Chapter 254, Going to See the Sea (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

He had read one thing and missed another.

 

He had locked the window while showering. Just in case, he had even kept the ring on while washing.

 

Because during sparring, Plants had stared so intently at the ring, it was obvious what thoughts might have occurred in that head like an unripened kiwi, so Kalian had locked the window. Shut it very tightly and lock it thoroughly.

 

“Why on earth is he so curious about that?”

 

He had clearly seen with his own two eyes how Kyrie had nearly plunged a sword into his own heart during sparring, yet far from being angry, he showed not the slightest question about why his younger brother’s attendant had attacked him, simply accepting it as a matter of course, and it was infuriating.

 

They said he was somewhat better now, but at that time, he had been in such a state that he had not the slightest attachment to living, so he had not expected him to be angry with Kyrie about that incident at all. Instead, when he told him to have some curiosity about something, anything, he became curious about something unexpected.

 

“So what is it, my name?”

 

Having painstakingly mended that weak heart, Plants had begun raising this question again.

 

For five days, whenever their eyes met, he would flash those fresh eyes and ask what his name meant, to the point where it had become truly sickening. If one were to measure persistence, it would be more, not less, than Luci trying to catch raindrops splashing outside the window.

 

Even if he tried to gloss over it somehow, his damned mouth absolutely could not lie, so at this rate, he felt he might even suffer sleep paralysis. It seemed he had learnt stubbornness somewhere along with curiosity.

 

“Where in the Royal Palace did you learn such a thing?”

 

He could not understand at all.

 

Where in this bleak Royal Palace had he learnt such a thing… and while lamenting.

 

[…It’s me. It must have been me. Who else but me. Is there anyone else? I must have taught him. It’s me. Yes, it must be me.]

 

Kalian, who had lightly manipulated his Mana to shake off and dry the water droplets clinging to his jet-black hair and was dressing himself in the clothes the maids had prepared and left.

 

His gaze landed on the ring he nearly had stolen.

 

Finding himself thinking it was fortunate that it was at least obvious what mischief he was planning to pull, Kalian shook his head from side to side, his heart becoming quite complicated because he found himself amusing.

 

“Our older brother’s thoughts are so transparent.”

 

Then he said such words and chuckled.

 

All while unable to even imagine what mischief the tempestuous pea, who had not forgotten for a moment his firm resolution not to listen to anything Kalian said because his adolescence was not yet over, was planning to commit tomorrow.

 

Thus, Kalian, having read one small plan of Plants’s and missed one grand plan, but not yet realising there was something he had missed, spoke towards the door.

 

“Tell her to come in.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

After Ian’s voice, which had been waiting outside, was immediately heard, the door opened with a quiet sound. Then Eila, dressed somewhat more comfortably than on the first day, entered.

 

“Welcome, Eila.”

 

Clothing of a colour she must surely like for the same reason as Kalian. She wore matte black leather trousers and a jacket that seemed somehow unsuitable, yet one wondered what other colour would suit her better.

 

“Did you wait long?”

 

“A little.”

 

“Sorry. I could not wash comfortably because I was being mindful of the person living upstairs. Did you rest well in the meantime?”

 

Eila, recalling the butter-rich lobster, answered in a light tone.

 

“Yes. It has been a while.”

 

“Good. Well done.”

 

After a few light words of greeting were exchanged and some time passed, Ian, who would not be the slightest bit curious about who Eila was this time either, entered, set down two cups of tea, and left.

 

Having finished exchanging greetings, Eila simply looked quietly down at the tea with its citrus scent but did not bring up any other words.

 

[Yeah. That was how she was originally.]

 

Eila had not originally been such a talkative person. She had only acted to be sociable due to the nature of her profession. So, for her to have become quiet like this now was a truly welcome matter for Kalian.

 

“It seems I have become comfortable. Seeing how quiet you have become.”

 

Eila, who had been staring at Kalian without answering, let out a short sigh and replied.

 

“I need time to adapt enough not to be surprised that you know me well. Please understand even if I look at Your Highness strangely sometimes.”

 

“I understand. I have for a long time already.”

 

To explain, Kalian had been ‘found out’ by Eila as well.

 

Therefore, he might have felt guilty towards Dmirea, whom he had promised not to let his secret be discovered again. Still, Kalian felt like this case should be let pass.

 

Strictly speaking, had he not been found out by Eila already a year ago? It should be seen as something that happened directly after being found out by Plants, long before making the promise to Dmirea.

 

So, Kalian had already shaken off his guilty conscience towards Dmirea five days ago. He did not have a guilt-ridden personality like whoever lived upstairs.

 

“It took me quite a while to adapt enough not to be surprised that I have changed. So, it is all right.”

 

In truth, whether he had fully adapted or not was something even Kalian found difficult to guarantee, but at any rate, it had improved considerably compared to before. In any case, if it had taken Kalian such a long time to adapt, how much more so for others? Kyrie, who simply passed over the fact that Kalian knew everything about him intimately and dealt with him accordingly, was the strange one.

 

“Why did you call me?”

 

“I have something to give you. It took somewhat longer than I thought.”

 

Kalian, who had answered briefly, indicated what he had placed beside the table.

 

One piece of parchment and one piece of paper.

 

Eila, who picked up the paper first, read through the contents, which had only a few words written, then let out a short laugh.

 

“You truly know me very well.”

 

“Identification of the deceased, Eila Berdan.”

 

At the short impression of Eila, who held the paper with her real name including her surname written on it, Kalian nodded and answered.

 

“I told you, I do not lie.”

 

“It is a bit unpleasant that it says I am presumed to have been killed by Evan.”

 

“I did not make it for you to feel good, so do not complain.”

 

As the words said, it was a certificate of identification of the deceased.

 

It was a document stating that Eila’s identity had been confirmed amongst the corpses of various spies found together with Evan.

 

“Seeing how well you forge documents… I thought you were an honest Prince, but it seems that is not entirely the case.”

 

“Saying I cannot lie with my own mouth does not mean I do not know how to use lies.”

 

“Yet, such a person was going to put me on the execution platform without sparing me.”

 

“I am not someone who holds onto unnecessary cards.”

 

“Then, I do not understand how you trust me and consider me a necessary card now.”

 

“I am also not so heartless as to cast aside a card that considers itself my person.”

 

Eila closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes.

 

Because it was certain she was recalling the incident of introducing herself to Veronica as ‘the Third Prince’s person’, Kalian smiled brightly and spoke again.

 

“Do not suspect Veronica. My sword that went to fetch you has rather sharp ears, so he just picks up and overhears various things.”

 

Eila, recalling the tall Knight who had come long after she had said those words to Veronica, pressed her closed lips together slightly. While thinking she should reduce her words even more from now on.

 

“I have no hobby of invading my people’s privacy, so do not worry and check the rest.”

 

Kalian, still with a smiling face, having brought up words suggesting the scope of what he considered his subordinates’ privacy was quite narrow, indicated the parchment on the table.

 

Eila, who had been making a displeased face for a moment, took out the parchment and unfolded it.

 

“Eila Brigit.”

 

Seeing the same name with only a different surname, Eila spoke.

 

“You could have simply written Blue Warbler.”

 

Kalian laughed quietly as if amused.

 

Because it meant that how could she hide her real identity with an identification certificate stating her real name, and that she was a twenty-one-year-old territorial resident born and raised in the Hwiteurin Territory, which was Kalian’s property?

 

“Even if you die, the King of Secritia will not believe it. Unless your corpse is brought before his eyes, he will absolutely not believe it. In that case, it is better to openly declare you are my person. So that he cannot touch you carelessly.”

 

“If that was your thought, why this surname… Never mind.”

 

Eila, who had been questioning, swallowed her words back.

 

“There is no need to continue using even the surname the King of Secritia created for you.”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

Eila, who had let out a short sigh while looking at the Third Prince, who knew everything, asked.

 

“What shall I do now?”

 

“I will not be in my position for the time being. I have conveyed the details to Master, so I will stay at the Royal Palace. And while staying here, there is someone you will guard for a while. There are people who originally guard her, but they seem too busy these days.”

 

Kalian, recalling the face that had once admired and observed Eila’s pure white messenger bird with a round smile, continued speaking.

 

“After I return, instead of guarding, I will have you continue the work you originally did, so think about the people you need to bring, the things you need.”

 

“Do you mean spying?”

 

“Rather than spying, it is more of gathering information. I need a proper information gathering network, and it needs to be efficient, not picking up rumours, not wasting high-level personnel.”

 

Understanding that he meant to have her take on guard duty while Kalian was away, then engage in information activities after he returned, Eila narrowed her eyes and spoke.

 

“Let me ask one thing.”

 

Kalian nodded.

 

“You have not asked anything about what happened in Secritia, what the King of Secritia ordered me to do, whether I know any other information. I am curious why you do not ask.”

 

“The King of Secritia’s bird is already dead. What should I ask you?”

 

“…Are you saying you trust me, so you do not ask anything and treat me like this?”

 

“If I did not trust you, you would have died the moment you set foot on my terrace. Not just anyone can step there.”

 

Then, pointing somewhere outside the window with his hand, he continued speaking.

 

“And unlike someone in Secritia, I have no hobby of suspecting other people.”

 

Eila let out a bitter laugh, having been tormented by a suspicious person until now. It was because she thought it was the most pleasing thing she had heard so far.

 

“All right. Who should I guard?”

 

At the question asked while nodding, a gentle smile appeared on Kalian’s face that he had never shown before.

 

Kalian, who had been looking down at his teacup with such a smiling face for a while, answered quietly.

 

“The reason for my life.”

 

Like a lamp that remained lit so he would not forget he must continue living.

 

While thinking of Hina, of course.

 

* * *

 

The conversation had ended and Eila had gone outside.

 

The moon waned and the sun rose.

 

Morning came.

 

“Your Highness! Did you stay up all night again? Why did you not close the window?”

 

Ian, discovering he had left the window open so the completely chilly breeze filled the room and had spent the night sitting on the sofa, scolded him for quite a while again.

 

Kalian did not say he would not feel cold at all even if the winter wind of the Great Dunes blew, so not to worry. He also did not say that it felt like sea wind and so he felt good.

 

“What would you do if you caught a cold?”

 

“Sorry. I forgot to close the window.”

 

“You know you cannot be left alone for even an hour, do you not?”

 

He simply smiled meekly, looking at Ian, who was hurriedly bringing a blanket to wrap tightly around his entire body while scolding that he truly could not leave him alone.

 

Though that had not been his intention, Ian cancelled all his morning schedule.

 

“The person newly appointed to the Count’s territory, where Gray Beurisen was, will come to pay respects after lunch, so please sleep until then. I do not know how you always cause such worry.”

 

Because he said such things while bringing lemon honey tea that should be called hot rather than warm, Kalian let out another laugh.

 

“Do not laugh. It is not pretty at all.”

 

There was no way it was not pretty, but Kalian nodded wordlessly instead of answering. Then, after looking up at Ian for quite some time, he spoke.

 

“Sorry.”

 

He apologised like this because he was planning to run away again, leaving Ian, who said he could not take his eyes off him for even an hour.

 

Like that, he got some sleep during the morning, had lunch with Rmain after a long time, and met the new Count. He met Allan and told him again about the things he wished done during his absence while running away. He met Kyrie and requested once more that he oversee Plants’s sword training.

 

Like that, another day passed and night came.

 

Having sent Ian away saying he would sleep early, Kalian opened the safe, took out a certain amount of money, put it in the palm-sized bag borrowed from Allan, and tucked it well into his breast. After that, he jumped soundlessly out of the window.

 

In any case, he planned to stop by Siegfried Territory and had no intention of staying outside for long, so there was no luggage to pack. The fourth floor already had its lights off, he had gone in saying he was tired and not even eating dinner.

 

“It seems there truly is a lot of work.”

 

Chuckling and muttering this, Kalian went to the stables.

 

*Step step…*

 

Raven stamped his feet as if greeting.

 

Though he had met him several times to soothe him after being injured, still unable to relax, Raven brought his forehead to Kalian’s stomach and made a *nicker* sound.

 

“I am all better. No need to worry.”

 

When Kalian, having patted such a Raven, leapt up onto the saddle, Raven familiarly picked up speed towards the Royal Palace main gate as usual. Because Raven now knew well that he must move quickly until leaving the Royal Palace so the Knights would not chase after them.

 

*Clip-clop, clip-clop!*

 

Thus, when they quickly passed through the main gate, reached the plaza, and the footsteps of the Knights who had been chasing turned back, and Raven stopped. Not slowing down but stopping completely in place.

 

“…Mmm.”

 

It was because Kalian, encountering something utterly unexpected, made a flustered voice for the first time in a truly long while.

 

He had trusted too much due to having no hobby of suspecting anyone.

 

He had not doubted even a fraction.

 

A pink-haired Mage in a pure white robe and ten Mages in identical clothing came into view. Thirty Knights in pure white uniforms were visible. Beside them stood an attendant with grape-coloured hair.

 

*Miaow!*

*Miaow!*

 

The two cats held in the attendant’s arms meowed prettily.

 

“I came to see you off, Prince Kalian. Luci and Anne came to see you off as well, so please do not worry.”

 

Rerik, having answered an unasked question, smiled awkwardly, captured fully in those red eyes.

 

And.

 

“It seems my little brother has forgotten the order.”

 

“What order do you mean?”

 

“Negotiation first, threats after.”

 

“…Older brother.”

 

In short, ‘Do not go as a Sword Master to threaten them, but go as the Third Prince Kalian, who travels with the Deputy Commander of Valkan, and negotiate first.’

 

Plants, magnificently dressed in pure white uniform that seemed to shine dazzlingly beneath the moonlight, sat atop a silver-white nameless horse. His white cloak fluttered splendidly in the blowing autumn wind.

 

“My one and only little brother has not registered his name anywhere. I have what I have, so I should accompany you.”

 

And the pea, having come to accompany his younger brother’s short journey, who had been planning to threaten the Elves all alone, raised one corner of his mouth. A low voice stabbed Kalian’s ears.

 

“Is that not what the position of Valkan’s Deputy Commander is for?”

 

When his younger brother, who lived without grasping even a grain of power in his own hands, was going to cause trouble alone again, what could he do? The older brother who held power should follow along on his own.

 

“Haa…”

 

Kalian, having stared at such a Plants for quite a while, raised his hand.

 

Beneath the black hood, from beneath his palm, his hidden red lips parted and a whisper-like murmur flowed out.

 

[Where on earth did he learn such a thing?]

 

[It’s me. It must have been me. Who else but me. Is there anyone else? I must have taught him. It’s me. Yes, it was me.]

 

[Ah… This is truly maddening.]