Chapter 246, So You Won’t Forget (1)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

Finally, dawn broke.

 

The world had been turned upside down. There was no other way to describe what had happened.

 

In a single day. No, in a single night, Evan Beurisen had died and the Marquis Family Estate had burned to the ground without a trace. Lannen Beurisen and his private soldiers had been arrested on undisclosed charges and imdungeoned in the Royal Palace dungeons, while the Siegfried Knights who had confronted them returned to the Ducal Family as if nothing had happened.

 

Just before dawn, Siegfried’s Elite Knights entered the Royal Palace, and by morning several Knights, attendants, and maids had been imdungeoned.

 

“I heard Evan Beurisen died and Lannen Beurisen was arrested by the Royal Knight Order in a half-dead state.”

 

“Duke Siegfried closed his gates.”

 

“The Baron Tellen and his Family left Cyriesus this very morning.”

 

“I heard many who were aligned with the Marquis have all left. They’re probably watching the situation and will return once Count Beurisen arrives. What would change anyway?”

 

While the Nobles were in an uproar, the Royal Palace remained silent.

 

They refused to share any information for the time being, citing the need for a thorough investigation of what had occurred during the night before disclosing details.

 

Those who had visited the Royal Palace trying to confirm what had happened during the night obtained no information whatsoever, and all gathered at cafes on Astrisha Street, exchanging news and offering all manner of speculation.

 

“But could it possibly have been orchestrated by Count Beurisen? He’s been constantly coming and going from the Capital lately.”

 

“If Count Beurisen was behind it, wouldn’t the First Prince be involved? But many people saw the Third Prince’s horse last night. They say someone covered in a white cloak was urgently carried into the Royal Palace, and there’s talk it might have been the Third Prince.”

 

“I heard the Second Prince also went to the Marquis’ estate. They say the fire started after the Second Prince arrived. Really, there’s no way to know what happened.”

 

The Royal Palace, which had become the focus of everyone’s attention, acted as if it were far removed from the external commotion.

 

And it continued to withhold information for two more days.

 

After Rmain issued one message stating that they would inform everyone once the investigation was complete and there was no need for excessive agitation, the Royal Palace shut its mouth tightly again.

 

Of course, that was only on the surface.

 

From the outside it appeared like a lake in early morning with mist settled upon it, but beneath the surface it was not calm at all.

 

The Royal Palace maintained a state of alert, ready to mobilize all Knights and Mages at any moment. They diligently monitored whether troops were gathering outside the Capital and whether there were any suspicious movements within the Capital. They were meticulously checking the movements of Beurisen’s faction.

 

As this tense atmosphere continued, an irritated voice came from the entrance of Wilhelm Hall.

 

“Why again?”

 

“His Majesty ordered that you absolutely cannot leave the Royal Palace, that I should not accompany you when you do leave, and that I should constantly follow you when you move within the Royal Palace.”

 

To Plants’s question, who had emerged from the treatment room after two days and received the reins of his silver-white horse from Rerik, Arsene leisurely answered after calling another attendant from Wilhelm Hall to bring his own horse.

 

“People must think the Deputy Commanders have quite a lot of free time.”

 

“Isn’t it normally the highest-ranking person who gets busiest when trouble breaks out? No one will say anything even if we’re a bit idle for a while.”

 

Plants did not reply and simply mounted his horse.

 

Even so, Arsene smiled slightly at the sight of Plants waiting without arbitrarily departing ahead.

 

Of course, that consideration only extended to waiting for the Arsene’s horse to arrive, so Plants moved as soon as it did. Perhaps he had given notice in advance, as Rerik did not follow.

 

Arsene, who had leisurely mounted his horse and followed, spoke up.

 

“By the way, where are you going?”

 

Plants turned his head to look at Arsene without answering. It was because he had spoken too much on the day he met Lannen and felt disinclined to open his mouth for a while.

 

Thanks to this, the blue-haired Mage, who found himself once again facing those eyes that looked down on worldly souls as if residing somewhere far away, made an uncomfortable face. Only then did a brief answer return.

 

“North gate.”

 

“There’s nothing but forest near the north gate. Why are you going to the forest?”

 

“Next to it.”

 

[North gate, next to it?] Arsene knew well what was there. Therefore, he asked with a displeased expression.

 

“Poison herbs and spider venom and everything already came out from Lannen Beurisen’s residence. Is there really a need to meet Lannen again?”

 

“Not him. The Knight.”

 

“Do you mean the Knight who was hiding in the Caera Knight Order?”

 

After all, they had spent time together day after day in the same office, so even this kind of conversation could continue. Though, there was the slight problem that what had lengthened was not Plants’s words but Arsene’s ability to comprehend them.

 

In any case, since it meant he was going to see the Knight who had first handed the poison pouch to Plants, Arsene nodded and continued following Plants. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked a question.

 

“I hear the Nobles’ dissatisfaction is growing. Who do you plan to have announce that Evan Beurisen has been killed by?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

Plants, who had asked Rmain to buy him a little time and had not yet decided this, frowned briefly, and Arsene continued.

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to say it was Lannen Beurisen’s doing? Lannen was the one who sent the poison pouch in the first place, and we could just say Lannen killed Evan and burned down the residence.”

 

“How would he have killed a Sword Master?”

 

“Poison?”

 

“You think of Beurisen and then think like Beurisen.”

 

“What kind of insult is that to someone who went through hardship to burn down the residence for you? Just tell me not to say stupid things.”

 

Plants turned his head toward Arsene.

 

Since it seemed he would really say something about being stupid, Arsene spoke again.

 

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but originally we were trying to make Evan attack His Highness first. We created various schemes to make Evan have such intentions, and I delivered His Highness’s black pebble to Gray, but things took an unexpected turn.”

 

“I know.”

 

On the day Gray came to the Royal Palace to meet Randel, when Gray’s carriage door quietly opened and closed without anyone entering or exiting. Hadn’t Arsene, concealing his form with the Invisibility Spell, met Gray and conveyed Kalian’s plan?

 

“So, what if we say Zeon killed Evan Beurisen?”

 

While bathing in the autumn sunlight falling on the prancing white horse, Plants, sitting there quite nobly, looked at Arsene and answered.

 

“People would be delighted to learn there’s an unknown organization somewhere nearby that includes those capable of killing even a Sword Master.”

 

“Then can’t we just say it was His Highness who did it?”

 

“When my younger brother says he wants to go to the tower after raising a Mage well in Chermil instead of Camilon, we’ll do that.”

 

Words incomprehensible by a Mage’s way of thinking.

 

Plants, who had decided to consider it repayment for following without any other words when asked if he wanted to come along to eliminate the Marquis estate, added an explanation.

 

“It’s one thing if the Marquis had touched my younger brother first, then they fought and he killed the Marquis. But if they learn my younger brother went to the Marquis estate first and killed him, the Nobles will absolutely never follow my younger brother.”

 

“What reason would they have not to follow? Everyone already knows His Highness is strong anyway.”

 

“A heart of respect can turn into a heart of fear in an instant. When the perception changes from someone you knew was strong to someone who could kill you at any time, he’ll be seen not as a strong King but as a tyrant. Where would you find Nobles who want to place such a Prince in the Crown Prince position and make him King?”

 

“Here. Me. I’m fine with it.”

 

“Ha…”

 

Repayment over.

 

“You know Raven was seen wandering around, don’t you? Everyone seems to know His Highness went there anyway.”

 

“We’ll say he never left.”

 

“The black horse was Raven, the horse next to it was Raven’s master’s brother’s horse, and the Knight’s hair visible under the hood was water-colored, but you’ll say it wasn’t His Highness? They say the pure white cloak His Highness was wearing had Valkan’s emblem the size of my face emblazoned on it.”

 

Oh, how sharp everyone’s eyes were that night.

 

He had expected it, but even so, he had only been there briefly, yet they had seen quite a lot in that time. Of course, it was not something Plants needed to worry about that far.

 

“What can you do when the person himself says it wasn’t him?”

 

In the end, the only thing he realized again was that there was not even as much common ground with this crazy blue-haired Mage as with the tiny fluffy paw of the new kitten.

 

Still, since they had just arrived at the dungeon entrance, Plants dismounted without showing further irritation.

 

There was a thick smell of blood.

 

Plants, already accustomed to even worse smells of blood, strode inside instead of frowning. Since the visit had been announced in advance, the two Knights who were already waiting paid their respects and guided Plants to the upper floor of the building.

 

*Click.*

 

Plants, who opened the somewhat low door and entered, sat down across from the Knight whose body was bound by rope and leaned against the backrest. Then, for the first time in a long while, he crossed his legs and spoke in a languid voice.

 

“I told you the escape route, but you’re here.”

 

That Caera Knight, who had thrown his body out the window as instructed only to be caught immediately, answered.

 

“I have told you everything I know. I don’t know what else you might be curious about…”

 

“Which side?”

 

The Knight looked at Plants with an unreadable expression, then quietly asked.

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

“Tansyll. Debeullan. Which side? I’m asking.”

 

A weighty question delivered in a low voice.

 

The Knight’s eyes quietly sank.

 

* * *

 

Hina raised her arms and fully stretched out.

 

Because she stayed by the side of the siblings who did not know how to value their lives, and because she was the only known Half-Elf healer, Hina, who should actually have a status more precious than even Rmain or Allan rather than just Kalian, had gone through all kinds of hardships.

 

Still, since Kalian was quite sturdy, it had reached the point where she could rest her eyes with some peace of mind. He still had not opened his eyes, but his wounds had healed considerably.

 

*Meow!*

*Miaow!*

 

The cries of two cats came from inside the curtain where Kalian should be lying.

 

It would be terrible if Luci stepped on Kalian’s wounds when he had not yet gotten up. Startled, Hina quickly approached and pulled back the curtain.

 

As she had worried, she saw two cats playing freely on the bed. She did not know when they had entered, but they were playing pranks and having fun as happily as could possibly be.

 

And…

 

—Older Brother, where are you?

 

—Wilhelm Hall training ground. I’m watching the Knights spar.

 

—Prince Kalian has escaped.

 

Kalian was not here.

 

Wasn’t Kalian the one who had been unable to regain consciousness and kept sleeping? Nevertheless, the reason she thought of it as an ‘escape’ rather than a ‘kidnapping’ was simple.

 

It seems he ate about three bunches of bananas.

 

Someone being kidnapped would not have eaten that many bananas.

 

Ian had told the kitchen that Kalian, who had woken up in pain, would be looking for bananas. By chance, Valkan Mages who had heard those words together spread the rumor, and banana gifts kept arriving at the treatment room where Kalian was lying.

 

Quite a few of those accumulating bananas were now missing!

 

*Meow!*

 

Hina, who had been looking at the banana peels piled up on the side table in an amount impossible to count, petted Luci and the kitten who had approached after recognizing her with both hands. Then she laughed for a long time because the banana peels looked amusing for no reason.

 

* * *

 

Plants met with the imdungeoned Knight and had a conversation.

 

He thought about returning to Wilhelm Hall, but sent Arsene ahead first and stopped briefly at Chermil Palace. Instead of going to his room, he headed straight to the training ground.

 

If he was there, he would learn swordsmanship.

 

If he was not there, Plants, who had planned to just swing his sword alone, let out a deep sigh.

 

Kalian, standing in the middle of the training ground, was smiling brightly.

 

“Did you go see the Knight?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Words delivered as if nothing had happened.

 

Plants, who answered briefly to this, looked at Kalian.

 

“It seems my younger brother doesn’t have much attachment to life.”

 

“That can’t be. I have many attachments.”

 

This guy who had taught Kyrie swordsmanship as soon as he woke up last time and then fell seriously ill again was doing this again.

 

As he was looking at that pitiful state, Kalian spoke.

 

“Tell me about your visit later. If I hear other words, I think I’ll forget about this.”

 

Kalian, who said this, quietly lowered his hands and moved his Aura.

 

*Wooong!*

 

Two swords.

 

Two slender, long swords emitting a dark red light were held in Kalian’s both hands.

 

Plants, who had not yet heard about Evan’s swordsmanship, frowned.

 

“My head isn’t as good as yours, older brother. So I think I need to show you first.”

 

Detailed explanations later. Practice, now.

 

[First, stuff it all into that good head of yours.] So, Kalian said that with a grin.

 

Soon Kalian began to move his body lightly.

 

The smell of blood grew a bit thicker, perhaps because his wounds had already reopened, but Plants only nodded without saying much.

 

“I’ll show you slowly. Memorize all of it.”

 

Since he had gone through such hardship to figure that out and was saying he would teach it all before forgetting more, it was difficult to say no.

 

“Alright.”

 

Kalian raised his swords.

 

The two swords held in white hands became red petals and began to dance through the air.