Chapter 174, My People (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

It was quiet.

 

After a battle ended, the same consistent silence always settled in. It was so quiet that one might wonder if this was truly the same place where lightning had struck and water columns had shot up just moments before.

 

In the midst of such quietness, Allan’s eyes fell upon Euria as he looked around. This was after he had heard an explanation of what had transpired up until now.

 

At that gaze which continued wordlessly, Euria, who had been standing quietly, slightly bowed her head. It seemed she knew what Allan wanted to say.

 

Allan, who had been watching those violet hair ends swaying meaninglessly in the blowing wind for a moment, spoke in a sinking voice.

 

“Lies.”

 

Allan had warned of danger and told her to withdraw.

 

Euria had violated those words.

 

Even if Zeon’s subordinates had actually been following the spies rather than Euria, even if Euria had started this purely for Kalian’s sake, that would only serve as reference material for understanding the current situation.

 

It could not justify Euria’s wrongdoing or put the spilled blood back.

 

“Arrogance, negligence, and conceit.”

 

Allan’s eyes were narrowing as he said this. Like Kalian, Allan was also angry. However, the reason for his anger was slightly different.

 

If Kalian was currently angry about Arsene’s injury, then Allan was reproaching Euria’s poor judgment.

 

“When you make a mistake, it’s not you who dies. You must know that. During the moment you forget that, it’s your subordinates who trust you and stake their necks who die.”

 

Upon hearing these words, Euria’s eyes trembled greatly. It was a gaze asking what had happened to Arsene.

 

Since he had no intention of tormenting her by letting her misunderstand such matters, Allan shook his head and said.

 

“There seems to be no serious harm. Just don’t think it fortunate that we arrived in time to save him. Had we been even a little late, wouldn’t he have died because of you?”

 

Euria did not make excuses and lowered her head. Allan’s words were not wrong.

 

Looking at such an Euria, Allan turned his head to look in the direction where Kalian would be. He sensed Arsene’s presence atop Raven moving away toward the Teleportation Magic Circle. So now there were only two alive bodies at where Kalian was.

 

“I’m not unaware that you did this thinking of His Highness.”

 

The two were not showing signs of fighting. Kalian, facing an enemy, would not be peacefully having a conversation.

 

More than what Kalian might be doing, Allan was more concerned and worried about what state of mind he was in while doing it, so he quietly concluded his words.

 

“Please do not do such a thing in the future.”

 

Not long after that, one life was scuffed.

 

In that vast place, only one person remained alive.

 

* * *

 

It was certainly dreary.

 

It was a day warm enough that one no longer needed to shrink from the night air. But to Plants, it only felt dreary.

 

The light from the lantern left alone in the darkness, the sound of the carriage running forward relying on that single light, and the heart that was deliberately listening to it… everything truly felt dreary.

 

*Clop, clop.*

 

The Valkan Mages were not in the Royal Palace. And Kyrie in his current state was as unreliable as Kalian when he was grinning. Excluding them, only Hina, Ian, and Plants could enter the area where Kalian’s Teleportation Magic Circle was located.

 

But one could not ask Ian to take Hina and go to the Teleportation Magic Circle and back. Nor could Hina be sent alone.

 

As a result, Plants became the second Prince to leave without permission that night.

 

Actually, he should have properly received permission when he met Rmain, but he ended up forgetting due to the innocent lavender and words spoken without malice. It was truly behavior unlike Plants, but his desire to escape from that place was too great to help it.

 

Should it be considered fortunate that those guarding the main gate were people from Caera Knight Order, whom Plants had won over, so they obediently listened to Plants’ words?

 

As he looked at the dreary scenery passing by outside the carriage window and turned his head forward, Hina, who had been sitting across from him, raised her hand.

 

‘Are you worried? Your expression looks bad.’

 

Even though Plants was not frowning, Hina asked this. Looking at Hina, Plants quietly answered.

 

“No. It’s just dreary.”

 

‘What is it/no/never mind/I don’t/…etc.’—Plants, who would have sufficiently answered and moved on like this, gave a somewhat lengthy answer instead. Whether it was repayment for the strawberry, consideration for Hina, or perhaps a meaningless change, Hina, who thought everything was good in the world, smiled. Then, she rustled to take off the white robe she was wearing and handed it to Plants.

 

Plants was about to ask ‘why’ but still extended his arm. Would his hands need to be free to hear the reason? Thanks to that, Plants, who had received the robe as it was given and heard Hina say.

 

‘Warming Magic. It’s warm.’

 

Hina was still staying in her original lodging at Chermil Palace. Kalian, worried she might catch cold going back and forth between that lodging and Wilhelm Hall, had asked Allan for Warming to be casted. It was Allan who had also casted this Spell on the carriage prepared for the coming-of-age ceremony, so he thought a robe would be nothing.

 

Then he became worried that our Hina might suffer from the heat in the approaching summer. Unlike Chermil Palace, Wilhelm Hall did not have temperature control Magic. So he asked Allan for that too.

 

Thanks to such requests that accumulated one by one, unlike other Valkan members’ robes which had no Magic casted on them, Hina’s had temperature control, weight reduction, basic Magic Resistance, Shields that automatically activated up to three times, and so on… Magic cast by Allan that had grown tremendously along with Kalian’s worries. Recently, even ‘Clean’ had been added.

 

‘Please cover yourself with it.’

 

But when Plants said he felt dreary, she was offering that precious robe that money could not buy.

 

Plants, unaware that his lifeline had been extended because Kalian was not in Cyriesus to witness this scene, opened his mouth.

 

“It’s fine.”

 

It was not something he said because he was cold anyway.

 

He just felt like he was in a dreary mood.

 

Therefore, watching Plants refuse and return the robe, Hina moved her hands again.

 

‘When it’s warm, your heart becomes fluffy, and it’s nice.’

 

Plants did not understand the word ‘fluffy’ from Hina’s hands. But he understood. Just looking at the expression she was making now, he could tell what she was trying to say.

 

“… What do you know?”

 

So Plants answered like this.

 

What do you know to say words of comfort when you do not know anything. He made a sound that could be heard as sharp words. Rather than venting anger toward an innocent target, it was simply wariness toward someone offering something unfamiliar.

 

Looking at Plants for a moment, Hina smiled soundlessly. Then, she got up from her seat, took the robe in Plants’ hands, spread it out, and arbitrarily covered Plants’ knees.

 

‘Because I don’t know, there are things I can do too.’

 

[How bold. Has she forgotten that she is facing a Prince right now? Is that why she is acting so arbitrarily?]

 

Plants, who was about to ask this, just quietly closed his mouth and looked out the window. Then he turned his head forward. After that, he habitually closed his eyes, then opened them again.

 

If he was looking elsewhere or had his eyes closed, Hina would not be able to speak.

 

Then his gaze suddenly went downward. A purple emblem embroidered on the robe caught his eye. Since it signified a healer, only Hina’s among Valkan was uniquely purple. So, she could be spotted wherever she was. She could also be found quickly when hurt.

 

This was so she could deliver treatment without delay.

 

Looking at that purple emblem for a moment, Plants’ eyes saw another pattern embroidered together inside the circular emblem. Something very small, shaped like a star.

 

“Another flower.”

 

Plants unknowingly said this. What was embroidered with white thread on the white robe so it was barely visible but was definitely a flower.

 

He was already sick of flowers, and now there was another flower. As he lifted the robe to return it to Hina, Hina’s words arbitrarily entered his sight.

 

‘It’s Larisium. A flower without fragrance. That’s why I like it.’

 

[Larisium?]

 

Hina said she liked a flower with such a name.

 

‘The flower has no fragrance, like how I cannot speak. So instead of a name, I put it in.’

 

She said she liked it because its lack of fragrance was like herself who couldn’t speak. So, she embroidered it as if inscribing her name.

 

Plants took his hand off the robe. Then he said quietly in a passing tone.

 

“What’s wrong with that?”

 

The existence of a flower without fragrance was rather welcoming and fortunate for Plants. It was like permission not to sense all the world’s fragrances as Reunieri. Even if all the world’s fragrances were like Reunieri, this flower alone would definitely not be Reunieri.

 

So, whether it had no fragrance or could not speak. What was wrong with that?

 

At Plants’ words, Hina opened her eyes wide and moved her hands again.

 

‘I know. I just said it was similar to me.’

 

Hearing those words, Plants smiled slightly. And he leaned back in his chair.

 

Because that flower said to have no fragrance, that flower shaped like a small star, seemed to Plants like a solitary star on a moonless night.

 

He had gained one purple flower he disliked.

 

He had learned one white flower he did not dislike.

 

If he added and subtracted that, it seemed he could feel it was nothing at all, and because it seemed someday he could feel that way, he leaned back.

 

Because the robe covering his knees instead of Luci was as warm as Luci, he leaned back.

 

* * *

 

It was desolate.

 

Kalian, standing alone in the meantime, said nothing. He just stood quietly, with his gaze directed toward the ground, just standing there motionless as if nailed down.

 

*Step*

 

A sound of stepping on the ground came from a somewhat distant place.

 

Kalian still stood motionless. He did not look toward where the sound came from, nor was he conscious of it or wary.

 

Because he knew whose sound it was, because he knew he would never need to be wary of that sound until he died, he just stood still.

 

*Step, step…*

 

The unhurried footsteps approached Kalian. And they quietly stopped beside Kalian.

 

It was Allan, who had come to this place together with Kalian without asking anything of the seemingly urgent Kalian, and had gone to help Euria according to Kalian’s will, leaving this place as it was.

 

Allan confirmed there were no remaining enemies around, then sent Euria back into the cave where the Secritia’s spies were said to be. After that, he returned to Kalian and asked.

 

“Are you injured anywhere?”

 

A gentle voice rang in Kalian’s ears.

 

Even though he knew Kalian had grown and that these people here would not be a match for Kalian, he still asked this.

 

Knowing that question was not mere courtesy, Kalian answered as if to say not to worry.

 

“I am not hurt.”

 

There were no corpses around him. Whether he had already dealt with them or had come to another place leaving the corpses behind was unknowable, but that was not important to Allan.

 

“That’s fortunate.”

 

At those warm words, Kalian nodded.

 

Looking around very briefly, he spoke in a monotone voice.

 

“It seems the purposes of those who came here today and the group of about forty who first attacked Lord Seiren were different from each other. They said they knew nothing about those who first attacked. Looking at the difference in force as well, and since that side targeted Lord Seiren while those who came this time followed the spies’ trail, it doesn’t seem to be a lie.”

 

As these words suggested, what had visited the forest today were Warriors of the Great Dunes among Zeon’s members. What had first attacked Euria were indeed Zeon’s members but were composed of ordinary people, not the Warriors.

 

Soon Kalian took something from his pocket and showed it to Allan. Allan, recognizing what it was, asked with a sorrowful face.

 

“Were they carrying the same thing?”

 

Those were two pebbles, and they were not what Kalian was originally carrying. What made them recognizable at a glance was that their colors were clearly different.

 

Two pebbles of dark gray and slightly lighter gray were completely identical in shape to what Kalian was carrying, except for their color.

 

“One got destroyed because the heart was too damaged.”

 

He spoke as if it was regrettable, as if it was nothing much, but the meaning hidden in those words was not so light. It meant the other two were in intact hearts.

 

“Since they said once a life is spent, it cannot be used twice. So, there is no need to touch the other corpses.”

 

Allan let out a short sigh.

 

As if he hadn’t heard that sigh, Kalian continued speaking.

 

“Other than that, they said they knew nothing…”

 

Having heard that much, Allan walked in front of Kalian. And he tightly embraced Kalian, who was still not fully grown and still smaller than Allan, in his arms.

 

“You’ve worked hard.”

 

And then, he patted Kalian’s back and said this.

 

Because it sounded exactly like soothing a real fifteen-year-old child, Kalian, buried deep in Allan’s embrace, smiled softly.

 

“… Yes, Master.”

 

How warm were those hands patting his back, that embrace.

 

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Silavin: So, the pebbles were in their hearts, and exhausted, that’s why their colour faded.