Chapter 276, Truly Beautiful (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Truly light.

 

The sound of Raven’s hooves walking across the well-ordered capital was always light, but today it was exceptionally light.

 

It was only natural.

 

“So that was why you suddenly said you would change Raven’s horseshoes today… you were thinking of this.”

 

Since Raven’s mood was refreshed with new horseshoes, such a light sound could not help but ring out.

 

Unable to bring himself to say words like ‘scheme’ or ‘trick’ to his older brother’s face, Kalian let out a deep sigh and continued speaking.

 

“Even so, how can you strike your younger brother on the back of the head twice like this?”

 

“I did not know you would fall for it twice.”

 

Seeing the reaction that it was more surprising that he had fallen for the same method twice, Kalian ruffled Raven’s innocent mane this way and that.

 

He had been deceived.

 

He had already fallen for Plants’s scheme twice.

 

“They say Raven’s horseshoes are being changed today.”

 

“Really? They seem fine.”

 

“Rerik came earlier and the farrier who came to change Estina’s horseshoes said that Raven’s needed to be newly fitted as well, so I asked him to do so. Since the horseshoes need changing and he needs a bath as well, please ride Enland to the Ducal Family Residence.”

(Enland is Ian’s horse.)

 

“Right. Understood.”

 

That day, to Kalian, who said he would go to the Siegfried Family Residence, Ian told him to ride his own horse instead of Raven. And Kalian did as Ian told him without much thought.

 

When they said they were changing the horseshoes, what else was there to suspect?

 

Kalian had not noticed at all that it was a scheme for a long-distance journey, or that it was a trick conceived with the idea of packing Kalian’s personal luggage into the bag that Raven carried around.

 

Of course, Ian had not known until then either. If he had known, an expression of hiding something would have shown completely on his face.

 

“Even if you had told me in advance, I would not have opposed it.”

 

“That would be the fastest way for my younger brother’s former older brother to learn the truth.”

 

Kalian could not lie and was good at getting caught. So, if Plants had informed Kalian, Chase would have noticed, and eventually Debeullan would have found out, or so he thought.

 

…Which was an excuse, and shaking off the feeling that he had probably just been teased, Kalian looked at the Ducal Family Residence visible in the far distance and shook his head from side to side.

 

After one bout of sparring with Dmirea, he had fought with Evan and gotten a hole in his stomach. Thanks to that, he had postponed the second bout, and then went to the Elf City just like that, so he could not meet her again. And then he had barely managed to arrange the next appointment, he now would need to break it again.

 

“I should not have made the appointment with Dmirea. Thanks to my truly thoughtful older brother, it seems I shall probably be jilted when I return.”

 

Plants laughed briefly without answering.

 

He was not unaware that his younger brother, who seemed to have only just barely remembered Kalian again, was grumbling with pointless words about having to go on a long journey without seeing Luci and Anne’s faces or exchanging proper greetings with Allan.

 

At least it was fortunate that he had greeted Ian, who had hurriedly prepared for the journey after learning the truth once Kalian had left for the Ducal Family Residence.

 

“By the way…”

 

Having let out another deep sigh at his situation where he was considering such a thing fortunate, Kalian looked behind.

 

When Kyrie, who was following behind, met eyes with Kalian, he bowed his head. Having lightly nodded to receive the brief courtesy, Kalian turned his gaze.

 

Eila, who had been beside Kyrie, came into view. In the end, she had come along too.

 

Behind those two, Knights could be seen. They said they had selected only thirty because there should be no unnecessary wariness from Secritia. For the same reason, the Knights and Mages of Valkan, who were the Royal Army, could not accompany the journey to Secritia.

 

Furthermore, not a single attendant was included. In preparation for any situation that might possibly occur, personnel incapable of combat were excluded from the party. Just as Chase had done when he visited Cyries.

 

Lastly, between the Knights, the Royal Carriage displaying truly tremendous majesty came into view. It was that very carriage he had been unable to ride because of Raven’s stubbornness.

 

“Are you planning to leave the carriage in front of the Teleportation Magic Circle? It cannot pass through the Magic Circle.”

 

“Marquis Manasil has resolved it.”

 

What he had asked Allan when he met him on the first day after returning from the Elf City to Cyriesus. The content was to make it so that carriage, engraved with all sorts of Defensive Spells, could pass through the Teleportation Magic Circle. And Allan had modified the carriage without difficulty, timing it well.

 

[Just when had he started planning all of this?]

 

Having laughed briefly, Kalian opened his mouth again.

 

“I thought you would at least choose to wear clothes that do not show dirt, but I did not know you would prepare a carriage as well.”

 

“It does not show.”

 

“I thought you would not wear not only white clothes but those black clothes either.”

 

If it were Plants stepping on Secritia’s soil, would he not leave behind both Valkan’s uniform and the Prince’s formal attire? That was what Kalian had thought.

 

Having turned his head forward again, Kalian looked at Plants.

 

Beneath the red cloak with enormous tassels and jet-black fur trim covering one shoulder, a black coat embroidered with gold thread could be seen. Of course, beneath that would be the Prince’s formal attire.

 

Clothing deliberately worn.

 

So that the birds who saw that appearance while leaving the Capital would convey to Debeullan in what capacity Plants was currently going to Secritia.

 

“You said not to do that.”

 

“Yes. I did say that even if the memories return, you need not concern yourself, but still, with older brother’s personality, I was thinking you might not go as Valkan’s Deputy Commander or as a Prince. Because it is Secritia.”

 

“…If you dislike it…”

 

“No. I do not dislike it. I am saying this because it is interesting that you listen to what I say quite well, apart from occasionally aiming for the back of my head.”

 

Having snapped gracefully, Kalian smiled brightly.

 

And that smile deepened a little more when they stood in front of the Teleportation Magic Circle after passing through the outer fortress gate.

 

*Chirp! Chirp!*

 

After all, when it comes to striking the back of one’s head…

 

Was it not most enjoyable when it was both given and received?

 

* * *

 

The scent of orchid flowers came from the green tea.

 

Saying that he quite liked that scent, which was neither clamorous nor tiresome to the nose, and had given it to his newly acquired son, Etienne, who could not even reveal her joy properly, had sent it to Allan again with this gift.

 

As the wind blowing outside the window became colder, the warmth of the tea increased accordingly, so warm steam rose gently from the orchid-scented tea placed on the table.

 

“The scent is good.”

 

Having quietly smelled that scent, Rmain nodded. Watching this, Allan lightly tapped one finger on top of his own teacup. At the same time, a cold energy wrapped around the teacup and thin ice formed on the surface of the tea.

 

“You drink it cold when the weather is cold?”

 

“Prince Kalian is increasingly seeking cold things, so how can I, as his Master, just stand by and watch? I must match him. Moreover, if I am going to live together in the south later, it seems better to become accustomed to cold things, so I am doing this.”

 

“…He is my son.”

 

“Before being Your Highness’s son, he is my Disciple. When I could take him and keep him in the south for a while, why do you look at me with such eyes?”

 

Having sent a rebuke as always, Allan emptied half of the tea that had turned cold.

 

“Tell me.”

 

“What am I to tell you?”

 

“Since I have made another mistake, is that not why you are behaving like this?”

 

Having taken a large bite of cake piled high with the rich chocolate he loved and heaped with wild strawberries, Allan nodded. After that, he drank another sip of green tea, and then, looking at Rmain, who had finished preparing to listen earnestly, he stated.

 

“What would be special about it? Apart from bringing the Third Prince into the world, you have done everything wrong.”

 

Rmain, who utterly disliked sweet things and so could not even touch the cake, drank an innocent sip of tea and set it down. And then, looking down quietly at the cake that made sweet tastes rise just from looking at it, he said.

 

“I shall take care that they return safely, so do not be too angry.”

 

“What do you suddenly mean by that?”

 

“Are you not concerned that because Plants suddenly set out on a journey due to me, even Kalian went along saying he would act as his guard? I am saying not to worry because I am taking proper care to ensure that nothing particular happens in Secritia, so do not give me rebukes I already know about, and do not worry.”

 

To be precise, it should be said that watching Kalian, who had set out on a hard journey because the two fathers sitting in the highest places in Cyries and Secritia could not do their jobs properly, was making him boil with anger. He was angry at Rmain, who was right before his eyes, including Debeullan, who was far away.

 

In any case, if at least one of those two bastards had done their fatherly duty properly, this disaster would not have occurred.

 

“I am not worried that he will devise something particular in Secritia, so do not misunderstand.”

 

Having heaped another large helping of innocent cake into his mouth, Allan let out a deep sigh. What if Kalian, who had set out pulling that grand carriage, came back having eaten sour tangerines again?

 

Allan’s thoughts were entirely occupied with such matters.

 

Rmain, who had been quietly watching the Mage with a frown on his face sighing deeply while heartily eating chocolate cake, opened his mouth.

 

“Do you mean you have no concerns that that snake-like fellow might conceive a mind to detain and use the Princes?”

 

“No. There will be no situation where both Princes are detained together.”

 

Having said this, Allan shook his head briefly and then changed his words.

 

“No. A situation where only the Second Prince is detained might occur.”

 

After that, Allan pointed towards the bookshelf in the office. Wilhelm Hall, where Valkan was located, was in that direction.

 

“If such a thing happens, at that time, please do not worry and send the friends living there and me together.”

 

“Are you saying you are willing to start a war?”

 

“Would there be any need to ‘wage war’?”

 

Having paused briefly, Allan ate a bite of cake leisurely and then added his answer.

 

“If a situation arose where the Second Prince got detained, it would mean the Third Prince was already gone from this world. If that happened, it would mean that the country’s Crown Prince had already died and disappeared… If it came to that, there would be no need to wage war in a complicated manner. We could just comfortably go and find him, eliminate Secritia, and simply bring back only the Second Prince.”

 

What a terrifying way to say that because Chase exists, Debeullan cannot do anything reckless to the two Princes, and even if he tries to do something reckless, as long as Kalian was there, nothing in particular would happen.

 

Rmain’s gaze rested on the teacup for a moment.

 

Those words coming from Allan’s mouth did not sound like a joke at all. He knew that if such a thing happened by any chance, this person could truly erase Secritia from this continent.

 

The King of Liberen must have known this too, which was why she immediately executed her husband Teigan. Thanks to that, Liberen’s map would not have changed.

 

“…Right. I shall keep it in mind.”

 

A bird must have flown past; a small shadow crossed outside the window as though brushing past it. Watching this, Allan asked.

 

“Did you send a letter to Debeullan?”

 

“I sent it immediately after the two Princes departed.”

 

Rmain briefly laughed as he recalled the letter contents, which he had never dreamt in his entire life he would have the cheek to send.

 

My son’s birthday is approaching and he said he wanted to see your country. By the time you receive this letter, he will probably be near the border, but if you make my precious sons even slightly upset, Valkan’s heart will ache too, so please open the gates well and help them return without incident. Still, since I regret not being able to tell you in advance, I shall cancel the decision to cut off all contact with you.

 

Because he had prettily decorated such words and sent them to Debeullan, Rmain lifted the teacup again.

 

Thinking that later, whenever that later might be, he would like to drink this tea together with Plants as well.

 

* * *

 

It had been long since he had removed his thick coat because his heart had become stifled.

 

Instead, he wore a black shirt and red waistcoat, along with a black jacket and trousers. And he wrapped a long cloak made of cloth with a red tint around himself. He even put on the cloak clasp decoration that Ian had packed, with Kyrie’s help.

 

He knew it was not suitable attire for travel.

 

He had never been the sort to care about clothing in the first place, but in any case, it was unreasonable to say it was clothing that someone setting out on a long journey should wear.

 

Even so…

 

It was more comfortable than the Prince’s formal attire, so it was fine.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

A considerably heavy voice flowed from Kyrie’s mouth.

 

The soldiers standing in front seemed to exchange some opinions amongst themselves for a moment before approaching again.

 

“We have received notice of the visit of the Second and Third Princes of Cyries, but…”

 

Having paused briefly, the soldier examined the party before him with a serious face.

 

A splendid carriage with lowered curtains.

 

Right beside it, the long black cloak of the person mounted on the enormous black horse standing utterly motionless draped down forming an elegant curve.

 

The person with a slender build wearing a black suit simply held his head upright and looked ahead. He did not even glance towards the soldiers.

 

The soldier quickly turned his eyes away so as not to keep his gaze there long.

 

The Third Prince.

 

A Sword Master.

 

It was to avoid complicating matters by accidentally crossing him. In fact, there was already one matter that would complicate things anyway.

 

Having finished checking the party members, the soldier looked at Kyrie and opened his mouth again.

 

“Military personnel cannot pass through.”

 

“Are you speaking of the Second Prince?”

 

“No. Another…”

 

“If not, then there are no military personnel amongst these.”

 

The soldier briefly clenched and unclenched his fist.

 

And he looked at the blue haired Mage standing behind Kyrie.

 

“Ah, you mean me?”

 

The blue-haired duck mum holding a fairly large duckling with webbed feet in his arms pointed at himself and opened his mouth.

 

“Mage, Arsene Hertz.”

 

In short, ‘Who else but you!? Are you not that very military personnel?’

 

Having confirmed the soldiers’ gazes that seemed to be asking this, Arsene added a long, long introduction.

 

“I am just a Mage who had my position entirely revoked after opposing the Commander about having my entire salary cut, only a few days ago, so you need not make things so difficult.”

 

The Mage who had become a civilian temporarily by Kalian and, the very next day after hearing the news about Raven’s horseshoe replacement, had simply rushed to stand in front of the Teleportation Magic Circle.

 

“Is there anything wrong with what I have said, Enclave Head?”

 

“No. There is not.”

 

Arsene Hertz smiled broadly and looked at the purple-haired Mage standing beside him.