Chapter 76, I Will Only Ask One Thing (7)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

[Should I enter Chermil Palace like this? Or should I turn around and enter Heisia Palace? If neither, should I return to my mansion?]

 

Evan stood for a long time like someone who had lost his way.

 

It was not because Evan’s subordinate had lost to Allan’s man, or because he himself had been overwhelmed by both Allan’s words and presence.

 

Of course, those two things had wounded his pride and angered him, but more than that, it was Allan’s final words that had touched upon something deep in his mind.

 

[‘Have you ever thought about who Marquess Gray Beurisen trusted and what he had hoped for when he tried to come here’] The words Allan had delivered kept circling endlessly in his mind.

 

Why on earth had Gray, the Count, come to the Capital?

 

Without even needing to think, there was only one answer.

 

[Sillike.]

 

Just as Lannen had abandoned Beurisen and chosen Randel, Sillike had abandoned Evan and tried to join hands with Gray.

 

[I was so preoccupied with the suddenly spreading rumors that I forgot the most important fact.]

 

To be reminded of this fact through Allan’s mouth of all people was indescribably devastating. Evan gritted his molars, trying to erase the face and voice of the Mage who had tried to teach him again.

 

Soon, Evan’s eyes naturally turned toward Heisia Palace.

 

[You finally tried to!?]

 

Evan’s clenched fist trembled. It was anger at realizing that his own children had tried to eliminate their father.

 

Evan restrained his feet, which were about to rush toward Heisia Palace.

 

After barely swallowing his anger, Evan turned his head again to look at Chermil Palace. Evan, who had been trying to check where Plants might be, shook his head.

 

[I shouldn’t meet him so rashly.]

 

In fact, he had come to confirm what kind of relationship Plants and Sillike had. He wanted to know if Plants would be affected if he were to send Sillike out of the Royal Palace.

 

If Plants would side against his grandfather because his mother would be driven out, there would be no need to make Plants King. In that case, he had thought they could release Lannen and all of Beurisen could support Randel.

 

But now, the situation has changed.

 

If Sillike had betrayed Evan, he needed to perfectly understand whose side Plants was on before meeting him. So, Evan decided to postpone this unprepared meeting for now.

 

And thus, Evan turned back.

 

Without meeting anyone, he returned to Beurisen’s massive mansion, which was like a small castle.

 

While seriously contemplating what to do with Sillike.

 

*Shhh shhh shhh…*

 

And finally, the rain began to fall.

 

* * *

 

Looking at Evan turning away beyond the raindrops streaming down the window and pouring outside, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“Judging by the direction he’s heading; he seems to be leaving the Royal Palace. That’s the wisest decision he could make. I thought he was a fool, since he picked the same fight again, but it seems like he can think after all.”

 

Hearing Allan’s words, Kalian recalled Allan’s aura that had made even him feel chills. So, instead of joining in mocking Evan.

 

“You were truly impressive just now. Even I have never experienced such a presence before. Ah, of course, except for Syspanian.”

 

Allan replied with a face so gentle that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had stood before Evan.

 

“I apologize for startling you.”

 

Kalian nodded with a smile.

 

“Yes, I was surprised. I can’t tell you how fortunate I felt that it wasn’t me standing before you, Master. Kyrie could not even breathe.”

 

Kalian shared only this much of his impression about the confrontation.

 

He did not tell Allan that he could not feel Evan’s Aura, which meant that for now, Evan might be stronger than himself. He kept silent because he thought there was no need to cause unnecessary worry.

 

After all, was he not the best at breaking things?

 

If there was a wall blocking the way, he just needed to build up more strength to break it.

 

“Perhaps I should have backed down?”

 

Seeing Kalian’s smile as if he had something interesting in front of him, Allan asked this.

 

If Rmain had heard this, he would certainly have thought it was a cunning question. After all, Allan already knew what answer Kalian would give.

 

To Allan, whose expectation of receiving praise from his Disciple was plainly visible on his face, Kalian shook his head and replied.

 

“No, Master. You did very well. It was information we would have revealed anyway.”

 

No one would know how much this Archmage, who had nothing to fear in the world, enjoyed receiving praises from the Prince.

 

“I may not know much about Magic, but there is no one in this land who could defeat you with words, Master. I think that’s a fact.”

 

At Kalian’s sincere additional comment, Allan nodded repeatedly with the most satisfied expression in the world.

 

Magic can be taught by someone. However, the ability to use one’s mouth like that was a skill that could not be learned from anyone.

 

“Indeed, my mouth is unmatched anywhere in the world.”

 

Hearing that, Kalian laughed for a long time.

 

After waiting briefly for Kalian’s laughter to end, Allan changed the subject.

 

“Anyway, their relationship has now been beautifully ruined.”

 

Kalian had given Gray the impression that Sillike would take Lannen’s hand.

 

And Allan had informed Evan that Sillike and Gray were cooperating to take away his title.

 

“On the surface, it will seem like the three of them are suspicious of and checking each other, but if you look deeper, that’s not the case.”

 

Kalian replied with a slight smile.

 

On the surface, it would appear that the three were engaged in a power struggle, but in reality, both Gray and Evan had acquired a common enemy.

 

That enemy was Sillike.

 

“I wonder how Sillike will react?”

 

Nodding as if wondering the same thing, Allan suddenly voiced another question that had occurred to him.

 

“So, what does Your Highness plan to do now?”

 

“I’m going to go and see. To satisfy my curiosity.”

 

“Go and see?”

 

Allan raised his eyebrows and asked.

 

“You don’t mean you’re going to meet Sillike privately, do you?”

 

“Yes. I’m thinking of meeting her tomorrow. If things move quickly, news from the people sent to Gray should arrive by tomorrow, so I’ll probe what Gray said as well.”

 

Allan put his finger up to scratch his ear.

 

“Why does it feel like I hear someone talking as if they’ll only live for today.”

 

Kalian smiled wryly.

 

Allan was not worried about Sillike poisoning Kalian again. He knew Kalian was no longer someone who would fall for such tricks. He was simply concerned that Kalian might lose his temper when meeting Sillike and cause another incident.

 

“I’m not going there to cause trouble this time, so don’t worry. Now that Gray and Evan have begun to be wary of Sillike, I need to make Sillike focus on me instead of those two. That way, she’ll forget her situation and move recklessly.”

 

Making Sillike focus on Kalian was not a difficult task. It was also a method Allan knew very well.

 

At the words of the Prince, who was quite skilled at turning people’s minds inside out, the Master, who was unparalleled at mocking others, let out a small sigh.

 

* * *

 

Neither the one receiving nor the one visiting had made any prior arrangements, but they just knew.

 

That they would meet again tonight to talk.

 

Therefore, Kalian, who was waiting for his visitor with the window open despite the cold night, was not startled by the small *thud* from the terrace. He simply pointed to the sofa across from where he was sitting with a composed face.

 

“Please sit.”

 

[To think Plants’ visit would feel so familiar after just two times?]

 

Kalian shook his head.

 

Perhaps Plants too had not thought he would come to Kalian’s room like this again. Until he looked out the window after feeling the thick, intense killing intent in the morning, he surely had not.

 

Plants, who flopped down across from Kalian, opened his mouth.

 

“This morning, I saw a Mage driving away a Knight.”

 

“So you’ve sensed the confrontation between my Master and your grandfather. His Majesty praised your swordsmanship, so I only half believed it. But it seems like it wasn’t an exaggeration.”

 

Plants waited for an answer to his question without making any other reply.

 

It was obvious that he had been pondering all day, as he could not have a conversation with Kalian where others could see them.

 

Questions like: what conversation did Allan and Evan have? Why did they fight like that? And why did Evan turn back?

 

“Do you meet with the Marquis often?”

 

Instead of answering Plants’ question, Kalian asked something he was curious about first. He knew well that he had the initiative in this conversation.

 

Plants, equally aware of this fact, had no choice but to answer Kalian’s question that ignored his own.

 

“I’ve never met him separately.”

 

Kalian nodded.

 

From those words that Plants had never met Evan separately, he clearly understood Evan’s change of heart.

 

[Even if he did not know that he was being betrayed by Sillike, he was already thinking of abandoning Sillike first.]

 

Having grasped the situation a bit more, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“Your Family must have been very harmonious, for cracks to appear so quickly despite me not having touched much.”

 

Plants’ eyes turned sharp.

 

Kalian, who had mostly seen him with eyes lacking luster, suddenly felt an unfamiliar sensation.

 

Without showing any particular reaction to this, Kalian continued speaking.

 

“It seems the Marquis came looking for you because of what happened. He hopes to confirm your intentions. But he ran into my Master. There was a minor battle over one’s pride, and he just left. If you only wish for your mother to step down, there’s no need to take my side any further than this. If you just leave it as is, the Marquis will bring down your mother on his own and prepare to send you to Camilon.”

 

Plants gave no particular answer to these words. Knowing that Kalian was not finished speaking, he just slightly moved his head as if indicating him to continue.

 

“So if you’re thinking of rejecting only your mother and becoming King, meet Evan. If, regardless of whether your mother is there or not, you have no intention of going to Camilon Palace. I am willing to go, so I’ll help along the way.”

 

Plants snickered and opened his mouth.

 

“I thought I had already given my answer.”

 

That was Plants’ clear answer, that his mind about taking Kalian’s hand had not changed. After all, he had absolutely no interest in the throne, whether Sillike was there or not.

 

Kalian gave a bitter smile.

 

After dying in the war with Cyries and being revived in Cyries. After commanding Arsene and finding himself in a situation where he was joining hands with Plants. How could he not smile?

 

Kalian opened his mouth in a low voice.

 

Looking at the brother who had taken his life, sitting in place of the brother for whom he had given his life.

 

“Then. I will only ask for one thing.”

 

Plants moved his head once more.

 

Kalian, who had closed his mouth and regulated his breathing, asked after a long time.

 

“Sillike. This time, she might make the worst choice. Because I intend to make her do so.”

 

Kalian, who had dropped the long expression ‘your mother’, spoke in a resolute voice.

 

The worst choice.

 

Plants’ eyes sank deeply.

 

Kalian stared straight into those eyes of Plants.

 

“And I have no intention of saving Sillike. If you’re going to take my hand, take it with proper resolve.”

 

Could you continue to hold my hand even if Renisita Leaves were spread in the plaza for Sillike? That was what Kalian was asking.

 

A deep sneer appeared on Plants’ lips.

 

Even Plants himself did not know toward whom that mockery was directed at.

 

The sound of heavy rain reverberated dully through the open window.

 

“On the path my mother had chosen to tread with such effort.”

 

Whether she died by Rmain’s sword.

 

Or by Evan Beurisen’s hand.

 

Or as a criminal in the plaza.

 

“Has there been any other ending than that?”

 

Plants concluded with a voice that was clearly trying to be calm but was staggering mercilessly despite such efforts.

 

And thus, Kalian completely joined hands with Plants.