Chapter 194, Because I Cannot Lie (1)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian’s smile toward Dmirea remained unchanged.

 

Creating a flawless, perfect smile on his face, he traced with his fingertips the deep smile he truly wanted to wear.

 

“Dmirea, this way.”

 

After that, he personally guided Dmirea to his now-vacant seat.

 

Dmirea knew all too well that in this place, even the shortest breath or passing glance carried weight. Therefore, Dmirea responded to Kalian’s hospitality with a slightly smiling face and bowed her head. She then followed Kalian and took her seat.

 

The murmuring subsided.

 

The Nobles gathered in Siegfried Hall were struggling to somehow interpret and accept the situation they were witnessing.

 

Finding that the assumptions they had been making until now were correct, that the day they had only imagined had become reality, everyone tightly closed their mouths.

 

“Marquis Beurisen has not yet arrived.”

 

The distance between where the two sat and where the Nobles were seated was quite far. Therefore, Dmirea spoke with a gentle smile as if exchanging light greetings. It was a very small voice, carefully controlled to prevent the sound from spreading into the stillness filled with louder murmuring than ever before.

 

Kalian nodded his head as if responding to Dmirea’s ‘light greeting’ that confirmed and informed him that one person who absolutely should be at this gathering was absent.

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

After all, was there not anyone present with a higher status than Kalian or Plants, who had vacated his seat just moments ago? Nevertheless, the two Princes were already seated before Dmirea and Evan.

 

Of course, Dmirea had been instructed in advance to do so deliberately. It was to capture the attention of the Nobles who had already gathered in one place all at once, to display Kalian’s ambition as efficiently as possible.

 

“Similar to you, but for a slightly different reason. He’ll probably arrive soon.”

 

Evan would likely be the same.

 

He wanted to flaunt that his influence and the power he possessed were at a higher position than the Princes. He was undoubtedly counting on his fingers, eagerly waiting for the proper timing to ruin this occasion.

 

And perhaps,

 

“His Majesty the King arrives!”

 

“…He wants to say his power is greater than His Majesty’s.”

 

At words that flowed out overlapping with the Knight’s cry announcing Rmain’s arrival, Dmirea nodded her head ever so slightly and rose from her seat. Kalian also stood up following her.

 

Allan was not present.

 

Because it was a day when he could neither congratulate nor refrain from congratulating Kalian, he had informed Rmain in advance of his intention not to attend.

 

Rmain, dressed in formal attire of deep gray with hints of purple and wearing a black cloak that reached down to his feet, walked straight toward Kalian. Following his footsteps, the Nobles’ gazes converged.

 

Would he rebuke them in anger at this gathering, blaming them for their rashness? Or would he ignore and pass by, as he had always done before?

 

No. Rather, it seems he might be pleased and welcoming.

 

Silent conversations continued endlessly like the chirping of small birds. How exactly would Rmain react upon seeing Dmirea? Depending on that, how should they, or rather their Family, respond?

 

“I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday, Kalian.”

 

Rmain exceeded all the Nobles’ expectations.

 

Having offered sincere birthday congratulations, Rmain looked at Kalian for a long moment with a wordless smile.

 

Whether this was truly congratulations for his birthday or congratulations for successfully completing this show did not need to be distinguished.

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Kalian only said this and bowed his head.

 

Afterward, Rmain exchanged brief and ordinary greetings with Dmirea, glanced briefly at Evan’s empty seat, then went to his own place. He finished with simple words expressing gratitude to those who attended to celebrate Kalian’s birthday.

 

“Now then, a toast for the Third Prince.”

 

With Rmain’s brief words, champagne was filled before everyone, including Kalian.

 

Kalian, watching the bubbles that repeatedly rose and burst within the red liquor, made an imperceptible bitter smile.

 

To others, it would appear as bright red champagne in the color of Raphtania used when celebrating birthdays. However, no matter how much Kalian looked at it with his own eyes, it could only be seen as the color of melted Arunesia.

 

Rmain, unaware of the complex feelings that briefly stirred Kalian, opened his mouth.

 

“To celebrate this joyous day when the great Third Prince of Cyries was born.”

 

Rmain, holding champagne containing the light of flames that were both life and death, looked around briefly. Having surveyed the Nobles waiting for his resonant low voice to continue. Rmain was about to speak in a powerful tone about what he would gift Kalian when—

 

“I apologize for being late, Your Majesty.”

 

An unwelcome guest.

 

One voice, nothing more and nothing less than an unwelcome guest who had entered past the Knight who said entry was now impossible since the King’s congratulatory speech had already begun, blocked Rmain’s words.

 

To flaunt his own power beyond the distinction of status, and to show everyone the recently miraculously found…

 

“Marquis Evan Beurisen and Viscount Lannen Beurisen.”

 

It was Evan who had deliberately arrived late so that everyone could see Lannen Beurisen.

 

Leaving behind the Caera Knight’s words explaining who had entered the banquet hall uninvited, Evan and Lannen walked into the hall step by step.

 

*Clink.*

 

The pomegranate juice that had been placed long before the champagne was filled to celebrate his birthday. The ice that had filled it melted and settled slightly with a clear sound. To Kalian, that small sound made by the ice was heard much louder than the footsteps of Evan and Lannen entering the hall.

 

Evan’s eyes, having entered wearing deep blue formal attire adorned with splendid platinum decorations, turned toward Kalian standing upright with his back straight. He was secretly curious about how the face of the one who would receive Lannen, whom he had captured with his own hands, as a birthday present would change.

 

As if feeling that gaze, mysterious eyes that shone transparently like they contained pomegranate juice or red champagne turned toward Evan.

 

And soon withdrew.

 

He did not even cast a passing glance at Lannen.

 

Just a glance to confirm who had entered. His face showed that he had slightly more interest in the pomegranate juice making sounds right before his eyes.

 

Evan briefly raised his eyebrows at that behavior of not even looking at Lannen, then soon regained his composure.

 

[Well, he must have known.]

 

In fact, stories about Lannen were already rampant with rumors, were they not? Kalian must have also taken into account that they would appear together conspicuously on such a dramatic day meant to celebrate him.

 

Therefore, Evan was not greatly shaken by Kalian’s calm reaction and turned his gaze.

 

Plants’s empty seat, and Dmirea standing on the opposite side. The ornamental accessory with many stories placed on Dmirea’s head came into view in turn.

 

Dmirea had gone one step further. She did not even look at Evan at all. Evan’s eyebrows twitched once more as he noticed what was sparkling brilliantly on Dmirea’s forehead, who had turned her head toward Rmain.

 

[So this is why Plants vacated his seat!]

 

Evan was still Evan, he was still a person who walked on two feet and spoke. He understood that this surprise party he had diligently prepared had become useless and roughly what Kalian had done.

 

[If I had known it would be like this, I should have come a bit earlier and watched everything from when those bastards entered!]

 

Evan clicked his tongue quietly, feeling belated regret. Lannen, who heard that sound alone, opened his mouth toward Evan.

 

“Father?”

 

Lannen, who had been ‘rescued’ by Evan without knowing that the person who had confined him was his own father, and had been preciously treated and brought to this place, was looking at Evan, Kalian, and Rmain’s faces with a bewildered expression.

 

Thanks to Lannen’s inability to grasp the situation, Evan suddenly came to his senses. For now, it was important to handle things composedly, ensuring that his confusion was absolutely not visible in others’ eyes.

 

Soon Evan withdrew his gaze from Kalian. He then slowly walked to the empty seat prepared in the front among the Nobles and sat down. He omitted not only an apology for arriving late but also proper greetings to Rmain and Kalian.

 

*Tap, tap, tap…*

 

The fingertips of Kalian’s hand holding the champagne glass tapped the glass.

 

He was enduring to avoid getting angry at Evan’s baseless arrogant attitude. For now, the problem was not Evan but that Rmain needed to finish his remaining words.

 

‘So please, hurry up and speak.’ Kalian looked up at Rmain with such eyes. After glancing slightly at Kalian, Rmain withdrew his gaze and opened his mouth once more.

 

“To the Royal Consort Freya Hwiteurin…”

 

And finally.

 

“I shall grant the position of Queen.”

 

Words like a bolt of lightning falling from the sky resounded throughout the hall.

 

The music that had been continuing gently in hushed tones stopped. The champagne glasses that had been raised for the toast slowly lowered. The Nobles’ eyes examined each other.

 

[Did I hear that correctly?]

 

And.

 

*Tap, tap, tap…*

 

Kalian’s hand made sounds once more.

 

Probably no one would know how much effort Kalian was making right now to avoid revealing a face full of interest.

 

He absolutely must not be swayed by the Nobles’ commotion. He must not show pleasure, nor must he show any intention to refuse Rmain’s words. He had to unconditionally remain calm, looking around with a calm face.

 

[Let’s see who sits and who stands up.]

 

Because he had to clearly confirm that with his own two eyes.

 

* * *

 

There was one thing that had changed and one thing that remained the same.

 

The one thing that had changed was that when calling him, the strange and long title of ‘Your Highness’ older brother’ was no longer used.

 

“What brings you here at this hour?”

 

That thing that had appeared at some point and had been attached every time was no longer used.

 

“Your Highness Deputy Commander.”

 

And what remained the same was that the person had become somewhat more proper, or rather, was not calling him by the proper title of just ‘Your Highness.’

 

Arsene had now removed Plants from the category of ‘Kalian’s older brother.’ To be precise, he had removed Kalian from the brotherhood of Randel and Plants, but anyway, he no longer tried to link the two as brothers.

 

Thanks to that title that seemed somewhat shorter or perhaps more peculiar, Plants, who had already become accustomed to it, answered without much reaction.

 

“A cold.”

 

“You caught a cold?”

 

Having said this, Arsene stealthily stepped back one pace.

 

“It’s overwhelming just taking care of the new one hundred people. You must not spread it.”

 

One hundred new personnel, including early graduates from the Magic Academy, had been added to Valkan’s Mage Order. Moreover, Knights from Caera and Roan Knight Orders had officially joined Valkan’s Knight Order.

 

Thanks to that, the anticipated change that arrived was naturally ‘busy.’ Not just busy, but now truly insanely busy.

 

“Noisy.”

 

Plants, who had not ended up in a very good mood, went to a place completely opposite from Arsene, removed his cloak, and threw it down on the sofa along with his shirt pins and tie.

 

Although he did not know where he had left Rerik again, he was quite good at undoing things without anyone’s help. Watching Plants, who had thrown off his jacket and vest and become dressed in just a shirt and was rolling up his sleeves, Arsene frowned and asked.

 

“If you have a cold, why did you come?”

 

“Work.”

 

[Ah, Your Highness. Did I really do that? Are you saying I went to war trusting him of all people, whose words are short and whose character is shorter…]

 

Arsene, who had displayed a silent cry of anguish, let out a deep sigh and sat in front of his desk. It was his own desk located as far as possible from Plants’s desk placed over there.

 

As Valkan’s scale grew, the anticipated change was being busy, and the unanticipated change was this current situation. Plants’s desk, which had been set up in the Knight Order, had come into Arsene’s inefficient office that had no furniture and was merely spacious.

 

‘My older brother lacks social skills but is actually quite gentle once you know him, so get along well.’

 

Kalian’s judgment was truly terribly rational.

 

Of course, the work had increased tremendously, that smart Second Prince did work tremendously fast and well, and therefore having the two Deputy Commanders use the same office would tremendously increase work efficiency. All of this was correct in theory.

 

However, was it not truly too much to have pushed into one office two people where just looking at each other’s faces increased efficiency but decreased their lifespan? He was beginning to doubt whether Kalian truly bore no resentment as he said he would not.

 

As if reading Arsene’s thoughts, Plants turned toward Arsene with an irritated face and spoke.

 

“Mage.”

 

“Your Highness Deputy Commander, it’s Sir Deputy Commander.”

 

Without even looking at Arsene, who once again corrected Plants of his title, about a million times by now, Plants opened his mouth again.

 

“Get out.”

 

To the order to leave from the shy and actually quite gentle Prince, the socially adept and actually quite venomous Mage answered with a docile face.

 

“This is my office, Your Highness Deputy Commander.”

 

As stated again, the two had a thirteen-year age difference.

 

Plants, unable to hide his irritation and having disheveled his well-groomed hair, looked at Arsene with his green eyes sharpened.

 

“I said get out.”

 

After that, he added dismissively while scanning through documents with those sparkling green eyes.

 

“It’s my little brother’s birthday, so shouldn’t I congratulate him?”

 

[Birthday congratulations, he says.]

 

Arsene, who was about to look at Plants with eyes asking what crazy talk that was, glanced outside the window for a moment. Siegfried Hall, which shone most beautifully on the continent, came into view in the distance. Looking at it and thinking for quite a long time, Arsene put on a pure white robe that had been hanging on the wall and opened his mouth.

 

“I will go congratulate His Highness on his birthday, Your Highness Deputy Commander.”

 

Arsene Hertz, Deputy Commander of Valkan. The golden laurel leaf emblem that properly showed that position glittered briefly before disappearing behind the door.

 

Having given no information and only told him to congratulate, Plants, who had betrayed nothing about Evan, turned his eyes back to the documents as if nothing had happened.

 

* * *

 

The day Kalian collapsed coughing up blood.

 

A commotion that would certainly be no less than that day, if anything more, filled the banquet hall.

 

Kalian’s eyes, which had been quietly closed while looking ahead, turned toward Evan. Evan also met Kalian’s eyes directly.

 

Evan rose from his seat and walked toward where Rmain was. Even though there was no way Evan did not know what the elevation of Freya to Queen meant.

 

One step, another step.

 

Watching this, Kalian’s long white fingers moved as if tracing down the water droplets on the glass containing champagne. Another transparent arc was created on the glass.

 

“Ah.”

 

Rmain had granted his request, and Dmirea had properly played her role. Plants had vacated his seat at the right time.

 

Moreover, Kalian, who had just confirmed there was one more truly happy thing, released the strength from his hand at the end of the arc he was drawing. The champagne glass that left his fingertips hovered in the air for a moment, then dropped to the floor.

 

*Crash!*

 

The glass shattered into pieces on the marble floor. Red champagne like blood spread across the white floor.

 

At that sharp sound, Evan’s thoughtless feet heading toward Rmain stopped. The noise that had been spreading unknowingly also stopped.

 

Having thus silenced the commotion in Siegfried Hall, Kalian looked down at the bright red liquor that had flowed out spreading across the floor.

 

Now that it appeared as the color of Raphtania, Kalian, freed from the thoughts about old Kalian that had been pressing on his heart all day, smiled slightly with a satisfied face.

 

Evan’s Aura.

 

“···Finally.”

 

He.

 

Could.

 

See.

 

It.