Chapter 140, Foundation of Understanding (10)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

Kalian has none or maybe once.

 

And Plants would be about three times.

 

That was the number of times they could exercise patience at once. Of course, it would not always be the same, but roughly speaking, that would be about right.

 

“Why are you suddenly telling me not to come?”

 

*Ha…*

 

A broken breath escaped from Plants’ mouth. It was because of that bastard who never just says ‘yes’ to anything at once. He really wanted to do something about that crazy Mage, who never listens to a damn word, but he held back once for now.

 

“You. Mage.”

 

“I’m the Deputy Commander, Deputy Commander.”

 

Plants briefly closed his eyes tightly. He endured it for the second time.

 

While enduring, he tried to think based on common sense and reason.

 

Right. What this crazy Mage was saying was not wrong. He was also Valkan’s Deputy Commander, and Plants was also Valkan’s Deputy Commander. But Plants, as everyone knows.

 

Was the Second Prince of this country.

 

He quietly did some addition in his mind.

 

That bastard Arsene was just a Deputy Commander. Plants was a Deputy Commander plus a Prince. The words referring to Plants would be longer.

 

So, he tried subtraction in reverse.

 

If one subtracted Deputy Commander from him, there would be nothing left. If one subtract Deputy Commander from Plants, a Prince still remains. A Royal Noble with Syspanian’s Bloodline.

 

“Is this Wilhelm Hall?”

 

Plants, who had come out of Rmain’s office and was descending the stairs of Arpia Palace. And Arsene, who was climbing the stairs of Arpia Palace to go to Allan’s office. These two met.

 

Therefore, this place was definitely Arpia Palace.

 

Since it was not Wilhelm Hall, Plants had spoken with the meaning that he was a Prince before being Valkan’s Deputy Commander.

 

“When you tell me not to come to a meeting you called for Valkan’s business, aren’t you speaking as a Deputy Commander?”

 

And Arsene talked back like this.

 

Kalian was not a member of Valkan. He was just a Prince who ordered Arsene around. Whether what he called Arsene for was related to Valkan or not, Kalian had ‘just’ called him.

 

But when Kalian called him, Plants told him not to come. Right now, the crazy Mage was arguing with such ridiculous reasons!

 

Anyway.

 

Plants took a deep breath once more. He had endured three times.

 

A low voice leaked from Plants’ tightly clenched jaw.

 

“That great little brother of mine had something unpleasant happen today, so don’t come. I said I would escort that great little brother of mine to Wilhelm Hall when he has time. Why on earth are you…”

 

“I’m the Deputy Commander, Deputy Commander.”

 

Pausing here for a moment, it should be known that Plants was sixteen years old.

 

In other words, Arsene was thirteen years older than Plants. Despite this, the reason they could argue like this was because either one of them has an excessively high mental age or an excessively low one. Or perhaps both?

 

Anyway, Plants’ three reserves of patience were exhausted like this. Plants slowly swept back his hair, and a pretty smile like a child’s was drawn on his face.

 

“Deputy Commander. You keep barking like you’re going to disappear forever after today.”

 

Up to here, Arsene, who knew exactly the ‘explosive point’ no matter what the target was, returned with a suddenly polite tone and opened his mouth.

 

“I understand for now. Since I’m currently on continuous external duty, and may not be at my post, if you come to Wilhelm Hall and call for me, I’ll come see you right away. Then, may I go now?”

 

[External duty, he says…]

 

Arsene, who had nicely packaged the punishment of cleaning up the debris of Heisia Palace, bowed his head in greeting.

 

Seeing such a sight, Plants closed his eyes once more and took a deep breath while slightly moving his head to the side. It meant to disappear quickly before he opened his eyes. Seeing this, Arsene smirked and moved his feet toward Allan’s office again.

 

*…Ha…*

 

Kalian does not endure. If he did, he endures about once.

 

As for Plants, he endures up to three times.

 

When that patience runs out, Kalian draws a sword or club. And Plants close his eyes.

 

Plants was not unaware that this was one of the reasons why Raven and Arsene, these two creatures, followed Kalian unconditionally.

 

But as an older brother, he could not bark and bite like his younger brother, could he? So Plants went down the stairs, exercising patience with the thought that this was really the last time.

 

And he saw Chase walking toward Arpia Palace. The steps of Plants and Chase, whose eyes met, stopped simultaneously.

 

[Of all times…]

 

A short sigh escaped from Plants’ mouth again.

 

Kalian was not there, having already returned to Chermil.

 

It was true that preventing Arsene from coming to the planned dinner was due to Kalian’s condition. After meeting Chase, who said he would leave tomorrow, if Kalian was fine even with Plants and Arsene both in front of him, he would truly be crazy.

 

So, Plants stubbornly prevented Arsene from coming.

 

[Well, don’t I need to pay the price for him taking care of my meals, going so far as to destroy that palace?] Plants thought, though he did not know if this price was right though.

 

But he encountered Chase, whom Plants had not expected.

 

Plants did not know that Chase had already met Arsene. Instead, he roughly sensed what kind of bad relationship Chase and Arsene might have. So, he was going to tell him something like ‘someone was already in Allan’s office, so just go back’.

 

Therefore, Plants closed his mouth that had been open.

 

Chase also had not thought he would see Plants at this point. Thanks to this, what Chase had not been able to hide was revealed in front of Plants.

 

It was because the Crown Prince saw that he had closed his mouth.

 

Plants’ eyes narrowed as he confirmed what was reflected in those deep violet eyes.

 

* * *

 

Not a single thing has been forgotten.

 

The figure walked straight while trampling a pool of blood. An arrogant face as if looking down on everything in the world. A low, cold voice as if grasping the throat of whoever faced him.

 

With the feeling that all his bones were crumbling with grief, with the feeling that all his flesh was being carved away with despair, with the feeling that even the last drop of blood was being crushed in the end, he clearly remembered the scene he had faced.

 

Chase realized as soon as he saw him.

 

[The Mad King.]

 

He immediately understood why everyone had said this about him.

 

Those eyes.

 

They were like glass marbles cracked in all directions. Light green glass marbles that seemed like they would shatter into pieces if touched even slightly anywhere.

 

How could there be no light at all in those eyes the color of grass blades that had just embraced life?

 

Even in that sorrow, he had such thoughts.

 

[How ridiculous.]

 

* * *

 

A gaze that brushed past.

 

The last memory that ended with Arsene’s spear piercing through the heart. Plants’ eyes that he had faced just before that. That memory jumped out, tearing through his head before he could even suppress it.

 

Looking at the eyes of the person now looking at him, Chase covered his face with his hand and said, recalling the memory that suddenly surged up.

 

“Just a moment.”

 

Having faced Plants calmly until now, he suddenly wavered like this. The phantom of the past overlapped with Plants standing in front of him.

 

It was because it was after having a long conversation with Kalian.

 

His head was filled with memories of after Bern left, without being able to fully protect what Bern had tried to protect, while worrying about the path Kalian would walk and recalling what Bern had tried to protect.

 

At this change in Chase, who always made him talk a lot or walk a lot when they met, Plants just nodded without answering.

 

After a while, Chase lowered his hand and greeted him as if nothing had happened.

 

“We meet again like this. Prince Plants.”

 

“…Your eyes did not see a Prince.”

 

It was not a normal response to the greeting.

 

At that precise point, Chase, who had already returned to his usual appearance, smiled gently and nodded. He already knew that Plants was quick-witted and thoughtful, so he was not surprised by such words.

 

“It was a bit noisy today. It’s fine.”

 

Plants let out a low sigh.

 

Whether it was fine or not was not something Plants could know. Since the Crown Prince said it was fine, he could only make a face that suggested he supposed so.

 

“I thought you were meeting my little brother.”

 

“I met him. He went back.”

 

To Chermil Palace.

 

And to Kalian.

 

Whether he understood what had gone back or not, Plants just nodded again this time too. And he turned his body toward Chermil Palace and said.

 

“It would be better to see Count Manasil later.”

 

He knew Chase was leaving tomorrow.

 

There would be breakfast with Rmain, but Rmain would not necessarily have the Princes join. Were all three vigorous sons of this tremendous household not in self-reflection for causing trouble?

 

So, Plants too would have no occasion to talk with Chase for a while after today passed. Nevertheless, he tried to return after only conveying matters about Allan because he was afraid questions he wanted to ask might arise.

 

If Kalian had truly meddlesome understanding, Plants had truly meddlesome guilt.

 

“I was surprised…”

 

Words that might be teasing or surprise caught Plants’ retreating steps. Plants turned his head and stared at Chase intently.

 

“Prince Kalian did not know about Prince Plants having come to find me.”

 

[Damn. The form of address changed again.]

 

At that form of address that changed moods like Cyries’ midsummer weather, Plants frowned once more.

 

“It was unexpected that Prince Plants tried to help Prince Kalian to such an extent, and it was also unexpected that Prince Kalian did not know about it.”

 

“… Not really.”

 

It was not that important. He did not feel the need to inform anyone while moving. Anyway, there were more than one or two things they did not know about each other, so why would it be a surprise?

 

Plants gave this two-word answer containing this meaning and opened his mouth again. It was because he thought Chase, not being Kalian, probably did not understand their relationship.

 

“Not much.”

 

So, he added this. In detail, he was saying there was not much to worry about.

 

Seeing Chase nod, he seemed to understand roughly. So, Plants turned toward Chermil without any particular greeting.

 

“But.”

 

Chase’s words caught Plants’ steps again.

 

In Chase’s memory, the emotionless steps that could not be caught by anything turned around too easily.

 

“What now.”

 

A voice full of annoyance but was thoughtful.

 

Chase smiled slightly and slowly opened his mouth.

 

“It’s strange for me to say this, but anyway, this part is… something Prince Kalian does not know.”

 

Having said this, Chase was lost in thought for a moment with a face looking at distant places. Then he opened his mouth again and began to speak slowly.

 

“When you told me to prepare last time. You seemed to be thinking that there would be a reason for you to cause such a thing.”

 

Chase looked at Plants’ eyes and said.

 

“You’re probably right. Because I thought so too when I saw it.”

 

[‘I thought so too when I saw it’? He isn’t talking about current events.] Plants understood that Chase was saying he had met Plants during that time that Bern had existed.

 

Plants’ head lifted slightly.

 

Even if he showed no interest or reacted as if he did not want to hear it, Chase was not disappointed about it. Conversely, Plants looked at Chase with the most focused expression he had shown so far.

 

“I felt that there must be a reason. Because I had that thought, and I wanted to know the reason. But I failed.”

 

Unfortunately, he could not continue that thought any further.

 

A nod.

 

One nod with light green eyes closing and was cast down.

 

The ‘original Commander of Valkan’ who walked out with him.

 

Quietly given word of apology.

 

That was the conclusion.

 

“Why are you telling me such things?”

 

“I’m saying this because I don’t know whether Prince Plants’ actions are helping or repaying.”

 

Whether he was moving to help Kalian or to repay a debt owed to Kalian.

 

“Not repay, but help.”

 

Plants closed his eyes for a moment.

 

“Did it look like repaying?”

 

“Well. I don’t know whether it’s because he decided to help or decided to repay, but I think he’s already making his own poison. It also seems that vague faith in himself is not that strong of a lifeline.”

 

Chase could not know whether speaking of that day’s Plants would be medicine or poison for the current Plants. Nevertheless, the reason he informed him of this was because even if this story became poison for Plants, it seemed there wouldn’t be anything particularly different compared to now.

 

“No matter what reason there was, that day’s Plants cannot be forgiven by Bern. But I’m telling you because I think it could be a reason for the current Plants to understand himself.”

 

Chase’s story ended there.

 

Plants only listened, and Chase did not open his mouth any further.

 

After a long time had passed, Plants quietly opened his eyes.

 

“Yes… I’ll take it to heart.”

 

Plants was not unaware of why Chase had brought up this story.

 

Therefore, Plants, with a face that had somehow returned to normal, only said this. Chase just nodded once toward Plants and then walked toward Rubia Hall. He was supposed to meet Allan after a while.

 

Neither ‘nice to see you’ nor ‘let’s meet again next time’ were exchanged.

 

They were not in a relationship to exchange such words.

 

Such greetings could be done someday in the distant future though.