Chapter 100, This Time (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

[I know it might be inhumane, non-verbal, and unethical, and that there are difficulties for some in realizing this. Nevertheless, humans are known to be imperfect beings, often swayed completely by the heart instead of the head.] While barely grasping at the edge of reason, Allan was think of all this.

 

[Should I hit him?] Despite all excuses, it boiled down to this simple thought.

 

Allan’s heart was filled with blind violence directed at only one person, and one person alone.

 

[Not two hits, but just one. Can’t I hit him just once!?]

 

“Why did you invite the Crown Prince of another country to a gathering of the Central Noble of Cyries?”

 

“After conversing with him, I found the depth of his thoughts to be remarkable. Even I couldn’t help but admire him. So why would the other Nobles be any different?”

 

He clearly did not notice the thick chill condensing in each of Allan’s breaths. Rmain, who was getting up from his seat to go to the banquet hall, answered as if this arrangement was to be expected.

 

“So, you invited him openly to a gathering of the Central Nobles?”

 

“Yes. He adamantly declined the invitation, but since the Princes would also be attending, I brought him along to broaden their perspective.”

 

“You even seated him there despite his adamant refusal?”

 

Of course, Rmain knew well what Kalian was hiding with Magic. Nevertheless, he did this. He was so focused on inviting Chase, he did not think about who might be following behind.

 

Only then did Allan realize again that Rmain was a rival who could compete with Ian in being dense and oblivious. How could he have forgotten this was the man who did not even know his own son was dying. In fact, this much was to be expected!

 

Allan, having seemingly thought something through and reached a conclusion on his own, nodded and then said to Rmain:

 

“Congratulations, Your Majesty. At least today, you’ll have one more concern to deal with.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Allan had been very patient lately.

 

If Rmain had not invited Chase, he would have enjoyed the festival with the most peaceful mind possible. Having been disrupted, his mouth, which had been restrained for so long, finally opened.

 

“Today, circumstances will arise that will send one of the three Princes far away, so you only need to decide which of the other two to keep.”

 

Allan, truly angry rather than joking, rose from his seat. Then, pointing at Ren, the Captain of the Caera Knights, he said.

 

“An old Mage like me dares not go to a place where four renowned swordsmen are gathered, so Your Majesty should take that fellow standing behind you.”

 

And then, he walked out of the office with heavy steps.

 

Of course, Allan thought that in such a situation, Kyrie would have informed Kalian of the truth. So, things could probably go over well enough.

 

He just said that because it seemed like the time had come for Rmain, who always knew one thing but remained ignorant of two, to wake up once more. He thought that if Rmain continued to act so thoughtlessly, he would be asking to get stabbed in the back soon.

 

‘Renowned swordsmen, he says.’

 

First, Kalian came to mind, followed by Sleiman and Evan. Having thought that far, Rmain let out a long sigh. He finally realized why Allan was so angry.

 

“Call the Third Prince here quickly.”

 

Thus, Rmain decided to first extract Kalian, who was caught between Taillan and Evan.

 

* * *

 

“You know…”

 

It was a voice soft enough that only Kalian could hear. But to Kalian, it was like thunder ripping through the sky.

 

Nevertheless, not a single change showed in his facial expression or eyes.

 

Only his hands, clasped together and placed on the table, turned white.

 

Kalian, who momentarily closed his eyes then opened them, answered briefly.

 

“I know.”

 

That was all Kalian could say. Right now, Kalian was not in a position to freely experience his emotions.

 

[Get a grip of yourself.] Kalian, urging himself on, looked ahead again with a short sigh.

 

Randel had not yet arrived, and Plants had just arrived and taken his seat. Chase, having exchanged greetings with some Nobles who seemed familiar to him at the entrance of the banquet hall, walked with audible footsteps toward where Kalian was.

 

And first, he exchanged a brief greeting with Plants.

 

To put it kindly, it was brief, but it would be more accurate to say they just nodded at each other.

 

Afterward, with a completely different kind face than when looking at Plants, he opened his mouth toward Kalian.

 

“Good to see you again, Prince Kalian.”

 

Chase still did not know that Kalian had just found out.

 

Kalian closed his mouth for a moment and looked at that face. Thinking about it, he realized he had not properly seen his face before. After looking at Chase for quite a long time, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“It’s good to see you again…”

 

For a while, words did not continue.

 

The gazes of Nobles gathered, looking at Kalian as if wondering what kind of flowery words he was trying to attach. Soon, Kalian added a short phrase.

 

“I’m truly glad.”

 

The Nobles who could not understand how the words that came out merely expressed so little.

 

Wasn’t this the Third Prince who, despite not lacking eloquence, only ever expressed delight at meeting anyone each time he gave a greeting? They turned their heads, thinking that he had at least spoken a bit longer because the other party was the Crown Prince of another country.

 

Chase smiled.

 

It was unclear whether he understood the meaning of Kalian’s words, but he smiled and nodded.

 

“Yes. ‘I feel the same.’”

 

And with that, he replied with the same words that Kalian had used the day before.

 

As Chase and the two Princes were about to sit down after exchanging greetings, someone entered the banquet hall. It was Raul, Rmain’s Grand Chamberlain.

 

The attention of the Nobles, who were already waiting for Rmain’s entrance, shifted again. And Raul immediately approached where Kalian was and said.

 

“Prince Kalian. His Majesty is urgently looking for you.”

 

Then, looking at the Nobles seated in the banquet hall, he conveyed Rmain’s message in a slightly louder voice.

 

“His Majesty will be a bit late, so he said to start talking among yourselves first.”

 

These were all Central Noble.

 

If they had heard such a statement last year, there would have been quite a bit of murmuring from many corners. They would certainly have expressed dissatisfaction about him gathering all the Nobles and then being late himself.

 

But this time, it was different.

 

They all nodded with faces that seemed to accept it and resumed their conversations in their circular groups of threes or fives.

 

Though it might seem insignificant, it was truly a major change.

 

Having briefly confirmed this atmosphere, Raul gestured respectfully toward the outside and said to Kalian:

 

“I will guide you.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Since Rmain had called for him, there was no way to refuse. Thus, Kalian nodded and followed Raul.

 

Plants, who had been watching Kalian walk out for a moment, turned his head to look at Chase sitting across from him. With Kalian gone and Rmain and Randel having not yet arrived, just the two of them were sitting at the round table.

 

Feeling that gaze, Chase also raised his head toward Plants. After staring at each other silently for a long time, they both opened their mouths simultaneously.

 

“At this place.”

 

“Prince Plants.”

 

And then, they both closed their mouths.

 

Soon, Chase made a light gesture, indicating for Plants to speak first. Plants did not hesitate and opened his mouth.

 

“Why have you come to this place again?”

 

It was another challenge.

 

From the words of someone who said that the personalities of the three Princes of Cyries were completely different, and the second one was the fiercest, were completely right.

 

What Chase was about to say could also be an answer to Plants’s question. So, Chase simply brought up the conversation he was originally going to have.

 

“It seems Prince Plants really doesn’t like me.”

 

Chase wore a gentle expression, and one corner of Plants’s mouth lifted. Since it was noisy around them and only they could hear each other’s words, there was no need to hide anything.

 

“Rather, I have questions, that’s all.”

 

“What questions do you have that make you so uncomfortable every time you face me?”

 

“What business could possibly bring the Crown Prince all the way here in person? Is it really true that you came to see Count Manasil?”

 

Chase had said he came to meet Allan Manasil, but in reality, he had only met Allan very briefly this morning. Despite saying he would stay for half a month, suggesting he had much to confirm, the meeting had been far too short.

 

“You’re right. It wouldn’t merely be for the nominal reason.”

 

Chase, laughing softly, unexpectedly acknowledged Plants’s words before continuing.

 

“There was someone else I wanted to meet, and I met them already.”

 

Somehow, Plants could not help but think that this was about Kalian.

 

He also wondered if, perhaps, Chase, like Kalian, had some extraordinary memories.

 

So, as Plants looked at Chase with slightly furrowed eyes, Chase, who had been briefly looking around, opened his mouth toward Plants.

 

“By the way, I heard that Prince Plants has been showing quite the enthusiasm for raising Valkan recently.”

 

[So, he knows everything about Cyries.] Plants replied with a hint of displeasure:

 

“I didn’t expect so much information about Cyries to flow to Secritia.”

 

“It can’t be helped. His Majesty is very fond of raising birds.”

 

Chase, who responded lightly as if it were nothing, mentioned the conversation he had brought up earlier with a rather meaningful expression.

 

“Is the Valkan you’re so enthusiastic about your own strength?”

 

Upon hearing those words, Plants’s expression momentarily froze.

 

It was not a subject Plants could comfortably discuss with the Crown Prince of another country.

 

“Why would you…”

 

Plants, who had begun to speak, narrowed his eyes.

 

And for a while, he silently glared at Chase.

 

From Plants’s mouth came new words, different from what he had originally intended to say:

 

“So, I did something. And you know about it too.”

 

Both his tone and form of address had completely changed.

 

[Did Kalian tell someone about the past?] Chase had been wondering this, so looking at Plants’s reaction, he said with a slightly surprised face.

 

“I thought you didn’t know anything, but that seems to not be the case.”

 

If Chase knew how many places and how many things Kalian had been caught revealing, he might not have been so relaxed. Anyway, he had not lost his composure yet.

 

Regardless, Plants did not ask Chase details about what he had done. If he had been curious, he would have asked Kalian. At a time when he would refuse even if Serenty came and offered to tell him about the future, why would he want to know about the events of that time he did not live in?

 

Just like the day before, Plants, staring into Chase’s eyes, emphasizing each word:

 

“Valkan belongs to my little brother. You need not worry.”

 

“It should be so, Prince Plants.”

 

Chase responded with a gentle expression.

 

* * *

 

‘His Majesty said to return to Chermil Palace and rest.’

 

Raul had said this so Kalian felt very deflated.

 

Having just mustered the courage to face Chase, he was called out only to be told to go to his room and rest. He was not unaware of the concerns behind it, but it was inevitable to feel disappointed.

 

Had he known what kind of power struggle his two brothers were engaging in inside the banquet hall, he would have fled with great gratitude to Rmain, but he did not know.

 

Anyway, Kalian decided to just walk to Chermil.

 

“I apologize for not informing you in advance about what the Crown Prince of Secritia knows.”

 

“It’s not your fault. Don’t worry.”

 

Saying this while briefly looking around, Kalian took a deep breath and opened his mouth again.

 

“Anyway, since His Majesty has given us a good pretext…”

 

Kalian was about to suggest that since they had time to rest all afternoon, they should go to the training ground together.

 

Suddenly, something occurred to Kalian, causing him to stop in his tracks.

 

[Pretext?]

 

“Pretext! That’s right! I thought it was strange that there was no pretext!”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Ah. Today, older brother Randel suddenly asked me to take a walk and said some cryptic things. I think I now understand what he meant.”

 

Kyrie had also heard the conversation between Kalian and Randel. However, he kept quiet, unable to find the connection between what Kalian was saying now and the conversation they had.

 

“The thirty Priests you saw. They said they were sent from Tansyll with the pretext of apology and gratitude, but that’s too many for such a reason. I was curious about that. Then suddenly, older brother Randel started calling for Count Beurisen, also asking about the whereabouts of Lannen Beurisen.”

 

Kyrie nodded.

 

What Kalian mentioned so far was content that Kyrie also knew.

 

“It seems he knew that if he placed Lannen Beurisen in front of me after Gray Beurisen, I would naturally think of Queen Aisha and shift my attention in that direction.”

 

“Are you saying he mentioned the part you’re sensitive about to divert your attention from the Priests?”

 

“Yes. He already knew that Queen Aisha was killed by Beurisen.”

 

If Randel knew that Aisha’s death was the work of Beurisen, he might have tried to keep Kalian’s attention fixed on Lannen by using words that would remind him of Aisha’s death.

 

“It seems that older brother Randel has now used the method I used to divert Sillike’s attention. Without a pretext, he wouldn’t have suddenly called me out in the midst of this busy period to ask about the whereabouts of Lannen Beurisen.”

 

In short, Lannen was just bait.

 

“He said, let’s just take a walk.”

 

Kalian, who was staring at the rose garden visible in the distance, laughed for a long time.

 

It was the same laugh as when he once looked into Randel’s heart.

 

“He really likes walking.”