Chapter 24. The cornerstone of understanding (3)
The lake’s glaciers bathed in morning sunlight are truly beautiful.
The reason why that image outside the window is especially noticeable today is because the restaurant where Kalian and Planz are now was located on the second floor.
And there is only one reason why they bother to come to a restaurant and eat.
“I heard that you started learning sword skills from the third one.”
It was because of Lemain who suddenly informed me that he would come all the way to the Chermil Palace and have breakfast.
Thanks to this, Kalian, who had a lot of sleep in the morning, had to wake up to the sound of the bell ringing early in the morning. It wouldn’t have been that different just because it was Planz.
And Randel did not come out due to a severe cold.
‘Tell them I’ll stop by after breakfast.’
Instead of rebuking Landel’s attitude, Lemain said this. After that, we continued eating without saying anything else until we started talking about sword training.
Plantz quietly put down the water he was drinking and answered simply.
“Yes, it is.”
It’s only been a day since I started learning the sword. To be exact, one night has passed. All we did was spar twice the night before. Fortunately, the second sparring ended without even clashing swords.
Because it ended with a flash of light and at the same time a slightly deeper wound than the first time.
“Yes. I’m glad you two are getting along well.”
We get along well.
Calian’s and Plantz’s hands simultaneously paused for a moment and then moved again, without Plantz changing his gaze on the plate. I will hand the answer over to Kalian.
It was because I couldn’t think of the right words to express my relationship with my crazy younger brother. Or maybe it was because I was worried that the only person in the world who would get along with such a crazy person would be Crown Prince Secretia.
Maybe it was because I had heard so much about him barking, but I couldn’t even say that he seemed to be biting me a bit.
Calian, who glanced at Plantz, answered Lemain.
“Yes. We get along very well.”
It’s easy to lie and say you can’t do something.
“You need to train yourself, so it’s good that you’re willing to watch your brother’s sword skills. Just be careful not to get hurt.”
Calian laughed to himself.
‘I heard you suddenly came to visit me.’
After hearing that Hina visited the training center last night after the two brothers’ sparring, it seems that she came because she was worried about Plants.
No, I like breaking things. To see if Calian’s good work had been overdone.
“Yes, Your Highness. You don’t have to worry.”
Of course, it seemed like he knew the real reason why he didn’t say it, but Calian smiled and pretended not to know.
Lemain, seeing that smile sparkling like a lake outside the window, nodded as if relieved. And Plantz just took another sip of water.
Others may not have noticed, but Calian knew very well how many words Plantz was flowing out like water. The tip of Calian’s hand, which was gently placed on the leg, drew a curve on the thigh. It is a smile that replaces the mouth that should be serious.
“Are you feeling okay? I’m worried that you may be overdoing it.”
Calian was eating breakfast with such a normal expression on his face that Lemaine, who had now remembered that it had only been a few days since his third son had been on the verge of death, asked.
Instead of saying that the order of the questions had changed a little, Calian once again answered with a voice telling me not to worry.
“Everything is healed.”
……It looks like that.
“It is truly fortunate.”
Fortunately, Lemain came up with a correct answer that was slightly different from his true feelings and continued speaking while looking into Calian’s eyes.
“Even if your probation is lifted, be careful never to go out alone.”
Seeing that they even use the strong word ‘caution’, it looks like the escort driver will never be bitten even if the probation is lifted. As Calian looked a little downcast, Lemaine smiled slightly and added.
“You can go all the way to the royal forest, but if you’re feeling stuffy, just walk that way.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”
“okay.”
I said this thinking of Kalian, who can’t sit still for a single hour like a puppy looking for its mother. A small forest to the north of the royal palace. It was a place that not only Kalyan but also old Kalyan had never been to.
“By the way, Plants, you seem thinner than the last time I saw you. Is there any pain?”
“No. It’s okay.”
“You need to eat well. It’s time to grow up.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Calian, who was laughing while listening to the small conversation, turned his head.
Two red eyes appeared in front of the beautiful view outside the window.
‘Ah…’
The smile on Calian’s face disappeared as if it had been erased.
An ordinary morning. The start of a day no different from yesterday. A conversation that goes back and forth without any hidden meaning. This time of nothing was so peaceful that Calian almost missed something he should not forget and just liked it.
– How happy you would be if you were here.
Calian, filled with as much regret as he had almost liked, stared at the window for a long time. I was quietly looking at the jewel-like eyes reflected in the bright window.
……Kalian.
* * *
“Aeow!”
My stomach started to poop again, ‘I am Prince Calian’s cat who prefers Prince Planz.’ The cat raised its front paw and pulled Plantz’s hand. It’s sleepy but can’t sleep, so try stroking it quickly.
Plants chuckled when he saw the cat sitting on his lap without even crossing its legs, which was not enough and left something else to be desired. Then he slowly moved his hand and stroked the cat’s head.
As I was quietly looking down at the eyes of two different colors slowly closing, I heard another sound from across the room. It was my younger brother’s voice, completely different from the cute meowing of a cat.
“Don’t be too disappointed that Your Majesty has come.”
Plantz’s words were incoherent, and Calian was always a bit random. Plantz, who considered the intention of those words for a moment, answered in a low voice.
“Not really. I don’t think much of it.”
Still, the conversation continued smoothly because the people talking were Calian and Plantz. If it were other people, this type of conversation probably wouldn’t have continued so naturally.
“yes.”
Anyway, the reason Calian told me not to be disappointed was about the reason for Lemain’s visit.
This is the real reason why he couldn’t visit Calian or Plantz when they were injured, but now he came as if he was worried that Plantz might be injured.
Randel.
Lemain must have come to see Randel under the pretext of his second and third sons.
Otherwise, there was no way he would bother to go see Randel, who was sick, after confirming that Plantz was safe and not beaten by Calian.
That’s why I told you not to be disappointed.
About the fact that Lemain had a separate reason for visiting this place.
“Aeoong……”
Planz’s hand seemed to have stopped before the cat made a drowsy sound and begged again. Plantz’s hand moved again as the cat refused to give him even a sip of tea.
“But you’re probably right to be worried about your brother.”
There was no way he didn’t know that Lemain had changed.
Plantz did not deny it, but nodded and responded.
“My brother is so fierce.”
And then he frowned. Because I got cut twice in the same place, I wasn’t feeling very good. Planz, who had been silent for a while, glared at Calian.
This was because he knew why Calian, who had been coming to Plantz’s room after breakfast, was saying things that seemed unbecoming and seemed to show concern.
Plantz opened his mouth briefly.
“Do it. Apologize.”
“I’m sorry.”
A quick apology followed, as if prepared, and Plantz nodded.
That was the end.
I didn’t even ask why.
Calian apologized when he said he was wrong and would receive an apology, and Plantz received that apology, so there was nothing more he needed. Of course, if Hina had seen this scene now, she would have thought it was absolutely absurd.
“When will you meet the Marquis Briesen?”
“today.”
Kalian nodded and opened his mouth.
“You know what we’re meeting for, right?”
Calian has not yet told us about another reason why Heysia Palace exploded. This was because I thought Plantz had already figured it out.
“know.”
Plantz simply replied:
Instead of asking and confirming what he knew, Calian just smiled. Plants will take care of it.
“When you come back, learn from Kirie today. I have other things to do. And right now, Kirie is better than me.”
Calian’s sword is fast and sharp. Slayman’s swordsmanship is heavy and powerful.
Planz was in the middle.
It was heavier than Calian’s and more agile than Slayman’s.
Therefore, Kirie was the right person to learn for the first time. Although he uses a lighter and more agile sword than Plants, he is heavier than Calian. Besides, teaching someone would be of great help to Kirie.
Plantz just nodded without saying another word.
* * *
Marquis Evan Briesen’s face wasn’t very nice.
I’ve gone through a lot of hardships in the past year, but none of them have been as heartbreaking as now.
After Silike was ousted, the nobles who supported Briesen turned their backs on him, one in ten. At least stopping at that line was thanks to holding on to Plants. However, the situation worsened when Gray had an accident and Calian joined hands with Siegfried.
Moreover, this incident was the worst of all bad news for Briesen.
One in five.
One in five was leaving. It was clearly visible that he was slowly breaking off contact and avoiding Evan.
– Vulcan!
It was because of Kalyan.
Not only was the Heisia Palace destroyed in an instant, but Lemain’s punishment was too light. In the eyes of the nobles, it would have been seen as nothing more than Lemain’s favor for Calian.
“I don’t think things are going well.”
Therefore, as soon as he saw Evan, Evan nodded as he looked at Plants and asked him this question.
One corner of Planz’s mouth curled up when he saw that.
“I have nothing to say to see you being used by Siegfried’s elephant, which is not even fully grown.”
No, this happened because of someone!
So, Plantz spoke to Evan, who was looking at him as if he was wondering why he had crawled in there at that time and messed things up like this.
“I think it might flip over if I hold the sword. What do you think?”
“What are you saying and how are you going to do it?”
For Calian, these words would have been enough, but unfortunately, they were not for Evan. Plantz, feeling frustrated at having to add unnecessary words, opened his mouth in an irritated tone and announced his plan.
“Give me command of the knights Karen and Raon. I will divide Balkan in half.”
Evan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at his confident words. Plantz, who saw this, said with a drowsy face.
“I don’t believe it.”
“No, Prince. It’s more that I don’t believe it…”
Evan, who had blurted out his words like that, remained silent for a moment.
And I started thinking about what to do about this.
A smile appeared on Evan’s lips as he continued to think for a while. Evan opened his mouth with that mysterious smile still hanging on his lips.
“I will give you leadership of the knights. Instead,”
Evan said, pointing to his heart and concluding his words.
“All you have to do is promise me with a seal of oath. No matter what happens, I will not betray Briesen.” A
seal of oath.
A contract that tightens the heart of the one who breaks the promise.
“You risk my heart.”
Now, Evan tells Plantz to risk his life instead of giving him the hilt of the sword. There was. I said I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t do that.
A smile that I hadn’t seen in a long time appeared on Planz’s lips as he looked at Evan. It was a bright smile that just resembled Silike from some time ago. “Do it.” That’s it. It’s not
a
waste
.
