Chapter 55. To hell, you (4)
Lemain can’t even cough freely.
It is not a matter of royal authority, but rather the importance of the position.
A rumor about a couple of coughs turns into a severe cough by the time one leaves the palace, a cold by passing through Astrisha Street, and soon becomes pneumonia after leaving the outer castle.
It was not a matter of simple speculation and misunderstanding.
What was merely a cough sometimes leads to tax evasion or territory warfare. The king, whose health has deteriorated, may not be able to properly check the tax issue, or the prince who supports it leads to a fight between different lords. This was a problem that arose because not all nobles in this large country could be smart, and not everyone could obtain accurate information.
“I think I heard something about him going back alone or something about the tower. Could it be about my sons?”
So it became quiet.
It became quiet enough that I could immediately guess who was swallowing dry saliva next to me.
Dozens of pairs of eyes were focused on Lemain, who was holding a crystal plate in front of him that he had never seen before. When those eyes moved, I felt like I could hear the sound of an old wooden door moving.
“We can send troops to your country.”
A place where you can’t even cough. A place where a single hand gesture or a glance becomes a rumor, exaggerated and inflated with all its might, and then turns into fact. I became quiet because I knew it was someone who knew. The words spoken by the king, who could not do anything as he wanted, were too heavy, so he became quiet.
‘The army?’
‘Where are you sending the troops?’
And they exchanged glances among themselves.
I heard stories that I could never have imagined before coming here.
‘To the Secretia Palace.’
So, that day was a very ordinary day.
The weather was bitterly cold, but the day was clear.
There was a noble meeting, and today Lemain continued the meeting as usual. Randel stayed by Lemain’s side with an expressionless face as always, and the Marquis of Gray Brissen, who had not yet consolidated his position, sat quietly without opening his mouth again today.
There was a modified board in front of LeMaine whose purpose I didn’t know, but I thought about it. It was an ordinary day except for one thing. however.
– Tell me what you want and I will listen.
A suddenly interrupted voice rang through the conference room. That low voice was clearly the second prince celebrating his birthday and embarking on a splendid journey. It belonged to the crown prince.
– Do I know what I want?
– It’s war.
When the nobles began to gape, Lemain raised his hand. He put his index finger to his mouth and ordered him to be quiet. As the enforced silence continued, the conversation between that person and Plants continued.
– I will help you return safely alone. There is no way the 3rd prince would go into the tower calmly.
And when these words came out, Lemain had to put his hand to his mouth again. Because the nobles were about to make a fuss again.
– I had no intention of betraying my brother from the beginning.
There was no need to ask for silence regarding the following answer. Because the nobles with bleached faces all looked at Gray. As if asking whether you heard what Planz said just now.
Of course, even if they had caused a commotion, Lemain would not have been able to stop them any longer.
– Ttuduk.
The not-so-small sound that came from the fist quietly resting on the table represented that feeling.
Lemain, who had not heard anything in advance other than that Plantz would be looking for him, proceeded with the meeting without knowing the English text and leaving the revised version in place. And then came the current situation.
Fortunately, Lemain did not have to endure for long. Soon, Plantz’s voice was heard again and the screen became brighter. So Lemain gave the answer he had been holding back.
No matter what a couple of coughs are like.
No matter how the king’s words spread before the entire central nobility.
“…Only for your life.”
I’m glad I didn’t say anything worse than this. It was a mistake that he did not immediately declare that he would start a war as he wanted.
Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to Lemain again, whether he knew it or not. To be precise, it was aimed at the crystal plate in front of Lemain. The screen was not visible from the nobles’ side, but judging from the situation, it was clearly Devlan.
“Lemain. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Since it’s a sudden meeting, shouldn’t I say nice to meet you first?”
Devlan’s relaxed voice rang around the conference hall. Instead of the nobles who were left speechless by the response that continued without even being embarrassed, Lemain opened his mouth.
“I so politely asked you to let me stay and then send you back. You gave me flowers. You, my son.”
If Alan had heard, he would have wondered who was hitting on whom for what, but Lemain wasn’t worried about that either.
“Now I know what you don’t like.”
“On top of that, he even said some terrible things.”
“It’s a disaster.”
“They said it hurts. I guess they said it hurts mentally.”
There was silence once again.
Not only the nobles of Kairis heard the king’s harsh words, but Devlan also paused for a moment.
“Oh my.”
A burst of laughter came from Devlan, who was looking at Lemain. The laughter, which was small at first, soon turned into quite a big laugh. As if I had heard the most hilarious words in the world, as if I had encountered something so funny that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I heard that from someone a while ago, and I never thought I’d hear the same thing again. That child and you are similar…”
But Devlan’s voice, which had been continuing well, cut off at that time. Not only that, the screen also turned black.
Lemain, with a sunken face, turned his head to look to the side, and the wizard who had been observing the situation came to his side and gave an explanation.
“Planz degradation has interrupted the magical power supply. Shall we reconnect it?”
The person on the receiving end was Needlen, who did not need to use magic power, but was there to help Lemain, who was not good at using the crystal plate.
Lemain, who had been looking at the revision board for a while, shook his head.
“It’s done.”
“Yes. Then, how many people should we send to Secretia, Your Highness?”
An expression and a clear voice that makes you feel like you’re going to the bookstore in front of the palace right now. Thanks to this, the nobles quickly turned their heads as if they had suddenly heard a threat and hid their faces from Lemain’s gaze.
Lemain, who closed his eyes for a moment to organize his thoughts without paying attention to their appearance, opened his mouth.
“The meeting is over.”
The words were directed at the nobles, not Needlen.
The nobles were still dumbfounded by the sudden situation, and Gray had been looking at Randel ever since Plantz’s voice was heard. And even Randel, who had no particular interest in this grandiose play, other than hoping that Plantz would quickly get rid of that ridiculous fake position and not have to bow down to Plantz when he returns. Everyone got up and left the conference room.
There was no answer from Lemain for a long time after that. Needlen, worried that it might seem like he was urging Lemain, took a step back. And he exchanged eye contact with Sword Master Siona, who was standing silently behind Lemain with his guard, Ren.
“Lord Zeia.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“How many people will be enough?”
“……Do you need two wizards to catch one person?”
When a crazy wizard gets angry, it gets really scary.
Needlen, with a grin, spread his finger and pointed to the crystal board as he spoke.
“Just one person is enough.”
one person.
It’s not that I couldn’t do it, I just didn’t do it. Just one person can destroy the life of the king of a country. That was Balkan.
“That’s an answer I like.”
Just anyone.
There was no need to worry about who would be that one.
Soon Lemain stood up.
“If you hear from me again, tell him to reinstate Lord Manasil.”
“I understand. Your Highness.”
Needlen lowered his head.
And as I was about to get up again, Lemain’s voice rang through the conference room once more.
“…Take care. That’s also what I said.”
A smile appeared on the lips of Needlen, who had not yet raised his head.
“Yes, Your Highness. I will definitely tell you.”
Lemain got up from his seat without any hesitation and left the conference room.
* * *
At first glance, Randel appeared next to Lemain.
I thought it would be better to delay coming down from the crown prince’s throne a little longer if possible. So, I seriously thought about making a wish to Serenti that she would come down from her position after arriving in Kairis. I was wondering when, if not this time, I would see Randel bow his head and even use an honorific.
While I was thinking a little deeper than deciding on Anne’s name, Devlan looked away from the blackened crystal board and opened his mouth with a smile.
“I didn’t intend to tell the King of Kairis about what the Third Prince hid. Seeing as you stopped the connection so hastily, I guess you weren’t always a laid-back person either.”
“It’s far from leisurely. Always, always.”
Devlan nodded to Plantz’s dry reply, who still hadn’t touched anything, and looked at the crystal plate again and asked.
“You have a truly amazing item. Is the knack of hiding things a specialty of the Kairis royal family?”
“It’s not as great as your majesty’s eloquence.”
“I guess I’ll listen to it with a good meaning in mind.”
“Please do so.”
“Anyway, I wish I had known a little more about you. I was so suspicious of so many things that I ended up not experiencing your true worth.”
“I remember telling you that I didn’t want you to place any more expectations on me. Aren’t you the kind of person who didn’t even believe what you’ve already experienced?”
Devlan nodded with a soft smile. After taking another sip of water, when he opened his mouth to answer, Plantz’s words came out first.
“What do you want to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think I gave you what you needed, didn’t I?”
Devlan heard this and looked at Planz.
I looked deep, very deep.
“… I see.”
Alan Manasil.
Alan Manasil’s first strike.
I thought it was necessary. Plantz said it first, but Devlan clearly thought the same thing. Plantz has just made it happen. LeMaine, who was exhausted from worrying about his son, deceived both LeMaine and Devlan by thinking that he would definitely move Alan Manasil.
“He said he had no intention of betraying his brother.”
“Didn’t Your Highness say that? You’re good at hiding things.”
Devlan’s snake-like eyes turned to the crystal plate and then gazed into Plantz’s green eyes.
A suspicious person thinks.
Will I risk my life to hold Plantz’s hand or not?
“Okay. Let’s get our hopes up again. To you.”
Plantz blinked his eyes slowly.
And he got up without another word. I bowed and turned back.
“but.”
But Devlan’s words caught up with Planz.
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to stay in the main palace until this matter is completed?”
“Are you detained?”
“It will vary depending on where you live.”
It depends on where you live, but isn’t it ultimately a call to act as a hostage? The intention is to isolate him from Kalian so that his life can be preserved at least even if he is attacked by Alan Manasil.
Plantz, who had stopped, blinked slowly again and opened his mouth while still turning his back on Devlan.
“I thought that if you wanted to save your life, your highness should do the same.”
Alan Manasil makes his move, starts a war, upsets the situation, puts Chase down again, eliminates Calian, clears out all the obstructionists, and gets healed. To obtain that much, wouldn’t Devlan’s life have to be risked?
“I guess I’ll just say it’s a preparation for something just in case.”
I was a hostage for a while at Demirea’s mansion, and I ended up playing the same role until I came here.
What is similar about those times is that both times were caused by a black and red barking cat. The difference is that the detention was voluntary at the time, but not now.
“I understand what you mean, but isn’t there something you can only do if you risk everything that is yours without any preparations?”
After saying this, Plantz turned back for a moment. He then stood towards Devlan, who was still sitting in his seat and looking at him, and continued speaking while looking directly at Devlan.
“And… it will be difficult because your life is expensive to provide as a precaution for Your Majesty.”
This is a life saved by spending treatment costs that could not be covered even by the enormous salary of the Balkan healer, and if they use it carelessly again, I have no idea what I will have to pay back this time.
So shouldn’t we use it sparingly now?
“It seemed like you were using it carelessly without concern for your safety. Maybe I was mistaken.”
“I’m not using it carelessly.”
Plantz tapped the floor with the tip of his toe once or twice.
After debating whether or not to tell Devlan another thing he didn’t know, he opened his mouth again.
“There’s no reason to worry, so I just won’t do it.”
Anyway, if you’re doing this,
“… bro.”
I have a younger brother who will come and take care of me.
Is there any reason to worry?
“What are you doing here? Not yet.”
Plantz slightly bowed his head towards Devlan and said hello. Then he turned his back and walked away.
“Did you enjoy your meal?”
“hungry.”
“That’s good. I’m hungry too. Let’s eat together.”
“no.”
“yes.”
Kalian, who was very good at hiding things, but had nothing to hide from Devlan, came to retrieve the planks and peas before they were pickled and went out of Devlan’s office.
– Have you decided on your wish?
– yet.
– why.
– Because I don’t know.
– It has no effect after one day. Decide quickly.
– …… okay.
– Brother, you didn’t sell me to Devlan again.
– I sold it.
– yes.
The sound of two different footsteps echoed through the hallway before disappearing.
– I guess I didn’t have to come.
– I’m hungry. I want to eat quickly.
– Speak informally.
– I want to eat quickly.
So, is it true whether or not the brothers are on good terms? Leaving behind Devlan, who still couldn’t believe anything, seeing as there wasn’t a single lie.
– Is everyone here asleep?
– Actually, I’m not good at using sleep magic.
Plantz laughed quietly.
The knights were beaten down and the chamberlain was put to sleep with magic.
Since no one is dead, everyone will wake up soon and Devlan won’t be able to say anything.
– You must have been quite worried. My brother.
– yes.
What is there to worry about?
I’m worried about the doorknob that was so recklessly broken, but it’s just a doorknob. How much can I do?
All you have to do is pay the full price and reimburse yourself well.
To Chase, who will soon become the owner of this palace.
So is there anything to worry about?
