Chapter 265, I’m Rather Good at Setting Traps (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

The hour when red descends upon the world.

 

Chase stood before the gates of the Royal Palace, his face bearing a gentle smile as the sunset light bathed everything around him in its glow.

 

“I am relieved to see you appear to have returned safely.”

 

“I wonder if my stubborn insistence has caused the Crown Prince further worry.”

 

In response to Chase’s welcoming words, the person extended their right hand. The long sleeve of their black silk dress swayed softly. As Chase took that hand and led them inside, the voluminous dress adorned with black lace and floral decorations rustled.

 

Soon the two dismissed their attendants to a distance and began walking slowly along the path leading to the Royal Palace. The fragrance drifting from the gardens laid out widely on both sides and the sound of water from the beautiful fountains substituted for their conversation.

 

“Has your heart improved somewhat?”

 

Like a fragrant breeze, or perhaps like flowing water. Chase’s voice carried the tranquillity of this moment. At the question conveyed by such a sound, the sky-blue eyes hidden beneath the black veil connected to the hair ornament turned towards the ground.

 

“Whether I should say it has improved or deepened, I cannot say.”

 

A long sigh accompanied those words.

 

Chase turned his head and asked in a low voice.

 

“Do you still miss her that much?”

 

“There was only one person in this Royal Palace with whom I could open my heart to. She left so suddenly that even after several years have passed, I still think of her this much.”

 

“Mother would have been pleased. That you remember her and did not forget.”

 

Royal Consort Louise, who had spent a month at the villa prepared near the tomb of the deceased Queen Diana, smiled a lonely smile. Chase released Louise’s hand that he had been holding and placed it on his arm. After drawing his mother a little closer in this way, he spoke again.

 

“For those who have departed, nothing brings more joy than having someone who remembers them.”

 

Bern’s mother, Queen Diana.

 

And Chase’s mother, Royal Consort Louise.

 

In the past, for Bern and Chase, the two had been raised by exactly the same mothers. For both, the brothers had been exactly the same sons. The two mothers had raised the brothers so that their relationship would not be strained by the throne, and the brothers had grown as intended. Diana’s friendship and trust with Louise had been deep enough that she had asked Louise to care for Bern before her death.

 

In this life there had been no Bern, but their relationship remained the same. After Diana, who had only Chase as a son instead of Bern, passed away, Louise would occasionally visit the villa beside Diana like this.

 

“Mother must surely have been pleased.”

 

“I hope it reaches her.”

 

Louise’s platinum hair, like Chase’s blue-tinged hair, was dyed red by the sunset light. Towards Chase, who had been silently gazing at the reddish-tinged hair and black dress, Louise spoke.

 

“Just before arriving here, I heard news about Marquis Lyn. But, the Royal Palace is quieter than expected for such an incident to have occurred. I wonder if perhaps I heard incorrectly.”

 

“No. The arrest is correct. Just that care was taken to prevent any further disturbances.”

 

“Please take care that no hardship befalls her. I am concerned that Arianneu might worry greatly.”

 

“I shall do so.”

 

After the exchange, Louise, who had paused her steps for a moment, moved towards the garden. Chase, who had been walking arm in arm with her, naturally followed along that path.

 

Red flowers holding the colour of the sun bloomed in clusters. Louise, who had removed her hand from Chase’s arm and bent her knees, swept her hand over the flowers and quietly spoke.

 

“Is there still no change with His Majesty?”

 

Chase, who had been silent for some time, answered with lowered eyes.

 

“Yes. Still unchanged. There is no improvement in the illness and no progress.”

 

“I heard that last time he refused the medicine you sent. Before leaving the Royal Palace this time, he told me not to offer the sleeping incense I always prepared for him. If his illness remains the same, he will now trust those around him even less. Therefore, it would be best to avoid private audiences as much as possible from now on. He may no longer try to show only his good side to you.”

 

Louise spoke in an even lower voice. Her gaze and touch remained directed at the flowers.

 

“If Marquis Lyn has been captured, there is a possibility that healers from Tansyll might come, is there not?”

 

“Yes. His Majesty will try to interfere with that matter first.”

 

Chase continued speaking while watching Louise slowly nod her head.

 

“Therefore, I too am considering ceasing my covert obstruction of the healers’ entry.”

 

“You mean to allow healers into the Royal Palace?”

 

“No, mother. I intend to make my position clear and raise the issue publicly before the Nobles. I shall ask before all the Nobles why His Majesty continues to try to bring healers from Tansyll into Secritia’s territory, and demand an answer.”

 

Louise’s hand paused momentarily.

 

“Do not do that.”

 

Louise, who had risen to her feet, looked up at Chase and said.

 

“I am concerned you might be harmed by bringing such talk to the surface.”

 

“In that case, how else will the Nobles know? His Majesty’s state of health and the fact that he does not regard me as his son.”

 

“Everyone already knows this. Need you make it so explicit?”

 

“What one hears and what one sees directly are different matters. Only when they are certain of what has only been rumoured will the Nobles raise their heads.”

 

Louise quietly reached out and touched Chase’s cheek.

 

After warmly caressing Chase’s cool face for some time, Louise lowered her hand. Then, taking Chase’s hand again and moving her lips several times, she spoke.

 

“Not long after coming to this Royal Palace, my mother and younger sibling met with an accident. The Queen has also left this world, so now you are my only remaining family.”

 

“I am aware.”

 

“Please be careful.”

 

Chase quietly extended his arms and embraced Louise tightly. Then, while slowly patting her small back, he conveyed his answer.

 

“Do not worry, mother.”

 

The scent of Begonias surged like waves.

 

* * *

 

He had been skilled at dealing with people.

 

While he could not completely penetrate their inner thoughts, he was adept at grasping and managing their thinking. Depending on whether the person was someone to be suppressed or someone to be respected or considered, his manner of speaking, his expressions and gaze, his voice, and his atmosphere changed completely.

 

Kalian had always been like this.

 

Regardless of who stood before him, he never lost his composure.

 

“It is nothing much.”

 

Occasionally there was one verdant individual who made him completely forget that composure, but fortunately this time he did not become flustered or surprised even with that one person before him.

 

“When using Magic, if you go ‘yap’ then it manifests with a ‘swoosh’.”

 

Kalian, who had been looking up at the clusters of blue-silver stars that seemed ready to pour down, spoke in an unusually slow manner.

 

“When infusing your Mana, if you go ‘yap’ then it goes with a ‘swoosh’.”

 

“Hey.”

 

[You, this little brother of mine…]

 

Plants looked down at Kalian, who had just finished his answer and was about to rise from his seat, having uttered a single syllable with all such meaning.

 

“What are you trying to do again, older brother?”

 

“Since you noticed, you might as well just ask me to tell you.”

 

“Older brother.”

 

“What?”

 

Kalian, smiling brightly, pointed at the area around Plants’ wrist.

 

“Noticing is one thing, must I ask you to explain directly. Why do you also have that sparkling thing inside there on your wrist?”

 

“Speak formally.”

 

“What is that?”

 

“Manner of speech.”

 

“Where’s my answer, older brother.”

 

He had been caught.

 

With a face that said ‘this Prince who is also the Deputy Commander is killing me’, he could do nothing more with the two Mages who had collapsed saying they could not run anymore, and told them it was fine so they should go and play. After that, he moved his feet to return first.

 

When passing by his younger brother, who was sitting leisurely on the sandy beach after skipping dinner because the dried meat he had eaten at midday had expanded and burst in his stomach.

 

Yes. At that time. Precisely that time. Of all times, that time.

 

The bracelet hidden within his sleeve emitted light. Chase had made contact. Of all times, precisely, that time.

 

In Kalian’s eyes, having turned his head after sensing the flow of Mana, the thoroughly familiar light could be seen seeping out from Plants’ sleeve. Thanks to that, he was caught.

 

“I understand that you no longer felt stifled after coming outside, but I thought it curious that you had even corrected your habit of rolling up your sleeves.”

 

Kalian, who had tapped the well-fastened shirt button near his collar, said this with a smile.

 

“There was a different reason for that.”

 

The light circling the bracelet quickly disappeared.

 

This meant it was not an urgent communication. Since Plants had not responded immediately, it meant the sender had stopped trying to contact him. And while Kalian was currently demanding an explanation from Plants, was it not obvious who would have the ring connected to that bracelet? If it had been urgent in the first place, Kalian knew it would have been someone who would have contacted him rather than Plants.

 

Therefore, Kalian was dealing with Plants leisurely.

 

“Since you are now gradually gathering Mana, you can try it yourself. I have told you the method.”

 

With a ‘yap’ and then ‘swoosh’.

 

Towards Kalian, who was still looking up at him with a smiling face, Plants furrowed his brow.

 

“Stop barking.”

 

“When on earth did you make this? Did they send it on the day we departed?”

 

In any case, this fellow has a talent for being discovered, and thanks to this fellow and his former older brother, Plants got discovered too. Plants, whose face had become full of irritation, ignored Kalian’s words and moved one foot.

 

“If you ask the pink-haired Mage who eats salted things how to infuse Mana because you need to contact the Crown Prince of a neighbouring country, you will surely hear some fine words.”

 

“Older brother.”

 

“What?”

 

Whether the pink-haired Mage eats salted things or not.

 

He did not know about that, but it seemed Nidlen should not learn of this matter. Therefore, Kalian, who had stopped Plants, spoke.

 

“I shall teach you.”

 

In short, he was letting him win.

 

It was not losing but letting him win. Because he said he would help and he asked for help, Kalian was letting him win.

 

“However, I would prefer if you did not hide matters concerning Secritia from me. Would that be so difficult?”

 

“Understood.”

 

Soon Kalian, who had nodded his head with a short sigh, indicated the opposite side, and Plants sat there.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

Kalian, who had first asked for understanding, brought his fingertips to Plants’ bracelet. Then he began explaining what Plants had been curious about.

 

Kalian’s Mana, warm like a breeze as Plants had once felt, enveloped the area around Plants’ arm. From the place where Mana was gathered, how to move Mana and infuse strength into an object, according to the order in which the words continued, Kalian’s Mana could be felt moving along.

 

Kalian, who had finished the explanation that continued for quite some time, removed his hand and concluded his words.

 

“If it is difficult to do alone, please tell me. I shall help you.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Plants, who had answered thus, looked into Kalian’s eyes for a moment before speaking.

 

“It is different from when using a sword. Yet it is the same Mana.”

 

Plants’ eyes turned towards Kalian’s fingertips.

 

Kalian, understanding the meaning, nodded and answered.

 

“Yes. I use the same Mana for both Magic and Aura, but the energy is slightly different. Perhaps because I was different when learning Mana and Aura, but I am not certain of the exact reason.”

 

Old Kalian’s Magic.

 

And Bern’s Aura.

 

When using Magic, there was a warm feeling that both suited and did not suit the current Kalian. And the Aura, because he had completely changed Old Kalian’s method to Bern’s way, bore a dark red light. That energy alone was already like a merciless blade. The difference between the two was stark.

 

“I see.”

 

“Is learning Magic enjoyable?”

 

Kalian suddenly asked this question, and Plants, who had raised his head, answered.

 

“Not particularly.”

 

“Then will you not learn anything other than the Magic for removing cat hair?”

 

“I will not learn more.”

 

“May I ask why you will not learn more?”

 

“Because it seems there is no longer a need.”

 

Kalian looked at Plants and soon his face became one that understood something.

 

It was because he remembered.

 

Why that verdant older brother had said he would learn Magic.

 

“Then do you intend to continue learning the sword?”

 

“The Lesser Duchess said. That the sword is heavy.”

 

A weight that makes one responsible for many things.

 

It would mean that he liked that weight that ultimately made Plants grounded and committed.

 

Since it seemed Kalian had now become grounded and stable as well, Plants would not take further interest in Magic, which he no longer needed to learn. It meant he would just continue learning the sword.

 

“Yes. Then I shall teach you only up to removing cat fur and continue teaching you the sword.”

 

“Sure.”

 

So that he could continue walking whatever wind might blow.

 

So that he could take responsibility for many things and protect himself.

 

The sky was shining as if a blue-silver kaleidoscope had been scattered across it. A dark night with starlight pouring down.

 

*Clink.*

 

When Kalian, having finished the conversation and teaching, rose from his seat. A familiar sound was heard from the end of the sandy beach.

 

Shiona, who had returned after roasting and eating wild chicken she had hunted in the forest by herself, approached the two with her characteristically light gait.

 

“The Great Elder said to come, now.”

 

Then she conveyed the Great Elder’s words to Kalian.

 

Through Shiona, who was neither Nidlen nor a Knight, and why, when they had already agreed to meet again tomorrow to conclude the negotiations, was Kalian being summoned again at this hour?

 

“Now?”

 

Looking at Kalian’s face, full of such questions, Shiona added an explanation.

 

“The Mother Tree said she wishes to see you.”

 

Plants narrowed his eyes.

 

Kalian, understanding why the ‘Elf’ Shiona, rather than a member of Valkan, had to convey the message, smiled slightly.

 

“I wondered if being a tree meant she lacked curiosity, or if it was just delayed.”

 

The Prince with a truly peculiar constitution, who had even made Syspanian manifest in person, looked towards the Mother Tree of the Elves visible in the distance and said.

 

“But, I am not an Elf.”

 

Not only was he not an Elf, but he was also someone who held grudges.

 

“Fine. I shall go tomorrow morning.”

 

He answered that he would not do as instructed.

 

Shiona nodded with an amused face.