Chapter 77, I, To You (1)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

Ian had always been careless in many ways.

 

From the very beginning, his duty had been to assist Kalian, staying right by his side. He had remained there long before Bern’s soul had entered Kalian’s body.

 

And yet, Ian had never once harbored suspicion toward Kalian.

 

It was not that Ian did not care about him. Ian regarded Kalian as the most important person in his life, never missing a single habit or preference.

 

For someone like Ian not to be suspicious made one feel rather uneasy.

 

For this reason, Kalian had always carried a lingering doubt about why Ian had never found him strange. Today, he finally learned a little about the reason.

 

“Don’t you remember when Plants threw a knife at you?”

 

“I know he threw a knife. But was it really aimed at me?”

 

Ian was simply a fool.

 

It was the morning after his conversation with Plants.

 

Kalian watched the rain, now easing into a gentle drizzle, while preparing for his meeting with Sillike. He decided that he should explain the situation with Plants to Ian as well.

 

This reminded him of an incident long ago, when Plants had thrown a knife at Ian during breakfast.

 

Although Sleiman and Ian didn’t seem particularly close, Ian was still a valued son of the ducal family. Because of this, Kalian wanted to first confirm how angry Ian was about Plants’ behavior before bringing up the topic. Yet, Ian had completely forgotten that the knife had been hurled directly at him.

 

That day, Ian had remained perfectly still, fearing that any attempt to dodge might provoke Plants further. And Kalian, acting on instinct, had caught the flying blade, only to end up injuring his own hand in the process.

 

It might have been just a blunt knife meant for cutting ham, but even so, it could have caused serious harm. Surely, one would forget such an incident.

 

“No, how can you completely forget that the knife was aimed at you, yet vividly remember that I was the one injured?”

 

“There’s still a scar on Your Highness’s hand. Just thinking about it makes me so angry…!”

 

“Alright, I understand, so don’t get angry.”

 

Kalian let out a helpless laugh, his complicated feelings from the previous day’s conversation with Plants forgotten.

 

“Still, if we ever talk again, I’ll ask him to properly apologize to you.”

 

“Talk again? What do you mean?”

 

“I’ve agreed to work together with Plants.”

 

“Plants, not Prince Randel?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Ian’s eyes widened.

 

“Are you saying Plants has turned his back on Sillike? There’s no reason for him to do that.”

 

“No. That’s…”

 

As Kalian began speaking, his thoughts drifted to Plants.

 

It seemed that Plants had been engaging in all sorts of eccentric behavior to avoid becoming King, unable to stand idly by while Sillike committed unspeakable acts in her relentless pursuit to place him on the throne. Perhaps he had believed that if he acted out enough, Sillike would eventually give up. But Sillike was not the kind of person to abandon her ambitions so easily.

 

By now, Plants must have seen the documents released by the Arcane Enclave. He would have come to fully understand just how many lives Sillike had sacrificed for his rise.

 

“It’s not that he turned his back…”

 

Of course, he had not given up on Sillike from the start.

 

Had he not been the one who tried to protect her, even going so far as to interrupt Rmain’s words?

 

Yet, in the end, he must have realized that nothing short of death would stop her.

 

“He simply has let go.”

 

Rather than voicing his speculations, Kalian gave only a brief answer.

 

Ian had never been particularly skilled at understanding others’ thoughts, so he failed to grasp why Plants had changed his mind. As a result, Ian could not help but feel displeased about the shift in Kalian and Plants’ relationship. Still, he kept his resentment to himself.

 

“Then why has he been tormenting Your Highness all this time?”

 

“I didn’t ask.”

 

Kalian, looking blankly at Ian, replied.

 

Looking back at the original Kalian’s memories, he realized that Plants had only ever tormented him when others were present. Even on the day he had thrown the knife at Ian, had he not been quiet before Randel arrived?

 

From these observations, it was possible to guess the reason behind the torment. But Kalian had no desire to go so far as to justify or accept Plants.

 

Even if there had been valid reasons, the only person who could choose to forgive him, the original Kalian, was already gone.

 

It was already too late.

 

“We didn’t join forces to make peace, reconcile, or become friends.”

 

Once again, Kalian kept his explanation brief. Then, without another word, he rose from his seat.

 

It was time to meet Sillike.

 

“Are you sure it’s alright to see Sillike alone?”

 

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

 

Ian’s face tightened with worry.

 

Kalian pretended not to notice and said:

 

“I’ll be back. In the meantime, go to Master and ask him to stop by before returning home today.”

 

Something in his tone held an unspoken meaning. Ian frowned, his expression seemed to ask ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’

 

“You’re not seriously planning to go to Heisia Palace alone, are you?”

 

“I am. Just me is enough.”

 

Allan worried that Kalian might cause trouble, while Ian worried that Kalian might get into trouble.

 

“I said don’t worry.”

 

Leaving behind the excessive worries, Kalian stubbornly went alone to Heisia Palace, where Sillike was.

 

* * *

 

Sillike held a small letter in her hand.

 

It had been delivered by a messenger bird, sent by the maid dispatched to Count Gray Beurisen before departing from his territory for the Royal Palace.

 

Her expression remained unchanged, but the hand clutching the letter was pale, the veins stark against her skin.

 

Sillike’s face while holding the letter was no different from usual, but the hand holding the letter was bleached so white that the veins were clearly visible.

 

When I saw the Count from a distance, he appeared to have no major injuries. However, I was unable to meet him directly, as his mental state was said to be of utmost importance. I asked the castle servants, but none would speak.

 

“Saw from a distance. Unable to meet directly. None would speak.”

 

He requested that I return, saying he would contact you again once his health improves.

 

“Return?”

 

Sillike’s voice trembled faintly as she repeated the words aloud.

 

Sillike read and reread the letter that had been delivered at dawn. For hours, she had sat there, motionless.

 

“… Return.”

 

When sent by the Queen, one should be received with proper courtesy – met directly, treated with respect. Even if such protocol was not formally established, Gray, as Sillike’s brother, should have welcomed the maid appropriately.

 

But the letter’s message was unmistakable. Gray had ignored the maid entirely, treating her no differently than an unwelcome guest.

 

“He has no major injuries… yet he asks her to return.”

 

Sillike murmured the words again, laughter threading through her voice.

 

Beside her, the head maid remained standing utterly still. Yet she was not feeling tired – she was preoccupied with observing Sillike’s mood.

 

For Sillike was seething, just as she had been on the day she shattered every Reunieri Flower pot in this very greenhouse.

 

Just then, a maid stepped inside and whispered something to the head maid.

 

“Now… Prince Kalian…”

 

Of all things, the message was that Kalian had arrived.

 

It was like adding fuel to a fire.

 

Of course, the meeting had been scheduled the day before. But with Sillike’s current mood, it was impossible to predict how things would unfold.

 

Therefore, the head maid spoke softly.

 

“Perhaps it would be better to reschedule the appointment with Prince Kalian…”

 

“No.”

 

Sillike cut her off before she could finish. She finally lifted her head and slowly released the letter she had been clutching so tightly. Handing it to the head maid, she spoke.

 

“Tell him to come in.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The head maid hurriedly left the greenhouse, returning moments later with Kalian.

 

*Tap, tap.*

 

The quiet echo of Kalian’s footsteps filled the greenhouse.

 

“It’s been a while since we’ve met in private.”

 

Soon, Kalian sat across from Sillike. Meeting her gaze, he greeted her and smiled, just as he had on that day.

 

“Sillike.”

 

Sillike let out a wry laugh.

 

It was because Kalian had called her by her name again.

 

“Nothing has changed.”

 

A maid entered, set down two cups of coffee, and swiftly left. Sillike gestured for the head maid to leave as well.

 

Once the space had emptied, she spoke again.

 

“I can’t say I’m particularly pleased by your visit. What brings you here?”

 

“I came to give you something.”

 

Kalian’s response was brief. Without further explanation, he reached into his chest pocket and placed something on the table.

 

*Thud!*

 

The last time he had done this, it had been a poison disguised as sugar.

 

Sillike’s brow furrowed slightly as she took in the stain on the item Kalian had placed before her. It was a dried black bloodstain, stark against the coffee table.

 

More than that, the item itself was unmistakably familiar.

 

It was the money pouch she had personally handed to Tayle.

 

“I believe his name was Tayle. He was carrying it.”

 

After saying that, he opened the pouch and examined its contents, showing no hesitation in touching something stained with the blood of someone already dead.

 

“There is quite a bit of money inside.”

 

Kalian said, then closed the pouch again and tossed it toward Sillike.

 

Sillike frowned, her gaze settling on the pouch, now resting beside her untouched coffee cup.

 

“What is the meaning of this?”

 

“Since Lord Hertz turned your brother’s carriage into firewood, I figured I’d compensate for it. But I have no intention of sending anyone to the Count’s Territory. If you happen to meet him, I’d appreciate it if you could pass this along instead.”

 

Kalian had retrieved the money Sillike had given to Tayle and was now returning it to her, claiming it payment for Gray’s carriage.

 

“Though, it seems it was your money to begin with.”

 

His tone left no room for doubt; he was certain Sillike had sent Tayle.

 

Sillike arched one eyebrow slightly and replied.

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

 

“Of course you don’t. You probably don’t even remember meeting Tayle that day.”

 

Kalian interrupted her with a calm face and a steady voice.

 

“And you surely never ordered anyone to capture Lord Hertz to find out what happened between Gray and me.”

 

Sillike’s laughter grew a little louder.

 

And with a voice still tinged with laughter, she answered.

 

“Right. I don’t remember.”

 

Even then, Kalian showed no sign of agitation.

 

Sillike could not quite discern his true intentions. Had he come to blackmail her over Tayle, or was there another motive at play? Whatever the reason, one thing was certain: the Kalian before her was profoundly irritating.

 

“I don’t understand why you’re saying such things. All you’ve taken from me is a single Knight Order, but you act as though it’s something grand. I am not as small-minded as you think, but I’d appreciate it if you dropped this insolence.”

 

Kalian watched her with an expression of quiet amusement.

 

“For someone who claims to not be ‘small-minded’, you certainly have the look of someone disturbed by something.”

 

“Do I?”

 

Kalian nodded and put on a concerned expression.

 

“Is it because I came?”

 

Sillike’s face turned cold.

 

For a fleeting moment, her thoughts had turned to Gray. Kalian, catching the subtle shift, continued with an equally cold expression:

 

“… Or is it because of a bird?”

 

A bird…!

 

Sillike’s gaze changed.

 

Kalian was clearly referring to the messenger bird from Gray. Quick thoughts flashed through Sillike’s mind.

 

[The Count’s attitude shifted drastically upon returning home. He cut off contact on his way to Cyriesus. The last message stated his schedule had been delayed due to purchasing a new carriage in Endysia. But the reason he needed a new carriage was…]

 

It was said that Kalian and Gray had confronted each other in Reddington, where Arsene Hertz, a Mage now missing, had destroyed Gray’s carriage.

 

But that was all.

 

Gray had left Reddington Castle immediately, while Kalian remained there for three more days. A few days later, Gray severed contact entirely.

 

[Something must have happened between them during that time.]

 

As Sillike analyzed the situation, Kalian’s amused voice broke her thoughts.

 

“You seem deep in thought. It’s not unpleasant to watch.”

 

“It seems you’ve done something to the Count. Did you promise him something grand if he helped you?”

 

Sillike spoke, her voice cold.

 

“I wonder if there’s anything you could offer that would be worth it.”

 

She had completely missed the mark.

 

Kalian had come for one reason alone: to force Sillike to shift her focus away from Evan and Gray, and place it solely on him. To push her toward the decision of eliminating him without considering the consequences.

 

When he remained silent, Sillike, believing she was correct, continued:

 

“You seem quite pleased to have gained him. But don’t be mistaken. He won’t be of much use to you.”

 

Then, with a bright, familiar smile, she added:

 

“Your mother was the same. After giving birth to you, she was simply ecstatic.”

 

“Ah, right.”

 

Kalian suddenly spoke, as if something had just crossed his mind.

 

Sillike’s mention of Freya Hwiteurin had been deliberate, yet Kalian interrupted her so casually that the corners of her eyes narrowed in irritation.

 

“Since you brought up my mother, I suddenly remembered something I’ve been curious about.”

 

It was not a lie.

 

The moment Sillike spoke, a certain question had surfaced. A question that might provoke her more than any conversation about Gray.

 

Deciding to set aside Gray for now, Kalian took a sip of his coffee, his movements relaxed, and fixed his gaze on Sillike.

 

And then, he asked:

 

“Is it true that the former Queen Aisha really died of illness?”

 

He studied Sillike closely. Then, his lips parted just slightly, and a murmur slipped through.

 

“… I don’t think that’s the case.”

 

Sillike’s smile slowly faded.