Chapter 137, Foundation of Understanding (7)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

Kalian remembered Rmain’s voice, heard from beyond the documents.

 

It was when he was struggling with his body dying from poisoned tea, waiting only for Allan to come. It was also the day he first wore a Prince’s formal attire.

 

Not to save Plants but to not kill him. It was also the period when he had to endure the feeling of his heart being torn out each day.

 

The Kalian of that time could not even imagine that he would work so diligently to keep Rmain and Plants alive.

 

Therefore, he was trying to understand this once. Randel as well.

 

Though it might be unimaginable now, he worried that later he might struggle to keep Randel alive.

 

[If Crown Prince Chase knew I was doing this, he would be quite surprised.]

 

At this sudden thought, Kalian smiled bitterly.

 

Was Bern not someone whose sword was faster than his words?

 

Of course, the situation then and now were vastly different, but to think he would become this meddlesome.

 

“I was a bit worried, but it’s still fortunate.”

 

Kalian said this.

 

It was toward the blue eyes that had already calmed the emotion of anger that had fleetingly passed.

 

“I was worried that even when I touched that rose, Older Brother Randel’s expression wouldn’t change, but it seems you still have something left that you cherish.”

 

Kalian’s slender finger was pointing at the rose that had been cut and fallen.

 

The reason he was being deliberately nasty like this was because making someone angry was the easiest. Had he not learned that from living Bern’s life, where anger was the first emotion to be revealed among all hidden feelings?

 

It was Randel who had been tending to these rose bushes without even taking off his Prince’s formal attire after meeting Rmain. If roses were the first thing he sought to compose his confused heart, then perhaps he could draw out Randel’s inner thoughts by interfering with them.

 

If he took that away, wouldn’t Randel get angry, at least?

 

If he got angry, then wouldn’t communication become possible?

 

“For what reason?”

 

“Are you asking why I broke the rose?”

 

“I mean the reason you go this far to face me.”

 

“I’m curious. What you know. And what you’re hiding.”

 

Kalian, who had answered in a light tone, continued.

 

“I wanted to try exchanging something called conversation.”

 

Whether what Randel was hiding was power or inner thoughts, he thought it was time to uncover it through conversation.

 

“You want to have a conversation? You and I?”

 

“Would that be so difficult? It is not as difficult as actions of greed or threats, just a conversation.”

 

Randel’s gaze briefly followed down to Kalian’s fingertips. Randel, who had been staring at the rose that lay at the end for a while, opened his mouth.

 

“Do not do that again.”

 

That was the beginning of their conversation.

 

Kalian, who had looked at the same thing for a moment, opened his mouth.

 

“You cut off all the roses that have strayed, yet you find those that have not strayed so precious? They’re all the same roses anyway, wherever they bloom.”

 

“Are those that stray not useless?”

 

At those words, Kalian smiled once more.

 

It was because Bern had also done pruning just like Randel. To be precise, he should say he had been used for pruning.

 

He had cut countless lives of those who would harm Debeullan. He cut everyone regardless of age or gender. Of course, Chase did not know about this.

 

It was just that instead of rose bushes, they were really living people who bled. Anyway, what Bern had done was the same, pruning. Sometimes he had wanted to do it and sometimes he had not wanted to, but that was not important now.

 

Anyway, having done the same thing, he understood those words a little.

 

“Usefulness can be created, can’t it?”

 

Saying this, Kalian bent down and picked up the rose that had fallen to the ground. Though he was not sure if it would suit that dreary room, and though he was actually a bit sick of roses. Anyway, it would still bloom if placed in water.

 

“Just as I mentioned older brother Randel’s usefulness now.”

 

Saying this, Kalian’s eyes briefly sharpened.

 

It was to gain the upper hand.

 

Until now, Randel had always taken the upper hand in conversation. Because he had tried to bring Kalian under his control. Therefore, this time Kalian had to stand above.

 

Randel laughed.

 

It was true that he was as emotionless as that time before, but having experienced it once, Kalian had become somewhat accustomed to it.

 

Therefore, Kalian smiled back. And said.

 

“Older brother’s power, just what is it? What do you know?”

 

Randel’s laughter stopped. And he answered.

 

“Is it so weak that you cannot feel it?”

 

A second emotion entered Randel’s voice as he said this. If one were to name it, it would probably be something like ‘regret.’

 

Kalian’s face hardened as he saw that unexpected emotion that fleetingly appeared on Randel’s face. After briefly observing Randel, a long arc formed on Kalian’s lips.

 

“…Damn it.”

 

Rough words that did not match the smile that seemed drawn came out. Watching the youngest who spat out such language, Randel said nothing.

 

[The Seal of Oath.]

 

It was an oath from so long ago that he could not even remember exactly when. Kalian also said nothing about finally noticing that the power of that promise that binding his oldest brother’s heart.

 

“Tansyll?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian, who had maintained silence for a while, opened his mouth again.

 

“You can’t say anything?”

 

“Yes.”

 

A contract where he could not even first mention that they had made a Seal of Oath. A very detailed contract, with someone who seemed smarter than Marquis Evan Beurisen.

 

Tansyll gave Randel power and probably, Randel helped Tansyll in return. And he could not say anything about it.

 

Kalian’s brow furrowed again.

 

The second older brother had readily accepted such shackles, which was already a headache, and now the oldest brother was also causing trouble.

 

Kalian, who had been looking at Randel for another long while, asked.

 

“Is it because of Beurisen? Didn’t you try to have the Holy Knights attack Beurisen? Did you perhaps make a contract to eliminate Beurisen?”

 

If that were the case, things would become complicated.

 

Kalian was currently trying to keep Beurisen alive.

 

Randel did not answer. Traces of emotions mixed with all kinds of things appeared and disappeared on his face. Seeing this, Kalian quietly opened his mouth.

 

“Or… surely not. Does the end of that resentment reach His Majesty?”

 

Did he share a Seal of Oath with Tansyll to bring down Rmain, and need the sword of Kalian, who had similarly lost his mother?

 

“Can’t you say that either?”

 

Eyes, full of the abyss, quietly gazed at red eyes. They could not be distinguished as life or death at this point.

 

“I’m tired.”

 

After answering like this, he walked straight toward Chermil. A long, long sigh hung at the end of Kalian’s gaze that followed those steps.

 

* * *

 

[That was…]

 

Plants frowned.

 

It was because he felt an unusual energy from Kyrie, who was crossing swords with him.

 

Whether it should be considered unfortunate or fortunate, anyway, that unusual energy was not Aura. It was not his fighting spirit either.

 

Plants, who had forcefully struck up against Kyrie’s sword that was pressing down on him from above to below, stepped back one step. Then he quietly opened his mouth.

 

“Stop.”

 

Kyrie, who had been silently looking at such Plants for a moment, sheathed his sword and answered.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

It was killing intent.

 

Plants, who had been quietly looking at Kyrie who had unconsciously released killing intent, put away his sword.

 

The sparring had gone on for too long.

 

Plants was quick to read Kyrie’s movements, and predict what came next. Kyrie could pinpoint Plants’ sword beyond ordinary senses.

 

In actual combat, he would not be able to defeat Kyrie, but since it was sparring where Kyrie held back several moves, the time they clashed swords also lengthened. Then, killing intent flowed from Kyrie.

 

It was not difficult for Plants to notice why Kyrie, absorbed in sparring, had really tried to kill him.

 

“Did you also know what my little brother is hiding?”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

The attendant who had come on the day Kalian drank poison.

 

Chase came, then the shaken Kalian and then the first sparring.

 

Soon, there was killing intent.

 

What relationship did they have?

 

Did that attendant ‘know’ or had he ‘heard’?

 

Rather than consciously recalling it, this simple curiosity continued.

 

[‘Think only up to that point.’]

 

Then, at a voice that suddenly came to mind, Plants stopped thinking and took another step back. Kyrie, who had been watching such behavior from Plants, quietly opened his mouth.

 

“For the time being, it would be better to spar with the Prince.”

 

Since Kyrie seemed to be worried about becoming unable to control himself, Plants quietly nodded. Seeing this, Kyrie continued.

 

“The Prince does not blame Prince Plants. Please don’t misunderstand.”

 

It was a voice a bit lower than usual.

 

Whether he was speaking to Plants or trying to control himself for showing killing intent toward Plants.

 

One corner of Plants’ mouth curled up as he recalled the sword full of killing intent that had been flying toward him just before.

 

“I know my little brother doesn’t blame me. But you, the one in question, do.”

 

Kyrie nodded slightly. He did not deny it.

 

“I have sharp ears. The Prince doesn’t know that I came to notice things about Prince Plants.”

 

Then, he added this.

 

Kalian had not told Kyrie about matters related to Plants. It was just that there were many days when Kalian had conversations with Plants, and Kyrie had heard it all from outside.

 

Plants let out a small laugh.

 

Whether voluntary or involuntary. It was because he could not tell how far Kalian had been spreading his secrets. As he had thought when facing Chase, wasn’t it really the case that it would be faster to count those who did not know his secrets?

 

“If you’re thinking of pointing your sword, do it now.”

 

Plants said this with an expression that suggested he absolutely would not block the sword this time. Seeing this, Kyrie answered in a calm voice.

 

“I’ll do it when the Prince wishes for it.”

 

A sneer caught on Plants’ lips once more.

 

“Do as you please.”

 

And then he left outside without regret, leaving Kyrie in the middle of the training ground.

 

* * *

 

Knights blocked Kalian’s path.

 

“We’re sorry, Your Highness.”

 

They were Knights guarding the main gate of Chermil Palace. With one Knight standing straight to block Kalian’s path, he opened his mouth.

 

“You cannot leave this place.”

 

After Randel entered Chermil Palace.

 

After standing still for a long while, the place Kalian headed when he left the rose garden was not Chermil Palace but the main gate. It was to leave outside Chermil.

 

Ian, who was flustered, quickly followed behind, but Kalian said nothing.

 

Ian recognized that Kalian was not angry, flustered, or surprised. Rather, he had a face deeply lost in thought. Therefore, Ian followed behind Kalian without saying anything for now.

 

“I need to go out.”

 

Kalian said this, and the Knights said once more.

 

“We’re truly sorry, but…”

 

“Block me—”

 

[—If you can.]

 

Faint killing intent appeared in Kalian’s eyes, which contained such meaning.

 

Fortunately, the Knights facing Kalian did not make the mistake of hesitating or stepping back. They also did not make the mistake of unconsciously reaching for the swords at their waists.

 

“Move aside. I’ll speak to His Majesty myself.”

 

Saying this, Kalian moved one more step forward.

 

Nevertheless, when the Knights did not move, Ian, who was behind, opened his mouth.

 

“We’ll make sure he does not leave palace grounds, so please step aside.”

 

Then, standing behind Kalian, he made finger horns above his head. It meant to step aside appropriately before trouble occurred, since their flower-like Prince was quite displeased.

 

Only after seeing this did the Knights step to the sides, as if they had no choice.

 

“Thank you, and sorry.”

 

Kalian, who left brief words toward them, hurriedly moved his feet again.

 

“Your Highness. Are you going to Count Manasil?”

 

To Ian’s voice, who was finally asking about Kalian’s destination, Kalian shook his head. A small voice followed behind him as he continued to hurry his steps at the same pace.

 

“Rubia Hall. There’s something I need to confirm.”

 

He quickened his pace to meet Chase, who was staying in the annex.