Chapter 109, The Other Side of the Abyss (5)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

Marquis Evan Beurisen’s eyes widened.

 

Plants’ words were even more surprising than when Kalian entered with Dmirea.

 

“Holy Knights. You’re saying the First Prince really invited them into the Royal Palace.”

 

Plants disliked repeating the same words as much as Kalian did. No, it would be more accurate to say that rather than repeating words, he found the act of speaking itself bothersome.

 

Therefore, instead of saying that it was true, Plants brought up something else.

 

“Is Beurisen strong?”

 

[Strong?] Evan answered with a face that seemed to wonder why Plants was stating the obvious.

 

“Why are you suddenly asking such a thing when you already know the strength of Beurisen?”

 

“I’m curious to know if it’s strong.”

 

“It is strong. Not only in military power, but Beurisen also has the greatest influence among the Nobles of Cyries.”

 

When Evan looked at Plants with eyes full of pride after saying this, one corner of Plants’s mouth inevitably rose.

 

“Yet you act like a jackal.”

 

Sillike, Lannen and Gray, Allan’s heir, Kalian’s Aura, the alliance between Kalian and Siegfried, and so on. Until now, Evan had been constantly cautious because of many such factors.

 

“You keep watching for signs, pulling back, revising plans, and retreating again. You’ve only been repeating this without ever properly stepping forward. You are acting like a jackal, not even a lion, let alone a Griffin.”

 

Neither Plants nor Evan thought of each other as blood relatives at all. It was a relationship based on necessity, nothing more, nothing less. Therefore, Plants spoke as a Prince, and Evan listened as a Marquis.

 

Consequently, Evan frowned upon receiving an unexpectedly harsh evaluation from the Second Prince. And as he was about to say something with unpleasant emotion, Plants interrupted him with a low voice.

 

“My little brother thinks more than he breathes.”

 

Plants turned his head to look at Evan.

 

And then, with eyes clearly looking down on the person, he continued speaking.

 

“Because that’s how he survives.”

 

“That’s…”

 

“Do you think my older brother Randel is any different from my little brother? Seeing you ask if my words are true, it seems you’ve been looking down on him, thinking he just stares at flowers all day.”

 

Evan quietly closed his mouth.

 

Plants was right.

 

Tending to flowers in the garden each day, burying himself in books. This was the nature of a Tansyllan. That was how Evan saw Randel.

 

Being the eldest son was of no use in Cyries. So whether it was Randel or Tansyll or some Noble factions supporting Randel, he thought they were nothing to worry about.

 

“Yet you only scheme to face those two.”

 

“You Highness. Your words are too……”

 

“I guarantee that if you continue like this, Beurisen won’t be able to defeat even my older brother Randel, let alone my little brother. Instead of creating gambling dens and planning schemes with a useless Count from the border, you should properly think about how to put me in the position of Crown Prince.”

 

A blade appeared in Plants’s languid, drooping eyes. With eyes that looked as if he might draw his sword against Evan at any moment, Plants continued.

 

“So now. I hope you’ll come to your senses.”

 

[…At least until older brother Randel is brought down.]

 

With words carrying a hidden meaning, Plants was trying to fix Evan’s mindset first. As Kalian had said, he could not always remain under Kalian’s shadow, so it was only proper to use Evan and Beurisen as swords against Randel.

 

Evan’s eyes became a bit sharper at Plants’s words.

 

Anyway, by now, he could not approach other Princes besides Plants. Hearing such words from Plants, whom he had dismissed as nothing more than a delinquent, stung his pride, forcing him to recognize that he could no longer afford to be so absent-minded. Given how things had unfolded, he had no choice but to finally wield his power properly.

 

“I understand what you’re saying.”

 

Hearing Evan’s answer, Plants thought it was fortunate that he understood at least that much. Although he did not know how much Evan would use his head, it would be better than before.

 

He exchanged a few more conversations with Evan and parted ways. The ball had already ended by then, so Plants returned to Chermil.

 

And he saw an attendant standing blankly in front of Chermil Palace. It was Ian, that remarkable attendant whom even Kalian would say he did not know why he was standing there.

 

Upon seeing Plants, Ian greeted him with a face that was not particularly happy. As Plants was passing by Ian, he suddenly stopped and opened his mouth.

 

“You.” Since there was no ‘Siegfried’ attached, this time he was calling the attendant Ian. Therefore, Ian answered with a slightly more polite attitude than in the morning.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Call that Lady-in-waiting. You, unnecessary.”

 

Plants generally spoke curtly, and Ian was generally slow on the uptake.

 

Therefore, it was inevitable that an expression like ‘speak in a way that I can understand’ appeared on the attendant’s face as he looked at the Second Prince.

 

Plants, with an expression clearly showing that he regretted bringing up the topic, looked at Ian with irritated eyes and spoke again.

 

“Tell that Lady-in-waiting named Hina to come out. As for you, you are not needed.”

 

“Is our Prince hurt?”

 

[‘Which bastard touched our flower-like Prince!?’]

 

Just before those words could manifest as words and not thought, Plants spoke instead.

 

“Seems like my little brother barks so well that even his attendant also tries to bark.”

 

And then, as if it did not matter whether Ian understood or not, he walked in with heavy steps.

 

* * *

 

They had not talked for a long time.

 

It was already enough that Chase had cut his hair and Kalian had visited, so there was no need to put words into their mouths.

 

In this manner, Kalian had confided many things to Chase.

 

His guilt towards Chase, memories of the last day, many experiences he had gone through over time.

 

And even Bern.

 

He laid everything down in front of Chase.

 

Chase just silently accepted everything.

 

Ironically, the only person who could fully understand why Kalian could not be Bern was none other than Chase.

 

Chase loosened the strength in the arms that were holding Kalian. Bern became Kalian again from the moment he left Chase’s embrace.

 

They would be able to see each other’s faces, but they could not be brothers, and that was something they decided to accept.

 

Kalian opened his mouth with a faint voice.

 

“Later.”

 

When everything was over,

 

That time,

 

When it became okay for Kalian to have a place to return to,

 

When it became okay to believe that there was a place to return to and to set his mind at ease,

 

When that time came.

 

“Later…”

 

But the words that should have come next never found their way out.

 

Because Kalian was not good at lying.

 

Chase, understanding even that, answered with a slight smile.

 

“Please go back now, Prince Kalian.”

 

It was already too late, so it was best he headed back.

 

With that, he sent Kalian back.

 

* * *

 

Hina, who had been waiting outside without knowing what was going on, let the cat in her arms run into Chermil Palace. Since it would clearly go to the fourth floor, there was no need to hold it back.

 

[Where did His Highness go alone to come back this late?]

 

And then, feeling a bit bored, she quietly waited for Kalian, replacing Ian.

 

After a long time had passed, just as she was trying to hold back a yawn that was coming out unconsciously, she saw Kalian walking from a distance with soft footsteps. And she noticed.

 

[Ah…]

 

Whether the power of Syspanian’s Blessing did not treat swollen eyes, or whether they were too swollen for it to work, Kalian’s eyes were puffy.

 

Seeing such an appearance for the first time, Hina quickly ran to Kalian. A joyful light appeared on Kalian’s face.

 

“Hina.”

 

But soon, his expression became awkward.

 

It was because of his face that he did not want to show.

 

“Why did you come out? You’ll catch a cold. Hurry inside.”

 

Kalian was unusually affectionate towards Hina.

 

Hina also knew well that this was not due to him being romantically interested in her, so she found it amusing that Kalian, who was younger than her, acted like an older brother.

 

Anyway, Kalian, with a face that clearly showed something had happened, tried to go inside with his head slightly lowered while first worrying about Hina. Hina briefly blocked Kalian’s path and quickly said.

 

‘If you go in, it will be a big problem. Prince’s eyes, toad.’

 

[Oh yeah, Ian would worry again.] Kalian, who understood all of Hina’s sign language except for ‘toad’, nodded his head and stopped. Then Hina grabbed Kalian’s arm and took him to the lakeside of Chermil Palace, seating him on a rock.

 

Hina, who had been looking at Kalian with those big eyes for a while, asked.

 

‘Did you cry?’

 

Kalian nodded his head and answered “Yes.” Since actions are more honest than words, Hina smiled.

 

‘Let’s stay a bit longer, then go in.’

 

Hina covered Kalian’s two eyes with her small hand. And with her remaining hand, she patted Kalian’s back. She was finally acting like an older sister.

 

Hina was the warmest light in the world.

 

Tears dropped from under Hina’s palm, which contained a peaceful light.

 

Because there was no hand left to say any words, Hina just quietly patted Kalian’s back. She patted without asking anything.

 

From the window of Chermil Palace, a bit far away, meowing sounds were heard briefly before soon fading away.

 

* * *

 

The festival celebrating Rmain’s birthday, where big events always happened but the main character of the celebration did not get involved that much, had ended.

 

Regardless of that involvement, it was definitely Rmain who had his birthday.

 

However, looking at Kalian’s face, it seemed like he had aged in place of Rmain. Because of that, Allan clicked his tongue and said.

 

“Are you showing filial piety?”

 

Watching Kalian, who did not understand his Master’s words even after a while, Sleiman, who was next to him, added an explanation.

 

“He means that the Prince’s hardship is written all over your face!”

 

And then, after laughing as if he was quite proud of himself for interpreting Allan’s words, he grimaced and clutched his chest. It was because there was a sword wound the length of a forearm on Sleiman’s broad chest, which had definitely been fine the day before.

 

Allan clicked his tongue towards such a Sleiman.

 

“Because of you two, I’m going to age again.”

 

Kalian could not hold it anymore and softly chuckled.

 

That morning, when Kalian, who had more or less collected himself well, was sitting with Ian eating breakfast, Arsene came to visit. And he said that he needed to take Hina away for a while.

 

Until then, Kalian, who did not know how serious the situation was, came to Wilhelm Hall with Hina, also intending to see Allan.

 

And he saw it.

 

Sleiman sprawled on the floor of marble that had been shattered into pieces, and Taillan sitting next to him looking perfectly fine.

 

It was truly fortunate that Ian, who had a meeting, could not come along.

 

“This much doesn’t even tickle!”

 

Sleiman, who was laughing while saying such words, soon fainted.

 

In the end, Allan stepped in and moved Sleiman’s large body.

 

It was said that a very long time ago, Sleiman had pointed his sword at Taillan and almost died. That was why Sleiman had been waiting so eagerly for another day to face Taillan again. Even knowing he would lose!

 

Anyway, such a Sleiman felt that there was not enough alcohol at the ball yesterday, and eventually spent the night having another drinking session in Allan’s office. As morning came and he was on his way home, he encountered Taillan and requested a match with him as a good hangover remedy.

 

And that was how he ended up like that.

 

Kalian, watching the half-destroyed training ground, let out a deep sigh. And then he said to Sleiman, who had just woken and was sitting up.

 

“I will collect the restoration costs.”

 

“Why are you stating the obvious? I will calculate everything well and repay you for the treatment as well.”

 

Sleiman answered with a hearty laugh, while Kalian was unclear about what was so amusing. He said he had fought to his heart’s content and lost, so he had no lingering regrets, and that seemed to be why he was laughing.

 

Kalian, who had been quietly observing such a Sleiman, opened his mouth.

 

“Something other than money.”

 

Hearing those words, an awkward look flashed across Sleiman’s face.

 

“I have no intention of demanding Siegfried’s sword instead of its shield, so you don’t have to worry about that. Dmirea’s name alone is enough for that.”

 

“Then what are you asking me to repay with?”

 

Kalian closed his eyes slightly and organized his thoughts for a moment. And then, as if he had made a decision, he nodded his head and delivered his answer to Sleiman.

 

“I will get permission from Your Majesty, so please lend me your mansion.”

 

“Are you referring to the Siegfried mansion in Cyriesus?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“May I first ask what you plan to use the mansion for?”

 

A question appeared on Sleiman’s face, and Kalian smiled and said.

 

“I want to hide my Knights in your mansion. Doesn’t the Siegfried Ducal Family also have a training school where Knights stay and train in?”

 

The Knight Order created by Aizen was, naturally, in Aizen’s territory. For those Knights to secretly enter Cyriesus, what better place could there be than the spacious Siegfried mansion?

 

“By your Knights, do you perhaps mean those who will replace the Royal Knight Orders: Caera and Roan?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“You’re looking for something quite expensive for the price of a marble floor.”

 

“I think it’s an appropriate price.”

 

Sleiman, who had ended up having to hide the Third Prince’s personal soldiers as payment for breaking the training ground floor, grinned.