I Start with a Bad Hand!

As time passed, Elius found that his acquaintances’ gazes often ended on the freshman with the black hair: Dietrich Degoph. And the more he learned, the more repulsed he felt. A pathetic wretch who benefited from the heroism of his adoptive father. With a non-cooperative personality, she had few connections even among her peers. Despite fairly good academic performance, everything else was subpar. Her archery skills barely met passing marks, and the play she wrote herself was a ridiculous mess, much like the mess she appeared to be.

‘But the people close to him… Ugh.’

The eldest daughter of the Horatius Marquessate and the youngest daughter of the Empire’s largest merchant guild. Tap, tap, Elius tapped his fingers on the paper a few times before asking.

“Are these the only ones who have some sort of connection with him?”

The covertly assigned bodyguard responded with a vague expression.

“Not exactly… They seem quite close to him.”

The only remarkable thing about Dietrich was his surprisingly well-established network. Elius loosened his stiff shoulders and glanced at the report again. The paper crumpled slightly under his tightening grip.

‘Annoying. I want to remove her from my sight.’

This thought solidified when he learned about the scandal involving the Elexion Ducal House and Dietrich during Roxanne’s first year. Elius felt an overwhelming urge to go and snap his neck immediately. 

But he couldn’t do that.

‘I don’t want to do anything that might make her sad.’

Suppressing the boiling rage, Elius rubbed his temples, feeling the tension. She had already experienced so much disappointment and sadness. He didn’t want to be another source of pain for her.

‘…That was just a few months ago.’

When one of the undercover knights reported that Dietrich was heading to the art shop street to inquire about ‘blue pigment,’ Elius could no longer contain himself. Aware that it might be a hasty decision, he stood up immediately.

“Head to Limas Street, now.”

He could no longer tolerate the presence of that irritating and unpleasant person. Elius had had enough.

***

‘I might as well shave my head bald.’

Still feeling the throbbing pain in my scalp, I looked at Elius, who sat in front of me. If he pulled out any hair, I wouldn’t let him get away with it…. I didn’t mind my hair flowing naturally, but I had no desire to be forcibly bald. Elius, with his legs crossed and a crooked posture, glared at me icily.

‘What’s wrong with you, why do you keep staring at me so creepily?’

Even after getting into the carriage, Elius kept staring at me without saying a word for a long time. When I first met him, I thought he was undoubtedly handsome, and even after that, I occasionally found it hard to take my eyes off him because he was so neatly attractive… but now, his suspicious behavior and sinister gaze seemed to erode his beauty. Now, just seeing his pale face and black hair made me instinctively grimace.

‘When I read the original novel, there were parts where he seemed out of his mind. But being the person who has to deal with that insane behavior feels really unpleasant.’

The only sound in the carriage was the continuous rattling. At this rate, we would reach the academy without saying a single word, so I had no choice but to speak first.

“I went to inquire about some painting pigments.”

However, Elius didn’t respond to that and only furrowed his brow even more.

‘What’s wrong with him… if he has something to say, he should just say it.’

Not wanting to show my discomfort any longer, I kept my gaze on the floor and continued speaking.

“I heard from a friend that Rymus Street has the most art supply stores.”

“What kind of painting are you talking about?”

After just listening for a long time, Elius finally spoke. I closed my mouth for a moment, then let out a long breath before answering. I took a handkerchief from the inner pocket of my coat. Unwrapping it, I showed Elius the blue pigment that was carefully packed inside.

“It’s a painting my parents said they received as a gift from a friend.”

“Why are you looking for the pigment from that painting?”

“I don’t have a friend who would send me such a gift.”

His eyebrow twitched at that. He really is just like his brother.

‘Is that habit hereditary or learned?’

“I heard you are very close with the eldest daughter of the Horatius Marquisate and a commoner.”

Elius was frowning, perhaps realizing I noticed his intense stare. His question, thrown in a lower voice, made me lower my gaze again. A commoner. That word irked me.

“You must be talking about the second daughter of the Vardy Merchant Guild.”

Elius spoke in a low voice, as if what I said was unnecessary.

“Answer.”

His way of speaking really makes it hard to continue the conversation. If only I could guarantee my neck wouldn’t break, I’d want to jump out of the carriage right now.

“Neither of them would send something like that. If they were to give it to me, they’d do it directly, not secretly send a painting to my territory without my knowledge.”

Above all, I know that neither of them has any talent in painting. At my words, Elius relaxed his frown briefly, deep in thought.

“Why does Your Highness care about this pigment…?”

“I don’t think I need to explain that to you,” Elius replied coldly as soon as I started speaking. It didn’t seem like he would answer if I asked again.

‘Fine, keep it to yourself….’

The hallmark of a failed investigation is always refusing cooperative inquiry. Probably.

Anyway, I had gathered some information, and since I had put away the painting and just needed to get the ingredients for the antidote, not hearing Elius’s answer didn’t seem like a big loss. I relaxed my eyes and responded.

“Oh… yes. You’re absolutely right.”

With those words, the carriage sank into complete silence, filled only with the rattling sound again. When I absentmindedly glanced out the window at Elius, I saw that he was just about to speak.

“You-.”

“Wait, please stop here!” I quickly interrupted, opening the carriage window and sticking my head out halfway to shout to the coachman. I hurriedly put on the coat I had taken off and slightly opened the carriage door as it began to slow down. Before it fully stopped, I bowed my head toward Elius.

“I saw someone I know… I’ll be going now.”

Without waiting for Elius’s reply, I hurriedly got out and ran toward the person. The distance between us was considerable, so by the time I reached them, I was out of breath.

“Excuse me… wait, just a moment!”

The person turned to look at me.

“Yes? Me?”

They stared at me with a bewildered expression.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I mistook you for someone else.”

Turning my head, I saw Elius’s carriage moving away. Phew, I let out a long breath. The confused passerby soon turned away, seemingly uninterested.

‘I’d rather walk than endure an uncomfortable carriage ride.’

Considering all the eyes and gossip, getting out of the Crown Prince’s carriage right in front of the academy was something I wanted to avoid. Though jumping out of the carriage seemed tempting, it would have been a foolish move.

Even if it was a clumsy act, I wanted to escape from that carriage. Stretching my legs, I started walking again, my feet beginning to ache once more.

While I’m at it, I might as well buy an apple pie. I’ll enjoy it with some tea.

***

The northern mountain of the imperial capital.

It was the first place in the capital where winter arrived, hence its name, Winter Mountain.

The abeter there bloomed and withered very briefly just before winter came. You had to find it before the mountain beasts or birds ate it, and even then, its taste was bitter and astringent, so there was little demand for it. Moreover, it was only mid-autumn, so the abeter would barely be budding at this time.

I had hoped to find it in a store without having to climb the mountain, but every herbalist I visited said the same thing: “It hasn’t come in yet.”

Following the advice of the old man in the artist’s district, who was both a painter and a drinker, my best bet was to search for the abeter in the northern mountain myself.

‘Is this really all there is?’

I lightly stretched as I looked at the northern mountain, which didn’t seem very tall.

With a country where about 70 percent of the land is mountainous, and a school inexplicably located halfway up a steep hill, commuting was practically a daily hike for 16 years. Moreover, being from Heylem, the “Gangwon Province” of the empire, my body, Dietrich’s body, was practically built for hiking. There was no reason for someone as well-optimized for hiking as me to fear climbing a mountain.

Confidently, I headed towards the northern mountain’s entrance, after loosening my shoulders.

However,

“Ugh…”

It didn’t seem doable after all. This wasn’t going to work.

The fresh air felt like it was punching my lungs. No matter how much I thought about it, this didn’t seem like the right path, yet the map kept directing me this way.

‘Why… this… why…’

Is this path really meant for people? In some sections, I had to use both hands and feet to climb. Even after thoroughly searching the cliffs, I couldn’t find any abeter berries, not even similar buds.

Why do humans climb mountains? Why do plants grow in mountains? Why did I come here? Pondering these fundamentally disconnected questions, I began climbing the mountain on all fours.

‘What if I can’t find it today?’

That premonition became reality. From Friday afternoon through the entire weekend, I couldn’t find any abeter berries.

Friday came around again.

‘I’ve been in agony with muscle pain all week, and now I have to go again? Damn it.’

Now, I even had to play the role of a herbalist. With a heavy heart, I stepped out of the academy’s front gate. I heard someone urgently running from behind. Thinking they might just pass by, I kept walking, but the owner of the footsteps blocked my path.

“Where are you going?”