I Start with a Bad Hand!

The world within this novel bore strange resemblances to my own. I had anticipated expenses, but never to this extent. And wait half a year? I hadn’t expected the accessibility of clergy to be so poor. Faced with a more tangible setback, I raked my fingers through my hair.

“An academy year costs 600 gold, and waiting six months costs 500 gold?”

It seemed I would need to sell a kidney to raise that money. No other options appeared viable. After much hesitation, I finally squeezed out a plan.

“Perhaps I could seek help from a regular priest instead of a high priest?”

Even the street fortune-teller had noticed my true identity; surely a regular priest might notice as well. As I approached the priest who was taking registrations, I lowered my voice slightly and asked,

“Excuse me, priest. Do you sense anything unusual about me?”

At my words, the priest who had been approaching stepped back slightly. His face filled with a disapproving expression as he adopted a blunt tone.

“Believer, why should I feel anything special towards you?”

Hmm?

“Principally, priests are forbidden from forming any personal relationships. Approaching a servant of the gods in such a manner is quite unpleasant, as someone of your age should understand.”

This was an unexpected response.

My effort to make him recognize my alien presence was in vain; I had become someone merely flirting with the priest. And through his reaction, I was assured.

“…Please put me on the waiting list.”

“Yes, you can pay the fees then.”

Meeting with a regular priest was insufficient. Can I ever return? Even the old lady who knew I was not from here had no idea how to return. Reluctantly, I moved toward the entrance of the temple, and the daunting stairs only intensified my agitation.

Eventually, I just crumpled down on the steps of the temple. What should I do now? It was while I was sweeping my hand through my hair in dismay that someone tapped me lightly on the back.

“Don’t make a donation.”

Turning around, I saw a young and pale-looking female priest who had been handling administrative tasks behind the reception priest.

“…Excuse me?”

She whispered quietly, and I asked back, puzzled. The young priest moved closer to me and spoke even more quietly.

“Don’t make a donation to see the high priest.”

…What? Before I could respond, she glanced around and lowered her voice further.

“You aren’t from here, are you? Isn’t that why you came?”

“How did you know…”

“That priest is only a novice. Not a formal priest.”

Of course, even a proper priest might not understand my problem. The weary-looking priest said in a trembling voice.

“Even if you gather 500 gold, the high priest will take his time and not pay proper attention to you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because he was my mentor at the seminary.”

There was an implication of much more in the priest’s response.

“…He will likely ask for continuous donations after the first meeting, so don’t spend your money.”

“What should I do then?”

The priest sighed heavily, hesitating before responding.

“I cannot help you right now… please come back around winter.”

I knew it wasn’t the time to be choosy, but six months was too long. It already felt like I was significantly delayed with the academy and everything. Noticing my expression, the priest added apologetically,

“I need to graduate from the seminary first.”

“…Excuse me?”

Graduate?

“Principally, an unqualified priest cannot meet with believers. Especially in cases involving unique issues like yours.”

After a moment of hesitation, the priest murmured,

“And above all… I’ve been attending the seminary for ten years.”

If I don’t graduate this time, I’ll have to wait another year. The priest’s face seemed to age ten years just in that brief exchange.

‘With that said, how can I possibly ask for help?’

Still, graduation is… necessary… After ten years at the school… My desperate fervor slightly diminished.

“Come back later. My name is Anna; just mention my name and they will direct you to me.”

With that, the pale priest staggered away and disappeared.

‘I might end up graduating here too.’

A cloak of inexplicable desolation enveloped me.

***

‘What if I really have to live here continuously?’

Struggling to catch a carriage and crushed under the weight of needing 500 gold, I slowly made my way to the academy. My soles were beginning to wear thin. I noticed a carriage stop that had passed me by.

‘That looks too fancy to be an ordinary carriage… seems like it’s from a noble family.’

As I idly watched, a tall figure alighted from the stopped carriage and began approaching me. It had grown dark enough that I couldn’t see the person’s face clearly. However, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of the hair color illuminated by the moonlight.

“Sister.”

It was Evan. The calm tone of his voice swept a chilling premonition of inconvenience across my heart. I resumed my previously halted steps, slowly moving forward.

After a brief silence, Evan extended his arm towards me.

“Are you headed to the academy? It’s getting dark, so please allow me to escort you in the carriage.”

How long would it take to walk to the academy from here? I wasn’t particularly eager to ride in a carriage from the Elexion household, but seeing my hesitation, Evan stepped a bit closer.

“It’s dangerous around here after dark due to wild beasts.”

Eventually, I found myself compelled to accept his outstretched hand.

Despite his proactive escorting, Evan remained largely silent. I hadn’t noticed his tall stature from afar, but under the dim light of the carriage’s small lantern, his face still bore the marks of youth. Unlike the typically robust academy boys, there was something unrefined about him.

Above all, unlike the typical emotionless demeanor of the Elexion family, his eyes were unusually reddened. I turned my gaze towards the window. It was Evan who broke the silence first.

“Have you been well all this time?”

It seemed silly to be harsh to someone who appeared so young, so I simply nodded. After this brief exchange, the carriage fell silent again.

‘Hmm… nothing much to say.’

It felt like meeting a distant cousin I wasn’t close to. Actually, not even a cousin since, to Dietrich perhaps, but to me, he was a complete stranger. However, watching Evan’s uneasy demeanor, I managed to find a topic of conversation.

“It seems you’ve been to the temple. I was there too.”

I glanced at the prayer book next to Evan as I spoke.

“…You too?”

People here had a tendency to refer to Dietrich as they pleased. A lady, a sister. Did they really think she liked those titles?

“Yes.”

“What brought you there…?”

It was a question simple enough to ask, but not so simple to answer.

“…For the same reasons as others who go there.”

I gave a vague answer and, out of politeness, turned the question back to Evan.

“What brought you to the temple?”

Expecting him to evade as I had, Evan surprisingly answered straightforwardly.

“I went to offer prayers for my mother’s soul.”

His unexpected reply momentarily stunned me.

‘No, I didn’t bring up the conversation to hear such personal matters…’

Evan, without hesitation, spoke about his mother, the second Duchess of Elexion, who had passed away. This partially explained why Evan’s eyes were so red.

“…I didn’t know. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Evan silently shook his head, then turned to look at the scenery outside the carriage that I had been observing earlier.

Evan’s mother had stepped into the role of the second wife soon after the original Duchess, the mother of Cedric and Roxanne, had passed away. Although the Duke of Elexion had treated her with respect, he hadn’t shown her the same warmth he had for his first wife. Nevertheless, Evan’s mother had been a kind woman.

When it was discovered that Dietrich was not a biological child of the Elexion family, it was Evan’s mother who had ensured that Dietrich was not left to the streets but could go to the Baron Degoph of Heylem. Perhaps she felt a connection, having a child around the same age, and was moved by the plight of a young girl facing expulsion. It seemed the Duchess had passed away from an illness without Dietrich’s knowledge.

“The Duchess was a good person.”

I repeated my condolences.

Evan seemed unable to speak for a while, but eventually, he composed himself and turned back to face me.

“You ranked second recently, didn’t you? Congratulations, though it’s a bit late.”

Despite his congratulatory words, Evan’s voice sounded sorrowful, almost dampened. Congratulations on second place from the top student themselves. It was a peculiar feeling.

“Thank you. It’s somewhat embarrassing to receive such praise from the top student.”

“…Did you know?”

His voice lightened slightly, and I felt a softening in my heart. After dealing with so many insincere people, seeing this young man openly share his feelings was refreshing. I nodded gently and added,

“I saw you on the stage during the entrance ceremony.”

“That’s right.”

Now, it truly seemed we had nothing more to say. I wondered if I should have risked walking and possibly facing wild beasts instead, as the carriage arrived at the academy.

“Thank you for the ride. I appreciate getting here safely.”

As I finished my thanks and was about to turn away, a cautious touch halted my steps.

“Um, I…”