Chapter 63. The white and red rose(1)
Of course, Jan said so.
The person with the least amount of work to do in this palace is Kalyan.
“That’s a bit unfair. I’m really busy.”
There is a lot of work to do.
I had to meet Sispanian and let him know that the sea dragon Arnaizel had obtained a piece of the axis of time, and I had to tell him that Arnaizel almost died for a moment because he used it as he wanted.
Of course, the latter is more important.
“I will make sure to tell Sispanian what that bright blue fish did.”
“Fish?”
“Yes. A very nasty fish.”
“Are you saying you’re busy telling Sispanian what the fish did?”
“No, Jan. There are many other things to do than that.”
You must teach Jan how to play the harmonica, spar with Demirea, teach Riri how to use both hands, and teach Plantz not only swordsmanship but also how to use magic power. Above all, I had to constantly watch Kyrie’s sword, which was changing day by day. It was the most important time.
We need to think about the new information organization that Aela is preparing, and we also need to check if there are any other problems with Euria’s school work and Melfir’s boss. From time to time, I had to receive reports on the situation at Whitlin Territory and meet Siona to talk a bit.
And the most important thing.
Even if I gather the most beautiful flowers growing in this land and give them to you, knit and hang the most difficult-to-find jewels in the world, and fill you with only the most precious things in the night sky, the summer sea, the midday wind, and the winter forest, it is a pity that I have nothing more to give. I had to think about what to gift to our Manhal Hina for her birthday. There are already a few months left.
What about Arsene?
I’ll take care of everything on my own.
“Even though you’re so busy, you’re enjoying all three meals and even tea time, so no one believes that you’re busy, Prince. You’re even taking care of bathing for over an hour every day.”
“They say it’s good to eat well and rest well.”
“It’s good. Of course it’s good. I just mean it looks that way.”
Yan, who elegantly drank tea brewed from roasted oats and put it down, spoke as if to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
“I saw earlier that Reric went to Wilhelm’s pavilion with bread, ham, and salad again today. He seemed to be very busy there, but the prince didn’t seem to be that busy, so he said he was jealous.”
“It’s not that I’m free, it’s that you’re busier. Anyway, it’s good to be self-employed. So who would go to have fun across the border like that?”
Wilhelm Kwan’s work has been delayed a lot.
I was pushed back to the point where it was very serious.
It wouldn’t have been a journey you didn’t know about, so it was inevitable that you wouldn’t be able to eat properly for a few days. Although this was done to help Calian, that doesn’t mean Calian can help Wilhelm’s work. Anyway, in order to become an adult, isn’t it necessary to know how to take responsibility for one’s actions?
What about Arsene, who was taken against his will?
I’ll take care of everything on my own.
“Now that I think about it, quite a few days have already passed.”
When you take a bite of the thinly baked tuile made with almond flour and shredded coconut, it makes a crunching sound. It tastes similar but goes well with different oat teas. Kalian, who had enjoyed a leisurely tea time with a relaxed face, looked at Yan.
“Has Duke Siegfried and his wife returned yet?”
“Yes. I received a call that it will arrive within a few days. If you have anything to say to my father, I will check the exact date.”
“No. I have something to say to Baron Siegfried, not Prince Siegfried.”
“Mother?”
“huh.”
Serie Siegfried.
She is the daughter of the Margrave of Kinz, the wife of Slayman, and the mother of Jan and Dmirea. The person who oversees the knights of the various cities that make up the Siegfried duchy. And above all, a person who is good at making candy and cookies, travels often, and likes hot springs.
When Kalian mentioned Serie, Jan, who looked surprised for a moment, asked.
“Would you like to see me at the palace or go to the duke’s residence?”
It doesn’t matter why I’m looking for Serie, whom I haven’t seen since I visited Siegfried for Rosellita, and what I plan to talk about when I meet her. The job of Serie’s son and Calian’s confidant, as well as the prince’s servant, is to organize the schedule. Because it was nothing more or less than that.
“I think it would be better to go to the duke’s residence. Please tell Reric and make an itinerary together.”
“Is His Majesty the Crown Prince also accompanying you?”
“Yes. I wanted to meet you for business, not for me.”
“Yes, I understand. I will organize the schedule and let you know as soon as possible.”
Calian laughed when he heard this. As Jan’s eyes turned round thanks to this, Calian spoke with a slight smile on his face.
“Jan. It’s your mother’s business. You can’t even hide your curiosity, so why don’t you ask? It’s okay to be curious about such things.”
Kirie, Planz, and even Jan.
Why does everyone live their lives hiding their curiosity?
“Then I was worried that I might cross the line again.”
But Jan gave this answer.
Say it again.
Calian’s laughter died down little by little.
Flash.
Flash.
Calian, who had been blinking several times without saying a word and looking at Yan, lowered his eyes.
“… I. To you.”
Flash.
– Asking and wondering. I don’t even know how to move on. I try to interfere with every single thing that happens every day. I don’t like it when you do that. uncomfortable. Annoying. It’s really annoying.
…… Flash.
– After becoming a high-ranking attendant, are you now planning on playing as my guardian? Why you? How far are you going to cross the line?
okay. That’s what I said.
I guess I did it.
“No, Prince. I said something pointless. I said something pointless without realizing it.”
“No, Jan. That’s what I said…”
I remembered now that I had said that to Jan.
I do not remember.
Why did you do that? What did you do that for? I couldn’t remember anything, like I had turned into a pure white page. As if it was erased on purpose. Like wiping away a stain on marble with a wet towel.
“I didn’t mean it. It wasn’t like that. I tried to say sorry, but I couldn’t. I knew I made a mistake in my words. I never said I was sorry, so I couldn’t do it. I covered it up like that and then forgot. I shouldn’t have forgotten. “I should have said that wasn’t the case.”
But I can clearly see that.
I didn’t know why Old Calian said those words to Jan, but I knew he didn’t mean it.
I didn’t know why.
All I know is that I deeply regret those harsh words.
“I’m sorry Jan. I hurt you.”
On behalf of the old Calian, I opened my mouth, revealing fragments of memories that I had just remembered. Instead, I expressed the apology I wanted to convey but was unable to convey. I have now offered an apology for something that should have been buried.
“…… yes.”
Instead of saying it was okay or that there was no need to say anything like that, Jan quietly nodded and accepted an apology that was a bit late.
“Then tell me. I’m curious why you want to meet your mother and not your father.”
“okay.”
Yan also knows that Kalyan is not bothered by Yan’s meddling and is happy to worry about him, and even though he knows that he is much stronger than me, he relies on Kalyan to do whatever he can to protect him. It is true that it was a wound, but after seeing Kalian like that, it slowly healed on my own.
Instead of keeping the already late events in mind, Jan brushed it off as a well-received apology and took another sip of tea. Calian looked at Yan’s complexion and nodded as if relieved.
Soon Calian created an Auror in the shape of two small swords. It was Sinasta, a sword that Yan was now familiar with. Calian’s voice continues as he holds them one by one with his fingertips.
“My brother’s sword is divided into two like this. It can be used as a heavy sword like Demirea uses, and it can be split to be used as a two-handed sword.”
“Yes. I remember.”
“But if you hold it like this.”
Soon Calian held the handles of the two swords against each other. Then, a long weapon with a handle in the middle and blades on both sides was held at the tip of my hand.
Calian, who noticed the combination of swords, had already told me once. So, Plantz, who fought with Hina in front of him, had already used this method.
“It’s a window.”
“It’s very different from a real spear. It’s closer to a spear than a sword. But I’m not that knowledgeable about weapons other than swords. Especially a weapon this long.”
“Oh, so you want to meet your mother?”
“That’s right. Evan hasn’t really shown me how to use a sword like this. I think it would be helpful if I learned it. This sword is too precious to leave as it is.”
Planz is smart.
Anyone in the world might laugh at someone learning and using a weapon with their head, but it is possible with Planz. It would of course be impossible to immediately awaken Aurors and become a master of swordsmanship with that brilliant mind, but there was no one better than him at learning and combining new things.
“Ah, then… You will learn how to improve Briesen’s swordsmanship from a member of the Siegfried family.”
“That’s right. That’s why I’m cautious, but I still want to meet and talk sometime.”
“All right.”
Still, Jan readily answered that he understood.
“It’s up to your mother to decide whether to help or not. That’s not something that either I, Demirea, or your father can care about, so please talk to me directly.”
“Ok, thanks.”
Saying thank you has become a habit.
“Yes. I will let you know when the date is set.”
“Okay, I get it.”
Jan smiled and nodded.
“yes.”
I thought it would be much better to hear thank you than sorry.
* * *
Recently, I have not forgotten to take care of it regularly.
Doing the many things that need to be done one by one. Eating lots of meat-filled meals. And one more thing.
Continuing the chain of thoughts while immersed in a bathtub made of pitch-black onyx.
– Knock knock knock.
As a habit, I knocked on the edge of the bathtub. Then I looked out the thick window that filled one side of the bathroom.
A window made of special glass that makes the inside invisible from the outside. Beyond that, the night sky was visible. The moon, as thin as petals, and countless stars come into view at a glance. Normally, I would have been busy looking at the wonderful sky while continuing to think about other things, but today was a little different.
“Why can’t I think of it?”
It was because of a conversation I had with Jan during the day.
Those were incredibly harsh words for the old Calian that Calian remembers to have said such a thing. I can’t remember when or why I did it. It was so strange that I kept trying to remember it.
“I don’t think it was Serenti’s doing…”
If Serenti erased her memories on purpose, didn’t she say that she wouldn’t even be aware that her memories were gone? However, I know that the memory was erased, so it wasn’t Serenti’s actions.
– Talk.
I’ve never had an experience where it felt like my memory had been ‘erased’.
Not Serenti.
It’s not Serenti.
– Knock knock.
Then just one person.
“Calian.”
A call that will never be answered lingers on Kalian’s lips.
“What… why did you hide it?”
That small voice eventually flowed along with the water droplets on my fingertips and disappeared. It crumbled and disappeared like scattered starlight.
* * *
The unusual drizzle fell and stopped.
The palace was drenched in the early morning by the rain that came and went so quietly that no one could tell when it came.
– Shhh!
The sharply extended sword passed right in front of Calian’s uvula. There were several magic lanterns brightly illuminating the training room instead of the sky that was not yet bright, but no light was reflected from the blade of the sword that had just passed by.
Calian avoided the sharp attack by slightly moving his head back without taking a single step, and immediately twisted his shoulders. A bright light flashed and reflected for a moment on the second sword that was constantly searching.
The red sword was suddenly divided into two.
The two swords were brought down without delay.
– Kagang!
Instead of returning his sword, Plantz quickly turned his body to block Calian’s attack and frowned.
-Tap!
And then he took a step back, making a loud sound as if he was listening. A low voice followed.
“Again. Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you thinking so much again?”
A smile appeared on Calian’s lips.
One sword attack that went awry for a moment during sparring.
The sound of footsteps that stopped for a split second.
Jan is the one who recognizes Calian’s true intentions, but Plantz, who has memorized Calian’s actions, can no longer be fooled.
“Are you curious about why I have so many thoughts?”
“Or what else?”
“Uh… Brother. You don’t seem to know, but I actually have my own personal life.”
“where.”
Calian, who was at a loss for words due to his overly confident response, shook his head.
“… No. It must have been there somewhere at some point. It must have been there. I don’t think it’s there now. It doesn’t exist. Private life.”
Calian, who spoke as if he was dissatisfied, collected the Aurors. I thought it would be difficult to spar anymore.
Then it clicked.
The shiny sword and the non-shiny sword were merged into one. Plantz, who had sheathed the thick sword Sinastar, looked at Calian.
“explanation.”
Now.
Let me explain those two letters.
I’m not really curious about whether you have a private life or not, and I’m curious as to what you were thinking about until you entered Dalian and got tied up there and almost got your head cut off, so please explain that.
Of course, this is Kalyan’s interpretation.
In the end, Calian, who let out a long, deep sigh like the coffee that Alan likes to drink, began to speak with his face clearly showing that he was reluctant to talk.
“I have memories that have been erased.”
“You mean Serenti?”
“No. It’s a bit different from Serenti erasing it.”
“then.”
“Before, the memories I was curious about would usually come to mind, at least vaguely. But this time, I can’t remember them at all. Unlike memories that are simply blurred or naturally forgotten, I feel like they are blocked by a wall or erased. So… …. It’s as if the memories of my past self were passed on to the present me, minus just one part, as if I didn’t leave them behind on purpose.”
“What is that like?”
“I realized yesterday that my old self said something to Jan that I shouldn’t have said. It’s a memory associated with that.”
“what.”
Ah really.
It is also persistent.
“…… Just. I said something harsh. I said something harsh. I don’t remember why I said it. I don’t know what made me say something I didn’t even mean to say. I remember exactly what I said, but the reason was. “I can’t think of anything.”
“I heard you said this to your brother’s famous servant. Then you should know.”
“Yes. So I asked Jan.”
Calian stretched out his words, and after a while, he opened his mouth again. And after closing the road for a while, he let out a low voice.
“If you hear more, you’ll regret it.”
“Speak informally.”
“Stop listening. You’ll regret it.”
Plantz was not curious enough to bite the words that were delivered to him like this. That’s why Planz nodded towards Calian. It was full of meaning to talk without dragging it on any longer.
Calian sighed once again, nodded and continued speaking.
“I told Brother Randel that he was also curious as to whether the morning tea would still run. So he asked Jan why he was asking that question. Then… he told me not to interfere. I told Jan.”
After saying this, Calian looked at Planz’s complexion. Then, he kissed his lips several times again and his voice cracked.
“I think I may have thought something wrong. It is a thought without evidence and without basis.”
“…Stop sparring.”
I should have listened to you when I said I regretted it.
On the contrary, this time, Plantz urged us to end the conversation.
Then, after giving a firm squeeze to the hand holding Sinastar’s sword sheath, he took a step toward the outside of the training hall.
– Jabak.
Calian’s feet moved a little faster.
Calian blocked Plantz’s path to leave. And then I looked at Planz again.
“Brother. You said you needed an apology from Brother Randel. You said you would never tell me what the apology was for.”
“I told you to stop.”
“Maybe.”
A slightly tense neck, eyes that are lowered than usual, and hands that are just a little paler. saw it Kalian of Planz.
I saw Planz doing the same thing as people who have something to hide. And Calian was not one to miss such a thing.
“You need to apologize to Brother Randel.”
“no.”
Plantz’s eyes sank without even explaining what it was.
depths.
Recalling the memory of a time when I couldn’t control my curiosity and started digging around.
– I think it wasn’t just Kalian.
– What are you talking about all of a sudden?
– My older brother was the first to drink the same tea every morning.
He said that strawberries, which he didn’t really like, were delicious.
I said I would have morning tea, which I didn’t really like.
The same car every day, the same car every day.
– So I guess it wasn’t just Kalian. My mother is not the type of person to hide things like that.
– Say what you want to say properly.
-Poison tea. Didn’t you know that? Isn’t this what your brother received as well? But isn’t it just that you were able to heal yourself?
-Why are you curious about that? Your mother doesn’t want to use poison anymore anyway…
– …… You knew that, right?
– okay. I didn’t know you would do the same thing to your youngest child.
– Why… did you hide it? If you knew where the same car was going, why didn’t you tell me?
– You didn’t answer that you didn’t know. Do you take after your mother, even down to keeping your ears closed and your mouth open?
– Same car. I should have thought that there was someone who drank the same tea. I should have told you. I should have told your Majesty.
White roses.
The white rose tree has already been poisoned.
I should have made that known.
They should have reported the poison that had seeped into the rose trees so that the poison did not seep into the vines.
– If you talked about it. Has anything changed? Do you think His Highness would have come forward? Do you really think your mother would have backed away?
In the end, I didn’t know.
So that the poison seeps into the vines. I didn’t know.
I didn’t know.
“The thing you said you would apologize for. Is it related to me?”
“Not relevant.”
Was it really the rose tree’s fault that I was poisoned?
Is it true that I didn’t reveal that I was poisoned?
– Hasn’t everything been resolved already? So don’t make a fuss. Nothing will change anyway.
Plantz did not answer.
Calian smiled bitterly.
“……lie.”
Because I don’t know the answer.
