Chapter 200, Ghost (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The most wondrous moment created by the sun.

 

So fleeting as to be regrettable, and as precious as it is brief—the light of sunset.

 

Arianneu was a person with eyes that emitted a beautiful light like the sunset, gentler than red and warmer than blue.

 

– Are you going to keep not answering? Do you have a lot of time?

 

Of course, this is to say that what caught the eye was one thing, but it certainly does not mean that what came out of the mouth was the same.

 

– Ah, you’re the one my fiancé said he left behind, right?

 

– Wait a moment… just wait a moment.

 

Kalian, who had instantly become ‘the one Arianneu’s fiancé said he left behind,’ sent a response to Arianneu, who kept ringing in his head urging him to answer quickly. Then, as if she had been waiting, the next words flowed in.

 

– Wow, it really works. Hello, the person my fiancé said he left behind? It’s probably not the first time for you, but it’s the first time for me, so let me introduce myself first. My name is Arianneu Lyn, and since my mother is the legal affairs officer, I somehow ended up stuck working under her. Oh, and the Crown Prince of Secritia is my fiancé.

 

Every country on the continent clearly uses a common language.

 

So Arianneu surely would not have failed to understand when Kalian said to ‘wait a moment.’ Nevertheless, the self-introduction followed immediately.

 

Kalian chuckled softly, realizing that her personality, which could not be fully explained even by the word ‘willful,’ had not changed in the slightest. Seeing this, Ian stood up from his seat without making a sound and spoke in a small voice.

 

“Your Highness, I will take my leave now.”

 

He had seen throughout the Roselita period that light would suddenly come from the ring and Kalian would close his mouth, so he understood what situation Kalian was in now.

 

Although Ian certainly knew that Kalian did not remove that ring under any circumstances these days, this was the first time he had actually seen the light come on inside Chermil Palace.

 

Kalian had not explained who had the bracelet connected to that ring, nor how it was possible for the ring to emit light even when inside Chermil. This was because he had not used the ring in front of Ian since returning from Roselita.

 

“Ian, I’ll explain later. I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s all right.”

 

However, Ian had a face that said he would simply accept it. It was not an expression of being curious but holding back, but rather one that came from thinking that while Kalian must have his circumstances, there was no need to know them.

 

The reason was simple.

 

Because Kalian had not told him.

 

Was he not the Baby Elephant who never showed curiosity first unless it was a matter related to Kalian’s safety?

 

“Please call me if you need anything.”

 

Therefore, Ian left these plain words, stood up from his seat, and bowed his head slightly.

 

“Yes. Thank you.”

 

Kalian nodded and answered, feeling even more sorry for not having told him in advance. He wanted to explain the situation to Ian, but first he needed to confirm the circumstances under which Arianneu had initiated contact.

 

Seeing how she was calmly starting with a self-introduction, it did not seem like she had made contact in an urgent bad situation, but in any case, would Chase not be the same as Kalian? He surely would not remove that bracelet under any circumstances, so it would be good to quickly confirm for what reason and under what circumstances Arianneu had initiated the conversation.

 

– Nice to meet you, Arianneu.

 

– Ah. I guess you originally called me by my name. Yes, nice to meet you.

 

Arianneu was a Second-Circle Mage.

 

It was not that she lacked talent, but she gave up during her training. It was not because Secritia did not give special treatment to Mages, nor because her family opposed it. It was because Arianneu herself could not develop much interest in being a Mage.

 

In any case, from Arianneu’s reaction, Kalian could tell that Chase had also told Arianneu his secret.

 

This was good, and fortunate.

 

For Chase, Arianneu was always like a great star floating in the sky. So, if it was Arianneu, she would surely be able to hold onto Chase’s heart in a different way from Taillan and properly show him the direction he should go.

 

– Then what should I call you?

 

– My name would suffice.

 

Since they were originally on terms where they called each other by name and spoke comfortably, Kalian made this answer without thinking and made a bewildered face. This was because he thought he could not predict which name Arianneu would call.

 

– I’ll do that. Then, Kalian.

 

And Arianneu immediately replied like this, surprising Kalian twice.

 

No matter how much permission had been given first, and no matter how foreign a country it was, was it not a Royal’s name? Nevertheless, he was surprised once by that confidence in calling the Prince’s name without hesitation and without a moment’s consideration, and surprised once more by being called ‘Kalian’ rather than ‘Bern.’

 

Kalian did not yet know that in order to remember the name ‘Bern,’ one had to recall that name oneself like in Chase’s case, or hear the name directly from Kalian like Allan or Kyrie.

 

– His Highness said we were quite close, but I don’t remember. It doesn’t seem like I did anything particularly wrong, so I won’t feel sorry. We can just meet later and become close again, so I think it’s better if we don’t worry about each other. Is that okay?

 

Kalian held his head and began to laugh quietly.

 

When was it that she complained about not answering quickly and whether he had a lot of time, and now the preamble was so long? Moreover, saying she had no intention of feeling sorry, what a very Arianneu-like way of thinking.

 

– Yes. It’s fine. We can just become close again.

 

– Good that we communicate well.

 

Of course they would communicate well.

 

How much had she taught him?

 

– Anyway, Kalian. I contacted you on my own because I have a favor to ask.

 

– Tell me. I’ll help with anything.

 

There was no answer returning for quite a long time at these words. By the time he was beginning to feel a little anxious because of this, an answer came again from Arianneu.

 

– Ah, this is really strange. It’s exactly the same as when talking to His Highness. Taillan said you resemble him tremendously, and you really do resemble him.

 

She said she would not feel sorry, yet she was quite casually tapping painful spots. However, because it was like the touch of a physician uncovering places that must be treated, Kalian only smiled as if recalling a friend from distant memory instead of showing pain.

 

– Anyway, the favor is nothing much…

 

Arianneu, who had said it was nothing much, paused for a moment before continuing.

 

– Please try to save the Crown Prince.

 

And then she brought out this favor that was nothing much.

 

In an extremely light tone, in a tone that really seemed like nothing much. A favor that Kalian could absolutely not refuse.

 

* * *

 

There were three things that must be avoided at Wilhelm.

 

First was needlessly speaking to Plants, who was just a bad-tempered Second Prince outside Wilhelm Hall but showed the aspects of a perfect Deputy Commander the moment he entered Wilhelm. If one committed such an act, they could carelessly end up facing a perfectly bad-tempered Deputy Commander.

 

Second was carelessly bothering the healer Hina, who was the symbol of Valkan. She was everyone’s salvation, and the light of this land. Everyone except Hina knew that if one presented annoyance through things like requesting unnecessary treatment from Hina, one would surely face the Third Prince smile, which was like a flower in full bloom.

 

Among them, the third, the most important but hardest to keep in mind, the thing that all the seniors tell new recruits entering Valkan with one voice.

 

Never carelessly give food to the cat called Luci, who freely came and went between Wilhelm and Chermil.

 

*Meow!*

 

“No.”

 

On the day one was momentarily fooled by that pitiful crying, asking why the human was eating alone that good-smelling thing, to end up carelessly handed over even one bite of white bread, one would meet both the Second Prince with the face of a perfectly bad-tempered Deputy Commander and Hina. Since one had caused the trouble of making Hina walk, the probability of meeting the flower-like Third Prince as a bonus was also very high.

 

Therefore, this crime would be the same as going to cross the Senu River on one’s own feet.

 

*Meooow!*

 

For this reason, Nidlen, a Fifth-Circle Lightning Mage, who was the most capable after Arsene, was looking at Luci with a very troubled face. Her short hair, which was about halfway between light purple and pink reminiscent of Aldinia Flower petals given when wishing someone a speedy recovery, swayed here and there in the blowing wind.

 

The cause was taking out the rye sandwich filled with thin bacon and white cheese that her younger brother, who ran a quite famous cafe at the end of Astrisha Street, had made for her. The hungry Luci, who had woken up from a leisurely sleep at Chermil Palace and come to Wilhelm looking for Hina or Plants, had caught the scent of that delicious smell.

 

“No. This is mine.”

 

*Mreoow!*

 

Kalian’s horse Raven supposedly never touched anything that was not grass and vegetables specially grown for Royal horses, but that vigorous cat absolutely did not know how to be selective. It tried to eat everything without discrimination.

 

Thanks to this, Nidlen, who could not know how many times Plants thought while looking at Luci that it took exactly after its owner, smiled wryly and took out something wrapped in paper from her bosom. It was boiled chicken that she had asked her brother to prepare separately to give to Luci when she met it.

 

“Eat this. You can eat this.”

 

*Meow!*

 

As if it did not necessarily have to be bacon, Nidlen watched Luci, who made a pleased sound and took the chicken and began to munch on it, and tried to take a bite of the sandwich.

 

That was, if the terrifying Deputy Commander Second Prince had not appeared with the words, “What’s this.”

 

At the voice like a snowstorm that had blown in during the leisurely and relaxed lunchtime of midsummer, the startled Nidlen, who stood up from her seat. Nidlen, who noticed exactly where those clear light green eyes were looking, quickly opened her mouth to explain.

 

“I didn’t put salt in it, Your Highness.”

 

It was to say that the chicken that Luci was already almost finished eating had not come from inside the sandwich, so only then did Plants turn his head and look at Nidlen and say.

 

“Why are you?”

 

“I’m eating something with salt in it.”

 

Plants let out a short sigh after receiving the answer that she was eating something with salt in it to the question of why she was not eating with the other Mages but was here, alone. tearing at bread while having her chicken stolen by Luci.

 

Right. Plants also knew that it would be strange for someone other than Kalian to understand him.

 

That said, it was not something he was curious enough about to bother correcting the question and asking again, so Plants just nodded his head once and then picked up Luci. Then, after briefly contemplating whether he should say she did well or thank her for taking care of Luci’s snack, he ended up not saying either and kept his mouth shut.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Toward such Plants, Nidlen carefully opened her mouth. Nidlen, who hesitated for a moment about how to speak with Plants right in front of her, continued speaking.

 

“Yesterday I think I said something unnecessary…”

 

She had heard from her brother a story that might be related to Plants among the rumors that had spread throughout Astrisha Street. Then yesterday, seeing Plants returning alone to Wilhelm Hall from Kalian’s birthday celebration, that thought suddenly came to mind, and she said it was fortunate that Lannen was safe.

 

Afterward, thinking about whether that matter was truly fortunate for Plants as well, she came to the conclusion that she had really only meddled unnecessarily. Although outwardly he had joined hands with Marquis Evan Beurisen, was not the family relationship of a Prince very different from the kind of relationship she had imagined? Kalian also seemed to spend time without communicating at all with the younger brother of Royal Consort Freya.

 

“I want to apologize.”

 

Of course, Plants, who had heard the words from Nidlen the day before, had just nodded with an indifferent face and passed by. However, feeling that she had probably misspoken, she was apologizing like this.

 

“I didn’t hear anything. What are you talking about?”

 

Plants, who had been looking at Nidlen for a moment, replied like this and then trudged on his way.

 

Nidlen smiled slightly and sat back down to take a bite of the delicious sandwich. Whether or not she understood that Plantz was pretending he had heard nothing, to protect her from his younger brother, who thought deeply but had terribly short patience and might come after her if he found out who had told Plants about Lannen.

 

* * *

 

She said it was nothing much.

 

[Was asking a Prince of a foreign country to try to save the life of a Crown Prince of another country a matter that was ‘nothing much’? Then, to be considered special, was she planning to request world conquest or something?]

 

Kalian, who barely sorted through the various thoughts that arose simultaneously, was about to ask for details when words came again from Arianneu’s side.

 

– His Majesty is looking for a healer. As you know, it’s illegal for Halidom of Tansyll healers to enter this country. So, we’re catching all the healers who enter the country and expelling them, and soon Marquis Lyn might be framed and taken in.

 

Kalian’s eyes, which had been looking at the mint tea, sank.

 

It was simple content that conveyed only the current situation while hiding the detailed story, but the hidden meaning was not simple.

 

Debeullan was looking for a healer from Halidom of Tansyll.

 

Kalian did not know whether Debeullan had tried to bring in a healer from Halidom of Tansyll in the ‘past’ as well and failed, or whether he was looking now because the current situation had changed from the past.

 

However, he knew what it meant to prevent that.

 

– It’s dangerous.

 

Was Marquis Lyn not Arianneu’s mother? It meant that she was about to be harmed while trying to stand against Debeullan. Of course, since that power was not insignificant, he would not carelessly try to prune it, but Debeullan was a person whose boundaries were kept very unclear. Was it not impossible to know when he might change his mind and send a sword to Arianneu’s house?

 

– Taillan is at our house. A while ago I encountered some bad guys while coming home drunk. So, the Crown Prince, who couldn’t sleep at night worrying about his fiancée, sent his strongest Escort Knight.

 

It must mean they had put on a play.

 

It meant to avoid Debeullan’s eyes, he had sent the Knight Taillan to Arianneu’s house while playing the role of a Crown Prince blinded by his fiancée.

 

[But why do this deliberately now of all times?]

 

– Why is Crown Prince Chase deliberately accepting a civil war? In any case, even in the past…

 

– That past, it wasn’t ‘in any case.’

 

That the person who would die was not someone who would have died anyway, whether a healer was summoned or not.

 

At this moment, Kalian’s eyes narrowed. He now understood that both Chase and Bern had been hiding one darkness each from each other.