Chapter 130, If Such a Day Comes (9)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

With a small *thudding* sound, Kalian descended to his room and briefly looked around his surroundings.

 

Unlike Kalian’s room which was entirely black, Plants’ room had been quite bright. The curtains, carpets, and bedding visible far inside the bedroom were mostly bright colors.

 

It was obviously because of the cat.

 

What choice was there when a cat that shed fur terrifyingly travels around the entire room? Like wearing only bright clothes, the room had probably become bright too.

 

Having such thoughts, Kalian looked at Ian who had just entered the room and said.

 

“Don’t bring up mint tea when I’m on the 4th floor from now on.”

 

The expression of Plants, who had drained a cup of mint tea despite clearly showing his dislike, came to mind.

 

Given Plants’ personality of accommodating even a cat, he would never say that the tea did not suit his taste, so this was likely Kalian’s own way of saying…

 

“Will you continue going up every meal time?”

 

“For the time being.”

 

Kalian lightly nodded and answered, and surprisingly Ian accepted without much resistance.

 

“Understood. I’ll do that. And you asked me to call Lord Hertz, but it seems he’ll have difficulty coming today.”

 

“Why, is something wrong?”

 

Kalian was worried that Arsene might be disadvantaged from this incident. However, Ian just smiled slightly and answered:

 

“He says he’s helping with processing the debris of Heisia Palace.”

 

It was not that there was another matter, but it was true that Arsene was away and could not come find Kalian.

 

Following Allan’s opinion about what use there was in keeping a Mage with such precious abilities lying around, Valkan had been deployed to process the debris of Heisia Palace. It was punishment handed down by Allan, Valkan’s Commander, not Rmain.

 

The image of Arsene, who would surely be working while grumbling came to mind, causing the laughter he had been holding back to finally burst out. After laughing for a while, Kalian answered:

 

“Got it. Send him some money later for a group dinner or something.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

Ian, who had answered, did not leave though. Since it seemed he had more to say, Kalian looked at Ian, and Ian opened his mouth.

 

“The Lesser Duchess is waiting outside.”

 

No matter who had come to wait, the report on the Prince’s orders and conveying what needed to be known came first. So, Ian had brought up this matter only after conveying all other content. Kalian nodded and answered:

 

“Tell her to come in.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Not long after Ian, who had answered simply, went outside, Dmirea entered. Seeing Dmirea, Kalian grinned.

 

[This is why I like her.]

 

Dmirea was wearing a dark navy blue pantsuit. When she had come to the Royal Palace before attending the ball, she had worn a light dress, but it seemed she thought it was not necessary to do so now.

 

Such Dmirea lightly bowed toward Kalian, then sat across from him. Soon, Ian entered and silently set down two cups of tea, then tried to leave. Even though he surely knew the rumors involving his younger sister and family affairs would be spoken about, he was trying not to interfere or intervene.

 

“Ian. You sit too.”

 

There was no reason Ian should not listen, After all, he was also a person of the same family.

 

Ian, who had lightly bowed his head, sat a little distance away from Dmirea. It was a silent indication that he would listen to their conversation but would not interfere.

 

Seeing this, Kalian smiled inwardly. He seemed to understand why Ian drew such lines.

 

It reminded him of Bern, who had always respected Chase by staying one step back when Chase was present.

 

Kalian, who decided to respect Ian’s decision, took his gaze off Ian. Then he looked at Dmirea and offered a greeting.

 

“It’s been a while, my fiancée.”

 

Even at the joking greeting, Ian sat without any particular reaction, and Dmirea chuckled and nodded. After that, she conveyed brief words about the rumor of being ‘fiancée.’

 

“I’ll make good use of that rumor as payment for the banana.”

 

It meant she would pay for the banana that Kalian had taken at the mansion in exchange for introducing Kalian as her fiancée to the outside world. Of course, Kalian had also accepted the rumor out of necessity, as Dmirea was benefiting from it.

 

“To think I sold my name for only two bunches of bananas.”

 

“Since you ate so much, it seems like a fair price.”

 

Kalian laughed for quite a long time before asking:

 

“Right. Does Marquis Beurisen show no other reaction?”

 

“No. He’s not showing any particular reaction.”

 

She did not bother to convey what she had done to make Marquis Evan Beurisen behave quietly. Since it was true that things had quieted down now.

 

“What do you need to see me for?”

 

Therefore, toward Dmirea, who brought up the main topic like this, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“I’m going to create a Knight Order soon. For that reason, I want to temporarily hide Count Aprin’s Knights at your mansion.”

 

“Yes. I heard about that from father, so I am aware.”

 

“Ah, then this will be quick.”

 

“I heard you plan to replace the Royal Palace’s Knight Order, is that correct?”

 

“Originally it was, but my thinking has changed a bit. I’ll raise it as a new Knight Order that will continue to be outside the Royal Palace.”

 

Dmirea slightly furrowed her brow.

 

If it was a Knight Order that would be outside the Royal Palace, she could not tell whether it meant Kalian’s private army or a Knight Order to attack the Royal Palace.

 

“If it’s a Knight Order for attacking the Royal Palace, I won’t help.”

 

“Would I really request to hide Knights for such use at the house of Elephants?”

 

“Then is it Your Highness’s private army?”

 

“Similar. Since they’ll be people who will become my strength.”

 

It sounded nice to say hide, but in reality, it was no different from raising a Knight Order from within Siegfried. After thinking for a moment, Dmirea opened her mouth.

 

“I cannot offer Siegfried’s name.”

 

At those words that drew a line sharp as a sword, Kalian nodded as if it were natural and said.

 

“I know. You just need to hide them, I’ll handle the management. And I’ll keep them as Count Aprin’s Knight Order, so there won’t be any need to ask for the Siegfried name. Don’t worry about that.”

 

“Then you’re saying it’s Count Aprin’s Knight Order, not Your Highness’s?”

 

Now she properly understood why he had answered ‘similar’ when she asked if it was his own private army.

 

“I’m not sure if you mean you won’t put Your Highness’s name in as preparation for contingencies, or if you mean to raise Count Aprin into a Knight Family with the same power as Beurisen.”

 

“As I said, they’re people I’ll raise as my Knight Order. Since there’s no need for it to be my name specifically, I’m borrowing the Count’s name.”

 

“Your Highness. A Knight Order is different from a Trader’s Guild or an Academy. Not deciding the owner of a Knight Order is dangerous. It’s different from Valkan too. The loyalty of Mages and the loyalty of Knights are different. You shouldn’t think that everyone who holds a sword will be like Kyrie.”

 

Dmirea immediately said this.

 

It was also something she said because she knew very well what kind of people Knights were.

 

“This isn’t a matter to view in the same context as trusting Count Aprin.”

 

“I know.”

 

However, she probably did not know what kind of people Knights were better than Kalian. So, Kalian just looked at Dmirea with a slight smile.

 

“So that’s why I’m saying this. Couldn’t you do something like watch over the Knights for me?”

 

Dmirea closed her mouth.

 

After taking a sip of tea, Kalian’s words continued toward Dmirea, who was weighing his intentions.

 

“As you said, it will be different from when I can always keep them under my eyes inside the Royal Palace. I’m not yet confident that I can completely trust Count Aprin’s Knight Order either. So, I thought I’d use this opportunity to see how far I can trust the Count. After that, I’ll think about whether to make them into an independent Knight Order or consider other methods.”

 

“So, what you’re saying now is that you want to entrust me with the role of ‘overseer’ to decide how to use them?”

 

“Right. Exactly.”

 

“You sure are trying to make use of me in various ways.”

 

“Making use of people is my job.”

 

Kalian, who said this, smiled brightly, and Dmirea, who would not be swayed by that smile at all, muttered quietly:

 

“How shameless.”

 

“Can’t you consider it a fiancée’s privilege?”

 

Dmirea’s face wrinkled in a way that was truly worth seeing.

 

Since she looked like she wanted to say right away that the engagement rumor between them was false, Kalian quickly waved his hands to stop her, then spoke again.

 

“I’m requesting this of you, Dmirea.”

 

After looking at such Kalian for a while, Dmirea nodded.

 

“Understood. I’ll help.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“I haven’t received lodging fees from last time either. I plan to collect everything this time too, so don’t try to get away with it.”

 

“I paid back the banana bill properly. I’ll pay back everything without defaulting.”

 

At the Prince’s words, who had only paid back for the banana among all other debts, Dmirea finally chuckled.

 

“By the way, do you know you’ve become quite famous? There’s a lot of talk that you caused a major accident as if shouting ‘if you’re going to cause trouble, do it like me.'”

 

“Ah, you mean Heisia Palace.”

 

Kalian answered with a shameless face as if he did not know about it.

 

“It wasn’t me. It was Valkan’s mistake.”

 

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know that Valkan belongs to Your Highness?”

 

Kalian did not give any particular answer to that. After watching that for a moment, Dmirea opened her mouth again.

 

“Anyway, I understand. Please let me know when the Knight Order is to enter.”

 

“Ah, Dmirea.”

 

Kalian, who called out to Dmirea as she was about to get up, showed exactly that sign language that Hina had shown not long ago.

 

“This. Do you happen to know what it means?”

 

Although it was clumsy hand gestures, it was not a word that was hard to recognize. Therefore, Dmirea’s face changed strangely.

 

[‘Fool’?]

 

“Do you go around hearing such words from Your Highness’s maid?”

 

“So it is a curse word.”

 

And glancing at Ian sitting next to Dmirea, he said.

 

“Nobody will tell me what it means. Ian won’t say either.”

 

“What did you do wrong to hear such a word?”

 

Kalian replied with a small laugh:

 

“There’s not just one or two things I did wrong.”

 

Dmirea swallowed the last sip of tea and put down the teacup. Then she answered in a quiet voice:

 

“Just live with your head on straight. So you won’t hear the same word again.”

 

Then she got up, bowed, and went outside. In the end, she did not tell him what Hina’s hand sign meant.

 

“What on earth is it that makes even Dmirea not tell me?”

 

Kalian’s curiosity only grew.

 

* * *

 

After Dmirea left.

 

Kalian just sat in the same spot even after half a day passed. It was partly because of those words about ‘living with his head on straight’ got entangled with the conversation he had with Plants this morning, also partly because there was nothing particular to do.

 

He was in a situation where he could not even go to the training ground, could not go to Wilhelm Hall where Valkan would be, and could not even take a walk.

 

[But still, live with your head on straight, huh?]

 

“…What do they know to say such things?”

 

He was slouching and muttering while having various thoughts when Ian approached and sat across from him, setting down cold mint tea.

 

It was the second cup today.

 

Ian, who normally would not serve the same tea twice unless specifically asked, had done so, but Kalian brought it to his mouth without saying anything.

 

“When you’re deep in thought, you always ask for mint tea.”

 

Kalian smiled slightly and said thank you, and Ian opened his mouth again.

 

“I told Count Manasil that Your Highness would probably continue going to the 4th floor to eat.”

 

“You told him that?”

 

Kalian’s eyes widened.

 

“Yes. Since you’re going to move that way anyway, I asked him to just let you move around comfortably. Count Manasil will handle getting permission from His Majesty, so from tomorrow you should be able to move freely within Chermil Palace. You won’t have to go to the 4th floor through such dangerous methods or be depressed like this because you’re bored.”

 

“I see.”

 

Just as he was about to add ‘thanks’ for Ian’s thoughtfulness, Ian spoke first.

 

“So stop doing that.”

 

Sign language is visible even from far away.

 

Ian, who had gone outside to take Raven back after his exercise, had seen what Hina was saying.

 

Hina’s sign language, with light blue ice cream set down beside her, was fast and Ian could not catch it all. But he could understand what she was saying.

 

After understanding, he was reminded of his older brother who had burned all his belongings exactly one week before he stopped breathing.

 

“Since you’re alive, empty spaces appear. How can you eliminate that? So instead of worrying about empty spaces, just live.”

 

Ian, who had paused briefly, looked out the window then turned his gaze back to Kalian. Soon that gaze went to the mint tea, then back to Kalian.

 

A voice completely opposite to the refreshing mint scent flowed out.

 

“Please don’t let me go through such a thing again.”

 

The words that he was just preparing for contingencies. Words that he was not even thinking about dying right away. Words that he, too, wanted to live.

 

“Right. Got it.”

 

Instead of such words, Kalian just smiled.

 

Because with hands holding onto him like this, he felt he could not die even if he wanted to.