Chapter 112, Don’t Touch (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

‘Tansyll and the Warriors of the Great Dunes have met.’

 

With just that one sentence, Plants’ gaze changed, and the smile on Chase’s face deepened even more. Without wiping away that smile, he opened his mouth.

 

“My little brother has become quite dull,”

 

“Ha.”

 

Just as Chase finished saying that much, a short laugh escaped from Plants’ lips. It was a sound somewhere between a hollow laugh and a sneer.

 

[He’s become quite dull, you say? Anyone listening would mistake Kalian for being a pretty little prince. Meanwhile, everyone who spars with Kalian gets their throat cut!]

 

He was the one who broke Gray’s waist to prevent him from entering Cyriesus. When he said he would cause some trouble to reduce Marquis Evan Beurisen’s suspicions, nearly fifty people died. When he questioned Kyrie about what happened back then, with Gray’s men, he showed no surprise and just destroyed their carriage.

 

There was a reason why Raven follows only Kalian.

 

Even the fact that the mad dog-like Arsene only bows his tail to Kalian has its own reasonable cause.

 

“Dull, you say?”

 

“He’s truly become quite dull.”

 

This was not something someone could say without knowing what the current Kalian was like. Yet, Chase should know far more about Kalian’s activities than Plants.

 

That was why he laughed.

 

It was laughter meaning ‘so, just what was he like in the past?’

 

“I had thought that might be the reason. It seems I was wrong.”

 

Chase, who would have no interest in Plants’ complex feelings, made such a meaningful remark. Like Plants usually did, it was a statement where it left one searching for the head and the tail.

 

“I found it curious that three Princes still live in the Chermil Palace.”

 

“You must have thought your brother would kill off his siblings.”

 

And Plants understood the meaning of those words and even the thorns within them very well.

 

“I suppose you find it surprising that my little brother spared me.”

 

“Yes. That’s exactly what I thought.”

 

“You thought his heart had grown weak and that’s why he spared me, but you’re saying there is another reason.”

 

“That’s correct. You’re quite perceptive, Prince Plants. I suppose it’s thanks to that.”

 

Understanding that it meant he was smart enough for Kalian to suppress his anger and spare him, Plants leaned back against the sofa and spoke in a languid voice.

 

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

 

“It is a compliment.”

 

Plants could filter out which parts were compliments himself.

 

“Anyway, I think I just need to convey that content. That Tansyll and the Great Dunes have joined hands.”

 

“I’m getting curious.” As Chase, who had nothing more to say, quietly rose from his seat, Plants, seeing this, opened his mouth.

 

“Why does my little brother’s former older brother remain still? My little brother is making moves.”

 

“Should I not remain still?”

 

Kalian had created Valkan with his own life as the price.

 

After that, he gathered Mages and Knights while personally training in Swordsmanship and Magic. He was very diligently preparing for something.

 

“What my little brother is preparing for doesn’t seem to be just for ascending to the Crown Prince position. Unlike my little brother, I don’t understand why you’re not doing anything.”

 

From how Plants saw things, Kalian was clearly preparing for something.

 

It was obvious he was trying to build his strength while avoiding ruining Cyries as much as possible.

 

If he only wanted the position, there would be no need to quietly sit down and play mind games. It would have been far, far easier for Kalian to break Plants’ and Randel’s necks.

 

So, Plants was curious. If Chase knew the same thing as Kalian, he should have at least created a group similar to Valkan. But Secritia’s moves were far too ordinary. Plants had only realized how many spies there were, but nothing else was special.

 

“Well. How should I explain it?”

 

Chase opened his mouth. Deep violet eyes. But unlike Randel’s that strangled people’s breath, they held deep profound insight.

 

“This is not the part I should interfere with.”

 

Chase would change nothing.

 

“I plan to make the same decisions and create the same country as in the past. That way, my brother won’t be the only one to hold that power in his hands, will he?”

 

Plants just nodded without answering.

 

Chase, thinking the conversation was over, was about to step outside. Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he opened his mouth toward Plants.

 

“Lord Manasil also seems to know about my brother’s secret. Are there others who know?”

 

“…I believe it might be faster to ask who doesn’t know.”

 

Chase showed a flustered face for the first time.

 

Seeing this, one corner of Plants’ mouth curled up.

 

* * *

 

Allan peeled a tangerine placed in front of him and put it in his mouth.

 

Rmain, who had briefly turned his eyes from the documents he was reading to see this, adjusted his glasses with his finger and opened his mouth.

 

“It’s sour.”

 

Allan’s expression immediately crumpled.

 

Rmain had deliberately waited until Allan put it in his mouth and started chewing to say it was sour.

 

[He definitely did that on purpose.] Allan, who could neither spit it out nor swallow the tangerine that was too sour, barely chewed and swallowed it while grumbling.

 

“Please don’t laugh.”

 

Rmain, who had covered his face with documents, gave an unnecessary ‘cough’.

 

It was definitely a laugh.

 

Soon Rmain, who had been covering his face with documents, took off his glasses and rose from his seat. Then he came to sit across from Allan, and spoke with an expression asking what had happened.

 

“I heard you were planning to gather Knights. That’s why we even held a hunting competition for you. But I haven’t heard about keeping them in the Capital.”

 

“That’s why I’m here conveying this to you now.”

 

It was a trip to get permission from Rmain on behalf of Kalian regarding the matter Kalian had requested of Sleiman.

 

“I’m concerned since it’s a Knight Order gathered from as many as eleven families. Knights might be different from Mages. They won’t follow Kalian as blindly as them. Furthermore, they might turn their hearts away from Kalian.”

 

“The High Highness is aware of this. That if things go wrong, the succession fight might turn into a civil war. He knows this very well.”

 

“You’re saying he’s speaking with that in mind?”

 

Hearing those words, Allan pointed to the tangerine and said.

 

“Whether you eat one piece or several pieces, it’s sour.”

 

It was not a Knight Order that Kalian was personally raising anyway. Whether one family gathered or several families gathered, having such a force would be equally dangerous. The risk they were taking was the same, just that they were currently being placed under Kalian. Rmain understood this much and nodded slightly.

 

But Allan smiled broadly and opened his mouth.

 

“Whether it’s just Beurisen or other Knights besides Beurisen, Your Majesty’s life being in danger is the same.”

 

“How is this about my neck?”

 

Rmain let out a small sigh.

 

Of course, Allan continued speaking without caring about Rmain’s reaction.

 

Allan peeled off another sour tangerine and put it in his mouth. Then, just like before, he frowned once more and opened his mouth.

 

“If the day comes when they raise their swords toward the Royal Palace, Your Majesty’s third son will be on the opposite side. So, you don’t worry about their sword pointing at him. Isn’t he someone who definitely protects his own people?”

 

Furthermore, Kalian would not have failed to consider their betrayal. It must be something he had already considered long before coming up with this plan.

 

“Anyway, Nobles move according to their own interests. If following the Third Prince continues to benefit them, that’s all that matters, so it won’t be difficult.”

 

“That may be so, but it’s not something I can’t stop worrying about. I’ll think about it and give you an answer by tomorrow.”

 

“I understand. Please do so.”

 

Even Rmain could not unconditionally agree to all of Allan’s words, so that was the answer he gave. Since it was the answer Allan had expected anyway, he nodded obediently.

 

“By the way, this is the first time I’ve seen such sour tangerines.”

 

It was not a metaphor for something else but really about the tangerines. Those tangerines, still tinged with green, were so sour it was hard to find any sweetness.

 

“I heard the Crown Prince of Secritia brought them.”

 

“Then these are tangerines from Secritia?”

 

“The Crown Prince of Secritia wouldn’t bring something from another country, would he?”

 

[Tangerines from Secritia? Moreover, the tangerines that Chase had brought…]

 

As soon as Rmain finished his explanation, the tangerines on the table disappeared along with the basket.

 

To Rmain, who was looking at him as if asking why he was taking something he could not even eat, Allan made his sharp eyes round and said.

 

“Your Majesty should eat something else.”

 

Would Chase have brought tangerines with Preservation Magic for Rmain to eat? Of course not. Allan, who planned to bring all such precious tangerines to his lovely Disciple, smiled contentedly.

 

* * *

 

Euria was truly a Mage.

 

She showed tremendous curiosity about the black pebble Kalian had shown.

 

“Are you saying this has the power to correct time?”

 

“Not exactly. It’s also just my speculation.”

 

Because it had corrected the order in which Sia answered and made time flow for a rose that was frozen in time and did not wither.

 

While it had no effect on Kalian who had come back through time, looking at just Sia and the rose, it seemed to be related to ‘time.’

 

So far, Kalian had only informed Allan of the details.

 

Because it was something Serenty had intervened in. It was completely different from the Palace succession struggle and could be seen as Kalian’s personal problem in a way, so he did not want to borrow the power of the Mages and Euria for that matter.

 

“Time, you say. It has an interesting power. Though I don’t know what these characters on it are.”

 

Of course, the thought that Euria wouldn’t know anything either played a part. As Kalian expected, Euria, who saw the characters carved on the pebble, shook her head.

 

“I heard that Secritia also has forgotten characters. Could it perhaps be those?”

 

“No. I’ve already looked into that.”

 

That was a language Kalian himself knew well. Recalling that which had been passed down through tradition, without containing anything special, Kalian shook his head.

 

Soon, Euria brought all sorts of theological books from the study. Kalian picked up one of them and spoke in an amused voice.

 

“How unexpected. The Chronicles of the War of the Two Gods in a Mage’s study. I thought Mages do not believe in Serenty.”

 

“Not believing and denying are different, aren’t they? We Mages are different from the Priests of Tansyll. We don’t deny Serenty’s existence. Above all, Syspanian was shown to have existed. So all Mages learn about Serenty in detail as well, Your Highness.”

 

The old Kalian’s memories did not contain detailed knowledge about the War of the Two Gods, and much less about the Main Goddess Serenty. In fact, his knowledge was mainly limited to what he had learnt from his lessons as a Prince. He even had to learn Magic through self-study.

 

Taking out a paper and pen, Euria, who copied the characters carved on the pebble Kalian had and the shape of the pebble, asked.

 

“The Roselita period, and the territories of Sting and Nerica, correct? And it was possessed by an Elf boy named Luca.”

 

“Yes. That’s correct.”

 

“I understand. From here on, it’s my job, Your Highness. So please return to the Palace for now. I’ll let you know if anything is confirmed.”

 

Kalian smiled slightly. Euria looked at him with eyes asking why he was doing that.

 

“It’s funny. Lately, it seems like I have nothing to do. Everyone just tells me to go.”

 

“It’s no different from Your Highness moving directly.”

 

Euria smiled back and answered.

 

“Your Highness should not be someone who moves, but someone who commands.”

 

“Is that why? I’m not sure.”

 

Kalian, who no longer had anything to help Euria with, nodded. And he added one precaution.

 

“When I first obtained it, it had a very strong smell of blood. It is an object where someone lost their life, maybe to obtain it, so it would be better to be careful.”

 

“Yes. I understand. Don’t worry.”

 

Euria also knew well what the smell of blood that Knights detected meant. Therefore, Euria nodded as if she fully understood.

 

* * *

 

In the morning, Kalian met Sleiman and came to the Arcane Enclave.

 

On his way back after meeting Euria and Melpir, he met Sia and returned to the Enclave again. There, he had quite a long conversation with Euria.

 

Before he knew it, it had become night.

 

“Ah.”

 

Only after coming outside did Kalian realize time had passed and made a troubled sound.

 

“Ian will be worried…”

 

Since he thought he would be back quickly, he had not informed anyone of his destination and came out alone without even Kyrie. [Ian would definitely be sending people everywhere to inquire about my whereabouts.]

 

As a troubled expression appeared on Kalian’s face, Raven, who had been walking leisurely, quickened his pace on his own. Feeling this, Kalian stroked Raven’s mane as if ruffling it. As Raven walked through the Capital on his own and Kalian pressed his hood down.

 

Some time had passed when…

 

“Wait a moment, Raven.”

 

This time Kalian stopped Raven.

 

He lifted his head with an amused expression. Because he felt something well hidden enough that Raven would not have stopped.

 

Cyriesus was vast.

 

There were quiet places everywhere.

 

In such a quiet place, several shadows were slowly approaching the Prince’s black horse that even Sia recognized. Since it was a festive period in Cyriesus, it seemed many guests had come to visit. So, during the day it was Sia, and at night…

 

“What brings you all the way here?”

 

A very welcome light appeared in his red eyes.

 

“Warriors of the Great Dunes.”

 

Feeling their characteristic fighting spirit aimed precisely at him, Kalian’s smile deepened.