Chapter 296, Please Endure, Older Brother (7)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

Early morning with sunshine.

 

*Step step…*

 

Small shoe sounds echoed through the corridor full of wide windows. Louise, dressed in a sky-blue dress with purple decorations, silently continued walking.

 

Louise’s feet, which had walked to the end of the corridor without wavering, stopped. The Escort Knight blocking the door in front of her bowed his head.

 

“There was word that no one should be let in today.”

 

“I have come knowing this, so announce me first.”

 

“I apologise.”

 

Louise pointed to the door handle.

 

“Must I open it with my own hands?”

 

“As I have conveyed, today…”

 

At that moment, a sound came from inside the door.

 

“It is fine. Show her in.”

 

It was Debeullan.

 

Debeullan always showed deep sincerity and consideration only to Louise or the deceased Diana. Until recent events, he had not shown great fault towards Chase either. Of course, that meant in appearance. Only Debeullan himself could know what his inner thoughts were like.

 

In any case, since Debeullan’s permission had fallen, the Knight no longer blocked her and opened the door.

 

Debeullan, who had walked over to the sofa and sat down, offered a greeting first before Louise, who had entered, even presented a separate bow.

 

“It has been a long time.”

 

“…Yes. Your Majesty.”

 

Although it was difficult to call it a greeting between husband and wife, it was also true that quite a long time had passed since they had met. Therefore, Louise, who had only conveyed a short answer, sat down opposite Debeullan.

 

Before long, the Grand Chamberlain came in, set down two teacups, and left. Louise’s silent gaze reached those teacups.

 

“Well. You would not have sought me out to exchange small talk. What is the matter?”

 

“I have come to ask you to stop.”

 

Louise raised her head and answered quietly.

 

Debeullan, who had been watching Louise for a while, shook his head with a smiling face and conveyed an answer.

 

“I do not know what you mean by stop.”

 

“Everything Your Majesty is currently doing, please stop it all.”

 

“I still hold you in high regard and cherish my son. I am also doing my best to manage my country. Which of these could I stop?”

 

“I know that Your Majesty intends to give the Crown Prince false charges. I also know what you are trying to obtain by fabricating various falsehoods. Such as Your Majesty’s…”

 

“It does not sound pleasant to hear. I wish you would be a bit more careful in the words you bring out.”

 

“I have watched everyone who died because of such Your Majesty’s greed. Including the Queen and my family, I have seen how everyone died and how they were hidden. How many soldiers died last night. I have also been informed of that.”

 

“Louise.”

 

Debeullan gazed at Louise.

 

However, Louise did not stop and continued speaking.

 

“Even the one who was deposed from the position of Queen of Cyries and executed, even the one who was the King of Liberen but was executed, did not stain themselves with as much blood as Your Majesty. Your Majesty is a clear criminal. So please stop now.”

 

“Enough.”

 

Debeullan raised his hand to stop Louise’s words.

 

Debeullan, who had been looking at Louise with a gentle face where no anger could be found, opened his mouth.

 

“Because I did not suspect that one incense full of poison and harmed my health, if we consider it, that one thing is indeed my fault. However, that is all, so stop being unreasonable and it would be better to return now. I do not yet wish to turn my back on you or the Crown Prince.”

 

“You had already turned your back on me from the very beginning. The method Your Majesty chose was wrong. You have lived taking only methods that should not have been chosen.”

 

“Even if the choices were wrong, what can be done? That too is one way of living.”

 

Debeullan answered with a small laugh.

 

Louise, who had been showing the same attitude, quietly reached out and picked up the teacup. And then, while briefly touching its edge, she spoke.

 

“It would be correct to say it was not just a method to live, but a struggle to live as a King. Your Majesty has lived your entire life cowardly out of fear of having your current position taken away. Rather, properly punish me and Your Majesty should also let go now. This is the first and last request I make.”

 

“Louise. I have said all I have to say.”

 

Having said this, Debeullan showed a smile he had never once shown to anyone other than Louise and Diana.

 

“…I understand.”

 

Louise took a sip of the tea in her hand.

 

*Clink.*

 

And then, after setting it down, instead of getting up and leaving, she brought out other words with a peaceful face.

 

“There are materials that record Your Majesty’s faults in detail. You may have thought you hid them well, but records from the Queen who watched over Your Majesty and from me remain. I have also written together about Your Majesty’s illness, and have left in detail what you are doing now to cure the disease. The Nobles who see this will no longer fear Your Majesty.”

 

“I know. Since there is no perfect secret in the world, I have always thought that if one searches, evidence will also appear. However, even knowing that, the Nobles cannot take the Crown Prince’s hand. Are they not foolish ones who cannot trust whose side the Crown Prince will become and borrow the strength of irrelevant people?”

 

Having stopped speaking, Debeullan thought for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

 

“Or they would have to make someone new who does not have my blood mixed in as King. Could those greedy people possibly decide to put forward someone as King? They cannot move that way.”

 

“It is alright. From now on, they will come to believe in the Crown Prince rather than Your Majesty.”

 

“Do you think so?”

 

“I have also added that even in the slightest chance, I will absolutely never take my own life. In case such a thing happens, I have written together that it would never be by my own will.”

 

Louise looked at Debeullan.

 

Debeullan did not speak and Louise’s words did not stop.

 

“The fact that the Crown Prince worries about and follows me more than anyone else is something all people in the world know. So, if I meet my end at Your Majesty’s hands in this place, the Crown Prince and Your Majesty will be completely separated. At that time, the Nobles will also be able to take the Crown Prince’s hand with peace of mind. Even the Nobles Your Majesty calls so foolish are people who know how to think and act. When those people do not ignore Your Majesty’s crimes, learn of Your Majesty’s illness, and decide to trust the Crown Prince, what will happen. I trust that Your Majesty does not fail to know either.”

 

“…Louise.”

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Louise’s voice cracked slightly.

 

“Traps are not something only Your Majesty can set. I am the same. I also know the method of wagering mine to take Your Majesty’s life. Because I learned it from Your Majesty.”

 

Debeullan’s expression hardened.

 

Louise’s eyes did not waver.

 

“…Just as Your Majesty’s other son did.”

 

*Crash.*

 

Red surged up.

 

The dress containing the eyes of Louise and Chase was dyed red.

 

* * *

 

Zeon was in Secritia.

 

Thanks to Zeon’s intervention, the two Princes of Cyries had crossed the threshold of death. It was a situation where it was unknown who might attack again or when. He could not be certain whether they could return safely to Cyries. So Kalian had come to the villa rather than Secritia’s Royal Palace.

 

—Master. I would like you to come here for a moment.

 

—Sure. I shall do so.

 

And he had called Allan. As always, Allan had accepted Kalian’s words without asking anything.

 

Naturally, but for Allan to come, he must not hold the position of Valkan’s commander. He had to come simply as Allan Manasil, Prince Kalian’s Master, a Marquis of Cyries, and also a Baron of Secritia.

 

Up to that point was fine. In any case, it was not a fact unknown that they were covering their eyes and playing innocent with each other, so he had been thinking of appropriately removing his position, similar to Arsene. Kalian’s thoughts were thus. Up until that point, they were.

 

—Please return to Cyries right now. The Crown Prince has earnestly requested.

 

However, he had received contact from Taillan.

 

Unable to see his face and read his expression, his emotions were conveyed intact instead. Taillan was agitated.

 

—There are materials that Lady Lyn brought. Please hide those at the villa and, for a moment. Please go to Cyries with the Lady. I request your protection.

 

Something had happened.

 

Kalian, who had raised his head, saw that the Silent barrier was still there and then conveyed Taillan’s words.

 

“It is Lord Kastrin. He is saying to return to Cyries. While protecting Arianneu.”

 

“What is the matter?”

 

Kalian shook his head instead of answering and asked Taillan a question.

 

—Where is older brother Chase?

 

—He is here with me, but he is not in a situation where he can speak with Prince Kalian right now, so I am conveying the message instead.

 

—Right now I cannot move freely. Please explain exactly what the matter is.

 

—It seems there are those among the Noble forces who attacked Prince Kalian, so he has been investigating through the birds. He has also been continuously in contact with the Arcane Enclave, but…

 

It was a matter he had sufficiently anticipated.

 

If it were Chase, even if Kalian did not inform him of the exact details, he would have sufficiently understood the circumstances.

 

—The Royal Consort has taken poison during a private audience with His Majesty.

 

The movement of his fingertips stopped. His red eyes closed.

 

Though it was a short statement, he understood what it meant. He understood why Louise had caused such an incident. He wanted to curse his head that had immediately found the reason, but regardless, Kalian’s head moved steadily.

 

Watching whom she must have recalled that method of deliberately drinking poison to corner the other party. Even that.

 

—…What is her condition?

 

—Not good. Since they said at most two to three days, it seems she will not last very long. If the worst happens, His Highness will no longer look around. I am also waiting for His Highness’s command, so it would be better for Your Highness to hurry and leave Secreta. You could be caught up in it if you are not careful.

 

—Wait a moment. Lord Kastrin.

 

He clenched and unclenched his fist.

 

—I will contact you again. Please wait a moment.

 

—I understand.

 

And he clenched his fist once more.

 

Seeing that hand tremble, Plants’s eyes narrowed, and Kalian’s pupils quietly turned towards Plants.

 

“I need… Hina…”

 

Having conveyed the contents along with those words, Kalian stood up from his seat.

 

Plants blocked Kalian.

 

“You cannot be unaware that if you go to Secritia’s Royal Palace in the current situation, whether it be Debeullan or Zeon, they will not leave you alone.”

 

“I can block them. I can do it. Besides, since Master will also come, no greater incident will occur.”

 

“After healing her. What then?”

 

He asked what would be done after calling Hina to treat Louise. Whether he could properly protect Hina after becoming unable to take care of even himself. And that too, with Debeullan close to Hina who might no longer be calm, and Zeon still unknown where they might be.

 

“I have not forgotten Secritia’s situation. I will move taking it into account, so you need not worry so much.”

 

“Will Marquis Manasil also come dressed up like that blue-haired mad Mage?”

 

“That is correct.”

 

“I do not know how much two Princes who are nothing will be able to take into account, dragging along Mages who are nothing. But I am saying to prepare rather than take into account.”

 

It meant a situation where something greater than power was needed, rather than just power.

 

Staying safely under Allan’s protection while investigating the attackers and helping Chase’s accession before returning, and immediately being in a life-threatening situation, mobilising even Allan to have a fight before returning, were completely different matters.

 

“Just as positions come with responsibilities, is not my younger brother the one who taught that the power that positions that can take responsibility hold is also important?”

 

“…Do you not know what happens if Master comes here with the title of Commander?”

 

Even before visiting the city of Elves, Plants had said similar words. Of course, since it was something Kalian had taught him, it was not something Kalian did not know either. However, the problem was that when one’s position rose, the scope of what one could be responsible for increased, but the repercussions from one’s actions also grew larger. That was why he had been raising and lowering Arsene’s position so arbitrarily all this time.

 

“If Marquis Manasil wears the title of Commander instead of me, that would happen. Would it not work if I rise to a position where I can use the Commander title well?”

 

“Older brother.”

 

Kalian, who had brought back his mind that had been about to become dizzy for a moment, looked at Plants. He now understood what Plants was saying.

 

Not a third party who came to help a threatened Prince, but the threatened one himself should hold a high position. If the powerless Prince who came to sightsee becomes Crown Prince, thus reversing the situation with Kalian overnight, no one would dare to make a move.

 

“No matter how bad your relationship with older brother Randel is, are you not forgetting too much?”

 

The two Princes disappear and both Valkan’s Commander and Deputy Commander positions become entirely vacant. Shiona will look after the Royal Palace’s safety for the time being, but that has no other meaning except protecting Rmain’s life at best.

 

So, if the situations of Kalian and Plants, who had gone to Secritia’s Royal Palace, changed even slightly, would Randel, who took advantage of that gap, stay still? To be precise, it meant Marquis Gray Beurisen or Tansyll, who had connections with Randel.

 

“That is His Majesty’s job to handle.”

 

The work of expending effort, paying attention, and using one’s head while doing the fatherly role he had not been able to do until now should be done by Rmain. It was not difficult, was it?

 

“I thought you were planning to look into Tansyll’s schemes anyway.”

 

“Not in this manner. The position of Crown Prince is not a position that can be arbitrarily raised and lowered like changing Valkan uniforms and Prince uniforms.”

 

“It is not impossible to lower it either.”

 

“Please take back such reckless words. If you are not careful, you will die. So why…”

 

“It is not that I will die, but that I will live.”

 

Having cut off Kalian’s words completely, Plants continued.

 

“Did not my younger brother say that living while protecting cats is also a way of living?”

 

“…That cat I referring to is not this cat, however.”

 

He had thought Plants only resembled Syspanian, but perhaps Harts-ara’s blood was mixed in. Seeing that there was no reason, he could tell.

 

A sigh flowed long from Kalian’s mouth, mixing worry about Louise with attempts to handle the growing matter.

 

“Even if you do not do what you wished to avoid, older brother, we can find another method.”

 

“War. You said you would prevent it. This time. Then is that not enough?”

 

Having retorted thus, Plants stretched out his arm. And then he snatched off the bracelet on Kalian’s wrist as if catching it. While frowning at Kalian, who could not properly respond even to that one thing, Plants infused Magic Power into the bracelet connected to Allan and spoke.

 

“I would appreciate it if my younger brother, who cannot lie, would stop barking and stay quiet.”

 

Looking at Kalian, who had become a face that did not know who was barking now, Plants pulled up one corner of his mouth.

 

“I will somehow manage to keep you alive so you can raise dogs in Camilon.”

 

Kalian held his head in his hands.

 

* * *

 

Plants took one step back.

 

He stood at a slight distance from Allan.

 

A small distance created from Kalian and Allan. Through that space, Allan bowed his waist slightly to show respect and then spoke.

 

“His Majesty has made a decision regarding the position of Crown Prince. From today…”

 

“I know.”

 

Plants glanced at Kalian for a moment.

 

Kalian, who had been looking at Plants with a displeased face, bowed his head slightly. He did not say anything else.

 

Soon Allan approached Kalian’s side and ostentatiously fastened his cloak while speaking to him.

 

“Why is someone whose body is not in good condition out on such a cold day?”

 

It was the dispersal of power.

 

Authority and position to Plants, Allan to Kalian.

 

It was an action to make this situation visible, but that worry at least was sincere. Knowing this, Kalian showed a smile and nodded his head.

 

“Standing is indeed a bit difficult.”

 

What moved upon hearing these words was, surprisingly, not Allan but Plants. Plants turned his head towards the Knights.

 

“My younger brother says it is hard to stand. Do you intend to keep him standing?”

 

“Even though you are from a different country, you are dealing with a Crown Prince of a nation and a Prince. What kind of attitude is this? Do not tell me you have been treating them like this all along.”

 

Allan added one more sound.

 

A Mage in a red robe who appeared in front of the Royal Palace.

 

Unlike when he first visited Cyries, it was not dark now. Therefore, that peculiar hair colour was very visible. Was it not clearly Allan Manasil to anyone who looked?

 

The Knight, who had received rebuke from the suddenly appeared Archmage, answered calmly.

 

“That is why I said I would escort you inside…”

 

“Inside where?”

 

Plants cut off the words.

 

“It is the annex, Prince Plants. As I mentioned, right now at the Royal Palace…”

 

“No.”

 

Having cut off the words again, Plants looked around at the Knights and spoke slowly.

 

“Your thinking is too short. Since my frail younger brother would have difficulty moving to the annex, it seems another resting place is needed.”

 

[Oh Syspanian. The power of your blessing should indeed have been a little less thoughtful. I feel like I will die not from pain but from injustice!]

 

“…Please endure, older brother. I am alright.”

 

To Plants’s words, having adapted very well to his new position, Kalian, who had barely added one hand, leaned his body slightly against Allan standing beside him. At the appearance that was half acting and half truly having difficulty standing, Allan clicked his tongue softly.

 

“And I, having visited this Royal Palace again as Crown Prince, should greet His Majesty the King of Secritia. Right now, immediately.”

 

He said he did not want to go to Camilon.

 

He was like a fish that had met water.

 

While the extremely arrogant Plants continued to pick a fight with the Knight, he attempted to contact Chase’s side once more.

 

—…Kalian.

 

And finally an answer was heard.

 

At last Chase’s voice was conveyed.

 

—I am worried about how your body is.

 

—It is not enough to worry about. How is mother?

 

Chase had brought up worry about Kalian first. Instead of saying how glad he was about that, Kalian raised his head and conveyed his words.

 

—She is not getting worse yet. But I do not know.

 

—She will be alright. So please do not think of other things and just wait a moment.

 

Chase did not answer.

 

Kalian’s head moved slightly to the side. Having placed his eyes towards the Cyries Knights who had come together, Kalian spoke as if soothing Chase.

 

—I have come, together with Hina.