Chapter 120, Don’t Touch (10)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Steam rose gently upward.

 

Warm water gushing up through the rocks.

 

How many people could possibly dislike the idea of immersing their entire body in water just a bit warmer than body temperature and gently closing their eyes?

 

If one traveled east from Cyriesus for two more days, they could reach the Steinitz Region, famous for its hot springs. It was also where the Cyries Royal Family’s villa was located.

 

It was a distance that could be considered close and far at the same time. However, for Nobles, a two-day journey was not particularly burdensome. After all, most of them traveled to their distant Territories once or twice a year anyway.

 

Because of this, many Nobles residing in Cyriesus often visited Steinitz for tourism or recuperation. But….

 

“Weren’t you worried at all?”

 

Dmirea’s face, who spoke these words, revealed all kinds of emotions. To interpret the most prominent among those numerous expressions, it would be something like ‘father, how could you do this to me!?’

 

Of course, even with one’s own Bloodline, there were bound to be one or two things that one simply could not understand about the other.

 

Ian, who calls that murderous-looking Prince ‘flower-like’, was also a difficult individual to understand. However, at least that Prince does… indeed look flower-like. So, one could somewhat let such ‘common sense’ slide with a ‘whatever’.

 

“Did you think I wouldn’t worry about my own child?”

 

“For someone who is worried, your skin looks too…”

 

Dmirea responded like this while looking at Sleiman’s smooth and glowing face.

 

After hearing from Rmain about why Dmirea had locked him away, Sleiman said, without any explanation, that he would like to borrow some money from Rmain.

 

And with that money, he went to the hot springs with Seri, his wife.

 

Did Dmirea not ask him to rest for a few days? So, he did. He went all the way to Steinitz, which was two days away from the Capital.

 

Such carefree attitude was incomprehensible. Dmirea’s mind was simply too sound to understand why her father would do that.

 

“You seem to have rested very well.”

 

She knew that in this tense political situation, if Sleiman stayed in the Capital as the official head of the Siegfried Family, his presence would have forced the Family to take an official stance in the royal conflict. Since Demirea had already sided with the Third Prince, this would have created dangerous political complications. By deliberately distancing himself through his timely vacation, he had provided Demirea with the plausible deniability and the freedom of action she needed.

 

But the look of that face…

 

How was she supposed to accept that face that showed he had truly peacefully rested through everything, without even a speck of worry about his daughter, his household, or his country?

 

Since this was all clearly written over his face, Sleiman burst into laughter. Then, with his face showing only a smile after wiping away his playfulness, he spoke.

 

“Seri told me not to worry, and I agree with her.”

 

He had not worried about Dmirea, who had arbitrarily expanded the meaning of the word ‘Shield’—though with Sleiman’s permission. She was cleverly reinterpreting the meanings of protecting and supporting, creating the illusion of helping Kalian that did not go against their beliefs.

 

Far from scolding her, he fully trusted her.

 

After saying this, Sleiman looked at Dmirea and opened his mouth.

 

“Let me ask you one thing.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I was quite curious about what the reason was.”

 

“Reason for?”

 

Sleiman took a sip of the clear wine he was holding and then spoke.

 

“You’re not Ian. So, I can’t understand why you would go so far to help the Third Prince. Whether it is just based on what you saw during those few days when the Third Prince visited the Siegfried Territory that made you step forward like this, or if there was another reason. I was curious about what you saw in the Third Prince that made you decide to side with him.”

 

Dmirea had not experienced or met Kalian as much as Ian had. Nor had she grasped Kalian’s true nature like Sleiman had. But no matter how much he thought about it, the reason was difficult to understand.

 

To Sleiman’s question, Dmirea opened her mouth without the slightest hesitation.

 

“Because my older brother smiles when he is with him.”

 

Ian, who had lived with a face that said all the misfortunes under heaven belonged to him, always had a ‘constipated face’ in their Territory. However, that same Ian was smiling after joining hands with Kalian.

 

“I thought it would be good to help the person who made that happen. Also, because I can handle the consequences of my decision.”

 

It was a typically straightforward reason from Dmirea.

 

Sleiman’s mouth opened wide upon hearing those words. With a face showing a big smile, Sleiman nodded his head and then opened his mouth.

 

“I’m going down tomorrow. Just Seri and I.”

 

“Do you mean you’re going back to the Siegfried Territory?”

 

“Yes. Since there’s no one there right now, it wouldn’t be good to leave it empty for too long, would it? Do what you need to here as you see fit.”

 

Dmirea looked at Sleiman, whose accomplishments in the Capital consisted entirely of teasing Rmain with Allan, drinking with Allan, nearly dying after picking a fight with Taillan, being kicked out of his own mansion, and going to the hot springs. Nevertheless, she answered her father, with confidence.

 

“Yes.”

 

He was leaving only Dmirea in the Capital.

 

This truly meant that Dmirea would decide and act on how to help Kalian as she saw fit. It was the same as transferring his authority to Dmirea, without going down here himself.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Dmirea smiled while looking at her father, who said he would fully trust her decisions and actions.

 

* * *

 

At the time when Sleiman, having finished his trip, entered his mansion and Kalian was recommending ‘cat raising’ to Plants.

 

Rmain, who had asked Grand Chamberlain Raul to postpone the meeting with the Elf envoys, looked down at the huge garden visible through the window and opened his mouth.

 

“I heard evidence of Tansyll’s involvement has emerged.”

 

Ren, who was standing behind Rmain, answered.

 

“Yes, Your Highness. Multiple correspondences exchanged with Tansyll’s Royal Family were found at the bookstore where the person called Ned was located. Everything about planning the attack on the Third Prince was also recorded.”

 

“There was no content about others besides Tansyll being involved?”

 

“Yes. That’s correct. Only content about Tansyll was confirmed.”

 

Since the meticulous Ren and Caera had personally conducted the search, there would be no overlooked evidence.

 

When Kalian disappeared, the one who would benefit most would be Randel. When Randel ascended to the throne, it was natural that Tansyll would benefit. So, the reason for the attack was all too clear.

 

Both evidence and circumstances all pointed to Tansyll.

 

“Burn it all.”

 

Therefore, Rmain commanded this. Because he had heard from Allan about the real mastermind behind this incident.

 

Of course, Rmain did not know that amongst the dead, there were Secritia’s spies. It was Allan’s consideration for Chase, who had greatly stepped forward in this matter.

 

“Would it be alright not to keep it for future preparation?”

 

“Since it’s said to be a false mastermind created by someone else, there’s no reason to leave it as is, is there? Even if there are other problems in the future, there won’t be any need to use false evidence. So, burn it all.”

 

Ren did not object.

 

“Understood. I’ll handle it that way, Your Majesty.”

 

After Ren, who had bowed in courtesy, went outside, Rmain quietly opened his mouth.

 

“There should be punishment dealt to the two Princes and the Lesser Duchess.”

 

The world did not know that Kalian was attacked.

 

While preventing Randel, who had left the banquet hall on his own, from leaving Chermil Palace, he could not just leave Kalian, who had been missing for nearly a week, alone. Plants, who had also gone outside the Royal Palace in the middle of the night, was the same. As for the daughter of Siegfried, who was said to detain Plants, she could not be left out either.

 

Of course, Dmirea was prepared to receive punishment for Siegfried as well. However, there was one thing Dmirea did not know. The fact that Sleiman knew a little better than Dmirea about what kind of person Rmain, who would impose the punishment, was.

 

“I heard Duke Siegfried is leaving the Capital tomorrow.”

 

To help Rmain, who was pondering what punishment to impose, Allan said this in a casual tone.

 

Rmain chuckled upon hearing those words.

 

Even Rmain was not so oblivious as to not understand Sleiman’s intention to leave the Capital at such a time.

 

Soon Rmain called Raul and had him delivered several instructions.

 

“Send Duke Siegfried, who caused chaos in the Capital, out of Cyriesus immediately. Prohibit his entry into Cyriesus until the year ends.”

 

Sleiman would receive punishment in place of Dmirea.

 

If being Kalian’s ‘shield’ was Dmirea’s role, then being Dmirea’s shield was Sleiman’s role.

 

“I will also prohibit both the Second Prince and Third Prince from leaving the Royal Palace. They will not be able to participate in external events until permission is given.”

 

It was quite a severe punishment, but in Allan’s view, it was ‘protection.’ There would be no place safer than in the Royal Palace, which was made by Syspanian’s hand, in Cyries.

 

“It’s the perfectly appropriate punishment.”

 

Allan, who could not fail to understand that sentiment, nodded gently with a soft smile.

 

* * *

 

He had talked about it before.

 

He had said so because every moment trapped in this Royal Palace felt like it would be his last, making him breathless.

 

That he did not want to become King.

 

That he wanted to live.

 

Kalian was not unaware of why Plants had said such things. No, perhaps he knew even better. As a son of the King, and as the King’s brother, he would have spent much longer in a Royal Palace than Plants. Therefore, he might have empathized with Plants’ words and nodded.

 

Still.

 

Even so.

 

No matter how much that was true.

 

Plants brought up again the words he had uttered like a soliloquy at Siegfried mansion.

 

“My little brother trusts me too much.”

 

Though Plants had hoped it would not be so, for Kalian to trust him so much as to hand over Beurisen to him.

 

Was this not too big and heavy a matter to discuss while casually peeling tangerine skin, as if it were just any other conversation?

 

At least, that was what Plants thought.

 

[I wonder if he’s lost his fear. Or if he’s overconfident.]

 

From when he first visited Kalian’s room until now. Kalian had never once doubted Plants.

 

Looking at Kalian, who had lent him Valkan saying he would die if he had nothing in his hands, and now was trying to give him Beurisen too, Plants said this.

 

[Why exactly are you trusting me so much to act like this? What if I suddenly changed my mind?]

 

“What if I again…” Plants, who had started saying this, immediately closed his mouth.

 

Kalian’s movement also stopped briefly as he felt the words stop.

 

It was because Kalian also sensed what Plants had swallowed those words back.

 

A very brief silence flowed like that.

 

“My older brother is so quick-witted.”

 

A short sigh escaped from Kalian’s mouth. Then he began peeling the sour tangerine skin again. His red eyes did not leave the light green tangerine peel.

 

“Think only up to that point.”

 

The scent of the sour tangerine lingered at the tip of his nose.

 

Because someone kept coming to mind due to this scent, Kalian could not eat alone and had come all the way here.

 

There was someone in front of him who had come to know what should not be remembered.

 

“Everything you know is only a speculation. Don’t be too certain of anything.”

 

Kalian had no intention of telling him about the war, or explaining how he had died in it, or whose war it had been.

 

It was something from the past that only Kalian had experienced.

 

Though Chase remembers it, was it not ultimately meaningless for Plants to worry over this? Why was he acting like this after figuring out something that did not even happen at this present time?

 

“…Plants.”

 

Kalian, who had briefly closed and opened his eyes, spoke again.

 

“That is something that has nothing to do with you.”

 

It has nothing to do with the current Plants.

 

Also, that incident will never repeat itself.

 

Because Kalian would make it so.

 

Plants did not answer, and Kalian, who closed and opened his eyes once more, tore off a piece of tangerine and put it in his mouth. A bitter smile involuntarily appeared due to the particularly sour taste.

 

After chewing and swallowing the tangerine for a while, Kalian continued.

 

“You, yourself, said you absolutely hate becoming King. You said you would hate having Randel ascend to the throne even more, which would probably lead to the both of us locked in towers side by side. So, I trust you.”

 

[I’m not such a benevolent person as to trust you blindly either. So don’t have useless thoughts or cling to regrets over what you have not even done.]

 

“If your mind ever changes and you need the Crown Prince position, just ask for it. I’ll consider it.”

 

Kalian said this to Plants, who had never coveted others’ possessions. Seeing this, one corner of Plants’ mouth twisted upward.

 

“Impudent brat.”

 

Kalian smiled, raising both corners of his mouth.

 

Then, he held up the last remaining tangerine and offered it to Plants.

 

“Would you like some, older brother?”

 

Plants made a small sound and chuckled.

 

Then, he received the tangerine from Kalian’s hand.

 

Sour, sour, and even ever sour. So much so that all thoughts in his head completely disappeared.

 

But what else could he do?

 

Instead of useless thoughts, he should just raise cats in Beurisen.