Chapter 179, Not Yet, But (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian bowed his head.

 

His lips parted and the sound of wind leaked out.

 

His shoulders shook little by little, and then, unable to bear it any longer, he made a sound. Unable to control what had started as a small sound, he eventually let it out in a sobbing manner.

 

And so laughter burst forth.

 

The one who had long since gone mad from living only in a world he couldn’t survive without going insane, laughed breathlessly while looking at someone who should not go mad.

 

Laughter burst forth because it was funny that he had been caught being mad all along. Laughter burst forth because trying to live again, this world was so laughably tear-inducing.

 

[I.]

 

[Right now.]

 

[Why am I like this?]

 

He swallowed back those words he could not bear to spit out.

 

Because he had swallowed so many such things, like being stuffed from overeating, the laughter that burst out like retching that would not stop.

 

* * *

 

‘It’s Lannen Beurisen, Your Highness.’

 

The words Kalian had swallowed.

 

Those words that began from Melpir’s story of coming to find Kalian just a moment ago.

 

A year ago, Kalian had informed Evan that Lannen was supporting Randel and requested that Evan handle Lannen accordingly. If he would do so, Kalian said he would buy out the Beurisen Trader’s Guild, which was only accumulating debt with serious deficits.

 

When Lannen’s name was mentioned again, Kalian requested a more detailed explanation. At the same time, a Silent barrier surrounded the two of them.

 

After confirming the translucent barrier that would not be visible to those standing outside, Melpir opened his mouth.

 

“For the past few days, there have been rumors that Marquis Beurisen has suddenly been inquiring about the whereabouts of Lannen Beurisen, and now there are sounds coming out that Lannen might be alive and could return soon.”

 

These were false rumors.

 

The very fact that Evan Beurisen was inquiring about Lannen, whom he had personally imprisoned in the basement of his own mansion, made no sense. So, it meant that Evan was spreading such false rumors for some reason.

 

“Is there an impact on the guild?”

 

Kalian asked this to gauge why Evan would scheme such a thing, and Melpir nodded slightly before answering.

 

“Yes, Your Highness. Because Lannen Beurisen disappeared, the Nobles who had no choice but to trade with the Pollun Trader’s Guild have started to watch for signs little by little.”

 

It meant that guild profits were beginning to decline.

 

That would not be a problem limited to just the guild. It also meant that Nobles who had been watching Beurisen’s mood while trying to slip away might attach themselves to Beurisen’s side again.

 

But there was something a bit strange.

 

“He’s not the type of person who would do such things just to change the hearts of Nobles who were watching Beurisen’s mood.”

 

Evan could not say anything about the truth of what Lannen had disappeared for and where he had gone. Hadn’t he shared a Seal of Oath with Allan, who had led the deal at that time?

 

Of course, having Allan share the Seal of Oath at that time was to prevent Sillike from finding Lannen, so there would not be any major problems as long as both sides just did not reveal the truth.

 

But no matter how safe that contract was.

 

Would it be as safe as continuing to keep Lannen imprisoned in the basement of the mansion?

 

“Even if he brought Lannen back and helped rebuild the guild, there wouldn’t be any immediate benefit for the Marquis.”

 

There would be no benefit. Evan had not looked favorably upon Lannen’s guild in the first place. Wasn’t he the one who always showed dissatisfaction, saying that a guild did not suit a Knight Family? Despite being so keen on money, he had sold off the guild immediately without considering this and that, showing how much Evan had regarded Lannen’s guild as a thorn in his side.

 

“What reason could there be for him to go to such lengths to try to bring out Lannen?”

 

Kalian muttered this and thought silently for a while. Before long, he made a short ‘Ah’ sound and looked at Melpir, saying:

 

“Baron Pollun, just do as you’ve been doing. Don’t worry about the rumors.”

 

He had the look of someone who somewhat understood why Evan was behaving that way, but he did not mention the details in depth. There was no need for Melpir to know about what Kalian had recently plotted.

 

[He knew Gray would come.]

 

Evan had caught on that Gray would come back to the Capital.

 

[Wasn’t Evan the one who trusted his own child the least? If he had planted his person in the Gray Beurisen’s territory, and moreover at a distance quite close to Gray, it wouldn’t be too difficult to come across such facts.]

 

Thanks to Gray hiding it well, Evan did not know that his son was no longer a Sword Master. So, if Evan had heard stories that Valkan’s Deputy Commander and Gray, who was a Sword Master, had joined hands, it would be enough reason to spread such rumors.

 

If he gave the position of heir to the Beurisen Family, which was still undecided, to ‘the precious son Lannen who was barely found after a year,’ then even if Gray came to the Capital, he would not be able to create his own faction.

 

Kalian unconsciously clicked his tongue.

 

It was because Evan’s behavior was unbearably frustrating.

 

[Without thinking that the Family lineage could be cut off…]

 

Wasn’t Evan the one who, worried about when Gray might draw his sword against him, not even considering keeping Gray by his side to completely teach him the Family’s swordsmanship. Instead, the father had made his son a Border Count and sent him far away? This time would definitely be no different.

 

“If my thoughts are correct, even if Marquis Beurisen brings out the Viscount again, he won’t help rebuild the guild. It won’t be a big problem for the Pollun Trader’s Guild, so let’s watch for now. If there are other matters, I’ll convey the details.”

 

Though he could not properly understand without detailed explanation, there was no reason to oppose even the suggestion to watch for now. Therefore, Melpir left that place after expressing his gratitude.

 

After that, Kalian stood in the same spot for a long time.

 

Separate from reassuring Melpir, he had his brow slightly furrowed.

 

[I never thought he would even consider bringing out Lannen Beurisen.]

 

It was due to surprise and irritation that Evan was more thoughtless than expected.

 

[Evan and Gray… All they’ve seen and learned is greed.]

 

When Evan made Lannen the heir, Gray would not stay still. In the end, a situation might unfold where the three, father and sons, would fight over one Marquis position.

 

Of course, Kalian had no reason to dislike these three tearing each other apart to mutual destruction. However, the one who ultimately survived had to be Gray Beurisen.

 

Until Plants turned twenty and stepped outside the Royal Palace, he had to sustain the Beurisen Family without problems as the ‘Sword Master’ who succeeded Evan. Therefore, Gray had to stay alive for now.

 

Because of this, Kalian first asked Arsene to send a letter requesting that Gray not act rashly. However, he could not guarantee whether Gray would or wouldn’t listen to those words.

 

[I might have to move up the schedule.]

 

So to solve things definitively, wouldn’t there be no choice but to quickly eliminate Evan? However, to do so, there was one thing that had to be done first.

 

That was, ‘Zeon.’

 

Those bastards had struck from behind as if they had been waiting for Euria to leave Cyriesus. He could not invest full power to face Evan while leaving such bastards behind him. For nothing to happen to the country that would be momentarily confused after Evan’s sudden death, he had to prepare for ‘Zeon’ as well.

 

To save Plants, he had to eliminate Evan. To eliminate Evan, he needed Gray. To prevent Evan from killing Gray, he had to move up the timing of eliminating Evan. To do that, he had to understand Zeon.

 

That was why urgency was filling his heart.

 

That was why he had tried to find Chase.

 

Not because he did not know what situation Chase was in, but because he thought that the information was needed despite that.

 

With the heart of cutting out his own rotting heart once more, as the result of a choice made after weighing Plants’s heart and Chase’s heart.

 

* * *

 

No more sounds of laughter leaked out.

 

Neither Kalian’s voice nor Plants’s replies could be heard. He could not tell if Kalian, having noticed his arrival, had used Silent, or if both had kept their mouths shut. He only knew that he shouldn’t go find Kalian right now.

 

Kyrie, who had been standing in the corridor and was about to knock on Kalian’s door but had withdrawn his hand, quietly turned around. Then he spoke to Ian, who had shown a surprised expression at Kalian’s sudden laughter.

 

“It would be good if we acted as if we didn’t hear anything.”

 

It was both a request not to ask what conversation had taken place inside, and a suggestion that they should not concern themselves with what was happening inside.

 

Ian, hearing those words, quietly opened his mouth.

 

“Kyrie.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kyrie’s expression as he answered briefly was not very bright. He was worried that Ian might ask what conversation could be heard from inside. He couldn’t tell Ian about the content regarding Chase.

 

Fortunately or unfortunately, Ian was the type who didn’t pry into matters that Kalian hadn’t told him about, and this time was the same.

 

“Do you remember a servant named Rerik? Prince Plants’s senior attendant.”

 

“Yes. I know him.”

 

After hearing the answer, Ian nodded several times and let out a long sigh. Then he pointed to the large door with gorgeous golden patterns engraved on it, speaking while thinking of someone who would be inside with Kalian beyond that door.

 

“What Rerik said today was that Prince Plants had drawn the window curtains. Now he’s eating fairly well, going to the training ground diligently again, and visiting the Knight Order every day. So, he was happy, saying it was such a relief.”

 

Though it was spoken like a soliloquy, Kyrie easily understood. So, Kyrie had a small question.

 

He still could not understand why Ian, who had heard that laughter that had flowed out from inside Kalian’s room and then abruptly stopped, was talking about Plants’s changes.

 

“But I couldn’t give Rerik an answer saying it was good. I couldn’t readily answer.”

 

It was not because he disliked Plants changing for the better, nor because he was displeased that Kalian was burying Plants’s past and extending his hand. Whatever way he treated Plants, if it was Kalian’s decision, Ian was prepared to follow through with it somehow.

 

So it was not because he found Rerik, who was happy about Plants’s changes, annoying that he could not answer. It was for a different reason.

 

“Until last year, our Prince could not even properly look at the other Princes, but suddenly he changed, though I don’t know what resolution he made. Suddenly, shortly before you came to this place. Suddenly he looked in the mirror and cut his bangs. Then he appeared confidently before the other Princes and came all the way to this position. But… It wasn’t like this at first, but now I’m so anxious about how he’s changing.”

 

Kyrie could not answer.

 

If Ian had suspected or found Kalian’s changes strange, he would have made some excuse to defend him, but Ian wasn’t thinking that way.

 

“He looks more and more precarious. More than two years ago, no. He looks much more precarious than at any time until now, so I don’t know what I should do.”

 

As if one wrong step would make him fall into an abyss.

 

No matter who he stood before, Kalian did not show weakness. Especially not in front of Ian. Since that was the case, what Ian was talking about now was just how it appeared to Ian’s eyes alone.

 

Since Ian was someone who saw Kalian’s inner thoughts more accurately than anyone, he probably was not wrong.

 

“As the Prince once said, there are many times when it feels like he’s barely standing on a thin blade, so I can’t just think it’s good. I want to feel at ease and relieved and happy like Rerik too, but I can’t.”

 

He immediately knew that the laughter flowing out from beyond the door was not from being truly joyful and happy. Though he did not know why such an emotional sound was made, for Ian, what mattered was not the reason, so he was not curious. He was just worried.

 

“Today’s events are the same.”

 

Ian, who had been mulling over what happened after Melpir briefly left, spoke again.

 

“As soon as the conversation with Baron Pollun ended, the first words the Prince said keep bothering me.”

 

Kyrie nodded.

 

‘There will be rumors related to Marquis Beurisen. Don’t let that story reach my older brother’s ears. Absolutely not.’

 

It was a request to keep Rerik’s mouth shut.

 

How else would Royalty access rumors circulating on Astrisha Street other than through their servants’ reports? In fact, Kalian was also encountering various rumors through Ian. Not out of interest, but because it was necessary for getting along in the world.

 

Therefore, Rerik would also be conveying various words about them to Plants.

 

The evasive and untrusting Evan would not tell Plants about the matter, but Rerik was different, so he had asked to prevent that.

 

Because of this, Ian had met Rerik and, without knowing the reason, began persuading Rerik with vague words like ‘anyway, it’s for Prince Plants’s sake, so please cooperate.’ And Rerik had accepted because it was Kalian’s request. He said he would trust that Kalian would not do anything harmful to Plants, and also mentioned that he was extremely happy these days because Plants had changed a lot thanks to Kalian.

 

“He’ll be fine.”

 

Words that he would endure well without falling, since this was a path the Prince had chosen himself.

 

The Baby Elephant, noticing that Kyrie’s words contained more hope than belief, quietly nodded.

 

“Since he insists on taking such a path, we have no choice but to trust him.”

 

Because he had properly realized what Kalian had set aside while saying he would protect Plants, Kyrie, who had also set aside his complicated feelings about Plants, said this.