Chapter 33. I was going to raise a dog. (6)
I could clearly feel the hot wind blowing.
– I’m glad it helped.
Chase felt that the hood of his white robe, which he had just pressed down a little while ago, was once again feeling cumbersome, so he took it off again.
The sun that was just rising and the moon that had not yet set were floating above the dawn of light that looked exactly like the snow revealed under the hood.
– If you think about it, it’s really amazing.
Chase, who got on his horse, said this and looked up at the white moon in the twilight of dawn.
-What are you excited about?
Calian’s voice comes into my head.
Chase smiled softly as he thought that although it was very different from the voice of the person he had encountered in his dream, it was also very similar in many ways.
This time too, Chase contacted me first. It was early in the morning when both the sun and the moon were up, but Kalian, who was clearly going to have a lot of sleep in the morning, sent a reply right away. He then thanked me and told me what he had found out thanks to the information he had received from Chase a few days ago.
So, even though Calian clearly had something to say, he was unable to send a conversation to Chase first. It’s not that I’m reluctant to talk, it’s that I can’t talk to them first. Still.
After assessing this, Chase summoned Calian once again with Teylan’s help in the early morning when there was really nothing going on. And after receiving my thanks, I said that I was amazed by what I could see.
Chase, who still had his eyes on the sky, responded a little late.
– The sun is rising, but the moon and stars, which have not yet set, are visible together.
The idea of waking up someone who is sleeping was just a casual remark about how amazing it is to see the sun, moon, and stars at dawn. Nevertheless, Kalian listened carefully and gave an answer.
– It’s not completely bright or dark, so it’s visible together.
This means that they are neither too bright nor too dark on their own, so they all shine together. Chase heard that and laughed softly.
– I like it more than I thought. I think this one looks better. It’s comfortable too.
– I’m glad you said it was comfortable.
Calian’s tone of voice as he answered like this was full of joy. I thought it was better to see everyone together instead of it being a little dark, which somehow gave me an idea of Chase’s current mood.
It sounded like it was better to share it little by little rather than keep it a complete secret and not tell anyone. Even if it wasn’t meant that way, it sounded that way.
– yes. The only reason it shines is because it’s so bright. I frowned and took a step back. It’s better now than that. for me.
Calian could be heard laughing as he added these words. Chase rode for a moment without saying anything else.
At the far end, I could vaguely see the still-black shadow of a mountain. As I was moving my horse towards that place, I heard Calian’s cautious voice.
– There is one thing I would like to ask.
– Let’s talk. Anytime, anything.
It doesn’t matter when the question is asked or what kind of question it is.
– I was wondering if Prince Chase might remember anything about the reason why Prince Randel and Prince Plants had a falling out. I know that the relationship between the two countries was quite good after each became king, but looking at it now, it is surprising that there was no war.
You really ask me anything.
Rather than being sad, I feel glad that I have relaxed a little enough to ask Chase about the new sibling relationship. It would be better if things were resolved a little more so that I could talk to them first.
– well. I don’t know much about him either. Shall we send the birds to Prince Calian’s brothers?
– no. it’s okay.
The answer came back immediately to what I said as a joke. Because of this, Chase laughed a little loudly. Tailan, the knight who was leading the horse at the front of the group, looked back slightly and then looked forward again with a happy expression on his face. The number of days I smile has definitely increased, and the number of days I crave wine out of habit has decreased. However, one thing I am worried about is
‘Will you be okay after you return to the palace? ‘That’s what I’m worried about.’
Devlan.
Will he be okay after returning to where he is?
Chase, who stopped laughing, perhaps aware of Teylan’s concerns, spoke again.
– No matter how deep the valley is, these people are not visible from the outside. So… you wouldn’t have found out from Secretia.
Chase, who stopped and changed the word ‘we’ when he tried to say ‘we’, recalled Randel’s comment that it would be better to destroy roses that grow out of one’s hands.
– As time goes by, won’t you find out about things from the past that you were curious about? If you can’t figure it out then and still have questions, talk about it. I’ll send you the birds.
– Please be patient.
Calian laughed as he answered this.
Anyway, it was fun to see the Crown Prince of Secretia and the Prince of Kairis talking about how they would send Sejak away without any hesitation. I laughed because I knew that if Calian asked, he would really send it without any hesitation, as if it was natural.
– It’s Randel. Should I call him young or seasoned? What was contained in it was neither simple anger nor simple greed. So what should we say about it?
In that brief meeting, Chase saw a lot about Randel’s true nature and warned him. However, since he did not have the ability to understand Randel’s past or read his thoughts, it would be difficult to be of help to Calian’s current curiosity.
– He’s a complicated person. In fact, I met him recently and offered to help him, and he responded that he understood. So, I guess we’ll find out over time, but I was curious so I asked first.
As Calian said this, he thought of Randel, whom he had met not long ago. The scent of bergamot black tea came to mind, and the words Randel said passed through my mind.
That day, Randel asked if Planz was worried that he would betray Calian. Calian answered that with Randel’s betrayal in mind.
It doesn’t matter.
– Are you really planning to embrace them all?
I heard Chase’s words mixed with concern.
– yes. I really plan to embrace them all. Because that’s all I know how to do.
Calian answered with a smile. I knew that Allen, Chase, Kyrie, Arsene, and even Plantz were worried about Calian in their own way.
Calian spoke again.
– I hope you don’t worry. I’m not that soft of a person that you might worry about, and as you know, there are many people who offer to share what I have with them. There are also some new ones that Prince Chase recently added.
Chase laughed, thinking he was caught.
This was because Calian realized that Arsene had deliberately dragged him in so that he could learn Calian’s secret.
– I heard that you have no intention of leaving the palace after staying in Chermil. To do that, wouldn’t you need someone who can be a staircase for you to step on and climb up? So I acted a little selfishly. In order to gain that person’s complete trust, you first have to show it completely.
The story was that Arsene was a little crazy so that he could truly help Calian and thus help him get to Camilon.
It was scary to think about how Arsene could truly follow Calian any longer, but instead of saying such things, Calian simply thanked him for caring about him.
After finishing his story, Chase looked into the distance.
– A little later today.
The beautiful mountain that was starting to turn bright red in the slowly rising sun came into view.
– We will arrive.
A place where summers are long, but winters are short, and instead of snowfall, there are stars, green mountains, and deep valleys. A place where flowers bloom in the wide fields and the moonlight shines on the vast sea.
Hello beautiful Secretia.
– …… yes. Thank you for your hard work.
Calian, who had been constantly guessing the date, had already guessed it from the moment he heard Chase’s voice speaking at dawn.
There is still a long way to go to the Secretia Palace, but once you cross the border, you will really have to go back. Out of regret, he must have called Kalian to hear a reply to the letter and to soothe his feet.
– So what will Prince Calian do now? Are you planning to go see the Elder?
– I had a bit of a falling out with the elves last year, and it seems like that’s what led to your Majesty and the elf elder meeting. I think it will probably be around the beginning of next year, and I have asked His Majesty to allow us to sit together then. To be precise, he asked me to convey the message through Master.
Early next year.
Chase, who repeated the date to himself without telling it to Calian, nodded once more and spoke.
– Still, it is fortunate that Prince Calian has Lord Manasil with him. I think it will be of great help.
– yes. I am grateful. Really.
Calian was about to say that he wanted Taillan to be that kind of person to Chase, but he just put it aside. If Calian said such a thing, Chase would make a deliberate effort to treat Teilan the way Calian wanted, so I hoped that Chase would rely on Teilan out of need rather than on purpose.
After talking a little more, we ended the conversation. A long time passed as we talked, and the sun had already risen.
When the sun reached the middle of the sky, we took a short break and set off again. After some time has passed again.
“You didn’t come so much that I thought I lost my fiancé.”
I heard a voice that was as happy as it was disappointing, as happy as it was disappointing, and as welcome as it was disappointing. It was a voice that welcomed me back to Secretia as much as I was sad about leaving Kairis.
“Arianne.”
Chase smiled softly.
Arianne, with a bright smile on her face, congratulated the Crown Prince on his safe return and offered to shake his hand.
“Thank you for your hard work, Crown Prince.”
* * *
From now on, it will be difficult for Chase to control information.
So Devlan would definitely receive a report.
Crown Prince Chase deviated from the road heading to the palace and went to the sea.
– Shoot…
I heard the sound of waves in my ears, reminding me of the laughter I once heard. Not the sound of waves on a sandy beach, but the clear sound of small, round stones being washed and rolled by the waves.
We arrived at midnight and the sea was the same as usual. It wasn’t the small beach I wanted to see, but the sea was always peaceful wherever it was, so that was enough.
“You didn’t have to come to meet me. The Marquis must have been worried again.”
Chase, who had been deeply inhaling the salty scent of the sea for a while, spoke like this.
“I came out because I wanted to see my fiancé, so why not? If mom had paid attention to things like this, she would have laid down a long time ago.”
Arianne, who said this, looked up at Chase. Two jewel-like eyes that seemed to capture the sunset at the most beautiful time gazed into Chase’s eyes containing the twilight of dawn.
“I feel a little more at ease. It seems that way. Isn’t that right? I don’t know.”
“Arianne.”
“huh.”
When I get angry, it’s infinitely scary.
“Arianne.”
“huh.”
He is extremely strict when scolding.
“……Arianne.”
“huh.”
A person who is infinitely kind when someone worries about you.
Chase bowed slightly. I leaned my forehead on Arianne’s shoulder as they stood facing each other. I loved the feeling of long, dark chocolate-like curly hair tickling my forehead and cheeks.
Chase closed his eyes slightly in that good feeling, and words came out like a whisper from his mouth.
“I left something behind. I.”
Instead of asking what it was, Arianne raised her hand and patted Chase on the back.
“Would you like me to find it for you?”
“No. Because that’s not allowed. I left it behind.”
“Is it very important to you?”
“Very important.”
“Do you want me to find it for you?”
To the same question, Chase leaned against Arianne and smiled slightly. He smiled because he felt like he would actually find it if he asked him to find it for him. And he found it. Instead of saying everything was different, I gave the same answer again:
“No. I had to leave it behind, so I left it behind.”
“That’s right.”
Even though Arianne said this without explaining anything, she just kept patting Chase on the back. Chase, who had been like that for a while, quietly opened his mouth again. ”
I’m okay. “Don’t worry.”
“I know. “I’m here so it should be okay,”
Chase laughed.
He smiled and started to tell a story.
The small patting hand stopped for a moment and then moved again. It continued until the long story ended.
