I Start with a Bad Hand!

Irene seemed like a noble through and through. No matter how much her feet hurt, changing shoes outside was not an option for her—it was considered unseemly. Caught off guard by her unexpected response, we were at a loss for words, and Irene just continued to stare at the slippers we offered. Then, she frowned and looked down.

We too were hesitant to continue the conversation, watching her cues. Breaking the silence, Irene spoke.

“…I appreciate the thought, but you are not my servants. You didn’t have to prepare this.”

“Eh.”

At that response, I glanced at Irene and then back at Agnes. Agnes’s eyes were nearly popping out, and her disbelief was already vocal. Not knowing what else to do, I looked back and forth between them, trying to explain.

“That… we know that… So… we didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Right. We always do these things for each other, don’t we?”

Agreeing with Agnes, I chimed in.

“Right, I even braided Agnes’s hair just now.”

Agnes added eagerly.

“And I bring her bread in the mornings when she’s up.”

It seemed Irene hadn’t quite grasped why we were saying all this. Suppressing my embarrassment, I began to explain more clearly.

“We don’t think of each other as servants because of these acts. It’s just something we do. The same goes for the slippers. We just… hoped you could walk comfortably, even for a little while.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘because we’re friends.’ I didn’t want to turn this world into a shonen sports manga with a spiky-haired protagonist.

“But we are friends, after all.”

Yet, there it was. Agnes clearly wasn’t as embarrassed. Irene remained silent, and we exchanged looks that held a hint of regret for even bringing the slippers.

“However, if it was inappropriate due to manners… we’re sorry. We weren’t thinking.”

“…It’s not that. I just…”

Irene seemed uncharacteristically flustered. As she struggled to continue, Agnes and I exchanged glances again. Agnes mischievously wrinkled her nose.

“So… you didn’t think of us as friends…”

Agnes exaggerated a crestfallen look, lowering her eyes. Only during plays would she act like this. Still, I decided to play along.

“Ah… then I understand your point… foolishly… we didn’t realize…”

“We’re sorry…”

Just as I was about to take back the slippers, Irene grabbed my hand. Then, stuttering a bit, she whispered.

“No, I wouldn’t think of you like that. I’ll wear them. Thank you.”

Agnes’s chin twinkled as if a walnut had appeared on it, her prideful smile barely contained. But when I suddenly caught my reflection in the window, I noticed a similar walnut on my own chin.

Agnes escorted Irene while I placed the slippers at Irene’s feet. We walked down the quiet hallway, the only sound being the slippers dragging softly. As we walked, Irene, as if she had just remembered, said to me,

“Ah… right. Congratulations.”

“Huh?”

“You topped the class again.”

The results were out, and I hadn’t checked yet. At Irene’s words, I turned to look at Agnes. She stared back at me with wide eyes.

“I… guess I passed the drama class presentation.”

“Crazy. Hey, congratulations!”

I maintained my scholarship. Yikes! Agnes and I jumped around and screamed, sharing the joy of extending our scholarships. Irene stood still amid the commotion, not speaking of decorum or modesty, but she wore a shallow smile.

“Senior, you’re graduating the year after next, right?”

“Yes.”

“What fun is there in attending school without you? Don’t graduate.”

Agnes babbled dangerously as she quickened her steps.

“What will you do after graduation?”

“…Continue with succession lessons, probably.”

However, there was a hint of hesitation in her voice. Puzzled, I glanced at Irene, but she soon composed herself and returned to her usual expression.

“I see. I plan to join a theater troupe. Not sure if anyone will take me, though.”

As Agnes continued to chatter, she nudged me when she noticed I was only listening silently.

“What about you? What will you do?”

“Me?”

I was taken aback by Agnes’s sudden question. I hadn’t thought that far into the future. Naturally, my goal had always been to escape this world. I had no long-term goals beyond that.

I had been living rather joyfully, momentarily forgetting my plight…

The future here isn’t mine. Remembering this, I answered with the only future I could promise as Dietrich.

“Just drink, I guess.”

“What?”

Is that all? Agnes prodded me for more, poking my ribs. But the only future I could foresee was that. Eventually, I forced out more words.

“Drink a lot.”

“But you can drink now, too. Why wait until graduation?”

“…What?”

It seemed that underage drinking was taken lightly here. However, I could not bring myself to harm a teenager’s body, even if it wasn’t my own.

“Still, I’d rather wait and drink when I’m of age. And then, I’ll drink a lot.”

“And after that?”

“Nothing. Just drink. That’s all.”

Irene had been quietly listening to our conversation and interjected incredulously, “Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s all. I don’t really have any plans… I might just return to my estate, I guess.”

“Without any plans?”

Irene stopped walking and looked at me intently. Smiling seemed the best response to an awkward question, so I just smiled. Agnes stopped laughing and poked me in the ribs, urging me to respond.

***

Knock, knock.

I paused my pen and looked towards the dormitory door. Since arriving at the academy, I had been keeping a diary whenever I had time—for Dietrich, who would be left behind. From the mundane details of which classes I attended to the conversations I had with friends, what they liked, disliked, and what futures they anticipated.

Knock, knock.

As I didn’t respond, the person outside knocked again.

‘I wasn’t expecting anyone.’

“Dietrich, are you there?”

At the clear voice, I hurriedly got up. Right in front of the dorm door, Klaus stood bathed in moonlight.

“Klaus, sorry. I was just tidying up…. What’s up? Did you come looking for the senior?”

The senior had just left; they must have just missed each other. At my words, Klaus slightly lowered his eyes. His expression was hard to read against the backlight, but his voice carried a subtle chuckle.

“No, I came to see you.”

He said this while extending a modest bouquet of flowers. Small flowers with blue petals were clustered together.

“I felt like I hadn’t properly thanked you. Congratulations on pulling off the play.”

“Uh…”

Beautiful. I was captivated by the bouquet, unable to take my eyes off it for a while. Klaus smiled softly, then hesitated before rummaging through his pocket and handing me something.

“I didn’t mean to give this to you like this.”

Klaus awkwardly fiddled with the tips of his hair.

“My birthday is during the break. If it’s not too much trouble, would you come?”

Klaus carefully watched my expression as he asked.

As Dietrich Degoph’s name was elegantly penned across the stiff yet supple envelope, a hint of formality underpinned its presence.

‘I was planning on just training this vacation….’

Could one day be alright? After all, I had received some help so far. Hesitating briefly after receiving two unexpected gifts, I nodded.

“I’m glad. I thought you would refuse.”

Klaus smiled primly, just like his mannerisms.

“I wanted to give it to you at the banquet but couldn’t find you. Agnes disappeared at some point too.”

“Ah… actually, I didn’t go to the banquet today. If I knew you were looking, I would have.”

Really? At my words, Klaus playfully drooped his shoulders, feigning betrayal.

“Was everyone just gathered here? It’s not fair to sneak off by yourselves.”

“I went around the ballroom several times and couldn’t find any of you, and my sister disappeared suddenly too.” Klaus pouted slightly.

His charming, unoffending sulk was as polished as a pebble. A slight guilt and the unexpected bouquet softened my heart, making me want to change the subject.

“You look nice today.”

It’s my first time seeing you in formal wear. A shame, I would have gone to the banquet if I knew. Saying this, I gave a thumbs up. Klaus then wrapped his hand around my thumb and playfully raised his own.

“You too.”

“Me too?”

As Klaus playfully shook my thumb, he laughed. It was somewhat amusing, like a troubadour about to start his routine, and I couldn’t stop a snicker from leaking out.

“Really? I’m practically in pajamas.”

While saying this, I looked at Klaus. I wanted to accuse him of lying, but I opted to keep my mouth shut. The sight of him smiling bashfully against the moonlight was rather charming. And―

“Sure. You always look good.”

His kind voice made me not want to contradict him.

But someone seemed eager to do just that.

“…Playing around, I see.”

The second prince approached with a heavily furrowed brow, walking from the end of the corridor. He too was in banquet attire, yet strangely, he seemed disheveled.

‘What happened, did he roll around somewhere…?’