Chapter 209, None or Once (1)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

Plants sometimes had such thoughts.

 

Perhaps the real reason Kalian had kept him alive was not actually so grandiose after all.

 

Around the time Kalian had gone out to chase after Allan.

 

After finishing his conversation with Chase, Plants went to Wilhelm Hall and met Arsene and Kyrie. He told them not to ask why, but to take turns staying by Hina’s side for the time being. After that, he came back to Arpia Palace and met Rmain, who had returned after the meeting with the Nobles had concluded.

 

“My younger brother ran away again, but shouldn’t you be getting used to it by now? How about easing up on the confinement order, considering how much the royal horses that have to chase after Raven every time will suffer?” After saying all this, he inevitably had that thought again.

 

[My busy younger brother must have kept me alive just to use me as a useful broom…]

 

“This time he went to find Count Manasil.”

 

The ‘green broom’, which was diligently sweeping up all the messes left behind and even handling the cleanup on its own, spoke while looking at the deep blue eyes that seemed only deeply worried and oblivious.

 

Kalian had stirred up Evan, and Dmirea, Kalian’s fiancée, had turned Evan upside down. In the midst of all this, Allan, Kalian’s master, had simply run away.

 

The ‘deep sea-colored broom’, having successfully handled the mess Dmirea had created at the meeting venue, asked in surprise at Plants’ words.

 

“Where did Lord Manasil go in such a hurry?”

 

“He probably went south, but it seems he had something important to do, so just pretend not to know and leave it be.”

 

“Did I again…”

 

Rmain, who had unconsciously made such a retort, closed his mouth without finishing his words. Then, he took a sip of tea brewed from persimmon leaves.

 

Wasn’t Allan the one who always said he would go south every time, claiming he couldn’t stand watching Rmain’s pathetic behavior? So deep doubts arose about what he had done wrong again for Allan to actually go to the south.

 

However, Rmain, who could not bring up such a story in front of his second son, stopped speaking and spent the time it took to drink a sip of tea thinking about what he had done wrong. After that, there were too many things that came to mind, so he started with repentance first.

 

“…I understand. Thank you for letting me know in advance.”

 

“Not at all.”

 

Plants answered simply, then set down his tea after drinking from the cup that had a pleasant, unobtrusive fragrance. Rmain, who had been watching this quietly, asked.

 

“Do you happen to have time for dinner tonight? If it’s all right, let’s have a meal together with your brother.”

 

Randel had not come to Kalian’s birthday banquet and had once again been absent from this meeting. Since Kalian happened to be away, this was something he brought up to observe the relationship between the first and second sons, which was particularly awkward. It was to meet Randel as well, and to inform both of them about Freya Hwiteurin’s new title, which he had not been able to tell them about in advance due to the circumstances.

 

Instead of telling him to make time because he wanted to have a meal together, he asked if it would be all right, and Plants shook his head and answered.

 

“If you want to have a conversation, it would be better to see him separately.”

 

The relationship between Plants and Randel was not something that would be resolved just because Rmain got involved. Without Kalian, who would tactfully match the atmosphere, if the two brothers and Rmain sat around together, it would just become a quiet dinner with not a single word spoken. Rather than wasting dinner like that, it would be better for Rmain to just take Randel aside and talk to him separately.

 

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

 

After watching Plants, who spoke briefly without detailed explanation, Rmain spoke in a slightly lower voice.

 

“Plants. You weren’t present so you didn’t hear, but at this birthday banquet…”

 

After that, he paused for a moment. This was because he was still pondering how to explain this matter well to Plants, who was Sillike’s son.

 

“You did well.”

 

It was something he already knew about.

 

He had already heard it from Rerik, who had diligently brought him news about everything except matters concerning Lannen. He also knew why Rmain was hesitating like that, so there was no need to make him struggle to bring up the topic.

 

“Kalian must have been very pleased too.”

 

After that, Plants drank all the remaining tea in front of him without leaving any. Remembering that he had not touched the lavender tea, he just drank it all.

 

“Yes.”

 

Rmain nodded after seeing the completely emptied teacup.

 

After exchanging a few more words and finishing his conversation with Rmain, Plants stood up, paid his respects, and left.

 

Rerik, who had said he would go to Chermil Palace, had already returned and was in front of the office.

 

“Your Highness, are you going to Wilhelm Hall?”

 

“Chermil.”

 

Because he had been having long conversations all day, quite a bit of time had passed since he had skipped lunch. Since it was late anyway, he felt like just leaving the matters at Wilhelm Hall for Arsene to handle and resting today.

 

For that reason, after answering briefly, Plants, who had been walking steadily out of Arpia Palace, stopped for a moment.

 

In front of the stairs, in the middle of a path flooded with long sunlight, he saw a silver-white cat with mismatched colored eyes sitting like a doll with its eyes closed.

 

For some reason, it looked exactly as if it had been waiting for him for a long time. Like Rerik.

 

“Luci.”

 

“Meow!”

 

As if she had really been waiting, Luci, who immediately stood up from her spot at Plants’ call, made a sound like an answer.

 

Because that unfamiliar feeling was somehow welcome.

 

The front paws that tensed up when stretching were welcome, the waist that stretched out long when picked up was welcome, and the pink paw pads covered with dirt were welcome.

 

Plants picked up Luci, who had finished stretching, without caring that cat paw-shaped dirt marks were being stamped on his light sky-blue jacket. Then he moved his feet toward Chermil Palace.

 

People who had now become somewhat accustomed to the sensitive and ill-tempered Second Prince carrying around a cat passed by while paying their respects.

 

Rerik, who had been following behind Plants with quick steps, came a little closer and carefully spoke up.

 

“Um… Your Highness. I have something to tell you.”

 

Naturally, it was not to bring up a story about how it would be better to refrain from holding a dirt-pawed cat in places where others could see.

 

In fact, it was to tell him about receiving money from Kalian.

 

Ian had said it was fine, but somehow his conscience kept bothering him every time he saw Plants. So, rather than carrying around this uncomfortable secret forever, it seemed better to just lay everything out in the open and apologize. Whether the Prince got angry or made a disappointed face, he would bear it all.

 

Plants, who had stopped walking and turned around, answered.

 

“Speak.”

 

There was something Rerik still did not know well.

 

That Plants’ personality was quite impatient, that he did not care much about time and place. Therefore, with a personality that if there was something to say, he should just hear it on the spot rather than preparing to listen to the story while tea was brought out, they sat facing each other.

 

Thanks to this, in an awkward spot somewhere between Arpia Palace and Chermil Palace, in an awkward state facing Plants who was holding a cat, Rerik deeply bowed his head and took out a money pouch to show him.

 

“Your Highness, actually I…”

 

Plants, who had been staring down at the pouch, turned around again. Brief words followed as usual.

 

“It’s fine. I know.”

 

Without even giving him time to say he was sorry, Rerik followed along diligently as Plants walked ahead steadily like that, saying,

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“I said it’s fine.”

 

“Still. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I’ll really work hard.”

 

“Meow! Meooow!”

 

He apologized even though he was told it was fine.

 

Plants had no idea how a person could work even harder than this.

 

With the cat meowing in his arms and Rerik chattering behind him, there was no peace at all. Still, Plants inadvertently let out a soft smile.

 

“When you arrive, I’ll have them prepare dinner while you rest, Your Highness. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

 

“No.”

 

Since Rmain had decided to have dinner with Randel, the kitchen would be busy. Since there was no particular food he wanted to eat, Plants gave a short answer, then added after quite some time had passed.

 

“Eat together.”

 

Rmain had decided to have dinner with Randel, and Kalian would catch Allan and eat with him. In short, together meant with Rerik.

 

“…Yes, yes!”

 

Feeling both sorry and grateful and thus excited, Rerik diligently followed along while still staring only at Plants walking ahead.

 

“Then I’ll tell them to prepare for two, Your Highness.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Without bell peppers and with the onions well-cooked, Your Highness!”

 

Of course, it was an invitation to eat together, not permission to act as if he could spread rumors throughout the entire Palace about how the sensitive, ill-tempered the Second Prince, who carries around cats, cannot eat bell peppers and undercooked onions.

 

“Let’s go together, Your Highness!”

 

So in the end, Plants got annoyed again.

 

* * *

 

Kalian sometimes had such thoughts.

 

[Perhaps someone’s good fortune might become someone else’s misfortune?]

 

“No, you have to tell me why! If you do it out of the blue like that, wouldn’t I be caught by surprise?”

 

That dawn.

 

In the eyes of Sleiman, who happened to be patrolling the northern area outside Siegfried’s outer fortress… He unfortunately saw a Mage with a distinctive hair color and a boy who was his Disciple. The Disciple was a  Sword Master, prospective son-in-law, and a Prince of this country…

 

Since the two had been standing there without any intention of hiding themselves from the start, it was only natural. Well, if one could call it natural, that the shadows of the two were too excessively conspicuous under the brightening sky.

 

So…

 

Sleiman, who happened to receive a report and happened to have no schedule for the day, immediately rode his horse up the hill. This was thus a great good fortune for Allan and exactly that much misfortune for Sleiman.

 

When the deep red sun rose and the sky opened, the lid on Allan’s lips, that had been barely kept closed by his lovely son’s words, also flew wide open.

 

*Thwack!*

 

Sleiman, recalling the bright red Fireball that had been disappearing while wrapped in Aura surging with blue light, set down his wine glass with a somewhat loud sound and looked at Allan with eyes full of questions.

 

“If you wanted to spar, you could have just come to the estate!!”

 

He had tried to avoid meeting Sleiman if possible and just return quietly, but once things turned out this way, there was no choice.

 

Moreover, their exit from the Capital had already been discovered anyway. Now there was no chance of Allan breaking Sleiman’s neck. So, whether the two returned after coming this far or met with Sleiman to talk a bit since they had come anyway, Debeullan would not have much more to investigate here, and it would not cause any major problems.

 

So in the end, they rented out an entire small tavern in the Siegfried Ducal territory. As long as Hina and Rmain were inside the Palace guarded by Valkan, nothing would immediately go wrong.

 

“What exactly is your problem? Why did you attack first?”

 

Sleiman’s question was natural.

 

A long-missed dear friend had sent a Fireball more dazzling than the rising Sun as a greeting. As a Human being, one could not help but be curious.

 

“The problem is that you, this foolish Elephant, is here, alive!”

 

“I’ve been living here from the very beginning, so what are you talking about!?”

 

“That’s not what I mean, you stupid Elephant.”

 

After that, a verbal fight broke out in this manner.

 

Since they had not even put up a Silent Spell, Kalian, who had been worried just in case, had to eliminate the sound.

 

That said, he could not hide their fighting faces as well, could he?

 

Kalian thought that it was fortunate they had rented out an entire tavern. Otherwise quite a few rumors would have spread. Still, he could not help but say,

 

“Please stop.”

 

A little while ago, when Allan had asked, “Could you call me that just one more time?”

 

Allan had been about to awkwardly request, but with great difficulty, for Kalian to bring out again the word ‘father’ again, which for the first time he had called without any other meaning, just literally as the word meant, when Sleiman arrived.

 

“Come to think of it, maybe it wasn’t entirely good fortune.”

 

Kalian, who smiled slightly because it seemed Allan was getting angrier now because of that matter, stopped the two.

 

“I’m hungry, Master.”

 

Just the day before, weren’t these two people, who had lived more than twice as long as Kalian, who had become a true adult by exercising patience he would never have again in his life? Because the quarrel between the two adults, who should have been fully grown long ago… that was if they could even grow up some more, did not end even after quite some time had passed. They had not even been able to order proper food yet besides wine.

 

While watching these two, Kalian thought it was not really working and spoke up.

 

As soon as Kalian’s words ended, Allan, with a softly relaxed face, smiled and said,

 

“Please wait just a little. I’ll finish soon.”

 

After hearing those words, Sleiman, whose eyes became filled with doubts like ‘Are you saying you’ll end my life?’ Looked at Allan and asked, “Why are you starving the child while dragging me around,” which naturally made Allan angry once again.

 

“If you had just quietly gone home, I would have fed our Prince something before he got hungry, but isn’t this all because of you, you useless Elephant?”

 

“Did you come to send my prospective son-in-law to me now?”

 

“Why would that concern you? Why would I send my child to you, am I crazy?”

 

“Why is he your child? He’s that cow’s child.”

 

“He’s not a cow’s child though. But did you just call my lovely child a cow’s child? Do you really want to die?”

 

The verbal fight continued in this manner.

 

“I told you to stop.”

 

Finally unable to endure it, Kalian opened his mouth again with a bright smile.

 

“I’m the weakest here, my status is nothing special, and I’m young, so neither of you listen to me.”

 

Only after hearing these chilling words that followed did the two close their mouths.

 

Kalian, who had barely calmed the two down, stepped forward himself and ordered various foods. Mostly meat, carefully selected with all green things that reminded him of someone not here.

 

After that, he glanced briefly at Sleiman, who had a face that said ;I still don’t understand why you came looking for me,’ then lowered his eyes again and tapped the table while lost in thought.

 

After another short while passed and various dishes came out, including steaming beef stew and raw oyster dishes topped with lemon sauce.

 

“Duke Siegfried.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Kalian called Sleiman. And then,

 

“Have you ever hunted snakes?”

 

He smiled brightly once more and asked whether, although he would not draw his sword for the Cyries Royal Family, what if the opponent were a snake.