Chapter 62. Real Wish (5)
In the end, it’s the same thing.
‘Walk only looking ahead.’
Don’t look elsewhere and just look ahead.
Don’t look back, just keep looking forward.
There was someone who told me to walk like that. There was clearly someone who told me to walk only looking ahead, buried in a scent I would never forget.
Today I heard the story I was so tired of hearing again.
‘why.’
‘The prince must be friendly with the nobles, but the heir to the throne must reign over the nobles. So, after entering the conference room, don’t look to the side and walk forward. All you have to do is receive the greeting. There is no need to share.’
‘… I think my brother is somehow trying to elevate me to the sky.’
‘yes. you’re right.’
‘I thought it was a place I would soon put down anyway. Wasn’t it?’
‘If you give up your position as crown prince right now, my brother will die. Even if you look like a crown prince who will be friendly with nobles, you will die.’
However, it is different.
‘In Secretia, it would have been a lifeline thrown in front of my brother standing on the edge of a cliff, but here, it was a noose that flew around my brother’s neck. If you take it off, you will fall off a cliff and die, and if you keep wearing it, you will be strangled to death. So instead of acting like you’re going to come down right away, act like you’re just going to go up. Just hold on to the noose rope and hold on for a moment.’
‘If I hold on.’
‘If you hold on, I’ll take care of saving you.’
We are saying the same thing, but we know the difference.
I’m sure I’m hearing the same thing.
I know now that it is different from back then.
Now I know.
* * *
There are two types of people in the world.
A guy who needs to be killed.
A guy who shouldn’t die.
A man who must be saved.
There are three categories, but the reason they are called two is because Kalyan does not consider the first category to be human.
Of course, for Kalyan, most of the humans living and breathing on the continent belong to ‘people’. In fact, if you get to know him, he is gentle to everyone, does not get angry quickly, is very kind, and has a very kind heart as well as a pretty face. Wasn’t Kalyan the person who was even good at growing peas?
…… Kalian believes.
Well, anyway.
If Calian, who is so affectionate and overflowing with love for humanity, categorizes him as a person who must be killed, then he really deserves to be killed. And the one who proudly took the first place among them was definitely the Marquis of Gray Briesen. Those who surpass Gray have either already met them and killed them all, or they haven’t met them yet and haven’t killed them yet, so it’s true that Gray is first right now.
The fact that he had a number of ‘outbuildings’ before his strong back began to suffer, and that he brutally killed a knight who had made a mistake with Hina and Kirie to vent his anger, were just the tip of the iceberg of why it was okay for Gray to die right away. Anyway, isn’t Gray also Evan’s child? There is a good reason why Evan is particularly wary of Gray and stays away from him.
“Marquis Briesen is holding back better than I thought. It must be painful.”
The Little Duke, who knew this well, expressed his leisurely evaluation.
I feel bad for no reason, it’s annoying, and I learn things I shouldn’t know. Demirea was not one who would sympathize with the person who took Young Ji-min’s life just for that reason.
“Even if you hit a critical point, you won’t be able to show that you’re in pain.”
“That’s right. I shouldn’t be caught not being a Sword Master. However, I don’t understand why I always get caught out when I have such a big weakness.”
“Because Briesen wouldn’t know anything else.”
“Don’t tie yourself to that name. Lirie is not like that.”
“without.”
Demirea smiled slightly at the immediate response and opened her mouth again.
“Anyway, I’m worried. The prince shouldn’t break Marquis Briesen’s neck in front of the nobles.”
“That won’t happen.”
“You’re a person who forgets things too easily to make any guarantees. Don’t you trust the prince too much?”
“My brother only hunts prey.”
“…… for that reason.”
The basis for the belief is a bit strange.
I found out what my fiancé’s older brother viewed as my fiancé, and I realized that there was nothing I could do to refute him. I have complicated feelings just because of Dogmeong’s older brother, but there is no way to properly explain how I feel now that I have Dogmeong’s fiancé. Thanks to this, Demirea had to briefly put her complicated face together.
Soon Demirea looked around.
It wasn’t yet a target for hunting, and the one that needed to be kept alive was Gray Brisen, and Calian wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference to the point where he would have even forgotten about it. So I decided to worry about something other than Gray. I knew that I was keeping my voice low and that I was quite far away from the nobles, but I wanted to check if anyone had heard this.
Fortunately, no one seemed to have heard, so I turned my head a little more and saw Plants watching Calian and Gray with a displeased look on his face.
“Why are you looking like that? Is it because the prince’s methods are too extreme?”
“Unlike usual.”
“It seemed like you really believed that I wouldn’t bite.”
“It seems like my brother is putting a shield in front of me again.”
I trust that he won’t break Gray’s neck, but I don’t like his intentions.
I entered the restaurant with a slight smell of blood from Siona’s treatment, and my future son-in-law put on a shield in front of the crown prince. Looking at the situation, it seemed that among the king’s brothers who would succeed Lemain, none of them would go to the tower. I remember Slayman laughing cheerfully while saying that. Thanks to this, Demirea quickly understood Plantz’s words and opened her mouth.
“The nobles do not know that Marquis Briesen is not a sword master and the extent of Prince Calian’s actual power. Now, no one would think that Marquis Briesen bowed his head due to the pressure.”
“I know.”
“So, that’s just a warning. To Gray Brisen. He even sent gifts and congratulated him, but he caused a wedge between the crown prince and the prince and kept in contact with Prince Randel. It can be seen as a warning from the three princes against such things. “It is not by force, but by the intention to put down the Marquis of Briesen with Allan Manasil and Siegfried in the background.”
Plantz nodded.
“And… other than that, how can we turn away the arrows of the Marquis Briesen that will be aimed at His Majesty the Crown Prince, or the swords of assassins that other nobles will summon?”
“That. Isn’t it meant to make you change direction, not turn around?”
“Yes. I think it’s towards the prince. Perhaps he didn’t like it because the prince seemed to be taking risks because of the Crown Prince?”
“I guess.”
“I’m not a prince who can’t block an arrow or a sword like that.”
Plantz did not answer.
Instead, I turned my head and looked towards where Gray Brisen was.
Gray was still bent over while having a long conversation with Demirea. It’s natural. Unless LeMaine comes in right now or Calian loosens his grip, Gray will never be able to get up on his own.
“I understand that you are happy to see us after a long time.”
A low voice, not loud at all, but loud enough for everyone to hear, came out of Calian’s mouth.
“No matter what, you have to protect what you have to protect, Marquis Briesen.”
Gray’s face went from bright red to black. I just didn’t say hello once to show that I didn’t support Plants. The price for that is truly painful.
Is it red because it hurts, is it red because it’s angry or embarrassed, or is it red because it’s indignant at being embarrassed in front of so many nobles? Calian wasn’t very interested.
“I was thinking about something else for a moment.”
Gray will tolerate it well anyway.
He may have died right now, but he must have realized again that he was only kept alive for a while because he had some use.
Just as Gray Brissen treated his people that way.
Gray answered quietly, his gaze landing on Calian’s feet. Gray bit the inside of his lip, knowing that even though he apologized, his strength did not relax. I knew very well that if I showed even the slightest bit of survival, I would only end up following in Lennon’s footsteps and getting the leaves of Lenisita wet.
“I have been disrespectful to His Majesty Crown Prince Planz.”
That’s why I offered a wordless apology.
Plantz, who was standing at a distance and looking down at Gray, turned his gaze towards Calian. In particular, Calian had never said that he would do something like this, but at this moment, Plantz, who knew exactly what he had to do, opened his mouth.
“I understand.”
Forgiving.
To be precise, he is ordering Calian to forgive.
– Sreuk.
There was a sound of Calian’s collar rubbing against the back of his neck, which was held so tightly that he couldn’t even lift a finger. The hem of a pitch-black jacket, black pants, and dust-free shoes were seen taking a step away.
Gray raised his head.
Calian glanced at Gray with cool eyes and then turned around.
“Isn’t this the first time I’m appearing in front of you since my brother, His Majesty, ascended to the throne? However, I feel sad that many people still seem unaccustomed to the change. So I only conveyed my thoughts to the Marquis, who is representing the nobles, so perhaps he’s angry. “I hope you don’t do it.”
The story is that everyone here didn’t show proper example to Plants, so they broke the back of Gray, the highest-ranking noble among the nobles who had behaved so rudely. So, in the end, it was not only Gray Briesen who was scolded by Calian.
Gray, who almost lost his temper for a moment at the sound that seemed to raise his prestige just a little, bit the inside of his lip again.
Isn’t it literally like a cat thinking about a mouse?
Whenever we ask them to bow at the waist, we always pay close attention to them so that they don’t blush when they appear in front of nobles.
“…Can we possibly think of it that way?”
The corners of Calian’s mouth rose slightly at the word ‘we’.
This was because he was thought to be incomparably more astute than Evan in that he not only cared for himself but also took care of his pride.
“Then I’m glad.”
It is clear that for the time being, there will be no nobles who will nod their heads in greeting. Everyone would have learned what would happen if Plantz was not treated properly as a crown prince.
If they did not support Planz, they would have realized that it was not Plantz who they should be wary of. He must have clearly learned that it is not Plantz who has immediately ascended to the crown prince’s throne, but Calian, who stands in the way of Plantz, must be defeated.
By putting to rest the rumors of the nobles and showing off their ‘friendship’ with Plantz, he warned Calian’s supporters to prevent them from harming Plantz, and once again made the nobles who were still distracted and trying to join hands with Gray give up, and showed off their ‘friendship’ with Plantz in front of the royal family. I taught him some etiquette so that he would greet me properly and not just nod his head, and I also warned Gray, who was trying to bring down Plantz somehow, knowing that there was no way for him to join hands with Plantz. If you push down too much, it will pop out, so loosen it just a little bit.
At the same time, let’s relieve some of the sadness I felt towards Plants.
Calian, who achieved everything he wanted, smiled brightly.
It was as if he was just really sad and there was no malice whatsoever.
* * *
I placed a small house next to a window where a warm breeze blew.
There was a hammock and soft cushions.
Lucy liked hammocks and Anne liked cushions. So we each climbed on top of our favorite things and closed our eyes comfortably under the leisurely afternoon sunlight.
A peaceful time when you can quietly hear Anne’s loud chirping.
“so.”
Planz opened his mouth to Calian, who was cutting a piece of meat with a relaxed expression.
“You lifted me up high in the sky.”
“Luckily, Demirea helped me make it a little easier.”
“I thought we talked about it in advance, didn’t we?”
“No. If you’re going to ask for something like that, you’ll have to spar until your bones wear out.”
While Calian was suppressing Gray’s spirit, Demirea, who had figured out what Calian’s fiancée should do, did not leave Plantz’s side. By continuing to stay by his side and talk to Planz, Siegfried also made it known that he had no complaints about the decision to become crown prince.
When the relationship between the two is so rough, they are so in sync. The two of them established Plantz’s position properly in one meeting of the nobles.
“Then what do you plan to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Drop it back on its own. I’m curious what you plan to do.”
The tender, well-boiled beef was torn along the grain.
Kalian smiled happily after dipping it in a sauce made from ground apples and radishes. It means that it fits well in the mouth.
“I haven’t thought about how I’m going to get you off the crown prince’s throne, brother.”
After hearing those words, Plantz frowned slightly.
“Anyway, brother, you decided to take it all into consideration, so just enjoy it a little. Didn’t you say that you need to apologize to Brother Randel?”
“You did something like that without any plan.”
“If you hadn’t done that today, you would have met the assassin by tomorrow night.”
“…… under.”
Kalian, who spoke as if it was nothing special, took a sip of carbonated water with a subtle peach scent and then spoke.
“I will find my own place.”
“You’re so confident.”
“You have to be confident. If you want to make your wish come true.”
Plantz, who heard the unexpected remark, put down the grilled bacon he was about to put in his mouth and said.
“After eating cod, you’ve already come to Kairis.”
“Not like that. You really have a wish.”
“Is there such a thing?”
“yes.”
“…… okay.”
“Anyway, don’t worry. It won’t be difficult.”
Calian looked at Planz for a moment and spoke calmly.
“If you’re too high and it’s difficult to bring you down, I can create another sky and go up higher.”
Because one way is to skip crown prince and become king.
Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem to be difficult at all.
It was a truly calm voice.
