Chapter 248, So I Won’t Forget (3)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

He met with Rmain.

 

He also met with Gray Beurisen, who had rushed to the Capital.

 

Though he had not completely recovered, he wanted to show Allan that he was at least up and walking around, and to suggest giving Hina, Arsene, and the others who had worked hard through this ordeal a few days of rest. However, Allan, who had gone to meet Euria, had not yet returned. So, he could not do either, and only left a message.

 

After working diligently through the day for tomorrow’s sake, Kalian returned to Chermil Palace.

 

The wounds naturally still hurt, and he was still hungry, but his mood was reasonably good. Kalian was currently standing on the terrace, hidden from Ian.

 

An autumn night. The wind felt slightly deeper than before.

 

With the wind came a voice that was always welcome to hear.

 

—Thank you for informing me in advance, Prince Kalian.

 

What Plants had discovered,

 

He contacted Chase to inform him beforehand about how they had found Secritia’s bird. Or more precisely, Debeullan’s bird, and how Cyries would use that bird tomorrow.

 

Since it involved matters of espionage, it was an issue that could not help but affect relations between the two nations. He sent word because he was concerned that Chase might be troubled by it.

 

—By any chance, was the bird that infiltrated Valkan also involved in this matter?

 

—No. Since it only served as a messenger bird, it seems he told to my Master to simply leave it be.

 

While Kalian had been unconscious, Plants had apparently spoken separately to Allan about Chase’s messenger bird. Thanks to that, the agent who had truly only performed messenger bird duties remained safe.

 

—I see. Actually, now that we can communicate like this, I was thinking of having it return home, but I’ve decided to leave it there just in case. Instead, I’ve told it to train hard and stay well there.

 

—If you do summon it back, please tell it to stop by and say goodbye on its way. I’ve grown somewhat attached to it. I’ll send it off with a farewell gift.

 

After conveying information about Debeullan’s agent and exchanging jokes about the harmless agent that was genuinely playing the role of a bird, Kalian fell silent for a moment.

 

[Siona Hill. The other Sword Master.]

 

[Should I bring it up now?]

 

Kalian, who had been considering whether to ask for help in finding her whereabouts, shook his head.

 

[I can’t trust him completely.]

 

Since it was unclear how information about Kalian had reached Debeullan, it was difficult to rashly reveal that Kalian was currently searching for Siona.

 

Of course, this was not distrust of Chase, but suspicion of Taillan Kastrin.

 

Though they had been close friends, and he was a respected Master and Swordsman who was now Chase’s Knight, he had once been Debeullan’s Escort Knight. He was also someone who knew everything about Kalian, having heard it all from Chase.

 

[It would be better to ask once it’s confirmed that he can be trusted.]

 

Therefore, instead of mentioning Siona, Kalian brought up something else, something slightly difficult to tell Chase.

 

—Also, I contacted you because I have one more piece of news to share.

 

—Yes, go ahead.

 

—While dealing with Marquis Beurisen in this matter, I was slightly injured.

 

—Injured!?

 

Chase’s voice changed completely.

 

Kalian, smiling in a way that wouldn’t be heard, continued speaking.

 

—I thought you might be very surprised if you learned about it through the birds, so I wanted to inform you first that I’m recovering well.

 

—How badly were you injured? Is it serious?

 

[It was so serious. I couldn’t eat…]

 

—I was barely grazed. With Hina’s healing and the power of Syspanian’s Blessing, I’m recovering quickly.

 

Chase answered in a voice whose tone was difficult to gauge.

 

—If it were only that serious, I wouldn’t think you’d expect me to be surprised. You’re still so terrible at lying. What am I to do with you?

 

—Ah, so that’s how the conversation goes. Actually, rather than saying it was light, I was injured more seriously, but it’s true that I’m currently recovering.

 

Even though they weren’t facing each other directly, Kalian could feel Chase letting out a long sigh. Since he was clearly worried, Kalian also let out a brief breath.

 

Chase spoke in a cautious tone.

 

—I had heard from Lord Kastrin that Prince Kalian’s skills would be superior to Marquis Evan Beurisen’s, so how did you end up getting injured?

 

—During the fight with the Marquis, a young child suddenly appeared. I caught a glimpse of them, and old memories suddenly mixed in. Because memories that appeared without preparation overlapped with reality, I briefly forgot they were a different person.

 

Kalian conveyed only the other reason, leaving out the part about recalling Bern’s past.

 

He had swung his sword at Sillike right before his eyes, and now Evan too.

 

Since he couldn’t ascertain Plants’ true inner feelings about Evan, he was worried whether he might be doing the same thing towards his blood relative.

 

In the middle of the fight, he had ended up thinking about it.

 

—And without realizing it, my hand stopped for that small instant.

 

The person Kalian was explaining without explicitly stating it.

 

Chase, who easily guessed whom that young child had resembled, answered.

 

—I think I understand the situation. I’ve experienced it often myself.

 

Chase was probably the one who experienced most frequently memories that were difficult to call entirely his own suddenly popping up and shaking his mind.

 

—Since I try not to open memories from before I opened my eyes again in this place, when they suddenly surface, I get startled regardless of my will.

 

—While my memories might surface at any time, that shouldn’t be the case for Prince Kalian. Wouldn’t it be better to open all your old memories so you wouldn’t be surprised? If you knew what memories you have, there would be nothing to disturb you.

 

—Yes, I think so too. And yet I can’t open them all.

 

—May I ask why you choose not to open them?

 

Why, when he could avoid losses like stopping his hand during meals full of strawberries, being unable to continue words during conversations, and forgetting your sword during fights… why leave the old Kalian’s memories unopened when he knows he could simply open and verify them all?

 

Kalian answered in a peaceful voice.

 

—Because I’m glad when such memories suddenly pop up. I know that child has already left, but still, I get the pleasant illusion that maybe he’s still by my side.

 

He recalled the time when he first opened his eyes in this place, and the memories were revealed to show what he had been curious about. When memories pop up like that, he still got the illusion that the child was alive with him, just like back then. He couldn’t bring himself to discard that pleasant feeling, so he could not bring himself to unlock all the memories.

 

—And while living after opening all the memories, I worry I might forget even one small thing… I feel it’s also my duty to leave the memories that child had held as his own entirely. I’m being selfish, wanting to cherish them well so I won’t forget anything.

 

If he opened all of the old Kalian’s memories and made them his, eventually only Bern and the current Kalian would remain in this place, so he decided to leave the memories that belonged to the old Kalian as an empty space.

 

—Because they’re precious. Even though there were many painful things.

 

A feeling similar to Chase not letting go of memories of Bern.

 

Though the circumstances and methods were different, the feeling would be the same.

 

—How unwise, but it’s not incomprehensible either, Prince Kalian.

 

—Is that so?

 

So Chase understood that foolishness.

 

—But… I wish you would also think of your body as precious, not just memories.

 

—Yes, I’ll be careful. I’m fine now, so please don’t worry too much.

 

The moon floated on the rippling water, and the waves broken by moonlight sparkled like stars. The scene was fully visible from the terrace. He closed his eyes briefly in the wind that seemed to blow from that place.

 

—Still, it’s not all bad.

 

After a long silence, Chase began speaking.

 

As Kalian tried to gauge what wasn’t all bad, Chase’s words reached him again.

 

—I don’t know if you remember, but ‘I’ said something like this long ago. I… am your older brother, so I should be the one to worry.

 

‘I am your older brother. Not you. I should worry about you.’

 

The words of which he hadn’t forgotten a single character came to mind.

 

Having heard those sudden words, Kalian closed his eyes tightly.

 

—…Yes, you did say that, once upon a time.

 

— Back then, you wouldn’t give me any room to worry like that, but now there’s finally an opening. Though it may not be appropriate to say this after hearing you were seriously injured, I find it unfamiliar and yet welcome.

 

Hearing the reason for bringing up the past, Kalian smiled silently. As those words said, Bern had never once in his life said he was hurt.

 

To live receiving someone’s worry as well.

 

Because it was a life already burdensome enough to just endure alone.

 

—It feels good. I hope you continue to yield one space at a time to those around you like that. Saying you’re hurt, saying you’re in pain, and sometimes even saying you need help. I know well how strong Prince Kalian is and that you’ll resolve anything well, but I hope you won’t forget that strong people and the other people watching over them are all human in the end.

 

Pleased that the person who couldn’t say they were hurt was now the first to say they were hurt, Chase conveyed this request.

 

—Yes, I’ll remember that.

 

—Of course, that doesn’t mean you should go get hurt again. Don’t get hurt.

 

Kalian laughed.

 

—I’ll remember those words as well.

 

* * *

 

The night filled with wind-carried conversation passed.

 

When day broke, Rmain urgently summoned the Nobles residing in the Capital. Though it was a sudden summons, the Nobles who had been watching the outcome of the Beurisen matter came without complaint, all were present without exception.

 

Rmain’s mouth finally opened before the Nobles whose expressions were a mix of interest, worry, and concern.

 

“As a result of the investigation, we confirmed that Secritia’s agent infiltrated the Royal Palace through Marquis Evan Beurisen.”

 

A matter that was by no means light.

 

He disclosed the fact that another nation’s intelligence agent had brazenly wandered around the Royal Palace of all places!

 

As Allan had said, the Royal Family’s problems were not a matter of just a day or two, nor were they just one or two issues. Though things had improved somewhat compared to the past, it was incompetence already known to all. And for the first time, Rmain acknowledged the fault directly through his own mouth and announced the confirmed details.

 

“Furthermore, we have confirmed all evidence and testimony that Secritia’s agent was connected with Marquis Evan Beurisen and Viscount Lannen Beurisen.”

 

Evidence that Evan Beurisen had attempted to attack the Prince, and plausible evidence that Evan and Lannen had been involved with Secritia’s agent; Gray Beurisen would prepare all of that well on his own.

 

Even if the evidence was weak, it would be fine.

 

Wasn’t this the stage Beurisen was setting? Even those who had sided with Beurisen would not be so senseless as to demand the King show them where exactly that evidence was.

 

It was the same thing.

 

If until now Beurisen had been the evidence itself, from now on, the Royal House of Cyries would be the evidence.

 

The lengthy details that followed were conveyed to the Nobles through Grand Chamberlain Raul, not Rmain.

 

Lannen had prepared poison, and Evan had delivered that poison to the Second Prince through the agent’s hands. Learning of this, the Second Prince informed the Third Prince, and the Third Prince, who had been trying to discreetly confirm the details, was attacked by agents and discovered the already deceased Evan Beurisen.

 

A veil made of appropriate truth and appropriate lies.

 

A more excellent veil than the perfect truth that could not be believed or the perfect lie without room for doubt was disclosed this way.

 

The Third Prince was also nearly in danger, but Valkan and Siegfried arrived in time and he escaped great harm. Afterward, Lannen burned down Evan’s mansion to destroy evidence.

 

Both to announce the charges against Evan and Lannen, to announce that Valkan was a proper army, to reveal again the alliance between Plants and Kalian while flaunting the close relationship between Kalian and Siegfried, and to announce that Kalian was also injured, thereby reducing fears that the Third Prince might possess excessive military power.

 

The explanation that served so many purposes ended,

 

And Rmain opened his mouth again.

 

“The Royal Family of Cyries, in recognition of the courage of Count Gray Beurisen, who identified evidence of this matter and reported it to the Royal Family first, and his diligence in carefully guarding Cyries’ borders, has decided not to punish Count Gray Beurisen and the Beurisen Family members unrelated to this matter. Therefore, we permit Count Gray Beurisen to inherit the Marquis Title.”

 

While at it, to maintain the Family where the future pea would go to raise cats, and to keep Gray alive to run that Family temporarily.

 

“However, having determined that severe punishment is necessary for the crimes of Evan Beurisen and Lannen Beurisen, who dared threaten the safety of a Prince by even orchestrating an agent’s infiltration, we strip Evan Beurisen and Lannen Beurisen of their titles, confiscate their estates, and order the execution of Lannen Beurisen.”

 

While at it, to let Evan and Lannen, who had so uniquely despised Commoners, end their lives as Commoners.

 

To strip ‘Beurisen’ from their titles and finally sever forever the blood tie with Plants, whom they had only sought when needed.

 

“Moreover, the Royal Family of Cyries will not overlook the fact that a Secritia’s agent had had the greatest responsibility in this incident. Therefore, until there is a clear explanation and proper apology from Debeullan, King of Secritia, all transactions including travel between the two nations are strictly prohibited. If Secritia wishes to maintain amicable relations between our nations, King Debeullan of Secritia must promptly clarify his position on this matter and pay the appropriate reparations.”

 

While at it, to create a reason why Kalian and Hina wouldn’t go to Secritia,

 

To show that Rmain, whom Debeullan had ignored, was the king of a nation.

 

While at it.

 

“I feel a bit sorry for Baron Pollun.”

 

After settling matters related to Evan through Rmain’s mouth,

 

Kalian, playing the role of the righteous Third Prince who was recuperating after being seriously injured while single-handedly facing multiple Secritia agents he had suddenly encountered, smiled leisurely.

 

“Since this matter has disrupted ruby trade with Secritia, I should look into whether there are other trading partners and help him.”

 

The diamond trade with Tansyll was blocked because of Kalian, and the ruby trade with Secritia was also blocked because of Kalian.

 

Of course, whether trade flourished or failed, it was Kalian who had saved Melpir Pollun’s life, and it was also thanks to Kalian that such trade had been established in the first place, so he was not in a state of excessive guilt.

 

“And… since I’ve blocked Secritia’s King like this for now, I should go intimidate the Elves as planned. I can’t have them stepping forward to treat Secritia’s King.”

 

“Speak formally.”

 

“I can’t have them stepping forward. Still, thanks to you paying so much attention, I won’t end up on the list of future tyrants.”

 

“I didn’t.”

 

“Yes, I’ll say so. So, have you decided?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“Please decide quickly. Luci will be upset that only she has a name.”

 

“You.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why did you come?”

 

“To eat, obviously.”

 

A day had passed.

 

He had come up to eat meat.

 

“I’m tired. I’m going to sleep. Leave.”

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

*Meow!*

*Mrow!*

 

As if unable to hear the words about being tired, Kalian held the gray kitten in his arms, and making a fuss as if urging him to decide on a name quickly. The older brother’s impudent attendant watched as if it were natural while the kitchen attendants and maids set various foods on the table.

 

Today again, there were well-cooked fluffy onions, ground beef patties grilled flat and topped with plenty of cheese, stir-fried pork with just a hint of ginger, duck meat rolled in cabbage pickled in lemon juice and vinegar, grilled white mushrooms and string beans together, a salad accompanied by not-too-salty cheese and blueberry sauce.

 

And a soup containing peas.

 

The soup, mixed with cream sauce, produced a color quite similar to his hair rather than his eyes. Plants, who had been staring at it for a while, called Rerik.

 

“Remove it.”

 

[Our Prince, who can’t eat bell peppers or undercooked onions, apparently can’t eat peas either] or so Rerik thought as he quickly removed the soup.

 

“Why can’t you eat it? It’s delicious.”

 

Pretending to know nothing, Kalian, who was eating that greenish soup quite deliciously without even smiling, asked.

 

It was obvious.

 

This was revenge with pea soup for the meat eaten yesterday.

 

Plants, who had been frowning, became thoroughly annoyed.

 

“Why did you come again?”

 

“Didn’t I tell you?”

 

“No, you didn’t.”

 

“Then why are you tired?”

 

Plants, swallowing duck meat with a face not much different from usual, answered.

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

“You couldn’t sleep, could you?”

 

Plants did not answer.

 

Kalian put down his fork and knife briefly and looked at Plants.

 

“Yesterday I had a conversation with Crown Prince Chase. Then I thought of something.”

 

[Whether you killed directly or not, when someone died before your eyes…]

 

“It would have been the first time you saw those eyes. I thought there’s no way you’d be okay.”

 

Like Bern, who had been sick for days because those dying eyes kept coming to mind. And yet, like Bern, who told Chase it was nothing when asked what was wrong.

 

“Since I’m teaching you the sword, I think the day will come when you directly end a life by your own hands. I have no intention of preventing that. But on days when it’s too much to bear, please tell me. Even if I won’t offer comfort, I’ll at least listen.”

 

After finishing speaking, Kalian picked up the meat before him and continued eating. After watching him for a while, Plants nodded once with a calm face.

 

So he could not sleep because of the agent incident the previous night.

 

“I’d seen the eyes of someone about to die before, but it was different.”

 

“When else have you seen them? They are not pleasant experiences.”

 

Plants, whose appetite had disappeared because he happened to bring up such talk before food, put down his fork and knife and spoke.

 

“The criminal you caught, younger brother. On the day Renisita leaves were spread for that man.”

 

*Thud!*

 

Kalian slowly moved his head to look at Plants.

 

He had the illusion again of hearing his heart *thud* down.

 

“Are you talking about the person I caught during my Roselita?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…A man.”

 

As if sensing something strange in Kalian’s reaction, Plants stopped talking and looked at Kalian.

 

Kalian was smiling.