The Harsh Truths of the Field

p>Even though the plot of Atera roots was not vast, it still took quite a long time to carefully transplant them into baskets.

p>Arkin straightened up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The sun scorched down mercilessly. On any other day, a refreshing breeze would have swept across Credo Island, but today not a single breath of wind stirred. The palm trees lining the field stood motionless, their leaves frozen in perfect silence.

p>“Why bother digging up so many?” Kaichen grumbled, eyes narrowing as he surveyed the overflowing baskets of Atera and the now-sparse field.

p>“Haven’t I told you before? You two seem to want us working like slaves.”

p>While the royals, raised in luxury, bent their backs to gather herbs in the scorching heat, Seneca sat with arms crossed, never lifting a finger. If the pace slowed, he would clap his hands sharply and call out, “Come on, come on, get to work! Hurry up!”—but never offered a single word of help.

p>“Hey, Seneca! Are your ears clogged up? How much Dream Potion are you making anyway? Or are you planning to sell it to the black market?”

p>Kaichen’s shout shattered the air. Seneca, leaning lazily against a marble pillar under the blazing sun, suddenly opened one eye. Had he been napping? After blinking a few times, he raised a single eyebrow in that indifferent manner and answered flatly.

p>“The Atera roots for the Dream Potion must be handled with exquisite delicacy. After all, the ones Kaichen prince has already wrung out of his hands are destined for the waste bin. So better to harvest plenty more—we can still make the Dream Potion with what remains.”

p>“That’s what.”

p>Kaichen pouted, hurling the Atera stalks into his basket with a sharp clatter. Yet even as he did so, his hand was already reaching for the next stalk.

p>“Why don’t you scold Draconis or Serena at all?”

p>Petra muttered with a sulky tone. The complaint had begun with Draconis, who had been ordered to dig a humble field, but he had suddenly vanished after giving the job only the faintest of shirks. And Serena, who had followed in his wake, had long since slipped away.

p>“Exactly. They’ve been sneaking off ahead more than once or twice now. Why do they seem to escape punishment?”

p>Amalfi stuck out her lower lip in a pout, and swift Petra jumped in to defend the Flower Kingdom’s princess.

p>“It’s bad enough that those unlucky ones vanish without a trace. Now even the priest is taking their side! Hmph!”

p>Her voice boomed loudly, yet her eyes kept drifting sideways. The sight of Nefetia, crouched silently in the corner, was what plagued her. For the entire time she had been working, Petra had not uttered a single word.

p>Arkin, who had been watching nearby, noticed the glance. He pretended not to notice and subtly turned his gaze toward her.

p>She sat squatting in a corner of the field, her movements slow and unhurried as she uprooted the Atera roots. The usual pride in her posture had vanished, replaced only by slumped shoulders and hesitant hands—enough to read her state clearly.

p>Arkin gripped the stalk in his hand until it bent as if it might snap. Black hair fell across her face, hiding her expression, but perhaps it was better he could not see her eyes. They would surely shatter into pieces.

p>“Seneca! Are your ears completely plugged? Or are you deliberately ignoring us?”

p>Petra raised her voice to call out to the priest.

p>“Draconis and Serena are acting like mice, skipping work and running off!”

p>“Yes, I understand. I know.”

p>Seneca’s eyebrows shot up in irritation. His sharp voice cut through the air.

p>“Pay no mind to other people’s business and focus on what you’re supposed to do. I will handle the punishment myself.”

p>His tone made it clear that even Petra’s question was unwelcome. The remaining trainees shot him angry glances.

p>***

p>By midday the trainees had moved under the cool shade of palm trees. After digging the roots all morning, they now stripped the stalks of their leaves. The sweet-bitter fragrance rising from the freshly peeled stems was surprisingly pleasant.

p>“Seneca’s behavior is beyond rude—it’s downright weird,” Arkin said, glancing at Petra.

p>Petra had tilted her blade to peel the thin flower stems in one long strip, speaking in a low voice only Arkin and Elio could hear.

p>“He might be planning something sinister. Just look at how he treats us—always giving us the hardest jobs, then screaming if we can’t do them. It’s like he harbors some grudge. Too hostile to be mere teasing. He catches every one of our words like he’s about to swallow us whole. What kind of priest is he?”

p>“You can’t simply label him based on that alone. He’s just a bit rough around the edges; there’s no sign of anything truly wicked.”

p>Arkin replied carefully, moving his knife with measured strokes. To him, the trainees’ treatment by Seneca already seemed suspicious.

p>But it would be rash to brand him a villain outright. Seneca had even declared at the beginning that assigning them menial tasks was a lesson in humility….

p>Earlier, during their break, Arkin had spoken with him privately. Seneca had sincerely apologized, explaining that he could not provide the sleeping herb Arkin had requested.

p>“Your Highness, I truly apologize, but I cannot provide the Necromansia. Of course I understand why you need it, but as for us….”

p>The scar on his cheek and the stern lines of his face were nothing more than outward appearance. Yet the genuine sorrow in Seneca’s voice carried no trace of malice.

p>But….

p>“When it comes to Draconis and Serena, he suddenly speaks softly and answers indifferently. Arkin saw it too, right? They’ve slipped away before, and still he doesn’t punish them at all?”

p>Exactly as Petra said, that part bothered Arkin. There was something inconsistent in the priest’s treatment of the two princes. He could be arbitrary with the other trainees, yet with Draconis and Serena he made an exception.

p>This had not always been the case. At the competition’s start, the priest had often hurled sharp words at them too. Only in the past few days had he stopped interfering with their absences, offering only light warnings even when he did scold them. Thanks to that ambiguous attitude, it was no surprise that Draconis and Serena skipped lessons more often than the others.

p>“What do you think is happening with Nefetia?”

p>Petra sighed deeply.

p>“Maybe he ordered her to fetch an elephant again? If so, I will never stand by. It’s unfair, isn’t it?”

p>“Er….”

p>Arkin nodded absentmindedly. He pretended to look away and glanced toward Nefetia. His chest still ached as if pricked by needles.

p>“There must be something wrong. Maybe Draconis called her? Or Serena? Only those two would suspect her.”

p>Startled, Arkin lowered his eyes. He opened his mouth to answer but fell silent instead. Petra stabbed her dagger into the dirt with a sharp jab.

p>“Think about it, Arkin. Yesterday afternoon Nefetia was in such a good mood! We spent the most wonderful day together, and she told me she was leaving after the afternoon.”

p>“…….”

p>“Something definitely happened between evening and night. I, Amalfi, and Stella all found out this morning that she was like this. Her beautiful face was devastated by tears, yet she never said a word to any of us. What kind of boy…!”

p>That was when a voice came from behind Arkin.

p>“If someone who met Nefetia alone last night, then I know who it is.”

p>Stella, the Star Kingdom princess, appeared silently behind him. She raised her hand and pointed—exactly at Arkin, her finger aimed straight between his brows.

p>“Arkin, you met Nefetia in the garden yesterday, didn’t you?”

p>“Huh? What are you talking about? Did we meet?”

p>Petra’s eyes and Elio’s, who had been working silently beside him, widened simultaneously.

p>Arkin looked up in surprise. The Star princess’s glossy black eyes fixed on him. Her voice was accusatory.

p>“I heard it clearly yesterday. Nefetia told me she was going to meet you. She said she was going to see you at night….”

p>***

p>The trainees who had finished their Atera work began descending the hill one by one.

p>Seneca stood with arms crossed, watching the trainees disappear into the sunset. The faint footsteps behind him drew his attention. Under the tree shade, it was the apprentice priest Titus.

p>“Good. Did you tell him well?”

p>“Yes, as you instructed, I told Tilly as well. Prince Arkin’s request for the sleeping herb will not be reported….”

p>“Good. Well done.”

p>The two priests stood side by side, eyes locked on the laborers carrying the herb baskets. The wooden cart wheels creaked along the dirt path.

p>Seneca spoke first.

p>“The Flower Princess of Kepet seems to be in poor condition today.”

p>“I will tell Tilly to take good care of her.”

p>“Good. Observe discreetly. If you notice anything strange, report immediately.”

p>“Yes.”

p>Silence fell once more. From the moment the baskets of Atera were loaded onto the small cart until it rolled away, Seneca and Titus watched every step. They kept their distance from the workers and trailed after the cart.

p>“But, Priest Seneca, the amount of herbs… seems excessive.”

p>Titus narrowed his eyes as he asked. Seneca let out a heavy sigh.

p>“I’m already getting cursed by the high-handed demands. It’s obvious something is wrong. He screamed at me as if I were to make the Dream Potion and sell it myself.”

p>“Indeed.”

p>Both priests stared at the cart’s tail as it disappeared into the priest’s kitchen, their expressions uneasy.

p>“I don’t understand, Priest Seneca. There are too many strange things about this competition.”

p>Titus muttered quietly.

p>“We have no choice. We cannot defy the Lord’s orders. Let’s just wait and see.”

p>Seneca’s voice lowered as well.

p>The two priests walked slowly along the path as the sun set, then passed through the temple gates and returned to their daily routines as if nothing had happened.