Chapter 42. That heart (5)
is noisy.
Calian, who had been turned down for a hearty lunch of boiled peas, went home with his stomach full of the meat pie and cookies that Alan had given him. Afterwards, I met Arsene and had a long conversation.
And that evening, someone who was obviously Gray Brisen sneaked into the palace and met Randel.
Gray, after parting ways with Randel, got into the carriage, but the carriage did not move for a long time. The carriage door opened and closed without anyone entering or exiting, but no one was interested in such trivial matters or even the reason why the carriage did not start right away.
The story of Gray’s secret visit merely upset the Marquis of Briesen, but was not enough to heat up the streets of Astricia, which was full of nobles.
Astricia was now excited with even more exciting news than that.
– Now that the queen hierarchy has really been lowered…
– The clothes worn by the ‘black cat’ at the memorial service…
– And that day, ‘the brooch’ was given to the second prince… …
There must have been a lot of talk just about the fact that Freyja’s memorial service really took place, but what Calian did during the ceremony created a huge wave and dominated the streets. And before the enthusiasm for the black cat cools down, another one happens.
A huge rumor that could be called a typhoon was spreading among people.
– But these days, I heard that cats often go to the elephant house.
The impact was too great to be considered a simple affair rumor.
It means more than what was acknowledged by giving away an accessory resembling a tiara, entering the banquet hall together, and not refuting the rumor of an arranged marriage.
-There is absolutely no room to doubt the alliance.
– If that happens, I guess.
– okay. I guess.
– It looks like the black cat will break the golden griffin’s wings.
Even though the crown prince had not been announced and the two had never officially acknowledged that they were truly betrothed, Siegfried had already become Calian’s undisputed supporter and unquestionable ally.
So what about Calian?
Did he keep visiting the Duke’s residence just to serve as ‘tasty bait’?
“I came to see the Third Prince.”
After thinking about the question, Demirea visited the royal palace.
– Now, the good prince is teaching me his magic.
Hina, whom we met at Chermil Palace, said this on behalf of Merlin. To be precise, it wasn’t magic, but rather a look at the use of magical power.
When I answered that I would wait, Hina nodded and said.
– Then, while you wait, take a walk with me. Duke Little, I think you only went to the training ground and study.
Then, I dragged the noisy Dmirea out to the small walking path in the back garden of Chermil Palace. I wanted to take a walk by the lakeside, but I couldn’t turn in that direction because I needed Kalian to get there.
– I like that the summer flowers were filled with sunlight, but the fall flowers felt like the wind was picking them up.
Hina, who was smiling at the sight of the scarlet wildflowers in full bloom swaying back and forth, looked at Demirea.
“Is that so.”
Demirea, who lived with the thought that things would change when the seasons changed, or that flowers would bloom when they bloomed, or that they would lose when they fall, just nodded solemnly.
This time, Hina, who knew or didn’t know that she had come to the palace with the intention of breaking off the engagement, smiled and moved her hand again after calmly saying that the flowers were filled with sunlight and the wind.
– Relax. It’s so good, why am I angry?
Demirea revealed her true feelings in response to a gentle question.
“Rather than saying I’m angry, I’m concerned that Siegfried may have begun to be swayed by the prince’s will. His hands seem to be moving as he wants. I’ve reached the limit of my ability to help, so I’ve come to tell you to stop here. What our family has given to the prince is “It was a shield, not a sword.”
Instead of saying that the prince was a person who would use anything he heard as a weapon from the beginning, so he would end up using not just a shield but even a single flower as a sword, Hina said something else.
– If the promise was unilaterally broken, then it would be right for the kind prince to be at fault. By the way, Little Duke. There was something I wanted to tell you, separate from the circumstances of the two of you.
Hina’s black eyes shined brightly.
– I don’t know much about politics. But I don’t think it’s good to be swayed, but I don’t think shaking is a bad thing.
Hina said that, pointing to a flower.
– These flowers are not swayed by the wind, but are swayed back and forth by the wind to produce fruit. Bearing fruit is the most important thing for this flower.
It sways back and forth in the wind, blowing away pollen, and that’s how fruits are formed. In order to send pollen farther away, they sway rather than face the wind. This is because the purpose of flowering is fruit.
– If there is another important meaning other than bearing fruit, it will be okay for this flower to not be shaken. However, if you forget about bearing fruit, don’t know what else you want, and just keep trying not to be shaken, this flower will just disappear without any meaning.
Hina smiled softly and looked at Demirea.
– It’s not wrong to shake for a reason or not to shake for a reason, but I think it’s wrong to be wary of shaking itself and not think about why you shouldn’t shake. It’s just a habit.
Stagnant water rots.
The horseshoes of horses that stop running get rusty.
– Have you ever thought about why the Little Duke must not be shaken?
The firm belief that has lasted 500 years is great, but has stagnated.
What is the reason for that steadfastness? I wonder if it has continued to be steadfast just for the sake of being steadfast. To the point where even that became indistinguishable.
– You don’t have to keep moving and it’s okay to walk to places you’ve never been before, but I want you to think about what the Little Duke wants first.
Why can’t Siegfried move?
Why don’t you want to be shaken?
I think it’s time to think about it, Hina said.
* * *
– Did you know that everything in the world would work as intended?
Calian’s smile turned dark.
Plantz’s brow furrowed.
– Don’t forget. That there will be variables.
Calian paused for a moment and lowered his eyes, remembering the voice of someone who had told him as many things to remember as reasons to hate.
“what.”
As soon as he finished training, Planz looked at Calian, who was lost in thought. It wasn’t that he didn’t hear what he was saying, but Calian didn’t respond right away and didn’t move as if he was nailed to the spot.
Planz, who had completely memorized Calian’s facial expression to see who Calian would react to when he was thinking of someone, let out a short sigh and opened his mouth.
“…Why did my brother wake up the snake again?”
Because what were you thinking?
Only then did Calian raise his head after realizing that Plantz had caught his attention. If he tried to hide it, it would only add to his imagination, so Calian simply answered honestly.
“Because I need it.”
“What do you need?”
“Number of cases.”
“Speak informally.”
“Demand of the Occasion.”
Calian smiled slightly as he quietly made a comment without any hesitation and corrected without a trace of apology even when it was pointed out.
“I was trying to think of the number of situations that could arise in the future, and they all came to mind. I’ve lived with what I learned from snakes, so I can’t forget them, right?”
I didn’t know how far Planz’s thoughts would lead, and I didn’t know how far Kalian’s thoughts would spread.
Kalian, who was trying to calculate the number of possible situations that might arise in his current plans, remembered how Devlan once warned him about variables, and said as if it was okay.
“It’s nothing to worry about. It’s not a memory you want to avoid, it’s a memory you need.”
“Speak informally.”
“Because it’s a memory.”
Plantz sighed once more as he looked at his younger brother, who was especially spoiled when he brought him the king’s knowledge, and took a step forward.
“Have you decided on a name for your cat?”
“yet.”
“It’s been a week.”
“Lucy did more.”
Lucy stayed without a name for a long time.
“Don’t show favoritism.”
Calian let out a small laugh at the answer, which seemed to suggest that he had decided to take his time and think about it for fear that Lucy would be disappointed if he gave the kitten a name right away, as if making a fuss.
“That’s right. Lucy, you may be making excuses, but I’m sure you’re worried because it’s the first time you’ve acquired something precious that belongs to you.”
“I thought you wouldn’t bark because you’re a cat.”
“You don’t even choose a cat’s name carelessly… My brother is so meticulous.”
“…No.”
“If you’re having a hard time, let me make something for you. Something like a butterfly.”
“no.”
Plantz, who cut off Calian’s words without hesitation, turned his head. Then he looked straight at Calian and said.
“Don’t bark needlessly to distract me.”
“Did I do that?”
“You don’t have to.”
“yes.”
Calian, who obediently responded to being told not to bark on purpose because he knew that the intention was to make people not think about Devlan while looking at the number of cases, couldn’t hold back the sudden question and spoke.
“Then how about barking usefully?”
“under.”
Plantz just walked out of the training room as if it wasn’t worth responding to. Calian laughed again while looking at the green back of his head and began to seriously think about whether I had ever barked in a useful way.
Thanks to this, the memories of Devlan that had filled my mind slowly disappeared as if they were flowing away.
* * *
Kalian laughed after receiving the lemon tea with a lot of honey.
“Am I still thinking about it?”
It was a strange question, but Jan nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. It looks like a lot.”
“I need to reflect.”
“Leah said the same thing, but I’m worried that even the prince seems complicated.”
“Have you met Demirea?”
“Yes. But I guess I didn’t come to see the prince, so I only met the healer Sir Bern and went back.”
A little late at night.
Kalian said after hearing an unexpected story while trying to take some time to greet him after finishing his work for the day.
“Yes. I don’t know what Hina said, but I think it’s time for Demirea to put her thoughts together.”
Calian, who had a vague idea of what Demirea had come for and why she had returned, smiled inexplicably. Then he nodded and opened his mouth.
“Anyway, once this is over, I…!”
But no words were reached.
variable.
Something unpredictable.
You never know what will happen or when it will happen.
That happened.
– Excited!
My heart was pounding.
Calian stopped talking and stood up.
A cool day set in red snow.
When a short period of time passed, Jan’s head was lifted up towards Kalian.
– Wow!
The sound of breaking and breaking.
“Prince!”
Relic’s shout.
– Clap!
And the sound of something running rang out at the same time.
Before the sound could be heard, a dark red light shot out from the tips of Calian’s fingers as he stood on the terrace railing. The sharp blade, which seemed to have cut off one side of the sword, accurately cut off someone’s leg.
A single scream is heard.
“Kiri. “Pick up the things that fell outside.”
The cold voice continued.
It was directed at Kyrie, who, like Calian, felt as if she was alive and was waiting for Calian’s voice with more concentration than ever.
Yan jumped up from his seat, but Calian was already there. He wasn’t there.
A sudden commotion came to a place that should have been quieter and safer than anywhere else. A commotion that not only the guards but also Calian could notice. He was stepping into the place where the commotion started and where he always went up to take a breath, as was his habit. Because.
–
My heart is pounding.
My eyes are moving.
“Escort knight. Kaera’s article has arrived. I was telling the prince something, but he suddenly collapsed…!”
Variable.
Kaera.
Something.
‘Find out the situation later.’
I don’t need to know who he is or what he said.
I’m just angry.
I never thought I’d see that bastard fall asleep again.
–
My heart is pounding. My heart is racing.
I know what that means and I’m angry. I’m
standing on the terrace and I’m in the room. Calian, who was looking down at his brother collapsed inside, opened his mouth to Reric, whose hands were shaking.
“Come to your senses and listen to me carefully.”
Reric nodded.
“Don’t stay here, take him to Wilhelm’s coffin. Take only Kirie and Jan. Trust no one but my master and Vulcan. Don’t trust anyone.”
Don’t betray Brisen.
When you leave the palace, you live with cats.
You live with helping Calian ascend to the throne.
– Exciting!
The two seals did not cancel out.
“You can’t think about it any more. So don’t let him wake up until I come back. Call Hina and tell her to keep an eye on her.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Call Lord Hertz and tell him to keep an eye on her. Send Jan to Master and tell him to take Kaela away and stay with His Majesty.”
Reric nodded and asked as if crying.
“But why are you doing this, our prince? Why are you suddenly like this?”
I do not betray Briesen.
I become the Marquis of Briesen and help Calian.
While raising a cat and helping Calian. I live
because I want to live
.
I have to stay alive until then.
– Exciting!
Calian’s eyes. I headed toward this plant.
A variable has arisen.
Thanks to that, the trap and bait I worked so hard to put together are all useless, so I’m not angry.
“Hold on to that heart.” The
crazy bastard who was trying to keep the contract didn’t die because he wanted to live now, but collapsed. I am getting angry.
“…I will just learn swordsmanship.”
Calian’s foot kicked into the darkness.
