Chapter 67, It’s Been a While (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The words ‘it’s been a while’ was neither particularly informal nor was it respectful. Even in front of Rmain, even in a place where Randel and Plants were present, Kalian simply could not show any more respect to Sillike.

 

No one here was unaware of the reason, so no one blamed Kalian. Of course, Sillike was one of them as well.

 

Sillike, sitting in the chair pulled out by the servant, immediately opened her mouth.

 

“Yes. It’s been a while.”

 

Just as Kalian had addressed her informally, Sillike likewise did not bother with formalities. Kalian, who had not particularly expected respect, continued his meal without paying attention.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

Rmain asked Sillike, who was looking at Kalian, voice dry and emotionless.

 

Sillike did not mind such overt coldness. She had prepared herself for this from the moment she came to the uninvited dinner. Sillike looked at Rmain and spoke.

 

“Your face looks much better, Your Highness.”

 

“That’s because I had not seen what I used to see for a peaceful period of time”

 

Rmain nodded as if there was nothing to hide and answered, “Yet now I see it again.”

 

It was such a hostile statement that it was hard to believe Rmain had uttered it.

 

Sillike, who had become visible to Rmain’s eyes after being ‘invisible’, showed little reaction to these blatant sharp words. She nodded as if listening to someone else’s concerns. Then, she looked at Kalian and continued.

 

“I came because I was curious if the Third Prince had returned safely.”

 

She said as she showed a smile toward Kalian.

 

Rmain spoke as if intercepting Sillike’s gaze directed at Kalian.

 

“Have you really come to confirm that?”

 

“He is a child who has caused many troubles.”

 

[‘Many troubles’, you say?] The tip of Kalian’s eyebrow moved briefly as he quietly listened to the confrontation between his father and stepmother.

 

His mood naturally did not worsen from that level of defamation. It was difficult to gauge which was more troublesome—the troubles he had caused throughout his life or the troubles he had caused during the brief time he was outside the Royal Palace.

 

[If you knew that the two brothers you tried to control both disappeared because of me, would you still speak that way?] While Kalian was thinking this, Rmain sent a warning in a quiet but dignified voice.

 

“Sillike. Be careful with your words about the Prince.”

 

Sillike smiled as if it had been a minor slip of the tongue. Kalian nodded slightly like someone who had heard an everyday greeting and answered.

 

“As you can see, I returned safely.”

 

“So it seems.”

 

“The ‘cold’ I suffered from before was very severe. There wasn’t much outside that could cause more trouble than that.”

 

Rmain’s face stiffened somewhat when Kalian mentioned Sillike’s poison.

 

A moment passed where no one spoke. After that, Sillike opened her mouth again.

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

“Thanks to you. You’ve always been so attentive to me.”

 

Kalian nodded with a smiling face.

 

A small laugh was heard from Plants at Kalian’s response. And for a very brief moment, Sillike erased her smile.

 

The words ‘please leave now, I don’t want to continue this verbal sparring’ almost rose to Kalian’s throat. So, Kalian took a drink of water, swallowing both the water and his words. Since Rmai had not driven her out, Kalian could not ask her to leave.

 

Whether she knew Kalian’s thoughts or not, Sillike looked toward Rmain and opened her mouth again.

 

“By the way, Your Highness.”

 

Kalian showed an expression of being thoroughly fed up.

 

A sigh was heard from Randel’s direction. It seemed he was starting to reach the limits of his patience. Of course, Sillike paid no heed.

 

“I heard there was a surprising event in the Siegfried Territory. Have you heard about it?”

 

Rmain stared at Sillike without answering.

 

Sillike, with a face like a caring mother, looked at Kalian.

 

“They say there was an auspicious event, and people’s praises have even reached Heisia Palace. It truly is a surprising and joyous matter.”

 

“Well, I’m glad you’re pleased.”

 

Kalian inwardly gave a wry smile. He could roughly predict what she was trying to bring up with such grandiose praise. Sillike’s gaze turned to Rmain again.

 

“But there’s something else being said together with this, and I wanted to ask about it.”

 

There was only one rumour tied to what had happened at Syspanian’s Lair. Sillike, who had properly broached the subject, stared at Rmain’s blue eyes, almost glaring at him, and uttered words that should not have been spoken.

 

“Are you really considering that child Kalian as the next Crown Prince? Please tell me.”

 

Kalian’s eyes narrowed. It was exactly what Kalian had predicted.

 

[Now, you played your hand, Sillike.]

 

Crown Prince.

 

In this place where three Princes were present, that word was supposedly taboo. Sillike had brought it up. And of all things, by targeting Kalian.

 

Rmain stared at Sillike without saying a word.

 

What answer would Rmain give to those words?

 

He could not say yes, he could not say no, and he could not dismiss Sillike without an answer. It would be taken as an affirmation.

 

Kalian turned his head, trying to stop that question at this point. But unexpectedly, a relaxed answer flowed from Rmain.

 

“Just recently, Lord Manasil said something.”

 

[Master?] When an unexpected name came up in this place, Kalian held back from intervening and waited for Rmain’s next words.

 

“Send the most disliked one to Camilon first. That way, he will disappear on his own, he said. But they are all my precious sons. Because of that, my worries have been deep.”

 

Having said that, Rmain’s eyes swept over each of the Princes.

 

Soon, Rmain’s blue eyes deeply gazed at Sillike. Rmain concluded in a voice devoid of any emotion.

 

“Now, you’re trying to ease my worries. Thank you.”

 

Sillike bowed her head.

 

It was because she had no fan to hide her distorted face.

 

Kalian also bowed his head.

 

It was because he could not hold back his laughter.

 

[Ah. May Serenty’s glory be upon Master’s lips!]

 

* * *

 

She had come with the intention of cornering Rmain.

 

If he said he would place Kalian in the Crown Prince position, she planned to protest, asking if he was showing favouritism. If he said he would not, she planned to demand that he promise that. If he postponed the answer, she planned to question why he had moved the Caera Knights.

 

But Rmain instead threatened Sillike by saying he would place Plants in the Crown Prince position. How ironic the situation was.

 

“If you have nothing more to say, then leave. Before I truly make a decision.”

 

Saying so, Rmain gestured toward the servants standing near the door, and the servants opened it. Staying in the seat any longer would be of no help to Sillike. Having made a pointless visit, Sillike rose from her seat.

 

“I don’t know how long your arrogance will continue, but the day will come when you’ll regret treating me like this. Definitely.”

 

Rmain did not bother to tell her that he had been regretting it since the day he brought Sillike in as Queen to gain the Beurisen’s power after the death of the former Queen, Aisha.

 

Sillike went outside with the sound of her footsteps, leaving behind Rmain who remained unchanged in his attitude.

 

[It’s fortunate that I sent the Count back first.] Kalian thought this as he watched Sillike’s retreating figure.

 

In this situation, if Gray had also entered the Capital, it would not have been strange if a civil war immediately broke out.

 

Anyway, Rmain, who had sent Sillike away with one well-learned phrase from Allan Manasil, turned his head to examine Plants. And with a serious voice vastly different from how he had addressed Sillike, he opened his mouth.

 

“I didn’t say it with malice toward you. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t view you and the Queen on the same level.” He was concerned that Plants might be bothered by what he had said to Sillike.

 

Plants calmly received his words. “I know.”

 

Rmain nodded at that answer and looked around as if observing the subdued atmosphere.

 

“You all must know how your uncle is doing.”

 

Kalian’s uncle meant Rmain’s own brother. How he was doing now, everyone seemed to know except Kalian. Both of their expressions were not so good.

 

Bern had no need to be interested in what happened to the brother of a foreign king. And the former Kalian, never dreaming he would become king, deliberately avoided holding any interest in how Rmain had ascended to the throne or what had happened to his remaining brothers. After all, taking interest would only mean knowing his own dark future in advance.

 

[I should ask Ian.] But the current Kalian knew that Rmain had a brother, but he was not relaxed enough to be interested in how that person was living now.

 

“I hope none of you will live such a life. I wish the same thing would never repeat itself.”

 

Having finished speaking, Rmain rose from his seat first and went outside. As it was not an atmosphere to continue the meal, the Princes likewise stood up from their seats.

 

* * *

 

While waiting outside the banquet hall, Ian, who had learned that Sillike had gone in, approached with a worried face.

 

“Did the dinner go well?”

 

“Yes. Nothing happened, so don’t worry.”

 

Seeing Ian finally relax after hearing these words, Kalian smiled.

 

A moment later, Kalian, who had arrived at Chermil last, said.

 

“Let’s walk for a bit. I need to digest.”

 

Ian knew very well how much Kalian had been eating a ton, and had been digesting well since he started growing taller. Still, instead of making a face that said ‘what nonsense’, Ian just said he understood and walked side by side with Kalian.

 

While walking by the lake for the second time today, Kalian shared what Rmain had just told him.

 

“Do you know what happened to His Majesty’s brother?”

 

“That…”

 

Ian, with a somewhat complicated expression, continued his answer.

 

“Originally, Princes who were pushed out of the Crown Prince position leave Cyriesus after they turn twenty. They receive their own territory and live there. Except for the fact that they cannot have their own soldiers and the Royal Family sends their own soldiers, and that they cannot stay in Cyriesus for more than five days, there are no other restrictions.”

 

That was about the other Princes who did not receive the Crown Prince position and did so without a fight.

 

“I know that too. But since His Majesty specifically mentioned it, the result seems to have been a bit different this time.”

 

“Yes, it was.”

 

As expected, Ian opened his mouth again and continued the explanation.

 

“In fact, even in the past, not many Princes spent the rest of their lives like that. Most of them, after their brother became King, either had Renisita Leaves spread in the plaza or…”

 

It meant they were beheaded or hanged.

 

It was a topic difficult to bring up hastily, so Ian paused for a moment before speaking again.

 

“They are imprisoned in a remote place for the rest of their lives.”

 

“A remote place, you say.”

 

“They say the former King suffered from an illness that could not be cured even with the Syspanian’s Blessing. Because of that, he decided on the Crown Prince early, and that person is now His Majesty.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Shortly after the Crown Prince position was decided, His Majesty’s brother, Lord Asnan, rebelled against the decision, and Lord Asnan is now in a tower built deep in the Verecan Valley, further south than Siegfried Territory.”

 

Hearing those words, Kalian quietly nodded.

 

As he seemed to be worried about the future, Ian smiled and said.

 

“Don’t worry. Even if you can’t enter Camilon, I’m thinking of taking you to my home.”

 

Kalian burst into laughter at Ian’s plan, which he put forward so boldly.

 

“For that to happen, Siegfried would have to be a kingdom on its own, not a Ducal Territory.”

 

Unless they declared independence from Cyries and waged war, they would not be able to live with a Prince who had been pushed out of the Crown Prince position.

 

“What’s impossible about that?”

 

“Aren’t you talking about it too casually?”

 

At the words given with no malice and only thinking of his well-being, Kalian finally burst into laughter.

 

“Anyway, His Majesty meant to tell us that he hopes us brothers don’t end up killing each other in bloody fights or live a life of imprisonment. He hopes that we will get along well.”

 

“Is that possible?”

 

After gauging for a moment, Kalian shook his head.

 

“Such a peaceful thing would never happen.”

 

Getting along well with those two. It would be difficult to achieve even in a dream.

 

While Kalian was lost in thought for a moment, it happened.

 

“…Prince.”

 

Ian’s quiet voice called Kalian to attention.

 

When Kalian looked at Ian, his gaze was fixed on Kalian’s waist.

 

Following Ian’s gaze, Kalian’s eyes sharpened. This was because a red light was leaking from inside Kalian’s pocket, or more precisely, from inside the pocket of his jacket.

 

Kalian knew very well what was inside.

 

It was the black pebble he had received from the Elf, Luca. Because Syspanian had told him to keep it, he had been habitually carrying it in his pocket, but he had never seen it emitting light like this before.

 

“Shield!”

 

In the sudden situation, Kalian tensely created a shield in front of Ian. He was worried that something like an explosion might occur. Soon, Kalian furrowed his brow once more as he carefully reached out to take out the pebble.

 

A red rose blooming alone in this chilly weather soon caught his eye. It was a small flower stem growing under a rose bush in a corner of the garden. If it had been a simple flower, he would have just thought it strange and moved on. He would have passed by thinking, ‘what a late-blooming small flower’.

 

But since that was not the case, a voice full of questions flowed from Kalian’s lips.

 

“…Why?” The rose was emitting the same colored light as the pebble.

 

A blood-like red light resembling Kalian’s eyes.