Chapter 21. On the other side of the abyss (4)
Marquis Evan Brissen, having filled his time, left.
Soon, someone walked up to Plantz and said something, and after listening to the story, Plantz was seen leaving with a look of annoyance on his face. How is this any different from saying that they are going to prepare for a battle for the crown prince’s defense?
Alan, who was quietly watching the scene, suddenly said.
“I guess I was the only one who didn’t know that Your Majesty’s life line was decided today and tomorrow.”
“What are you talking about again?”
“Isn’t the antics that Prince Randel and the Marquis Briesen are doing very likely to turn the country upside down? I believe that this is not just a defense of the crown prince, but a real war for the throne.”
It was said that the young king, who had a bright future ahead of him, was not paying attention when his eyes were open like this.
“Are you unimpressed because it wasn’t like you were just sitting there for a day or two?”
“Gandanggandan is exactly the right word. Pukeukeukkeu!”
It had been a long time since I had seen Alan Manasil’s mouth open, so Slayman next to me burst into laughter.
“Do you plan to continue watching Prince Randel and Evan behave as they please, unable to distinguish between heaven and earth?”
“Are you sure you have the energy to worry about that in the midst of all the hardships? Please just let it go.”
LeMaine couldn’t unconditionally raise Calian’s hand, and even though he couldn’t feel comfortable watching him like that, Allen couldn’t stay calm as his pretty student was bearing all the trouble on his own. Slayman, who knew this, was eagerly adding his hand.
“Please shut those mouths.”
Of course, if their mouths were supposed to be closed at such words, they didn’t open as if they had been waiting for it.
“Since they brought in big, gentle guys, I’ll just step in. It won’t take long.”
“It’s a good thing I heard. Clean it up completely and come to my territory. You’re really good at protecting things, so I’ll hide it for you!”
I’m so glad this place is a ballroom.
If it weren’t for the sound of musicians’ music and people’s words, there would be nothing coming out of this place except the sound of swallowing.
Lemain answered with a slight frown.
“Okay, just a little bit.”
With the Archmage and the Sword Master doing this on both sides, only one extremely ordinary human sitting in the middle feels rotten. No one was probably aware of the terrifying conversation that had just taken place in the gathering of three large pillars supporting Kairis.
Thankfully, Slayman stepped forward to change the subject, as if he knew that Lemain was truly embarrassed.
“I heard you were caught trying to rob the first prince of his residence?”
ah.
I just think what I said earlier is better.
In response to this sharp question directed at Alan, Lemain once again cupped his forehead. Alan nodded and answered without heeding anything.
“I just caught it in the hands of my pretty student. Okay then.”
“If you think about it, you really did a good job with your disciple. While you’re at it, take a look here again! Your disciple’s hands were so fast that he just swung his sword in an instant…!”
Slayman, who had been talking up to that point, opened his eyes and asked.
“Is the First Prince still alive? If he had been captured by your disciple, he would have had a hard time doing well.”
“Why did my soft-hearted disciple use his hands so carelessly? Don’t worry. He’s alive and well.”
Calian has not yet told Alan that Randel dried and killed the rose. This was because Kalyan himself needed to organize his thoughts. If Alan had known that, he would never have said, ‘Don’t worry, Randel is alive and well.’
Anyway, Lemain, who couldn’t stand the joke-like words of two people who had no idea about that fact, stood up from his seat.
“Lemain, are you going already?”
“Please rest well.”
Then, at Slayman’s obvious words, Alan smiled as if to say goodbye. In the end, Lemain returned to Arpia Palace with a deep sigh.
So now only Slayman and Allan are left where the first four were sitting.
Slayman, who had been laughing and chatting as if there was nothing harsh in the world just a moment ago, was now drinking a glass of wine in a very quiet manner. Then he opened his mouth as if he suddenly remembered something.
“There are three things that scare me the most in the world.”
“There are a lot of scary things about a guy who has the second sword on the continent.”
I looked at him with eyes asking what was so scary, and Slayman spoke again.
“We respect and love Serie and our dog Yan.”
Serie was Slayman’s wife.
And the dog Yan refers to the real dog Yan in the duchy. No matter how much it resembles my son, how can I give my son’s nickname to a dog? It’s truly Slayman-like.
“Because of him, I have no shoes left.”
Anyway, the Sword Master, who said that the brown poodle in Siegfried’s estate was the second scariest, looked at Alan and said.
“And the third is your snout.”
Alan burst out laughing.
“Yes. My snout is one that has been approved by our pretty prince.”
Although the two had an age difference of almost ten years, their mental ages were quite similar. Even before Alan achieved the 7th circle and went back in time, it had been over 20 years since we decided to put everything aside and just be friends.
Slayman, who had said all three scary things, paused for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“But there was one more.”
After saying that, Slayman’s eyes turned to Kalian’s back, who was sitting far away.
“It’s scary. Our prince is not ordinary.”
“It’s no joke. This is my first time experiencing something like that. It still gives me goosebumps.”
Slayman wiped away the scar left on his neck and continued speaking.
“I almost died that day.”
“I understand what you’re saying is that I had a good student.”
Slayman, either die or not.
Alan simply replied with a happy smile.
* * *
Demirea, who saw Evan and Plantz going out, opened her mouth.
“At this level, it seems to have clearly served as a shield.”
“It couldn’t have been better.”
Calian said this again with gratitude.
Then Demirea made a humming sound, turned her head towards Calian, and opened her mouth.
“The first prince should also be quiet.”
Calian let out a low laugh.
Demirea was also Siegfried, so there was no reason to hide what happened yesterday. Therefore, Kalian had already told him what he had experienced when he met Randel yesterday.
“It won’t be long, but right now you won’t be able to meet anyone outside. If you were planning on killing me right away, you would have already done it yesterday, but since you didn’t, that’s okay for now.”
“Wouldn’t we run into each other again soon?”
“No matter what else lies on the other side of that abyss, I will not lose.”
Calian responded as if telling him not to worry.
Then, he opened his mouth with a soft smile that completely contrasted with his sharp eyes.
“Because I’m not a very soft person.”
It was a very confident and exciting answer.
Demirea, who heard those words, smiled and responded.
“I heard you cried.”
Ah, this damn baby elephant!
Calian, who was at a loss for words for a moment, tried to lie with a very awkward expression on his face.
“I didn’t cry.”
“I heard your eyes turned red.”
“Originally red.”
Demirea’s face had an expression as if she was looking at her younger sibling hiding candy behind her back. The Siegfried family seems to say everything they have to say with their faces.
Anyway, the misunderstanding that Randel cried because he was scared had to be eliminated, so Calian answered as if he had given up.
“I just had a dream.”
After hearing those words, Demirea looked at Calian’s face for a moment. Maybe it was Jan, but Calian wasn’t the kind of guy who would cry just because he had a nightmare.
Demirea opened her mouth with a smile that was just like the one Jan sometimes makes.
“What a great dream it was.”
It was such a good dream that I didn’t cry because I was dreaming, but when I woke up and cried. I asked that.
Calian, who just laughed for a while, gave an answer that seemed to be talking to himself.
“Because it’s a dream I’ll never dream again.”
* * *
After leaving Siegfried’s pavilion, which was still quite noisy, Calian sent both Yan and Kirie away and walked out alone.
Plants gave me some time to think about other things, so I was on my way to stop being frustrated.
Now I’m finally going to meet Chase.
Calian’s feet, which had been moving without hesitation all the way to the entrance of Lubia’s pavilion, stopped for a moment.
‘Shall I come back tomorrow?’
Isn’t it too late?
Even so, we’re not in a relationship where we can drink and talk all night like we used to. Is it okay if I just blindly visit like this? All kinds of thoughts came to mind.
So I was thinking of just going back to Chermil Palace and coming back. I felt like I would never be able to walk again if I did that, so I forced myself to move. The dark blue cloak swayed along with Calian’s steps.
– Ayla.
I don’t know if it was the cloak that appeared and disappeared repeatedly with each step, but a blue warbler suddenly came to mind.
After what happened with Eila, didn’t you make up your mind to let go of Bern and live completely as Calian? So, this time will be no different.
It’s not the same brother, it’s just a different person with memories of Bern, so let’s not forget that. So, all you have to do is smile and talk appropriately.
I was constantly thinking about that.
I didn’t notice because of the wind.
Chase had already been watching Calian for a long time.
“Calian.”
Chase, who was watching his hesitant steps, called Calian down first.
Chase was standing under the large spruce tree planted in front of Rubia’s coffin. Standing in the shadow of the large tree, Calian could see nothing but Chase’s feet.
Calian’s feet stopped again.
I heard a voice and saw where it was, but my feet wouldn’t move easily.
A long time ago, when Bern first said he wanted to become a knight.
There was a time when Teilan, who was trying to break Bern’s stubbornness, made him run around the training grounds all night long. Calian’s legs were as heavy now as they were the day he held them up and finally convinced Teylan.
– Jabak
Kalyan continued to take his feet off and put them back on the ground several times. Then, with the intention of staying in place like this all night, I clenched my fists and walked towards Chase again.
–
The man named Zabak Bern has been completely forgotten by this world, so we should not act foolishly. I can’t leave everything like this and go to Secretia. Those words filled my head.
Now my name is Calian.
I know.
I know.
“…… why.”
Calian’s eyes wavered as he approached Chase.
Calian lowered his head.
Oh this.
It’s a foul.
This is really a foul.
Chase laughed.
“Why the hair…”
He was smiling, with all his long hair cut off.
Memories buried deep in my heart finally opened.
I remembered the time when I protected Bern from Devlan’s roar. I remembered the laughter I made while waiting for Vern to answer difficult questions after giving him the correct answer. I remembered the voice that comforted Bern while carrying him when I first got on and off the horse. I remembered the pained expression he made when he knighted Bern.
The day everyone died.
I remembered Bern’s crying face as he went out to block the gate.
To that Chase.
I remembered Bern replying that he would go.
The weight of those thoughts was so great that Calian could not bear it in the end.
For the first and last time, it only collapsed for one day.
“……older brother.”
Just once for the first and last time.
I cried in Chase’s arms as he told me to get some rest.
I’m so sorry that I can’t come.
I cried so desperately as if I were a fifteen-year-old child.
older brother.
older brother.
older brother…….
