Chapter 264, I’m Rather Good at Setting Traps (1)   

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The deep blue sea visible beyond the transparent walls.

 

The bright blue sky and pure white clouds, cacti with golden thorns and trees with giant green leaves filling the indoor garden. And a beautiful fountain made of black marble.

 

Kalian could guarantee that if Syspanian had said she liked the sea, Harts-ara would have built a Royal Palace that was, if anything, even better than this place, not worse. He would have somehow expanded the territory to the sea and founded the nation, or if that had not been feasible, he would certainly have created a sea instead of a forest at the North Gate.

 

However, regrettably, thanks to the Ancient Dragon who had loved snow, Kalian had no choice but to diligently store this magnificent scenery in his eyes.

 

“I eat it since you gave it to me, but…”

 

He said while eating jerky.

 

“Actually, I prefer grilled meat to dried meat.”

 

At Kalian’s words, still sitting on the bench and chewing and swallowing a piece of jerky, Plants frowned. Then, thinking that this was hardly something that a bastard who had eaten all that abundant jerky in one sitting should be saying, he finally spoke.

 

“This time you won’t get caught.”

 

It was not even something to hide. Still, one would seriously question how this man was a Half-Elf.

 

It had not even been two hours since they had returned from the luncheon hosted by Great Elder Narjan. If only he had not eaten jerky that could roughly be his entire day’s worth of meals as an after-meal dessert, he would not have had such thoughts.

 

[His uniform always seemed appropriately well-fitted as if generous, and his height is always the same, so where on earth does everything he eats goes?]

 

Plants barely suppressed this greatest curiosity of his lifetime and brought out a fairly normal question.

 

“Don’t you intend to meet Queen Freya’s bloodline?”

 

It was a fact everyone knew that Freya had a younger sibling. Moreover, since she was an Elf, if there were no other problems, Freya’s parents should also be alive, should they not?

 

“I should meet them. I was actually going to ask the Great Elder where they are, but I hesitated because I was worried.”

 

“My little brother knows how to hesitate?”

 

[If you had lived without hesitation until now, older brother, you would have disappeared from the world on the first day I changed.] Kalian thought with a face that wanted to say this, but answered meekly with a smile.

 

“Are you pretending not to know?”

 

“Why do you hesitate?”

 

“Because I’m tired of hearing the same things over and over again. Though it might be slightly different.”

 

Red eyes. Impure bloodline. Mixed blood. Mutant.

 

Because it might become a meaningless meeting that only increased the variety of words he had heard to the point of nausea.

 

“…You can’t know.”

 

“Yes. It’s impossible to know what they’ll say until I meet them. Anyway, when I can take my eyes off the matter with Secritia, I’ll find them and meet them around that time.”

 

“Right.”

 

After answering, Plants, who had been watching Kalian, thought for a moment about whether there was any jerky left, then opened his mouth.

 

“Zeon. Why aren’t you asking about them?”

 

“Even though he’s being more friendly than when I first saw him, I still think an Elf is an Elf. It doesn’t seem like the right thing to ask about that right now.”

 

“Then when?”

 

“That will also be after I resolve the matter with Secritia. There’s a possibility that Zeon and the Elves have a close relationship, and if we assume such a situation, if the Great Elder learns that I’m interested in Zeon, he might not properly help us in resolving the matter with Secritia.”

 

Kalian thus concluded the discussion.

 

Plants, who had nodded once, looked at the mermaid statue in the fountain for a moment. Then he walked towards a plant he was seeing for the first time in his life and reached out his hand.

 

Towards Plants, who was touching with his fingertips the broad leaves full of white fluffy fine thorns, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“It’s a banana tree, but older brother, you’re seeing it for the first time, right? If you take that fluff and plant it, it becomes a banana.”

 

“…The jerky wasn’t given to make you bark more.”

 

He was not fooled.

 

Honestly, Plants almost believed it for a moment, but he noticed his younger brother’s voice seemed different from usual and recalled that the banana tree he had seen in books did not look like this.

 

It was fortunate.

 

Thinking that Kalian really cannot lie, while stroking the leaf that sparkled in the full sunlight a few more times, Plants looked at Kalian, who was laughing as if amused.

 

“Is that why you can’t lie?”

 

“No. I originally could not. It’s not because I’m a Half-Elf. After all, Kyrie does it quite well.”

 

Plants suppressed saying that he had wondered ‘why are you so pretty, it must be right, that it’s because you’re a Half-Elf.’ It was obvious he would be told to get lost immediately.

 

“…It’s Renisita.”

 

The Renisita of the plaza.

 

Plants briefly took his hand off the leaf.

 

[Out of all those cacti, why did he have to choose to touch Renisita of all things?] Kalian, who had let out a silent sigh, added a brief remark.

 

“So please don’t look at it too curiously.”

 

Actually, since there was Magic, there was no need to lay down Renisita leaves, but the Royal Family continued to carry out executions that way. As a warning. In other words, it was to maintain symbolism and leave awareness of capital punishment in people’s minds.

 

And recently.

 

Renisita leaves had been laid in the plaza for Lannen Beurisen.

 

Plants, who felt a tingling sensation in his arm as on the day he had struck Lannen, clenched and unclenched both fists for a moment, then touched the Renisita leaf again and spoke.

 

“To see various things directly.”

 

Kalian, who had made a small laughing sound, nodded his head.

 

“Then try planting it. See if a banana grows or not.”

 

“Stop barking. Water.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian, who still understood Plants’ words very well, nodded and created a water droplet, placing it on the Renisita leaf.

 

The fist-sized water droplet, instead of flowing down to the ground, was absorbed and disappeared in an instant, looking just like wave foam that soaked into the sandy beach and vanished. Plants’ gaze, which had been looking at it for a while, turned towards Kalian.

 

“Is there some in Secritia too?”

 

“Yes. Though we don’t use it for the same purpose, Renisita grows there. I saw it when I was travelling around. It probably also grows in the southern part of Siegfried Territory.”

 

Plants, who had nodded, stroked the Renisita leaf once more, which had already completely absorbed the water.

 

“Right.”

 

At that sight, Kalian looked down at his palm, which had already healed and only showed the original scar, then turned his gaze again. It was towards the freshest light green colour that did not fade even when standing in a place full of greenery.

 

How good Plants’ mind was currently remains difficult to gauge even now. His mental age was at the level of quarrelling with Arsene, while his real age was turbulent adolescence.

 

Yet the experience he possesses was at the level of Luci and Anne.

 

Even Bern at that age was not to that degree. Rather, Raven would have seen more, so what more was there to say?

 

Suddenly, he remembered that Plants, who had been wearing Valkan’s uniform continuously since leaving the Royal Palace, had never once taken off his jacket or unbuttoned his shirt.

 

“I understand why older brother felt suffocated.”

 

And so, another random remark flowed out.

 

Plants looked at Kalian for a moment, then turned his head without answering. Then, after looking at the garden for a long while, he pointed at something with his finger. Kalian, who had seen what it was, answered.

 

“It’s a pineapple. When the flower in the middle grows bigger, a pineapple comes out from inside.”

 

“You, again.”

 

“I’m serious. Pineapples grow from the ground.”

 

What he knows as he knows, what he does not know, he does not know.

 

“This one.”

 

“I saw this when I went to the Gaden Region, but I can’t remember the name. Anyway, it bears fruit that’s green on the outside and pink on the inside. The first taste is incredibly sweet, but the aftertaste is flat, so I didn’t like it much.”

 

“Right.”

 

“Actually, the stem is rather peculiar, more than the fruit. If you peel off the skin, the white part that comes out, if you place it on a wound, it stops bleeding quickly and prevents the wound from festering too. Back then, I drank and rolled down a cliff, and when I opened my eyes, my whole body was covered with it. Ah, please don’t learn things like this.”

 

“…I know.”

 

“Good.”

 

For quite a long time, Plants ‘asked’ and Kalian answered.

 

* * *

 

Ten Mages, thirty Knights.

 

And one Sword Master.

 

They placed a bet on who would win.

 

Of course, it was not a fighting bet.

 

Nidlen clearly remembered that when they had sparred with Kalian with similar numbers, the Valkan members had all collapsed in an instant.

 

So, they bet on who would be unable to endure first and go outside the forest to eat meat and return.

 

“…He went out.”

 

“He stared at the prepared lunch table for quite a while, then said he would be back shortly and went outside the city, Deputy Commander.”

 

And Shiona lost.

 

Of course, she was an Elf.

 

Shiona Hill was thirty-eight years old.

 

She was an Elf who would live roughly three times longer than that of a Human. That does not mean her mental age grows three times slower either, and perhaps because her youth growth was the slowest here, her current appearance looks to be in her late twenties. In any case, she was absolutely not at an age to lack maturity. Yet she went out.

 

This was an afternoon incident on just the third day of being here.

 

“Ha.”

 

[It had not even been a week since leaving the Royal Palace, yet why does each day feel so long?] Plants, whose face crumpled as he thought of Anne, who must have grown so much in this time, and Luci, who would still be pretty and whom he truly missed, opened his mouth.

 

“The members.”

 

“They’re all here. Lady Hill went out alone, Deputy Commander.”

 

At these words, Plants opened his mouth, adding another furrow to his brow.

 

“Where is the orange-haired Mage?”

 

“The orange-haired Mage, sir?”

 

“Cain Servit. Where is he? There are only thirty-nine people here right now.”

 

Nidlen’s face, which had been checking the members with eyes that said that could not be, gradually turned white. No matter how many times she counted, one person was missing.

 

“He said he thought he knew how to set a crystal on fire and went out just now, Deputy Commander.”

 

And from another member’s mouth came these words.

 

“…Ah.”

 

Plants, who had been holding his forehead for a moment, let out a low voice towards Nidlen.

 

“Bring him back.”

 

“Yes, I’ll bring him back immediately.”

 

The pink-haired Mage, who ate salted food, quickly answered and dashed outside.

 

* * *

 

Kalian’s laughter burst out again.

 

He laughed for quite a while watching the pink-haired Mage and orange-haired Mage running endlessly on the sandy beach. It was discipline under the pretext of physical training.

 

—Still, it’s fortunate that he didn’t really intend to set fire to the Mother Tree, Prince Kalian.

 

Hearing these words, Kalian laughed again.

 

He had not seen Plants smile brightly for the first time in a very long while. It was so funny that his laughter would not stop.

 

—Yes. It’s fortunate that he only went out to get a crystal cup. Though they say he has more control than outside Mages, it’s not easy to restrain a personality that must immediately verify everything to be satisfied.

 

—Just managing Mages outside the Royal Palace to that degree is already impressive. It seems Prince Plants is doing his part well. The Mages’ tendencies are quite diverse, aren’t they?

 

Kalian, who had been looking at the fresh head running alongside the two Mages, nodded his head.

 

Pink, orange, the colour of cabbage with about five layers peeled off.

 

—Yes… quite diverse.

 

Like the upper part of a rainbow.

 

Or a bit… like macarons.

 

—I was actually going to contact you, but it’s curious that Prince Kalian contacted me first at just the right time.

 

While he was watching the colourful spectacle for a moment, Chase’s voice was heard again.

 

—Is something the matter?

 

—Marquis Lyn was arrested a short while ago.

 

Kalian, who immediately understood that she was Arianneu’s mother, made a sound of deep thought.

 

—Is it because of Marquis Lyn’s private soldiers?

 

—May I ask why you think that?

 

—Because if Arianneu becomes the acting Marquis, Crown Prince Chase can move the Marquis’s private soldiers more easily. In addition, since a Marquis or higher can stay at the Royal Palace, you could also protect Arianneu inside the Royal Palace.

 

—Ah. If Prince Kalian figures out both reasons so quickly, I might become even more anxious.

 

Chase’s voice, like a gentle breeze blowing through the deep forest. Kalian, who had been looking at the rippling sea, smiled softly.

 

—Are you anxious that the King of Secritia will also notice?

 

—Wouldn’t that be the case?

 

—Since it will be bait to lure the King of Secritia anyway, it seems it wouldn’t matter if he notices.

 

Hearing these words, Chase closed his mouth for a moment.

 

To arrest Marquis Lyn and allow Arianneu to temporarily wield all authority, including her mother’s private soldiers. And for Chase to bring Arianneu to the Royal Palace to protect her safely.

 

Under this intention, Chase had planned to allow Debeullan to notice that he had acquiesced to Marquis Lyn’s arrest. And Kalian had immediately noticed that plan.

 

—Externally, isn’t the King of Secritia a person who cares for Crown Prince Chase more than anyone?

 

As much as Allan had evaluated Debeullan as someone a bit strict but better than Rmain, externally Debeullan had been treating Chase quite well. In such a situation, if Chase directly brought down Debeullan, the Nobles would think one thing.

 

That the Chase who was known to have merely a gentle disposition turned out to be someone more cold-blooded than his father.

 

The Nobles, who were already holding their breath due to Debeullan’s tyranny, would not welcome Chase’s accession to the throne. During the period when the previous King dies and a new King ascends, the possibility was very high that they would try to establish a new Royal bloodline.

 

—So you must show them. You must make it clearly visible how the King of Secritia actually regarded Crown Prince Chase, mustn’t you?

 

So that the Nobles also discover that Debeullan viewed Chase not as a son but as a ‘competitor’.

 

So that the Nobles, who had been secretly joining hands beneath Debeullan’s blade, would imagine a bleak future after even Chase, whom they had regarded as their last hope, was sacrificed to Debeullan.

 

And so that they would more boldly reach out their hands towards Chase’s side to directly create and place in his hands the justification and sword that the current Chase does not possess. This was the first plan towards that end.

 

—Yes. That’s correct. That’s what I’m thinking. Haven’t I continuously failed to find a healer and also received a message full of reprimands from the King of Cyries? So I thought my father’s heart would be quite anxious by now, so I acquiesced to the arrest of Marquis Lyn, who had been blocking the inflow of healers from Tansyll.

 

—On this side, I’m thinking of calling the King of Secritia to the Elves’ city. Though I’m thinking he absolutely won’t come since he’s such a suspicious person. I think I should first watch how he responds.

 

Hearing Kalian’s words, Chase lowered his gaze for a moment instead of answering. It was a short letter delivered through a messenger bird sent to the Royal Palace of Cyries.

 

—I know you’re planning to have the Nobles at your back. I know you’ll use your fiancée’s side as a shield. I’d like you to tell me what you’re planning to do after that.

 

Sentences written down without hiding any content. Unlike Kalian’s writing, which was neat and strong without a single wavering stroke, it was a flowing yet graceful thin cursive script. It was a letter from Plants that he had received once before.

 

—I hope you won’t overdo it.

 

—I’m not overdoing it, so don’t worry, Prince Kalian.

 

While Chase, who had answered thus, picked up the letter, his hand revealed the ring that had been enclosed together.

 

As Chase smiled gently while looking at it, Kalian’s words were heard.

 

—The King of Secritia is also a ghost I must take down with my own hands. If you need any help, please tell me without fail. I will do everything I can.

 

—I understand.

 

Kalian, who could not possibly dream of what was on Plants’ wrist, which had not rolled up its sleeves once while coming here, or what the hawk sent by the messenger bird living quite well at the Royal Palace of Cyries had delivered to Secritia’s Crown Prince, raised his head.

 

The truly crimson sun was colouring the blue sea golden. The sky placed between the red and the blue was incomparably beautiful.

 

Kalian, who blinked eyes that had together taken on a golden hue from receiving the light of the sunset, added more words.

 

—Right now, from this place, I can see the sun setting. I truly enjoyed watching the sun rise from that small sea in Secritia, but it’s a bit regrettable that the sun doesn’t rise here.

 

—If we look at each moment, what difference would there be between the rising sun and the setting sun?

 

—Both are truly beautiful moment by moment, but I cannot help that the feeling is slightly different.

 

—Then on the day you come here someday. You can see it on that day. Prince Kalian.

 

Kalian looked at the exhausted orange-haired and pink-haired Mages sprawled out, and his older brother standing beside them urging them on. Then, he looked at the vast sea again.

 

—To your coronation, of course I will come.

 

[To see the rising sun as well. To dip my feet in that sea as well. To properly face the face I had missed as well. Because, regardless of safety, political situations, power struggles, or anything else, I just want to do these few things.]

 

—Older brother.

 

He added one more desire.

 

After that, for quite a long while.

 

For quite a long while, Chase did not convey any words.

 

—…I shall be waiting.

 

And then Chase answered thus.

 

He finally said it after a truly long while.