Chapter 23. If that day comes (1)
Calian’s brow furrowed.
It stayed quiet for two days. I decided to understand and accept the ban on going out, which has no definite duration. But isn’t this a bit too much?
“An escort driver.”
Lemain sent guards to the three princes. This broke the royal rule of not assigning bodyguards to princes.
Of course, it was difficult to view it as excessive behavior.
Since the children were taking turns spilling blood as if it were an annual event, Lemaine could be seen as showing considerable restraint by sending out Caera’s knight. To be honest, I was worried that Alan would remove all the knights from Chermil Palace and fill them all with Kaera members.
In response, Brisen was unexpectedly quiet. This may have been due to concerns that Landel might turn his sword on Plantz after his failed attempt at Briesen.
The problem was that, for Kalian, they were no more or less than a ‘door lock’.
‘I’m just going for a short walk.’
‘It’s not possible, prince.’
I had to see Vulcan’s training and meet Arsene, but these honest knights never let me go. Their explanation was that they would never allow them to go outside unless they completed exactly the ‘7 days’ recommended by Hina.
“Let’s try sticking together.”
I will listen to those knights and idiots if they beat me.
In the end, Calian’s eyes lit up and he said these scary words, and Yan, who was standing next to him, was startled and calmed Calian down in a low voice.
“And what if you get hurt again?”
Who to whom?
Calian looked at Yan with eyes like this.
Anyway, Yan was always Yan.
“You need to rest. Also, you can’t have Kirie carry you around. I’ll call Lord Hertz.”
In the end, Calian took a deep sigh and headed to the terrace.
For a moment, Jan thought that Kalian might just jump over the terrace and run away, but fortunately, Kalian sat calmly on a chair on the terrace.
“I’m not going, so please bring me a cup of tea.”
“Yes, my prince. I will bring it to you in a moment.”
Yan, knowing that he had given up on going out, smiled and quickly went out. Calian, who was listening to the door closing, quietly opened his mouth.
“It’s so frustrating. I have work to do, but I’m stuck inside like this.”
Even Alan didn’t come.
He knew that if Alan came, he would definitely create work, so he didn’t even bother to set foot in the room at all, just to get some rest.
Of course, Calian wasn’t one who wouldn’t create work even if he did that. Isn’t this the kind of person who thinks that only by being bored like this can there be any joy in living?
‘After meeting Sir Hertz, I will call Demirea and talk for a moment. After that…’
So, when Kalian was tapping the table with his fingertips and sorting out what he could do while locked in his room.
“Niaang!”
To relieve Kalian of his boredom, a cat flew in from outside the terrace.
* * *
Oatmeal cookies baked with raspberry jam had a sweet scent.
Alan, who was chewing a whole cookie in his mouth, was hearing a story just as sweet.
– The relationship between the 3rd Prince of Kyris and Duke Siegfried There is a rumor going around that Calian and Dmirea are betrothed, and even if they are not betrothed, they are not in a normal relationship.
After finishing everything in his mouth, Alan took a sip of coffee and slowly opened his mouth.
“Wouldn’t such a rumor be deserved?”
It wasn’t enough that they entered the ball together, but they sat separately and talked to each other throughout the ball. In addition, Demirea protested to Brisen by holding on to Plantz, claiming that Calian had disappeared. Even if we only consider their status and abilities, it would be difficult to find a partner equal to each other, and they were even the same age.
So isn’t it strange that such words don’t arise among nobles who like to make up words?
“I think I’ll just leave it as is without explaining.”
“Do you plan to just ignore the rumor and pretend that you two are engaged to be married?”
If there was no response from the royal family, it was clear that the nobles would believe it was a fait accompli.
“That’s what I think. But before that, I’ll have to ask Calian’s opinion.”
“I went to visit Prince Calian once. But is it your greed or is it for the prince’s sake?”
Alan smiled secretly at Lemain’s words and said this.
“You’re talking nonsense again. Every time something like this comes up, you treat me as if I’m Calian’s rival.”
“I am curious as to whether you are trying to increase your power by having Duke Siegfried as your in-law, or whether you are trying to strengthen Prince Calian’s position.”
Lemain answered calmly without any reaction.
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of using Siegfried for me.”
Soon Lemain took off the glasses he was wearing and placed them on the table and continued speaking.
“Thanks to those rumors, there have been fewer useless stories about Calian’s disappearance. It’s a good thing that Marquis Briesen won’t stay still, even though he’s tired.”
Alan nodded at these words.
Then he chewed another oatmeal cookie, swallowed it, and answered.
“If the story turns out to be ‘Callian, feeling the burden of the prince’s duties, ran out of the capital and was captured’ as Marquis Briesen wants, it could be a huge drawback for Prince Calian in the future.”
“So, I hope that the nobles will not take interest in the matter at all. It would be better to have a betrothal rumor than to have the prince’s prestige diminished.”
Evan, who had been played well by Demirea, was anxious to inflate the incident in some way. The story was to uncover the truth about what happened that day, to restore Brisen’s tarnished honor, and to find out exactly whether Calian had what it took to be a prince.
“Then it wouldn’t be a bad thing if it ended up being a national marriage.”
Alan’s smile deepened at Lemain’s added words.
It is clear that Calian is conscious of the actual age difference between him and Demirea, but isn’t Demirea a great person who would abandon the dukedom and enter the royal palace?
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry about it. The Little Duke is not the kind of person who wants to abandon Siegfried and become a prince or queen. If that’s the case, and you plan to send your third son to the land of elephants, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to expect a state marriage. ”
“…It’s done.”
“Are there any discussions about Prince Randel?”
Calian and Plantz aren’t that old yet, but Landel is turning 19 soon, so isn’t it time to start talking about betrothal?
“There is no way. I’m starting to think about it now. Since the news that Tensil and the Great Desert joined hands was spread, there have been a lot of them.”
Lemain turned his head and pointed at the stack of scrolls on the desk. At that moment, Alan barely restrained himself from asking for their list.
It was stipulated by law that a prince born to a member of the royal family of another country must unconditionally marry someone from his own country. In other words, Randel, who was also Tensil’s bloodline, could not marry Tensil’s person again. If that happens, it is clear that this country will fall into Tensil’s hands.
In other words, the people written on the scroll were all Kyris nobles who supported Randel, so it was natural that Alan would want to confirm exactly who they were.
Lemain, who noticed this, smiled and said.
“It doesn’t work.”
“I know.”
The selection of the princess is the exclusive authority of the king and queen.
This was to prevent unnecessary power struggles. Since there was no queen, it was a matter for Lemain to check and decide alone, so it was not for Alan to interfere.
Therefore, when Alan was told that he could not show the list, he nodded as if he had no choice but to pick up another oatmeal cookie and eat it.
“Instead, about the knights we talked about last time. I will allow Count Aprin’s knights to be hidden in Siegfried’s mansion.”
“Yes. While I’m asking Prince Calian whether he should let go of the rumor of his betrothal with the Duke, I’ll tell you about it.”
“I was always curious.”
LeMaine looked at Alan, opened his mouth in a somewhat subdued voice, and then looked at Alan for a while. LeMaine followed up with a question to Alan, who was sitting still as if asking him to talk.
“Wouldn’t it be fun if a prince who looked like a Sispanian knew how to use magic? That’s what I said.”
“Are you talking about when I first came to the palace?”
“Yes. I said I would become Calian’s magic teacher. Do you remember?”
“You must have forgotten that.”
“…Then how much can I trust you?”
At those words, Alan’s expression changed strangely.
“You are so quick to ask that. Your Majesty, when you ask me to take refuge with Prince Calian when you feel empty, why are you asking such a question now?”
“At that time, I just thought that the bond between priests was strong.”
After saying this, Lemain put down the teacup he was holding and said. The sound of a teacup clanging echoed in the office for a moment.
“I didn’t know that it was enough to help the prince with his work by even using Secretia’s three works.”
It seems that they found out that the secretaries of Secretia had helped with Calian’s work. He didn’t even mention that Sejak was among those who attacked Kalian, either because he didn’t know or because he knew but didn’t say anything.
“How did you know that?”
“It’s not that I don’t have ears to hear. Of course, I came forward to help Calian, so I won’t let another harm come to the crown prince of Secretia. I want to know the real reason why you go to such lengths to help Calian. “How much can I trust?”
“No matter where you look, you are a beautiful and pitiful disciple. Is there any other reason why you help her in any way possible? The old man is raising her as if she were your blood, so don’t worry.”
Alan said that with a smile on his face. And then he said the words he had always kept in his heart.
“When your highness tries to block Prince Calian’s path, I may block his breathing, but I will not stand facing the prince.”
“… Yes. Thank goodness.”
Lemain, whose life was now threatened by the wizard sitting in front of him, nodded with an expression as if he had heard the most trustworthy words in the world.
* * *
I said I didn’t like a boring life.
I have never wanted to see the amazing sight of a cat falling from the sky.
“So…”
Calian, who had suddenly been baptized as a cat, was held in his arms, ‘I am Prince Calian’s cat who prefers Prince Planz.’ He stroked the cat and opened his mouth.
“The cat… why…?”
Planz didn’t answer for a moment.
So, it was true that Planz was going to come to Calian’s room. However, I had no intention of bringing a cat. Not only did I not have the personality to do that, but I also wasn’t relaxed enough to carefully visit the downstairs while holding the cat. Because it’s broad daylight.
When I heard Calian’s noise from under the terrace, I put down the cat I was holding, opened the terrace door, and jumped out.
And the cat ran along.
Plantz, who was recalling a series of situations toward Calian, who caught the cat with a not-so-difficult movement, came up with an answer that could well explain the situation.
“It just so happened.”
Callian, who just thought of that unkind answer as ‘I didn’t mean to bring you here on purpose, but I came with you due to unavoidable circumstances,’ just nodded quietly.
“Okay, please sit down.”
Plantz nodded and sat down, and Calian’s cat, a cat that clearly liked Plantz more, climbed onto Plantz’s lap. No one would know how hard it was for Calian to hold back his laughter as he watched Planz casually place his hand on the cat.
“Then why did you come, other than the cat? And through the window.”
The reason I came to the terrace in broad daylight was obvious. There was no other reason than that I had to avoid Lemain’s escort. That would mean that there was something Lemain said through the escort driver that he should not know.
Plantz’s green eyes turned to Calian, who had manifested Silent.
“Are the knights planning to arrive soon?”
“What knights are you talking about?”
“The count I summoned to Wilhelm’s pavilion. It seemed like he was creating an order of knights for my brother.”
Calian’s eyes widened.
Calian had directly told Plantz that he would meet members of the knight family, including Aizen, at the hunting competition last fall. A lot of time has passed since that conversation, and there has been no update on how the situation progressed since then.
As Plantz said, it was only during Lemain’s birthday festival that Plantz arranged a meeting for Calian and Aizen.
“As expected, you are very smart.”
“Don’t bark.”
Calian chuckled and nodded.
“Yes. I plan to bring Count Aprin’s knights into the capital soon. I think it would be better to keep them in the palace to keep Karen and Raon in check. Why do you ask that?”
“Karen Raon. I’m going to hold it.”
The two royal knights, Karen and Raon.
Planz, who had been choosing words for a moment while thinking of them, opened his mouth.
“If that happens, there is no need to tie the new knights to the palace.”
“If you can properly control the two knights, then yes.”
“I will. I want you to own the new knighthood.”
Calian’s eyes brightened.
This is because they were saying that in preparation for Karen and Raon’s swords heading toward Lemaine, they should not tie up the knights they had worked hard to gather in the palace, but simply make Aizen’s knights belong to Calian.
“Are you already preparing to raise a cat in Briesen? I told you that I would give you Briesen, but I didn’t expect you to go this far.”
“My brother told me to raise a cat.”
“In return for giving you Vulcan, you are receiving my Order of Knights as a gift. I understand. I would rather have something in my hands rather than an alliance with Siegfried, so I will do so.”
Kalian, who said this, smiled and asked.
“Can I tell you?”
“I do not need.”
And this time, the words “thank you” were omitted.
