasized it again, uneasy at their trusting gazes, only to hear laughter from the nearby group. Glancing over, I immediately scowled.
The students huddled together were watching Leonard, who spoke in his calm, composed voice, with looks of admiration. Whatever task—research, report, presentation—he assigned, they seemed ready to follow it without question.
Yeah, Leonard’s group would probably showcase flawless teamwork. After all, the leader was a son of the Klein family. Who wouldn’t obey? They’d work meticulously just to impress him.
Still, I’d rather do everything myself than be in that group.
I let out a small snort and turned my head.
I always finish meals faster than the other students. Since I never ate with anyone, I’d get up as soon as I finished.
With a snack in my mouth as dessert, I left the cafeteria and headed to the next classroom. There was still about half an hour left of lunch, but I had no intention of going to my dorm or hanging out with friends. Spending time with friends wasn’t an option anyway; finishing assignments and preparing for the next class was far more important.
Arriving at the classroom, I organized the books and stationery I had brought for the next lesson, but I felt an unusually dense, oppressive atmosphere around me. A bad premonition I rarely experienced made me frown instinctively. My gaze fell on two figures by the wall.
A boy with disheveled platinum-blonde hair was holding a girl around her waist, giggling and whispering.
“….”
The childish noise coming from the back of the classroom made me frown even more.
Pathetic.
“Hello, Raven.”
Before I could escape, Enoc was already looking at me. His teal eyes stood out in the dim classroom.
“….”
“Enoc, you know him?”
The girl tilted her head curiously while wrapping her arms around Enoc’s neck. She glanced at me briefly.
Enoc licked his lips lazily, a slow, enticing smile on his face. Some girls might find him charming, but I knew the truth. Perhaps it was because I’d known him since childhood, or maybe because of his real nature—it was nothing but pathetic to me.
I scowled, showing my disgust, and he spoke to the girl.
“Ella, let’s go.”
“What? Already?”
The girl reluctantly left, still unsure.
Enoc straightened and approached me. The dim lighting revealed his appearance: a bigger build than when he was younger, well-toned arms from constant sword training, sharp eyes contrasting perfectly with angelic Leonard, and a posture that somehow seemed delinquent.
“Hello, perennial runner-up. Looks like you’re in a bad mood again. Leonard Klein’s fault, I presume?”
His crooked smile revealed unusually sharp canines.
I scowled at his thorny remark and shot back sharply.
“Don’t call me that. And what business is it of yours?”
“Of course it’s my business. Our family pays your tuition. If you’re here on our money, you’d better show some results. Your father doesn’t expect these grades from you, right?”
“Really? I don’t think it’s your place to say that.”
I scoffed, mocking him.
Indeed. Enoc, who was usually below 20th place and barely holding his top-rank swordsmanship grades, had no right to lecture me. Objectively, his grades weren’t terrible, but for him to say this to me was laughable. Right now, the only person above me was Leonard.
“…You really talk a lot, don’t you?”
Whether it was my words or my attitude, Enoc narrowed his eyes.
“This is the academy. Here, you and I are equals.”
I smiled arrogantly, crossing my arms.
“The only place I have to call you ‘Young Master’ is at the Cherner estate.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to that.”
Enoc fiddled with his shoulder-length pale blond hair and smiled lazily.
“My father has high expectations for this exam too.”
“….”
I scowled miserably, and Enoc laughed out loud, clearly enjoying himself.
He knew exactly where I was weak.
My sponsor, and Enoc’s father, the Marquis Cherner, was obsessively fixated on my grades. When he learned that Leonard and I had tied as top scorers in the entrance exam two years ago, he immediately demanded that I beat Leonard at all costs.
Apparently, the Klein family disliked it too, though I have no idea why Enoc felt the need to vent his inferiority on me.
His words, carefully aimed at my insecurities and the looming threat of losing support, pushed me past my limit. I finally snapped.
“Thanks for the advice. But maybe you should stop chasing girls and look at your books a bit more. That might improve your exam score even slightly. All you’ve got going for you is your face…”
I spat the words with no effort to hide my disgust. Enoc raised his hands in surrender and lowered his eyebrows.
“Sure, I get it. You’re upset about losing first place repeatedly, Raven.”
“Ha! Who lost? I’ll be the top scorer this time. So mind your own business.”
I turned my face away, frowning deeply, as if the arrogant smile I’d had moments ago never existed. Enoc still watched, letting out a hollow laugh.
It was the same irritation I’d felt at fourteen. Though back then, he wasn’t quite this smug.
“What? Going to class? You’re not taking this one, are you?”
“Don’t be so harsh before class even starts.”
I glared silently, arms crossed, and Enoc made a reluctant, slightly sulky face. Finally, he shrugged, grabbed his coat, and left.
“Fine, fine. Study, then. You sure lead a boring life.”
“Just leave.”
“Even if you try, Leonard Klein’s there. You’ll still end up runner-up.”
Take it easy, take it easy.
Enoc patted my shoulder as he left, his teal eyes twisting in displeasure. I scowled back in response.
“…Ha!”
Once the door closed, I shook off his hand from my shoulder irritably.
Who does he think he is, talking to me like that while usually being below 20th place?
I scoffed, sat down, straightened my glasses, and adjusted my hair.
…This is serious.
As I said, I’d never been first since the entrance exam—except for the tie with Leonard. This time, I had to secure first place by any means necessary. But how?
If I bluster and end up second again, Enoc will laugh. Then I’ll be angry. The Marquis will be frustrated. My uncle…
Whatever else happens, I can’t let my uncle down.
Enoc clearly knew how to shake my mental stability with ease.
Even after class started, I couldn’t concentrate, biting my nails as I discreetly glanced at Leonard beside me.
Thinking about it, Leonard remained perfectly calm even during grueling exam periods, even on the day of a test when I was nervous. Whether it was innate composure or excellent self-management, he was the complete opposite of me.
“….”
I gnawed my thumb, eyes on Leonard’s calm face, lost in thought.
I needed a clever way to shake that serene expression.
