Chapter 52, It Wasn’t Intentional (5)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Lannen had disappeared.

 

After that, Allan’s handling of matters was swift.

 

– I will proceed with the acquisition of the Trader’s Guild through Melpir Pollun.

 

– Thank you, Master.

 

– I have already arranged for goods to be sent to the relevant areas, so please let me know if you need anything else.

 

– I don’t think we lack anything except food at the moment. I plan to meet with the Lords soon, so if there is anything to discuss, I will relay them to you.

 

– I understand.

 

Thanks to the quick response from Allan and Melpir, Kalian felt lighter in his heart and early the next morning, he called upon the Lords of Sting and Nerica to the Elf Village. It was to mediate the fight between the two territories.

 

Once his business with the Lords was concluded, Kalian, who had no need or desire to remain in the Elf Village any longer, decided to leave immediately after meeting the two Lords. Of course, it would be through the Forest Path that Elder Zher would open.

 

While waiting for the Lords, Ian briefly said.

 

“Our Prince now even has a Trader’s Guild of his own.”

 

“It has somehow ended up that way. It was not intentional.”

 

“Still, it feels good, doesn’t it?”

 

He truly had no intention of owning the Beurisen Trader’s Guild. He had merely removed the annoying Lannen. To think he would end up buying an entire Trader’s Guild. Kalian smiled wryly and looked down at what was in his hand.

 

“By the way, what is this?”

 

In Kalian’s hand was something like a black pebble. It was an object found by Luca, who had returned to the village.

 

Kalian frowned as he held the black pebble that had been among what appeared to be Divine Artifacts. He was recalling the change it had caused in Sia.

 

Just before, when Sia was about to give Kalian the items Luca had stolen, Kalian was considerably surprised when Sia opened his mouth. Sia’s unique speech habit of ‘answering first’ had disappeared.

 

Kalian, who would be accompanying Sia a little longer as he guided them through the Forest Path, handed him the stone and asked.

 

“Sia. Have you eaten?”

 

“Yes. I have.”

 

When Sia’s answer came properly, Kalian’s eyes narrowed. Beside him, Arsene made a sound of drawing in a deep breath. It was that strange of an occurrence.

 

When Kalian received the pebble.

 

Once more, he spoke to Sia.

 

“Yes. It’s over there.”

 

“Have you seen Hina?”

 

Again, the answer came first.

 

Kalian stared intently at what lay in his palm. It was a small black pebble with golden characters engraved on it, but there was nothing special about its appearance. Moreover, no one except Sia was affected by this stone.

 

As Kalian carefully examined the stone that was correcting Sia’s strange speech habit, Arsene asked.

 

“Could this also be a Divine Artifact?”

 

“The possibility is high. But…”

 

Kalian stopped speaking mid-sentence.

 

Arsene had not noticed, but Kalian clearly felt it. Yuran, who had sensed something similar, was also frowning as he looked at what Kalian held in his hand.

 

“It looks dangerous. There is a smell of blood deeply imbued in it.”

 

It was blood that flows when a healthy person dies, a unique energy felt in the blood of those with strong vitality. Knights were trained to sense it.

 

That was exactly the energy which could be felt from this stone. The energy of blood with strong vitality, shed by a life that could have continued but was forcibly extinguished. This also meant that the original owner of the pebble most likely has been killed by someone.

 

“Did you steal this along with the Divine Artifacts?”

 

“I don’t remember.”

 

That was understandable.

 

He had stolen quite a lot of things.

 

Kalian let out a sigh. Since Elves could not lie, it must be true that Luca did not remember. More importantly, Luca showed no sign of remorse on his face.

 

Rather than not knowing what he had done wrong, it was likely that he was showing such an attitude because he knew Humans could not judge Elves by Human laws.

 

Soon, Zher approached and spoke as if trying to divert Kalian’s attention.

 

“I have already made a request to Mother Tree. You should be able to depart immediately through the Forest Path. So please don’t worry about the matters here anymore.”

 

His anxiety was clearly visible.

 

It was apparent that Luca was Elder Zher’s true son. Therefore, he was worried that Kalian might get angry at Luca and draw his sword.

 

Instead of drawing his sword, Kalian handed the stone to Sia.

 

“For now, you use it. We need to communicate while we’re traveling.”

 

“Captain, Isn’t this Luca’s?”

 

Kalian looked toward Luca and answered.

 

“No, it’s not.”

 

“Alright. I’ll return it when we reach the other side of the Forest Path.”

 

“Good.”

 

Sia put it in his pocket, and soon the two Lords came looking for Kalian. Facing them, Kalian said just one thing.

 

“The Pollun Trader’s Guild will come to trade with you soon enough.”

 

It was truly simple.

 

Once trade resumed, there would be no reason for the two territories to fight.

 

Of course, the Lords had no way of knowing that Kalian had bought the Beurisen Trader’s Guild out of anger at Lannen Beurisen, who was the cause of this whole mess. So, they just expressed their happiness and gratitude. They also promised not to wage war over this matter.

 

Kalian did not make unnecessary remarks about them getting along well in the future. After all, the Royal Family does not deeply intervene in power struggles between Nobles. It was better for them to waste energy keeping each other in check, as it reduces the chance of ‘those who have become too friendly’ joining forces and pointing their swords at the Royal Family.

 

Kalian briefly turned his head to look at Elder Zher and Luca, then asked the Lords.

 

“Do you have any trade with the Elves?”

 

“Yes. We purchase several food items, including vegetables that are difficult to obtain nearby, from here.”

 

“I’m curious if it is a fair trade. How is it?”

 

“Well, given the poor environment…”

 

He did not need to hear more.

 

Just looking at the two Lords glancing at each other and Elder Zher’s ears turning bright red was enough to understand. It meant they had traded with the Elves at prices several times higher than in the other regions.

 

“They tried to take advantage of even me, a Prince, so I can only imagine how they treated others.”

 

Nodding his head and saying this, Kalian glared at Zher.

 

“Let me know what you’re buying. I’ll include them in the list the Pollun Trader’s Guild will provide, so stop trading with those who don’t even follow basic decency.”

 

“I apologized for that matter. Causing such harm to us Elves is—”

 

“You haven’t said a single word about what your son did. It seems your remorse has disappeared now that you’ve gotten everything you needed.”

 

Zher’s lips trembled, but Kalian did not listen to Zher any further.

 

“Live well amongst yourselves, as the Elves originally did.”

 

Having said that, Kalian mounted his horse, and Zher became anxious.

 

With his ears turning red, Zher blocked Kalian’s path.

 

“Wait, wait just a moment. Let’s talk…”

 

“I have nothing more to say to you.”

 

Zher’s hand, which was trying to grab Kalian, slightly touched Raven’s neck. And seeing the Prince’s horse, which always displayed a noble posture, rolled his eyes in alarm, he recoiled in shock and quickly withdrew his hand.

 

Pretending not to have noticed, Kalian calmly entered the Forest Path that Zher had opened in advance. Then, one by one, Kalian’s party followed him.

 

Leaving behind a flustered Zher.

 

* * *

 

The Forest Path was truly a path within the forest.

 

It was filled with dense green trees such that the skies above were not visible.

 

Sitting on Raven’s back as they trot along the path, Kalian was examining the black pebble in his hand. No matter how much he looked at it, there was nothing particularly special about the stone except for the engravings on it.

 

Seeing this, Yuran slowed his horse’s pace to come beside Kalian. Then, in a cautious voice, he spoke.

 

“Your Highness. I have something to tell you.”

 

Instead of replying to that statement, Kalian asked a question.

 

“The smell of blood is gradually becoming fainter, isn’t it?” Kalian asked with a mysterious smile.

 

For a moment, Yuran almost asked what he meant, but then gave Kalian a look as if examining him once more.

 

“I didn’t know how Your Highness is able to detect a scent that only Knights need to be trained to do so.”

 

“Somehow I can just smell it.”

 

There were quite a lot of ‘somehows’ for the Third Prince.

 

“Anyway, it seems strange to avoid it just because it’s a stone that smells of blood, no?” Kalian nodded as if to say not to worry about it.

 

“Since it has corrected Sia’s habit of speech, it is surely far from ordinary.”

 

Recalling how Sia used to answer ahead of others, Yuran spoke in a small voice.

 

“That child seems to see time a little ahead of others. How else could he answer questions that haven’t been asked yet?”

 

“He said it is not foresight. But I agree with your assessment.”

 

“Then could it be that this stone removes such ability?”

 

“Well. I wonder about that.”

 

Having said this, Kalian tapped Raven’s saddle and fell into deep thought.

 

“Time…”

 

[A view of the future. A distortion in time. A stone with the effect of nullifying Sia’s ability… Then, what about the Arcus Tempus?]

 

He was wondering if it might be related to the Arcus Tempus. The Arcus Tempus was also considered a Divine Artifact related to time, was it not?

 

“Whatever it is, it seems important. I’ll just have to endure the unpleasant smell.” Having said this with a gentle smile, Kalian clenched his fist around the stone.

 

* * *

 

In the Royal Palace of Cyriesus, specifically in Chermil Palace.

 

In Randel’s room, arranged on the highest floor, a servant reported.

 

“A considerable amount of Divine Artifacts have been delivered to Tansyll. Lannen Beurisen was a great help in this matter. But, Lannen has suddenly gone missing. The Marquis Beurisen is giving his all in investigating but cannot find him.”

 

“Marquis Beurisen first suspected Allan Manasil and Melpir Pollun but confirmed they were not involved. Therefore, he is investigating whether it might be the work of a group targeting money.”

 

This was, in fact, content appropriately fabricated and spread by Marquis Evan Beurisen.

 

Randel just nodded to the servant who delivered the news and indicated that he could leave now.

 

After the servant left, he reopened the book he had been reading.

 

Even after a considerable time, the page had not turned.

 

Suddenly, a bird flew to the window of the previously silent room and began to chirp. Randel quietly got up and walked to the window, startling the bird, which flew away with a flutter.

 

Feeling a bit regretful, Randel opened the window.

 

The sky was clear.

 

Randel’s curly golden hair swayed in the incoming breeze.

 

After enjoying the wind for a while with his eyes closed, Randel’s eyes opened slightly.

 

Clear sky, the song of birds.

 

Because he had said he could not sleep due to bad weather and missed the sound of birds.

 

Because he remembered the words that roses would soon bloom.

 

[Kalian. This time, you’ve gotten rid of Lannen.]

 

After briefly looking out the window and thinking of his brother, Randel went outside.

 

Servants immediately followed.

 

“To the garden.”

 

A short command was given, and one of those following ran to get tools for tending to the flowers. Randel arrived at the rose garden, past the lake, with unhurried steps. Soon, a servant following him handed him garden shears and opened an umbrella to shield him from the sun.

 

Randel quietly sat down to prune small branches and pull the weeds.

 

There were no flowers. As it was already autumn, all the flowers had already bloomed and withered.

 

In Randel’s eye, he saw a small, weak flower branch that had grown under a tree. A flower branch that could not even grow straight because it was pressed down by other branches.

 

It was a branch like Kalian from long ago.

 

After staring at that branch for a while, Randel pulled out a necklace from his sleeve. Then he closed his eyes.

 

Surprisingly, a soft light flowed from the necklace and reached the small branch. The bent branch straightened, and a bud formed.

 

Afterward, a small red rose bloomed.

 

“It still looks nice. Stay that way a little longer.”

 

Looking down at the solitary red rose, Randel returned to his room.