Chapter 61. Sowon (5)
No longer cried ‘beep beep’.
– Quack quack!
It is now an adult duck.
Their beaks have grown, their feet have grown, and they can now fly quite far.
Even though her duckling days were long gone, Coco still followed her mom and dad well. Some people who were seen often, including Hina, also followed them around, and when they saw Lucy and Anne, who were full of curiosity, they seemed to have forgotten that they were busy running away, and they even became close to each other after they grew up.
Instead of the comfortable pool that my father created that always boasts the right temperature regardless of the season, today I came to the most beautiful water garden in the Secretia Palace. The blue-haired mother, who had always brought Coco to the palace garden even when Devlan was there, came with her this time too.
Coco’s mother, who was sitting looking at Coco with an expression that she had no more greed for life after completing her life’s great work and raising her children well, opened her mouth.
“When I return, I will get my salary again, Chairman of the Association.”
Coco’s father Eurya, who was sitting in the water garden under the straight noon sunlight, looked at Arsene.
“how much.”
“Shouldn’t you congratulate me before asking the amount?”
“Uh. The period of no pay was too long to just cover it up and start celebrating.”
Arsene made a sad face, as if he didn’t expect Euria, whom he trusted so much, to give such an answer.
“It’s enough to buy Coco food. I still get pocket money.”
“how much.”
“Chairman of the Association. They say that people make a living by doing good things, but money is not that important. Moreover, since we decided not to reduce the prince’s allowance that he originally received, won’t his pockets become fatter as a result? That’s the important thing.”
“It looks like the salary is a pittance.”
“Chairman of the Association, did you hear me?”
“I heard it, so I answer. Are you answering without listening? So how much is it? It’s 1 florin again?”
“You’re being harsh when you say 1 florin. Does the president of the association see me as only that much?”
“Uh. It looks exactly like that.”
“That’s a bit too much. I don’t think Lord Bern will be as firm as the association president in scolding our prince.”
“You should get scolded. I told you to drink water, but you said you had beef jerky.”
“I told you to only drink water, so didn’t you just eat beef jerky?”
“What are you talking about?”
Hina, who woke up after a good rest and was in a good mood, went to see Kalyan. Then I saw Kalyan, whose complexion had noticeably improved in just one day. Hasn’t Hina already been through too much to be happy about that? I immediately grabbed Calian’s wrist and looked inside. Sure enough, I immediately realized that my stomach, which should have been empty, was very full.
Hina smiled brightly and went out.
Then
he brought me a piece of paper written on it, ‘I am the 3rd prince who ate beef jerky without the healer knowing.’ Of course, there was also ‘I am the crown prince who gave the beef jerky to my younger brother without the healer knowing’ and ‘I am the article who gave the beef jerky to me.’ There was also a piece of paper with this written on it. This is a gift from Hina that expresses her intention to treat them like two cats with lengthy self-introductions around their necks, as they are less obedient than Lucy and Anne.
Alan had a very hard time coaxing me to stand in the middle of Secretia’s royal palace garden holding it for an hour.
“It was the prince’s fault for not listening to the healer. So, how much is the salary?”
In Secretia, he saved Calian just before his death and was recognized for providing various types of help. So the salary that never existed was restored. To be precise, I was forgiven for confronting Alan after he stepped on him in front of Wilhelm’s coffin.
I said this because I was happy to get my salary again, but word got out about how much that salary was, and I ended up not being able to get my money back. Attempts to divert words ended in vain.
“Little boy, the decrease in your salary isn’t because Heysia Palace was blown up.”
“That’s right, Chairman of the Association. I am the wizard who exploded the Heisia Palace.”
“I’m proud.”
“I’m proud. Isn’t this something that no wizard on the continent has ever experienced?”
“It’s not that you can’t do it, it’s that you don’t.”
“Aren’t they unbecoming wizards?”
“Yes. Think of it as you wish. Anyway, I heard that the salary was reduced until the Heisia Palace was rebuilt. It’s still a long way from being rebuilt.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Heisia Palace began construction next to Arpia Palace.
Lemain and Allan had decided to seize Arsène’s salary until the reconstruction of the palace was completed. And there is still a long time left before the palace is rebuilt. There was talk that the person who would become Lemain’s successor as king might not have a place to stay. At the very least, it is difficult to predict whether or not the Marquis of Briesen’s residence will be completed when Planz leaves the palace, but what will Heysia Palace be like?
Therefore, it is impossible to say for sure when Arsene’s salary will return, even if Danou comes.
“Still, isn’t it important to receive it, President?”
“That’s right, you get 1 florin.”
“no.”
“then.”
“I’ve done a lot of work in Secretia, so now I get 3 florins.”
“…I’m proud.”
This amount is less than half of the salary that a healer receives. Plantz, the same deputy commander, receives a considerable amount of money, although not as much as a healer. Before comparing it to the salary of a healer, Euria’s reaction is bound to be cold as she proudly mentions the amount, which is clearly less than the cost of taking care of Lucy, Anne, or Raven.
“But you still get pocket money, right?”
“Then why did you suddenly talk about salary?”
A smile appears on the face of the blue-haired crazy wizard who has received a salary again after receiving only the three princes’ pocket money without any salary. Arsene grinned at Euria and let out a pretty cool voice.
“It doesn’t matter how long it has been. Anyway, I am now a wizard who works for a salary, President of the Association.”
“So what.”
“In addition to making money to buy coco feed, I also make money to buy boring flowers.”
“You didn’t buy a flower that won’t get boring, you made it, kid.”
“Aren’t there many flowers other than ice flowers that you don’t get tired of? No matter what flower it is, I can find it somehow and buy it for you.”
Euria, who had some idea of what the bright blue kid was talking about, said with a chuckle.
“Instead, you freeze French fries.”
“I won’t freeze it anymore.”
You can only have three beers.
Euria looked at Arsene for a long time as he held out three fingers and spoke as if he was making a promise, then shook his head sadly.
“no.”
The face that seemed to have no more greed for life suddenly changed to look like that of a person who has lost the world. A very depressed voice came out.
“Why not?”
“I’m busy.”
“Why are you so busy?”
“I’m going to catch Adelia. So I’m busy.”
I had to serve as the president of the Wizards Association, the principal of the magic school, and also the boss of the intelligence organization until I returned and handed over the organization to Aela. In addition, if I wanted to raise one or two more circles to catch Adelia, I didn’t have time to get flowers from the blue-haired kid.
After saying this, Euria looked at Arsene.
Even if the world were to end right now, I looked at the face that seemed happier than mine for a while, and then
said, “So, when you drink four beers and don’t freeze your French fries, tell me again. Don’t even think about buying flowers.”
He said.
“Uh… uh… President of the Association.”
A flower bloomed on Arsene’s face as he pondered Euria’s words.
“Can I tell you then?”
“okay.”
“Really, President?”
“I mean it’s true.”
Arsene, who came back with the look on his face that brought the ruined world back to life, nodded. Then he said, looking like he was leaving tomorrow to hunt down the devil.
“Then I’ll tell you again after I increase the circle.”
“Uh, okay.”
“I increased it, so you can’t say anything else.”
“I said I understood.”
“You promised, President.”
“okay.”
Euria, who had put aside her worries about what would happen if she added another circle tomorrow, burst into laughter.
– Quack quack!
Spring has come before we know it.
“Until then, I won’t be receiving any other boring flowers.”
Spring has come, as beautiful as Coco’s bright yellow beak, excitedly moving around the water garden.
* * *
Even if you try to run away, it catches up with you before you know it.
The more you try to shake it off, the more persistent it follows.
That’s usually the case with time. The more I try to run away and shake it off, the faster it flows and eventually gets ahead of me.
I looked at the sea, faced Sina Star, and enjoyed the time of serenity, soaked in water so deep that I couldn’t even smell the salt. I have truly been through a lot and have grown through it all. Meanwhile, fall has come to an end, winter has passed, and spring has arrived. As the leaves fell and the cold wind blew, flowers bloomed. Time passed.
I entered a nightmare and woke up from a nightmare.
I met Arnaizel and met Danu.
Time passed.
In that short period of time, between getting scolded by Hina, sitting across from Alan and talking to him, teaching Jan how to play the harmonica, and crossing swords with Kirie again.
As disappointing as it was, five days passed in what seemed like a fleeting moment.
– Ja-bak, jap-a-bak.
– Jump and jump.
The road leading to Secretia’s small banquet hall.
The sound of different footsteps echoing through the hallway.
It was the sound of the footsteps of the 3rd Prince Kairis, who was very good at finding his way around a foreign palace without a guide, and the Crown Prince Kairis, who had become more accustomed to following his younger brother around than having a guide.
“I’m going today.”
“Yes. Today.”
I finished breakfast with Chase, Arianne, and Louise before heading to Kairis. After that, Chase headed to the office for a moment to take care of urgent business, while Arianne and Hina followed Louise. Although all treatment for the poison was completed, I wanted to check again to see if there were any other painful areas.
Thanks to this, the two brothers who were left alone were heading to their rooms on their own, when Plantz spoke first about Kairis’s schedule. Otherwise, it was Kalian who looked like he wouldn’t say a single word from the time he finished eating until he returned to Kairis.
“Are you saying you plan to go to the duke’s residence as soon as you return?”
“Well, if the engagement hasn’t been broken off yet, they’ll let you in.”
“I don’t think His Highness will let me out. For the time being.”
“I’m not the type of person who won’t go out just because you don’t. I am.”
As soon as he arrived at Kairis, Plantz laughed as he saw his younger brother thinking about running away.
“Why in the Duke’s residence?”
“I have something to ask you when I meet Siona. It’s not urgent. I just want to go.”
Of course, Calian was answering with a nonchalant expression. And Plantz knew that there was no way Calian would be okay with it. However, I did not show excessive concern by revealing that I was trying not to show off. Because I wasn’t the type of person to want something like that.
“Your brother will be busy when you get back. You should go straight to Wilhelm’s pavilion.”
“no.”
So Plantz was quiet for a moment and then came up with a pretty good answer. So, it is an answer that can change your mind from the brother you need to part with immediately to another brother you need to meet right away.
“Fifth floor. I’m going.”
“ah.”
“You’re going to be sick.”
“…… ah.”
“Visit.”
“yes.”
“please.”
“Yes, definitely. Have a nice trip.”
“okay.”
The Crown Prince did not descend as planned.
So, isn’t it clear that Randel will not be among the people greeting Kairis and his party? Whether he has a cold, faked it, has a headache from being exposed to too much sunlight, or anything else, it is obvious that Randel will definitely get sick. So, what I meant was that I would visit him rather than visit him in hospital. The crown prince of a country to the prince of a country.
To say hello.
Is he sincere or is he telling me to laugh?
Anyway, Calian let out a small laugh as if it was a pretty good answer. It looked like Renieri, but I was thinking that maybe it didn’t just look like Young Renieri.
“What should I ask the chicken-eating elf?”
“There’s something Kirie asked me to do and something I’m personally curious about.”
Plantz slowed down a bit and looked at Calian. If it was something that needed to be confirmed with Siona, it was because Brisen was involved and she had no intention of closing her eyes and ears to the knowledge of that fact.
“I don’t know if it has anything to do with Brisen. I’m curious. Why did my mother come to the palace?”
“Do you think it’s because of Briesen?”
“Yes. I won’t know for sure until I meet Siona, but… I think it might be because of Brisen. Looking at the time when he entered the palace, I get that feeling.”
“Because I entered the palace right away.”
“Yes. I think they came in for a reason, whether it was to find out why Whitlin disappeared or for revenge.”
In fact, Freya entered the royal palace not long after Queen Aisha died.
“… I heard that His Highness was a favorite. Maybe it wasn’t Queen Freya.”
“I am truly sorry, Your Majesty. If your mother had put her mind to it, it wouldn’t be difficult, right?”
It would be a waste to talk more about beauty. Beauty was beauty, but didn’t Siona say so? It is said that his personality resembles Kalyan’s. If so.
“Honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone I wouldn’t be able to win if I put my mind to it.”
“Little duke.”
“ah.”
That’s right.
“Except my fiancé.”
Plantz chuckled.
Isn’t it none of Plantz’s business whether Freya deceived Lemaine or not? In any case, royal marriages are based on what each party wants.
“Anyway, if I had entered the palace for a different purpose, my mother would have told Siona something. I think so.”
“okay.”
Footsteps echoed down the long hallway again.
Plantz, who had been walking next to Calian in silence for a while, opened his mouth.
“When are you going to go to the duke’s residence?”
“Your Highness will probably want to have dinner, so I’ll go after that. Before that, I think I’ll have to stop by the Wilhelm Pavilion too.”
“Come with me.”
“Where else?”
“The duke’s house.”
They’re following me again.
The pea that had been following me around throughout my time in Secretia did not go to Wilhelm’s coffin where I was told to go, but instead followed me to the duke’s residence.
“Dmirea and Siona aren’t the only ones there.”
“I’m saying I’m going because I know.”
“I don’t think you’ll be okay, brother.”
“I.”
He said he would go.
It was obvious what he was going to say, so Calian quickly nodded. This is because I always feel Planz’s eyes looking down on me, but I don’t want to get used to it.
“I heard they looked similar. I was curious.”
A child who has a similar face and is also smart.
A child who is very similar to Plantz, but will now grow up in an environment very different from Plantz. The child was curious and said he wanted to go.
Calian, who looked at Planz without answering for a while, answered.
“Well, let’s run away together then.”
Because it’s obvious that LeMaine won’t let me go anywhere, at least for the time being. Since I’m running away anyway, wouldn’t it be okay to take the pea that is curious about my bloodline and run away with me?
“okay.”
Plantz, who was able to run away with his younger brother, nodded.
What to do when I get back, when should I give the new hairpin I bought to Eila, and when should I let Kirie and Siona meet? I thought about those things. We talked about the crown prince of Tensil and also talked about Danu and the elves.
So time passed again.
* * *
There are a lot of ripe tangerines.
Chase listened to Hina’s words that eating too many sour tangerines is not good, and changed all the sour tangerines to bright yellow ones. Kalian stopped me from giving him a bunch of fresh cod and raw oysters. Instead, I said that I would come and eat in person next time. That sounded better, so Chase put away the excessive gifts.
“Be careful.”
I smiled readily, took Arianne’s outstretched hand, and exchanged greetings. I thought he would tell me to bring my fiancé with me next time I come, but he didn’t say that. Instead,
“If I go, you have to take good care of me. Because I go alone and get lonely.”
He said he would come in person.
“Why are you coming?”
“Can’t I go?”
“No, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”
“I should congratulate you. It’s my new friend’s father’s birthday.”
He said he would come as a representative of Secretia to Lemain’s birthday festival.
Of course, the new friend did not mean Calian. I’m talking about Planz. As I became closer to Hina, I also became friends with Plants. It would be necessary to hear Plantz’s opinion to see if he thought the same thing, but it was anyway.
In addition, I knew that saying he wanted to celebrate Lemaine’s birthday was just an excuse and that he was actually saying that he was going to meet Euria, Rachel, and Aela, whom he had become very close with, but Calian answered with a happy face.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
After letting go of Arianne’s hand as she nodded, she took a step further to the side. Louise, who was no longer coughing, held out her arms with a smiling face. Calian, who smiled slightly, didn’t refuse and went into Louise’s arms.
“Stay healthy.”
“Yes. I will.”
Louise hugged Calian. As if trying to convey unforgettable warmth, Louise stroked Calian’s back for a long time.
“It may be difficult, but… still, come visit often. Any time is good.”
“Yes. I will come often.”
Calian, who buried his face in Louise’s shoulder, nodded.
“Anytime… to my mother.”
Louise’s hand, which paused for a moment, brushed her son’s back again. As much as I worry and as much as I wish for peace in the future.
“Sure. Any time.”
I quietly escaped from Louise’s arms.
I took one step back.
I waved my hand at Arianne.
I bowed my head to Teilan.
But I didn’t see Chase.
I couldn’t look away for a long time. I couldn’t say anything. Just like Chase, so did Calian.
I can’t tell you to go. I can’t even say goodbye.
I can’t say I’ll go. I can’t even say goodbye.
“…… okay.”
“yes.”
We exchanged nothing but greetings.
There are still many remaining words that need to be shared somehow. Anytime, anywhere, any time. It’s okay now that we don’t have to exchange any other greetings.
After a while, Calian lowered his head with a smile and took a step back. And then I entered as if being embraced by Alan’s warm, comforting light.
– Sigh!
A goodbye message burst out from Alan’s fingertips.
Light spreads out. Fill your body with the light and close your eyes.
Go back.
To the place where spring comes.
Now to my Kairis.
