Chapter 30. My person (5)
A pure white sandy beach in the middle of winter.
A voice that quietly submerges the foam of the waves rolling over it.
A voice that comes and goes calmly as if it embraces everything, and then when you turn your eyes, it is like a wave that comes crashing down as if it will swallow everything.
It seems calm or rushing.
Seems generous or merciless.
“I.”
A voice that is difficult to understand.
“I think I told you to get your foot bitten. Maybe I was dreaming.”
The birds that flew in with the morning dew quietly lowered their heads as the voice that always seemed like a forest felt like waves. The eyes looking down at his bird were hidden by the deeply pressed white hood, but he could clearly see that what was hidden underneath was not mercy.
Chase continued, looking at the three Sejacs kneeling in front of him.
“If it’s a dream, I’ve already dreamed it so much that I’m so exhausted that it’s hard for me to even fall asleep. Still, did I dream it?”
It means not to chase wizards. What I said about returning to Kairisis. It seemed like I had definitely said something like that, but maybe it was my mistake.
The yellow robin lowered its head to the ground.
“Otherwise, I don’t think there’s any way you could so lightly abandon what I said.”
It’s better that you didn’t hear what I said. So I unintentionally disobeyed the order. Answer me.
I’d rather make an excuse like that.
I didn’t know that was what it said.
The yellow robin, unable to live up to Chase’s expectations, answered in a subdued voice.
“… You deserve no reprimand.”
He said he clearly confirmed Chase’s orders but did not follow them. Saying that there is no excuse.
“I made my own decision and acted as I wanted. I’m sorry.”
“It’s arbitrariness…”
When the answer came back that it wasn’t a dream but that they had actually disobeyed orders, the lips visible under the white robe drew a long curved line.
“The birds I met in my dreams didn’t know that. How strange.”
I wasn’t laughing because I liked this situation.
I was laughing because I was filled with resentment that I didn’t know who to direct.
“Since when did my birds have heads?”
Words as cold as a knife.
The birds did not know that the short dagger was headed not at the birds but at Chase himself.
“I’m really sorry.”
So the yellow robin said he was sorry again.
It would be better if you could at least tell me the reason. It must have been an act he did out of concern for Chase, but he didn’t even say anything and just apologized.
Chase was angry and annoyed by that attitude again, and the young smile on his face disappeared. A voice was as impermanent as the remnants of waves seeping into the sand and disappearing.
“When I came here, all I could do was let go of my expectations. You guys are making me let go of all my expectations, even for the birds I left behind.”
The yellow robin had no other answer.
What dreams Chase had, what he was disillusioned with, what expectations he had left behind. Since I didn’t know anything, I just lowered my head.
– The
cold, forged sound rang in the yellow robin’s ears.
A pure white sword that looks like it was made from fired porcelain.
The dawn sunlight was reflected thinly on the sword body, which was too flawless to take a life made by melting pure white steel that is now known to be unsalvageable.
“If you have anything to say, say it. I will listen.”
The yellow robin, realizing that it was Chase’s decision, closed his mouth and lowered his head further.
– Tell me when you get back. He said he wanted you to meet me and take away the knife.
Even the yellow robin knew what Calian’s words meant. Didn’t Calian say that after that? From now on, use your life more heavily than information. So, it was clearly an attempt to ask Chase for leniency.
So I couldn’t say those words out loud.
“No degradation.”
The yellow robin was neither a soldier nor a knight.
It was a bird that moved secretly in a place several times more dangerous than them. Those birds knew better than anyone what a great sin it was to disobey orders from superiors. So I couldn’t ask for help.
Chase looked down for a moment at the yellow robin and at the two other sezaks who were also kneeling silently next to it.
Quite a long time passed in silence.
-Tap!
There was a small sound as the knife that was taken out returned to its home without being able to cut anything.
The yellow robin looked at Chase with a puzzled look on his face when he realized that the blade he had seen at first glance had disappeared.
“Go back to the nest.”
The answer to that question came from behind.
Before they knew it, it was Chase’s bodyguard and swordsman teacher, Teilan, who had come silently behind them.
“I will contact you when necessary.”
It meant that he would save his life.
* * *
A few days ago, Lemain got scolded by Alan.
I wasn’t nagging, I was really scolded. It was because of the lavender tea given to Plants.
‘There is no other father in the world who can endure the pain of his child than His Majesty. Do you still not know why Prince Calian destroyed that palace? Don’t be hurt, don’t be sad. It’s a waste to just care for your child. Did you think it was okay to shake him who was barely able to walk on his feet like that and that was enough to get you interested?’
Then, he made a new request not to leave coffee out in front of Calian, to clean up flowers or anything that smells when interacting with Plants, and not even to touch Randel’s roses. It was said that if you want to be interested in someone, you should first look at their pain.
‘It’s your first time being a father, so don’t make excuses that you’re not good at it, and try to understand. If you do that, I, who have experience as a father, will take all three princes and go south.’
Afterwards, he said these scary words.
Lemain, who was already reflecting as if he were going to dig his own grave, was unable to say a word when the count stood in front of the king and said that he would kidnap all three princes at once.
In the end, Lemain decided to just ask about Calian and Plantz’s unauthorized outing. Randel’s probation was also lifted.
This is because he himself sympathized with Alan’s words that no matter what the princes did, it was better than what His Majesty did.
Anyway, thanks to what happened, Calian was able to find the forest again without any trouble. Unlike Chermil Palace, the air was not scented with roses and was perfectly clean in itself.
“The stars were nice at night, but the wind was nice in the morning.”
Come to think of it, I only came to this place at night.
In fact, it is difficult to even say that I only visited at night because I have only been here twice. So, it would be a bit absurd to say that it only came at night.
Anyway, Kalian came to the forest for the third time and it was now early morning.
Even if the wild animals that do not like the Sispanian’s energy cannot survive, the birds are bound to build nests, so various chirping sounds were made to warn against the visit of strangers.
– I hope that if the yellow bird delivers my words, you will save it, and if it does not, I hope that you will believe it.
As I listened to the birds chirping, I remembered the letter I sent to Chase not long ago.
I also remembered that when I went to see Knight Karen out of curiosity, I was surprised because someone I knew so well was there. Perhaps it was really a seed planted by Chase to use for the purpose of conveying news, but someone he knew well from his time as Bern was inside it. Calian must have recognized him and put him to use if necessary.
So, Calian delivered a letter to Karen’s knight through a light green telescope. It was a letter containing the message that Calian would save this person if he did what he said, ‘Please save this person,’ but if he did not, consider him a person who could be truly trusted.
Isn’t Chase the only one who remembers someone named Verne? Even if it wasn’t the same Chase I had spent time with in the past, I had no doubt that he would still grant Calian’s request.
“I’ve been coming here every day since then. It’s always been a great place.”
A slightly delayed reply came back to Calian’s words that the stars and the wind were good.
Kalian, who spoke first, seemed to have other thoughts, so it was Kirie who waited for a while before answering. Calian took a deep breath and spoke.
“I made a lot of mess, but was it okay?”
What they were saying was that it was Calian who sparred with Alan and disturbed the forest. It looks fine on the outside, but isn’t it a mess on the inside?
“Once you get used to it, it’s not that noticeable either. It felt like everyone had become part of the forest, so even the prince’s sword marks looked good.”
Calian smiled slightly and nodded.
Kyrie’s speed seemed to have calmed down a lot. Of course, it would be difficult for Calian to make assurances and be carelessly reassured, but I thought there would be no major problems.
Because there was no more confusion when Kyrie’s blue and black eyes looked at Calian.
“I think it’s okay to go see Hina now. Is that okay?”
Kyrie asked in a cautious but unhesitating voice, as if she was instilling confidence in Calian. It seemed like he understood that Kalian had intentionally kept Hina away.
Since that also meant that Garum was no longer visible, Calian nodded and answered.
“However much.”
I left Raven at the entrance to the forest because I wanted to walk for a long time. The same was true for Kyrie’s horse ‘Iris’.
So the two walked side by side in silence, stepping on the dirt. After walking slowly like that, Kirie opened her mouth.
“There is something I would like to ask the prince.”
“okay.”
Even though he was given permission to ask, Kirie did not hesitate to say anything. Instead of feeling frustrated, Calian quietly waited for the next words.
After passing the deep path into the forest, I arrived at a place filled with the sound of water. Kyrie stood towards Calian. As Calian’s feet stopped together, Kyrie’s quiet voice followed.
“I wondered if I was qualified.”
And I asked this question I was curious about.
Kalian did not ask what it qualified for.
Kyrie is qualified to hold the sword that Calian temporarily took away again. Qualified to become a knight of Calian someday. Qualified to continue to be by Calian’s side. Because it probably includes all of those things.
Maybe it could have been a question of whether I had the right to cut someone.
“Kiri.”
“Yes, my prince.”
Calian, who was facing Kyrie, raised his hand.
Then, he patted Kirie’s head.
The day Kyrie lowered her head when she entered Chase’s office. So, the day I gave Chase a gold coin. Even though Kirie was still older at the time, I still remember Bern doing the same, thinking it was amazing that Kirie had grown up so well.
He praised Kirie’s light-colored hair, who was older and taller than him, as if comforting a child. I gently stroked it.
“What do you think the last thing you showed me was?”
And then, in a calm voice, he asked about his last day. Do you know what Kyrie showed Bern at the end of that day?
“It’s my back.”
An answer that doesn’t contain any worries.
The answer came straight out without suspecting anything.
– Come to your senses. Don’t stop…
Kirie is still the same.
Calian did not answer whether Kyrie’s answer was correct or not. He just smiled a soft smile that may not have suited his current face.
“I think that answer will answer your question as well.”
With that in mind, how can Kalian talk about his qualifications?
“I just feel grateful.”
A country where the king’s mother, the king’s knights, the king’s wizard, and the king’s subjects all went crazy.
The king who would have gone crazy alone by his side.
What he decided and what else he decided to do. What did you prepare for when you picked up the sword? I didn’t know what the falcon was sent for.
There are still questions about why so many people died, but I have no idea what Bern came back for.
still.
“This is how I found you again.”
Now that I have found the only person who can stand in the way of Calian, who has to turn his back on everyone.
“It’s something to be thankful for.”
After saying that, Calian held out the ink-colored sword in his hand.
I am confident that I will never receive it back again. I promise that I will never send it away first again.
Promising to repay you this time.
Kyrie.
