I Start with a Bad Hand!

As a reference, I chose playwriting for my art class.

Yes.

I couldn’t give up my shy ambition to earn money through creativity…

However, the increasingly serious expression on the professor’s face as he read my first ambitious play, “Romiet and Julian,” and his advice to consider other classes as course adjustments were still possible after class, were enough to end my ambitions.

Anyway, I chose archery in the physical training section. There were various courses like horse riding, sword fighting, dancing… but I thought standing still and doing archery seemed relatively better.

“It’s uncertain how long my legs can withstand standing, but it’s better than other classes which are even hard to attempt.”

“Welcome to the archery class.”

When I heard this sudden voice and looked up, the archery teacher was unexpectedly young. He apparently was a student at the academy a few years ago. He looked around at the students gathered at the archery range with a satisfied expression.

“Still, quite a few students have gathered this year.”

‘…But there are only six students including me.’

The archery teacher, Agatha, laughed awkwardly, mentioning that archery was less glamorous in movement and basic training was boring, which was why not many students chose it.

Certainly, before the physical training time, I saw students walking in a line with their horses, and far at the practice field, the sound of swords clashing could be heard, whereas the archery range was quiet.

Archery practice was… boring enough to understand why it wasn’t popular among academy students. The lengthy preparation period itself was hard, and even after I began to draw the bowstring seriously, the arrows hardly hit the target.

Seeing my frustration, Agatha came over and corrected my posture firmly. I took a deep breath and pulled the string calmly.

The arrow hit the target with a thunk.

“See, you’re doing well.”

Agatha smiled broadly and patted my shoulder.

The class continued. Although not every arrow hit the bullseye, they all landed within the target. Agatha, watching from behind, soon came over again and started asking various questions.

Whether I had learned archery before, or if one of my parents had practiced archery.

I had never learned archery, and I had no way of knowing whether Dietrich’s parents had ever shot a bow. Worried that the disaster from the playwriting class might repeat itself, I shook my head with a concerned expression. Seeing this, the archery teacher reassured me with a smile.

“Even though it’s your first time, your posture is good. Contrary to what it seems, you also have decent strength.”

“I thought you had learned archery before because you were catching on so quickly. Your lower body strength is a bit lacking, but that’s not something you can help,” Agatha remarked as she corrected my posture again.

“Keep at it, don’t give up.”

“It looks like you’ll do well if you just keep at it diligently.” Agatha said, smiling contentedly and then moved to help another student check their posture by the next target. I focused again and pulled the bowstring. The surroundings quieted down, and only I and the target were visible. The sound of the arrow slicing through the air was pleasantly clear.

However… after finishing the exercise refreshingly and just as I was finishing my meal, encountering Roxanne suddenly was something beyond my control.

Roxanne, standing in the sunlight, seemed almost translucent with the light enhancing her already clear complexion. Next to her stood Prince Elius, expressionless. It seemed he had followed Roxanne down to the cafeteria. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the prince to come down to the student cafeteria.

In the original story, he often followed Roxanne’s suggestion to eat in the student cafeteria. He wanted to experience ordinary daily life that he couldn’t have outside the academy. Sometimes, Prince Elius would eat something Roxanne couldn’t or didn’t like, on her behalf. When Roxanne looked at him with eyes wide as a startled rabbit, he replied briefly, “Someone used to do that back then.”

I hadn’t noticed Cedric was also there, distracted by the arrival of Roxanne and Prince Elius. Cedric looked displeased, as if unhappy that his sister had taken his place and was talking with a swindler who had mocked the ducal house. Moreover, he seemed even more annoyed because Roxanne had initiated the conversation with me, leaving him no reason to complain.

“Oh, yes. You can sit.”

I said as I stood up. In fact, considering the many empty tables around the cafeteria, Roxanne must have had some reason, whether she had something to ask or just wanted to talk, for specifically choosing to sit next to me. However, being with them seemed to promise only indigestion or vomiting as the likely outcomes.

Roxanne seemed surprised as I stood up.

“No, I wasn’t trying to take your seat…”

As Roxanne spoke, she looked at me anxiously, unable to sit still. Cedric’s expression was souring by the second. Wanting to defuse the situation before Cedric spoke, I replied as if it were nothing.

“It’s not about taking a seat. I was about to stand up anyway.”

Hoping my actions appeared as though I was unaffected by their presence, I picked up my tray and stood up. Just as I had taken a few steps, Roxanne hurried after me and caught my arm.

“Should I carry your tray?”

“Huh?”

Roxanne hesitated, glancing down at my leg.

“It looks like your leg is injured…”

“Ah.”

I made a naive sound as I looked at the leg Roxanne was pointing at. Thinking back, Roxanne had known Dietrich even before entering the academy. They had met when Dietrich was a lady at the Elexion Ducal House. So, Roxanne had known Dietrich from the time she took Roxanne’s place.

‘And yet she approaches so breezily.’

I couldn’t help but admire the original protagonist’s sunny disposition. Roxanne seemed unconcerned about whatever past issues had tangled her with Dietrich.

“It’s okay, it’s always been like this. Well, it wasn’t always, but it’s nothing serious.”

Honestly, I would have declined the help from anyone, not just Roxanne. It wasn’t a heavy burden, and I was capable of carrying a plate. Yet, Roxanne stood there, her expression fraught with worry.

Just as I was about to send her away quickly so I could leave freely, someone roughly grabbed my arm.

“Don’t put on your petty pride.”

It was Cedric. He snatched my tray away as if taking it by force.

I stared at Cedric, dumbfounded, as he strode away quickly and almost threw the plate down. I should have said I could manage, but it was difficult to follow Cedric with a limping step.

‘When did he ever care about not standing out…’

Cedric turned back with a look that seemed to say, “Get lost now.” Roxanne was caught in the middle, unsure what to do. It seemed the situation was over, so I nodded at Roxanne and was about to leave the cafeteria.

Then a strong grip pulled on my arm again. I turned around with a yelp, and Cedric was glaring at me with a scowl.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?”

“What?”

‘Is this how the offspring of a ducal house normally behave, yanking people’s arms like some thug?’

Even with my lingering curiosity, I wore an expression of complete befuddlement as to why I should be grateful, which only deepened Cedric’s frown.

“In the academy, even members of the royal family clean up after their meals. It’s only natural to thank someone who has shown you such undue kindness.”

The favor forced upon me left me only more perplexed. Yet, it seemed Cedric wouldn’t let go of my arm until I expressed my gratitude, as if he’d hold it hostage if it came off.

“Thank you…?”

As I muttered a reluctant thanks and turned to leave, Cedric pushed Roxanne forward. Her face flushed pink with the suddenness of Cedric’s action.

“Not me, her.”

At Cedric’s instruction, Roxanne flustered more and waved her hands as if to say it wasn’t necessary. Of course, I didn’t think it was necessary either. But it seemed this time Cedric wouldn’t let me leave until tomorrow if I didn’t greet her properly. A suffocating feeling crept up to my sternum.

“Thanks…?”

My response, clearly bewildered, didn’t seem to satisfy him completely, but Cedric seemed to think it was enough and started to walk back to the table with Roxanne, not forgetting to give me a warning glare till the end.

‘What’s his problem?’

Stunned by the absurdity, I froze in place. From a distance, I heard Cedric telling Roxanne, “You’re too soft.” Was he really insane? I felt as if I had been punched by an invisible sandbag.

‘What now?’

A sudden insight flashed through my mind.

‘Maybe the reason I started learning archery was to kill this jerk.’

Admiring the intricate plot of life laid as densely as Cedric’s thick head of hair, I resolved to practice diligently to become the best archer. And one day, I would shoot that jerk dead.

Filled with an unprecedented fervor, I headed back to the dormitory.