Chapter 142, Where One Belongs (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

White, slender fingers folded with precision.

 

Whether it was because the sword held in those hands was more special than any famous blade in this world, or because Syspanian’s Blessing extended its influence even to such places, those still-growing pale hands bore neither scars nor calluses.

 

Those hands, which seemed as if they had never touched even muddy water, let alone thick blood, quietly rose up. Red eyes that he himself considered blood-colored while others called them ruby-colored were hidden beneath his hand. Thus, Kalian raised his hand to briefly cover his own face.

 

He was holding back laughter.

 

His slender shoulders trembled for a moment, then moved so violently that one might think he was sobbing. After that, suppressed laughter leaked out.

 

And finally, his laughter burst forth.

 

When he had gone to Allan’s house and saw the flower-shaped statue writhing and singing, his laughter had burst out like this. This time was no different.

 

“Ah, Mages.”

 

[Really. Mages are…]

 

Having said this, Kalian looked again at what he held in his hands.

 

‘Why did we destroy the store?’

‘Reflecting on the time, my reason was extremely emotional.’

 

‘Rising doubts, why are we unharmed through it all?’

 

Holding papers with such titles. Or more precisely, something in a report format, Kalian could not even straighten his back and laughed as if he might choke.

 

“They’ve all gone mad.”

 

And then he barely managed to open his mouth to say this.

 

So what Kalian held in his hands was a report from the Mages. More precisely, letters of reflection.

 

The day before, several of Valkan Mages, who had gone out drinking, had gotten into an argument with a group of people. It became a war of words, and the Mages, all equally sharp-tongued, won. Angered by this, the group brought their friends. Thus, what had been a peaceful venue for conversation became a battlefield.

 

Up to that point, it was fine.

 

The problem was what happened next.

 

They hit people with Magic.

 

They did not just hit people… they hit the store too.

 

When asked why they hit the store, they said they could not remember.

 

“Why did you drink alcohol when you were already crazy?”

 

[Ah. Do they drink because they’re already crazy instead?]

 

“There wasn’t anyone crazy enough to drink because they are crazy.”

 

Like this, Kalian muttered words that Ian would not understand while looking at the reports again.

 

He should have known from the moment the report titles were like this.

 

Of course, he knew they had not written it that way to mock Kalian or tease him. That was why he laughed.

 

The report titled ‘Intensive Study: The Correlation Between Alcohol and Violence’ written by someone was at the very top. It was placed on top not because it was written by the person responsible for this incident or the highest-ranking among them, but because it had the most ‘serious-looking’ title out of them all.

 

They knew it themselves.

 

How ridiculous Mages were as a species.

 

Until now, Kalian had only received reports from Mages through Allan and Euria. So this was the first time he saw how real Mages, the norm, actually wrote reports. And the content written inside was even worse than the titles.

 

“Your Highness, your words…”

 

When rough words poured from the flower-like Prince’s mouth, Ian, who had been standing beside him, tried to give a gentle warning but stopped. He had certainly laughed, had laughing eyes, and a laughing mouth, but the atmosphere was different.

 

He was angry.

 

Very much so.

 

Feeling Ian watching him, Kalian kept his head directed toward the report but turned only his eyes. Then he relaxed his expression toward the stiffened Ian and said:

 

“Don’t watch my mood. You don’t have to.”

 

Ian nodded with a slightly smiling face. Still, he didn’t bring up the ‘speak more gently’ comment again.

 

Kalian let out a short sigh and spoke again.

 

“Were other people hurt?”

 

The ‘people’ he meant here did not refer to those who had fought. The Mages, who had not been hurt by even a hair, were holding their breath in Wilhelm Hall.

 

“The store was somewhat damaged, and there were injured people, but no one was seriously hurt or killed.”

 

“That’s fortunate at least. What did Lord Hertz do instead of stopping them? He wouldn’t have joined in the fight.”

 

There was no story related to Arsene in the reports, and he believed that if Arsene had been there, such an incident wouldn’t have occurred.

 

“He went home before the fight started.”

 

Arsene was a Mage who loved alcohol but was weak to it.

 

Then what was so good about going out to drink alcohol? Why would someone who could not handle alcohol go out to drink and cause trouble by getting drunk first?

 

If he said such words aloud, the Baby Elephant would make worried sounds again, so Kalian quietly muttered to himself.

 

After roughly skimming through the predictable reports, Kalian nodded and said:

 

“First, let’s provide compensation, and call Lord Hertz.”

 

The Mages caught by the security forces said this incident had nothing to do with Valkan or the Royal Palace. Regardless, the security forces immediately reported this to the Royal Palace.

 

That day, Allan had been with Kalian continuously since early morning. He had heard the urgently transmitted report together with Kalian. As soon as he heard the story, Allan asked for Kalian’s opinion on how to handle the aftermath of this incident.

 

He asked for Kalian’s opinion, not Rmain’s.

 

Since they said the guys had caused trouble as ‘individuals, not as Valkan.’

 

So Kalian said he would think about it for a moment and sent Allan away first. Since the Mages had dug their own graves, there was no reason to just watch without stepping in.

 

“Yes, Your Highness. I understand.”

 

“No, wait a moment.”

 

Kalian, who had changed his mind, smiled broadly.

 

At the same time, Plants, who had been sitting across from him quietly moving his fork, paused his hand for a moment. The cat lying on his lap, ‘I am Prince Kalian’s cat, who likes Prince Plants more’, puffed out its fur and made a low threatening sound.

 

Both had felt the faint killing intent that was unsuitable for a dining setting. Kalian continued speaking to the Baby Elephant who was looking at him with round eyes, realizing nothing.

 

“Just tell them I’m coming myself.”

 

First mistake.

 

Now that it had happened, he planned to make it so they would never make such a mistake again.

 

If they knew what they had done wrong, that is.

 

* * *

 

Allan, who had taken a bite of the cookie that Grand Chamberlain Raul had left, showed a satisfied smile.

 

“Did Etienne send this?”

 

Thanks to Preservation Magic, it was a cookie with an exquisite light and soft taste that preserved the unique texture of coconut. That cookie made by the chef in charge of Queen Etienne of Liberen’s meals was also what Allan had enjoyed eating most during his stay in Liberen.

 

Rmain, who had been frowning over Valkan’s matter, looked at Allan and was about to say something but just closed his mouth. He remembered that Allan did not pay much attention to whatever happened in the Royal Palace as long as it was not related to Kalian.

 

And he knew that Allan always had something to rely on when acting so carefree. Therefore, Rmain nodded and answered:

 

“That’s right.”

 

If Chase had given Rmain oranges for Kalian, Etienne had sent Rmain cookies for Allan.

 

Allan laughed briefly, finding it both amusing and somehow sorry that Rmain had not noticed this.

 

“It’s not that big a deal. Don’t worry about it.”

 

“How can I not worry when the Royal Palace’s elite forces drinking alcohol outside the Royal Palace and causing trouble?”

 

“The two Princes will handle it well so it won’t become a big deal, so it’ll be fine.”

 

“Are you saying such matters have been left to the Princes?”

 

Allan nodded and put the remaining half of the cookie he had taken a bite of earlier into his mouth. Seeing this, Rmain opened his mouth.

 

“Isn’t there quite a difference between training an army and cleaning up the accidents they cause?”

 

“What’s difficult about it? They’ll do better than anyone else. Isn’t that what the Princes have been doing all along?”

 

Allan gave this response with the cookie in his mouth, then after swallowing it all, he produced a leisurely answer.

 

Rmain’s face hardened slightly. He knew what words would follow. So, he wanted to say that he understood well enough with just that much, but Allan’s mouth did not close.

 

“The aftermath of what Your Majesty has caused.”

 

[Yes. It’s all my fault…]

 

Rmain, who had started the discussion about the incident of Valkan Mages drinking and fighting only to receive another scolding, let out a long breath as if giving up.

 

* * *

 

Plants glanced at Kalian for a moment.

 

It was time to start a meal closer to lunch than what could be called a late breakfast.

 

Kalian, who had been slicing ham, quietly opened his mouth.

 

“…I’m not that violent. I won’t directly draw my sword or pick up a club against Valkan Mages, so don’t look at me like that.”

 

Plants made a short laughing sound.

 

Plants also knew that Kalian couldn’t lie. So those words Kalian had said must have been sincere.

 

Plants, thinking about the things this guy who thought he wasn’t violent had done, just roughly nodded his head. He was thinking something like, ‘I’ll just ignore it.’

 

“Let’s go together. To see Lord Hertz as well. We were supposed to meet yesterday but couldn’t, so we can go see him while we’re at it.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Plants, who had a face that said he would accompany him but had no intention of getting involved in this matter, gave this answer. After all, hadn’t he told Arsene, ‘I’ll come directly with my little brother’?

 

Kalian asked Plants, who was swallowing a bite of flat bread baked with white cheese:

 

“How would you like this to be handled?”

 

“Handle it yourself.”

 

As if uninterested, Plants lowered his gaze and answered like this.

 

“You seem interested though.”

 

How Kalian would punish Valkan Mages.

 

He couldn’t not be interested. That was impossible not to be.

 

Wasn’t it something Plants, who had nothing, was nurturing for the first time? Although he considered it somewhat of a ‘borrowed item’ that could not be entirely called his own, Plants certainly had interest in Valkan.

 

That was why he had shown a worried look at the briefly released killing intent.

 

In case Kalian might get very angry at the Mages.

 

“I’m not angry because they drank and caused trouble.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Do you know why I’m angry?”

 

Kalian looked at Plants with a slight smile.

 

If he said he knew, until now Kalian would have passed it off thinking he understood appropriately. But suddenly he was trying to confirm like this.

 

Plants frowned at the corners of his eyes and said.

 

“My little brother seem to not trust my words.”

 

“No. That’s not it.”

 

“Then why are you suddenly changing your attitude?”

 

“Changing my attitude?”

 

“You didn’t use to confirm things. Originally.”

 

Kalian answered in a light voice like pages fluttering:

 

“Did I?”

 

That was why Plants was annoyed.

 

Why Kalian had suddenly changed his attitude.

 

Kalian took a sip of the red tomato juice placed before him. Then he continued speaking to Plants, who was still looking at him with the same expression:

 

“If you’re only half-smart like that, you won’t last long before you die.”

 

“…Barking has become your daily job.”

 

If it had been usual, Kalian would have just laughed off Plants’s words like this. But not this time.

 

“I will teach you. Everything.”

 

Sharp red eyes looked directly at Plants.

 

“So don’t just say you’ll live by words alone, don’t secretly show consideration, don’t think of helping for a bit then backing away, don’t pretend to be uninterested on purpose.”

 

Plants’s eyes quietly sank.

 

“Don’t think of playing the role of my shadow for life, living like you’re dead as you do now.”

 

[In order for you to live properly, I will teach you everything without leaving anything out.]