Ch.17A Single Flower (1)

The next day, I didn’t get out of bed.

I lay in my messy, unorganized room.

I didn’t have the strength to get up.

I didn’t even have the strength to try.

The fact that both twins actually hated me seemed to rob me of my life’s purpose.

What had I been working so hard for all this time?

After falling into this world, I first lived for the orphanage children, then for the twins.

I had done everything to become their support.

And this was the result.

Me, being badmouthed behind my back.

If they had acted that way to my face, I wouldn’t have felt so betrayed.

It hurt even more that I had to learn the truth through another source.

-Knock knock knock

“Brother. Are you awake? You need to go to class.”

I heard Eric’s voice.

He seemed to be checking on me while gently knocking on the door.

I didn’t answer.

I just really wanted to rest today.

When I didn’t respond, there was no sound for a long while.

Just when I thought he had left, I heard his voice again.

“…Stay strong. I’ll go ahead.”

Eric left after offering those brief words of encouragement.

He’s such a kind friend.

Perhaps that’s why he’s the protagonist.

Or maybe he understands my situation.

He was also born into a weak noble family and is having a difficult time at the Academy.

Though I’m supposedly from a powerful family… my treatment is at a similar level to his.

He might empathize with my struggles.

That’s probably why he worries about me.

I feel a stinging pain in my palm.

Still lying down, I raise my hand toward the ceiling.

My hand, deformed from exertion.

My hand, covered in calluses and burst blisters.

My hand, seemingly symbolizing all my efforts.

Looking at this hand, I fell into deep thought.

****

Kirsy waited for Caden for a long time in the first floor of the men’s dormitory.

He must be sleeping in today, as he hadn’t come out yet.

‘There’s not much time left before class starts…’

Kirsy carefully examined everyone leaving the dormitory.

Caden’s face was nowhere to be seen.

If she waited here any longer, being late was almost certain.

But Kirsy didn’t move.

‘…I’ll just be late, whatever.’

Since last night, she’d been dying thinking about him.

After other women showed interest in him, Kirsy found him even more precious.

She wanted him more, and felt anxious when he wasn’t in sight.

If she didn’t start her day with a hug or a kiss, the day felt incomplete.

Just then, someone caught Kirsy’s eye.

“Eric!”

She called out to him loudly.

It had been quite some time since Kirsy had dropped formalities with Eric.

Because they had Caden as a common denominator, it was relatively easy to lower certain barriers compared to other nobles.

Eric heard her voice and slowly began walking over.

His expression didn’t look particularly good.

“..Kirsy.”

“Good morning.”

She greeted him before getting to her purpose.

“..Um..do you happen to know where my brother is?”

“…….”

Eric didn’t answer and his expression subtly hardened.

This was a puzzling reaction to Kirsy.

“Is my brother sick somewhere? He’s not coming out… Is he oversleeping-“

“-Kirsy.”

Eric cut off her words.

Despite the huge breach of etiquette considering the difference in their family status, Kirsy didn’t mind.

“…Yes?”

“……”

Eric sighed. It seemed like he was about to say something but held back.

“..Actually, I don’t know either. I didn’t check Brother’s room before I left.”

****

I had a dream.

Memories of when I first met the twins.

Memories of building happy moments with them.

Memories of definitely sharing emotional exchanges.

The commitments I made for them. The moments I resolved to be their support. The moment I first held a sword, and when I mounted a horse.

Each one seemed to come back to me vividly.

Not once did I think this path was wrong.

I had felt proud.

That those cruel twins leaned on me.

That I had humanized them.

Especially that they were nobles from a powerful family.

But the mood of the dream changes.

Cold sweat runs down my body and breathing becomes difficult.

Asena’s voice echoes first.

Telling me to give up the Praester family name.

Telling me not to even bother.

Telling me I’m adopted.

Telling me she never once thought of me as her brother.

“..Haa…haa…”

As if trapped in sleep paralysis, my body won’t move.

Next was Kirsy.

Kyle’s words transformed into Kirsy’s voice.

That I’m full of pretense.

That I smell.

That I’m annoying when I try to teach.

That I’m obsessed with women.

And…that I’m incompetent.

I saw the twins mocking me.

They were watching me despair among countless spectators.

‘That’s what I wanted to see, brother. You betrayed and in despair.’

Asena says coldly.

This wasn’t the Asena I’d always known, but the Asena from the novel.

‘Did you really believe I liked you? When we’re so different by birth…how could I like you? You were just a toy to me. Hehe.’

Kirsy spoke too.

She didn’t care about my feelings at all.

“No…”

I groaned.

I reject that scene in my mind. These aren’t the twins. They wouldn’t treat me like this.

“…ther…”

Someone shook my body.

I was still looking at that nightmarish scene.

The bond we built couldn’t be this fragile. No matter how villainous they were. No matter what monster resided in their hearts, they couldn’t do this to me.

I had to believe that, or I couldn’t endure.

“Brother!!”

I opened my eyes at Kirsy’s voice.

“Huk…!! Huk!!”

My whole body was drenched in cold sweat.

My breathing was labored and my heart was racing.

The malicious voices in my buzzing ears were gradually subsiding.

“Brother..! Wake up..!”

Kirsy was shaking me with a worried expression.

Her image from the dream overlapped, and I couldn’t say anything for a while.

Understanding the situation was the priority.

Rolling my eyes, I saw orange sunset light coming through the window.

I seemed to have been asleep all day.

After such a long rest, my heavy head felt somewhat lighter.

“…Drink some water.”

Someone handed me water.

Feeling a burning thirst, I took the glass and drank it all.

Drinking something helped clear my mind.

I looked around the room.

In the still messy room, Asena and Kirsy were there.

Asena had a stern expression, but Kirsy looked worried.

She wiped my forehead with her sleeve and said:

“Brother, are you sick..? Why are you sweating so much..!”

My eyelids trembled.

“…..When did you get here?”

“Just now…! You weren’t seen all day.. But what happened?”

Could this Kirsy really be talking behind my back? It’s impossible to believe even seeing it.

She’s so peaceful when we’re together. Yet she’s supposedly the source of my torment.

“Why is the room such a mess..!”

“…Who is it?”

Asena asked coldly. Her actions were calm, but her voice was icy.

“Who did this? Someone from the Knight Department?”

Honestly, it wasn’t understandable behavior. The anger they showed didn’t seem fake, which was very strange.

Do they really not know?

“Brother-“

With a surge of emotion, I tried:

“-Someone’s been badmouthing me. I feel like I’m being ignored. I’ve been getting bullied recently.”

Both of them closed their mouths simultaneously. As if something caught them.

I had to hold back a bitter laugh. See? You know the reason.

At the same time, I could be certain that Kirsy had also said those things.

My head was spinning.

“…I don’t know about these political matters. I don’t know who’s behind it.”

“…..”

“…..”

“…If you want to catch them, you do it.”

Knowing they were the culprits, this was me turning a blind eye.

As with Asena before, I didn’t want to make things worse. My thoughts weren’t organized either. I wasn’t prepared to make choices with big consequences.

“….”

I couldn’t understand them. Even after all this, I still liked them.

The memories I built made it impossible not to.

But how could these twins do this to me?

I looked up at the twins. The way they slightly avoided my eyes made me feel a surge of emotion again.

“Ah. But even if you catch them, don’t bring them to me.”

It was hard to contain my hurt feelings.

Words I could say knowing they were behind it.

If they had even a shred of feeling for me, I wanted them to taste a little of the same pain.

“……Really. I think I might come to hate them terribly.”

Of course…the hardest part was that I couldn’t really hate them.

How could I? For someone who was always an orphan, they were my first family.

Asena gently grabbed her arm with one hand. Kirsy trembled and sat down beside me.

“…Brother, hug me.”

As if anxious, Kirsy said.

Still confusing words.

In the end, there were two possibilities.

One, they really disliked me. They pretended to like me, then betrayed me as in my dream, wanting to see my despair.

They might have disliked having someone of commoner origin in the Praester family.

Two, they said those things for some reason I couldn’t understand.

They did have feelings for me, but each had their own reasons why they had to act that way.

I can’t even imagine what that might be. Was it for the family?

But if that’s not it, I can’t explain why they still act like they like me in front of me.

“…Brother?…Quickly..”

Kirsy was still whining.

That doesn’t mean their actions are justified.

My wounded heart wasn’t going anywhere.

I think about Kirsy’s backbiting as she wants to be held by me.

She said I smell. Why does she want to be held now?

I wanted to ask.

“….”

Instead, I hugged her lightly. Not the tight embrace I usually gave, but a casual hug like one would give to friends.

After briefly hugging her, I pulled away. Kirsy tried to cling to me, but I detached her and said:

“Guys. Can you please leave for today? My head is spinning. I need some time alone.”

“….Does your head hurt? …I’ll take care of you, brother.”

Asena said, but I shook my head. Not knowing their intentions made me uncomfortable.

“…. See you tomorrow.”

I cut it off sharply.

***

Deep into the night, I finally sorted things out.

After experiencing numerous emotions up and down, I reached a conclusion.

“…Right.”

I reached a refreshingly clear conclusion.

My head feels incredibly light.

Whatever the reason, they betrayed me.

Whether it was their true feelings or not doesn’t matter.

They badmouthed me behind my back after I cherished them.

They pushed me away, threatening to expel me from the family.

So I will make my own choice.

Just as it’s true they are my siblings.

Just as it’s reality that we shared memories together for 10 years.

Just as my promise to be their support remains unchanged.

The fact that I am a Praester is also an undeniable truth.

Why should I be mindful of the twins?

Even this is a loser’s mentality.

It’s already entering defeat.

I am a Praester.

I’ve been a Praester for 10 years.

Just because they say I’m not, doesn’t make it so.

I had forgotten that.

‘Don’t let anyone touch us.’

The days spent ruminating on the family motto seemed meaningless now.

A Praester shouldn’t act like this.

Right now, Asena and Kirsy are touching my emotions.

Despite being their brother, my heart is being swayed like a reed.

I needed to reverse the relationship.

I was in a position to lead them.

The stigma of being a commoner seemed to have affected my behavior too.

No wonder I was being disrespected.

Taking action was the way.

I should live without being overly conscious of others.

I had weakened foolishly because they were family.

They say people grow stronger through trials?

I felt my heart hardening. My mind cleared and what I needed to do became obvious.

The Praester family motto includes not only thoroughly trampling others, but also training oneself to not be disrespected.

They say I’m incompetent?

They’ll expel me from the family?

I’ll make it impossible for them to do so.

To prevent the twins from bringing up other issues, I just need to build an overwhelming position.

There are several ways.

One.

Become the strongest and most prestigious knight.

The kind of knight whose mere affiliation raises one’s status.

Two.

Secure a strategic marriage that will greatly benefit the Praester family. Now at the Academy was the opportunity. As Grandmother Riana said, this moment of potential connections was the chance.

Three.

Create my own followers.

Build my own faction that will help only me.

Among these methods, the decision was quickly made.

I would accomplish all of them simultaneously – that became my goal.