Chapter 207, Please Bear With It, Master (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Sometimes, there were things whose order gets switched around.

 

“Everyone is like that.”

 

Ian spoke cheerfully with a face that seemed utterly unconcerned and took a bite of the cherry cake placed in front of him. Cherries did not have as sweet a fragrance as strawberries, but their taste was sweeter. The cake, filled with the flavor of that round fruit possessing a much deeper red color than strawberries, melted softly in his mouth.

 

“Not many people live according to the order they set in their heads.”

 

Just as one does not come to like cherries because they taste good, but rather comes to like cherries because the cherry blossoms that bloom like white sugar clouds on a clear spring day are pretty, or just as one comes to like rain showers because of the rainbow with its fairytale colors that appears after the rain, which one finds beautiful.

 

“So it’s fine if you don’t return it.”

 

Ian, who had refreshed his palate with the mint tea that Kalian so loved, looked at Rerik sitting across from him and said this.

 

Rerik’s eyes, which had the color of very ripe blueberries or round grapes, drooped down. Rerik, whose eyes drooped so much that one might wonder how eyes could droop like that, opened his mouth.

 

“Every time I see the Prince, I feel so sorry…”

 

“Rerik. No one enters the Royal Palace without ulterior motives from the start. I was the same.”

 

Having said this, Ian glanced down at the money pouch Rerik had offered, then spoke.

 

“Would there really be anyone who comes to the Royal Palace purely with the intention of taking care of a Royal’s affairs?”

 

These were quite blatant and harsh words to come from the mouth of Ian, who was taking care of Kalian’s affairs more diligently and perfectly than anyone else. Therefore, Rerik quickly turned his head to check if there was anyone else around listening. Fortunately, Rerik, having confirmed that there was no one else in the attendants’ rest area besides the two of them, let out a small sigh.

 

Ian, who had been watching Rerik’s worried expression for a while, spoke again to the man who was older than him but had lesser experience.

 

“Everyone comes in with some reason or another, so what’s wrong with that reason being money?”

 

When the Second Prince, who had been born and raised solely within Sillike’s embrace, finally broke free by throwing himself into that embrace of his own accord.

 

When that became a wound and for days on end he could not properly wake up. When Rmain sent all the attendants and maids who had been Sillike’s eyes and ears out of the Royal Palace at that time.

 

There was no one left.

 

When there was truly no one who stepped forward to become the Second Prince’s hands and feet out of worry that they might be harmed by getting caught between Beurisen or other Nobles, and when all those who had been decided as the Second Prince’s attendants quit their jobs and fled out of the Royal Palace…

 

When Kalian’s attendants and maids took care of Plants together for quite a long time.

 

“Just one person needs to step forward. After that, it will be easy to find more. So please find just that one person for me.”

 

To Ian’s words expressing concern about how to resolve the situation where Kalian’s other attendants and maids were struggling because their work had doubled, and despite that, no one willing had come forward to be Plants’s attendant, Kalian had given this answer.

 

Then, he had said that if it was really difficult, using the easiest means to change a person’s heart was also a method. When Ian hesitated after hearing what that was, Kalian added as if it were no big deal.

 

“Motivation isn’t what’s important.”

 

At that time, Ian had not fully understood Kalian’s words.

 

After hearing that Merlin, who had the best stamina and overexerted herself the most, had gotten a nosebleed, without even having time to understand those words further, he simply did as Kalian instructed.

 

The person they found that way was Rerik.

 

Reasonably perceptive, seemed kind, appeared to have a tight lip. And he had a lot of debt.

 

“I think just stepping forward when no one else did is already remarkable. Truly.”

 

Having said this, Ian pushed the pouch, which contained all the money that had come from Kalian’s treasury and been handed over secretly without a single penny removed, back toward Rerik. It was telling him to just accept the compensation for stepping forward as Plants’s senior attendant.

 

“But.”

 

“If we’re going to think about it that way, I was worse. I stepped forward to be our Prince’s attendant for truly horrendous reasons.”

 

After meeting the red-eyed child who had a soul that was withering away, he learned who that child was. Because he found it fascinating that there was someone more pitiful than himself.

 

“Somehow, if I kept watching our Prince, it seemed like I could believe that I wasn’t the most unhappy person in the world. So, I came to this Royal Palace.”

 

Naturally, neither Sleiman nor Seri, whom he had expected to oppose, opposed it. Whether they thought he would soon return exhausted on his own, or whether they were grateful just that he had begun to live while paying attention to something in that way, he did not know.

 

“The motivation may have gotten switched. I came here to save myself, but now it’s completely changed.”

 

Ian spoke with a gentle smile as if recalling a somewhat distant past.

 

Learning that cherries were as delicious as cherry blossoms were pretty, learning that rain showers were as refreshing as rainbows were beautiful.

 

Even though he had begun watching Kalian for the most cruel reason of anyone, the reason he could be confident was that clearly, at some point, he had completely forgotten that first reason and came to think only of Kalian.

 

“Even if you tell our Prince this story, he’ll probably just say ‘I see.’ Because he knows that regardless of motivation, the present and the future are more important. I think Prince Plants isn’t any different.”

 

Although Ian still disliked Plants, and though there would probably never be a day in his life when he would gladly face Plants, he nevertheless had no intention of disliking even the fact that Rerik had come to sincerely follow Plants. Rather, it was welcomed and good news.

 

With Plants’s tremendous perceptiveness, perhaps he already knew, but Ian thought that Plants surely would not hold in his heart or be disappointed by the real reason Rerik had sought him out.

 

“So accept it. It is money you need, isn’t it? It’s compensation you’re allowed to receive, so you don’t need to feel sorry for either side. And our Prince has plenty of money anyway, so even if you return it, there’s nothing to gain on either side.”

 

At Ian’s words that ended half-joking, half-serious, Rerik, who had become teary-eyed again, put the money pouch back in his pocket. Then, thinking that no matter what, accepting this was really not acceptable, just as he was about to take it back out.

 

*Bang!*

 

The door to the break room, where only attendants entered, swung wide open. Rerik, seeing the person who opened the door, jumped up from his seat in surprise. It was because someone he had never expected was standing there.

 

A dark teal jacket, black shirt and pants, a very simply designed diamond brooch. And a sparkling sword that definitely looked heavy.

 

“The Lesser Duchess of Siegfried!”

 

Since she was Kalian’s fiancée, had she come looking for Kalian? Since Kalian was not here, had she asked around to find where Ian was?

 

Just as Rerik was about to greet her, leaving these fleeting thoughts behind.

 

“Older brother.”

 

A shocking form of address flowed from Dmirea’s mouth.

 

Come to think of it, until just a moment ago, he had been talking with someone who had curly hair and eyes of exactly the same color as Dmirea.

 

That curly haired person made a briefly troubled face, then looked at Dmirea.

 

“Rea.”

 

The person who had just been pushing over a money pouch and saying that cherries were good and motivation did not matter. No, the person who had said such things answered. He answered respectfully and asked respectfully.

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

“Yes. Count Manasil…”

 

The ceiling seemed to spin round and round, so he could not hear a single word of Dmirea’s words that followed.

 

*Whoooosh.*

 

A sound like air escaping came from Rerik’s mouth.

 

* * *

 

It was a day not much different from usual.

 

He woke up at the same time to start his daily routine, did the training that had been scheduled in advance, and went out to the place he always visited to shoot arrows.

 

After spending such an utterly ordinary day, the time came when the sweltering heat would have reached its peak.

 

Something absolutely not ordinary happened.

 

He felt as if the tingling sensation of minute static electricity was transmitted along his wrist.

 

No voice was heard, only the Mana was transmitted first, creating this phenomenon. It was Allan’s second consideration, having made arrangements so that a user who could not sense Mana could notice this Mana response.

 

“Ah…”

 

“What is the matter, Your Highness?”

 

At the single word that burst out as if surprised or perhaps pleased while dropping the arrow, Taillan, who had been nearby, immediately approached. It was because he was worried if something had happened.

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

Of course, Arianneu, who had been instructed to never leave Taillan’s side, also spoke to him. Chase, who had sent away the attendants and maids standing around, showed the bracelet to Taillan.

 

“Take a look at this.”

 

Although it was the first time the other side had initiated a conversation, Chase’s face was calm as he made the request. Of course, that was only his outward appearance.

 

Arianneu, who knew better than anyone how much Chase had been waiting for Kalian to initiate a conversation, approached with shared joy. It seemed to be because she judged that since there were watching eyes around, it would be better for her rather than Taillan to touch Chase’s wrist.

 

—Prince Kalian?

 

Chase, who was full of anticipation, called out to Kalian, who still had not spoken.

 

—No.”

 

*Thud.*

 

As soon as he heard the first syllable of just three syllables, Chase, who had completely folded away his swelling anticipation, cut off the communication as soon as he heard it.

 

There was no other meaning. He had not disconnected out of disappointment. It was true that Plants was not particularly welcome, but it had just been instinctively cut off, and there was no feeling of injustice. In any case, that was just how it was.

 

“What? Why did you cut it off as soon as it started?”

 

“Your Mana must have been insufficient. It got cut off without me realizing.”

 

Chase glibly lied in response to Arianneu’s question after she sensed the Mana had stopped. Seeing this, Arianneu retorted as if to say not to talk nonsense.

 

“Talking about being ‘insufficient’.”

 

[Ah, caught again.] Chase grinned.

 

It would be difficult for anything to happen to Kalian, who was in Cyries and not Secritia, but if something had happened, Allan would have been the one to talk about it, not Plants. There was no reason for Plants, who could not use Magic, to inconveniently get involved.

 

That was why he had just cut off the communication.

 

Although he could clearly see in his mind’s eye the pale-faced Prince somewhere in Cyries getting thoroughly annoyed, what could be done when it was not on purpose?

 

Having thought this, Chase extended his arm once more toward Arianneu.

 

“Do it again, Arianneu.”

 

Arianneu, who walked over without a word despite being full of annoyance, once more infused Mana into the bracelet. Then she and Taillan moved a little farther away and began shooting arrows at the target.

 

Watching such an Arianneu, Chase formed a gentle curve at the corner of his mouth and spoke as he walked under the shade.

 

—I’m sorry, Prince Plants. I was a bit startled…

 

—…Still the same.

 

Plants, who would have no way of knowing that Kalian had never been the first to speak, and therefore cause the expectation of this call to be too great, responded with a voice full of displeased emotions.

 

It was clear in his mind’s eye what expression he must be making. But whatever expression Plants was making, it was not something Chase needed to be particularly concerned about, was it?

 

—Still the same. Living without any particular incidents.

 

—That doesn’t seem to be the case.

 

At these words, Chase’s gaze, which had been directed at Arianneu’s figure, turned briefly to his feet. It was because the tone had been as if he knew Chase’s situation well.

 

Therefore, just as Chase was about to ask whether the story that Debeullan might call out Kalian’s healer had been conveyed to Plants in the meantime, or whether there was something else, Plants’s words came first.

 

—I don’t know what my younger brother’s former older brother said, but my younger brother’s face was half-dead when he returned.

 

Although the arbitrary form of address was still the same, Chase did not smile. He could not smile. He could not immediately give an answer either.

 

He understood it was a reproachful remark. However, he did not make the excuse that it was his fiancée who spoke on her own after putting him to sleep with sleeping pills.

 

Plants, who had been waiting for Chase’s answer for a while, spoke again as if annoyed.

 

—I need to know what was said.

 

The fact that he was directly asking Chase about this meant that Kalian had not talked about it. Therefore, Chase tried to first show his intention to refuse. But this time too, Plants’s words came first.

 

—Speak properly. Don’t beat around the bush.

 

Wasn’t it obvious what Chase would be thinking? It was because he was certain that Chase would definitely not speak at once. Because Kalian and Chase think the same way.

 

—Is knowing that important?

 

—It’s important.

 

Chase’s face hardened.

 

—What happened?

 

Chase also knew that Plants was not someone who would suddenly snatch Kalian’s ring just for the purpose of reproaching him, asking what did you say to my younger brother. He must be asking such things because he thought it was related to something else.

 

—It seems the King of Secritia sent a letter while imitating my younger brother’s former older brother.

 

Although he did not know from where to where his hands were reaching, Chase, understanding that it meant Debeullan had set a trap for Kalian, asked.

 

—What letter did he send?

 

—Speak. First.

 

Plants was firm.

 

Could not solutions be thought of after laying everything out without hiding anything from each other? So, it meant to speak first, so that he would not even think of hiding anything.

 

—You, what did you say to my younger brother?”

 

At those words telling him to first talk about what words he had used to shake Kalian, Chase, who had been silently forgetting his words with his eyes cast down for a moment, smiled soundlessly. It was Plants who was pressing, and it was Chase who had heard those words, yet he found himself laughing.

 

Because he felt reassured for no reason.

 

* * *

 

*Clop clop clop.*

 

What surprisingly found Kalian as he left Arpia Palace to look for Allan was Raven.

 

“How did you know?”

 

To follow Allan, what was most needed at this moment was Raven. He was smart, and there was no horse that could match Raven in running while shaking off the Knights of the Royal Palace.

 

Ian, who had come to Arpia Palace holding Raven’s reins, explained the circumstances with a smile.

 

“I heard Lord Manasil came to Senu Hall. Saying it was urgent business, he briefly met Rea.”

 

Just as they were about to start the Central Noble Council, a note was delivered to Rmain. It was Allan’s request to let Dmirea out for a moment because it was urgent business related to Kalian. Since Allan had never made such a request before, Rmain immediately sent Dmirea outside the conference room.

 

“He asked if the Knights had seen you sparring when you went to our house. No one saw you spar with my father, but the Knights watched and the servants watched when you sparred with Rea and the other Knights.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Kalian nodded in answer, having gauged what Allan was thinking. Ian’s words continued.

 

“Rea confirmed it too. Then he asked where those people were, and when Rea answered that they were all in the Ducal Territory, he told her not to tell you or me, then disappeared in front of her. So, Rea immediately came to me asking where you were.”

 

Ian, who had conveyed to Kalian even that Allan had instructed Rea to keep it secret from Kalian, showed a refreshing smile. He did not add the trivial story that Rerik, who had learned of Ian’s identity in the process of this story being passed along, had half-fainted and woken up.

 

Kalian, who had learned well how quickly and accurately stories that begin with ‘this is a secret, so you can’t tell anyone’ can spread, swept his chest in relief.

 

At least it seemed like his Master had not gone to Secritia without any forethought.

 

Of course, that did not mean there was no need to chase after Allan. There must have been a reason why Dmirea had sought out Kalian directly instead of going to the Ducal Territory herself.

 

“Alright, I understand.”

 

Right now, Allan had gone to catch and beat up not the scheming Debeullan, but the pure mass of muscle called Sleiman, who believed without a doubt that all humans were nothing but good.

 

Chase would be able to confirm whether Debeullan had recovered his memories or not, and Allan must have thought he needed to check whether information about Kalian had leaked out or not.

 

If Debeullan was subtly testing Kalian without having recovered his memories, it seemed Allan thought the most likely place for information that Kalian was connected to Secritia to have leaked was the Siegfried Ducal Territory. That was when Kalian still had the habit of using Secritia’s sword. That was the only place where he had shown that kind of swordsmanship before someone’s eyes.

 

In the end, it was almost like going to handle the aftermath of a Disciple, who could not keep secrets, and Kalian, who felt he did not know whether he should feel sorry for Allan or mourn for Sleiman, opened his mouth as he mounted his Raven.

 

“Thanks, Ian.”

 

It was a greeting for both informing him of Allan’s whereabouts and astutely preparing even Raven.

 

“I can’t even imagine how I would have gotten by without you.”

 

Kalian, who had conveyed his sincere gratitude now that the topic had come up, turned his head. It was toward the direction where the Teleportation Magic Circle heading to Siegfried Territory was located, where Allan would have already arrived long ago.

 

At the same time, Raven kicked off and ran toward outside the Royal Palace as if there were no obstacles.

 

In any case, he had to prevent Allan from twisting his old friend’s neck with his own hands. And before Allan, who had twisted his friend’s neck, thought to stop by nearby Secritia while he was at it, he also needed to properly confirm the situation.

 

“Wow… Is it my birthday today?”

 

It was without hearing Ian, who was startled by the sudden lavish praise, delivered like a gift, murmurs.