Chapter 60, Found (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Merlin, Kalian’s maid, opened the door and said.

 

“Please enter.”

 

It was Allan who found Kalian’s empty room. As Allan entered, Merlin silently closed the door from outside.

 

Soon Allan walked to the safe next to the bedroom and opened it with a now somewhat experienced hand movement. After briefly confirming that the safe was quite emptied due to the matter with Lannen, Allan put the documents and several checks he was holding into it.

 

It was part of the profits from the former Beurisen Trader’s Guild, which had now become the Pollun Trader’s Guild.

 

Although Melpir Pollun’s name was used when buying the Trader’s Guild, all the actual money came from this safe. Therefore, Melpir, who hated just receiving things, had decided on his own to send a certain amount of the Trader’s Guild’s profits to Kalian. Thinking that this too was a transaction, so Kalian would certainly not refuse.

 

So, Allan had come into this unoccupied room to put away their first profits.

 

A humming sort of soliloquy flowed from Allan’s lips.

 

“Seems like our Prince will never run out of money.”

 

Allan chuckled to himself as he briefly recalled how surprised he had been when he first looked inside the safe. That surprise would be incomparable to when he saw the bathtub made of onyx stone.

 

Anyway, after finishing all his business with Kalian’s safe, Allan left the room and walked toward the stairs.

 

Just as he heard Merlin locking the door, Allan ran into someone coming up the stairs.

 

At this moment, he swallowed words similar to what Kalian was saying aloud while looking out the window of Reddington Castle, ‘What a coincidence’.

 

Pale emerald hair visible below the stair railing. Lightless yellowish-green eyes visible beneath it.

 

It was Plants.

 

Plants, who had been climbing the stairs, briefly looked at the toes of the person stepping aside. Then, after moving his legs to come up to where Allan was, he gazed blankly at Allan’s face.

 

Allan, not one to find it difficult to deal with someone of status, even if they were the Second Prince, simply greeted Plants with a relaxed expression and a small smile.

 

“It’s been a while, Prince Plants.”

 

Despite those words, Plants continued to stare at Allan without answering. The quiet standoff lasted quite a while.

 

No matter if Plants was a Prince, the person standing before him was Allan Manasil. Even Marquis Beurisen, no, even King Rmain could not treat Allan carelessly. So, when Plants’ attendant began to feel anxious about leaving Allan standing like this without answering his greeting, he finally responded.

 

“Mage. Was it you meeting him that changed things? Or did you meet because things changed?”

 

Plants opened his mouth.

 

However, it was not an answer to a greeting.

 

Before Kalian left Roselita, he had told Allan that Plants suspected his identity. Therefore, Allan immediately understood that what Plants was saying. He was questioning Kalian’s true identity

 

But whether he was conscious of listening ears around them or if it was just his way of speaking, Plants’ words were quite abstract. So, Allan, with his unchanging smiling face, asked back.

 

“Changed? What do you mean by that?”

 

Seeing Allan’s attitude, which seemed to not understand his words, Plants spoke again.

 

“My little brother has changed a lot. I still haven’t gotten an answer as to how that happened. I wondered if you might know.”

 

If an answer was really needed, it should have been ‘Kalian changed and then met Allan.’ But Allan opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

 

“Did giving up alcohol made your thoughts deeper, or have deeper thoughts made you give up alcohol?”

 

Directly mentioning ‘alcohol’ to Plants, the Second Prince, was something only Rmain, Sillike, and Randel had done. That was how incredibly rude Allan’s words were. Of course, if it had been Rmain, he would now consider this level of speech just an everyday expression.

 

Plants’ attendant looked at Allan, trying to caution him.

 

However, Allan’s gaze never left Plants. Seeing this, Plants had one corner of his mouth curled up as he said.

 

“…So there’s someone here who regrets it too.”

 

He thought the only person who would regret him no longer acting like a ruffian would be Randel.

 

Allan guessed the ‘too’ must have been Randel, who mentioned something about Plants quitting alcohol. Still, he answered Plants’ first question.

 

“Everyone changes, Prince Plants.”

 

Plants stared at Allan once more.

 

Still not letting go of his suspicion.

 

“Whether the method of change is giving up alcohol, or giving up the fear devouring them from the insane actions of ones’ siblings. What difference does it make?”

 

A moment of silence hung between them due to Allan’s unexpected harsh words.

 

“Ha ha ha…”

 

Soon Plants let out a hollow laugh.

 

Allan looked down at Plants with sharp eyes and continued. “Everyone changes, that’s all there is to it.”

 

With those final words, Allan gave Plants a slight bow before clomping down the stairs and disappearing.

 

Instead of getting angry, Plants stared at Allan’s retreating figure for a long time with his sunken yellowish-green eyes. Then, he chewed over Allan’s biting words once more.

 

“Insane actions…”

 

For a long while, Plants’ feet did not move.

 

* * *

 

Viscount Tessyd Reddington, the Lord of Reddington Territory, was a tall, thin man in his mid-forties.

 

As if to prove Ian’s words that he was known for being thoughtful and dignified, he was now looking out the window with a face deep in thought.

 

Tessyd was one of the few nobles who did not take sides with any Prince. However, he had been quite impressed by Kalian’s appearance at King Rmain’s birthday festival.

 

Therefore, although Prince Kalian’s unscheduled visit was sudden, it was not unwelcomed. So, he thought he just needed to pay a little attention to ensure Kalian could have a comfortable stay.

 

If it were not for those carriages entering now, that thought would have remained unchanged. A single word escaped from Tessyd’s mouth, expressing his current feelings.

 

“Troublesome.”

 

Tessyd was not one to fail to recognise Beurisen’s crest conspicuously engraved on the carriages. He did not know that Gray Beurisen, the Count, was coming to Cyriesus, but he did know that the relationship between those in the carriage bearing that crest and Kalian was not very a pleasant one.

 

Anyway, there was no more time to stand by the window worrying.

 

Finally, Tessyd turned around, thinking he should inform the newcomers that Prince Kalian was here. He intended to turn away Beurisen’s people with these tactful words.

 

Doing so would certainly have negative consequences for Tessyd, but since there was already a guest here first, what else could he do?

 

But just then, the butler approached and said.

 

“Prince Kalian’s attendant says he has a message for you.”

 

Tessyd quickly nodded and answered.

 

“Tell him to come in.”

 

Soon Ian, Kalian’s attendant, came before Tessyd. He gave a simple greeting, and conveyed Kalian’s message.

 

“The Prince asks if you are thinking of informing them in advance that the Prince is here to send them away.”

 

Feeling as if his thoughts had been read, Tessyd looked surprised. Seeing this and guessing the answer, Ian continued with an expressionless face.

 

“He says if those getting out of the carriage are others, it would be fine to do so, but if it’s the Count Beurisen, don’t send him away and invite him to have tea together.”

 

[Count Gray?] When this unexpected name came up, Tessyd asked with surprised eyes once more.

 

“You mean for me to send away others from the Beurisen Family if they’re not the Count. But let him in if he is the Count?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct.”

 

“…So, the Prince is saving me.”

 

This was not said out of mere courtesy. Those were his sincere words.

 

If he tried to turn away someone of Gray’s stature, it would not end with just receiving retaliation. So, he understood that Kalian was being considerate by saying it was okay to let him in without worry.

 

“I understand. Please convey that I will do so.”

 

Having finished what he needed to say, Ian went outside.

 

Tessyd looked at the carriages that had now almost reached the front door with a somewhat tense face.

 

* * *

 

Kalian opened his mouth in a light tone.

 

“Tell me what you know about Count Beurisen.”

 

In Ian’s mind, information about most nobles had already been perfectly organized. It was a basic requirement for a Prince’s senior attendant. Therefore, Ian opened his mouth without hesitation.

 

“He was enfeoffed as Count quite a long time ago. At that time, his relationship with Marquis Beurisen was not very good. There were stories that rather than the position of Count, he wanted to train Knights in the Capital and inherit the Marquis title. He’s said to have an arrogant personality. And another unfavourable rumor is…”

 

Ian lowered his voice slightly to continue.

 

“They say he has four separate rooms prepared in his house.”

 

At his last words, Kalian gave a short laugh.

 

Having separate rooms prepared in one’s house was a euphemism among nobles. In short, it meant that he had four women besides his wife.

 

“So, he’s good with the sword while arrogant. Doesn’t have much affection for the position of Count but coveted the position of Marquis. He also likes women. Is that it?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

Kalian, having memorized Ian’s assessment, asked one more thing.

 

“I don’t remember ever meeting him. Have you ever met him before?”

 

“I believe you met him once before I became your attendant, Your Highness. You might not remember.”

 

[If it was when Ian was not there, that meant it was before the original Kalian had turned 11.] Kalian slowly nodded his head. [Well, at 11, even If we had met sometime in the past, he wouldn’t be able to imagine what I look like now.]

 

Of course, he would have heard much about Kalian from Sillike. How much of Sillike’s words about Kalian he believed would soon be confirmed.

 

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

 

Ian went outside to have a brief conversation with the visitor. Kalian glanced over and saw it was Reddington Viscount’s butler.

 

Looking out the window again, he could still see the carriages parked in the same place. He saw servants unhitching the horses from the carriages and took them to the stable. This meant that Gray was indeed the one visiting so Kalian rose from his seat, preparing his mind to meet him.

 

Soon Ian walked back and said to Kalian with a small nod.

 

“Count Beurisen and Viscount Reddington are waiting in the reception room. Shall we go right away?”

 

“We shall.”

 

Kalian answered.

 

Kalian, who had hurried from the far south, and Gray, the Count who had departed later than planned due to delays in his proxy appointment. What were the odds they would meet on the same day at the same place? Kalian found himself smiling again as he walked to the reception room.

 

In the not-so-lavishly decorated reception room, there were just two people. Gray and Tessyd. Tessyd’s face seemed somewhat tense, but Gray’s was not.

 

As Kalian entered, Tessyd rose from his seat. Meanwhile, Gray remained seated.

 

The only noble who could meet a Prince while seated on horseback or in a chair was just one: Duke Sleiman Hone Siegfried.

 

All other nobles were in fact of lower rank than the Princes. Therefore, Kalian stood at the doorway for a moment, looking at Gray.

 

After enjoying Kalian’s gaze for quite some time, Gray said with a bright smile resembling Sillike’s.

 

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ve been injured. Hence, I cannot offer proper courtesy, Prince Kalian.”

 

Of course, it was just an excuse. Neither that neat face nor attire looked like that of an ill person.

 

[Does this mean he doesn’t believe what Sillike must have told him in detail about me? So, this Count wishes to control me, who he might see as a Prince running wild without any sense, with just Allan Manasil backing me?]

 

Kalian raised a small smile and softly said.

 

“I see.” Perhaps thinking Kalian would be flustered, Gray nodded half-heartedly and replied.

 

“Yes, so please understand.”

 

“In that case.”

 

The smile on Kalian’s face disappeared.

 

Just like when he faced Sillike, a cold light gleamed in his red eyes and a voice full of authority flowed from the mouth of the Third Prince of Cyries.

 

“Bow your head at least, Count.”