Chapter 107, The Other Side of the Abyss (3)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

At the break of dawn on the festival’s final day, Dmirea stood beside Kalian.

 

That day, the birds’ chirping was unusually loud.

 

And on that day, Kalian had an unusually long dream.

 

He had never dreamed of when he was Bern before, but in the dream, Kalian was Bern. Looking at the lavender-colored eyes reflected in the mirror, he tied up his long blue-silver hair. Then, dressed lightly, he went to Chase as if it were routine.

 

In the dream, Chase smiled at Bern.

 

Bern said something, but in the dream, only Chase’s voice could be heard. No other sound could be heard.

 

Perhaps it was because he did not want to hear any other sound.

 

“You look tired. Rest more before coming.”

 

“I am your older brother. I should worry about you, not the other way around.”

 

Hearing that voice again was so wonderful, so wonderful that he could not pay attention to anything else, and only after a long while did he realize.

 

The Chase in the dream had short hair.

 

That was right. Chase had never grown his hair long.

 

Because their hair colors were identical and both bore a striking resemblance to Debeullan’s face, they joked that it would be boring if they both kept their hair long. So Chase always had short hair. He had never grown it long.

 

Why had he not realized it?

 

The appearance of Chase who came to Cyries was, indeed, very similar to Bern.

 

He should have recognized it at a glance, but he only noticed it now.

 

*…Ha.*

 

Recalling forgotten memories might be nostalgic for some, but for others, those memories made them hold their breath and endure.

 

That morning when the birds with folded wings gently cried.

 

Kalian sat up and covered his face with both hands.

 

“I need to get it together…” His voice, like a whisper, wavered like a candle flame.

 

* * *

 

The face of the puppy-like attendant who came looking for a cat was definitely not the expression of someone who came to find a cat. Whether he wanted an apology for the knife throwing incident or had some other business, it was unclear.

 

In short, he stood there with a face like that of an experienced general marching toward his hundredth battle.

 

“Prince Plants.”

 

“What?”

 

After sending away Rerik, the attendant who announced Ian’s visit, Plants answered with a voice equally annoyed and irritated.

 

At that, Ian’s face became as if the sky was about to collapse and he opened his mouth.

 

“His Highness’s eyes are red.”

 

“They’re naturally red.”

 

[You’ve been barking since morning, just like your Master…]

 

As Plants gave Ian a look that reflected his thoughts, Ian spoke again.

 

“No. His Highness has been lacking energy lately.”

 

[Lacking energy, really?]

 

When the conversation ended yesterday, Kyrie came out of the training grounds. Seeing that, his crazy little brother suggested a sparring match, which he had accepted. He had almost died!

 

The wound on his neck that had healed well overnight still seemed to throb.

 

Ian, who could not possibly know what words Plants was swallowing down as he slightly closed his eyes, opened his mouth again with a face that seemed to say ‘I wouldn’t be here if he was anymore energetic’.’

 

“Because of that now…”

 

“Siegfried.”

 

Plants cut off Ian’s words.

 

Ian’s face stiffened somewhat. Then, with his head slightly tilted, he briefly opened his mouth.

 

“What?” Having been called Siegfried, Ian was answering as the Duke’s son.

 

Seeing Ian change noticeably with just one title, Plants smirked. Then, sitting back on the sofa, he pointed to the opposite seat. It meant he had something to say to the Duke’s son Siroian, not the attendant Ian, so Ian did not hesitate and sat down.

 

At the same time, Plants opened his mouth.

 

“Call the Lesser Duchess.”

 

Ian stared blankly at Plants’ face.

 

“Do you know what it means for Dmirea to come here?”

 

“I know.”

 

“Is there a situation that requires our intervention?”

 

Hearing Ian’s words, one corner of Plants’ mouth curled up. There was no way Plants did not know what their position was, or what choice Sleiman had made when Rmain ascended to the throne.

 

“But, you already speak as if you would intervene if asked.”

 

Siegfried was not one to stand behind the Crown.

 

Kalian knew this too. That was why when he needed the strength of the Knights, he sought out Count Aizen Aprin, not Sleiman.

 

“Tell her to come with shields only, not swords.”

 

If intervention was what he wanted, he would have asked for Sleiman, not Dmirea. And of course, Sleiman would refuse.

 

Plants spoke in his characteristically languid voice, as if reciting.

 

“My little brother is not one to ask even for such a minor matter.”

 

The cards Randel held were unsettling.

 

It was not a visible power like the Knight Order or Mage Order. His cards were all unknown. The fact that he had threatened Kalian with such power meant that he was also considering an all-out fight.

 

Therefore, the ‘name’ of Siegfried was needed now more than ever.

 

Allan Manasil and Valkan alone could not deter both Tansyll and Beurisen, so another prominent force was needed.

 

A massive group whose name alone would be a sufficient threat to both sides, to prevent them from thinking of attacking immediately, to prevent a situation where both would have to be faced at once.

 

Looking out the window and thinking for a moment, Ian answered.

 

“Since the Lesser Duchess is also in Cyriesus this year, it’s not difficult to discuss this with her. But……”

 

Pausing briefly, Ian looked into Plants’ eyes and asked.

 

“I’m curious why you’re helping like this. I just want to know the reason.”

 

Hearing those words, Plants let out a self-mocking laugh. [Since I, the older brother, is to blame for everything being ruined, I ask that you at least understand this much.]

 

The cause of this situation lay with Plants.

 

Had Randel been unaware of Kalian’s strength, his first targets would have been Beurisen and Plants. Kalian should have remained outside Randel’s notice at the outset. Confident that Kalian, whether clashing with Lannen or forging Valkan, would never slip from his grasp, Randel would have left him be.

 

Yet to such a Randel, Kalian’s concealed power was unveiled.

 

Moreover, he proceeded to join hands with Plants, and this time even openly interfered with Randel. It was like pointing a sword at Randel when the Knight Order and Valkan were still in their infancy.

 

So now, Randel’s next target would be Kalian.

 

If he could not use him, he would have to eliminate him to prevent further interference.

 

In the end, things had come to this state because Kalian had saved Plants. There was no way this situation had been in Kalian’s plans.

 

However, Plants was not kind enough to explain all this in detail, so he simply answered.

 

“Because I owe a debt.”

 

“If you owe a debt, Prince Plants, why are you asking me to call Dmirea?”

 

It was evident that he was pushing himself to focus on Randel and Beurisen while purposefully steering his gaze away from Chase. There was no time for rest. In his own way, Plants was attempting to settle the debt Kalian had placed upon him. He was driven by the thought that one cannot be indebted when one has had nothing from the very beginning.

 

“I think he needs at least an Elephant’s shadow to breathe a little.”

 

That was Plants’ true thoughts.

 

* * *

 

Kalian was taken aback.

 

The Baby Elephant who said he would find the cat did not return for quite some time, and then brought another Elephant when he did.

 

“Where did the cat go?”

 

“Sleeping. On the bed in the upper room. Snoring,.even lying on its back. I guess the upper room is more comfortable than Your Highness’s room.”

 

Kalian chuckled.

 

“Maybe I should really change the cat’s name tag.”

 

Anyway, after inquiring about the cat, Kalian greeted the other Elephant standing blankly beside him.

 

“It’s been a while, Dmirea.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Only her face is similar to Ian. Her personality was completely different. According to Ian, she resembled her mother, but Kalian did not even know who Ian’s mother was.

 

Anyway, after exchanging brief greetings, Kalian started to consider what this situation was about while tapping his knee lightly. Then, not long after, he pointed to the upper floor with his finger and asked.

 

“Was it his idea?”

 

“Yes. I don’t know why he wants to pay his debt with Siegfried, though.”

 

“Well…”

 

Receiving help from Plants gave him a strange feeling.

 

Kalian also knew that it meant Plants would divert the eyes of Beurisen and Randel, allowing him to relax for a moment.

 

Kalian had been pretending not to know Chase, postponing their meeting, fearing he might waver in a situation where he could not afford to falter for even a moment. To such a Kalian, Plants had given him the leisure to properly meet Chase once.

 

“He said he wanted to live, but now he’s trying to help me live.”

 

Kalian laughed, having gained breathing space thanks to the hateful enemy-like person he had come to love and hate. Then, he said to Dmirea.

 

“I won’t bother you for long.”

 

“It doesn’t matter. I’m different from my father.”

 

Those words were very significant.

 

Perhaps the day would come when Siegfried would support a King for the first time. Such a thought made Kalian smile with satisfaction.

 

* * *

 

It was splendid.

 

As if prepared in advance, Kalian’s jacket was also a deep ash hue, its silver buttons sparkled, reflecting the light of the chandelier. The edge of the deep blue cape was lined with silver thread, and a diamond pendant swayed from the clasp.

 

The steadfast diamond.

 

For the first time, this emblem had been altered, a symbol of Siegfried’s unwavering principles. What could it signify, if not an undeniable declaration of allegiance?

 

The Nobles murmured, and Kyrie, hearing it, smiled.

 

‘If you always wear the same thing, you’ll look cheap.’

 

Merlin, having taken full command over Kalian’s attire, had said this.

 

Kalian, with good financial circumstances, took her advice to heart and simply purchased something that would not look cheap. In fact, since the alliance had been established just a few hours ago, there was not even time to consider such things when preparing clothes and accessories.

 

Having dressed Kalian well, Merlin had tried to add some accessories to Dmirea, who had returned dressed in a gown. Of course, Dmirea declined.

 

Dmirea made Kalian laugh by saying very elaborately that a person’s dignity does not come from ‘such things.’ Kalian had reacted with the same distaste when he first saw the formal attire of this place.

 

Anyway, after going through such a process, the two entered together and sat together throughout the ball.

 

Since they had sparred several times and talked a lot during their stay at Sleiman’s mansion, Kalian had quite a comfortable expression as he talked and laughed.

 

“The two of them look good together, don’t you think so?”

 

“I didn’t expect the Lesser Duchess of Siegfried to come all the way here.”

 

To Allan’s smiling question from afar, Rmain nodded and answered.

 

Allan smiled again.

 

He looked at Marquis Evan Beurisen, seated ahead.

 

Probably the most surprised person at this place right now would be Evan. Such an Evan, with an unsatisfied face, asked Sleiman.

 

“Have you changed your taste?”

 

It meant, ‘Why is an Elephant getting involved in the fight for the Crown?’

 

Despite the quite aggressive voice, Sleiman answered calmly.

 

“Is it strange that someone who wields a sword is attracted to a Prince who handles a sword well?”

 

Then, he showed his neck to Rmain.

 

There remained a very faint but quite long scar. It was the trace of a wound inflicted by Kalian’s sword.

 

“Look at this. His Majesty’s son is so rough with his hands. I almost met with a great misfortune!”

 

While everyone was laughing, only Evan could not laugh.

 

In the end, Evan decided to take his eyes off Kalian for now. He changed his plan, deciding that he should first pull down Randel and then separate Kalian and Siegfried.

 

He was completely unaware that this situation was arranged by Plants to let his little brother rest, and what consequences this would bring.