Chapter 60. If possible, the dream (4)
was a small hand moving.
My fingers were gently rummaging around inside the glass jar, and I found a yellow candy and picked it up. After that, instead of putting what she was holding in her hand straight into her mouth, she looked very concentrated. By smelling the candy or looking inside the transparent candy, you are trying to guess what it tastes like.
“It’ll taste like lavender.”
Siona, who was next to him, chuckled because of his extremely serious voice. Lirie heard the sound and held out the candy and said.
“I don’t think so?”
“okay.”
“Then what does it taste like?”
“I think it’s a strawberry.”
“Why strawberries?”
“It’s an elf’s intuition.”
“You said Siona doesn’t have that ability.”
“Then let’s say it’s a prosecutor’s intuition. Then why are you a lavender?”
“Just. It reminded me of the lavender-flavored snacks I ate a while ago.”
“But shouldn’t it be called scent, not taste?”
“No. It smelled and tasted like lavender.”
“Let’s say so. But shouldn’t we forget that none of the candies we ate before had the taste of flower scents?”
“Just because it wasn’t there before, you can’t guarantee it won’t be there in the future, Siona.”
The age gap between Planz and Arsene was twice that of Arsene’s, in other words, the age gap of almost 30 years was easily crossed between them.
“It hasn’t happened before, so isn’t it likely that it won’t happen again?”
“No. Demirea said that you shouldn’t so easily assume something that didn’t happen.”
So, it is true that the conversation about trying to gauge the taste of the candy the Duke and Duchess made is leading to a serious discussion about ‘what is the right attitude toward facing the future that is yet to come’.
“They said that if you only judge things negatively based on what happened in the past, there are limits. Not even Sispanian can guarantee what will happen in the future. So, this could be the taste of lavender.”
Siona’s golden eyes stared at Lirie.
Dmirea, who said such words to a child who lived less than ten years, and Ririena, who understood them properly and applied them to matching candy flavors.
“Yeah. My thoughts were short.”
Just because everyone in Briesen was cruel, we cannot guarantee that the future will be the same for those who stand in front of the waves and endlessly look at the sea, or for those who try to guess the taste of candy in a glass bottle.
Demirea reminded Brisen not to draw the line that she would grow up to be like him due to his past actions. Slayman and Serie gave Brisen candy that was different on the outside and the inside so that he would not give up thinking that his speed would be the same based on his appearance as a blood relative.
“I was sure it wouldn’t taste like lavender, but I’ll make sure it doesn’t.”
Siona readily apologized because she couldn’t ruin what they had worked so hard to convey to Lillie out of pride and not wanting to lose in an argument.
After receiving the apology with a bright smile, Riri put the candy in her mouth. And he shrugged his shoulders with a frown on his face.
“You’re both wrong. It tastes like an unripe pear.”
There’s no guarantee that there won’t be candy that tastes like flowers, but there’s also no guarantee that there won’t be candy that only tastes like ripe fruit. Lillie, who tasted the astringent taste of candy that is difficult to predict, learned one thing today as well. Of course, Siona is also a common person.
Soon, Siona awkwardly raised her hand and stroked Lillie’s head. There was no need to ask how and when Lirie, who had been discovered at the marquis’ residence and now monopolized the attention and love of the elephant family, had eaten the unripe, sour pear.
– Sweet.
Just when a young human and an adult elf had exchanged the truth about life over a piece of candy, fought for a while, and then reconciled, the door to the living room opened. Then a tall person and an even taller person came in.
“Liri.”
Thanks to this, a relatively short-looking tall person called Lirie’s name. It was Demirea, the head of this house and Lirie’s worthy protector.
Lillie, who saw Demirea’s face, checked the time on the wall and stood up.
“It’s practice time, Siona.”
“Okay. I’ll come down and watch it with you soon.”
“Can I take the knife? I hurt my stomach.”
Lillie’s small finger pointed to Siona’s stomach.
Siona was in this house and Slayman returned to Kairisis. And unlike when we met last fall, Siona’s wounds were all healed and she was completely healthy. So, the natural process followed. A very aggressive greeting, like a sparring match between sword masters.
Of course Siona lost.
It wasn’t pierced or had any organs damaged, but it was still a pretty big wound.
– Don’t worry about this! Last time, when I almost died after competing with that bastard Castrin, there was someone in the palace who quickly made me better.
Slayman, who did not bother to attack, considering that he was a skilled healer, laughed heartily as if he was amazed at his arrangement.
– None.
-Who is that Balkan healer?
– yes.
– Did you quit?
– I’m in Secretia. Did you make it like this without knowing that? I’m bleeding a lot.
– If you don’t have it, why don’t you just tell me there isn’t one?
– If you didn’t know, why didn’t you tell me you didn’t know? What did your father do without hearing such news?
– I made candy.
– Have you been holding on to candy all winter?
– No. I also took Yan for a walk every day with Serrie. Jan chewed up my violin this time, so I got a new one too. I can’t seem to get rid of that biting habit, so I guess I named him wrong. Is it because my baby looks so much like my baby that he doesn’t listen to me like that?
– So, why did you name your dog your brother…
That’s it.
I don’t know if it was because the blood was rushing or the blood pressure was rising, but in any case, Siona fainted without being able to hear any more of the conversation between the carefree father and daughter.
Siona, who was recalling the memories of the day she was injured, suppressed the throbbing pain in her stomach. And he answered calmly towards Riri.
“Even if you don’t lift a knife, you can still see that.”
“Okay, okay. Today we’re going to practice thrusting for the first time.”
“Stab?”
Siona, who had been asking this question without realizing it, quickly nodded again.
“No, I understand. I hope you learn well.”
“Yeah. See you later.”
The sword Siegfried used was not intended for stabbing. Because it is a heavy sword for breaking or cutting. That’s why it’s often forgotten. What color is the hair of the child who came out waving his hand, whose swordsmanship will the child learn, and what kind of sword the child will learn?
“Be careful with the knife.”
“It’s a wooden knife anyway.”
“okay.”
Siona raised her hand and responded to Lillie’s greeting.
After Lirie went outside with Demirea, Siona’s eyes turned to the other person who had entered the living room.
Dark wine-colored hair and brown eyes.
A middle-aged woman with short, straight hair that is very different from Demirea’s curly hair. The second daughter of Margrave Beamon Kinz, known as a master of spearmanship, and also the wife of Slayman.
It was Serie.
“The wound is.”
Serie, wearing a long pomegranate-colored vest that reached down to her knees over a tight black blouse and pants, asked Siona. Then he set down a small glass containing medicine and a plate containing caramel.
Siona, who took the usual medicine and took a sip of tea with dried apples and blueberries instead of caramel, answered with a grin.
“It’s healing well without any signs of deterioration.”
“Thank goodness.”
Serie was also a person who wielded a spear, so she did not apologize on her behalf or talk about compensation for being injured during a fight under the pretense of greeting someone. Because I knew very well that whether I won or got hurt during the sparring, or if I never got to hold a sword again or died, I wouldn’t blame my opponent.
However, since a guest staying at the mansion was injured, he was treated. After looking after Slayman and my eldest son, who were always getting stabbed, cut, and broken on a daily basis, I came to have the knowledge of a therapist.
“When I get better, I’d like to see spearmanship for the first time in a while.”
“Sure.”
Serie, who only moved the corners of her mouth and smiled slightly, nodded and answered. He didn’t say anything about his health anymore, as if he expected that he would say something like this before he was fully healed.
Soon, Serie’s eyes turned to Lirie’s candy bottle.
Siona, who followed his gaze, was the first to open her mouth.
“Did you come because you were worried about Lirie, not Sogaju?”
“I was worried about both children. I was wondering if I would be able to meet my second child after a long time, but I can’t help it since he went to Secretia.”
“It’s too early to jump to conclusions, but I’m learning the sword well, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Rather than that, it’s more important whether or not you are interested in the sword. That’s something I’ll have to take a closer look at myself to find out.”
Serie’s eyes turned to Siona this time.
“Actually, I was more worried than that. I have to say that I was relieved to see that Sir was treating Riri better than I thought.”
As Serie said this, she gazed deeply into Siona’s eyes. Siona laughed out loud, as if she knew such a thing would come out.
“Were you worried that I might swing a sword at Lily?”
“okay.”
“Even though I’m an elf, I’m not that heartless.”
“You never know.”
“Of course I was worried, but I decided not to touch it. There was a separate perpetrator, but I couldn’t hurt someone who was strict. Even though I was worried, I guess they allowed me to stay here.”
“There is a small family, no way. No matter how much you master the sword path, you can’t take away what Siegfried is protecting.”
A single sword master can slaughter dozens or more wizards. However, dealing with one family’s knights, Siegfried’s knights, and Dmirea is not at all easy. It was said that he believed it and left it alone.
Siona, who may have decided to harm Lillie for some reason.
Silence came between the two.
Serie, who sat silently for a moment, slowly opened her mouth.
“No, the Margrave. They even left the Marquis of Briesen alone. That was unexpected.”
“On the first day I came here, Sogaju said that he was planning to teach Riri the Sword of Brisen. So when I asked him how he planned to teach it, he said that his fiancé, who does not keep his promises, decided to teach him. That fiancé is my older brother. “They said they would decide whether to teach together or separately while teaching.”
“Are you saying that’s why the Marquis Briesen was spared?”
“Isn’t Sogaju’s fiancé Prince Calian?”
“Right.”
“I heard that Prince Calian deliberately saved his life and made him a marquis, but I thought it was no longer up to me to step forward. I also heard that he was trying to put my brother in the position of head of the Brisen family, so I thought Prince Calian would take care of it when the time came. “If Freya’s son steps forward, it’s no longer my place to interfere. And… when I met him, he was quite trustworthy.”
This means that Siona, who came here, was thinking of killing Gray Brisen, but changed her mind to leave it alone because she knew that Calian was keeping him alive for other reasons.
“I thought it was fortunate that both the second prince and Lirie were very different from the Brisen I knew.”
Just as yellow candy does not always taste like yellow fruit.
Serie, who was thinking of Plantz, the person who visited Siegfried’s estate during the Rosellita period, nodded slowly.
“okay.”
Soon Siona picked up her teacup and took another sip of tea. Then, suddenly, I twitched my arm slightly as if the injury had moved. Due to that wind, the sword that was leaning against the leg moved.
– A rattle.
The bell at the end of the sword handle makes a brilliant sound.
Siona followed the sound for a moment, looked at the bell, and then put down her teacup.
Calian, who had entered a house somewhere far away at this moment, had no idea that he had found a bell that looked exactly like it.
* * *
– I don’t know your last name.
Since I always just said my name, I didn’t ask any further questions.
– I know very little about you two. In fact, I found out my siblings’ names thanks to finding a letter my mother left behind.
Kyrie.
I taught him how to use a sword, knowing only his age and name. Kirie was good at learning everything and was always eager.
It was okay to not know anything else about Kirie for quite some time. Then I asked him why he was knighted. About what your last name is, not your first name. Then Kirie said she didn’t know that. And he asked me to buy him a drink.
– It was written that my father passed away not long after my younger brother was born. It was discovered one morning on the banks of the Seigne River. I think he may have been drinking a lot. So, I always thought about not drinking, but it didn’t work out.
I went to a small bar in Secreta.
It was a place where you could see the red bird statue on the roof of the Serenti Temple in the distance outside the window on the third floor. They didn’t particularly bite the surrounding area, but when Bern entered, everyone left. So we drank together quietly.
– And I think my mother passed away from a sudden illness after that. It’s not exact, but that’s what the letter said.
Kirie, who said this, had been drinking.
Bern never asked about Kyrie again.
And he made Kyrie the first knight in Secretia to receive a title without a last name. Unlike Calian when he met Kyrie again, Bern at that time had enough strength to do that.
So, in the past, Kirie was just Kirie.
‘Whitlin.’
How can one think that this person in the portrait is not Hina’s mother? Just as Calian resembles Freya, Jan and Dmirea resemble Slayman, Flanz resembles Silike, and Bern and Chase resemble Devlan.
– Knock knock knock.
Before I knew it, Calian’s fingers were tapping on the desk as he sat in front of it.
Meanwhile, I opened the second and third drawers.
Many things that came out of the drawer were listed in front of Calian’s fingers. Calian moved his hand again. Then he skimmed over the letters on the low-quality paper that was starting to turn dark brown.
I looked at them and forgot about them for a moment.
Picture the weather outside and the two people standing in between. I also told you to wait because I would be back for just a moment.
– Jump and jump.
I looked at them and didn’t notice them.
Arsene, unable to see the Crown Prince, who was completely exposed to the blizzard due to the shield being half-closed, recommended that he go inside instead.
-Tap!
That Plantz, who came into the house in search of his younger brother who had not returned for too long, would come to Calian’s location as if he had no hesitation. My younger brother, who had an expression on his face that I couldn’t tell whether he was surprised or angry, was going to knock on the desk and immediately take away the data I was looking at intently.
“…… what.”
I did not expect that Calian, who had missed the sound of footsteps when he was no longer on guard, would have the data taken away helplessly. Plantz sat down on the dusty bed and looked at what Calian was looking at.
“Just give it to me. Don’t look.”
The conversations that Vern and Kyrie had, the conversations that Hina and Kalian had, Kyrie. Kalian, who missed the data because all the memories about Freya came out at once, quickly held out his hand.
– Palak Palak Palak.
Plantz, who skipped through page after page, passed the data to Calian. Planz’s voice sounded in Calian’s ears as he received it and stored it away.
“Is this the room of an elf named Whitlin?”
“yes.”
“That looks like a portrait of Queen Freya.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And that is.”
After pausing for a moment, Plantz pointed to the material containing Calian.
“Is this a letter from an elf named Whitlin? To Queen Freya.”
“Yes, it is.”
“It was written that Whitlin’s husband was found dead while working at Evan’s house, and Whitlin, who was trying to find out, had contracted an unknown disease. Is that true?”
Calian frowned at Planz’s words, which he read while recalling the letters of the data he had roughly stored in his head.
“Brother, can’t you be a little less smart?”
“no.”
Calian let out a short sigh and moved his head up and down.
“… It seemed like it was written that Queen Aisha fell ill not long before Whitlin’s husband died. Is that also true?”
Calian did not answer.
Because Calian couldn’t lie.
