Chapter 30, The Roses Will Bloom Soon (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian stepped out to the dining hall with a light cough.

 

At that sound, Ian’s eyes grew intense as he followed behind. Though he may be dull, he was not so obtuse as to not realize that this persistent coughing was not due to a cold.

 

“As promised, I waited until today. If the tea arrives tomorrow as well, I’ll quit being your attendant.”

 

“You’re going to step in and handle it yourself?”

 

“Yes.”

 

If Duke Siegfried picked up a sword instead of a violin bow on that day, it was not Ian’s concern. He knew Sleiman would be more than capable of handling that much.

 

“Good. That’s reassuring.”

 

“I’m not joking.”

 

“I know. Neither am I.”

 

With those words, Kalian entered the dining hall.

 

Randel, who had already arrived and started his meal. He kept his gaze on Kalian’s face for a while. It was because he looked even paler than yesterday. Though Kalian was not unaware of why Randel was staring, he began his meal without saying anything.

 

Around the time Kalian put down his fork after picking at just a few bites of salad, Randel rose from his seat.

 

Kalian spoke.

 

“I’ll see you at the evening banquet.”

 

Recently, Kalian had been speaking one sentence per day to Randel.

 

Starting with the sudden talk about roses, the next day, he said he could not sleep due to the heavy rain and wind. The day after that, he said he missed the sound of birds. To all this, Randel had only ever responded with ‘okay.’

 

Ian thought even Raven would speak more eloquently than Randel if taught to talk.

 

But today was slightly different.

 

“Take care of your health.”

 

[Finally, we’re properly facing each other.] Kalian’s lips curved upward as he bowed his head.

 

Others present in the dining hall doubted their ears at Randel’s words. Not just Randel’s attendant and Ian, but even the dining hall’s servants and maids.

 

Only Kalian responded with a natural smile.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

Randel left without another word, and Kalian also went out to begin his daily routine.

 

Then came the afternoon.

 

Looking at Kalian’s even paler face, Ian asked in a subdued voice.

 

“The noble’s meeting is currently in progress, so you need to attend the evening banquet in an hour.”

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

“You seem to be feeling worse, are you really planning to attend?”

 

Though he asked this, Ian’s expression suggested he already knew Kalian’s answer. When he heard it would be resolved by Tuesday, he knew this was the time Kalian had been waiting for.

 

“Of course I have to go.”

 

Looking at Kalian with complicated eyes, Ian slowly spoke.

 

“Please rest. I’ll call the maids.”

 

“No, wait a moment.”

 

Kalian, who had stopped Ian like this, rolled up his sleeve and removed his knife. After handing it to Ian, he pointed to the safe.

 

“Pack up that knife, the antidote, and the documents investigating Sillike. All of it.”

 

“Pack them up?”

 

“Leave them with Master in case someone needs to check my room. It would be troublesome if they were discovered.”

 

“Check your room?”

 

[Who would dare check a Prince’s safe? Just what is he planning?]

 

Instead of answering these questions, Kalian handed Ian two sealed letters. As Ian reflexively took them, Kalian spoke again.

 

“Take one to the Arcane Enclave, and one to Master. Make sure to visit the Enclave first before going to Master.”

 

The fact that he had sealed letters to be delivered through Ian was essentially telling Ian not to read their contents.

 

It was unsettling.

 

“You won’t tell me what you’re thinking, will you?”

 

“No, I won’t.”

 

Kalian nodded with a smile.

 

How much of that composed smile should be trusted? Ian did not know. He just silently clenched his fist.

 

“Since you won’t be drinking that tea anymore and won’t be carrying the knife to the banquet hall…”

 

“Yes. I’ll handle everything myself, so don’t worry about anything.”

 

“You smiled exactly like that on the day you got hurt by Plants’ sword.”

 

“This isn’t like that.”

 

Kalian’s smile grew deeper than it had been. [Yes, this isn’t like that. It will be worse than that.]

 

Ian followed Kalian’s instructions for now.

 

As Ian closed the safe door, Kalian spoke again.

 

“I can go to the banquet hall alone. So please run these errands once the evening preparations are done.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

After saying this, Ian gathered the items Kalian had mentioned. He stared at Kalian for a moment before silently going outside to call the maids.

 

After Ian helped with the evening preparations and left for Kalian’s errands, Kalian opened the safe again. Then he took out a small object hidden deep inside.

 

A small object that looked like a sugar cube, bought from the bird shop.

 

Kalian looked at the piece he had received from the spy named White Hawk, then put it in his pocket. He raised his hand to brush over his heart area before going outside.

 

This was Kalian’s poison, prepared for Sillike.

 

…

 

The Knight guarding the banquet hall entrance spoke to Kalian.

 

“Your Highness. The noble’s meeting has been somewhat delayed, so the evening banquet has been postponed. Therefore, the nobles haven’t arrived in the banquet hall yet.”

 

It seems Rmain had granted the request to delay the noble’s meeting by 10 minutes.

 

“That’s fine. I’ll go in and wait.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

The Knight, who formally bowed, opened the banquet hall doors.

 

Kalian’s lips curved slightly at the Reunieri scent that he sensed even before seeing inside the banquet hall.

 

[There you are, Sillike.]

 

Sillike sat alone in the spacious banquet hall.

 

Only Kalian and Sillike attended the banquet without being present at the meeting. Since the banquet started right after the meeting ended, naturally everyone would be late if the meeting was delayed.

 

That was why he had asked Rmain for this favor. It was solely to create time to talk with Sillike.

 

Kalian walked over with steady steps and sat across from Sillike.

 

A servant came and set down coffee for Kalian, who had to wait. Kalian spoke to the servant.

 

“Please leave us alone until the others arrive.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

The servant bowed his head and left with everyone else.

 

Sillike, not knowing why he had dismissed everyone, looked at Kalian and habitually picked up her fan.

 

Seeing this, Kalian extended his hand and shook his head.

 

“Let’s not wear masks. Both of us.”

 

Sillike’s face stiffened momentarily. But soon, she nodded and put down her fan on the table.

 

“Let’s do that.”

 

They sat like that, Kalian looking at Sillike, and Sillike not turning away her gaze from Kalian’s eyes.

 

Though both appeared composed on the surface, their inner thoughts were not as calm. The silence continued with the banquet hall’s clock ticking sound seeming as loud as thunder.

 

Finally, Sillike spoke first.

 

“Why do you look at me like that?”

 

It was the same gaze, just like last time.

 

Kalian slightly furrowed his brow as he picked up the coffee cup.

 

“I said let’s not wear masks,”

 

Kalian paused briefly as his red eyes moved from Sillike down to the black coffee in the cup.

 

“I didn’t say we should abandon courtesy as well.”

 

Sillike’s eyes suddenly turned sharp.

 

As Kalian was of royal blood, even though Sillike was Queen, she should not speak down to him.

 

“…You’ve truly grown up.”

 

“It’s just that my words are not difficult to understand.”

 

Sillike, who surely knew this fact, was still speaking down to him. Kalian, who had leisurely drunk his coffee, spoke with a bright smile. Then, he added in a low voice.

 

“Sillike.”

 

Venom crept into Sillike’s beautiful face. Kalian’s expression suggested he had just discovered such a face had been behind the fan.

 

“How incredibly rude. Indeed, common blood—”

 

“I believe I just said you were being discourteous to me.”

 

Kalian, cutting off Sillike’s words, spoke again.

 

“What does that make Marquis Beurisen when you bring up bloodlines?”

 

Sillike’s eyes narrowed. Having reminded herself that she could not strike down Kalian right then and there, Sillike could be seen grinding her teeth.

 

“Anyway. I have something I want to say to you, Sillike.”

 

“It would be better to speak another time. I don’t wish to stay with you any longer.”

 

Sillike rose from her seat.

 

No, she tried to rise.

 

*Thud!*

 

Kalian set down his coffee cup with a slightly loud sound.

 

“…That tea.”

 

Kalian’s eyes sank deeply as he looked at Sillike. He looked into her depths, just as Randel had done.

 

“I wanted to tell you to stop sending it. Because when I try to endure drinking it, the tea’s scent keeps getting stronger without end.”

 

Just like the Reunieri scent.

 

Sillike slowly sat back down.

 

From what she had heard, Kalian had drunk his morning tea even today. Therefore, she had not thought Kalian knew there was poison in the tea. Yet Kalian seemed to even know that she had increased the poison.

 

[So, you drank it, knowingly.]

 

When it became known that poison had been given to Kalian in his tea, Sillike had planned to punish all of Kalian’s attendants and maids with death. Whether they had directly added the poison or not, merely the act of delivering poison to a Prince was already a crime.

 

[How thoughtful, despite your station, and knowing you would die.]

 

A smile crossed Sillike’s face as she realized why Kalian had pretended not to know about the poison in the tea. Her voice came out completely unwavering.

 

“Tea scent? You speak of words I simply cannot comprehend.”

 

Kalian answered with a matching smile.

 

“You don’t know?”

 

“I don’t.”

 

After briefly tapping his coffee cup, Kalian took out the piece he had brought. The sugar bowl on the table was full of identical-looking pieces. Of course, though they looked the same, what Kalian held was not sugar.

 

Pushing back the sound of the clock, Kalian spoke in an honest voice. Since they had agreed not to wear masks, he planned to abide by it.

 

“Actually, I considered several options. Should I use the evidence from Lannen? Should I just capture and threaten Lannen? Should I seek shelter under Master? Should I speak to His Majesty? Or perhaps I too should give snake’s blood to my sibling?”

 

Sillike narrowed her eyes. Ignoring this, Kalian continued.

 

“Using poison didn’t appeal to me. And the others, well, I figured they would all avoid harm. So, I concluded I should forcefully take your card away. Such that this card can never be used again in the future. So, you would never think to use poison again.”

 

Kalian showed Sillike what he held in his hand.

 

“For that, I needed to wager something too. But, all I have right now is a sturdy heart. So, I decided to bet even that.”

 

Sillike’s green eyes looked at what was in Kalian’s hand.

 

“It’s poison. It doesn’t react to silver and since it’s not a poison that kills people, it’s not detected by magical reagents either. Ah, perhaps I should call it medicine. Since it could be said to be used for saving people.”

 

Sillike’s fingers on her lap slightly gripped her dress. This was because she could not see through Kalian’s intentions.

 

As if not caring whether Sillike knew of his plans, Kalian continued.

 

“After taking this and some time passes, it temporarily stops the heart, making a living person appear exactly like they’re dead, or so I heard.”

 

In fact, this was poison carried by Secritia’s spies to escape. Of course, since it was not only used in Secritia, there was no possibility of Sillike connecting Kalian to Secritia even if she knew the poison’s identity.

 

Looking at the substance that might be poison or medicine with truly fascinated eyes, Kalian continued speaking.

 

“Of course, it won’t be like that for me. Even if I take this, it won’t stop my heart because I have the Boon of Syspanian.”

 

“Why bring medicine that would have no effect when taken?”

 

“Because…” Kalian answered Sillike’s question in a slow voice. “It will stop the detoxification.”

 

Just as the less important palm wound had not healed. The Boon of Syspanian ignores poison that was less important something that would stop one’s heart.

 

Even if someone became a monk, they would not wear a more peaceful expression than Kalian did now. Kalian’s attitude was that composed as he spoke of his heart stopping.

 

“While the Boon of Syspanian eliminates this poison’s effects, the poison I’ve been diligently consuming until today will spread. Of course, even then, since my heart is so strong… I won’t die. I’ll suffer a bit, but. Instead, you’ll be troubled.”

 

He would not die just from the temporary spread of poison, that was only meant to slowly sicken him day by day. Because the Boon of Syspanian prevented his heart from completely stopping, it will start detoxifying the Tacrimosa again.

 

There was a plop sound from Kalian’s coffee cup.

 

“So. If you promise not to send the tea from tomorrow onwards, I won’t drink this. I’m sick of being ill too.”

 

Sillike finally grasped Kalian’s intentions.

 

Even if he did not die, poisoning symptoms would appear. If he coughed up blood and collapsed in front of everyone, anyone would have to suspect poison. Moreover, since the symptoms alone would not reveal how much he had consumed, it could appear as though there had been an assassination attempt with an amount that could not be detoxified even with Boon of Syspanian.

 

Furthermore, right now, Sillike was alone with Kalian in the banquet hall.

 

Realizing that suspicion would certainly fall on her, Sillike sneered and spoke.

 

“How preposterous. You think you can frame me by saying I gave you poison?”

 

“I’m not sure we can call that framing. But do I even need to say such things? After all, no one wishes for my disappearance as desperately as you do right now.”

 

A leisurely smile returned to Sillike’s lips.

 

It felt like stepping on a sandcastle that a child had spent all day building. In a good mood, the unmasked Sillike spoke in a gentle voice.

 

“Have you prepared the evidence?”

 

Kalian opened his eyes wide like a child. An exaggerated voice that seemed quite mocking flowed out.

 

“Evidence! Do I need such a thing?”

 

Kalian slowly stirred his coffee with a spoon. While doing so, he corrected what Sillike had pointed out.

 

“I’m not trying to drive you out right away. Even with Master here, how could I win if Marquis Beurisen brought all those Knights?”

 

“Fortunately, you do know that much.”

 

When Sillike answered with a smile, Kalian smiled back.

 

“What I want to do is make sure you can’t play with poison anymore. So, I don’t need evidence. This time, I just plan to make everyone endlessly suspect and watch you on my behalf. Because there are prisons that suffocate more when they are invisible.”

 

Suspicion alone cannot punish a person. Sillike knew this better than anyone.

 

“Such a prison cannot hold me. An invisible prison? I’ve never experienced such a thing before. You know well that it’s been this way all along.”

 

After all, was she not sitting here leisurely drinking coffee despite having committed countless crimes?

 

Sillike leaned forward to bring her face closer to Kalian.

 

She had an innocent, childlike smile.

 

“Who in this world doesn’t know that I was the one who sent your Mother to her end?”

 

Like the chirping of birds announcing morning, Sillike whispered this.