Chapter 164, Not Peaceful At All (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

When Kalian gets lost in thought, he does not watch where he is going.

 

When Plants gets lost in thought, he loses track of time.

 

Therefore, it was inevitable that Kalian, who had climbed the stairs, failed to notice Plants still standing in that same spot and walked right past him.

 

No one would know how shocked Kalian was when he realized there had been a familiar head that seemed like it would smell of grass in the spot he had just passed. When he turned around, he saw a pale fellow still standing in the same place where he had left him.

 

Still, Kalian was different from Allan. He understood why Plants was standing here now. So he stopped for a moment and blankly asked Plants.

 

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

 

If he had been the type to have common sense that an apology should come first for walking past someone without noticing them, he probably would not have been able to handle that blue haired Mage who seemed to use etiquette as kindling for making Fireballs. Therefore, Plants, who had long given up on such things, just made an expression that said ‘Is that really what you should be saying right now?’

 

Whether he knew of Plants’ feelings or not, Kalian chuckled softly as if sighing briefly and said.

 

“Instead of sparring, would it be alright if we just went to Chermil? I’m feeling a bit unsettled right now.”

 

Looking at his face, it seemed he had met Syspanian and had a serious conversation.

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

Then Kalian followed up by saying he was hungry, because he was unsettled inside.

 

[This crazy bastard.]

 

After showing his hidden depths and pouring out heart-crushing stories, then meeting the Ancient Dragon and having a weighty conversation, what on earth is in the head of this same guy who says he’s hungry because of it all?

 

[Right. He would be hungry…]

 

*Ha…*

 

“Look, I also have something to tell you.”

 

It’s not just about eating, but he also has something to say while eating.

 

If Kalian had been someone with the basic common sense to forget everything and rest for a while since he was unsettled inside, he probably would not have turned Heisia Palace into rubble either.

 

“Let’s go. To Chermil.”

 

Therefore, Plants answered as if giving up and walked ahead with heavy steps. Kalian, who was walking behind him, suddenly looked up at the sky as if he had just remembered something and said.

 

“The rain has stopped.”

 

As he said, the rain had stopped at some point.

 

The dark clouds remained, but it was no longer raining.

 

“Just now.”

 

It seemed like another gift that Syspanian had left behind, so Kalian softly smiled.

 

“She came in the form of a black butterfly.”

 

Plants, as usual was Plants, and Kalian was also Kalian. Whether speaking without context or saying something out of the blue, it was already expected at this point. Perhaps because of this, Plants quietly answered instead of asking what the hell he was talking about.

 

“Of all things, why death.”

 

He was walking in front so Plants could not see, but Kalian nodded as if to let him know he had thought the same thing and answered.

 

“She asked if I wouldn’t welcome it. I couldn’t give her an answer.”

 

“… I see.”

 

Plants, who had been silent for a moment, replied in a low voice.

 

Not disappearing and being forgotten, but dying.

 

Living and then dying.

 

Kalian had said he was afraid of the absence after his own disappearance, but Plants knows that disappearance did not simply mean death.

 

He knows that he fears such a disappearance where even death got forgotten, where even someone’s absence got forgotten.

 

Was there not the empty space of someone whose name he never even heard? Was Kalian not the one who said he would keep Plants alive because he was afraid another such empty space might be created?

 

It seems like the only person who could perceive the absence of one who completely disappeared, that discord, and fill that empty space even a little, would be the smart and perceptive Plants.

 

“You would, wouldn’t you.”

 

For Kalian, who prepares even for the forgotten, that might suddenly come someday, what could be more desperate than a complete death that was no different to disappearing?

 

So that must have been a wish, a blessing, and comfort that the thoughtful Ancient Dragon gave solely for Kalian. That at the end of this life, he may still meet a death and does not disappear.

 

Having understood that meaning, Kalian could not have denied it. However, even knowing that such a death would be more peaceful than his current life, Kalian still wants to live, so he could not readily affirm it either. Because he was not seeking immediate eternal rest.

 

Of course, Syspanian would have understood all of that, even if only given silent answers. Plants, who understood the same thing, continued walking without any other words.

 

Now, to eat.

 

* * *

 

The raindrops on the petals were still transparent.

 

Even while fully containing the deep red light of the rose, at the moment they fall, they embrace the green of the rose stem. When they reach the ground, they again embrace the brown of the wet soil. Finally, they sparkle briefly with the light of the lanterns illuminating the garden before eventually flowing away and disappearing.

 

[Are raindrops truly transparent, completely reflecting their surroundings, or do they already contain all the many colors of the world and only appear transparent? Is it empty because nothing is contained within, or does it appear empty because too much is contained?] Those deep blue eyes that could not easily discern this, gazed briefly at deep red droplets that closely resembled himself.

 

“I’ve only heard stories about it, but it really is a wonderful place.”

 

Rmain opened his mouth toward Randel like this.

 

It was a path he had taken immediately after finishing his evening meal. He had come straight to Chermil Palace even wearing a long black cloak that was incomparably uncomfortable compared to what a Prince would wear.

 

After that, he had suggested they take a walk and brought Randel out from a wide room where nothing was placed. It would have been nice if he had shown signs of dislike or annoyance, but Randel just silently followed behind.

 

“It’s amazing that you’ve created such a place.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Randel answered briefly to the praise about the perfectly manicured rose garden.

 

It was not words saying excessive praise, nor that it was insufficient as words, nor that he was agreeing with those words. He only conveyed gratitude while completely excluding his own thoughts about Rmain’s praise.

 

“I see.”

 

This was Rmain, who had never once thought wisely about how a father should treat his child, and so had only done wrong his entire life.

 

The only thing he had learned was that it was all his fault, However, even Allan had not taught him what kind of conversation a taciturn father should have with an even more taciturn son.

 

“There are only red roses in this place.”

 

So, he just spoke as things came to him and asked questions as they occurred to him. He asked randomly, just like how he had come to this place randomly. Actually, there were far too many things he wanted to know now, but what actually came out of his mouth were only trivial and petty questions like whether he grew roses that were not red, when roses bloomed and when they withered, and how to trim the branches.

 

“Be careful not to get hurt by the thorns.”

 

Upon hearing those words, Randel hesitated very briefly. It was because the violet eyes of the stranger he had once encountered in this place came to mind.

 

Just as that Crown Prince had said, he had eventually been pricked by thorns. So, he had looked at that rose. Getting hurt felt suddenly unfamiliar so he decided not to throw away the thorn-filled rose and keep it beside him.

 

What that stranger had worried about was: was it the hand that would be hurt, or the rose that would cause hurt?

 

“I’m curious about why you grow roses. Why do you like them?”

 

Rmain, who was like an ox. He had no idea what Randel was thinking about in response to his words. He just came with yet another question like this.

 

Even though there would be nothing left to ask about if he came again next time, he just dragged out everything and asked about it all. Randel, who had postponed thoughts about Kalian that had risen along with the Crown Prince of Secritia he had briefly recalled, quietly answered.

 

“I don’t remember.”

 

It was an answer that was by no means trivial for such a trivial question. Therefore, Rmain lost his words and closed his mouth.

 

The father knew it was his fault that his son had come to live forgetting even the reasons for liking something. He realized again that such a Randel was only eighteen now, and that on days other than today, he would have been even younger.

 

“I see. If you ever remember, I’d like you to tell me.”

 

Randel, who had been quietly gazing at such an Rmain, opened his mouth.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Before he could realize that this was the first time Randel had called Rmain first, the words continued.

 

“It’s already too late to turn back.”

 

Turning back memories.

 

Turning back this relationship.

 

Everything else besides that was also too late to turn back.

 

Although he had come not to turn things back but to build from the beginning, Rmain could not speak of his inner thoughts. Because he knew that while for him, it would be creating a relationship that never existed, for Randel it was a relationship he had already tried to build up countless times alone only to have it eventually crumble.

 

“I see. It would be better not to try to turn back.”

 

It did not mean Rmain would give up. It meant he would not force himself to walk toward Randel. No one had told him this was the best method, but he could tell. He was still a father, after all.

 

He still could not apologize, but last time they had faced each other, and today they walked together a little. He knew that wanting anything more right now would definitely not be for Randel’s sake.

 

So, he quietly stepped back.

 

[Just this far for today. We are walking together just this far and leaving the rest for some other day.] With such thoughts, Rmain stepped back. And looking around, he opened his mouth.

 

“Now that the rain has stopped, the wind is blowing.”

 

It was as Rmain said. A breeze had started blowing at some point. Rmain’s long cloak fluttered.

 

The hem of his cloak, blown by the wind, caught on a rose thorn.

 

Rmain, who was like an ox, did not even notice.

 

“We should go inside now.”

 

After saying this, he turned around and took a step forward. When Randel noticed, it was too late, and Rmain noticed after it was already too late.

 

*Snap!*

 

Because the rain had stopped, the wind blew. Because the wind filled the cloak. Because roses have thorns. Because Rmain was like an ox.

 

So, several roses were arbitrarily broken and scattered on the ground.

 

Randel’s blue eyes went down toward the fallen roses.

 

And.

 

He looked at Rmain, who was like an ox.

 

He looked at Rmain like that for a long while without saying a word. He looked at Rmain without even hiding his eyes that were clearly angry.

 

“… I’m sorry, Your Majesty. May I go in first?”

 

Rmain, who clearly still did not fully grasp what the situation was, just nodded while facing Randel.

 

Randel, who had shown his courtesy, walked back to Chermil Palace with heavy steps.

 

“Ah…”

 

Rmain, who knew something about Randel had changed but did not know what had changed, opened his mouth with an expression that said he knew he had done something wrong again and made some incomprehensible sound.

 

That day, red rose petals scattered in the wind.

 

* * *

 

Kalian, who had gotten up to look out the window for a moment, smiled.

 

He was holding in his arms the cat that had been rolling around all day in Plants’ room.

 

Plants, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes closed on the opposite side of the long table placed nearby, looked at such a Kalian.

 

“No, just. I saw something get caught when an ox stepped backward.”

 

If Plants had understood even this statement, Kalian would have been surprised once again today, but fortunately Plants frowned.

 

Kalian sat down still with a smile on his face.

 

“Because of His Majesty’s careless steps, older brother Randel became angry. Probably when they meet next time, it will be better than now at least. Should I say that a door that His Majesty could never have opened with his own hands opened in the breeze?”

 

Rmain had done something at least. Randel had gotten angry. Next time, the two seemed likely to have a slightly better conversation. Plants understood to this extent and let it pass. He put in his mouth the dish of thinly sliced beef layered and fried, then topped with a light touch of raspberry sauce. While trying to ignore the subtle fragrance of bell pepper felt from within the fried meat.

 

Starting with that, a truly elegant meal between brothers continued.

 

White bread as always, grilled asparagus topped with mild cheese, chicken braised in tomato sauce, salad without onions, and so on. Kalian, who had eaten about four times what Plants had eaten, finished his meal a little later than Plants.

 

It was curious how someone can eat so well when their insides are supposedly unsettled.

 

“In the end, you gained nothing and only increased your questions.”

 

The dishes were cleared, and warm black tea was placed.

 

Waiting for all the servants to leave, toward Kalian who had conveyed all his conversations with Syspanian at Siegfried Territory and Heisia Palace, Plants gave such a brief impression. That in the end, nothing was gained.

 

Kalian, who had taken a sip of black tea with a subtle fruit fragrance lingering, looked at Plants.

 

“Syspanian has restrictions on her words. So, there isn’t much she can talk about.”

 

Kalian said this and added with a slight smile.

 

“But people don’t necessarily have to speak with words. Though she’s not technically a person.”

 

The stone wall Syspanian had been looking at.

 

He recalled the stone wall where the last carving had been engraved.

 

“When I met her, she was looking particularly at one place, so after Syspanian left, I went to look.”

 

The Great Queen of Secritia embracing a dead Knight.

 

The appearance of the Great Queen had changed very briefly before returning. As if she had risen from her seat and was holding something in her hand.

 

“The carving was a little different. As if she was holding something like this in her hand.”

 

Saying this, Kalian demonstrated by spreading his arms slightly as if embracing something round. Something about the size of the ring that had been placed in the center of that stone chamber, Syspanian’s room.

 

“Seeing that, I thought it unlikely she would have turned back time in the final battle. Then why did she fight the final battle while possessing the Arcus Tempus? Such thoughts occurred to me.”

 

Kalian said this and lowered his eyes as if thinking about something more. Then after a moment, he continued.

 

“Syspanian said I should retrieve the Arcus Tempus. So, at first, I thought it might mean I should take it and turn back time once more or destroy it. But perhaps it’s not that.”

 

The black pebble that had the same language written on it.

 

He recalled the black pebble that had made the stopped time of the rose touched by Randel’s power flow again.

 

If that was made by humans, if it was made by containing power that imitated something. If that something was Arcus Tempus…

 

“With it, perhaps we could respond to the abnormal power that ‘they’ use. Such thoughts occurred to me.”

 

Perhaps the Arcus Tempus, which Kalian was supposed to retrieve, contained some other power that Kalian could possess.

 

So, Kalian said with a smile.