Chapter 23. If that day comes (4)
The time when Arsene, who had visited Calian, returns and Calian, who was put to sleep by Allen, falls into a dreamless sleep.
“Aeowong.”
‘I am Prince Calian’s cat who prefers Prince Planz.’ The cat whined and squeezed in through the crack in the closed door. And then he jumped up onto the lap of Planz, who was sitting in front of the table.
Hina said as she saw the scene from the side.
– I’ll take you with me.
The cat, which had curled up its body and was meowing desperately, remained calm and motionless, as if it were going to sleep. The cat’s warm body temperature was conveyed.
“Leave it.”
Plantz answered by briefly shaking his head and picked up the salad with an expressionless face.
So, right now, Hina was struggling to feed Plantz. Although she was obsessively eating only the salad, Plants’ servant Relic, who was standing with Hina, was satisfied with that much for now. It’s better than not touching anything at all.
Plantz, who was clearly showing that he was forcing himself to eat, looked at Hina and opened his mouth.
“Why aren’t you going?”
I understand that Relic is standing there, as it has always been that way, but he was saying it because Hina, who was not Plantz’s maid, was standing there.
Kalian was probably sleeping soundly and there was nothing to do at this time. So Hina responded with a face that told her not to worry.
– I’m going to watch everyone eat.
Plantz, who didn’t completely understand what that meant, but still understood it somewhat, made an annoyed face.
“I don’t like meddling.”
– It’s not meddling, it’s just worrying.
Hina answered immediately, and Plantz pretended not to recognize her. It was because I didn’t feel the need to respond differently.
I don’t know if she noticed that, but Hina smiled brightly.
Originally, the only people here who didn’t find Planz difficult were Kalian and Allen. Randel also tried not to talk to Plants as much as possible.
But the number of two increased.
Arsene and Hina. If you include the cat, there are three.
Aren’t these people who have all increased because of their younger brother?
When his thoughts reached that point, Plantz let out a low sigh. And as if there was nothing else to do, he put his hand back to the salad plate.
The long afternoon sunlight streams in through the window and reflects off the table.
Since he was completely excluded from the conversation between the two, Reric, who was looking out the window with the thought that he should learn sign language from Jan, opened his mouth.
“Let me pull down the curtain, Prince.”
Hina frowned slightly at these words and shook her head while holding Relic’s arm. Relic was looking puzzled as he didn’t understand why he was showing off as if he was telling him to just leave it alone, but he heard an answer from Plants.
“Don’t touch me.”
Much stronger words than ‘leave it’, ‘leave it’, or ‘leave it alone’.
After that, Planz sat still for a moment with his hands still.
-Tap!
And eventually, he put down the fork and knife he was holding and stood up. When the knee that was lying down as a cushion moved, the startled cat came down to the floor.
“get out.”
After saying that, Planz turned and walked toward the bedroom.
Surprised by the sudden change in attitude, Relic was looking at his plate, which was not even half empty, when Hina, who was standing with him, pointed somewhere outside the window with her finger.
‘Why are you so short-thinking?’
With a face like this.
‘Ah…’
After seeing the direction his finger was pointing at and Hina’s face, Relic realized that the curtain in that direction had never been lowered before and made a reproachful face.
It was a random thought.
I guess it’s okay now that time has passed and I haven’t shown any signs of it.
Even though it doesn’t mean it’s okay to not show it as time passes.
The sound of the cat following Planz, begging to be hugged, was heard.
* * *
Alan, who has a sweet tooth, liked strong coffee without sugar.
If Calian had known this, he would have found it quite surprising. However, since Alan never drinks coffee in front of Calian, there would be no way for Calian to know Alan’s coffee taste.
“I had no idea Lord Manasil would drink coffee this bitter.”
Instead, Chase said:
When I first saw Alan, he offered me coffee, but I couldn’t drink it that day because we were talking about Kalian, so I had to say it now.
“It’s become a habit.”
Alan simply replied, and Chase nodded quietly.
“So what brought you here this time?”
“I have something to tell His Majesty the King of Kairis in advance.”
Chase, who seemed to be concentrating his thoughts for a moment, told Alan what Plantz had said about his visit.
“Are you saying that the deputy commander of the Balkan army went out of his way to reveal confidential information? He truly did something worthy of Prince Plants.”
Alan, the commander of the Balkan corps, said this and laughed for a moment before continuing.
“Yes, that’s what I thought too. I would have been worried that if Secretia couldn’t protect herself, all of her share would go to Prince Calian.”
Alan was recalling how Calian had called him ‘Count Manasil’ not long ago and told him to follow Chase.
“If you hadn’t gone out on your own and said you would help Prince Calian, so if you had just taken Lord Castrin to visit Sejak, wouldn’t I have followed Prince Calian as planned?”
“Yes. I think so.”
Isn’t Calian thinking that it’s okay for him to be a burden only to Alan? So, if he had gone with Allen, Calian would have stood inside Allen’s shield and not even lifted a finger. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have overexerted myself and collapsed again.
“Of course, it’s not that I don’t know why you did such a thing, but you were definitely too worried this time.”
I understood.
Alan knew well the miserable feeling of watching one’s own blood die before one’s eyes.
Of course, Planz too.
“Prince Planz would have stepped forward because he guessed the reason. Even if the same thing happens again, both you and Prince Calian will make reckless choices again.”
That’s why Plantz went to see Chase.
“I already have enough luggage, so I guess what you meant was that I should at least create a situation where my body will be safe and help Prince Calian or not.”
Chase nodded and opened his mouth.
“I know. So I said I would do the same. It may not be in the same way as Balkan, but I decided that I would have strength and not be weak.”
“Well done.”
“However, I have been concerned that when a similar force was raised in Secretia, its purpose might be questioned in Kyris.”
“Your Majesty will have no other worries about him, so rest assured.”
At least as long as Alan leads Balkan, no matter how strong Chase builds an army, he will not be able to defeat Balkan. Moreover, the bull-like Lemain was not the kind of person to be concerned or hastily suspect Chase’s intentions.
Now that Chase’s purpose for coming was resolved, Alan, who had been silent for a moment, spoke quietly.
“But there is one thing I am curious about.”
“Yes. What are you curious about?”
“I want to know why Prince Calian gave up the throne in the past. Could you please tell me?”
“This is why…”
“Prince Calian said he gave up the throne because he thought you could be a better monarch. He even gave it up by accepting a knighthood from you for that purpose.”
“Yes, that’s right. I told you that’s why.”
Alan nodded and stared at Chase.
“If that is all it is, it is truly incomprehensible. It is difficult to understand the intentions of the prince who acted according to the prince’s will rather than the prince’s intentions. If he sees me like this now, I will never agree to my younger brother taking up the sword. It’s the same.”
It wasn’t a difficult thing to tell.
It wasn’t hard work, it was painful work.
“They convinced me that it was the only way.”
Chase, who was scanning memories as if recalling old events, quietly closed his eyes. The same depressed voice flowed out quietly.
The nobles supported Bern.
Because Verne was the queen’s son and Chase was not.
Therefore, Bern at that time did not show his talent like he does now. Other than swordsmanship, he always stood behind Chase and always kept quiet. I didn’t go out in front of people alone. I always did that to help Chase see the light.
“If I hadn’t ascended to the crown, the nobles of Secretia wouldn’t want to leave a spark behind.”
The nobles of Secretia were also thinking the same thing when Devlan tried to check Chase’s intentions by throwing Bern into the sea.
When Bern ascends to the throne, he will doubt whether Chase, who is superior to Bern in many ways, will have other feelings. Verne knew that he would try to cut Chase’s lifeline, which would be the root of that suspicion.
“Are you saying you gave up the throne to save me?”
“It would be correct to say that both of them gave up in order to live, but if they had thought that it was the only way for them to live even if they died, they would have made the same choice. Without hesitation.”
Alan massaged his temples.
“Then it’s the same thing this time too.”
Kalian had said that he would rise to the throne because he needed strength to deal with future events. And Alan had doubts about Calian’s words.
Although becoming a crown prince will give you power, won’t there be restrictions on your actions?
It was said that the relationship with Plants was atrocious at first, but not now. Therefore, if you are in a situation where you can maintain friendly relations with Plantz, it would be better to just resolve the matter regarding Randel and then place Plantz on the throne and move out of the capital and have your own power. Because Plantz’s personality won’t keep Calian in check.
“I thought it was strange that he said he would take the position of Crown Prince. I was wondering why he was trying to get that position when he wasn’t greedy for it. After listening to your words, I understand now.”
Unlike Bern, Kalian did not hide.
He stood out on his own and saw the light. It received attention and favorable reviews. Like Chase.
If Kalyan gives up his position as crown prince, then Plantz takes that position.
It would have been no different for Secretia or Kairis to think about whether Calian, who was extraordinary in many ways, might have other feelings after falling away from the throne. The only difference is that, unlike Chase, assassinating Calian will not be easy.
If so, the situation may turn around.
I didn’t know that the forces supporting Kalian might try to take the life of Plantz, who was on the throne. In addition, Plantz also did not want the throne, so he decided to take that position himself.
I will save Plants.
The smart Planz, who couldn’t have known that, would have come forward to help Calian.
“What a tearful brotherhood this is.”
Alan said this and poured coffee into his mouth.
It was never meant as a compliment.
* * *
I spent the whole day sleeping.
Calian, who somehow laughed at how the date changed as soon as he closed his eyes, hurriedly washed and changed his clothes. It was because I wanted to quickly do the things I couldn’t do the day before.
“Please call Lord Hertz.”
After seeing Calian say this, Yan quietly looked at Kyrie.
– If you say you want to work again as soon as you open your eyes, I just knock you out.
Before Kalian woke up, Jan said this to Kyrie. And Kirie shook her head resolutely.
Regardless of whether you want to do it or not, it is impossible.
In Yan’s eyes, he would naturally fall over if he just brushed against him, but if he touched him like that, the moment Calian unconsciously counterattacked, Kirie might cut off his arm.
“Don’t think strange things.”
Calian, who saw the fighting spirit clearly evident on Yan’s face, said this with a wary look on his face. Then Yan opened his mouth in a grumbling tone.
“I have prepared a meal for you, so please eat first.”
Calian was already feeling quite empty after sleeping all day, so he sat down calmly and picked up a fork and knife as Jan told him.
Kalian was different from Planz.
I never missed a meal. Isn’t rice the best medicine?
Accordingly, Jan, who was watching Kalyan eating his food so lavishly, said.
“Still, I’m glad. Reric was very worried that Prince Planz often skips meals.”
“Still not eating?”
I knew that I hadn’t been eating well since the Silike incident, but I didn’t know that I was still doing that.
Calian raised his head for a moment and looked out the window.
Only the height was different due to the difference in the number of floors, but the positions of Calian’s room and Plantz’s room and the tables were the same. And there was something very visible there.
Heysia Palace.
Where Silike stayed.
Because of the unusually high roof, even though it was behind the Arpia Palace, Lemain’s office space, it was visible all the way to this place.
“Isn’t it strange that food goes down while looking at that?”
Calian, who knew very well why the bastard wouldn’t eat, nodded and muttered. Then, after putting down the fork and knife, he moved his fingers and thought for a moment.
Whether or not I can take responsibility for what I am thinking now.
Calian soon finished thinking and spoke to Yan.
“Tell Sir Hertz to do something on his way here.”
“Yes. What do you want me to do?”
Calian smiled darkly.
He then pointed to Heisia Palace outside the window.
“Blow that roof off.”
Since we’re all locked up anyway, wouldn’t it be okay to just stay locked up a little longer?
My brother, you have to eat your meals on time.
