I Start with a Bad Hand!

The seemingly endless awkwardness between Irene and Agnes subsided after a few encounters and our requests for them to observe our rehearsals.

“…You practiced for the first time today, right?”

With this question from Irene, the barriers between them began to break down. Agnes, who seemed to have a lot built up, complained to Irene about my script, but it seemed that Irene was more impressed with my script than with Agnes’s improving acting, judging by her nodding in agreement.

For some reason, our chaotic show seemed to have appealed to Irene. She often came to my dorm to offer advice as we prepared the play, providing constructive feedback from an audience’s perspective. This routine solidified, and a strange scene unfolded: Agnes on the bed, me at the desk, and Irene always sitting at the table where she used to sit. Looking at them crowding my small dorm, I muttered to myself,

“Go to your own rooms…”

My room, which had been quiet and empty, was now bustling with activity. It was not entirely annoying; in fact, it felt rather pleasant.

***

By the time my hands were stained with ink beyond washing, exams had started. We looked more like vagrants sneaking around the academy than its students. Even Irene, whom I bumped into on the way to the exam hall, couldn’t hide her fatigue. Klaus just seemed to be enjoying himself.

The archery exam required shooting ten arrows and scoring above 60 points to pass. However, a borderline score meant nothing to me. For the current me, scoring above 60 was not a difficult task. I aimed to hit all sixes, setting up a challenge as if defending a fortress. In this exam, it wasn’t just about passing but seeing how accurately I could shoot.

‘One misfire and I’m out.’

Focus. Fortunately, all ten arrows hit the six mark. Agatha, supervising the exam, looked like she wanted to say something as she glanced at me. I pretended not to notice and just looked at the target. Of course, I got a slap on the back from Agatha with a “Do it right next time.”

Not all classes stopped for the exam period. The class “Understanding Thomple Region through the Modern Conflicts of the Cabaluna Continent,” which required submission of reports for both midterms and finals, did not take a break during the exam period, not indulging in any shortcuts.

The ink stains that wouldn’t wash off my hands were partly due to this subject. Even though Irene had lent me her report from last year, I couldn’t simply copy it, and creating a new 30-page document based on references was no easy task.

Despite it being exam period, I was in awe of the professor’s dedication to fill the class time to the brim. Today, Icarus was absent again. I glanced at the seat he often occupied.

‘He was mentioned as often missing school anyway….’

So it wasn’t strange. On the contrary, it seemed he had been too diligent in attending school until now. I decided to just think that way and tried to refocus on the class.

After the class, which ended five minutes late, I resented the professor as I went up to the podium to submit my 30-page report. Once this was handed in, the written exams would be over.

As I left the classroom, Agnes was waiting for me with an anxious expression. As I approached, she opened her mouth with a stern look.

“Are all your exams done?”

“Yes….”

“Let’s go….”

The final moment of the midterms was approaching. We walked to the playwriting class with a grave air.

The exams were over. Agnes had performed exceptionally well—fortunately, in a good way. There were still some odd parts, but considering where she started, it was an impressive result.

The first thing we did after the exams ended was to get rid of the peppermint tea. Just the sight of anything green made me feel nauseous now. Since I no longer had to study for exams, I spent most of my time practicing archery.

I had resolved to do a lot after the exams, but that resolution seemed hollow as nothing seemed interesting once they were over. Although I occasionally went to the rooftop with Agnes to watch the stars, which she said were particularly visible there, and had tea with Irene, I mostly just went to the archery range and practiced all day. Thus, the days of just lying back and melting away passed.

A loud knocking sound jolted me. It was obvious who would be knocking on my door like that. I slowly got up and opened the door, and there was Agnes, her face flushed with excitement.

“Hey, what are you doing! The results are out!”

Finally, the time had come. I walked with Agnes, tensely, towards the academy entrance where the rankings were posted. We talked back and forth on the way there, commenting on how cruel it was to post everyone’s rankings at the entrance.

The evidence of student rights violations was posted right in the center of the academy’s entrance hall, and students were crowded around it. Sighs and shouts of joy were coming from all directions.

I first headed towards the results for the performing arts subjects. I didn’t have the courage to look at the rankings. If the rankings had slipped, it would most likely be because of the performing arts subjects, especially playwriting! With a trembling heart, I made my way through the crowd to the front of the results board.

Archery… barely passing with 60 points. That’s settled. I quickly scanned down the list of names. Unlike academic subjects ranked by grades, the performing arts were marked simply as pass or fail, so I had to search for my name.

‘Dietrich, Dietrich, Dietrich…’

Please, please, please. I hoped for good results in the subject I had invested the most time in. Finally, I found my name and slowly moved my gaze to the side.

Dietrich Degoph / Playwriting / Passed

I gasped in surprise, covering my mouth that had burst out an odd noise, then looked over at Agnes.

Without a word, we hugged each other, joking that it had been dreadful and that we should never meet again. Though we said that, we both knew the truth—that partners for midterms would continue through to the finals.

I then turned my attention to the final grades. Just staying in the top 10 would preserve my scholarship. I slowly moved my eyes up from the bottom: 10th, 9th, 8th… As my name was not appearing even around 4th place, my heart began to pound, making it hard to look further. But Agnes was quicker than my eyes.

“Hey, what the heck! You ranked first!”

“What?”

Shocked by her words, I quickly looked up and saw my name at the very top.

‘I hadn’t even hoped to be first…’

Stunned by the unexpected result, I just stared at the ranking table, while Agnes jumped around, ecstatic on my behalf.

***

For a while, the triumphant air of victory dominated us. We unabashedly admired each other’s genius.

We had passed that formidable midterm, I was still meeting the conditions for my scholarship, and although Agnes was still playing the role of a tree, she now had one more line.

I had thought unless one literally set the stage on fire, passing the midterm seemed guaranteed… But now, I was enjoying a brief period of freedom, unburdened, until Agnes mentioned she wanted to visit the greenhouse.

“Greenhouse…?”

“I didn’t get to see any flowers because of studying for exams, I want to at least see them now.”

What are you talking about, you didn’t study… Holding back the words that rose to my throat, I made a troubled face. Despite my reluctance, I found it awkward to find a reason not to go to the greenhouse.

Despite my prior refusals to go sightseeing in the capital with Agnes due to financial issues, I couldn’t turn down her request to visit the greenhouse.

‘Fine, even if Roxanne is there, she won’t be there all day.’

And even if she was, I could always leave if we bumped into each other. Fortunately, Agnes seemed uncomfortable sharing a space with royalty, despite being okay with nobility like Irene. She had often complained about feeling awkward talking to Roxanne and the Prince during class.

So, reluctantly, I agreed to enjoy tea with Agnes in the greenhouse.

On the day we were supposed to go to the greenhouse, Agnes was running late.

‘Ah, this tardy kid. Always late.’

As I waited, I decided to go into the greenhouse first.

‘I might as well see if anyone is there first.’

I pushed open the thick door of the greenhouse, which slid open silently. Just as I was about to step inside, I saw someone in the distance. Though I had done nothing wrong, I instinctively hid behind a large plant near the door and peeked out toward the person.

From a distance, there was no mistaking who it was. The only person with flowing silver hair at the academy.

‘Damn it…’

But Roxanne was sitting with her face buried in her hands, visibly shaking. Soon, she lifted her head, her eyes rimmed red, her expression filled with sorrow so deep it seemed to pierce my own heart.

‘Was she crying?’

The person sitting opposite Roxanne soon pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. As she wiped her eyes, it was clear Roxanne had been crying. I shifted my gaze to see the person sitting across from her.

That… blonde hair and the poised posture, the regal profile only belonged to one person I knew at the academy.

Second Prince was sitting beside Roxanne. I hesitated and stepped back.

‘He’s back at school, I see.’

Roxanne was now clutching the Prince’s handkerchief, nodding gratefully at him with a smile that was warm yet tinged with sadness.

Coming to the greenhouse was a mistake. I kept my eyes fixed in their direction as I slowly backed away. Suddenly, I felt something touch my back.

“I didn’t know you had a hobby of spying too.”