Chapter 74. The other end (2)
A little while before a cat found its way into Marquis Gray Briesen’s bedroom.
A paste made of basil and mushrooms was spread on lean beef, then wrapped in pastry dough and baked, before being placed in front of the food. When I cut it open, juicy juice flowed out from the layers of pastry that made me feel full just by looking at it.
Kalyan put on a happy face as he cut the meat, paste, and pastry into one bite. This is because the fragrant and light taste was extremely satisfying.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I ate it. It’s delicious.”
After a while, Kalian, who had finished eating the food in front of him, spoke with a smile on his face. Grilled bacon with tomatoes was placed on a clean plate handed to me by an attendant nearby.
Dmirea, who had quenched her thirst with dark wine, looked at Calian and answered.
“Yes. It tastes very good.”
“I guess you said you would just leave because you liked it so much?”
Calian laughed brightly at Plantz’s words that followed.
“Aren’t you a person who is always in a hurry?”
When I asked him to close Briseen together, his younger brother answered that he would get rid of Briseen, and Plantz caught him as he stood up on the spot and tried to run out.
Then I reminded him that I had dinner plans with Dmirea and that I had just told you to close Brisen ‘together’. He also kindly explained that when he said we should close together, he didn’t mean that if you destroy everything on your own, I’ll applaud you from behind.
After that, they had just come to Rubia Pavilion while talking about how to close Brisen together. I wanted to send my younger brother, who said it would be unfair for him to go out of the palace without eating, to eat some food.
“Are you trying to forget your promise again?”
“No, Demirea. I was going to quickly come back and eat. I don’t think I’ll forget the promise I made to my fiancé.”
“You’ve forgotten a lot.”
“No. It’s not that I forgot, it’s that I couldn’t keep it.”
“Is it different?”
“It’s different. It’s a lot different.”
Demirea shook her head and opened her mouth to say something.
– Clap!
– Sigh!
But at that time, a loud sound that was difficult to hear at a dinner table was heard from next to Demirea. I was startled and turned my head to see that the juice glass hanging on Lyrie’s ample sleeves had fallen over as she stretched out her arms.
To be exact, the cup should have stopped in midair on the table. Because the gentle wind that filled the space between the cup and the table was holding the cup up.
“Ah…”
Lirie, with a surprised face, couldn’t find anything to say and looked embarrassed.
Calian smiled slightly, although he was unable to stop the drink in the glass from spilling, but was able to hold it so it wouldn’t break. And I quickly wiped off the juice stains that had gotten on Lirie’s yellow dress.
“are you okay.”
“…Your Majesty.”
After that, it was Plantz’s job to sense what Lyrie was going to say and tell her that she didn’t have to apologize, and it was Demirea who made sure she didn’t get too nervous about the difficult meal.
Once while looking at Plants, once when looking at Dmirea, and again when looking at Calian. Riri quickly looked around and said hello.
That was the end of the small dinner. Yogurt with fig jam and light black tea were placed on the cleanly cleared table.
After the servants who brought the dessert left the restaurant, Lirie cautiously opened her mouth.
“Um…”
Riri, who hesitated for a while, looked at Demirea. Planz, who was watching this, put down the tea he had taken a sip of and said.
“I’m thinking of going to see Lucy. Riri.”
“I want to go with you too.”
Nod.
Lirie quickly got up at the expression of permission and went to Plantz’s side. And after showing respect to Calian, he followed Plantz and went out.
– Sweet.
I heard the door closing.
Kalian, who was stirring the fig jam on top of the yogurt without even touching the tea, made a loud noise.
“Am I really uncomfortable? I did all kinds of tricks, held a juice glass for me and cleaned my clothes.”
“It seems to me that the prince is uncomfortable.”
“Ah… I guess so. I guess Riri felt that and left the place.”
I feel reluctant.
It’s not that I don’t like it, but it feels like something heavy is pressing on my heart. Calian couldn’t help but think of the child he thought of when he first saw Lyrie. I know that the child is not dead now and is living well somewhere in Secretia, but nevertheless, it is something that cannot be helped.
“… After some time, it will be okay.”
Demirea, who did not ask why she was reluctant to take care of the young child, nodded. And he spoke in a quiet voice.
“Liri has something to ask you. She probably feels embarrassed in the presence of me and the prince.”
“I’m not uncomfortable?”
“Yes. It’s not that I feel uncomfortable with the prince.”
Calian asked with a happy expression on his face.
“Are you trying to consult your brother about your concerns?”
“It might be similar.”
“It won’t help much.”
“The prince talks to you often, but you say it’s not helpful.”
“Ah… It’s not counseling, it’s just that. No matter what I say, you just listen quietly and carefully.”
“Wouldn’t that be helpful too? For Riri.”
Calian smiled slightly and nodded.
“That’s right.”
“Why don’t you drink tea?”
“Not so much now. I’ll drink it later.”
Demirea quietly put down her teacup and looked at Calian.
Then he looked at Calian’s hands and face and asked.
“You came back after getting hit. Are you fighting again?”
“Huh? I wasn’t hit, Demirea.”
“I’m telling you this because I feel like instead of welcoming you, you made me cry.”
“Wow… how did you know?”
“It’s noticeable.”
“Where?”
“Everywhere you look.”
He had noticed Calian’s calm face after a long time on the day he cried, and he seemed to have noticed this time as well. To know that I cried when I saw a pea with a carefree face that hadn’t changed in any way.
“As expected, my fiancé. There is no place that is not great.”
“Has something bad happened at Senyu House?”
“Rashid Briesen came.”
“Yes. I heard that.”
“I haven’t heard anything about it yet. I guess Rashid Brissen had some trouble with Silike. So I confronted my brother about it… and it blew up.”
“Is that why you even took out a knife?”
Calian looked at the bandage on his hand and laughed.
“When my patience runs out, I’m just like someone who doesn’t look back and forth. I stopped him. Then, after talking with my brother, that’s what happened.”
Demirea nodded quietly.
“Yes. Well done.”
“Are you praising me?”
“Do you like it?”
“Good. I haven’t had much to hear compliments lately.”
“…How old are you to get so excited about a compliment?”
“Twenty-six.”
Demirea chuckled at the words that came back with a smile.
“Thanks to the prince, my brother is alive and well, and my parents and I have also recovered. Brissen is no longer acting out or acting like a human being. Your Majesty has set out on a trip, and Balkan has firmly established itself. “I’m holding on to it. Marquis Manasil also has a completely different face than when I saw him when I was young. Above all, Riri began to worry about my future, and you became someone who could listen to that.”
And he said this.
“You use a sword well and you use magic well. I don’t know if you feel happy when you’re around, but you don’t get upset. You talk well and have a good temper. The prince is also a person who deserves a lot of praise.”
I gave a baptism of praise.
Of course, saying he had a good temper was a bit vague, but it was a clear compliment to Calian.
“It’s strange. My fiancé isn’t this kind of person.”
“I don’t know what happened with a child of Riri’s age, but the prince deserves a lot of praise, so don’t get too caught up in what happened in the past.”
Ah.
Only then did Calian understand Dmirea’s words and let out a small sound.
“On days when it is difficult to walk around the palace wearing clothes like that, you can come to the duke’s residence. If you need someone other than my brother, who listens well to your story, I will listen to you. I will pay you for finding Lili.”
Demirea, who recognized Jan’s clothes, said this.
Calian smiled softly.
“Dmirea. My fiancé. You are always so dependable.”
“Is that so.”
“Thank you.”
Demirea gave a small smile.
What I meant was to stop saying things that are obvious.
* * *
Soars.
But it falls off again. It rises a few more times, but eventually falls back to where it came from without being able to reach any higher point.
– Shoot…!
After the ceremony of feeding fish to the Seneu River, water flowed to Kairis’ royal palace. All waterways, except for artificial ponds and artificial lakes, are opened during the winter. In artificial streams and fountains.
How long has it been since I saw a fountain that stopped all winter and then started to gush again? Randel, who had never stopped outside Chermil Palace, thought about this for a moment. I never paid attention to things like whether the fountain was flowing again or whether winter had passed and spring had come.
“Water… This is something I always realize, Prince. Kairis is truly a great place to live.”
Rashid smiled as he watched the water from the fountain soar into the sky and eventually flow down again. And then he said this to Randel, who was standing next to him.
There is no way that Rashid would be allowed to enter the Chermil Palace, be it Lemain or Planz. Nonetheless, Rashid visited the palace. And Randel was called out of Chermil Palace.
To avoid the eyes of others, we did not meet at Senyu Pavilion. A fountain garden close to Chermil Palace where many people come and go. I waited for Randel there. And Randel came to Rashid without any further rejection.
Those who know Randel will probably be quite surprised to see this situation. There would have been no way to see Randel, neither Calian nor Planz, meeting an outsider in public like this.
“Last year, Tensil was overflowing with water, which was a problem, but this year it seems to be the opposite. There was no rain or snow, so the wheat grains dried up, the bottom of the lake was exposed… Even the fountains in the palace have stopped working. “It’s hard to gauge how serious it is.”
The wheat dries up and the bottom of the lake is exposed.
Rather, it seemed as if the bigger problem was that the palace’s fountain was not spouting water.
Maybe it’s sarcasm, maybe it’s concern, maybe it has some other meaning. Despite Rashid’s words, which were difficult to understand, Randel just stood silently without any expression. My eyes were fixed on the ripples that constantly appeared and disappeared on the water surface of the fountain.
“So, the more I think about how good this land is, the more I can’t help but admire the first king’s insight.”
Rashid, who seemed not to care much about Randel’s reaction, continued. Like a theater actor who recites his share of lines without being disappointed even when faced with a single, unappreciative audience.
“There is no sea, but salt comes out of the rocks, rivers that never dry flow, and thanks to the mother tree’s gratitude, the granaries are never empty… When the grapes are ripe, even the pigs are fattened. Is there a country like this on this continent? Will there be more?”
“He said he wanted to talk for a while, but he didn’t say anything. I’ll just go back now.”
Randel gave a short answer to the long conversation.
Rashid smiled awkwardly and opened his mouth.
“I’ve told you all this time, but if you say you don’t say anything, I don’t know what answer I should give you.”
Randel didn’t answer . . He didn’t even listen to Rashid’s empty words. He just had the attitude that he was out for a walk alone. It was as if he was just trying to chase away the boredom that had come on a leisurely afternoon with the sound of water from the fountain. “Aren’t you curious
? Prince Randel.”
The voice, not at all intimidated by the loud sound of water from the fountain, which was like a monologue of an actor talking to himself, continued to turn to Randel.
“A country where those who grew up eating their fill live in a land where there is no lack. A country where there is no need to even count how long it has forgotten about earthquakes and droughts. This country is rooted in something other than Serenti, but seems to have been blessed with the miracle of Serenti. How will the story of the blessed people who lead such a country continue… and how will it end?” ”
It’s a meaningless task.”
As if he still wasn’t interested. As if
he didn’t like the sound of a voice that was a little louder than the sound of the fountain. Landel, who answered, turned around. This was because he thought there was no reason to continue a useless conversation other than the sound of water.
–
There was the sound of stepping on the floor made of polished marble.
Even though all of his long words had come to nothing, Rashid continued. He laughed. He didn’t even look like he was holding back his anger or suppressing his anger. He just smiled with a face that said he really liked the stage alone. – Jump and drop. Randel’s feet kept moving. He took a step away from the fountain and walked
towards
Rashid
. I passed by. I took a step away from Rashid. Rashid, who was watching the action, silently opened his mouth.
“Stop, prince.”
An order.
A clear command that was just a polite word.
– …… Tak.
Randel took a step. stopped.
Rashid, with a smile on his face that Randel couldn’t see, took a step forward. He then stood in front of Randel. “Aren’t you
really curious?”
“I know you answered.”
“I will give you what the prince wants. ”
You speak as if you know me better than I do.”
“Is there anything I don’t know about the prince?”
Rashid answered leisurely and looked down at Randel.
Randel’s blue eyes met Rashid’s green eyes. I looked at him.
Just as the deep sea swallows up a vast forest. As if I were trying to find out what might be hidden deep in the ground, covered with trees and not visible. “What is
Prince Randel thinking and what is he trying to achieve? I know.”
Randel raised his head.
He stared deeply at Rashid once again. But nothing changed.
“Ascend to Tensil’s throne.”
The command remained the same.
Randel’s eyes escaped Rashid’s insides. With him. Rashid continued,
“Aren’t you really curious about the end of this kingdom?”
“You’re talking as if Khairis will walk on horseback when I take that position.” ”
What in the world can you guarantee? That’s how it looks to me.”
“As if you know everything, as if everything is made in your hands, whoever and whatever you want. It looks like things are going that way.”
“Ah… oh my. I thought I knew the prince well, but I guess I didn’t. On the contrary, I should say that it is an honor that the prince knows me so well.”
“Consider it as you wish. “It’s not my job to get involved.”
“Yes. I will take it as I wish. So, prince.”
“Just. If I had to mention one thing, it would be good if you learned more words from your mother and then come back.” ”
Learn how to speak. What does that mean?”
Randel looked straight at Rashid. Then he raised his finger and pointed to the fountain.
“That water is no different from you. Struggling to soar, you end up plummeting to the floor. No matter how special you think of yourself, you are just a drop of water that accidentally splashes a little higher, but you forget the obvious and act as if you will reach the sky. You are no different from a child who has not even learned to speak.” Rashid looked a little surprised
.
And He looked at Randel with a long smile.
“…Prince. Have you forgotten how dry and soft the foothold you are stepping on is?”
“How dry and harsh this royal palace in your memories is. You seem to have forgotten.”
The sound of small feet echoed again.
Randel completely turned his body and stood facing Rashid. With the hand that had been pointing to the fountain just a moment ago, he turned to Rashid and pointed to the floor.
“You need to learn how to talk from your mother again . If you don’t like it, repeat the same thing over and over again until you say the right thing… I’ll try that too. If you do that, will you realize your place?”
The voice continued without any emotion.
“It won’t be difficult for me. I guess it’s different for you.”
The green eyes that followed the deep blue eyes narrowed.
He smiled like a habit.
“Oh my. Did my mother tell that story to the prince?”
“Rashid Arieli.”
“… Yes. “Prince.”
“Yes. I used to use that last name.”
“It’s because my mother cherishes that last name so much.”
“If you cherish it so much, why don’t you try wearing that humble crown yourself?” ”
Wouldn’t it be fun then? What I need is not the crown of a small country where even the fountains have to be blocked just because it doesn’t rain or snow. That’s not it. A marionette who will wear that crown and climb on a small throne holding an insignificant jewel in her hand.
Rashid,
who finished speaking
in a whisper, smiled. Randel, who nodded silently, asked a question.
“Did you think that role was right for me? ”
“That’s right, prince.”
Tensil’s crown.
Calian also suggested the same thing.
I can’t give Kairis’ crown because it’s mine, and I don’t want to send it to the tower, and it’s too shabby to give a small estate where roses can grow well, so I’m handing it to him instead. That’s the kind of place. He told me to climb up.
Two people are given the same seat, but one place smells bad and the other place doesn’t smell anything. It’s funny. Randel closed his eyes for a moment and opened them. At least in that
place
. I thought to myself that if I sit down, I will be able to see Planz’s head bowed.
“The reason I recommend this is because I want to be considerate of the prince. So, please do not treat me lightly when I meet the prince and talk to him. Then one day, my disappointment overflowed, and just in case…”
Rashid’s finger pointed at Randel.
It was pointed at the heart that must have been inside Randel’s chest.
“Do you dare to try to entangle the prince? I’m scared.”
“I haven’t felt at peace ever since spring returned. It’s so nice to hear your words like this.”
A small smile appeared on Randel’s lips.
“If you learn to speak again, I’ll think about it then. “About that crown.”
Randel answered in a calm voice and quietly turned around. Then
he walked
back and forth again towards Chermil Palace.
The smile could not be erased from Rashid’s face as he looked at Randel’s back as he walked away. Randel To get into the carriage, to have his servant close the carriage door and to start the carriage, so that the carriage, moving at a slow pace, would enter the corridors of the Chermil Palace and disappear. After that, he turned his head and looked at the fountain. ‘That water is no different from
you
. ‘Isn’t it?’
He kept repeating Randel’s words that he had just heard, and stayed still as if he were nailed to one spot until the sun had set, the moon rose, and the stars were shining. – That’s right. Someone approached Rashid. “Baron Briesen
is
right
. ”
The two knights were Balkan knights guarding the palace.
Realizing that they had come to get rid of the Baron, who had been standing in the garden all night without leaving the palace, Rashid said,
“I wasted so much time admiring the beauty of this place. I didn’t even know it was flowing. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The drivers gave a simple greeting. But they did not leave. They were probably trying to stay by Rashid’s side until he left.
Rashid nodded and took a step forward .
There was no need to do this . There was no reason to stay there any longer, and it wouldn’t do any good to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. But,
“Leave it alone. “I have a moment to share with the Baron.”
A voice was heard that the knights and even Rashid had not expected. Those who turned their heads to see who the voice was, quickly showed their example.
Black hair and red eyes.
A little different from what they had seen during the day. The prince was wearing a black jacket with endless red embroidery.
Calian was standing there.
“Yes, prince. Then, let’s talk.”
After saying this, the knights left the place.
Kalyan, who had separated them with a light response, turned his head towards Rashid. He made an expression that he did not want to see his face again, and came to him sooner than expected. While saying this,
“I meet Prince Calian.”
Calian nodded and opened his mouth.
“I have something to worry about regarding the Baron and his father. That’s why I came to visit you in person… I hope I didn’t interrupt the Baron’s time.”
“Interrupting. Is that possible?”
“Yes. I’m glad you think so.”
“Yes, prince. “Please tell me. I will listen to anything.”
Rashid smiled softly.
At the same time,
without thinking of the fact that another ‘Kalyan’ wearing a black jacket full of white embroidery was sitting in front of Gray and smiling brightly. .
