Chapter 37. None or once (3)
snake hunting.
You should not grab the snake by its tail or its body. If I touch the wrong place, I’ll end up face to face with the cold eyes of the guy who twists his entire body to wrap his arms around me.
While the snake hesitates as it sinks into the vertically split black pupil, the snake opens its long maw wide and sinks its dagger-like fangs into the fragile skin, thrusting death into it.
“Lowering.”
To avoid being caught in a hasty attempt to catch a snake, you must immediately squeeze its head or cut it off to prevent it from revealing its hidden, insidious teeth. A snake never gives you a second chance, so you must not make the slightest mistake when hunting.
So, hunting a snake may seem easier than catching a docile deer, but in reality, it is more difficult than cutting off the collar of an angry brown bear.
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”
But I wasn’t reluctant at all.
I already did it once, so why not do it a second time?
“……Chase.”
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t answer the call, so I immediately heard my name.
Chase had to answer, but upon hearing his name, he forgot that he had to answer and fell into meditation once again.
– Pure white, a pure white bird of prey with sacred blood.
Is there any other name that is so repulsive and doesn’t suit Idajido?
‘It would be better if it were a jet-black snake that inherited the poison of poisons.’
Chase, who reached this thought at the end of his idle thoughts, let out a short laugh. Arianne, who was sitting on the edge of the spire, asked as if she was frustrated or anxious.
“What’s wrong with you? What else happened?”
Then I turned my head and saw that the wind was blowing.
Chase, who managed to get out of his thoughts that seemed impossible to escape, shook his head and smiled softly.
“…No, it’s just that the wind was hot. I came up because it was hot, and the hot wind blew, so I felt like it was either hotter or a little better. I’m not sure which.”
It was difficult to tell whether the spire was a difficult or easy place to escape the heat. It was such a contradictory place that it felt like it had to be hot because it was a little closer to the sun, but also because it felt like it had to be cooler because it was higher up.
When I come up here, I feel like my throat is tightening as I am immersed in the thoughts that naturally come together, and I sometimes don’t know whether I should avoid them or embrace them because I feel a longing for life.
“It’s dangerous Arianne. Come here.”
Arianne, who was watching Chase while sitting with her legs dangling far down as if she wasn’t scared, asked again as if she hadn’t heard that it was dangerous at all.
“What made you think that?”
Calian resembles Chase in his stubbornness.
Chase perhaps resembles Arianne’s stubbornness.
‘If Prince Planz and Arianne are stubborn with each other, who will win?’
Chase, who had another meaningless thought, looked at Arianne. It was clear that they would ask me the same thing until I gave them a proper answer, so I gave them the answer first.
“Because of the name. I thought it might be difficult for me to live up to my name. That’s a little funny.”
As a non-royal, Arianne could not learn the old, forgotten language, but at least she knew what Chase’s name meant. Therefore, I also understood that Chase’s laughter was a cynicism toward himself for not being able to live a pure life.
“What? I thought you were worrying about something big.”
I also knew why Chase, who had only been white until now, could no longer be pure white.
“There is no such thing as pure whiteness in this world anyway. Even the snowy plains of the great northern desert are ultimately nothing but rotten, crumbling ground. Would it be any different just because you were me? That’s not something you can just achieve, it’s impossible from the beginning. If you don’t want to do that, just leave it to me. I will do it. “Because I will. If not, there is no one who can live solely in whiteness, so don’t get caught up in that. Don’t bother saying you’re going to step forward yourself and then making a elaborate noose that you pour all your thoughtless thoughts into.”
Arianne’s solutions were always simple and clear. Instead of answering, Chase said something nonsense to the person who always walked ahead and showed the way.
“It’s strange that you say that no one is without sin. You said that last time too.”
Isn’t Arianne who deals with the law?
How contradictory it is for a person like that to say so casually that there are no clean people in the world.
“I didn’t make a noose. I’m done worrying and I’ve already decided what I’m going to do. I won’t regret it. Nothing like what you’re worried about will happen.”
“Then why were you laughing?”
“I just laughed because it was funny. It seemed like in the end, there isn’t a single name that works as intended. That’s because it’s funny.”
Arianne, who was about to nod her head without further concern when she heard that it was not a constriction, took a moment to gauge the meaning of the words ‘in the end, not even one’ and asked.
“Are you talking about your brother’s name?”
Arianne called her name without hesitation when talking to Calian, but she did not call her that in front of Chase. It was difficult to tell whether the ‘younger brother’ that Chase was thinking of was Calian or someone whose name he did not know.
Chase, who was trying to answer the question, extended his hand towards Arianne, who was still sitting in a precarious position. I thought we could have a proper conversation only if Arianne came down to a safe place first.
“I heard it’s dangerous. Come here, Arianne.”
Arianne said with a smile that because she had learned fire magic that was just like her personality, the only way to relieve the heat on a hot day like this was to take off her shoes and sit on the edge of the spire to get some fresh air.
“What does your brother’s name mean? I think I can remember that.”
“I’ll tell you when you get this way.”
I wondered if Arianne and Planz would ever have an argument, but even if that day came, it would be difficult for Arianne to win. In the end, Arianne, unable to overcome her curiosity, held Chase’s hand and returned to sit inside the spire.
Chase looked at Arianne with praising eyes for giving up her stubbornness and opened his mouth quietly.
“……Remnants of the sunset.”
Arianne, who was quietly rolling unfamiliar words into her mouth, looked into Chase’s purple eyes. It looks exactly like Chase’s face, but with longer hair, taller, and more scars.
And while imagining two mysterious eyes that glowed a lighter light than Chase’s.
Now that I think about it, long hair really suits you, but instead of speaking, Arianne looked at the nape of Chase’s neck, which still felt empty, for a moment and asked.
“Does this mean your old name or your current name?”
“Which do you think it is?”
“Now. No matter how crazy your Highness is, I don’t think he would have named his son something like ‘Sunset’ or ‘Remnant.’ Although in Kairis, where they don’t know the old language, you might have named him that way.”
Arianne didn’t necessarily open her mouth to give the answer, but Arianne was right. What Chase was talking about was what the name ‘Calian’ meant when translated into the old language.
“If you say ‘remnants of a sunset’ like that, it becomes a very strange word. I have no idea what it means. The word I’m using right now has a very good meaning.”
Remnants of sunset.
When I think about it, I wonder if there is a more suitable name than that. Even though you can picture the meaning in your head, it is difficult to open your mouth and explain it.
“Well, there are even weirder names.”
A person who lives upstairs from a person with a strange name meaning. Chase laughed again as he thought of an even more strange name than that person’s green color.
“What? You’re laughing to yourself again. Let me know, too.”
“No. It’ll be difficult if word gets out.”
“I have a big mouth. You know that.”
“But no. I’m sorry.”
Arianne, who couldn’t bear to tell the truth and shook her head with a stubborn expression on her face, eventually decided to give up her stubbornness and said, recalling the story she heard a while ago.
“You’re not laughing because the strange meaning of your sister’s current name didn’t come true…”
After that, Arianne took a short breath and spoke in a light tone, as if she was talking about this hot weather. It was.
“I guess you thought of your brother’s real name.”
It’s impossible not to think about your younger brother, so I’ll try to make you feel less empty, lonely, sad, lonely, and painful by speaking lightly.
“Bern. It’s Bern, Arianne. Her name was Bern.”
Chase once again said the name he had already said hundreds of times, hoping that Arianne would remember it.
Arianne’s eyes, which used to sparkle like jewels, suddenly took on a dull glow. And Arianne blinked for a moment and asked.
“Didn’t you get your brother’s name right?”
Did the sound of the passing wind sound louder than my words?
Maybe that’s why you didn’t hear it?
So much so that I can’t even remember it. So much so that you don’t even wonder what you just missed.
“Is it just that it doesn’t fit?”
Just like before, it’s completely out of sync, so how can I explain it all in simple words like it’s not right?
Chase held his breath and held back these words. From that look, Arianne noticed that Chase had told her the name again a little while ago and had confirmed the truth again.
So Arianne grunted and opened her mouth, as if trying to change words.
“What on earth were you thinking, giving me names that don’t fit together? You’re only making a fuss about my fiancé for no reason.”
Chase grinned after hearing the awkward words of comfort.
“That’s right. You gave me a name like a curse, not an origin. My father.”
When I think about it, isn’t the relationship that went so wrong from the first meeting where we gave each other names? Rather than resenting it, Chase decided to consider it a good thing.
“Let’s just go down here. You have to do your work. I have places to go too.”
After gathering his thoughts, Chase stood up and said. Arianne, who was very curious and wanted to know until the end, woke up together without asking where they were going.
* * *
It seemed like there were times when I got irritated.
Actually, I’m naturally a bit irritable, but sometimes I make that angry face. If I were to describe it in words, I would say it feels like freshly caught young seaweed.
“What else could my sensitive brother be complaining about?”
“I think it will be okay as long as my brother doesn’t bark.”
It’s green, but it looks a little dirty and smells a bit salty, and Plantz, who has that kind of face, immediately answers.
Calian, who was thinking for a moment about why the peas were boiled so well because he wasn’t going to give a proper answer anyway, laughed quietly. I gave him tasks, saying that I would prepare for an empty seat or that you, brother, need to hold something in your hand to avoid death, but it was because I felt suspicious.
If you find out, it seems like it’s all just an excuse to get you to work.
As a result, Plants became busy every day, but Kalian did not.
“Are you busy?”
As Kalian said, I was busy.
It was also very busy.
I made the most of a difficult day by picking up and doing some of the work left behind by Arsene, who was busy protecting Hina, and doing things I should have done. I was not just a prince in name, but I also participated in various schedules that I had to attend because I was a prince.
As I stood at the entrance to Chermil Palace with a tired face, I heard the ‘clunk’ sound of ice from somewhere nearby.
My mistake was that I unconsciously turned my head and looked up slightly.
Even though I knew what he was thinking, I immediately made eye contact with bright red eyes that were looking outside the terrace with a face that seemed like I didn’t even know.
These are the red eyes of the guy who woke up early in the morning, went to work, attended a nobles’ meeting, worked, worked, attended a luncheon, worked, worked, worked, came back, woke up leisurely, rested, attended a nobles’ meeting, rested, attended a luncheon, then rested, rested, and is now leisurely drinking tea.
“I’m going to rest.”
After attending the noble meeting and luncheon since dawn, I had no idea where I had been or what I had been doing. It’s just annoying to see that face holding a cup of tea full of ice on this hot day.
So, when Planz, who spoke only briefly, was about to enter the Chermil Palace, Calian, who was standing on the third floor, jumped out of the terrace.
Without even thinking about putting down the mint tea I was holding.
“Prince Calian!”
Calian, who was not yet accustomed to this type of situation and did not hear Reric’s startled cry, jumped down the terrace without making a sound and walked in front of Plants. Then, while still holding the tea in his hand without spilling a single drop, he smiled and asked.
“Have you eaten?”
Kalian was from above and Planz was from below, so they couldn’t have a conversation with one looking down and the other looking up, so they just jumped. I wanted to ask if you had eaten.
“I have no idea.”
“yes.”
If you don’t want to eat, I’ll go eat a little later. If you’re not hungry, you can eat. You must be tired, so it would be perfect to eat. etc. Kalian, who had been barking in so many different ways asking me to eat, somehow obediently said ‘yes’.
Calian smiled brightly when he saw Planz with a suspicious look on his face as to what he was up to.
It’s not like he doesn’t know that when he says he doesn’t want to eat, he’s asking me to get out of the way because I’m so tired right now, but he says he knows when he says he doesn’t want to eat, but he doesn’t have any intention of going.
“I’m tired.”
“That can’t be right.”
And Calian responded like this with a face that told him not to laugh.
If Arsene had been tired from just that much work, he would have been dead already. Well, it meant something like this, and it also meant that it would be that difficult even though he had Brissen’s blood.
“We can’t talk for a long time, so I’ll go in first. Enjoy your meal and come to the forest when the time is right.”
It was said that it would be difficult for them to talk for a long time in front of other people, as they had once again become estranged due to the incident of putting a tiara on Dmirea at the banquet and the incident with Freya. Calian, who had said something so freely, paused for a moment as if he had missed something. Then he smiled brightly again and said.
“Don’t forget your sword.”
Calian, perhaps aware that those words sounded like an invitation from hell to Plantz, still smiled with a pretty face, bowed lightly, and then went back up to his room.
Plantz, who was standing still and looking at the back, frowned as he considered whether he had gotten involved with Hina recently. There was nothing special.
“Prince, if you are tired, please rest today.”
“it’s okay.”
“But you don’t have to listen to the story…”
Plantz muttered with an annoyed expression on Relic’s words, saying he was worried.
“I decided to learn everything.”
It may be difficult to understand Relic, but didn’t you decide to learn everything from that guy anyway?
So either call me to hell or call me across the Seigne River.
I have to go.
