Chapter 68. Sleep (7)
Hands full of calluses and scars.
He slowly moved his hand, which was noticeably different from the one he had now, and raked his long, disheveled hair. After feeling the unfamiliar feeling of cold, fine hair wrapping around my fingers as a habit, I opened my mouth again.
“Holding candy in one hand and bread in the other. When I tried to eat the candy, I felt sorry for the bread, and when I tried to eat the bread, the candy caught my eye. In the end, I put both of them in my mouth and watched the little girl crunching on things that don’t belong together. “Have you ever thought about how it would feel?”
“… I don’t know. I’ve never seen anyone be that greedy, and I’ve never been that greedy before.”
“It’s strange. Why are you pretending not to know? I said so through your actions.”
Calian smiled brightly and stretched out his finger. He then pointed to Gray Briesen, who was being beaten and cursed just because he was here with him, and spoke.
“I don’t like that I inherited those eyes, and I can’t throw away the empty shell of the Marquis’s son. What would you call the sight of Baron Babble, who came to push the Marquis away, trusting only his family and daring to go wild in front of the crown prince of this country, if not greed? Ugliness? Deception. ? Or… stupidity that can’t be covered up with fancy words?”
I almost lost my life.
I don’t know if Rashid was so good at picking out the things he disliked the most, but I almost couldn’t stand it again.
Kalyan gently closed his eyes as if he could no longer bear to see Rashid, who barely managed to smile. With a very graceful movement, he massaged his closed eyes a few times and then opened them again.
He then looked back at Rashid, who had not yet fully absorbed what he had just heard, and spoke in a voice full of fatigue.
“It doesn’t matter what it is, so I would like you to step back appropriately. I’m tired. How much more can I watch you look so foolish, raising your arms in vain and raising your head without even knowing whether it’s a blind spot or not, without even knowing whether or not it’s a place where you’re just going to stir the air when you stretch out your hand. Should I take a look? I should.”
Being tired isn’t a lie.
To be exact, it’s hard enough to not die. There is not a single place that is sound. The power of blessing is working hard, but without Hina, there are limits.
Isn’t the red scar created by the overlap of poison and wound still vivid? If I don’t meet Hina soon, my beautiful body may become disfigured somewhere else.
So, whether it’s because my eyes are tired from having to keep looking at that guy, my body is tired, or my mind is dizzy. Even after considering all the reasons, I just want to go back.
“…Sky and sun.”
Rashid smiled and opened his mouth as if muttering quietly.
– check.
A word spoken when attacking an opponent’s king on a chessboard.
lately. When I aimed my sword at Plantz, I remember Calian’s words that he whispered while blocking Plantz’s path. Rather than thinking of a chessboard, it may have simply meant confirming something. Or was it a remark made to end Rashid’s life? If not that too.
Did he think that Rashid was attacking his king and come in between Plants to prevent checkmate and say that on Rashid’s behalf?
“The sky and the sun….”
It’s annoying. The words I’m saying now are annoying, and the words I said that day are also annoying. The red eyes of that day were annoying, and the light purple eyes of now are also annoying. Everything is so annoying.
“I was a little surprised. I didn’t expect you to say that about where I put my hands and eyes.”
“Is there anything to be surprised about?”
“The fact that you were watching that much makes me a little more interested. Why is he holding on to the hand he was holding so much instead of letting go? I’m a little more curious. Isn’t this really amazing?”
Threat.
It is a threat that he knew Kalyan’s weakness.
Calian, who saw that blatant gaze falling on Plantz again, smiled leisurely.
Wasn’t it a weakness that he had given up on hiding from the moment he blocked Plantz’s path on the rooftop? So it was something that could not have been discovered now.
“It’s not about supporting it, it’s about raising it. It’s growing a little strangely, but it’s still fun to raise it.”
Plantz frowned as if he was annoyed by the answer from his younger brother who couldn’t lie. Calian, who could not see Planz’s face because he was not looking at him, continued speaking.
“Anyway. I was surprised too. I didn’t know there would be a brain that could hear, understand, and be curious about what I said. I guess that’s why I saved it…” The light purple eyes move quietly
.
Past Rashid, side to side and side to side. He turned to another person with green eyes.
Gray’s brow furrowed.
The teacher mocks his green hair, and the disciple stumbles over his eyes of the same color. I feel sad about my sore back, but now that I’m talking about my bad behavior, I don’t even know what I should be angry about.
Either that or not.
“however.”
Calian, who had been staring at Gray for a while, took a step forward.
Tap, tap, tap.
Because my enlarged foot was stuck inside the shoe, the open wound was moving, so I walked in front of Rashid at a slow, not very comfortable pace.
I bowed my head slightly.
He looked down at Rashid and opened his mouth quietly.
“I wonder if others know. The cub they loved so much set a trap to catch a lion with a broken wing, but mistakenly thought he was wearing the skin of a lion he couldn’t catch… Then his eyes turned to a black cat that had run away after being caught instead of the lion. What there is.”
A spark flew into Gray’s eyes.
A muffled sigh came from Alan.
Kalian, who took a step closer to between them and Rashid, lowered his head a little more, as if to block Gray and Allen’s anger towards Rashid. I moved closer, as if I was going to place my forehead against Rashid’s.
The murderous intent directed at just one person pours down and falls as freely as the flowing cold hair.
“Does the snake bastard in front of me know?”
Silent unfolded.
This time, Kalian opened his mouth in a small silence so that no one could hear except Rashid and himself, who were standing here so that not even Kiri could hear.
“It turns out that I’m not the only one who caught and missed the prey…”
The smell of blood is just as foul as the countless blood stains on Rashid’s body. A sense of death, thicker than the smell of blood, strikes directly into Rashid’s head.
Rashid blocks Kalyan’s sword aimed at Rashid.
Kalyan blocks Rashid’s sword aimed at Planz.
The fight ended without anyone raising their swords against each other. Rashid raised his head at those words filled with regret.
“Since you say it’s game, may I ask you one question?”
“What is.”
“Do you know what most people ask first when they point a knife at someone?”
Did I give you permission to speak for no reason?
Instead of answering, Kalyan looked at Rashid blankly.
“Why. Ask for a reason. Ask why they are trying to kill you. I don’t know if you know this, but that’s mostly the case.”
There’s no way you wouldn’t know.
A long arc is drawn around Kalian’s mouth. Rashid, who didn’t know the meaning of that wise smile, continued talking.
“I’ve only seen two people who didn’t ask that question. Someone who couldn’t see, hear, or speak. And the other one. Prince Kalyan… you. You did it.”
“Oh my. Was I that special?”
“You could say it’s special. I couldn’t sleep because I was curious about that. Do you already know why I’m like this? Do you have no regrets about living? If not that.”
Rashid’s face twisted.
He made a face that was difficult to determine whether it was sarcasm, pity, or sorrow, and spoke in a calm voice.
“Do you think there are too many reasons to die?”
Calian lowered his head a little more.
I burst out laughing.
I laughed for a while, covering my body and face with the black robe that Kirie had draped and my flowing bluish-silver hair, as if not thinking about how I would appear to those watching outside the silent curtain.
“Ah… were you curious about that?”
Calian, who had barely stopped laughing, raised his head.
“That’s not it. I’m saving it.”
“What do you mean by saving?”
And he gave the answer to Rashid, who was still looking at him with curiosity.
“I should only ask that question to the person who will kill me. Not someone like you.”
Rashid’s lips rose nicely.
Then, at some point, he wiped away that smile and let out the same murderous spirit that was directed at him.
“Don’t save it, ask. Then you will never be able to ask.”
Calian nodded.
The silent curtain was closed. And answered.
“I will live well on my own. I will decide whether I like being in my father’s arms or not. Then I will worry about myself. Then I will never be able to escape.”
When Rashid opened his mouth again to reply to this, a knight who rushed into the living room spoke urgently.
“Marquis. Elazar has surrounded the outside of the mansion.”
Before Calian was discovered, Gray, who had hoped for Elazar’s knights more earnestly than anyone else, looked at Calian and Plantz without realizing it.
Planz looked at this with a relaxed expression.
What should I do when I hear that Your Majesty’s knights have arrived?
Should I hold him like this for the crime of imprisoning my younger brother? Should I not?
He looked at Gray with that exact look on his face and quietly opened his mouth.
“I came here believing the words of the marquis who said he was protecting my brother from ruthless people. I guess I made a mistake. I can’t see my brother.”
Gray, who looked at Planz for a moment, hurriedly answered.
“Ah… It looks like our paths have diverged, my lord. Prince Calian told me to order separate knights to bring him safely to the palace.”
“I see. Then I guess I’ve caused a nuisance.”
“No. Is that possible? Isn’t it just that he moved out of concern for Prince Calian’s safety?”
“I’m glad you understand. Then we’ll leave.”
“Your Majesty. Bye, Marquis Manasil… please go.”
Gray, whose face said please go away, looked at Alan and opened his mouth.
Alan nodded and stood up. Then he looked deeply at Rashid and spoke to Gray.
“Now you know what it must have felt like for Evan to die.”
These words do not contain any meaning of feeling sorry for Evan or pitiful for Gray. Gray heard that and pursed his lips.
Alan, who walked quietly in front of Rashid, spoke his last words.
“If you think you don’t need each other, let anyone know. I don’t know which one will step forward first, but I will help you in good faith.”
Then, I carried Kalian, who was unable to move in space due to his wounds, on my back. Even though Calian had grown up in an instant, he was still shorter than me. That’s fortunate.
“Please do not take off your bracelet. I am concerned that the wound may move again.”
“…… yes.”
Since Allen’s expression was quite stern, Calian, who was unable to refuse this time, answered calmly.
Soon Kyrie walked over and put on the hood of his black robe. Calian, who was in the perfectly comfortable darkness, laid his head on Alan’s back. As a result, the long hair touching his fingertips felt unfamiliar and pathetic, so Alan clicked his tongue and quietly walked away.
That’s how it went.
To the royal palace.
Leaving behind Brisen’s father and son, who were sure to have an awkward conversation.
* * *
A light was quietly turned on in one of the treatment rooms in the Wilhelm Pavilion.
No one except Hina was allowed in until the person inside was able to return to their original form. Not only Arsene, but also Lemain and Yann were not allowed to enter the room until Kalian was completely healed.
Hina, who came in a hurry, did not scold her.
He didn’t say he was glad he came back safely, nor did he say he was worried.
– You look like His Highness King Secretia.
After looking at Calian, who had an unfamiliar face for a moment, he quietly held his hand, looked at his body, and said only a few words.
– Do we look a lot alike?
– yes. But it’s not the same.
– I’m better, right?
– no. His Majesty King Secretia is more handsome. I like the prince’s original appearance better.
Calian laughed slightly.
– Don’t you ask me who I imitated to change like this? Hina?
– No matter who he imitates, the mess in the prince doesn’t change. So stop talking. It will take a long time to fix it.
Hina’s light spreads throughout her scar-filled body.
– Even if you use that magic tool, your organs will not change. The wound moved as it stretched to accommodate the body. So, just stay until tomorrow.
– huh. okay.
– If your hair is bothersome, can you tie it up?
– …… no.
Calian shook his head.
– It’s okay, Hina. I’ll just leave it alone.
Hina nodded and gave treatment without any other questions. However, since he came back much better on his own, he returned with the good news that there was no need to starve this time.
Calian, sitting in the pure white room, quietly lowered his head. I raised my hand.
Hands full of calluses and scars.
The hands are so perfectly identical because they remember everything: when, where, to whom, and what they did. I looked at the hand in silence for a long time, which I was finally able to see in detail.
I sat quietly, looking at it for a long time.
– Tak.
Something was placed on my open palm.
A large pink box appeared in his hand.
Only I fly.
The tips of beige shoes with silver buckles are visible.
Calian, who had almost raised his head following the tip of the shoe without realizing it, fixed his eyes on what was in his hand and said.
“Are you here to give people snacks?”
“The pink-haired wizard who eats things with salt left it behind.”
“Are you giving me what you brought for your brother to eat?”
“My brother can’t ask me to bring him something to eat at this hour.”
A pink box that resembles Needlen’s hair color.
Calian, who had been looking at it for a while, moved his large hand and opened the lid. And I looked down at what was inside for a long time.
I almost raised my head again.
“Are you sure you brought it after seeing what it was?”
“… Because it’s called a cake.”
This time I really almost raised my head.
that.
Pieces of deliciously fragrant cakes that are small enough to fit in one bite.
They are decorated so beautifully that it is almost a shame to eat them.
“Do I really have to eat this?”
Grapefruit cake.
I was so curious to see what Planz’s face would look like when he found it that I almost raised my head.
Instead of answering the question, a white hand reached down and picked up a cake from the box. I took it and ate it, which was full of sour, astringent and sweet scent.
“Are you eating it because it was given to you by Lord Jaya? I told you to eat the green pepper, but you didn’t eat it. You’re being so discriminatory.”
“Not really. The pink haired wizard’s younger brother.”
“Ah. You said you have a younger brother. You run a cafe. You eat a grapefruit cake given to you by a complete stranger, but you don’t eat green peppers. You’re so discriminatory.”
“You. If you’re going to bark.”
After saying this, Plantz put the lid back on the box and tried to take it away.
“No, I’m eating.”
Anyway, he was still hungry, so Calian quickly shook his head and picked up a cake. I moved the hand that had been looking down until now and picked up the cake. And ate.
Isn’t that what Randel gave it to?
I guess it’s because I eat it after I return.
“This is delicious.”
it’s good.
It was delicious.
The guy who waited four days without thinking about eating and the guy who fell asleep for four days without thinking about eating ate the sour, bitter, sweet cake for a long time. No matter how scared I was, my sister is my sister, so I enjoyed the cake I made with the intention of not putting my sister through too much trouble.
Calian, who had been filling his stomach without even raising his head, quietly opened his mouth.
“I found out a way to contact Zeon through the head of the Secretia Wizards Association. I would like to call him out without delaying any further. I think I will have to do that to find out how Rashid Brissen and Zeon are intertwined. And Ser. Speaking of Jane…”
“In the safe.”
Plantz’s voice interrupted Calian’s words.
“I thought I put it there. A revised version.”
“…… yes.”
“I didn’t know I put it there.”
“Should I take it out? When should I take it out? I was already thinking about that. It won’t work today, so I’ll have to take it out tomorrow when I take off the bracelet.”
Calian let out a short sigh.
Plantz, who was quietly looking down at the back of his head, quietly opened his mouth.
“You can’t even bring that up. You have to bring that up. I wish you wouldn’t have to do that.”
Calian raised his head after hearing something unexpected.
“Don’t overdo it. You too.”
Plantz, who was not surprised and looked down at those lavender eyes, turned away without another word.
Jump and jump.
The sound of footsteps continuing without hesitation disappears.
An empty cake box, an empty room, an unfamiliar hand. Calian, who was quietly looking at it, let out a small laugh.
“…… yes.”
A late answer flowed out for a moment as no one could hear it.
Before long, the light on the fourth floor of Chermil Palace, where the owner returned, turned on for a moment and then turned off again. The Wilhelm Pavilion, which had been bright alone, was also plunged into darkness. Planz lay down comfortably in the place where he returned to Planz Boulevard and Kalian to Kalian Boulevard after a long time.
For the first time in such a long time, both of them fell into a deep sleep.
