TCOSF | CHAPTER 08

CHAPTER 08

Leaving behind Matiné, who was still shouting furiously, Noah trudged away from the scene.

He already knew why the crowd was murmuring, and class was over, so there was no reason to stay any longer.

Commoner, commoner.

He hated being treated that way, so he was using Emily as a means to escape it — so it wasn’t entirely wrong.

She was someone who would’ve been played with and tossed aside anyway… if not for that contract.

Noah smirked faintly.

Maybe it was luck that he met Emily instead of another count’s daughter.

The contract wouldn’t change, but no matter how much someone pretends otherwise, people’s hearts do change.

For some reason, the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“…Noah!”

While walking down the quiet hallway, lost in thought, Noah heard someone call his name.

“…Bess?”

His eyes widened slightly at the unexpected voice.

Since her confession that day, Bess had only stolen glances at him and never approached first.

He’d expected her to act awkward for a while, so he hadn’t paid it much attention.

That’s why this moment surprised him too.

“Noah, are you okay?”

Looking into her green eyes filled with worry, Noah gave a calm nod.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“But still… it’s not nice when people gossip like that, right?”

Bess lowered her head sadly.

Seeing that she seemed more upset than he was, Noah couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m really fine. It can’t be helped.”

At his gentle smile, Bess clenched and unclenched her fists, then spoke in a small voice that sounded like she might cry.

“Noah, do you really have to date her? You’ll get hurt…”

Noah’s expression stiffened slightly at that.

Even someone who claimed to like him thought he’d end up abandoned.

His mood sank rapidly.

“So you think that too.”

“…Huh?”

At Noah’s cold tone, Bess quickly looked up.

Realizing his words had come out sharper than intended, Noah softened his expression and murmured bitterly.

“I know. I’m just a commoner, and—”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Bess suddenly shook her head violently, cutting him off.

“That’s not it!”

“…What?”

Blinking in surprise, Noah stared as Bess’s voice trembled with emotion.

“That’s not it, Noah. Your status doesn’t matter at all. I know what kind of person you are! Anyone would like you, no matter your background!”

Noah opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words.

He appreciated the compliment, but then why…?

Seeing his puzzled face, Bess squeezed her eyes shut and cried out.

“But, but—it’s her! Emily Blair!”

“…What do you mean?”

“Emily Blair. Emily of the Month!”

Emily of the Month?

Noah frowned in confusion, and Bess looked shocked.

“Noah, you… didn’t know?”

“…Tell me everything.”

Noah leaned forward, his face suddenly serious.

Leaning against a wall, Noah sighed with a tense look.

The scenery around him looked like a painting, and passersby kept glancing at him in admiration.

“Wow, he’s so handsome. Who is he?”

“No idea. Doesn’t seem like a first-year.”

“Should we ask his name?”

“…Emily!”

But as soon as Noah called out Emily’s name, the whispering students turned away.

“Oh, it’s that guy.”

“Figures.”

He could feel the admiration in their eyes shift into pity mixed with disdain.

Grinding his teeth, Noah clenched his jaw.

“Noah-sunbae? What brings you here?”

Emily, who had no idea what was going on, tilted her head curiously as she walked over.

Noah, who usually acted annoyed even when she visited him, showing up at the first-year building was clearly unexpected.

“Emily, can we talk?”

…Why does he sound angry?

Though he was smiling, there was a sharp edge in his tone that made Emily scratch her cheek nervously.

“…What’s ‘Emily of the Month’ supposed to mean?”

As soon as they were alone, Noah asked bluntly.

“Oh, so you’ve heard about that now,” Emily said with an awkward laugh.

“Oh, so you’ve heard about that now?”

Noah repeated her tone mockingly, glaring at her.

“You never asked.”

“How could I ask about something I don’t know exists?!”

Noah ruffled his hair in frustration.

“This is fraud.”

“Uh, excuse me? I never lied.”

She hadn’t brought it up simply because he didn’t seem to know.

No reason to ruin her own image voluntarily.

But Noah gave her a disbelieving look.

“You could’ve at least told me. How am I supposed to deal with this? Actually, is this even something you can deal with? What kind of school life have you been living?”

“I mean, I’ve dated freely, sure, but not that freely.”

Emily pouted, and Noah shot back indignantly.

“Not that freely?!

People say you go after guys who are already taken! That once they fall for you, you start seeing someone else—at the same time! And that some guys even dueled over you!”

“What?”

Emily blinked, completely blindsided.

But Noah, misreading her shock, kept going angrily.

“So that’s why you acted weird the day I confessed, huh? Damn. I thought it was strange—no matter how pretty you are, something felt off.”

So it was because of your twisted tastes.

Nodding to himself, Noah muttered, and Emily flared up.

“What are you talking about! Say what you want, but I’m serious about faces, okay? And anyway, everything you said is wrong!”

Her indignant glare made Noah frown.

“…It’s not true?”

“It’s not! Okay, maybe I dated a few guys for less than a month, but I always broke up properly first! And that thing about targeting taken men? I just went for people I found attractive!”

Noah gave her a skeptical look.

“Then what about the duel?”

“There was a fight once between my ex and my new boyfriend, but it wasn’t a duel. Who even does duels anymore?”

“Exactly because no one does, it became a big deal,” Noah muttered.

“So you’re saying none of it’s true? Then where did all these rumors come from?”

“That’s what I want to know. Where did you even hear that crap?”

“Well…”

It was already all over among the second-years.

Noah rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Come to think of it, it didn’t make much sense.

Except for clubs and special events, different years barely interacted.

So for first-year gossip to spread that fast among the second-years… it must’ve started recently.

Basically, since around the time Emily began visiting the second-year building.

“…Did you go around saying this stuff yourself?”

“Sometimes I wonder what you think of me, sunbae.”

A weirdo, obviously.

Noah kept that thought to himself and tried another angle.

“Maybe someone holds a grudge against you.”

“I can’t think of anyone who would.”

Noah sighed as Emily frowned, trying to remember.

“So you’re sure none of it’s true?”

“Except that none of my relationships lasted more than a month.”

Noah glared.

“That alone makes me a victim.”

“You’re not supposed to brag about past relationships anyway.”

Emily replied shamelessly, and Noah clicked his tongue.

“Great. Just great.”

As long as the rumor persisted, he’d look like a pitiful fool of a commoner, and Emily would seem like a manipulative flirt.

Emily might deserve it, but Noah didn’t want to carry that kind of stain.

Especially after how hard he’d worked to build his reputation.

“Well, nothing we can do. Rumors fade eventually.”

Just one month, right?

“If we wait it out, I won’t be ‘Emily of the Month’ anymore,” she joked.

Noah shook his head.

“You’re so carefree.”

“If you can’t avoid it, might as well enjoy it. When else will I get this much attention?”

Emily shrugged with a bright smile.

Her easy laughter made Noah feel like the only idiot getting upset.

“Fine, whatever.”

For now, it didn’t violate their contract, and he couldn’t think of a solution anyway.

He decided to wait it out like Emily said.

A month wasn’t that long, after all.

But as if mocking Noah’s optimism, the rumor only grew worse over time.

He wasn’t just a victim anymore — now he was a pathetic fool clinging to Emily for her scraps.

And Emily? A notorious villainess.

“Spineless bastard.”

“Let it be. He’s just a commoner.”

He’d heard enough of those sneers to grow numb to them.

“Noah, do you really have to keep this up?”

“If it’s too much, you can tell us…”

Even his friends spoke with pity.

No matter how many times he insisted otherwise, no one believed him.

Then again, those rumors always contained a sliver of truth — especially the ones about Emily.

Almost as if someone close to her had been feeding details.

“Guess she really did make an enemy.”

Noah muttered as he sat down in an empty classroom.

The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that someone was spreading the stories intentionally.

But for what reason?

Lost in thought, Noah reached into his desk for his textbook.

Something fell out.

“…A note?”

It was a roughly folded piece of white paper.

Definitely not a love letter.

Noah frowned and carefully unfolded it.

“…Ha.”

A dry laugh escaped his lips.

“What the hell is this.”

“Isn’t it about time you two broke up?”

The message, scrawled in bright red ink, stared back at him.